Abhyanga An external Oilation therapy

SCIENTIFIC APPROACH OF ABHYANGA (MASSAGE) IN AYURVEDA

Dr.K. Siva Rama Prasad
Vedas are experiences of individuals, recorded and transformed one generation to another generation. It is not necessary to check whether Sun rises only from East or West. If the regularly rising Sun changes his position and rises from West, it becomes News. Various facts of life are recorded in the form of Hymns and doctrines in Vedas. Such doctrines speak about happy and healthy living in accordance with nature. The Upaveda (sub-veda) of Adharva veda, Ayurveda explains ways of perfect living in purified form as regimens of day, night and seasons. Regularity in practice of purity leads to the destination of mankind. It may be materialistic or philosophical. If a person mear wish to have materialistic benefits by following the rules of purity, certainly it offers. But such purity is lacking holistic approach, where mind body co-ordination is not seen. This non co-ordination leads ones to suffering. Co-ordination benefits to attain eternity, as a process of holistic approach in association with materialistic benefits. Few assumptions about the purity are 1. The physical body is constricted by only elements and they are subjected for impurity all the time. 2. Multiple cells in a regular pattern constrict the physical body, which are going to be expressed is offsprings too. 3. There is no involvement of mind purity, only physical purity is sufficient to have a healthy body. 4. Ego and states of personality doesnt have any influence on construction of purified body. 5. Impurity development in the body is necessary and natural. Root of Ayurveda developed from two individual words Ayu and Veda. Ayu means life, veda means knowledge, together Ayurveda deals with knowledge of life. LIFE, when it is elaborated it can be Living In Fine Ecstasy or living with happiness in coordination with nature. Charaka explains the life as unification of body (Shareera), sensory organs (Indriya), mind (Manas) and soul (Atma). The main motto of Ayurveda is to keep an individual hail healthy with regimens explained within the texts. The Ayurveda cares about not only physical health but also psychological. The health can be physical or psychological. Healthy person (Swastha) is defined by the Susruta as whoever maintains the three body humors (Tridosha), equilibrate digestive fire (includes other pancha Bhootagnis, Dhatwagnis - tissue fires and Jatharagni or the main digestive fire), proper evacuation of urine and stools (Mala), with fair soul, sensory organs and mind. To maintain health Ayurveda dictated regimens according to the day, night and season. The normal functions in human are always maintenance of Doshas in accordance with diets. All the food materials may be of animal or plant origin leads to either aggravation or subsidizing of the three humors, which may even have its effect over the mind. Not only the food habits but also other exogenous factors such as seasons also responsible for the alteration of the body humors. The other factors are endogenous which always alters the state of humors in the body there by no time all the Tridosha are in the state of perfect equilibration. Thus the state of perfect health is not possible at any time in the body. For the altered state of Doshas to maintain in equilibration we need a specific elimination procedures when they are subjected to aggravation. Usually palliative or Shamana therapy is being prescribed with out elimination especially when the patient is not fit for the cleans-

ing procedure. Who ever seek the perfect health by rooting out the Disease State prefers the elimination therapy under the conditions of fitness. Massage is not a new concept. It is the earliest known form of healing developed over years of constant observation. Almost every culture has employed massage, including Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Japanese, Chinese, Swedish and the Ayurvedic manage by Indians. What are described additional techniques here comes under Naturopathy system of healing is a muscular manipulative Swedish oriental technique. Massage is a systematic rubbing and manipulation of the body to prevent stiffness, promoting circulation and positive health. Massage is one of the most valuable of remedial measures. When combined with water treatment accomplishes wonderful results. Basis of massage is touch, and there is a increasing medical evidence to show the great value of touch. OILATION: The Abhyanga or system of massage in Ayurveda gives its message to achieve a better perfect health in normal and diseased state. This massage even though practiced with out unctuous material it is preferred to do with unctuous materials under different explained methods, as it produces lubrication. The unctuous quality is in Sneha Dravya and its use is said as snehana or Oleation. Oleation is made for the externally to create softness. Snehapana is a special internal Oleation therapy meant as pre Panchakarma procedure. This procedure is specially to get the Doshas, which are in Sakha (tissues) to Kosta (Alimentary canal). Here Sneha Dravyas (either Ghee, Oil, Tallow, Bone marrow or a combination of above) are given internally in specific dose for a prescribed period or externally used for Abhyanga for the said effect. Sneha derived from Sniha which means adhesion, sticky, wettish, unctuous, oily and bending or an unctuous liquid. Sneha is defined as affection, oily, oil, and softness, which runs, which flows, liquidy and soft. Out of five maha bhootas or basic elements, only Ap (water) maha bhoota having unctuous-

