The conceptual background of Thai Massage Sib Sen theory is quite similar to the energy concepts found in Chinese Traditional Medicine and Indian Ayurvedic Medicine.
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All these theories assume that Life Energy (Prana, Lom Pran, or Qi) runs through specific pathways in the body. These Energy Channels are called the Sen in Thailand, Nadis in India, and Meridians in China.
Moreover, it’s believed that an unobstructed supply and balanced distribution of Life Energy is of key importance to a person’s health and well-being.
Life Energy or Life Force in Thai Massage is called Lom Pran, which means Wind of Life. A blockage or obstruction in the flow of Lom Pran is thought to cause a variety of discomforts, diseases, or illnesses to a person.
As such, “opening” and “maintaining” the Sen Lines is one of the primary aims of treatments in the Thai Healing Arts.
Sib Sen philosophy (or doctrine) claims the following as its main principles:
- The word Sen means path, line or channel and Sib means ten (10).
- The Sib Sen start their trajectories under the abdominal surface around the navel and end at the openings, endings or extremities of the body.
- There are 72 000 Sen lines in total and ten principal Sens; all other Sens branch from these ten Sens.
- The Sen are material but invisible and made up of highly subtle matter; they can neither be seen with the eye nor with help of microscopical equipment.
- The Sen are not blood vessels, lymph canals, nerves, tendons or ligaments.
- There is Wind, Subtle Breath or Life Energy (Lom Pran) running through the Sen.
- A Sen Line can get blocked or broken, and if so, Life Energy or Wind can get obstructed or leak and may cause illness.
- Life Energy or Wind transforms into different types of energies in the body.
- Some Sen Lines overlap and their overlapping parts have the functionality of the respective Sen. Otherwise said, a Prana trajectory can have more than one type of Wind.
- The Sen have an infinite number of acupressure point locations on the lines that influence the flow of Life Energy. Nevertheless, there are a range of pressure points that have special therapeutic functionality.
