Indian Head Massage

Indian Head Massage is an Ayurvedic massage therapy in which the upper-back, arms, head, neck and face are massaged with or without  the use of oils using a range of massage techniques. It is carried out on a fully-clothed client, usually sitting in an upright chair (as opposed to lying on a therapy/treatment couch). The goal is to clear blocks in the meridians (energy channels) that cause a build-up of negative energy that are purported to cause ailments. The belief is that when the energy does not flow properly, negative energy builds up, causing common ailments, including stress and pain.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Indian head massage stimulates the nerves from the head area.This helps you to relax which, in turn, improves mental and physical health. It also increases circulation, exfoliates the scalp and nourishes the hair.     

THE BENEFITS OF INDIAN HEAD MASSAGE

An increasing number of people feel disillusioned with the often impersonal approach of conventional medicine. Many of us now yearn for an approach to healthcare which is sensitive and caring and not necessarily based on drugs and technology. Physical contact affects us both psychologically and physiologically and, for these reasons, can work very well in conjunction with orthodox medicine or indeed any other complementary therapy.

PHYSICAL BENEFITS:

Working on the shoulders, neck, upper arms, scalp and face affects the skin, muscles, blood vessels and lymphatics and can produce some of the following effects:

• Dissipation of tension throughout the entire body.
• Relaxation of specific, tense muscles.
• Improvement in blood and lymphatic circulation, promoting swift removal of toxins from the body
• Improvement in joint movement.  
• Promotion of healthy hair growth.
• Relief from headache, eye strain, sinusitis, jaw ache & tinitus.
• Improvement in quality of sleep

With the help of certain vegetable and essential oils, the following benefits may also be seen:

• Improvement in skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
• Relief for dandruff sufferers.
• Improvement in the condition of dry, damaged or greasy hair.

PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS:

Non-verbal communication such as massage is a powerful tool and can produce an unlimited number of psychological benefits:

• Reduction in emotional anxiety and stress.
• Feelings of well-being.
• Smoothing effect on the sensory nerve endings in the skin, resulting in feelings of reassurance.
• Relaxation
• Promotion of a sense of calmness and tranquillity.
• Relief from depression.
• Feelings of rejuvenation.

History of Indian Head Massage

The word 'massage' derives from the Arabic 'mass', meaning to press softly. As an art, massage must be as old as man himself- to rub an injured part is an instinctive reaction to pain. The importance of massage featured regularly in the earliest Ayurvedic * texts, dating back almost 4000 years. Massage has always played an important part in Indian family life, praised for its therapeutic benefits and believed to maintain good health and longevity.

Health & Fitness

New born babies in India receive a daily massage up to the age of three, after which time they are massaged once a week. Medical advice and attention is scarce in India and infant mortality rates are high. Mothers massage their children in the hope that it will improve their general level of health as well as their chances of survival. Used in conjunction with herbs, spices and aromatic oils, massage is also used to treat a range of different ailments.

Social Activity

Used by families to promote and maintain family bonds, massage is also a social activity. Indeed, from about six years old, children are taught to share massages with other family members - brothers, sister, parents and grandparents. It is also used as a grooming tool, involving the removal of head lice as well as the general maintenance and conditioning of hair.

Beauty Treatment

For many hundreds of years, Indian women have taken great pride in caring for their long, black manes and have turned to massage in conjunction with specific oils to help them in their goal. Oils were, and are still used for specific beautifying purposes : sesame oil is said to help prevent the hair from greying and to restore hair to its natural colour; almond oil encourages the hair to shine, whilst coconut oil is used for its wonderful aroma and its moisturising properties.

Therapeutic Treatment

Many of the skills and techniques which the women employed were also employed by barbers although their treatment was considered therapeutic as opposed to beautifying. Travelling salesmen, the barbers would often travel from household to household ofifering a head massage designed to refresh and invigorate the recipient. Massage skills were passed on from father to son and gradually evolved over the generations. Today, those same skills which once relied upon word of mouth for their survival are now taught in barber schools all over India.
It is now customary for a barber in India to offer a complementary head massage as part of his service.

* Ayurveda refers to a system of medicine practised by the ancient Hindus and derived from the Vedas (sacred and ancient book of the Hindus). Ayurvedic medicine is still practised today.