Swedana is fomentation or steam therapy, explained in Ayurveda for its relaxing and detoxifying effects. The word “Sweda” is derived from Sanskrit “ swid”, meaning ‘to sweat or to perspire’. So swedana is the process of inducing sweat with the help of steam, generated from medicated herbal decoctions. It is a preparatory procedure in various Ayurvedic panchakarma therapies, where the objective is to dilate the channels of the body, which in turn aids to detach the toxins from the tissues. Ayurvedic fomentation is usually given after an oil massage.