Benefits of warm oil massage
All of us deserve to feel nourished and satisfied. Sometimes in the busy pace of our lives and the striving towards success the feeling of contentment and satisfaction feels far away. Abhyanga (ayurvedic self massage) while simple can be a remarkable help in this regard. How is this possible you may ask? The answer is twofold. Abhyanga puts us in touch with our body and helps to integrate body and mind. By doing this it facilitates self confidence and breeds self awareness. As this daily ritual becomes a steady part of our lives we can anticipate some of the following benefits.
Sesame oil used for warm oil massage has been shown to have anticarcinogenic, anti-melanoma, anti colon cancer effects (Salerna and Smith 1991 1992). That is why the base of most Ayurvedic oils is sesame. Oil massage has shown to have pervasive antioxidant effects and to reduce oxidative stress that accompanies arthritis (Kang et al 1998) (Sotnikova et al 2009) as well. Most of the research on warm oil massage has been done on infants, but the benefits still apply to the adult body.
These benefits are able to accrue within the physiology because the skin is the largest organ in the body and the transdermal absorption of the medicinal compounds in the oil are brought directly into the bloodstream where they create positive systemic changes.
Procedure
Lymphatic vessels move from the inside of the legs into the groin and low back region and from the inside of the arms and down the sides of the neck towards the heart. While massaging keep that in minds by starting at the hands and feet and then moving towards the heart.
Use mahanarayan oil diluted with sesame oil. If neither one is suitable, you may also try olive oil or coconut oil. The oil is heated slightly above body temperature by placing it in the sink with warm water. Ideally use circular strokes on the joints and long strokes on the limbs, massaging toward your heart. Move everything back towards the heart using the lymphatic drainage picture to the left as a guide.
Head massage: Start by massaging the head. Place a small amount of oil on the fingertips and palms and begin to massage the scalp vigorously. Then move onto the forehead, cheekbones, chin, nose, and around the eyes. Hold tender areas and breath.
Face and ears: Apply oil gently with the open part of the hand to your face and outer part of your ears.
Neck: Massage the front and back of your neck, and the upper part of your spine. Continue to use your open hand in a rubbing type of motion.
Body application: Apply a small amount of oil to your entire body and then proceed with the massage to each area of the body.
Arms, hands and fingers: Next massage your arms. The proper motion is back and forth, over your long bones, and circular over your joints. Massage both arms, including hands and fingers.
Chest and abdomen: Apply oil to the chest and abdomen. A very gentle circular motion should be used over your heart. Over the abdomen, follow the bowel pattern moving from right to left.
Back and spine: Massage the back and spine. There will be some area which you may have difficulty reaching, just do the best you can.
Legs and feet: Massage the legs, like the arms, use a back and forth motion over the long bones and circular over the joints. Massage the bottoms of the feet. The feet are considered especially important because they relate to the rest of the body. Use the open part of the hand and massage vigorously back and forth over the soles of the feet.
Where to get your oils?
There are a multitude of high quality herbalized oils on the market. My favorite companies are
Banyan Botanicals – If you order from Banyan use promotional code NVSC13 for 15% off all products
MAPI – If you order from MAPI use promotional code noahvolz10 to receive 10% off
TriHealth- High quality traditionally made oils
Please integrate a warm oil self massage into your daily routine and experience the benefits of this time honored tradition.
References
Agarwal KN, Gupta A, Pushkarna R, Bhargava SK, Faridi MM, Prabhu MK. Effects of massage and use of oil on growth, blood flow and sleep pattern in infants. Indian J Med Res. 2000;112:212–17.[PubMed]
Darmstadt GL, Badrawi N, Law PA, et alTopical therapy with sunflower seed oil prevents nosocomial infections and mortality in premature babies in Egypt: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J (submitted). [PubMed]
Fernandez A, Patkar S, Chawla C, Taskar T, Prabhu SV. Oil application in preterm babies, a source of warmth and nutrition. Indian Pediatr. 1987;24:1111–17. [PubMed]
Iyengar SD, Bhakoo ON. Prevention of neonatal hypothermia in Himalayan villages. Role of the domiciliary caretaker. Trop Geogr Med. 1991;43:293–96. [PubMed]
Kang. M. H. Nait, M., Sakai, K, Uchida, K, and Osawa, T (2000) “Mode of action of sesame lignans in protecting low-density lipoprotein against oxidative damae in vitro.” Lie Sciences 66, 2. 161-171.
