In traditional Thai medicine, herbs are used to complement massages that treat illnesses. Herbal hot compress massage increases blood circulation and energy flow, relaxes, warms, releases tension, relieves stiff muscles and joints, eases chronic pain and reduces mental fatigue and stress.
Medical herbal compress massage is based on the holistic principles of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. It is an ancient tradition that was preserved for over a thousand years in monasteries and temples and is still practiced to this day. Traditional Thai hot herbal compress massage is usually given on a matt on the floor and can be given to the customer wearing thin cotton clothes or on bare skin.
The massage starts with traditional Thai massage, deep acupressure, and stretches, followed by pressing the hot herbal compressions. These compression balls look like a soft cloth ball, filled with several traditional herbs that are distinct for their relaxing and curing properties. Moist heat radiates down through the tissues, melting away tension and soreness. Steam opens the pores and the skin breathes.
The skin absorbs the rejuvenating and enriching herbal oil blend. Soothing, uplifting aromas open the senses and relax the mind.
The combination of the heat, medicinal herbs and massage has many benefits:
You can find hot herbal compress balls filled with different herbs. ITM Thai Hand Amsterdam uses the herbs as originally used in traditional Thai Hot Herbal Compress massage, namely zingiber cassumunar, lemon grass, kaffir lime, and camphor.
Zingiber cassumunar is the most important ingredient of the Hot Herbal Compress. It is also called Plai and is family of ginger. Plai root is a fundamental traditional herb for relieving muscular ache, pain or strain. It is also anti-inflammatory and skin-nourishing. It is also used in traditional medicine in Thailand to cure dysentery and in post-natal massage to restore the womb.
The peel of kaffir lime is added in herbal compression for its aromatic property of refreshing, soothing, healing dizziness and general skin tonic.
This tropical grass is used as a perfume as well as medicine. Lemongrass is the source of essential oil and has valuable therapeutic effects in antiseptic, digestive tonic, diuretic, relieving pain and alleviating from nausea.
In addition to its refreshing effect, camphor is traditionally used to relieve stomachache. Camphor is stimulating the brain, heart, and circulation, relieves mental and emotional stress, anxiety and insomnia. When inhaled it is good for sinuses and respiration. Used in compresses it soothes sore muscles and arthritis and treats nervous system disorders such as multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia.