Ayurvedic head massages can be traced back to traditional Indian culture. These have played a significant role in Indian life and date back around 5000 years. Head and scalp massage, when used in combination with herbs, spices and aromatic oils, will enhance the body's natural healing powers.
The main reason for head and scalp massages is to enhance relaxation and, as a result, release energy blockages throughout the body. Furthermore, massage improves circulation to the head and helps flush out accumulated toxins.
In addition to the stress of everyday life, hair products also affect your health. Read on to find out how Ayurvedic head and scalp massage can help you and why it's important to choose the right product to take care of your hair.
Do chemical hair products cause health damage?
We have 13 emissary veins that drain our brain through the skull. While Western medicine often ignores them, Ayurveda gives them proper attention and care.
In most people, these veins pass through 13 holes in the skull (and the clinical importance of these veins is astonishing). Emissary veins are bidirectional, so they can both carry substances to the brain and help carry away:
- Expel waste from the brain into the vascular circulation and
- Transfer nutrients, dangerous toxins or even infections in the brain.
This is where things get very interesting. The researchers combined methadone, typically administered orally to control heroin addicts – wondering why they chose this substance out of thousands they could have used – with sesame oil and massaged this mixture into the scalp. They were trying to find out if this methadone would penetrate the skull and brain.
They analyzed the amount of methadone that entered the brain through an oral dose to compare the results.
The result was surprising: almost the same amounts of methadone in the brain from head massage as with oral dosage!
So, the most important point to conclude here is that we must be cautious in choosing our hair products: chemical hair dyes, chemical-laden shampoos and other serums can enter your brain through emissive veins and deliver dangerous toxins into your body .
What else can we conclude from this research? He describes that frequent head massage has direct effects on our brain because the oils used in massage act as herbal carriers, just as sesame acts as a carrier for methadone in the brain.
Other positive effects are that it will stimulate the marma points by increasing the flow of the emissary veins.
Benefits of Ayurvedic head massage
Ayurveda has various therapies to improve the vascular circulation of the scalp, including the emissive veins and the internal skull. One of the Ayurvedic head massages, Shiro Abhyanga, it is part of the Ayurvedic daily routine.
Reflect on the incredible benefits of a deep Ayurvedic head and scalp massage:
- Reduced stress levels
Gently massaging the scalp creates a feeling of relaxation and stimulates optimal blood flow. As a result, your stress and anxiety levels are reduced, giving you a feeling of clarity and peace.
- Reduces pain and headaches
Certain factors can cause knots to form in the upper back and neck. It causes discomfort, tension and even headaches. Massaging your upper back, shoulders, head and neck with an Ayurvedic oil reduces tension in these areas. It also relaxes the muscles, thus preventing headaches and back pain.
- Stimulates natural hair growth
Ayurvedic head massage is an amazing treatment for hair growth. Frequently massaging the scalp with Ayurvedic oil will increase blood flow and oxygen to the hair follicles, awakening the hair roots and leading to healthy hair growth and regeneration.
- Energy levels
After an Ayurvedic massage, you will feel rejuvenated. This is because it realigns your body's natural energy balance. You are likely to feel calmer due to the positive psychological effects that an Ayurvedic head and scalp massage has on your body.
How do you perform an Ayurvedic head and scalp massage?
Several Ayurvedic techniques focus attention on the head area. In most of them, Ayurvedic oil is kept for a certain period of time on the head. This process is known as Moordha taila or head oiling.
There are four main ways to do this:
- Shirobhyanga: Massage the head with oil
- Shirodara or shirahsheka – pouring Ayurvedic oil on the head
- Shiranapichu – keeping a cloth soaked in oil on the head
- Shirovasti: Keep the oil on the head with an appliance or holder
Follow this technique to give yourself a fantastic Ayurvedic head massage:
- First, you need to heat the Ayurvedic oil to a comfortable temperature.
- Now, sit upright. Take a small amount of oil and then comb your fingers through your hair.
- Take a spoonful of oil and pour it on the top of your head. Gently massage the oil on both sides of your head.
- Once finished, bend your head forward so that your chin touches your chest. It's time to pour a little oil down the back of your head to where your hairline ends.
- Distribute the oil properly on the back of your head and gently massage the oil on your neck and shoulders as well.
- Applying firm pressure, massage in circular motions with your fingertips.
- Let the oil sit for at least 20 minutes. You can cover your head to protect it from cold air and drafts.
- If you want to keep the oil in your hair overnight, you can wear a shower cap to protect your underwear.
Ayurvedic head massage oils
It depends from person to person whether you prefer to use single oils or a blend of oils. Some of the widely used Ayurvedic oils include Brahmi oil, Bhringraj oil, neem oil, mustard oil, sesame oil, almond oil, Amalaki oil, Jamaican black castor oil and coconut oil.
Additionally, if you wish, you can also add some essential oils such as rosemary, tea tree or lavender while giving a head massage. It is always helpful to take a blend of oils as you get additional benefits of different oils in one head massage.
To you…
It's time to take our health seriously and avoid all hair chemicals that can enter our heads through the emissary veins. An Ayurvedic head massage is a perfect solution to take care of your hair and health.
A deep Ayurvedic head massage will improve blood circulation and mental focus and help your body relax so you can sleep soundly. It also increases the absorption of oxygen into muscle tissues.
You can do an Ayurvedic head massage at home, following the instructions in this article or even ask your partner or friend to do it for you, for example by following a tutorial on Youtube like this:
