What is Amma Massage Therapy?

Amma Massage is based on traditional systems of massage therapies that were practiced in the Far East more than five thousand years ago.



Amma Massage is widely used in China as well as Japan. The principles of this ancient healing art were adapted in the 1960’s, and resulted in the development of modern day Amma Massage Therapy.

How does Amma Massage Therapy work?

According to traditional Eastern systems of medication, the life force, or Chi, runs through our entire body. When the flow of this energy is blocked, ailments occur.



The goal of Amma Massage Therapy is to restore the flow of energy throughout the body by removing these blockages. This promotes a feeling of general good health and at the same time addresses specific ailments that may be troubling the patient.

The word ‘Amma’ originated in China, where it means ‘push-pull’. Amma Massage Therapy utilizes a myriad number of pressing, stroking, stretching and percussive manipulations of the patient’s body to release the blockage of energy and provide relief to the affected areas.

At the start of a therapy session, the therapist diagnoses the cause of the ailment by observing the patient’s symptoms, and taking note of the general body condition.



The diagnostic process also relies on indicators such as the smell or coating on the patient’s tongue.

Once a diagnosis has been made, the patient is made to wear loose clothing and lie down on a table. The therapist then uses a wide variety of massage techniques to stimulate the flow of energy in the body. During this process, the therapist may use hands, alms, elbows, knees, and feet to massage the acupressure points in the body.

One unique feature of Amma Massage Therapy is that it does not rely on massage techniques alone. A good Amma Therapist will also rely provide nutritional advice and utilize herbal medication to assist the treatment.

Amma Massage Therapy Benefits

Amma Massage Therapy has been widely used over millennia to treat sprains, arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, gastrointestinal and circulatory ailments, chronic fatigue, neuromuscular disorders, asthma, bronchitis, and auto-immune diseases such as scleroderma.

Many therapists also testify that they have used Amma Massage Therapy to treat fatal diseases such as cancer. Amma Massage Therapy is widely offered in many hospitals as an adjunct to traditional allopathic forms of treatment.

Precautions

As is the case with any form of therapy, the efficacy of the treatment depends heavily on the skill of the practitioner. Do ensure that you seek out a therapist who is well qualified in Amma Massage Therapy. Since it relies heavily on massage techniques, it is also essential that there be a sufficient comfort level between the therapist and the patient.