AYURVEDIC MARMA POINTS

Ayurveda believes that the human body functions through the flow of prana, or life force. This means that balancing the prana in the body and maintaining its smooth access to all parts of the body ensures good health. However, prana can get stuck in certain regions, or be blocked by accumulation of ama or toxins. This is where marma points come in.

Marma points are nodes in the body which have a concentration of nerves and blood vessels. They are also connected to the function of various other organs and parts of the body. According to Ayurveda, there are 107 marma points in the body. Focusing and massaging these points can provide great relief and stimulate better organ function.

In general, self-massage or Abhyangam is an important ayurvedic practice which drastically enhances quality of life. Knowledge of marma points takes these massages  to a new level. By understanding the marma points it is possible to relieve pain and solve minor ailments at home, simply by massaging them. This can be done by warming up the hands and using them to massage the body, or with oils as well. Depending on the point to be massaged and the necessary result, various oils can be used. This includes sesame oil which is typically used for Abhyangam, coconut oil which can be used for joints, eucalyptus oil for clearing congestion and so on. By massaging the oils, they warm up and soak deep into the body providing great health benefits.

In the modern world, one of the key problems is accumulation of toxins or ama in the body. This manifests itself in a variety of ways. Reduced organ function, mental capacity, overall tiredness and lack of energy are all symptoms of excessive ama in the body. Massaging marma points can help relieve these symptoms, break down and remove the ama. It gets prana flowing in the body and enhances life. Foot massage is an important ayurvedic practice due to the number of marma points in the feet. This is great for a basic detoxification process without being too time consuming or elaborate.

Another important advantage of marma massage is to remove congestion. Headaches due to blocked sinuses, colds, digestive problems and issues with lymphatic drainage can all be solved by regular marma massages. This can be done at home by self or by an ayurvedic professional and followed through with a warm shower.