ness but it is not perceived by eye. Sneha is explained as perceived by eye, which is a quality of Agni mahabhoota. According to Susruta it consists of Pridhvi (Earth) and Ap (water) elements in it, there by it also can be perceived by the skin also. Because of the earthy element, it should and must have even a common smell but it is not observed such and they have their own smells of different. The Abhyanga is said to be an external Oleation (Bahya sneha) therapy described in dinacharya, ritu charya and also in Sneha Vicharana i.e. roots of administration of unctuousness.

Initially when human are developing, they were learned about the importance of pressure and its effect. They realized that the pressure can give relief from pain and it can be used as a therapeutic technique. As externally to purify the body they were taking bath with water. In that process they observed the unctuousness of water and searched for a better unctuous medicinal effective substance. The Oil i.e. Til oil was said to be the best unctuous and have the effect of nullifying or pacifying the Doshas which are in the vitiated condition. Cross-references and usage of massage is witnessed in Bible and practiced by Hypocrites, Galen, Pare and most famous physicians of western medicine.

MENTION OF ABHYANGA IN SEASONAL REGIMEN: In almost all seasons except Greeshma (only lepa) in all other seasons Abhyanga is recommended as Abhyanga, Utsadana or Pragharshana. QUALITIES OF SNEHA (ABHYANGA) DRAVYAThere are nine qualities explained by Charaka. They are 1. Drava - liquid 2. Sookshama - minuteness 3. Sara - flowing 4. Snigdha - unctuous 5. Pichila - gelatinous 6. Guru - heavy 7. Seeta - cold 8. Manda - slow 9. Mrudu - soft Out of the above said qualities some are not seen in many of the Sneha Dravyas. CONTRA INDICATIONS FOR ABHYANGA: Ajeerna Ama Peedita Taruna jwara People suffer from Kapha predominant disorders All Kapha personalities Santarpana janya diseases After Vasti After Vamana After Virechana CLASSIFICATION OF ABHYANGA: 1. According to materials used 2. According to region 3. According to pressure exerted 4. According to Guna of dravya 1. Based on the materials used: First classification of Abhyanga is based on the direct or indirect methods based on the materials used. In tradition people use it as Daiva vyapashraya Chikitsa especially for inflammatory conditions offered massage with metal rods apart from a standard medicinal oil massage. These metal substances are not unctuous but soft. Pressure is exerted with them give rise reasonable results. This group consists of medicinal oil massage in association with manual pressure. This can be divided into two once again, either by using hands or legs. A. Daiva vyapashraya Abhyanga a) by using metallic objects - Iron rods

b) by using non metallic objects - Four varieties of unctuous substance B. Yukti vyapashraya Abhyanga a) by using hands massage - lepa, abhyanga, etc. b) by using legs Padaghata 2. According to the site of operation: Second classification defined according to the site of operation of massaging. It is divided into two sub groups as regional or local and general. In local it can be further divided in to organ based and site based. Siro abhyanga, padabhyanga are explained in this context. In Ayurveda no reference of organ based massage but with interpretation to marma therapy we can adopt organ massage as being done in some areas of the world. For the general or sarvadaihika abhyanga the seven standard postures are used for 35 minits. When ever local abhyanga is indicated only 15 minuts or according to the requirement one can opt the time schedule. A. General Abhyanga - sarvadaihika B. Local or Regional Abhyanga a) Organ massage - kidney massage b) Site wise massage - padabhyanga 3. According to the pressure applied the division is as follows. 1. lepa - application of oil over the body2. Abhyanga - application of unctuous substances along with necessiate 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

