• Know about the importance of Nabhi or Navel. How to apply, which oils to use, precautions while applying and Modern physiological explanation. How Nabhi is described in Yoga and Ayurveda?

From a strictly anatomical perspective, the navel (umbilicus) is not an organ but a scar-formed after the umbilical cord is cut at birth. In adulthood, it contains no open channel leading to internal organs, nor does it function as a gateway for absorption into the digestive tract.

Yet across Indian medical, yogic, and cultural traditions, the Nābhi was never regarded as a trivial remnant. Instead, it was consistently described as the body’s centre—structurally, functionally, and symbolically.

This apparent contradiction—between modern anatomical literalism and traditional emphasis—invites a deeper examination of what “centre” means in Indian knowledge systems.

In Purāṇic cosmology, Nābhi signifies origin and expansion. It represents cosmic symbolism mirrored in the human body, most vividly expressed in the creation story of Viṣhṇu’s Nābhi giving rise to Brahmā. As symbolic anatomy, the navel represents the point from which order, nourishment, and life unfold. The human body is viewed as a microcosm reflecting cosmic organisation, and Nābhi becomes the axis of this reflection.

Such symbolism is not confined to tradition. It subtly informs how the body isunderstood functionally rather than mechanically.

Nābhi in yogic and subtle anatomy

Yogic texts locate the Maṇipūra or Nābhi Cakra in the region of the navel. Associated with agni (fire), this centre governs digestion, metabolism, transformation, vitality, confidence, and willpower. It is described as the distribution hub of prāṇa, the vital force sustaining physiological and psychological processes.

Classical yogic anatomy speaks of 72,000 nāḍīs radiating from the Nābhi. While often misread literally, the nāḍī framework is better understood as symbolic physiology—an early attempt to map dense neural, fascial, and regulatory connectivity. The emphasis is not on a visible structure but on functional convergence: coordination, distribution, and regulation.

Classical perspectives on Nābhi

Ayurveda reinforces this understanding with remarkable consistency. Both the Caraka Saṃhitā and Suśruta Saṃhitā describe Nābhi as the seat of agni and a central junction of srotas—the channels of circulation and transport.

The Suśruta Saṃhitā classifies Nābhi as a sadyapraṇahara marma, a vital point where even minor trauma can be disproportionately dangerous. Injury here was known to cause rapid systemic collapse due to haemorrhage, autonomic shock, and loss of abdominal integrity.

This classification highlights the region’s dense vascular, neural, and connective tissue organisation and explains why traditional interventions involving the navel were always gentle, nourishing, and warming rather than invasive.

In the Caraka Saṃhitā, Nābhi is repeatedly referred to as the seat of agni and a central junction of srotas. Because of its strong association with agni, pitta doṣa, and samāna vāyu—the vāyu governing digestion and assimilation—digestive disorders such as grahaṇī, udara, and ajīrṇa are described as originating in the navel region (nābhi-pradeśa samutpanna vikāra). This establishes Nābhi as a functional digestive centre: not a discrete organ, but a zone of regulation.

The Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya emphasises vāta regulation for digestive and systemic health. Oil (sneha) is prescribed for dryness, hollow organs, and wind-dominated regions. Since Nābhi lies at a vāta–pitta interface, applying oil here is traditionally considered agni-supportive.

Texts such as the Gorakṣa Śataka and Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā describe pranic convergence at Nābhi, where prāṇa and samāna vāyu interface. Thus, oil application at this site is understood as grounding, reducing excessive upward movement of vāta and supporting digestion, emotional balance, and sleep.

The practice of Nābhi Oiling

Across India, midwives traditionally applied warm oil around the navel after childbirth, while mothers used it for infant colic. The practice of applying oil before sleep for constipation, restlessness, and menstrual discomfort is deeply rooted in folk Ayurveda, midwifery, and household medicine. Importantly, these practices were not isolated rituals but embedded in daily routine (dinacaryā) and preventive care.

The practice of oiling the navel (Nābhi Pūran or Nābhi Taila) is simple and gentle. A few drops of warm oil are placed directly into the navel hollow, followed by light circular massage around the periumbilical area. It is most commonly done at night before sleep or after bathing, when the body is relaxed. The amount of oil used is minimal—just enough to coat the skin and retain warmth—since the purpose is local stimulation rather than absorption into internal organs.

Ayurveda emphasises oil selection according to constitution (prakṛti). Traditionally used oils include:

1. Sesame oil for vāta dominance and coldness

2. Castor oil for constipation and deep dryness

3. Ghee for nourishment and pitta balance

4. Coconut oil for excess heat and inflammation

5. Mustard oil in cold climates and stiffness

6. Medicated herbal oils for targeted doṣa correction.

The traditional benefits attributed to navel oiling include improved digestion, reduced bloating, calming of the nervous system, better sleep, menstrual and reproductive support, postpartum recovery, hormonal balance, musculoskeletal ease, and relief from systemic dryness.

Modern physiological explanation

Modern anatomy confirms that no direct channel exists from the navel to the digestive organs in adults. Oil applied to the navel does not travel internally. However, the periumbilical skin corresponds largely to the T10 spinal nerve dermatome, which also innervates the small intestine and parts of the colon. This explains why visceral pain is often referred to the umbilical region.

