Herbal Compress Massage, in Thailand called Luk Pra Kob, and also referred to as Herbal Ball Massage, can be applied hot or cold. A Thai herbal compress treatment can be used as is, stand-alone, or in conjunction with Thai Massage, and it’s usually done to soothe or to relieve pain and inflammations, or to prepare or soothe the body (or body parts) before or after deeper therapeutic Sib Sen Energy Lines and Thai acupressure work.
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Important in the application of herbal packs and compresses is the selection of herbs with certain therapeutic qualities, which all depends on the kind of ailment or discomfort the therapist intends to treat. Typically, a mix of dry herbs is wrapped in a compress (traditionally a cotton cloth), then steamed, and when hot, applied to the body by pressing, gliding or smearing in circular, linear or rolling movements.
In modern societies, people are often rather tensed, having lots of muscle tissue contractions, while experiencing stiffness, poorly functioning articulations, and a poor blood circulation, and the like. Subsequently, when giving Thai Massage, it’s often not possible to immediately start with deep acupressure work on the Thai Sen Energy Lines; one simply cannot penetrate and reach the Sen Lines, besides of the extra pain while doing so would inflict.
Thus, in cases such as mentioned above, applying hot therapies beforehand can prove to be very beneficial to prepare a client for deeper therapeutic work. Thai hot herbal compresses applied along the Sen Lines and joints are an excellent way to do this.
Mind that cold herbal compresses may be applied also, depending on the goal of the treatment. In any case, cold compresses are commonly used with acute inflammations, wounds, or other injuries to “cool down” the area and lead surplus or stagnant energy away from the area.
