Thai Massage (nuat phaen boran)

Nuat phaen boran

Nuat phaen boran

"Nuat phaen boran" is the Thai name for a type of body work native to Thailand (nuat=massage, phaen=manner, boran=ancient). It short for the longer form "Phaen Boran Ráksãa Thaang Nûat Thai". This may be loosely translated as "the traditional methods of hands-on healing of the Thai people". Thai massage is also known as northern-style Thai massage, Buntautuk style, Old Medicine Hospital Style, traditional Thai massage, Traditional Thai Medical Massage, Thai Yoga, Thai Yoga Massage, yoga massage, Thai classical massage, Thai bodywork, passive yoga, or assisted yoga.

The receiver is put into yoga-like positions during the course of the massage. In the northern style there are a lot of stretching movements whereas the southern style emphasis is given to acupressure. It was believed that the massage art was brought over to Thailand by Jivaka Kumar Baccha, known in Thailand as Dr Shivago, a contemporary of Buddha some 2500 years ago.

The massage recipient changes into pajamas and lies on a mat or firm mattress on the floor. (It can be done solo or in a group of a dozen or so patients in the same large room.) The massage giver leans on the recipient's body using hands and forearms to apply firm rhythmic pressure to almost every part of the receiver's body. The massage generally follows the Sen Energy lines on the body (the Sen are comparable to Chinese meridians). In some gestures, the legs and feet of the giver are used to fixate the body or limbs of the recipient. In other gestures, hands fixate the body, while the feet do the massaging action. Usually no oil is applied, but sometimes a hot herbal compress is used to warm and sooth the receiver's body. A full course of Thai massage typically lasts two hours or more, and includes pulling fingers, toes, ears etc., cracking the knuckles, walking on the recipient's back, arching the recipient's back in a rolling action etc. There is a standard procedure and rhythm to the massage. Sometimes in a large group massage, the practitioners do the procedures in unison.

A full massage in Thailand of typically two hours costs around 300-500 Thai Baht (8.5-14 USD in 2007) depending on location (it may cost 5 times more in a five star hotel).

Ingredients of Herbal Massage Ball
1. Fresh Plai Alleviates aches and pains, fights infection.
2. Bergamot Peel Releases a fragrance that helps cure giddiness.
3.Home Lemon Grass Pleasant fragrance that helps resist infection.
4. Tamarind leaves Helps relieve itchiness, and maintains healthy
skin.
5.Luya-Luyahan Fights infection, combats various skin
diseases,and helps maintain healthy skin.
6. Salt Helps cool the body and aids in absorption
into the skin of essential substances.
7. Camphor A fragrant substance beneficial to the heart.
8. Soap Pod leaves Helpful in skin care, combats skin diseases,
and reduces itching.
9. Patchouli A fragrant substance beneficial to the heart.
10. Castor-oil Plant Alleviates aches and pains, fights infection.
11. Chinese Ginger Helps combat various skin diseases.
12. Lily leaves Fights infection, alleviates aches and pains.
13. Betel Pepper Fights infection, alleviates aches and pains, cures various allergies.
14. Bulb Plant A fragrant substance beneficial to the heart.
15. Croton Oblongifolius Cures giddiness, reduces aches and pains.
Roxb.
16. Ngai Camphor leaves Fight infection, alleviates aches and pains 17. Piper Sarmentosum A fragrant substance beneficial tothe heart.
Roxb.
18. Polyscias A fragrant substance beneficial to the heart.
19. lady leave Cures giddiness, cures aches and pains.
20.Stre blus asper Lour Alleviates aches and pains, and fights infection.
21. Loofah leaves Helps cool the body naturally.
22. Menthol A fragrant substance beneficial to the heart.
23. Arabian Jasmine A fragrant substance beneficial to the heart.
24. Cryptolepis Buchanani Alleviates aches and pains.
Roem
25. Eucalyptus leaves Alleviates aches and pains.

Credit : www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuat_phaen_boran