Massage is a widely used naturopathy with several health benefits. Massage unites the fractured of bones. It relieves sprains and brushes. It is beneficial in muscle wasting. It regenerates the muscle tissue. The contractile power of muscles is increased by sticking and tapping. Effleurage, kneading and tapotement massage are used for relieving muscle pain.
Normally dry palms are used for massaging but if the skin is too dry or if the body is very weak, oil may be used. Til (sesame) oil is widely used for massage as it is specific for removing pain which is produced by vata. There are three humors which control the body viz-vata, a more or less a nervous activity, pitta- enzymes, digestive juice and bile. Kapha- a growth factor and material present in joint spaces lungs, throat, head, joints and stomach.
There are several herbal oils widely used in massage, they are maha masha taila of black gram used in wasting of muscles, marichadi oil of pepperused in phlegmatic diseases, karpasas thyadi taila of cotton seed oil used in nervous diseases, chandnadi taila of sandal wood used in bilious disorders. The massage is usually done for 30 minutes and for local massage 15 minutes. After massage, the oil is removed by a dry cloth and if needed warm water bath is given.
Avoid massage in tuberculosis, gonorrhoea and diphtheria. In fever, no massage is advised. Pregnant women should avoid abdominal massage. Massage is also not advisable in case of skin diseases. Abdominal massages should be avoided in appendicitis or tumors in the abdominal, gastric or duodenal ulcers and diarrhea.