4. According to Guna of Dravya It is clear that we use unctuous material for the Abhyanga. Out of such materials Ayurveda offers four best unctuous materials viz. Taila, Ghrita, Vasa and Majja (Oil, Ghee, Tallow and Marrow). Based on the qualities of the material used it gives effect over the doshic triad. 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. Tallow d. Marrow POSTURES OF ABHYANGA: There are seven postures for proper Abhyanga. 1. Sitting 2. Supine (lay on back) Sitting 3. Left lateral 4. Dorsal (lay on abdomen)

He did not specify how much time Abhyanga to be done in case of Sukra gata Vyadhi. But we can consider with above material, further Abhyanga can lead to Sukra. If we follow above schedule it takes approximately 5 minutes for each posture Abhyanga and totally 35 minutes. When it is to be done for only one part then 15 minutes massage is recommended. BEFORE THE START OF MASSAGE (1) Massage should be done in a comfort-

Supine
able environment. Choose a warm, peaceful room with dim lights, with light music at the background. (2) Person who takes massage to be made to lie down on a table with height does not strain the back of the massager RULES FOR MASSAGER 1. One who gives massage should be absolutely relaxed. 2. Massager should keep the back straight throughout massage. 3. Massager should never stay in one position for long to avoid gravitational pull. 4. Should wear loose fitting, washable clothes, flat shoes, or go barefoot. 5. Massager should use the weight of the body to give rhythm and depth of massage. 6. Hands and wrists of the massager should be flexible and warm. TIPS FOR A GOOD MASSAGE 1. Most important element of massage is rhythm. 2. Massage should be pleasurable constantly keep inquiring to find out any of the movements that is painful or unpleasant.

5. Right lateral 6. Supine (lay on back) 7. Sitting

Right Left lateral Lateral

TIMING OF ABHYANGA: According to Dalhana, commentator of Susruta Samhita has given elaborated scientific explanation about Abhyanga. Daily massage of 300 matras = 95 sec. Enters into Hair follicles 400 matras = 133 sec. enters into Skin 500 matras = 160 sec. enters into Rakta 600 matras = 190 sec. enters into Mamsa 700 matras = 228 sec. enters into Medas 800 matras = 245 sec. enters into Asti 900 matras = 285 sec. enters into Majja

3. Mould your hands to the cantor of the body. 4. One hand should be always in contact with the body of the person who takes massage throughout. 5. Vary the pressure as per the need of the person. 6. Concentration on massage is important should not talk unnecessarily while massaging. 7. A massager should be totally relaxed while massaging. 8. One should not worry if movements seen chimsy with continuation the rhythm develops. PRECAUTIONS

6. Massage the entire right leg and do right knee and hip joint movements 7. Massage the entire left hand, followed by wrist, allow, and shoulder joints movements. 8. Massage the entire right hand followed by wrist, elbow, shoulder joint movements. 9. Massage the abdomen, 10. Massage the chest. 11. Massage the entire back 12. Massage head, neck, and face followed neck movements. DURATION Form 30 to 45 minutes. BASIC TECHNIQUES A) STROKING: Flowing movements of stroking form the basic of a massage and it is most frequently used one. It is a smooth upward movement is done in 4 ways.

