AYURVEDA, the traditional Indian holistic health management system, offers a range of traditional therapies and herbal medicines to balance the bodily principles and to integrate body, mind and spirit. These therapies can be used for both to cure various ailments as well as to improve general health (Rejuvenation). The effect of therapies differs with the oil and other ingredients used. There are two inputs in a massage.
Primarily the type of medication used: whether oil, powder, paste etc. and The Pattern and pressure of the strokes. For e.g. in a rejuvenating massage, the oils selected shall be with properties of tissue nourishing, toning up the muscles, stimulating the nerve endings and the pattern of strokes will be in the direction of hair follicles and from the origin of muscles to the insertion. Where as in a therapeutic powder massage, the purpose is to cleanse and burn out the excess adipose fat and hence the storks will be in the opposite direction of hair follicles. Having identified the body constitution (Prakruti) and type of ailment (Vikruti), a suitable type of massage can be carried out from the following.