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Understanding the mechanics of
Shirodhara Process
Umang Surana
Prof. C Lakshmana Rao
Akshay Iyer
Shirodhara
 Shirodhara means dripping of oil like a thread (dhara) on the head (shir).
It is an ayurvedic medical treatment
Figure 1: A patient undergoing treatment
Benefits of Shirodhara
 The Shirodhara technique soothes and
invigorates the senses and the mind.
A total feeling of
 wellness,
 mental clarity and
 comprehension
is experienced in this process.
Healing Robot Study
 Developed a healing robot which conducts
Shirodhara in a computerized reproducible
manner.
 In Oriental medicine, the effects on
practitioners as well as patients are included
as important factors for the treatments.
 Active Shirodhara shows better results than
controlled one.
 Sesame oil was best among the other media.
Healing Robot Study contd.
 Plain sesame oil was used as the dripping medium.
 Manual procedure is exactly replicated by machine.
 Shirodhara is more effective than other relaxation
techniques.
 In general practice, relaxation techniques are better
than medicinal (relaxation technique as algae pack,
medicines such as benzodiazepines or non-
benzodiazepines ) and other methods.
 Hence, Shirodhara is one of the most effective practice
for insomnia and other related diseases
Factors Considered important for
experiments
Experiments were conducted to understand the
role of
 coconut, wick and the pot.
 fluid temperature
 It shows out that coconut arrests the fluids
movements and make the flow smooth.
 It also reduces turbidity and hence the fluid is
laminar.
Factors contd.
 This is very important from the medical aspect as
the flow and mass falling on patients head is
constant.
 Varying flow and mass density may have harmful
effects as Shirodhara have an impact on brains
neural system
 Similarly wicks porous media makes the flow
constant arresting the effect of flow under
gravity.
 The shape of Pot and wick together helps in
making the flow rate constant.
Experiments and Results
Effect of coconut and wick on flow rate
 To understand the effect of viscosity and density
of fluids, numerous experiments were conducted.
Figure 2: Comparison of flow rate
Contd
 The above graph shows how the fluid flew more
constant with the assembly rather than free flow
for a volume of 900 ml.
 Due to free flow under gravity, the flow rate is
high and dips down slowly.
 The graph shows dip in rate as oil flows out
(reducing the height in the beaker).
 Whereas with wick and coconut assembly the
flow rate is slow (as required) and is constant
over a long time.
Contd
Kinetic Viscosity (KV) Measurement
 It is important in understanding the behaviour
of the flow and is measured at around 37 尊C
i.e. the operating temperature for Shirodhara
Table 1: The KV shows that the all the three fluids under consideration are
Newtonian Fluids
Contd
Flow rate measurement
 The figure 3 shows Ksheerbala Tailam has the lowest rate of
flow with Avg. 10ml/s followed by Mahanarayan Tailam with
avg. 15ml/s.
 The fastest flowing liquid is Kasaya with 19ml/s.
Figure 3: A comparison of flow rate of different fluids
Comparing error in flow rate measurement
 Percentage deviation in the flow rates, a
measure of inconsistence or turbulence was
compared to understand the principle behind
using coconut and wick and also how different
fluids (depending on kinetic viscosity) behaves
differently. Oil used is Ksheerbala Tailam.
Error%
Figure 4: Comparison of flow rate variation (error) in different
cases
Experiments on Wick
1. Impact on flow:
 Role of wick is quite unique.
 Apart from making the flow more stable and
constant it helps in increasing or decreasing
the flow.
 As the threads are removed, area available for
free flow increases and hence flow rate
increases.
 Though as shown in the graph below, this
doesnt changes the flow characteristics much
as both graphs follow almost the same trend.
2. Porosity:
 Porosity of thread plays an important role on both the
quantity and quality of flow. More the porosity more
the flow and porosity streamlines the flow making it
less turbulent as seen by fig. 3.5 and fig. 3.6 (the
figures of porosity changing flow values).
 Methodology: The weight difference of dry wick and
wick dipped in Ksheerbala Tailam was noted. With the
known specific density of wick, volume of solid was
approximated (weight of air is ignored). Finding the
volume of oil absorbed gives volume of voids.
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Approach
 The main parameter of our interest is exit
velocity. Hence, a streamline of the fluid
velocity is plotted in the flow domain as
shown below.
 The maximum velocity is attained at the exit and its
value is 1.53m/s.
 Equation of Continuity:
(Inlet Area)*(Inlet Velocity) = (Exit Area)*(Exit Velocity)
 The above equation is valid for incompressible flows
(density does not vary with pressure). Let us now
calculate the exit velocity.
 Inlet Area= *(radius)族 = 3.14*(0.05)族 = 0.00785m族;
Inlet Velocity= 0.06m/s (assumed);
 Exit Velocity= *(radius)族 = 3.14*(0.01)族= 0.000314m族
Now using equation of continuity, we get exit velocity
as 1.50m/s which is in agreement with the value
predicted by the CFD simulation. Similar calculations
were performed by assuming different liquids such as
acetone and benzene. The results are tabulated below:
Table 2: CFD Analysis on different liquids
 The power required to pump different fluids was
analyzed as a measure to understand the flow
behavior of the fluids.
 More the power is required to pump a liquid to some
height, the higher the flow rate of the liquid as pump
power is directly proportional to flow rate (Q),
density (), head (h) and acceleration due to gravity
(g)
 Density of Milk>water>oil.
 Below shown figures 8&9 illustrates how the
more dense liquid needs more power to be
discharged to same height as that of less dense
liquid.
 Also the same behavior is noticed in power
required to drain the liquid from certain height.
This shows that the dense liquid will have higher
flow rate compared to less dense ones.

More Related Content

Understanding the mechanics of shirodhara process

  • 1. Understanding the mechanics of Shirodhara Process Umang Surana Prof. C Lakshmana Rao Akshay Iyer
  • 2. Shirodhara Shirodhara means dripping of oil like a thread (dhara) on the head (shir). It is an ayurvedic medical treatment Figure 1: A patient undergoing treatment
  • 3. Benefits of Shirodhara The Shirodhara technique soothes and invigorates the senses and the mind. A total feeling of wellness, mental clarity and comprehension is experienced in this process.
  • 4. Healing Robot Study Developed a healing robot which conducts Shirodhara in a computerized reproducible manner. In Oriental medicine, the effects on practitioners as well as patients are included as important factors for the treatments. Active Shirodhara shows better results than controlled one. Sesame oil was best among the other media.
  • 5. Healing Robot Study contd. Plain sesame oil was used as the dripping medium. Manual procedure is exactly replicated by machine. Shirodhara is more effective than other relaxation techniques. In general practice, relaxation techniques are better than medicinal (relaxation technique as algae pack, medicines such as benzodiazepines or non- benzodiazepines ) and other methods. Hence, Shirodhara is one of the most effective practice for insomnia and other related diseases
  • 6. Factors Considered important for experiments Experiments were conducted to understand the role of coconut, wick and the pot. fluid temperature It shows out that coconut arrests the fluids movements and make the flow smooth. It also reduces turbidity and hence the fluid is laminar.
  • 7. Factors contd. This is very important from the medical aspect as the flow and mass falling on patients head is constant. Varying flow and mass density may have harmful effects as Shirodhara have an impact on brains neural system Similarly wicks porous media makes the flow constant arresting the effect of flow under gravity. The shape of Pot and wick together helps in making the flow rate constant.
  • 8. Experiments and Results Effect of coconut and wick on flow rate To understand the effect of viscosity and density of fluids, numerous experiments were conducted. Figure 2: Comparison of flow rate
  • 9. Contd The above graph shows how the fluid flew more constant with the assembly rather than free flow for a volume of 900 ml. Due to free flow under gravity, the flow rate is high and dips down slowly. The graph shows dip in rate as oil flows out (reducing the height in the beaker). Whereas with wick and coconut assembly the flow rate is slow (as required) and is constant over a long time.
  • 10. Contd Kinetic Viscosity (KV) Measurement It is important in understanding the behaviour of the flow and is measured at around 37 尊C i.e. the operating temperature for Shirodhara Table 1: The KV shows that the all the three fluids under consideration are Newtonian Fluids
  • 11. Contd Flow rate measurement The figure 3 shows Ksheerbala Tailam has the lowest rate of flow with Avg. 10ml/s followed by Mahanarayan Tailam with avg. 15ml/s. The fastest flowing liquid is Kasaya with 19ml/s. Figure 3: A comparison of flow rate of different fluids
  • 12. Comparing error in flow rate measurement Percentage deviation in the flow rates, a measure of inconsistence or turbulence was compared to understand the principle behind using coconut and wick and also how different fluids (depending on kinetic viscosity) behaves differently. Oil used is Ksheerbala Tailam.
  • 13. Error% Figure 4: Comparison of flow rate variation (error) in different cases
  • 14. Experiments on Wick 1. Impact on flow: Role of wick is quite unique. Apart from making the flow more stable and constant it helps in increasing or decreasing the flow. As the threads are removed, area available for free flow increases and hence flow rate increases.
  • 15. Though as shown in the graph below, this doesnt changes the flow characteristics much as both graphs follow almost the same trend.
  • 16. 2. Porosity: Porosity of thread plays an important role on both the quantity and quality of flow. More the porosity more the flow and porosity streamlines the flow making it less turbulent as seen by fig. 3.5 and fig. 3.6 (the figures of porosity changing flow values). Methodology: The weight difference of dry wick and wick dipped in Ksheerbala Tailam was noted. With the known specific density of wick, volume of solid was approximated (weight of air is ignored). Finding the volume of oil absorbed gives volume of voids.
  • 17. Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach The main parameter of our interest is exit velocity. Hence, a streamline of the fluid velocity is plotted in the flow domain as shown below.
  • 18. The maximum velocity is attained at the exit and its value is 1.53m/s. Equation of Continuity: (Inlet Area)*(Inlet Velocity) = (Exit Area)*(Exit Velocity) The above equation is valid for incompressible flows (density does not vary with pressure). Let us now calculate the exit velocity. Inlet Area= *(radius)族 = 3.14*(0.05)族 = 0.00785m族; Inlet Velocity= 0.06m/s (assumed); Exit Velocity= *(radius)族 = 3.14*(0.01)族= 0.000314m族
  • 19. Now using equation of continuity, we get exit velocity as 1.50m/s which is in agreement with the value predicted by the CFD simulation. Similar calculations were performed by assuming different liquids such as acetone and benzene. The results are tabulated below: Table 2: CFD Analysis on different liquids
  • 20. The power required to pump different fluids was analyzed as a measure to understand the flow behavior of the fluids. More the power is required to pump a liquid to some height, the higher the flow rate of the liquid as pump power is directly proportional to flow rate (Q), density (), head (h) and acceleration due to gravity (g)
  • 21. Density of Milk>water>oil. Below shown figures 8&9 illustrates how the more dense liquid needs more power to be discharged to same height as that of less dense liquid. Also the same behavior is noticed in power required to drain the liquid from certain height. This shows that the dense liquid will have higher flow rate compared to less dense ones.