1. Massage should not be given if one is suffering infection, contagious skin disease or high fever. 2. Massager should not massage if he has fever or infections disease. 3. Massage should not be given incase of acute pains of the muscles and joints. 4. Never massage a burse, skin infection or abscess, or inflammatory conditions of lower limbs such as thrombophlebitis, vericose veins. 5. Stomach of pregnant women would not be massaged. MASSAGE SEQUENCE Massage sequence should always follow this order: 1. Lubricate the part to be massaged. 2. Massage the left foot, do left ankle joint movements 3. Massage the leg 4. Do knee joint and hip joint movements 5. Massage the right foot, do right ankle joint movements.

a) UP WORD STROKING: place one hand on the part to be massaged move the other hand in upward direction keep making continuous movements with one hand at a time with both hands.

b) FAN STROKING: Done on wider area like chest abdomen and back. Glide both hands

These friction movements are best given around joints, shoulder blades, and soles of feet hands and legs. a) Rotary friction: Place both hands on the

slightly in upward direction and slightly pull the hands to sides fan out your hands and again return to original place. Continue this movement 3-4 times c) CIRCULAR STROKING: Place both hands on one side of the body with 15 cm apart, then stroke round and round in wide curves, making a circle, Arms cross as one hand completes the circle. One hand does whole circle while the other does only half a circle. Keep one hand over the other arm, and continue stroking with the other hand. Place your hand gently on the skin and repeat. d) THUMB STROKKING: On smaller areas, stroke with thumbs, either with one thumb or

area to be massaged and roll gently in the upward direction b) Spiral friction: Place one hand around the area to be massaged and more in the direction resembles a spring. C) PERCUSSION: Percussion movements

both the thumbs. B) FRICTION: Friction bests done with the four fingers, but can be done with just the thumbs or the palm of the hand. These are circular movements that go deep into the muscle. There are rotary and spiral frictions.

are striking, slicing, backing, chopping movements done in a rapid rhythmic motion. They are brisk and bouncy, useful on fleshy, bulky,

d) Pummeling: Form hands into loose fists and with relaxed wrist start beating with bonny

muscular areas. Never percussion movements on bonny areas never percussion movements on bonny areas. Percussion movements are further divided into varieties. a) Clapping: Hold both hands like a cup and keep rhythmically tapping one hand at a time continuously and rhythmically, in upward di-

movements with softer side of fist. D) POUNDING: With your fists loosely held, using hard, bonny movements start knocking on the fleshy part of the body with knuckles side of fist.

rection. b) Tapping: Hold both hands with soles of the hands facing each other and gently over one hand after other with finger tapping the area gently and rhythmically with bonny movements. c) Hacking: Holding both the hands firmly together, loosening the wrist loosely start hitting the area hard and movements be bonny in upward direction

E) KNUCKLING: Knuckling is small circling strokes employed on shoulders, chest, palms and feet for relief or treatment. Cure the hand into loose fists and with the knuckles of the fist move round in circular movements. F) VIBRATIONS: Rapid shaking or trembling movement on the skins surface without braking the contact. Fingers or the palm of the hand is used there are few variations in the movement. a) Static vibration: Keep the palm of the hand on the bulky fleshy area and give a gentle shaky and trembling movement for some time and then move to another area.

b) Running vibration: Keeping the palm firmly placed on the body move the hands creating shaky and trembling movements. G) KNEADING: This movement is like mix-

ing the wheat flour with water before making Chapathis. It is useful on fleshy parts of the body. a) Light kneading: On less fleshy areas such as shoulders and arms lift, squeeze and roll the flesh between thumb and fingers of one hand glide it towards the other hand, and squeeze the flesh with the second hand. H) PETRISSAGE: Method is as same as light kneading but done with more pressure. I) PRESSURE: Deep, direct pressure to release tension and fatigue of muscles, on either side of spire and around shoulders.

a) Static pressure: Place the pads of thumbs on the skin and gradually lean on to them. Press for few seconds, then release and glide to the next point.

