Some practices endure because they work. Not because they’re trending, not because a wellness app says so — but because thousands of years of clinical observation proved they produce real results in the human body.
Ayurvedic massage is one of them.
With more than 5,000 years of history, it is possibly the oldest form of therapeutic bodywork in the world still practiced exactly as it was designed. And today, with what neuroscience and modern physiology have taught us about the nervous system, we can understand why it works in ways its creators already intuited without having the scientific language to describe it.
How Ayurveda was born — and massage as part of it
The word Ayurveda comes from Sanskrit: ayur (life) and veda (knowledge). Literally: the knowledge of life.
Ayurveda was not born as a treatment system for sick people. It was born as a complete science of life: how to live so as not to fall ill, how to maintain the balance between body, mind and spirit in harmony with nature.
Its first written texts are attributed to the sage Charaka, in the Charaka Samhita (approximately 2nd century BC), and to the surgeon Sushruta, in the Sushruta Samhita. These texts codified knowledge that had been transmitted orally for centuries before being put on paper.
What is remarkable about these texts is their precision. The Charaka Samhita describes in detail:
- The 7 bodily tissues (dhatus) and how to nourish them
- The 3 biological principles (doshas) that determine each person’s constitution
- Medicinal plants, oils and their specific effects on each tissue
- Massages (Abhyanga) as a daily practice for maintaining health
Massage in Ayurveda was not a luxury. It was preventive medicine. The recommendation was as fundamental as bathing or sleeping.
What Marma Points are
If Ayurvedic massage is the practice, Marma Points are its internal anatomical map.
The term marma means “secret” or “vital point” in Sanskrit. They are 107 points distributed throughout the body — in joints, muscles, blood vessels, ligaments and bones — where vital energy (prana) concentrates in a special way.
Sushruta identified and mapped them with astonishing precision: their size, depth, which are most vulnerable, which are most powerful for activating healing. According to tradition, a serious injury to certain marma points can be fatal — and the therapeutic activation of those same points can unlock functions that no superficial treatment can reach.
From a modern perspective, marma points largely correspond to:
- Nerve plexuses and ganglia of the autonomic nervous system
- Main lymph nodes
- Acupressure points of the Chinese meridian system (suggesting convergent knowledge between medical systems that developed independently)
When a massage consciously works on marma points, it does not just relax the superficial muscle — it activates deep neurological, lymphatic and hormonal responses.
Why oils are central — not decorative
In Ayurvedic massage, oils are not a lubricant. They are the vehicle of medicine.
Ayurveda understands that the skin does not only expel substances — it also absorbs them. Medicinal oils (sesame, coconut, macerated herbs) penetrate through the pores and reach deep tissues carrying their therapeutic properties.
Sesame oil, the most widely used, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and warming properties. When applied warm — as in classic Abhyanga — it dilates pores, relaxes deep musculature and activates circulation in a way that no dry massage movement can replicate.
The choice of oil is not arbitrary: it depends on the person’s constitution (dosha), the season of the year and the therapeutic goal. Heat, scent and texture are all part of the protocol.
The effects on the body: what modern science says
The Ayurvedic tradition describes the benefits of massage with Marma Points in terms of energy and dosha balance. Modern physiology describes them in terms of systems. Both are talking about the same thing:
Autonomic nervous system
Massage with sustained pressure on marma points activates the parasympathetic nervous system — responsible for rest, digestion and regeneration. When the parasympathetic activates, cortisol (the stress hormone) drops, heart rate falls, blood pressure decreases.
The result is not “feeling vaguely good” — it is a measurable physiological response.
Lymphatic drainage
Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system has no pump of its own: it depends on muscle movement and external pressure to circulate. Ayurvedic massage, with its long rhythmic strokes from the extremities toward the center, stimulates lymphatic drainage with particular efficiency.
The result: elimination of toxins (ama, in Ayurvedic language) accumulated in the tissues, reduction of chronic inflammation and immune system improvement.
Fascial system
Fascia is the network of connective tissue that wraps every muscle, organ and bone in the body. When chronic stress or repressed emotions settle in the body, they do so in the fascia — which tightens, adheres and restricts movement and vitality.
The deep fascial work that Ayurvedic massage produces releases those body memories in a way that mental work alone cannot reach. Many people experience during the session spontaneous emotional releases — tears, laughter, sensations of warmth — which are normal nervous system responses when releasing accumulated tension.
Hormonal regulation
Studies on therapeutic massage show increases in serotonin and dopamine levels after a session. Also increases in oxytocin (the bonding and trust hormone) and decreases in norepinephrine (the alertness hormone). The body literally changes its chemistry.
The benefits you can expect
Every body is different, and every session works on what that specific body needs. But the most frequent effects include:
- Reduction of chronic stress and anxiety — not just during the session, but in the days that follow
- Improved sleep — especially in people with insomnia linked to excessive nervous system activation
- Relief of muscle and joint pain — through the heat, oils and deep tissue work
- Detoxification — through lymphatic and circulatory stimulation
- Greater mental clarity — many people report a “lifted fog” feeling after the session
- Emotional balance — body and mind are not separate systems; when the body regulates, the mind follows
- Reconnection with your own body — in a world where we live “from the neck up,” Ayurvedic massage returns you to inhabit your body
Who it is for — and who it is not for
Ayurvedic massage with Marma Points is especially useful if:
- You have been feeling tense, heavy or “switched off” in your body for some time
- Chronic stress has settled in the form of pain, insomnia or difficulty relaxing
- You are looking for a practice that works the body from an integrative perspective — not just muscular
- You are in a process of personal or emotional change and want support through the body
- You already have experience with other wellness practices (yoga, meditation, sound therapy) and want to deepen
It is not recommended during pregnancy, in the presence of active skin infections, fever or serious vascular conditions. If in doubt, it is always better to ask before the session.
How long it lasts and what happens in the session
A full session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. The protocol includes:
- Brief initial conversation — to understand the current state of the body and set the session’s intention
- Application of warm oils — selected for your constitution and goal
- Deep tissue work — with long strokes, rhythm and specific pressure
- Marma Points activation — with pressure and energetic circulation techniques
- Integration — rest time for the body to assimilate the work done
The recommendation after the session is to drink water, avoid exposure to cold, and if possible, rest. The body continues processing the work for hours afterward.
If you want to experience this in person, I offer Ayurvedic Massage with Marma Points sessions in Envigado, 2 blocks from El Poblado (Medellín). Sessions are individual, in a space designed for deep work.
View details, pricing and book your session →
Related articles:
- What is a gong bath and how does it act on the nervous system? — Sound as a complement to bodywork
- Mental exhaustion and rumination: why your mind won’t stop — How chronic stress settles in the body