Kang, MH, Naito, M, Tsujihara, N, and Osawa T (1998) “Sesamolin inhibits lipid peroxidation in rat liver and kidney” Journal of Nutrition 128, 6, 1018-1022
Myeong-Sook Ju, 1 Sahng Lee, 2 Ikyul Bae, 3 Myung-Haeng Hur, 4 ,* Kayeon Seong, 4 and Myeong Soo Lee 5 Effects of Aroma Massage on Home Blood Pressure, Ambulatory Blood Pressure, and Sleep Quality in Middle-Aged Women with Hypertension Pabst RC, Starr KP, Qaiyumi S, Schwalbe RS, Gewolb IH. The effect of application of Aquaphor on skin condition, fluid requirements, and bacterial colonization in very low birth weight infants. J Perinatol.1999;19:278–83. [PubMed]
Sherman, Karen J. PhD, MPH,1,2 Evette J. Ludman, PhD,1,3 Andrea J. Cook, PhD,1,4 Rene J. Hawkes, BS,1 Peter P. Roy-Byrne, MD,3 Susan Bentley, DO,3 Marissa Z. Brooks, MPH, LMP,6 and Daniel C. Cherkin, PhD1,5 Effectiveness of Therapeutic Massage for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial Smith, DE and Salerno JW 1992) Selective growth inhibition of a human malignant melanoma cell line by sesame oil in vitro.” Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential fatty acids 46, 146-150.
Sotnikova, R, Ponist, S, Navarova, J, Mihalova, D, et al (2009) “Effects of sesame oil in the model of adjuvant arthritis.” Neuroendocrinology Letters 30, Suppl. 1, 22-24.
Wallace M, Lindado S, Bedrick A, Moravec C, Nieto S. Decreasing bloodstream infection rates in very low birth weight infants with topical ointment therapy [abstract] Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol.1998;19:689.
- Improved strength and stamina (Gupta et al 2000)
- Toning of the muscles and the whole physiology (Gupta et al 2000)
- Improved sleep quality and calms the nerves (Gupta et al 2000)
- Improved cellular nutrition (Fernandez et al 1987)
- Improved softness and smoothness of the skin (Pabst, 1999)
- Improved fluid delivery and lubrication of the joints (Pabst, 1999)
- Reduced bacterial colonization (Pabst, 1999)
- Decreased bloodstream infection rates (Wallace, 1998)
- Improved circulation and thermoregulation (Iyengar, 1991)
- Improved mood and mental alertness (Sherman, et al 2010)
- Balanced blood pressure (Sook Ju et al, 2013)
Sesame oil used for warm oil massage has been shown to have anticarcinogenic, anti-melanoma, anti colon cancer effects (Salerna and Smith 1991 1992). That is why the base of most Ayurvedic oils is sesame. Oil massage has shown to have pervasive antioxidant effects and to reduce oxidative stress that accompanies arthritis (Kang et al 1998) (Sotnikova et al 2009) as well. Most of the research on warm oil massage has been done on infants, but the benefits still apply to the adult body.
These benefits are able to accrue within the physiology because the skin is the largest organ in the body and the transdermal absorption of the medicinal compounds in the oil are brought directly into the bloodstream where they create positive systemic changes.
Procedure
Lymphatic vessels move from the inside of the legs into the groin and low back region and from the inside of the arms and down the sides of the neck towards the heart. While massaging keep that in minds by starting at the hands and feet and then moving towards the heart.
Use mahanarayan oil diluted with sesame oil. If neither one is suitable, you may also try olive oil or coconut oil. The oil is heated slightly above body temperature by placing it in the sink with warm water. Ideally use circular strokes on the joints and long strokes on the limbs, massaging toward your heart. Move everything back towards the heart using the lymphatic drainage picture to the left as a guide.
Head massage: Start by massaging the head. Place a small amount of oil on the fingertips and palms and begin to massage the scalp vigorously. Then move onto the forehead, cheekbones, chin, nose, and around the eyes. Hold tender areas and breath.
Face and ears: Apply oil gently with the open part of the hand to your face and outer part of your ears.
