Magazine

Traditional Thai Herbal Compresses
By C. Pierce Salguero

Hot herbal compresses are frequently used in Thailand in conjunction with traditional massage. Hot compresses are used to address chronic problems, such as back pain and tendinitis, as well as to increase energy flow, improve circulation, relax muscles and stimulate nerves.

Hot compresses provide the same type of stimulation as acupressure, and are used to stimulate tender or sensitive areas that cannot be massaged directly; for example, the back may be too painful for direct acupressure, but hot herbal compresses on the same points will provide similar benefits.

Typically, a Thai massage therapist will not only place a compress to the area of injury or disorder, but will also work on acupressure points throughout the body to stimulate and relax the client, and to promote the body's natural processes.

Thai herbal compresses can be an easy, effective add-on to a massage session, for both spa-massage therapists and those in private practice.

Choosing a harmonious combination of herbs will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of treatment, the mental effects of certain aromas, and the preferences of the client.

If you want to offer a new service that addresses physical problems and makes clients feel pampered, you need look no further than the healing herbal compresses of Thailand.

C. Pierce Salguero lives and writes in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he practices as a traditional Thai therapist. He is the director of the Tao Mountain School of Traditional Thai Massage and Herbal Medicine, and author of A Thai Herbal: Recipes for Health and Harmony.