Herbs & Massage : Infuse Your Practice


by Shannon Thompson - Date: 2007-02-10 - Word Count: 493 Share This!

Herbal use dates back to early medical practices in which herbs were applied to the body in a poultice to heal disease. Many ancient healing traditions used herbs as medicine to decrease toxins in the body. Today, these treatments are used to jump start a diet or aid in a weight loss program, support an internal cleansing regimen, decrease pain & stiffness in muscles, decrease water retention, slim the contours of a body, or to rid the body of specific chemicals while breaking an addiction.

Incorporating herbal treatments into your massage practice gives your clients exposure to new types of relaxation techniques and gives you the ability of increasing your menu options. This will prevent stagnation and boredom with your clients.

Herbal infusions are herbs steeped in water. A 1/2 cup of herbs to about 16 quarts of water is a good starting measurement. In preparation for usage, the appropriate herbs are placed in a muslin bag and soaked in hot water (165F) to make a strong "tea". Pour boiling water over the herbs, cap the jar tightly and let the solution steep for a minimum of 1 hour.

Sanitation Tip! Used herbs should not be put down a standard drain after the treatment. Over time, these items can block the drain or damage the pipes. Filter the water out using a strainer and throw the solid matter away.

Herbal Foot Soak Recipes

Ginger Feet is a warming, stimulating foot bath. It's great during cold weather and flu season.
2 oz. fresh ginger root grated per foot bath OR 2-3 tsp dried ginger root powder
64 oz. water

Pamper My Feet is a calming, soothing and healthful blend for overworked, dry, chapped and pained feet.
1 oz. dried chamomile
1/2 oz. lavender buds
1 oz. comfrey root or marshmellow root

Udvartana is an Ayruvedic treatment in which herbal powders or pastes (Ubtan) are rubbed into the body to stimulate circulation and cell renewal, smooth the skin, tone the body's tissues, support detoxification, and relax the body.

Ubtan is a paste made from nuts, seeds, and unprocessed flour to which oils, spices, and milk have been added. The paste is massaged into the skin and allowed to dry slightly. As the paste starts to dry, it is rubbed off with mitts, rolled towels, or bare hands.

Ubtan Recipes

Base : 1/2 cup of chic pea powder
1T of mustard seed powder (you can add more to increase the heat)
1/2 cup of milk or 1T powdered milk
1/4 cup sesame oil
1T of tumeric and one of the following sets of additions :

#1 : 13 drops sandalwood e.o., 1 drop patchouli e.o., 1 drop rose e.o.
#2 : 10 drops sandalwood e.o., 1 drop vetiver e.o., 2 drops jasmine e.o.
#3 : 4 drops ginger e.o., 1 drop rose e.o., 5 drops myrhh e.o., 8 drops mandarin orange e.o.

Sanitation Tip! Ubtan can get messy when it is buffed off the body. It is helpful to place a clean flat massage sheet or fabric drop cloth under the massage table.


Related Tags: herbs, massage, herbal, ayurvedic, herb, pains, massage therapist, foot soaks, aches, poultice

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