Marma
points therapy is a traditional Ayurvedic massage technique that's believed to
help sustain the flow of energy throughout your body. There are 107 marma points located around our
body. Stimulation of these points is said to affect everything from the health
of your organs to the production of hormones. Marma has been discussed in Vedas and also
detailed in the classical Ayurvedic text, Shushrut
Samhita. The marma points are similar to Chinese acupuncture, with only no
invasive use of needles involved. Marma points are the position on the body
where flesh, veins, arteries, tendons, bones, and joints meet. They may be seen
as the junctions’ where Vayu, Pitta, and Kapha meet; or where sattva, rajas, and
tamas meet; or where eternity and relativity meet. Some of the experts say that
they are the points where the three aspects of self–realization meet, I,e.
inner self, outer world, and between the two (knower, known, and process of
knowing). They may be the junction between the physical, astral, and causal
bodies. In short, they are the points that have great importance to a person’s
body, mind, and spirit.
Although, the marmas are the junctions of all the five principles (i.e. flesh,
veins, arteries, tendons, bones, and joints), at each point, a
predominance of one principle exists. It is at these points where abhyanga can
most effectively restructure or rebalance the system to function most
healthily. Further, Abhyanga helps to develop the preventive health and
longevity of the body and mind by ensuring the proper balance and flow of
hormones, fluids, immune, factors, etc.
Marma points are known in Ayurveda as major (Maha) and minor (laghu); however,
in the human body, there are one hundred and seven marma points that exist. The major
points are responsible to make functional chakras (secret energy points) on the
body, while the minor points are found around the torso and limbs, thus, healing
through marma abhyanga affects the chakras. Physical health and doshas.
The purpose of marma abhyanga is to stimulate the various bodily organs and
systems. Like acupuncture, these points are measured by finger units to detect
their correct locations. In ancient India, it was cautioned that this marma was to be guarded against harm. If these points were pierced by an arrow or hit
forcibly, it could result in disease, trauma, or even death. Obviously, places
like the heart, forehead, and throat are vulnerable areas whereas sites on both arms and legs are less vulnerable to severe injury. It is seen whenever
imbalances exist in the body, these same spots become sore. Through marma
abhyanga, health is restored.
Marma points are grouped according to the region of the body (arms -22 points,
legs -22 points (11 in each), abdomen, 3 points, chest, 9 points, back, 14
points, and head and neck 37 points. They are also grouped according to muscles
(10 points), ligaments and tendons (23 points), arteries (9 points), veins (37
points), joints (20 points), and bones (87 points).
Traditionally, marma points are grouped into three categories; those on the legs and feet (Shankha marma),
those on the trunk (Madhayamanga marma), and those on the neck and head (Jatrudhva
marma). I hope, this article surely
helps medical students, certified message centers, physiotherapists, and other
traditional medicine practitioners.
Stay healthy, stay safe…
