Ayurveda suggests having a therapeutic head massage once in a fortnight for keeping your doshas in balance as well as providing rejuvenation to the head and scalp region. This could not be possible for people to visit the Ayurvedic practitioners regularly.
In these circumstances, you can do self-massaging with dosha specific Ayurvedic oils to have similar benefits as you avail at massage centers. As a preliminary step, determine your Prakriti and find the doshas needed to be balanced.
The Procedure to be followed
- Use a warm oil to self-massage your scalp.
- A tablespoon of Ayurvedic oil must be taken in your hands then apply it in the crown region of your scalp.
- You can spread the oil across the central part of your scalp with gentle strokes.
- You can work the oil from the sides of your scalp to the top. Repeat the massage by reversing the direction in oscillatory and circular motions.
- You can work from the back of your head to the center of the scalp. Then reverse the direction and repeat the massage.
- Use your finger pads to massage your whole scalp slowly in circular movements.
- Gently squeeze your temples using the heel pads of your hands as you give wide and circular strokes.
- Massage the back of your neck by squeezing and rolling the muscles as you slowly work towards the bottom region of your neck.
- Place you right and left thumbs in the occipital areas on either side of your vertebral bone. Use a gentle rubbing movement and relax your tight muscles.
- By applying slight pressure, you can rub the depression points behind your ears with finger pads.
- Keep your palms with interlocked fingers on your scalp and move from front to back regions by giving slight pressure. You can repeat the massage by reversing the direction.
The Use Of Oils
People with Vata disorders can use sesame oil as the best choice. Ayurvedic oils with herbs like shatavari, gunja, bala and ashwagandha are beneficial to nourish and strengthen your hair roots and scalp.
People with Pitta disorders can opt for oils with cooling properties like sunflower oil or coconut oil. Herbal oil with guduchi, Brahmin, manjishtha and yashtimadhu are helpful to balance Pitta dosha.
People with Kapha issues can opt for regular scalp massaging with oils containing herbs like calamus, punarnava, chitrak, camphor and rosemary. You can choose corn, sesame, or almond oils for self- massaging.
Certain oil has Tridosha hara herbs like brahmi, bhringraj and kumari can be used by anyone for keeping their doshas in balance and impart the soothing effect of head massage.
The Benefits Of Ayurvedic Head Massages
- It relieves you from anxiety and stress.
- This would control your tension and emotional stress.
- This could release endorphins, the hormones which would make you feel happy.
- Improves the hair growth stimulation.
- It promotes sound sleep and resolves sleep deprivation.
- It would reduce migraines and headaches.
- This enhances alertness, memory, and cognition.
- It strengthens your senses and brings clarity.
- Gives deep nourishment and promotes healthy hair growth.
- This imparts lustrous shine to your mane.
- It strengthens your nervous and circulatory systems.
- It brings balance to your hormone levels by supporting your brain functionalities.
