Spot Specific Thai Massage .

Massage is often long in Thailand - book yourself in for the morning or afternoon ! 

Thai massage can be very long compared to many modern therapeutic forms of massage . Two or three hour therapeutic massages are not uncommon in Thailand to treat a problem. This may not be possible for everyone outside of Thailand , whether due to reasons of cost or time or culturally that we're not used to the idea. 75 or  90 minutes spot or region specific treatment is considered on the short side for Thai Massage but of course good work can be done in that time. 

Why is it so long traditionally ?

There are likely two or three main reasons why Thai massages are so long . One is the consideration that no body pain situation has developed in isolation from the rest of the body and therefore there will be other related areas contributing to the problem needing work. Another is that Thai massage theory teaches that each layer of the body must be addressed in turn in order for the recipient to feel comfortable enough to allow the therapist to work deeper into the next layer . This takes time or the process can be too uncomfortable.  Chronic pain in particular may take time for the therapist to get through to effectively. A third reason is that Thailand has had a massage culture for thousands of years and historically the idea of short timed sessions would have been strange in a less time/money pressured society . It's easy then to see how Thai Massage became so long. 

How does spot or region specific Thai massage work ?

Shorter sessions sacrifice the whole body element of the treatment in order to focus in on a particular area or areas of need and can therefore be done in 75 or 90 minutes - this allows the therapist time to safely work through the layers of tension or blockage to hopefully reach or get closer to the core of the problem , and if there's time to start exploring related areas.  This may not be enough to fully address the situation in one session, but that could be attended to in further sessions if necessary . 

For more information on Thai Massage in Totnes you can list my page here 

Heated Herbal Compress in Thai Massage .

Heated Herbal Compress are an excellent addition to a Thai Massage . They are used everywhere from mountain huts in Northern Thailand to International Spas in major cities . The list of herbs used can vary a little acccording to local ingredients but a typical list along with effects is given below ; this combination of ingredients are useful to everyone and carry, to varying degrees, muscle relaxation , analgesic and anti-inflammatiory properties.  More highly trained herbalists can create bespoke compresses according to what they intend to treat . They can also be combined with heating type muscle balms and oils for extra effect. 

Most commonly, the compresses, though a combination of heat and the herbs will :

• Relax and soften sore muscles and tight tissues around the area being treated.
• Relieve pain in the area. 
• Reduce inflammation. 
• Prepare an area for deeper massage work if required, and bring circulation in after.
• Loosen congestion both in tissues and nasally. 
• Produce a relaxing aromatherapy effect. 
• Support Detox.

They can be used by themselves to support people for whom deep massage maybe too painful, such as people with fibromyalgia, Lupus or other autoimmune conditions, or as a way of creating good conditions for effective deeper massage .

In some cases they maybe useful for some people who would prefer not to have to take regular painkillers . This study carried out in conjunction with Chaing Mai University is interesting : Randomised Control Trial Comparing Thai Herbal Compress and Oral Ibuprofen for pain relief in knee osteoarthritis 

Here's a more detailed general description of  Thai massage with herbal compress from the US Massage Magazine :  Massage Magazine - Thai Herbal Compress 

For General information on thai Massage and my practice Totnes, Devon, UK: Nev Thai Massage.   

Ingredient list and their potential uses/benefits : 

Zingiber Cassumunar ( Phlai in Thailand ) - anti-inflammatory and analgesic.

Tumeric - anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

Zedoary - anti-inflammatory and blood purification.

Lemongrass - antioxidant, analgesic, improves circulation and soothing for the nervous system. 

Derris Scandens Benth - Pain Relief. 

Cryptolepis Buchanani Roem - pain relief . 

Kurz Leaves - anti-inflammatory .

Pandanus - brain and heart tonic. 

Kaffir Lime Leaves - stress relief and rejuvation.

Tamarine Leaves - anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. 

Acacia Concinna Leaves - analgesic. 

Bauhinina Acumirata Linn Leaves - anti-inflammatiory and blood purifier. 

Pummelo Peel - decongestant .

Calamus - neurological problems , brain fog , depression. 

Myrtle - decongestant and mental clarifier . 

Camphor - pain relief and circulation support.

Citranella - Reduces muscle spasm. 

Gangal - tonifies tissues. 

Borneol  - Pain relief, skin tonic and stress relief.