Indian Head Massage is a treatment based on old Ayurvedic techniques involving work on the upper back, shoulders, neck, scalp and face. A variety of massage movements are used to relieve accumulated tension, stimulate circulation and restore joint movement. IHM is also used to aid the condition and health of the hair, particularly when combined with the use of natural organic oils.
Indian Head Massage is used by practitioners to help reduce stress and fatigue, increase mental clarity, and relax and rejuvenate the receiver. A treatment will last between 20 minutes to one hour.
Massaging the head can do much to relieve the stress and tension that fill our day to day lives. The technique involves controlled caresses such as the spider walk, root pull, and comb, and focuses mainly on the face and scalp. It can also continue down the upper back, neck, shoulders and upper arms.
The massage has a strong effect on the three higher chakras of the seven - mind, body and spirit. Chakra (wheel) is the energy vortex that we need to remain striving. As the massage works on the shoulders and neck, the relief of tension is felt almost instan
taneously.
As well as easing headaches and stress, the conditions it can help are many. It helps deal with scalp and hair problems, aids localised blood and lymphatic circulation, relieves eye strain, boosts the immune system, relieves muscle tension, and helps restore joint movement. This is particularly good for people who are wheelchair bound or are partially immobile.
My mother suffers from high blood pressure. During the worst times, she has attacks on the lympatic circulation. She says that it feels as if there is air trapped inside which makes her neck and forehead swell up. The only way to relieve this is to massage her neck and upper back to release the fluid retention.
Head massage originated in India over a thousand years ago. The origin of shampoo comes from a Hindi word 'champi'. Being 'champi-ed' meant having your head massaged. It began as the way to keep your long hair in beautiful condition and has become a part of daily life.
Massage is probably the oldest therapy known to man, and has been practised in the Far and the Middle East for at least 5000 years. The beneficial effects have been acknowledged for generations, and massage is a part of everyday activity, performed within the family from a very young age.
It is stated that the way to health is to have a scented bath and an oiled massage everyday. Unfortunately this is impossible in today's world, although we are starting to realise that we have to take responsibility for our own health.
The beauty of head massage is you can have it almost anywhere - at home, work or in a salon. You can be clothed or unclothed, use oils, cream, powder or nothing.
Indian Head Massage
Combat Hair Loss With This Ancient Practice
To combat hair loss due to hypertension, poor circulation, serious illness and even the aging process, Indian men and women practice regular head massage.This ancient technique has played an important part in Indian life for nearly 4,000 years. Today, everyone from children to grandparents use the technique to decrease stress, improve overall health and promote hair growth.
Indian Head Massage originated as part of regular grooming routines. Indian women used vegetable oils such as coconut, almond, olive and sesame to nourish the hair while promoting circulation through massage. They sat in rows and gently massaged the hair and scalp of the person in front of them. Today, many local barbers in India give their male clients head massages after hair cuts to promote hair growth and health.
The Birth of Champissage
Although there are many different personal techniques for Indian Head Massage, osteopath and massage therapist Narendra Mehta has formalized the therapy that he calls Champissage. Champi is the Indian word for "head massage" and is the origin of the English word shampoo. Mr. Mehta's Champissage incorporates neck, shoulder and back massage along with head massage for a powerful therapy that promotes physical, mental and spiritual health.
Mr. Mehta said he developed Champissage in the 1970s while he was in London training to become a physiotherapist. In his native Bombay, India, Mr. Mehta was used to receiving regular head massages but could find no one in England who practiced it professionally.
"Unfortunately, in the West, many people worry about their hair's health only when they start to lose it," Mr. Mehta said. "Healthy hair should be promoted from childhood with the help of regular massage."
He felt strongly that head massage was necessary for good health, so he researched the ancient art and created his technique. Mr. Mehta now travels the world promoting Champissage and teaches the technique at his home base, The London Centre of Indian Champissage. 
Chakras And Hair
Mr. Mehta explained that Champissage works on the body's three higher chakras located on the crown of the head, the forehead and the throat. Chakras are energy centers (7 in all) that are believed to regulate the flow of energy throughout the body. According to Mr. Mehta, working on the top three chakras can bring the entire body into balance. In addition to healthy hair growth, other benefits of Champissage include decreased stress, more restful sleep, more energy and mental clarity.
In his book, Indian Head Massage: Discover the power of touch, Mr. Mehta includes an entire chapter on Champissage and hair care. He says the technique is vital to hair health because it helps nourish the hair's roots and helps spread the hair's natural oils, making it silky and shiny.
"When the scalp is loose, blood is able to flow freely and feed the roots," he said.
"This increased blood circulation strengthens the hair root and promotes health and shine."