When to use

Start using Dhoopana dravyas for Dhoopana procedure (fumigation)  from the 3rd day of normal delivery and the 12th day of c-section. Dhoopana is advised to be done daily after bath as bathing with udvartana churna (herb powder given in the kit) opens the pores of your skin and will increase the absorption of drugs. 

How to use

Place 3-4 cow dung cakes in Dhoopana patra (any metal utensil like iron kadai or bowl).  Lit the fire with the help of paper or some organic dry stuff. Let the fire set into full flames and cover the dung cakes completely. This will take 10-12 minutes. Let the fire cease. This process should be done outside the room. 

Now, these dung cakes are ready for dhoopana. Bring the dhoopana patra inside the room and make sure that all the doors and windows are closed to avoid direct breeze to enter. Place the dhoopana patra at such a height that fumes should reach up to the body of the mother on the bed.

The woman should wear slippers and loose, open clothes like a long skirt.

A wooden charpai or metal bed is needed through which the fumes can easily pass above.

Sit properly on the bed, place dhoopana patra on a metal / wooden stand in front of you, and gradually put the dhoopan dravyas on the burning cakes. Take 5 gms (1 full teaspoon) of each dhoopana dravya for one day. 

Start exposing every body part one by one to the medicated fumes. Close your eyes and start by exposing your face first. Allow the medicated fumes to enter your ears and nose as vata dosha seats at such hollow spaces and these are the entry points of vata in your body.

Expose palms and fingers as relaxation of smaller joints like wrist and carpals is necessary, further exposing the complete hand. Focus on the sole and both legs similarly.

Next is yoni dhoopana (fumigation of the vagina). Sit on the cot in a crouching position, and spread the skirt such that fumes should enter up to the vagina from beneath.

Do wear thin underwear so that the direct heat of fumes should not harm the delicate organs.  

Now, focus on the whole body. Spread a thin cotton bed sheet or a cloth on the cot.

Lie down in a supine position and cover another cloth on the body from above.

Now repeat the procedure of dhupan to all areas of the body for 2-3 minutes each.

Starting from the head keep on shifting the dhupan patra and keep on putting the dhoopana dravyas in the burning dung cakes. Shift to the neck and shoulder area then to the back, this helps to cope with the back pains due to breastfeeding. Next shift down to the lower back, hips, and buttocks, which have taken maximum pressure at the time of labor.

 Now shift to the knees and focus on all joints very neatly and precisely as dhoopana and abhyanga of the joints at this time will determine your future bone health.

Benefits

• Accelerate wound healing (episiotomy or C-section stitches).
• Prevents genital infections and puerperal sepsis.
• Yoni dhupan helps to prevent genital infection and puerperal sepsis. It also helps in wound healing in the perineal area.
• Due to its analgesic action, dhupan also reduces udar shoola i.e. after pains caused due to retraction of the uterus.
• Relax muscles and do vata shaman. 
• Fumigation is effective to disinfect clothes of mother and baby, room, household items like beddings, utensils. 
• Protect from future degenerative disorders (joint pain, knee pain, back pain, neck pain,shoulder pain, wrist pain), headaches, rhinitis, sinusitis, hairfall.