Tibetan remedial massage is one of the oldest forms of massage found on the earth. It is a speciality of Tibetan medicine that specifically addresses the external body. It is one of six types of external therapies found in the Gyud-Zhi, a classic of Tibetan Medicine referred to as the “Four Tantras” in English.
In the earlier article dealing with Accessory therapy, massage is outlined under the heading of “Wind: Massage with Sesame oil”
Adjunctive therapies address specific problems, while Fomentation addresses the Phlegm diseases. Massage is used to treat the ‘Wind’ diseases and hydrotherapy is used for treating the Bile.
The massage therapy is called “Kunyi” (bsku-mnye in Tibetan language) or literally “ointment rub”. Other methods used are the rubbing of specific acupoints with or without a herbal paste or liniment. The method and points used are similar in nature to Japanese Shiatsu therapy.
As an external treatment, massage using a herbal medicated oil or medicine butter (sman-mar) is traditionally an important adjunctive therapy for ‘Wind’ disturbance or ‘rLung’.
Symptoms of imbalance of ‘rLung’ are, among others, restlessness, insomnia, dizziness, stress, unbalanced emotions, depression, muscle cramping, stiffness and backaches. Tibetan medicine believes oil holds the ‘Wind’ in place, and smoothes it out.
In the Gyud Zhi – “Men-ngak” or “Secret Oral Instructions”, it is the most important principle or secondary therapy for stress disorders. There are 15 major points listed in the Men-ngak to use for the treatment.
The Technique
There are five major massage strokes used in Tibetan massage :
• Stroking : application of oil, long longitudinal strokes (effleurage).
• Rubbing : vigorous circular motion, friction.
• Kneading.
• Acupressure : deep localized, circular motion.
• Triple technique.
Cleansing : Oil is considered Phlegm producing. It is supposed to counteract ‘Wind’ but can produce too much Phlegm. So, there is a need to cleanse the body with chickpea flour after the massage to prevent side effects from the massage.
Two Main Categories of Massage
General : Oil is applied to the body with rubbing, kneading, etc. This is a general treatment for stress disorders but is not diagnostically specific.
Remedial : Specific pathologies are addressed with acupressure on specific acupuncture points. Any point that is sore or looks different is amenable to massage.
The Massage Oil
Four types of oils are used in Tibetan Massage :
1. Butter (clarified butter/ghee) : Butter, usually wild Dri butter, is sweet in taste and warm in nature. It is used for Wind conditions, stress and strains. It is believed that the older the butter (one year old butter), the better it is.
2. Vegetable oil : Amongst the vegetable oils sesame oil is considered the best. It is sweet, mildly warm, relieves stress and strengthens the body.
3. Animal fat (lard) : Specific animal fats are used for specific disorders.
4. Bone marrow : For certain conditions, bone marrow is also used as the media.
Lotions or medicated oils are sometimes used for a massage. Specially made concoctions with melted ghee, nutmeg and certain types of flour are also used to make a paste and this paste is rubbed on acupoints during the massage session. The medicated ghee is used for tension headaches, insomnia, palpitation and dizziness.
There are various combinations of ingredients used to make the medicated ghee. Each one of the ingredients has specific applications.
In Tibetan remedial massage, there are 15 main points that are found on the exposed areas of body. The use of points on the exposed areas comes from the custom of modesty and the coldness of weather in Tibet. A combination of these points combined with many others can be used to treat ‘Wind’ disturbances, tension headache, palpitations, reduce or stop bleeding, sciatica, lumbar pain, menstrual irregularity, frequent urination, constipation, and hiccough.
Benefits
• Improves appetite.
• Perks up body metabolism.
• There is an improvement in the quality and quantity of sleep.
• Energy levels go up.
• Enhances the feel-good factor and improves mood.
Conditions for no Massage
• High fever.
• Inflammation.
• Infection.
• Swelling by fluid retention.
• If the massage results in aggravation of symptoms.
Conditions for Massage
The Tibetan massage tenets lay down some guidelines about the time and the season during which the efficacy of the massage is optimum. According to these principles :
• The best time for the massage is late afternoon or late morning before lunch. The recipient should not be hungry, full or fatigued.
• Massage should not be performed in the early morning, late at night or during hot afternoons.
• In Tibetan belief, seasons matter a lot, as far as massage is concerned. Fall, and spring season are considered suitable for the massage but summer is not supposed to be a very good time for it.
• Best time of the year is winter, when the metal element (relating to the skin) is most active. And so the massage can be used to heat the body and consolidate its surface.