Abhyanga Ayurvedic Oil Massage is an application of Indian Ayurvedic medicine that involves a Full Body Massage with the use of warm herbal oils.
Oils typically contain certain combinations of herbs for specific health conditions. Traditionally, the base oil is made from sesame or coconut.
The receiver lies unclothed on a special massage table (or alternatively on the floor), and the therapist pours the warmed herbal oil over their body. The massage techniques applied are usually manual by using the hands, performing smooth and gentle movements to rub the oil deeply into the body.
Traditionally in India, Abhyanga is a part of the daily practices to maintain good health and well-being. Apart from being given by a masseur, Abhyanga can also be applied as a daily self-massage treatment being part of the Ayurveda Dinacharya daily Self-Care practices.
It’s thought that Abhyanga Massage supports joint health, skin health, nourishes body tissues, brings the Three Doshas (the body substances or elements Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) back to balance and stimulates general well-being.
Abhyanga can be done as part of the more elaborate Panchakarma therapy, applied as its own therapy, or used in conjunction with a warm herbal bath.
In Ayurvedic postnatal care the Abhyanga oil massage is applied to strengthen the lower back, hip area, joints, muscles and tendons of the postpartum mother. It’s also used as a sexual healing modality: Abhyanga is then used in conjunction with other therapies, notably Ayurvedic herbal therapies and dietary restrictions to alleviate or cure infertility, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, to name some examples.