Thailand's Naud Bo Rarn Massage

Naud Bo Rarn Massage

Throughout the world there are myriad forms of bodywork and massage. One of the most interesting and therapeutic is the Thai Massage, or Naud Bo Rarn. Thailand may bring to your mind  exotic images with colourful costumes and taste of lemongrass but to me it brings thoughts of the country’s unique form of massage therapy. Massage is one of the ancient healing arts of traditional Thai medicine others being herbal medicine and spiritual meditation. The Naud Bo Rarn methods can be traced back over 2000 years and is credited to an Indian physician named Shivago Komarpaj who was a contemporary of the Buddha.  Buddhist monks and nuns preserved Nuad Bo Rarn therapy, the only surviving text of these traditional forms of bodywork which were carved in stone and set in the wall of a temple, Wat Po, in Bangkok. Thai massage has been passed down, by practice, as part of that tradition. Therapists outside of Thailand must receive training in the special method from select group of instructors who have received their teacher training and certification in Thailand.

Thai massage is a form of body therapy which incorporates gentle passive stretching techniques, compression and acupressure. This type of massage differs from the Western massage in a number of ways, as Thai massage is performed on a mat or on the floor, rather than a massage table. This allows the therapists the freedom to reform the stretches by utilising both his and the client’s body weight. Since both the therapist and client are dressed in lightweight comfortable clothing, no lotion or massage oils are used in Thai massage.

One of the unique features of this work is a use of rhythmic compressions following the client’s energy lines or “sen” lines. These lines resemble, but are not identical to, the meridians, or energy lines of Chinese medicine, to which the bodies of vital energy or “chi” travels. This energy is called “prana” in the Indian tradition. The goal of Thai massage is to promote the free flow of vital energy throughout the body. This energy is believed to be subject to becoming blocked at the joints, therefore the focus on gentle stretching is to open up the joints. The end result is that a Thai massage session is both relaxing and energising at the same time.

While experiencing this type of massage, one will experience influences of India’s Ayurvedic medicinal tradition. It is said that the Thai massage is like “assisted yoga” since the therapist does all the work while the client remains passive.

Nuad Bo-Rarn has many benefits such as increased flexibility, relaxation of muscles and increased range of motion at the joints. These benefits make Thai massage is a great bodywork system for anyone involved in athletic activity or physical training. Thai massage will also help keep your muscles stretched and healthy this will assist you in athletic performance and help to prevent muscle injuries. You don’t need to be an athlete to enjoy and benefit from these massages. Virtually everyone qualifies for these massages because therapies, as in other types of massage, can adapt the massage techniques to meet your special needs or capabilities. Since you remain cloaked throughout the session, the massage can be given almost anywhere.

Nuad Bo-Rarn is medative for both the therapist and client, as the slow rhythmic techniques and increased body awareness facilitate a military state. This helps to reinforce the mind-body connection of both therapist and client and also assist in an overall sense of relaxation while being and in the piece. In Thai massage, as in any other form of massage, “to receive his golden, but to give is divine.”

Beyond Basic Black: The variety of Tea.

Jasmine Tea

In spite of the various names, tea is tea – all teas, excluding herbal varieties,  come from the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis - black, green and oolong  are considered the basic types of teas but thousands of different types of tea exist.  Differences in flavor, color, and strength are based on factors in growing, harvesting and production. Fresh tea leaves from the bush are course and dull. Processing methods largely determine the end flavor of the tea.

 Black tea is made by drying tea leaves to reduce moisture content and concentrating the volatile oils. The leaves are then crushed to release plant enzymes that create flavor and fermented to oxidize the volatile oils that have been released by crushing. Finally, the leaves are heated to halt fermentation process and the end tea as a rich and robust flavor.

Green tea is unfermented, giving it a more stringent greener taste. The leaves are steamed immediately after picking to inactivate plant enzymes and prevent fermentation and then crushed and dried to free the volatile oils that add flavor.

Oolong tea is partially dried fermented to create a blend of the qualities of both black and green tea.

 

oolong tea

Teas may also be blended to create a variation of flavors may be flavored with other ingredients, like Jasmine of Bergamot.

Herbal tea, technically not a tea at all – uses a blend of dried plant flowers, stems, roots and leaves. Roots and stems are brewed by decoction, boiling for 10 to 15 minutes. While flowers and leaves are prepared by infusion or pouring boiling water over the mixture and allowing it to the steep for 3 to 5 minutes.

Preparation methods also add character. Try yerba – the potent Argentinean favourite – with a  touch of  vanilla and milk to soften the vigorous flavor.

