A simple remedial massage

A simple monsoon massage

After an exhausting summer, thee first monsoon showers are definitely a sigh of relief. But as the monsoon progresses it brings several problems with it ranging from natural calamities to diseases. Most common is the cough and cold that affects people of all age groups.

Here is a simple oil massage that provides relief and protection from cough and cold to people of all age groups.

For this massage, the oil has to be prepared at home. You can keep a separate small aluminium bowl permanently for this purpose which can be used directly to heat the oil over a gas or heater and also to keep the oil for application purpose. Otherwise a tadka pan will also do the job.

Take some good quality mustard oil ( kachi ghani) with strong smell ( engine/ patanjali) .

Remove the skin of 5 to 6 garlic cloves.

Add the garlic cloves to the oil.

Add half tea spoon full of methi seeds and a half tea spoon full of kalonji to the oil.

Heat this oil untill the garlic cloves turn golden yellow.

If u are using a tadka pan u can transfer it to another bowl from which u can use the oil for application or else let it be in the same bowl itself.

Let the oil stand still for sometime for the temperature to come down. Once the hotness of the oil is tolerable to the tips of your fingers, you can now start applying the oil.

Take small amounts of oil on finger tips and rub it in between your palms and then apply it to the baby’ body, hands or legs.

After completing one round of liberal application of the oil to the whole body, apply some more oil to the sole of one feet and rub it vigorously with your bare hands to create more warmth. Repeat the same for the sole of the other feet, as well as to the palms of both the hands.

If the baby or child is already having cough and cold do not rub the oil on chest and back as it will aggravate the congestion.

If you are doing it as a preventive measure you can a vigorous rub of the oil to the back chest neck and forehead as well.

To toddlers or grown up children and adults you can give 1 or 2 cloves of garlic in oil in their palms. Ask them to rub the palms lightly to create warmth and draw its smell deeply into the chest by flaring up the nostrils.

Furthermore for the babies, you can use a heater nearby. Show your palms to the heater and transfer the heat to the various body parts of the baby.

Depending on the severity this treatment can be done once or twice a day.

Once the tolerable temperature of the oil is achieved, switch off the fan or slow down to prevent further cooling.

Happy monsoon!