Neck: Massage the front and back of your neck, and the upper part of your spine. Continue to use your open hand in a rubbing type of motion.
Body application: Apply a small amount of oil to your entire body and then proceed with the massage to each area of the body.
Arms, hands and fingers: Next massage your arms. The proper motion is back and forth, over your long bones, and circular over your joints. Massage both arms, including hands and fingers.
Chest and abdomen: Apply oil to the chest and abdomen. A very gentle circular motion should be used over your heart. Over the abdomen, follow the bowel pattern moving from right to left.
Back and spine: Massage the back and spine. There will be some area which you may have difficulty reaching, just do the best you can.
Legs and feet: Massage the legs, like the arms, use a back and forth motion over the long bones and circular over the joints. Massage the bottoms of the feet. The feet are considered especially important because they relate to the rest of the body. Use the open part of the hand and massage vigorously back and forth over the soles of the feet.
Where to get your oils?
There are a multitude of high quality herbalized oils on the market. My favorite companies are
Banyan Botanicals – If you order from Banyan use promotional code NVSC13 for 15% off all products
MAPI – If you order from MAPI use promotional code noahvolz10 to receive 10% off
TriHealth- High quality traditionally made oils
Please integrate a warm oil self massage into your daily routine and experience the benefits of this time honored tradition.
References
Agarwal KN, Gupta A, Pushkarna R, Bhargava SK, Faridi MM, Prabhu MK. Effects of massage and use of oil on growth, blood flow and sleep pattern in infants. Indian J Med Res. 2000;112:212–17.[PubMed]
Darmstadt GL, Badrawi N, Law PA, et alTopical therapy with sunflower seed oil prevents nosocomial infections and mortality in premature babies in Egypt: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J (submitted). [PubMed]
Fernandez A, Patkar S, Chawla C, Taskar T, Prabhu SV. Oil application in preterm babies, a source of warmth and nutrition. Indian Pediatr. 1987;24:1111–17. [PubMed]
Iyengar SD, Bhakoo ON. Prevention of neonatal hypothermia in Himalayan villages. Role of the domiciliary caretaker. Trop Geogr Med. 1991;43:293–96. [PubMed]
Kang. M. H. Nait, M., Sakai, K, Uchida, K, and Osawa, T (2000) “Mode of action of sesame lignans in protecting low-density lipoprotein against oxidative damae in vitro.” Lie Sciences 66, 2. 161-171.
Kang, MH, Naito, M, Tsujihara, N, and Osawa T (1998) “Sesamolin inhibits lipid peroxidation in rat liver and kidney” Journal of Nutrition 128, 6, 1018-1022
Myeong-Sook Ju, 1 Sahng Lee, 2 Ikyul Bae, 3 Myung-Haeng Hur, 4 ,* Kayeon Seong, 4 and Myeong Soo Lee 5 Effects of Aroma Massage on Home Blood Pressure, Ambulatory Blood Pressure, and Sleep Quality in Middle-Aged Women with Hypertension Pabst RC, Starr KP, Qaiyumi S, Schwalbe RS, Gewolb IH. The effect of application of Aquaphor on skin condition, fluid requirements, and bacterial colonization in very low birth weight infants. J Perinatol.1999;19:278–83. [PubMed]
Sherman, Karen J. PhD, MPH,1,2 Evette J. Ludman, PhD,1,3 Andrea J. Cook, PhD,1,4 Rene J. Hawkes, BS,1 Peter P. Roy-Byrne, MD,3 Susan Bentley, DO,3 Marissa Z. Brooks, MPH, LMP,6 and Daniel C. Cherkin, PhD1,5 Effectiveness of Therapeutic Massage for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial Smith, DE and Salerno JW 1992) Selective growth inhibition of a human malignant melanoma cell line by sesame oil in vitro.” Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential fatty acids 46, 146-150.
Sotnikova, R, Ponist, S, Navarova, J, Mihalova, D, et al (2009) “Effects of sesame oil in the model of adjuvant arthritis.” Neuroendocrinology Letters 30, Suppl. 1, 22-24.
Wallace M, Lindado S, Bedrick A, Moravec C, Nieto S. Decreasing bloodstream infection rates in very low birth weight infants with topical ointment therapy [abstract] Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol.1998;19:689.