Philosophy:Ayurvedic acupressure

From HandWiki
Short description: Type of massage

Ayurvedic acupressure (also known as Marma therapy)[1] is a particular kind of treatment or an alternative medical treatment, which integrates the knowledge of ancient Ayurveda and the principles of acupressure, allegedly to completely heal and cure physical, mental, emotional and spiritual illnesses.[2]

As per Ayurveda, there are 107 marma points in a human body. Marma points are those points where muscle, vein, ligament, bone and joint meet.

According to Charaka Samhitā, an early text on Ayurveda, the cosmos and its correspondence – the human body, are composed of both physical (Visible) and metaphysical (Invisible) forces.

Ayurvedic acupressure talks about 10 elements – 5 physical and 5 metaphysical.

  • 5 elements(not exactly elements but like forms of matter exists in our body and environment) or Panch Tatva: – Electricity or flow of charges (not space as it does not exist in our body and environment), Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
  • 5 metaphysical elements: – Time, Direction, Mind, Soul and Tam (Origin).

In Ayurveda the pressure points or the meridians are called Marma points.[3] These are considered as energy points, just as Chinese refer them as pressure points, and they help in stimulating not only circulation, but also improve mental and emotional outlook. The Marma points are located throughout the body.

Treatment in Ayurvedic Acupressure can be easily done without needles by:

  • Applying pressure with finger
  • Seeds
  • Magnets
  • Colours

The Acupressure shodh prashikshan evam upchar sansthan Allahabad is a non government organization working for the last 20 years in popularizing the Ayurvedic Acupressure

There are many branches of acupressure/acupuncture[4] as we know it today. They are

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
  • Ayurvedic Acupressure
  • Sujok[5]
  • Reflexology

These are just some of the forms. The scope and theories of each are a bit different.

References