Karkade, a traditional Egyptian tea, consists of hibiscus flowers and copious quantities of sugar.

Moroccan mint tea – strong, heavily sweetened brew of spearmint leaves – it is traditionally served after meals in the Middle East.

White coffee, a Lebanese favorite, actually tea-like concoction made an orange flowers and sugar and serve hot in demitasse glasses.

Dried Jasmine Tea

Five best reason to drink tea

It is a great excuse for a party. Invite friends over for afternoon tea. Serve scones, watercress and cucumber sandwiches. Speak with a British accent.

It's good for you.Tea  has specific healing properties that rival even the most novel supplement. Black and green teas have antioxidant properties and herb teas offer various health benefits from improving digestive to promoting sleep.

It is nice and gentle. We are rushed enough. We don't need more excessive stimulation. Even decaf coffee contains harsh plant alkaloids that can promote nervousness and the jitters and black tea has only a third of caffeine in coffee.

It's varied. There are dozens of varieties of teas and herbal blends. Even the most unsophisticated taste buds can tell the difference between a rich Earl Grey and a fruity hibiscus or a tangy lemon tea. Don't forget you can ice it too.

It's an event. Tea, with its slow down attitude offers an opportunity to revive. Collect exotic TV varieties; invest in a good ceramic pot, use sugar cubes and creamers. Set aside a specific time and place every day to sit with a couple of your favorite tea and reflect upon life.

We are suppliers of Teas and Herbal Teas, please take a minute to visit our site ThaiHerbSpice.com

Lemon Grass as a Medince

Fragrent-Wild Lemon Grass of Thailand

Living in Thailand, you cannot help but be familiar with Lemon grass, it’s everywhere, in the garden, by the side of the road and in your food. Lemon grass is actually a wild grass and grows in great clumps with long thick fibrous leaves up to three feet tall and lets out a beautiful lemon fragrance especially in the evenings and mornings. The great thing about the fragrance is that mosquitoes don’t like the smell of it. You can blend up the leaves with water or even a little virgin coconut oil strain off the lemongrass and the infused lemon grass will act as a natural mosquito repellent.

Not only does is smell so good it’s also a very medicinal plant. The people of Thailand have been using Lemon grass not only for food but for medicinal purposes since the beginning of time. 

One of the easiest ways to ingest Lemon grass is by drinking it as a herbal tea. Simple boil the lemon grass in hot water, you can add honey for a sweeter taste. Had a stressful day at work? Thai lemon grass acts as a relaxant and is very good at relieving stress, or if you’re having difficulties in getting to sleep, simply take a cup of herbal lemon grass before bed to help you relax and sleep.

Lemon grass is also great to help in the digestion process of food, so a cup of lemon grass teas after meals really you to digest your meals and reduce the overeating feeling.

Lemon grass can also help with constipation and because of its t is a natural antioxidant properties, it helps keep the kidneys and liver function optimally and lowering cholesterol levels.

It’s also great as a use for relief of the common cold and flu symptoms. Again, drinking lemon grass tea with a tea spoon of natural honey.

Dried Thai Lemon Grass

Lemon grass as also been used to help keep the skin and hair healthy. Lemon grass infused in water is helpful to reduce acne by cleansing the pores of the skin.

In conclusion, not only is lemon grass a wonderful herb to be eaten in fresh salads and soups, the medicinal properties are quite astounding too.

Note: when buying lemon grass, it’s the lower part of the stem called the rhizome that is the most effective. We stock only the freshest of lemon grass and sometimes dry our own as the orders are taken to retain freshness. All our herbs are professionally vacuum packed before shipping.

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The Amazing Health Bennifits of Licorice

Dried Licorice Root

Licorice root (also known as liquorice root) is the underground stem of an non woody perennial plant herb. The People of Asia have used licorice for hundreds of years. It's additionally referred to as sweet root and Gan Zao in Chinese. Licorice contains a variety of healthy compounds like flavonoids, anethole , plant coumarins, sterols, asparagine, glycosides, glycyrrhizic acid, chalcones and volatile oils . Licorice contains a peculiar sweet flavour with a faint hint of anise and is sweeter than sugar (sucrose). Licorice has been used for seasoning and sweetness in candies however recently it has been replaced with Anise. It's still used as a sweetener in flavouring medicines, lozenges/herbal cough candies, and tobacco merchandise. However, studies recommend that there are also many  health advantages. The key compound in Licorice, is  glycyrrhizic acid,  however glicyrrhizic acid may raises blood pressure levels if used in vast quantities on a regular basis. Therefore, processed licorice is additionally obtainable that doesn't contain glycyrrhizic acid and may be found with the name of the label of Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice(DGL root).

