History of Indian Head Massage
The Indian head massage also popular as ‘champi or champissage’ originated in the East more than one thousand years ago. A person named Narendra Mehta brought this to the West in the 1970s. It was originally a grooming technique for women who used it to increase hair fullness and strength. Hair massage technique involved stimulating pressure points on the scalp usually with oils to maximize the benefits and reduce stress. Fashionable women who wanted to look good used it popularly. People of all age groups used this as a part of daily life in many ways. This became a tradition handed down through generations.
Though an ancient tradition, the Indian head massage has regained popularity among all age groups because of its numerous benefits on health making it more and more relevant for today.
Benefits of Indian head massage range from increased hair strength, better hair growth, slowing down hair graying.
It offers great benefits for the hair and scalp, besides relieving stress, depression, and improving concentration. The therapy has now extended to include not just the head, but the face, neck, shoulders, back and arms. By focusing on the areas, which tend to ‘hold’ stress and tension this gentle form of massage can now offer a far greater range of physical and mental health benefits.
The head is the centre of the nervous system. The brain is the first organ to form in the process of foetal development. It is larger and heavier than any other organ. The head massage performed with oils during the first few months of life is excellent for the infant’s brain and eyesight development. In the later years, it performs several functions like relaxing the tense nerve, stimulating hair follicles and bringing about total relaxation. Soothing oils most commonly used for the head massage are almond oil, coconut oil, mustard oil, olive oil or sesame oil.
The Indian head massages are increasingly popular not only due to the numerous health benefits it offers but it can increase income of beauty parlors, salon owners and masseurs.
