In looking at hypertension from the Ayurvedic perspective, massage and bodywork are useful tools in reducing blood pressure, heart rate, and promoting a relaxed state. In this blog, we’ll look at some of these treatment methods that have had success creating a relaxed state for patients and reducing hypertensive symptoms in hypertensive patients.
Abhyanga Massage
Abhyanga is a rhythmic body massage done with warm Ayurvedic oils to help arterial and lymphatic circulation and drainage. Through direct mechanical effect (or reflex effect) on the blood vessels it can reduce hypertension. Along with arterial effects, it is prone to inducing deep relaxation and is a full body massage that also provides relief from pain and stiffness. Clinical studies conducted have proven the direct beneficial effects of Abhyanga Massage on patients with hypertension.
A particular study looked at 12 patients presenting with hypertension and put them through a 30-minute Abhyanga session every day for 10 consecutive days. The seven traditional poses used were sitting, supine, right lateral, supine, left lateral, supine, and sitting. Blood pressure was measured before and 20 minutes after the massage, which showed significant decreases in systolic pressure almost every day and diastolic pressure on half of the days. The cause of this reduction was noted by the effect of Abhyanga on relaxation, blood vessels, vasoconstriction, and viscosity.
Overall, Abhyanga Massage can reduce hypertension by addressing multiple parts of what creates hypertension and placing the body in a deeply relaxed state. Abhyanga can also be done on healthy individuals regularly to promote healthy heart activity and be at lower risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease.
Hridaya Basti
Hridaya: heart region
Basti: something inside/container
Hridaya Basti is an oil bath on the heart/chest
region that helps to nourish and strengthen the heart. It nourishes cardiac
muscles, improves circulation and respiration, relieves deep seated stress, anger
and grief, and is deeply relaxing, providing a sense of peace and happiness.
This treatment can be done before or after abhyanga or can be done by itself.
Overall, it has a direct effect on promoting heart health.
Shiro means head and dhara means to pour, thereby Shirodhara is the pouring of a substance onto the head. This treatment balances the brain and the nervous system, typically using warm Ayurvedic herbalized oil, though other substances are sometimes used for specific imbalances. The oil is gently poured onto the forehead in a steady stream in a side to side pattern, to nourish and calm the nervous system. This calmness comes from integrating the hemispheres of the brain and nervous system, synchronizing brain waves, stilling the mind, enhancing blood circulation to the brain, nourishing the hair and scalp, and aiding in release of stress and tension. For hypertension, it can place the patient into a deep state of relaxation and minimize stress and tension, two leading causes of stimulating hypertension.
In 2013, a study was conducted to determine if Shirodhara
was able to create a deep relaxed state of mind by measuring respiratory rate,
blood pressure, pulse rate, EEG, and rating of mood and stress levels. For this
study, Shirodhara was preceded by an Abhyanga treatment. The full
body massage (abhyanga) was given for 15 minutes using 50mL of sesame oil that
was wiped off afterwards. Then the Shirodhara treatment with continuous dripping
of oil was initiated and lasted for 45 minutes. The focus of the drip was
between the eyebrows on the forehead. The drip was purposely positioned to drip
onto the Ayna Chakra that when focused on during meditation leads to
psychosomatic harmony. The stimulation at this point is crucial in eliciting
the desired relaxed response.
At the end of the session, patients reported feeling a
relaxed state of alert awareness and occasional mild drowsiness. These effects
continued into three days after the treatment as well. A significant reduction
in respiratory rate, diastolic blood pressure, and mean pulse rate were also
found. Lastly, the EEG showed an increase in alpha rhythm, which leads to an
increase in relaxation and decrease of stress levels.
Overall, this treatment was able to bring patients to a deep
relaxed state of mind that helped control the variables of blood pressure,
heart and respiratory rate, vital for patients with hypertension to
control.
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Sources:
Journal of Ayurveda - Dr. Pulak Kanti Kar’s Study on “Role
of Abhyanga In Hypertension”
https://chayaveda.com/school-of-massage
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23741161/
