The Benefits of Head Massage Therapy
A remarkable tool used by alternative medicine practitioners, Head Massage is a convenient form of therapy that doesn’t need a special place to perform it. It can be administered almost everywhere, and during the session, the patient can remain fully clothed.
Brief history of Head Massage
Head Massage originated in ancient India as a branch of Ayurvedic medicine. Indian Gurus brought this practice in Tibet later on and it was integrated into the healing practice of Tibetan Monks.
Champissage or simply Champi is a widely popular Indian healing art and its tradition had been passed down from generation to generation.
Head Massage Benefits
Head Massage works extremely well for the following health conditions:
- Stress
- Unbalanced Emotions
- Restlessness
- Stiffness
- Migraines
- Muscle Cramps
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Backache
- Depression
- Anxiety
Along with the application of massage oils, head massage therapy can be a very good way to treat hair and skin problems. It is an excellent tool against all illnesses caused by our modern way of living.
Self massage
One of the best things about head massage is that you can give yourself one if you aren’t able to visit a qualified massage therapist. You can give yourself head massage prior to an exam to help you manage stress, at home after an exhausting day, at your workplace to help you concentrate much better, etc.
Before Beginning
If needed, warm up your hands before a self-massage, use warm water to wash your hands and use massage oil or moisturizing cream. Very quickly rub your hands together as this can warm the hands even more. Focus on your massage and most importantly, try to relax.
Neck Stretching Exercise
Start by performing a neck stretching exercise. Place your hands on the area where your neck joins with your shoulders and begin by doing a side stretching right and left. Perform the stretching exercise slowly like you are doing it in slow motion and the extension should be within the limits of comfort. Perform the exercise on both sides a few times. Keep your hands on your shoulders and continue stretching backward and forward in the same slow motion movement. Continue stretching using alternative rotations; one counterclockwise, the next one, clockwise, this time even slower. Repeat this several times.
Squeezing the shoulder
On your right shoulder near your neck, place your left hand and squeeze the muscle between your fingers and your palm. Perform this on your entire shoulder going up to the neck. Repeat the procedure this time with your right hand on your left shoulder. This should be ideally done directly on the skin. If you are not using oil, refrain from vigorously rubbing the skin.
Ear Massage
Ear massage can help improve body temperature adjustment, boost digestion, and lessen stress. Begin by pulling the ear backward using light force. Squeeze your ear applying light pressure with your index finger and thumb. Use light force when pulling your earlobe downward, then release.
This will activate all the energetic points on your ear. The benefits of ear massage are very similar to the benefits of auricular acupuncture. Massaging the earlobe has been proven to calm hyperactive kids.
Eyebrows Friction
Begin by rubbing with your middle fingers the area along your eyebrows to the temporal bone. Look for a small cavity when you reach the temporal bone and perform a small circular fingertip friction. This can also be done alternatively using your thumb. This technique is an ideal way to relieve fatigue and headaches.
Nerve Strokes
Gently stroke your hair with your fingers going all the way to the neck against the direction of hair growth. Then do this, this time going on the opposite direction beginning from your neck to the front of your head. Stop for a second when you’ve reached the top of your head where the hair forms a swirl and then continue.
The spiritual aspect of Indian head massage
Indian head massage works on the theory that the human body possesses energetic centers called marma. These are sensitive points that function as doors between the energetic and physical levels of the body, (this is somewhat similar to Chinese acupuncture points). When we stimulate these points, we can adjust the body’s chi or vital energy.
Scott Paglia is a licensed acupuncturist in Bellingham, WA with advanced training in modern acupuncture techniques and traditional Asian therapies.