b) Circular pressure: Press and then make small penetrating, circular and movements circling the skin against the underlying muscle. SOME SPECIAL LOCAL MASSAGES BACK MASSAGE: Back massage is useful in Relief of pain from muscle spasm. Relaxing the back muscle. Entire sympathetic, parasympathetic nervous system gets to need up. Relieving broncho-spasm in Asthma and Bronchitis ABDOMINAL MASSAGE: Often people find it uncomfortable while taking abdominal massage due to the tickling sensation felt while taking massage. It is useful in - Relieving abdominal pain and discomfort - Relieving constipation - Weight reduction - Stimulating liver and pancreas. Hence useful in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, hypertension. HEAD MASSAGE: Head massage is highly invigorating and relaxing. useful in - - Relieving headaches, migraine Dandruff - Hair growth by stimulation on scalp. FACE MASSAGE: -it is more of cosmetic importance. It is very useful in: -Relieving tension, anxiety, headaches specially frontal - Treatment of sinusitis -Clearing dark circles around eyes. - Treatment of acne

OVERALL BENEFITS OF MASSAGE 1. Overall well being of Individual 2. Relaxation of body and mind 3. Relief of pain from aching muscles 4. Relief from fatigue stiffness of the joints 5. Increased blood circulation to skin surface improving skin function 6. Removal of impure verious blood 7. Removal of wastes through lymphatic drainage 8. Relaxation of central, sympathetic, and parasympathetic nervous systems 9. Improvement of overall functioning ability of internal organs 10. Improvement of functioning of the endocrine glands. 11. Useful as an adjuvant for the weight reduction 12. Useful in improving rest and sleep 13. Enhances bodies immunity. COMPLICATIONS OF EXCESSIVE MASSAGE 1. Increases Kapha 2. Increases Medas 3. Decreases Agni i.e. digestive fire 4. Develops Ama in system 5. Develops Glani 6. Develops Jwara (fever) DYNAMICS OF ABHYANGA: 1. Physical pressure moving the fluids in internal environment The Abhyanga is acting over the skin, which is a seat of Vata. The skin not only a seat of Vata but also for Lasika (lymph). Thus the lymphatic drainage will be the prime effect of Abhyanga. Lymph possesses a relatively large amount of the amino acid tryptophan, especially when compared with the dietary intake. It likewise has a large amount of albumin (protein), glucose and histaminase (breaks down histamine). Hypothetically, blood aminoacids like tryptophan increase after massage. An increase in plasma tryptophan subsequently causes a parallel increase in the neurotransmitter (chemical between nerve endings) at motor end plates, and serotonin, which is made from tryptophan. Serotonin has been implicated in several phychiatric diseases with low levels of me-

tabolite found by researchers in depression and schizophrenia. Giving albumin bound protein tryptophan to the brain with proper diet and massage should theoretically increase brain serotonin. In practise the abhyanga relieves systems like those caused by serotonin depletion, anxiety, irritability, etc. The fluids of internal environment subjected for movement because of osmotic pressure and hydrostatic pressure. Here abhyanga causes mechanical hydrostatic pressure in the extra cellular compartment i.e. in the peripheral vascular area. A forceful expulsion from peripheral vessels causes splanchenic pooling of the blood. It helps fluid to enter in to viscera and tissues and dilutes the toxins accumulated. When it refills the peripheral vessels after the completion of procedure the diluted toxins are brought in to general circulation and in due course of elimination procedures such as Vamana and Virechana they are oozed or pulled in to gut and expelled. 2. Physical pressure causing electrical charge to the body - phizoelectricity Phizo electricity is said as pressure electricity. Today we witness different modes of generation of electricity, such as thermal, hydro, nuclear etc. The phizo electricity is derived from friction and pressure. This theory was invented in 1880. Phizoelectricity developed from Tormalin quartz is more used in Watch, Microphone and Phonographic industries. Here in Ayurveda we may not be using the term of phizo electricity, but the technique leads to the same effect. When utilizing a medium of unctuous substance to reduce the friction, a good amount of rhythm if uses a specific pressure developed and creates magnetic field and electricity in the body. At present context we have to remember that human body is made of metallic and also nonmetallic compositions and subjected for magnetic meridian. From physics, we learned that any object is being rubbed towards one-direction get electricity charged. The same is going to happen in the body surface area and the charged molecules will attract the molecules of susceptive and drag them from sakha to kosta, by interrupting the doshadooshya sammurchana. Secondly by such charging, the conductivity of nerves will be increased. The normal velocity of electric conductivity in a nerve fiber is said as 0.5 meter per second which

