marma puncture In Ayurvedic medicine, the
insertion of a needle into the body’s marma, or
energy points, at the junction of two or more sig-
nificant body functions.
massage The scientific method of manipulating
the soft tissues of the body for several different pur-
poses: to restore basic functions of all systems of
the body as a whole (hence the term holistic),
release tension by giving the body a chance to heal
naturally, boost the immune system, release endor-
phins, increase circulation, improve muscle tone,
and rid the body of toxins.
The healing properties of touch and massage
have been used for the past 5,000 years or more.
The use of one’s hands for the purpose of calming
another person has made massage one of the most
accessible modalities of healing known to
humankind. In ancient times, people of India used
massage to strengthen and heal the body. The Bible
mentions “laying the hand on the body” and
anointing the body with oil as a means of healing.
In 460 B.C. Hippocrates, known as the father of
medicine, recommended that his patients receive
such treatment for overall health and said that all
physicians should learn massage techniques. From
that point forward, hundreds of variations on the
theme have been created and explored by many
different cultures. Thai medical history documents
that Thai massage was introduced to the world by
Jibaka Kumaru Bacha, an Indian doctor, more than
2,500 years ago. He incorporated the use of herbs
and minerals, as well as the spiritual aspect of the
art. Since then, therapeutic massage has become a
respected profession, despite its unfortunate link to
prostitution and “massage parlors.” In the 1800s,
the Royal Central Institute, where massage tech-
niques were looked upon as a science, was estab-
lished in Stockholm, Sweden. Swedish massage,
the basis of all Western forms of massage treat-
ment, is a full-body massage using a variety of oils
to nourish the skin—sesame, almond, coconut, and
grape seed, to name a few. Of the approximately
400 or so branches of massage, there are several
that are widely recognized as Swedish. Deep Tis-
sue, for example, is often incorporated into
Swedish massage if the client has problem areas
that need specific attention. Although it can be
somewhat painful, it can be quite healing if done
properly and with caution.
Therapists may borrow techniques from a vari-
ety of different kinds of massage and use them
according to the client’s needs. Among the most
common types of massage are the following (1)
shiatsu, a Japanese style of massage, is performed
on the floor, on a mat, rather than on a massage
table, (2) acupressure, similar to shiatsu, mainly
uses thumb pressure to stimulate pressure points,
(3) neuromuscular, also known as trigger point
therapy, uses finger pressure to address painful
areas in the muscles, (4) sports massage uses tech-
niques for athletes and other physically active peo-
ple who have sore muscles or injuries that require
special care, such as sprains, strains and tendinitis;
before and after physical activity, it can enhance
training and prevent injury, (5) craniosacral work
aims to locate and correct cerebral and spinal
imbalances or blockages that cause sensory, motor,
or intellectual dysfunction, (6) connective tissue
massage concentrates on the superficial and mid-
dle layers of connective tissue (called fascia) to
relax, revitalize, and heal the body, (7) manual
lymph drainage is a rhythmic pumping form of
massage designed to stimulate the movement of
lymph fluid through the lymph vessels. It is espe-
cially useful in the treatment of lymphedema, a
side effect of any surgery in which the lymph
nodes are removed or of irradiation administered
in the area of the lymph nodes, (8) chair massage
often occurs in public settings, such as corporate
offices, where time is of the essence and clothes
may not be removed. A special chair, rather than a
massage table, is used to make the recipient as
comfortable as possible while making the back,
neck, and arms accessible to the therapist, (9)
Reflexology is making use of the hands and feet as
maps for the entire body. This is especially useful
in cases when massage of certain areas of the body
is restricted, (10) The Feldenkrais Method is con-
sidered useful for many types of chronic pain,
including headaches, temporomandibular joint
(TMJ) syndrome, and other joint disorders. Com-
monly used for athletes, dancers, and other per-
formers, the method is said to improve balance,
coordination, and mobility. A session, which may
be performed while the person is sitting or lying82 marma puncture