Massage and Essential Oils

Old persons practised and propagated the efficacy and benefits of massage and were so much impressed by the massage techniques that it formed and essential part of their health care program. They used to assert that if you massage 200 gms of mustard oil into your body, it would give you benefits of ingesting one Kilogram of desi ghee (clarified butter). Affluent and health-conscious rich persons engage even permanent masseurs for the purpose. In India hands are used for massaging but in ‘Kerala massage’ feet and are also used for the same person. The author once suffered from extreme pain in the cervical portion, shoulder blades. He was treated by a sports coach who massaged the affected portions and adjoining areas and, surprisingly, relieved and author of all pains within 4-5 minutes which was nothing short of a miracle.
In western world there are fine techniques of massage such as

-Stroking
- Patting
- Knuckling
- Rubbing and
- Squeezing

Use following precautions in relation to massage

• Do not massage when a person is not fit either mentally or physically or both.


• Never massage on bleeding, open, broken, weeping organs of the body.


• Do not massage with an oil if someone has known allergy to either vehicle or essential oil or both.


• In someone is under influence of drugs and/drink (alcohol) he/she shoulder never be administered any type of massage.


• It is always better to check-up with the attending doctor whether the patient is susceptible/allergic to any aromatic oil or whether such oil will interact with other drugs & used internally or locally.

Stroking
It is technique of pull or push motion. Heart should be taken as centre of the body. A masseur can use pressure while he is pulling or pushing towards the heart but, while stroking away from the heart, he should use only the high test touch. Stroking should be used in-between other methods of massage, or else it can be started or begun with all other techniques of massage.

Patting
Patting should be done with finger tips so as to induce stimulation to smaller areas. This techniques is the minimum used technique

Knuckling
Here hands are clenched in very light fists when gentle circular movements are made by using knuckles of top joints of hands.

Rubbing
Rubbing used to generate heat in the body as two hands are rubbed or feet are rubbed with hands or else some oil or object is rubbed on the body to generate heat. Better results can be expected if body/parts are massaged faster and harder. Rubbing is an old Indian method of massage.

Squeezing
This is known as ‘squeeze and let go’ technique which is performed powerfully with both hands. The masseur has to use plenty of force and effort in order to leave visible impact on the massaged person.

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