What is the advantages of Licorice Root?

Licorice Root is used for its antiviral, bactericide, anti inflammatory, antispasmodic, antidepressant, demulcent and predicative activity. Attributable to its outstanding healing abilities, licorice has been employed in the treatment of lots of minor to severe health conditions that embody respiratory illness, body odour, chronic fatigue, depression, obesity, pharynges, cold and respiratory illness, coughs, bronchitis, dandruff, peritonitis and dental cavities, heartburn, constipation, peptic ulceration, liver issues, emphysema, psoriasis, shingles, skin rash, yeast infections, mood swings, hot flashes related to change of life, PMS, muscle cramps, tendentious, gout, and autoimmune disorder. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is usually recommended for overly high cholesterin levels, plaque and esophagus reflux sickness. Preliminary studies have shown that licorice might suppress the multiplication of Human immunological disorder Virus (HIV)

Uses of licorice root:
Depression
Researches show that Glycyrrhizic acid in licorice helps facilitate with depression and anxiety by promoting endocrine gland operation. Adrenal glands regulate stress hormones like corticoid. The depleted levels of corticoid are sometimes to blame for chronic fatigue, anxiety and low  resistance levels to allergens and infections.  Therefore, drinking one cup of Licorice Tea 2 times daily is also useful for depression, anxiety, nervousness and migraines bought on by stress.

High cholesterin and cardiopathy
Studies have shown that licorice helps regulate the cholesterin levels by rising the gall flow. Researches recommend that gall acids account for cholesterin metabolism and elimination of excess cholesterin within the body. Additionally the inhibitor activity of licorice loweers   plaque build up the the cardio vascular system and improve capillary health. Therefore, ingestion of licorice root daily for thirty days will facilitate and regulate the cholesterin levels.

Menopause
The phytoestrogenic and inhibitor activity of licorice is believed to be useful for disorders like fatigue, mood swings, and hot flashes during menopause. Therefore, drinking 2 cups of licorice tea daily will facilitate balance and regulate the internal secretion production during the menopause.

PMS and discharge Cramps
Licorice Root promotes a gentle steroid activity which can facilitate with PMS symptoms like mood swings, breast tenderness, nausea and bloating, and discharge cramps. Drinking licorice tea at three days before your period is due will facilitate with discharge cramps, secretion imbalance and facilitate ease the PMS symptoms.

Skin Disorders
The use of licorice root salves and poultices for the treatment of skin rashes, eczema, psoriasis and dry skin conditions. A small clinical study has shown that the demulcent and anti inflammatory agents in licorice extract gel help reverse the symptoms of topical eczema. Applying root extract gel onto the affected space 3 times daily might facilitate relieve these skin disorders.

Shingles and Herpes
Licorice root extract has been employed in the treatment of cold sores, shingles and herpes simplex. Studies have shown that anti infection agent activity of licorice root extract helps suppress the progression of cold sores caused by herpes simplex virus. In some severe cases application of topical carbenoxolone cream (an artificial by-product of glycyrrhizinic acid) has been useful for herpes. A simple remedy for shingles, herpes simplex and previous sores is to drink licorice root extract 2 times daily and apply root extract gel or ointment on to the affected space four to five times daily.

Sore Throat and Cough
Researches recommend that glycosides in licorice have medicinal activity which can facilitate with dry cough, bronchitis, and asthma. Glycoside in licorice promotes the cartilaginous tube secretions and break down the thick phlegm creating it simple to cough it out. The antiviral, medication and demulcent properties of licorice can also lubricate the irritated and inflamed tract. The remedy is to drink licorice tea 2 or 3 times a day.
 To form the tea, shred two inches of root into a boiling cup of water. Let it simmer for ten minutes. Then strain out the chopped root and drink.

Stomach and internal organ issues. The chalcones and flavonoids in licorice will facilitate with inflammation and irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and also the mucous secretion lining of the abdomen caused by micro organism infection. Additionally soothing agents in licorice helps soothe and calm the digestion system promoting gut health. Remedy is to drink licorice root tea 2 or 3 times daily.

Weight Loss
A study shows that participants had vital decrease in body fat mass when taking 4gm of licorice root extract daily for 2 months. However, the consumption of licorice isn't recommended for long periods, the recommended times is 2 weeks on 1 week off throughout the 2 months period. For weight loss,  a low calorie diet combined with regular physical activity will contribute to a reduction in body fat mass.

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