may go up to 100 meters per second. In nerve fiber electricity is discharged in regular intervals and moves in circular pattern. Interruption to the momentum or hyper electrical discharges results in to the state of disease. Treatment is said as rectification of the state of disturbance. Thus the method of Abhyanga that depolarizes the excessive electrical charge in exited state of nerves and also induces perfect charged phizo electricity to bring into normalcy. 3. Physical pressure acting as counter irritant While doing Abhyanga pressure is applied. That pressure acts as an irritant to the surface and the effect of irritation produced as the effect of inflammation and color - rise of local temperature and dolor - mild pain is produced. And robor -rising the peripheral vascularisation is witnessed at the end of procedure, which fill the splanchenum during the procedure. This shuffling of extra cellular compartment fluid makes the sedentary or accumulated impurities at the level of tissues to move, said in Ayurveda as movement of Doshas from sakha to kosta. In various conditions of Vata disorders where pain is a symptom, the counter irritation produced by massage cures by its classical color and robor actions, by which phagocytosis occurs. 4. Physical pressure acting over skin The main objective of Abhyanga is creating softness in the external skin and smoothing of internal viscera and tissues. When softness is induced in skin, the skin becomes lustrous, attains complexion and colour. More over an oily or unctuous skin is going to prevent the body from exposure of heat and dust. The depositions of dust and tidy particles are going to cleansed and cleaned physically by applying the pressure, especially procedures such as udgharshana. 5. Physical pressure acting over Neural controls At motor end plates acetylcholine acts as transmitter in the presence of Calcium ion and facilitates synaptic action potential. The nerve fibers have a myelinated sheet where lipids are the chief ingredients. Na (sodium) and K (potassium) ions are responsible for repolarisation in the nerve fiber. Out of electrolytes, calcium, Hydrogen, sodium and potassium produce depolarization and chlorine and potassium are responsible for hyper polarisation. This action with the association of melatonin a byproduct of serotonin also

synthesized from tryptophan is a neuro chemical causes pleasantness and calming effects in the process of massage. Apart from the effect said the toxins that are settled in the nerve fiber or myelinated sheet and interrupting the conductivity of the nerve impulse are drained out by the exertion of physical pressure on peripheral nerve endings, especially motor and also sensory. 6. Physical pressure acting over Hormonal controls Melitonin, a newly discovered brain hormone is rhythmically secreted in the pineal gland of the brain. Radioactive tryptophan has been found to accumulate in pineal, so we can assume the pineal uses it to form serotonin and melatonin. The pineal gland has a diurnal rhythm and is sensitive to light. During the day the pineal produces high levels of serotonin, and at night produces high levels of melatonin. Melatonin has been found to decrease thyroid activity, adrenal and gonadal activity as well as diminish growth hormone and melanocyte stimulating hormone levels. In all melatonin decreases protein synthesis in the hypothalmus and pituitary resulting in a decrease in six of the seven anterior pituitary hormones (three of six confirmed in man). Melatonin turns down the bodys hormonal activity. Giving melaronin to human results in sleep or sedation (depending upon the dose and way of administration), vivid dreams, EEG changes, which resemble those of a meditative state, and a feeling of well being and moderate elation. Ayurveda explains the action of Abhyanga as Brimhana, Sodhana and Shamana. The further processional analysis has to be elucidated by scientific methodology under the shade of scientific knowledge.