Udwarthanam is a therapeutic massage using medicated herbal powders (choornas), rubbed in an upward direction against the hair follicles, usually without oil (dry) or sometimes with oil (Snigdha Udwarthanam). It aims to bring about rukshana (dryness) at the level of superficial dhatus ( tissue) especially at the level of Rasa ( lymph), Rakta ( blood), Mamsa (muscle tissue) and medas ( fat/ adipose tissue).