Ayurveda Massage Benefits, Indication and Contraindication

Benefits of Ayurveda massage or Abhyanga:

1. Reverses/prevents aging and increases longevity
2. Removes fatigue and stress from work and life overall
3. Heals and prevents nervous system disorders
4. Promotes good vision
5. Nourishes the body and promotes sturdiness
6. Remedies insomnia
7. Creates an electrochemical balance in the body.
8. Oil rubbed into the skin prevents dehydration and strengthens the nerves.
9. Oil helps the electromagnetic field of the body.
10. Stimulates antibody production, thus strengthening the immune system.

Indication Of Massage

Main therapeutic indications for massage can be stated as follows: –

1. Massage is indicated in many diseases mainly due to cold like -asthma, body ache, joint stiffness, feminine problems like ‘dysmenorrhea’ etc or after delivery etc mainly to prevent diseases due to cold.
2. For general weakness – being a nutritive, daily massage helps to remove stress & wear & tear of body increasing strength & vitality.
3. Diseases of muscle – muscle pain, spasm, atrophy, myopathies etc.
4. Disorders of joints – Osteoarthritis, Spondylosis etc.
5. Disorders of nervous system – Neuralgia, hemiplegia – paraplegia, cerebral palsy, sciatica etc. mainly to reduce pain sensation.
6. Metabolic Disorders – Indicated in obesity, loss of weight etc.
7. Psychological Disorders – Anxiety, insomnia, mental stress, depression, irritation, sleeplessness etc.
8. Diseases in sportsmen – Tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, backache, sprains etc. are
9. Massage is necessary for various professionals like computer professionals, teachers, drivers, artists.etc.

Contraindication

Some of local contraindications

1. Acute Fever
2. Acute strains
3. After indication of sodhan therapy like vaman, virechan
4. Areas affected by herpes zoster (shingles)
5. Areas of inflammation
6. Ascites (abdominal swelling)
7. Bacterial and fungal  infections
8. Diarrhea and Dysentry
9. Fractures (both close and open fractures)
10. Gastritis
11. Gout
12. In Kaphaj disorders
13. Indigestion
14. Peptic and Duodenal ulcers
15. Poisoning
16. Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly
17. Tumors
18. Ulcerative colitis
19. Varicose veins and Venous Thrombosis
20. Weakness in the wall of the blood vessels as in hemophilia
21. Wounds (Fresh and Healing wounds)

Classification of Ayurveda massage (Abhyanga):

The classification of abhyanga are given below:

1. According to region
2. According to pressure exerted
3. According to Guna of dravya

1. According to region

A. General Abhyanga – sarvadaihika abhyanga(whole body massage)
B. Local or Regional Abhyanga
a) Organ massage – kidney massage
b) Site wise massage – padabhyanga(foot abhyanga), siroabhyanga (head massage)

2. According to the pressure applied the division is as follows.

1. lepa – application of oil over the body
2.Abhyanga – application of unctuous substances along with necessary  pressure
3. Udvartana or shareera parimarjana – reverse application of pressure
4. Udghrshana – rubbing with ununctuous substances (Rookshana vidhi)
5. Utsadana – rubbing of unctuous pasts
6. Mardana – application of more pressure towards midline of body
7. Unmardana – holding and pulling of the Muscles

3.According to use of unctuous material

A qualified and experienced physician selects the materials according to the necessity in association to the specified Dravya or Dravya vargas which are capable of pacifying the Doshas and diseases.
a. Oil
b. Ghee
c. Animal fat(Tallow)
d. Marrow