Alternative therapies are gaining more and more space at a time of high levels of stress, anxiety and depression in the population.
Practices such as yoga, meditation and several other techniques of oriental medicine have stood out as a good alternative to circumvent these problems and seek more balance and well-being.
Among them, there is Ayurvedic massage , which is part of a broad and complex treatment that aims to rebalance personal energies and establish harmony and improve physical and mental health.
Let’s understand a little more about this Indian technique, very popular in Eastern countries, which has its benefits proven and recognized even by the Ministry of Health.
Contents
What is Ayurvedic medicine and where does it come from?
Ayurveda medicine is an ancient tradition that emerged in India, more than 5,000 years ago. It applies ancient medicinal knowledge aimed at preventing and curing diseases. Ayurveda in Sanskrit means science of life (“ayur” means life and “veda”, science).
Some people claim that Ayurveda medicine is possibly the oldest and most complex medical knowledge known to date.
True balance with nature and the people around you, including family, colleagues, animals, food and elements of nature, is the central philosophy of Ayurveda.
It is very common and popular in India, practiced by about 80% of the Indian population for being part of its culture.
Traditional western medicine tends to treat only the symptoms of the disease and not its causes. Ayurveda, on the other hand, believes that people get sick when there is a blockage or obstruction of vital energy (prana), which can be caused by several internal and external factors.
Therefore, it aims to treat the person as a whole and not just the reported symptoms, in order to maintain balance and prevent the body from getting sick.
What is Ayurvedic Therapy?
Ayurvedic therapy is a personal orientation aimed at understanding the functioning of the organism itself. It seeks to assist in the awareness of the state of balance and understanding of the causes that lead to imbalances. For this, it acts on eating habits and lifestyle according to each patient.
The therapy seeks to stimulate body awareness, harmony, balance, self-knowledge and quality of life by purifying the mind, body and spirit, according to oriental belief.
According to ayurveda, the human body is composed of five elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth, which make up the energetic and emotional states of the organism.
When these elements are out of balance, according to Ayurvedic principles, they can induce the appearance of physical and mental illnesses.
A person is considered to be healthy if the doshas (moods) are in balance, the dhatus (tissues) are properly nourished and the bags (excretions) are disposed of properly. Thus, there is a balance between mind, body and spirit.
The main goals of therapy are:
- Stimulate quality of life based on self-knowledge;
- Perform detoxification of body and mind;
- Balance personal goals and priorities;
- Create a personalized feeding program according to each patient;
- Encourage respect for yourself, aiming to reach your maximum potential;
- Eliminate toxins;
- Increase disposition and promote energy;
- Prevent disease;
- Promote harmony.
Experienced Ayurveda practitioners use this ancient ancient wisdom to identify the causes of deviations from the natural state of balance, looking for ways to restore it.
The Ministry of Health included Ayurveda in 2017, in the National Policy of Integrative and Complementary Practices (PNPIC) as a complementary alternative medicine approach.
What is the indication for Ayurvedic massage?
Ayurvedic massage is not just a massage to relieve body tensions. It is considered as therapeutic, which also works at the mental and emotional levels.
For this reason, this technique is very indicated and effective in the following cases:
- Insomnia;
- Anxiety;
- Depression;
- Panic Syndrome;
- Stress;
- Fatigue;
- Migraine;
- Emotional blocks;
- Moderate muscle pain;
- Spine problems (such as poor posture);
- Fibromyalgia
Read more: Massage therapy: what it is and what are the benefits
How are the Ayurvedic massage maneuvers?
Ayurvedic massage is one of the main points of the treatment that provides relaxation, stimulates the muscles and blood circulation, releasing the toxins trapped in the body tissues and muscles.
In Ayurveda medicine, it is believed that each person needs a specific procedure according to their needs. For this reason, there is no ready-made method with a fixed sequence of techniques.
It consists of deep and vigorous movements with the therapist’s hands, elbows and feet and involves the client’s back, arms, hands, legs, feet and hips.
Essential oils are used during the massage, heated and infused with Ayurvedic herbs, which assist in the movements and purification of energies. They are chosen in a particular way, according to the case.
The techniques used during the massage include touching the skin, kneading and squeezing specific points such as feet, scalp, forehead, behind the ears, neck and neck.
The style of movements and the flow of the massage are determined by the bodily needs in terms of balance and well-being.
Benefits of Ayurvedic Massage
Ayurvedic Massage has an intense, vigorous and relaxing effect on the muscles. Thus, it balances the structure in general by manipulating connective tissue and stretching, vitalizes and detoxifies the entire body.
It also harmonizes emotions and thoughts, seeking a state of physical and psychological balance, inner well-being and relaxation.
According to Ayurveda, what causes pain is the accumulation of negative energy, which obstructs the flow of vital energy in the body.
Massage increases body temperature and this heat causes the flow of positive energy to move, relieving pain and tension.
The method also helps to breathe better and, with the body receiving more oxygen, facilitates and improves circulation, thus increasing vitality and vital disposition.
Studies prove its effectiveness and benefits. Check out some of them below:
- Relieves muscle tension;
- Stimulates oxygenation;
- Helps to decrease body fat, eliminate the accumulation of fluids and attenuate cellulite;
- Balances energies;
- Prevents diseases;
- Relax body, mind and spirit.
- Rejuvenates and improves the skin;
- Realigns bone and muscle structures;
- Increases self-awareness;
- Strengthens the immune system;
- It nourishes the cells of the tissues, because the movements stimulate the circulation of extracellular fluids;
- Aligns heart rate;
- Reduces knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis;
- Improves muscular dystrophy.
According to professionals in the field, Ayurvedic massage can be performed on people of any age, however, it is contraindicated in cases of cold , fever , indigestion, skin lesions or constipation .
How much does it cost and where to do it?
Ayurvedic massage can be done in spas, some aesthetic clinics, oriental therapy centers (such as yoga, meditation, massages, etc.) and alternative therapy schools.
The values usually vary between R $ 125 to R $ 250 per session, lasting between 60 and 90 minutes, in private establishments.
It is also possible to find treatment at SUS. However, according to the Ministry of Health, each municipality is responsible for the services offered to the population and, for this reason, not all units offer alternative practices.
It is estimated that 3,173 municipalities offer these therapies. Therefore, the best thing to do is to find the nearest health unit and check the availability of Ayurvedic treatment in your city.
Alternative therapies are available as a way to complement traditional health treatments and many of them have their benefits proven and recognized by the Ministry of Health.
The most important thing is to always seek balance and well-being, paying attention to physical and mental health, as Ayurvedic therapy proposes.
In any case, make time for yourself and take care of yourself. That’s what Minute Healthy believes in.
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