A) Characteristic sign and symptoms:
- Person may feel weak and exhausted, and find that ability to function is severely reduced.
- Person may have great difficulty in performing even non-demanding routine activities.
- Symptoms like muscle aches, muscle weakness, stiffness, joint pain, headache etc are common.
- Person usually feels extremely tired and weak after any physical exertion.
- The person may also have difficulty sleeping and find it hard to concentrate. He or she may not feel fresh on getting up in morning even after good night sleep.
- Loss of weight may be experienced either suddenly or gradually over a period of time. Sometimes person may be overweight which produce strain and lethargy.
- Person may develop emotional symptoms such as anxiety or depression.
- Working continuously hard without a break for several weeks also result in tiredness and general debility.
B) Aims of massage:
- To provide strength and nourishment to body as unctuous days like oil, ghee etc used for massage act as a good source of nourishment.
- To reduce stress and strain over mind and body by reducing wear and tear body undergoes daily and help in relaxation.
- To reduce muscle aches, muscle weakness, joint pain etc by relaxing undue stress over it.
- To improve overall nutrition to cells and tissues of body by providing them with more fresh amounts of oxygen due to increase in blood circulation and aid in removal of waste products like lactic acid and congestion of blood in exhausted muscle gets removal and they become refreshed.
C) Process of massage:
1) Body area to be massaged:
Full body massage is advisable.
2) Direction of massage movements:
- Massage movements over abdomen should be in clockwise direction starting from navel and gradually increasing the sphere.
- Massage movements over chest should usually be directed from above downwards.
- Also massage movements should be directed along the direction of ribs while giving massage over both sides of chest wall. Ribs are directed downwards over front of chest and upwards in back, in a circular fashion. Therefore massage movements should start from center of body towards periphery.
- Each intercostal space (space between two adjoining ribs) should also be massaged separately in similar way. It can be easily felt in between two adjoining ribs with help of finger.
- Massage movements over both limbs should be in vertical direction from above downwards.
- Back should also be massaged from above downward direction.
- Massage over each vertebra and over joint should be in circular direction.
- Facial massage over cheeks should be in circular direction.
3) Useful massage tips:
- Oil used for massage should be sufficiently warm at the time of giving massage.
- Massage over intercostals area should be given with help of fingers like thumb or index finger.
- Palm should be used while giving massage over joints and face.
- Circular action of thumb should be used over vertebrae.
- Sufficient pressure should be applied during massage depending upon tolerance of the person.
- Duration, as also effect of massage should be decided upon amount of relief person experience in symptoms. Feeling relaxed is a good indication of proper massage. For chronic cases, regular massage for longer periods is indicated.
- Usually 45-50minutes of full body massage is advisable.
- Daily massage followed by local herbal steam-bath is useful. It should be preferably given in early morning.
- Place of massage should be warm and cozy. Post massage patient should avoid contact with cold air or contact with direct air while traveling etc.
- Playing light instrumental music during massage will further aid in relaxation.
D) Use of different oils for massage:
- Amongst various drugs like ghee, butter etc, oil being unctuous and hot in nature, is the choice of drug for massage.
- Oil hot in nature like sesame oil, mustard oil, coconut oil, olive oil etc are useful for massage.
- The potency of oil can be increased by addition of medicinal drugs during preparation of medicinal oil as per expert advice.
Back to top