The Ayurvedic Massage Concept: From Theory to Clinical Application

Abstract

Classical term ‘Abhyanga’ in Ayurvedic Medicine is considered best for preventing diseases and promoting health known as ‘Ayurvedic Massage’ widely practised in Indian sub-continent, its an important and most commonly practised procedure from Paediatrics to Geriatrics. Most of the people understand Ayurvedic Massage therapy as oil application and massaging. It involves, vast considerations of therapy which includes the body humors, Seven Dhātus (Tissues), constitution of an individual with other considerations like selection of medicated oils, temperature, time, kind of friction and frequency of application, etc. The efficacy of Ayurvedic Massage therapy also depends on the appropriate selection of drug (according to condition/disease), skill of therapist, co-operation of patient and dietary regimens to be followed by the individual during and after the therapeutic procedure. In this article, the authors tried to explore the deeper understandings of Ayurvedic concept of massage therapy from theory to clinical application through a critical and analytical review.