Section 3: Therapies Abhyaga/Marmas 7: Pacha Karma DEMO : Purchase from www.A-PDF.

com to remove theChapter watermark Three of the seven marmas relate specifically to the three dohas, and are the primary marmas worked with.

Doha Marma Points

Sthapani Vyu g6th chakra

H^idaya Pitta Anhata4th chakra

Basti Kapha Swdhihhn2nd chakra

We have detailed the three dohas, Vyu (air), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (water). A doha excess means an increase of that element in the body and/or mind. These excesses or imbalances are mild or severe diseases (depending upon the degree of the excess). For example, excess Vyu can develop into constipation, dry skin, anxiety, etc. Further, most illnesses can be caused by any doha excess (e.g., asthma can be caused by any of the dohas. Each doha has its own unique set of symptoms. This enables one to detect the doha causing the disease). This yogic or spiritual tool is unique to yurveda. Thus, one can fine tune or note distinctions instead of merely working with generalizations. This insight

into individualized symptoms is an invaluable tool in determining the root cause of an illness. Each doha has five aspectsor sub-dohas that further describe the different activities that each doha performs. The sub-dohas govern various body functions. For example, we know that one function of Vyu is related to stool elimination. One sub-doha exists to specifically govern the downward movement of the air, called Apna Vyu. This added insight allowed the ancients to know which marma points were related to downward moving air, and to properly stimulate or reset this downward flow. Through abhyaga and stimulating marma points the downward flow air flow can be restored or balanced.

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Vyu Major Marma Points

Sthapani mind, nerves, hypothalmus (main Vyu marma) Adhipati mind, nerves, epilepsy Nil & Many (transfer point)

Basti urinary, near colon

Nbhi seat of all veins and nerves; transfer point

Guda reproduction, colon, urine, gas stool, 1st chakra stimulation

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Secondary marma points exist for Vyu; these points are used with the main marmas as assisting points. One traditional Vyu method involves the use of one hand on the main Vyu marma point (Sthapani), while the other hand is used on the minor Vyu marma points.

This approach is similar to polarity therapy, which was derived from yurvedic marma abhyaga. Persons will also notice that a mirroring effect occurs; some of the same points are sited on both the arms and legs.

Secondary Vyu Marmas

Utkhepa colon

hankha colon, clarity, consciousness

Vidhura deafness Urvi gas, constipation Kurpara

Kriktik constipation

Vidhura

Urvi
Kurpara lungs

Indrabasti colon, lungs

Talah^idaya lungs Urvi

Nitamba constipation lower colon Lohitkha constipation, reproductive Khipra Kukundara lungs Vitapa constipation, impotence reproductive & urinary systems Urvi Jan lungs Jan Indrabasti Katkataruna constipation

Khipra

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Marma Points and the 5 Vyus

Adhipati Pr`a- outward air: mind, nerves, senses/sneezing, belching, expectorating, inspiration, swallowing
H^idaya Vyna- pervasive air: muscle joints, circulation, walking, lifting, body movements, opening/ closing eyes

Nil & Many Udna- upward air: throat, speech, memory, complexion, will, higher aspirations

Nbhi Samnaequalizing air: small intestine, digestion, elimination

Basti Apna- downward air: anus, thighs, elimination (semen, ovum, feces, urine, fetus) Guda

Major Pitta Marma Points

Sthapani mind Nil & Many blood
H^idaya circulation, liver spleen, skin (main Pitta marma)

Basti urinary

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Minor Pitta Marma Points

vartas vision
Apga vision Mtrik circulation Kakhadhara male reproduction Urvi Stanamula small intestine, blood Kurpara liver, spleen

Stanarohitam small intestine, blood pastambha blood in chest, cough, asthma Brihati hirah Urvi heat excess, blood blood
Ani

Ansaphalaka small intestine

Prhva Sandhi small intestine blood in Kurpara abdomen

Indrabasti digestive fire, esophagus, stomach, small intestine

Urvi

Lohitkha blood Khipra vision Vitapa male reproduction Ani Jan Jan liver, spleen Indrabasti Urvi Ani

Katkataruna pallor from loss of blood

Khipra

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Marmas and the 5 Pittas

Adhipati Sdhaka Pittadigests truth and spiritual goals Nil & Many Bhrjaka Pittacomplexion, skin

H^idaya Sdaka Pittadigests truth and spiritual goals

Nbhi Pachaka Pittasmall intestine's digestive fire, supports all Pittas /Ranjaka Pittablood, liver, stomach, small intestine, spleen; colors bile, blood, stool Kurchcha Alochaka Pittavision