Gentle touch, warmth, and oil application can stimulate cutaneous afferent nerves and influence autonomic balance. The occlusive property of oils also reduces heat loss. Research on abdominal massage demonstrates effects on parasympathetic activation, gut motility, and visceral sensitivity—particularly relevant in stress-related digestive disorders.

The abdominal fascia is continuous, richly innervated, and responsive to mechanical and thermal input. Massage and warmth can improve local circulation, reduce fascial stiffness, and indirectly influence visceral tension. While limited transdermal absorption of lipid-soluble compounds is possible, effects remain local and mild. The mechanism is regulatory and neurological rather than pharmacological.

Thus, while abdominal touch and thermal stimulation are known to influence the gut–brain axis and digestive function, no robust scientific studies have specifically validated the practice of placing oil in the navel as a medical therapy with measurable clinical outcomes.

A functional centre, not a secret channel

Ayurveda does not propose the Nābhi as a literal pipeline either. Nor is oiling about accessing a hidden anatomical channel. It is understood as a functional centre that supports digestion, nervous balance, and core vitality through the body’s central regulatory zone, using warmth, oil, and touch—key tools for pacifying vāta. Its value lies in daily regulation (dincharya) rather than dramatic or curative claims.

Traditionally, it accompanies abhyanga (full-body oil massage), warm and timely meals, adequate sleep, and breath regulation (prāṇāyāma). This systems-oriented approach—rather than isolated interventions—is the defining strength of Indian health traditions. Rooted in a preventive mindset that values small daily acts to prevent disease, navel oiling fits this logic: it is simple, low-risk, and aimed at regulating vāta, the most disturbance-prone doṣa.

From a physiological perspective, several indirect mechanisms may explain the perceived benefits. Gentle cutaneous stimulation around the navel can activate afferent nerves linked to gut regulation and autonomic balance. Warmth from oil or massage may ease muscle tension and reduce stress, thereby influencing gut rhythm. Sensory modulation—similar to effects observed in abdominal massage research—can also alter visceral sensitivity, particularly in functional digestive conditions.

Precautions to keep in mind with navel oiling

Navel oiling is traditionally considered a gentle and low-risk practice, but it is not appropriate for everyone in all situations. It should not be done on broken, infected, inflamed, or actively irritated skin, including rashes, fungal infections, surgical scars, piercings, or open wounds in or around the navel. Any discharge, redness, pain, or unusual odour is a clear reason to avoid oil application until the area has healed.

The quality and quantity of oil matter. Only clean, fresh, food-grade, unprocessed, unrefined or traditionally prepared oils should be used. Rancid, scented, or synthetic oils can irritate the skin and disrupt the local microbiome. Using too much oil can clog skin folds, trap moisture, and increase the risk of irritation or infection, especially in humid climates.

Navel oiling should also be avoided during acute digestive distress, such as severe abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, or suspected infection, where symptoms require medical evaluation. Similarly, it is not recommended immediately after abdominal surgery or during active inflammatory conditions unless advised by a qualified practitioner. In such situations, warmth and touch may aggravate rather than soothe.

Constitutional sensitivity also needs to be considered. Individuals with strong pitta tendencies—marked by heat, inflammation, or skin sensitivity—may react poorly to heavy or warming oils like mustard or sesame, especially in hot weather. In these cases, cooling oils or avoiding the practice altogether may be more appropriate. As with all traditional self-care practices, gentleness, moderation, and attention to the body’s response are essential.

Navel: The vulnerable point

It is noteworthy how the anatomical vulnerability of this region was historically recognised on battlefields. Across cultures, the periumbilical area was understood as critical for anatomical reasons. Major blood vessels, mesentery, autonomic plexuses, and unprotected intestines lie behind and below the navel. Injury here causes rapid systemic collapse, a fact discovered empirically by warriors worldwide.

A penetrating wound in the navel region can lead to rapid internal bleeding, loss of blood pressure, severe autonomic shock, and intestinal spillage resulting in fatal infection—often untreatable historically. Death did not always occur immediately, making such strikes strategically decisive.

Chinese traditions identify the dāntián below the navel; Japanese culture refers to hara as the seat of balance and composure. Indian marma theory, Chinese military manuals, Japanese combat arts, and European medieval fight books all converge on the same anatomical truth.

Conclusion

Nābhi oiling is not a mystical shortcut to internal organs, nor a medical intervention with dramatic claims. It is a subtle practice that uses warmth, oil, and touch to influence the body’s central regulatory zone. Its value lies in daily regulation rather than episodic treatment—small acts that support balance so disease does not manifest.

In this sense, Nābhi oiling reflects the broader philosophy of Indian medicine: prevention through attention, consistency, and respect for the body’s inherent intelligence.

Anuradha Vashisht   is a natural health educationist who has been promoting preventive health care through her Health Nectar initiative for over two decades. She guides individuals to restore and enhance their well-being naturally—through the adoption of holistic health concepts, mindful nutrition, and lifestyle transformation.

Anuradha trained under Acharya Seshadri Swaminathan, the foremost and most devoted disciple of Acharya Lakshmana Sarma, revered as the Father of Nature Cure in India. Her id reach.healthnectar@gmail.com

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