Massage Therapy in Ayurveda

by Vaidya Bhagawan Dash

Because of commercial value, a lot of emphasis is laid, now a days, upon inventing new drugs and therapies for treating patients who have already become victims of diseases.

Ayurveda, on the other hand, gives priority to and prescribes measures for preventing the occurrence of such ailments and for maintaining as well as promoting the positive health of an individual in order to keep him healthy and happy, both physically and mentally. Massage therapy is one such measure.

Though described as a preparatory measure before administering Pancakarma "Five specialised therapies" of the classical Ayurveda, its utility as an independent and distinct therapies measure is well recognised because of its rejuvenating effect on the body and the mind. If an individual desires good health, he should resort to massage every day as a routine.

In addition, it is invaluable in curing several obstinate and otherwise incurable diseases. It is different from the massage which is given as a part of the modern physiotherapy. Because of historical vicissitudes, this therapy has gone into oblivion except in certain pockets of India. An effort has, therefore, been made in this work to elaborate the technique of administering this therapy along with all precautions to be taken. Both the classical prescriptions and traditional applications are taken into account in this work.

The primary purpose of this work is to invoke interest in this age-old health-measure among the physicians and scientists of India and abroad enabling them to conduct scientific research into its acclaimed rejuvenating effects and therapeutic value there by giving relief to the suffering humanity.

About the Author:

Vaidya Bhagawan Dash has had an outstanding brilliant academic career. In addition to graduate and post-graduate qualifications in Ayurveda, he holds a Master's degree in Sanskrit and a Doctorate from University of Delhi. In the course of over thirty years dedicated to research and practice of Ayurveda, Dr. Dash has attended several international conferences and seminars held in Brazil, Mexico, Italy and France, and has written over thirty-eight important publications covering different aspects of Ayurveda and Tibetan Medicines. He was Deputy Adviser in Ayurveda to the Government of India in the Ministry of Health and F.W. till 1981, when he took voluntary retirement to enable him to devote more time for academic and research activities.

As a Consultant in Traditional Medicine of the World Health Organisation, he had paid several visits to Bangladesh, Bhuta, Burma and Mongolia to study and advise on the Health Development Programmes of these countries.