Massage as Used in Ayurvedic Medicine

An Ayurvedic massage can certainly message can be an enjoyable and relaxing experience (and usually practiced in the West), but in Ayurvedic medicine, Abhyanga (done with herbalized oils) is an important part of any Ayurvedic medical treatment.

In today’s world, people market this kind of massage and that kind, but in fact, massage as practiced in the use of Ayurvedic treatment is specialized for the exact type of person you are, and your specific ailment. Thus, a true Ayurvedic massage cannot be performed by a non-expert. If your true nature (as manifested by the three qualities “tridoshas” of vata, pitti and kapha) is not established, no appropriate message can be given.

Abhyanga – or oil massage and Mardana or pressure point massage form are methods used by an Ayurvedic doctor in the course of his therapy. This combined therapeutic technique will assist in the healing of pain, correcting circulatory problems, riding the body of the residue of stress, correcting disturbed sleep, eliminating stiffness and reducing fatigue.

Abhyanga soothes pain, relaxes stiff muscles, and reduces the swelling that accompanies arthritis. The ancient texts that are the Ayurveda demonstrate that, with Abhyanga, deep-seated toxins in the joints and tissues are loosened and released into the system for elimination through natural toxin-release processes. However, as mentioned above, Abhyanga is just one of the methods used in conventional Ayurvedic treatment, usually called Panchakarma (Sanskrit word that means "five actions").

Cleansing the Body

Panchakarma is the Ayurvedic procedure to clean the body of toxic materials created by disease and poor nutrition. Ayurveda demonstrates that unharmonious doshas create waste matter. This is called Ama in Sanskrit, and is a foul-smelling, sticky, noxious substance that needs to be evacuated from the body as thoroughly as possible.

For only a relaxing experience (calming the nerves for example, or de-stressing) a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner might offer to perform Shirodhara, in which warm, herbalized sesame oil is dripped in a stream onto the forehead to profoundly relax the nervous system and balance the Prana Vata, the dosha that exerts control over the brain.

However, Shirodhara is not the basis of Ayurvedic massage, only a form of Abhiyanga or oil massage. Genuine Ayurvedic massage cannot be done until the practitioner understands your true nature and current condition.

Once done he may recommend an oil specially selected for your particular body constitution or toxins that must be expelled. The process is long and thorough. More force is used to loosen the excess doshas and direct them toward the organs of elimination. The qualified Ayurvedic masseur, will also be a master at Mardana (strategic pressure points…also the basis of all related Chinese medicine).

Types of Massage

Hence Ayurveda gives a lot of importance to Abhyanga. There are various kinds of massages in Ayurveda:

Abhyanga (overall whole body massage) for toxin elimination
Mukhabhyanga (Ayurvedic face-specific massage) for rejuvenation
Padabhyanga (Ayurvedic foot-specific massage) for relaxation and toxin elimination
Pristhabhyanga (Ayurvedic back massage) for toxin elimination and dosha stimulation
Shirobhyanga (Ayurvedic head massage) for dosha stimulation

Not only is an Ayurvedic massage pleasurable, it also benefits your overall health at the same time – try it and you maybe glad you did.