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Thai Herbal Compress Massage

Herbs are an every day part of Thai life, and are used in traditional Thai massage and herbal medicine for their rejuvenating and balancing effects on the body, mind, and energy. In my book, A Thai Herbal: Traditional Recipes for Health and Harmony, I discuss the holistic world-view of the Thai healer and the role of herbs in traditional Thai medicine. In fact, along with massage and spiritual practice, herbalism is one of the three main branches of Thai medicine.

There is significant overlap between Thai herbalism and massage, and no Thai massage clinic in Thailand will go without some of the essentials of herbal healing.

One of the most interesting ways in which these two disciplines dove-tail is in the herbal compress massage. This is a unique form of massage which is practiced mainly in rural areas in Northern Thailand, and which is becoming a well-known spa treatment in Thai beach-side resorts (and now also in the West). An herbal massage incorporates heated herbal compresses into the traditional Thai massage with which you are already familiar. Herbal compresses are heated in an herbal steamer (shown above), and the warm bundles are applied directly to the skin or through the client's clothing during a massage session.

It is no secret that hot compresses are excellent for stiff, sore or pulled muscles and ligaments, back pain, arthritis, chronic pain or injury, disorders of the internal organs, skin diseases, migraines, and chronic stress or anxiety. But a hot herbal compress adds to these benefits the healing effects of therapeutic herbs. The blend of traditional Thai herbs used in these compresses has simultaneously a relaxing and invigorating effect on the body and mind, soothing sore and over-worked muscles while giving a boost for the body's energy level.

The two blends of herbs discussed here are the traditional recipe from around the Chiang Mai area, and the traditional recipe of the Wat Po temple in Bangkok. These are not, however, the only recipes used in Thailand. Herbs for the compresses are blended with attention to the therapeutic needs of the individual, such as for arthritis, cold, flu, fever, and other illnesses, and most massage therapists have several different favorite recipes they use on a regular basis. (For more information on custom herbal blends for individual clients, please consult A Thai Herbal, which discusses this and other aspects of traditional Thai herbalism in detail.)

Herbal compress application is an integral part of Thai "hot therapy." The herbal compress can be a useful way to apply heat along sen lines, acupressure points, and joints that could not otherwise be massaged, and is considered to be as effective a method of delivering hot pressure as acupressure. Simply apply the compress to the site (as hot as the client can stand without burning), and press gently with your palm.

Note that often, ill or sensitive clients can have a very relaxing and invigorating experience with herbal compresses, without use of any yogic stretches at all. Hot compresses provide marked relief of symptoms associated with arthritis or other join stiffness, and help these clients to be able to perform yoga stretches that would otherwise be impossible. I have also had wonderful results when working with clients with fibromyalgia and other chronic pain disorders.

Hot compresses can be used in conjunction with Thai massage in several other ways. Many clinics in Thailand use the herbal compresses as a relaxing way to soothe a client's hard-working muscles after the Thai massage work. Typically, this will add on 15-20 minutes to the massage routine. The entire body will be pressed with hot compresses to ease any residual tension in the muscles.

Use of the compress during the course of the massage can also be relaxing and stimulating. Thai therapists can use herbal compresses on the joints in order to soften and loosen the connections between bones and increase mobility before major stretching. Also, use of the compresses on the abdomen can encourage digestion and stimulate the organs. Apply the hot compresses to the skin directly or through the client's massage clothes, and allow them to warm the client's body, penetrating and dissipating any tension before moving on to deep acupressure work.

Another idea is to use the compresses as heating pillows, as a prop for the client's neck, head, or the backs of the knees. You may also wish to leave compresses at important acupressure points in order to stimulate the energy flow throughout the body. Applying compresses to palms or soles of the feet can also have the same effect. Experiment with different locations on the body, but be sure to avoid the eyes and other areas which may be sensitive.

Hot compress massage is also an excellent option for post-partum clients, who should not be receiving a full Thai massage from a non-specialist. Most parts of the body--including the limbs, hands and feet--can be pressed with herbal compress in order to relax muscles and impart the benefits of the herbs. The stomach and lower abdominal areas should not be pressed, however, so as not to disturb the natural processes taking place. As always, be sure that you have adequate knowledge of the herbs being used, and a full understanding of their potential effects with regards to any medical condition.

The aromatherapeutic effects of the herbs used in the compresses should not be undervalued. Many of these herbs have a balancing effect on the mind and spirit, and provide clients with a soothing reduction of stress. All of the herbs also possess properties which clear out congestion of the lungs and sinuses, and application of hot compresses to the chest and throat can be a wonderful way to kick a cold.

Another use of herbal compresses that should be mentioned is the application of cold compresses. Cold compresses should be cooked for 10-15 minutes to release the beneficial alkaloids in the herbs, and then frozen or iced. The cold compresses should then be applied to clients with muscle strains, tendon or ligament sprains, contusions, hematomas, and more severe injuries requiring "cold therapy". Cold compresses help to reduce swelling and pain and can promote dissipation of pooled stagnant energy due to broken sen lines. Cold compresses should be applied only to the site of the injury and should be monitored while the practitioner massages other areas of the body.

Herbal Sauna or Steam Bath

Every massage clinic worth its salt in Chiang Mai has a sauna or steam bath for clients to use after receiving Thai massage. The purpose of the sauna is to relax the muscles after the intensive massage, but also to release through the pores toxins broken up by the bodywork. Sweating is one of the body's natural purification methods, and the Thais have traditionally used herbs in the sauna to assist in this process. The classic recipe for a Thai sauna is the same as the recipe for the herbal compresses, although many different aromatic herbs may be added to achieve particular purposes or to address particular needs. (See A Thai Herbal for more information and recipes for herbal inhalation.)

The Chiang Mai sauna can range from a tile-walled steam chamber to a simple box made with sheet metal. The steam can be pumped in through a complex system of pipes, or can be delivered simply by placing an herbal steamer with an open lid under the client's seat. Whatever method you use, the Thai herbal sauna is an experience your clients will never forget.

This article is excerpted from The Encyclopedia of Thai Massage ©2004 C. Pierce Salguero. Please purchase a copy by clicking here.