Katkataruna Bhrjaka Pittacomplexion, skin

Kurchcha

Final Abhyaga and Energy Transfer Marmas After abhyaga the practitioner checks the major doha marma points (Sthapani third eye, H^idayaheart, Bastibelow the navel) feeling for energy and heat comparisons. If one mah marma still feels out of balance, additional time is spent balancing the transfer marmas, the throat (Nil and Many), and navel (Nbhi) chakras. The process begins with one hand on, or over the crown chakra (adhipati) and the other hand on, or over the main doha marma of the client. Next, one palm lightly rests on, or is held slightly above one of the mah marmas. The other palm is

placed on, or over the throat transfer point, then after a while, moves to the navel transfer point. For example, if there seems to be too much air in the region between the eyebrows (Sthapani Marma), the practitioner keeps one palm on, or over this marma. The other palm is on, or over the throat. This position is held for some time, then the hand over the throat moves on, or over the navel. When the hand is by the throat, excess air transfers out of the head and sends in extra warmth or fire from being near the heart marma (Pitta mah marma). Similarly, when the hand is by the navel, it sends moisture from the nearby Basti marma (a Kapha mah marma) in the direction of the head.

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Kapha Major and Minor Marma Points

Adhipati alertness (major marma) Urvi water metabolism, pancreas

Ani arm swelling

Basti Kapha conditions (major marma)

Talah^idaya lungs Urvi

Khipra lungs

Ani thigh swelling

Khipra
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Marma Talah^idaya Indrabasti Ani Lohitakha Stanarohita

Definition Center of palms and soles Indra's bladder: mid-forearms and calves Lower region of upper arms and legs Red eyed: lower frontal area of arm and leg joints Upper region of the breast Upper sides of the chest (carries the life force) Unguarded: the armpits Rising from the sacrum: center of the buttocks Loin marking both sides of spine base where buttocks meet Upper buttocks region

Marma Brihati hirah Ansaphalaka Ansa Kriktik Vidhura

Definition large region of the back Shoulder blade Shoulder Neck joint Distress from sensitivity Serpent's Hood: nostril sides outer eye corners Calamity from sensitivity Thrown upwards: above temples Giving support Overlord: crown of the head

Apastambha

Phana

Apalpa

Apga

Katkataruna

Avarta

Kunkundara

Utkhepa

Nitamba

Sthapani

Prhwasandhi

Sides of the waist

Adhipati

The sizes of the marmas are measured by finger breadth, called aguli or agula (e.g., 1 aguli is the width of ones own finger). All marma measurements are made with the clients own fingers, not the fingers of the practitioner. Most of the marmas have the same meaning as their position, making it easy to remember their location. The charts below oup the marmas according to size. 230

1 agula
Marma Vitapa Kakhadhara Urvi Kurchchahira Definition perineum upholding flanks top of shoulder joints wide mid-region of thighs and forearms head of Kurchcha base of thumb/big toe

Section 3: Therapies 2 agula

Marma Manibandha Gulpha Stanamula hankha Definition bracelet ankle joint breast root

Abhyaga/Marmas

Chapter 7: Pacha Karma

Abhyaga Oils yurveda offers numerous oils for various pacha karma, abhyaga, and nasya treatments. Presently many of the oils are not readily found in the US. Brhm, chandan, neem, and ma-hnryan oils seem to be among the main oils used. Below is a sample of some yurvedic oils and which diseases they help. Oils often can be applied externally, taken internally, and as nasal drops.

conch: temples

3 agula
Marma Definition

Oil Brhm

Use Head & eyes Fever, alcoholism, confusion, burning, rheumatism, jaundice, mental diseases Dandruff Sprains, fractures Hemiplegia, nervous disorders, acute gout, rheumatic pain, paralysis Hemicrania, glands, facial paralysis, conception, arthritis, pain Hemiplegia, facial or arm paralysis, lockjaw Acne, pimples Nasal polyps

Jan

knee joint

Chandan

Kurpara

elbow joint

Drba or Neem Gandha

4 agula (Some say the size of ones own palm)

Marma Guda Basti H^idaya Nbhi Nil Simanta Definition anus bladder heart navel dark blue: color of veins at this location summit: skull & surrounding joints blood vessel's mother: arteries flow to head from here knot: muscles or tendons at base of thumbs/big toes crossroads of four streets: soft palate of mouth honor

Kshraba

Mahnryan

Mahmaha Kumkum Nararsas

Mtrik

Kurchcha hringataka Many

Reference: Ahga H^idayam Ch. 4; v.60-63.5 Different authorities use slightly different measurements

Doha Marma Oils Essential oils appropriate to ones doha are placed on the marma points that relate to their doha. On the next page is a partial list of these oils. For further explanations about oils, see Chapter 8 on aromatherapy. 231

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Doha Marma Oils Vyu Sandalwood Rose Jasmine Lily Vanilla Lavender Patchouli Basil Frankincense Myrrh Sage Cedar Musk Lotus Eucalyptus Cinnamon Geranium Lemongrass Gardenia Pitta Sandalwood Rose Jasmine Lily Vanilla Lavender Patchouli Basil Frankincense Myrrh Sage Cedar Musk Lotus Eucalyptus Cinnamon Kapha Sandalwood

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