Everyone is busy these days. There are many ways in which you can relax. Abhyanga is one of them. It is done with the help of warm oil. It is applied to the entire body, from the scalp to the soles of your feet. It is one of the most popular massage therapies in Ayurveda. It is applied to the entire body, from the scalp to the soles of your feet. Abhyanga Massage focuses on maintaining health through natural practices like massage and what you eat.
Oil is the central component of this practice. When combined with massage strokes, it’s thought to promote overall health and wellness.
Abhyanga Massage is typically performed by a massage therapist
. But it’s also possible to do an abhyanga self-massage in the comfort of your own home.
Researchers found that, after the massage, the subjective stress levels and heart rate decreased. While new, larger studies are necessary to understand how abhyanga massage reduces stress, other research has found similar benefits. Stress negatively changes the autonomic nervous system, reducing heart rate variability. Low heart rate variability indicates higher stress levels; high variability indicates relaxation. The aromatic oil also helped, but its effect was temporary. This suggests that abhyanga, which also involves massage and oils, could potentially offer similar benefits.
After abhyanga, blood pressure decreased in those with prehypertension. This could be related to the way massage affects the circulatory system. During a classic massage, the blood vessels expand. This speeds blood flow and reduces resistance in the arteries, which helps improve blood pressure. Still, additional research is needed to clarify how abhyanga specifically affects blood pressure.
Healthy skin is the main benefit of massage. The oil is used to nourish the skin, which supposedly improves its overall appearance. The massage strokes are believed to increase skin blood flow, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, cellulite, and scars, improve skin smoothness and softness, and decrease hyperpigmentation.
Another purported benefit of abhyanga is better flexibility. It’s thought to decrease stiffness and increase mobility by loosening shortened, tight muscles. Researchers determined that self-massage before stretching improves the range of motion in the lower legs. As a type of massage, abhyanga could have similar benefits. Additional studies are needed to understand how abhyanga affects flexibility.
Lymphatic drainage is an established benefit of any type of massage. While scientists haven’t explicitly examined abhyanga and lymph flow, proponents claim it has a positive effect. Your lymphatic system removes your body’s waste. If you have surgery or a medical condition, the fluid in your lymphatic system can accumulate and cause swelling. Massage can improve health by encouraging lymphatic drainage. The physical pressure expands lymphatic vessels, which promotes lymph flow.
