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Champi: Indian Head Massage
From WikiVerde
The Indian Ayurvedic medical system belongs to the Vedic era dating back several thousand years. The proponents of this system hold that it has been handed down directly by the Creator (of the Universe) himself. In that space of time, mankind depended entirely on a class of individuals classified as Saints to alleviate all sufferings. The saints were people who had devoted themselves to the service of the Omnipotent and Omnipresent force, seeking knowledge and guidance to serve humanity at large. For varying reasons and times, these saints identified a number of natural remedies from herbs or herbal formulation to alleviate human suffering. These remedies were extremely effective, simple and inexpensive. But, they were concoctions made by venerable individuals in serene surroundings.
Champi
What added to the pity is that the exercise had little or no commercial objective, which is profuse in modern medicine. Unfortunately though, a vast reservoir of this knowledge base has been eroded due to lack of documentation. The process of teaching and learning had an entirely different dimension and the student had to be accepted by the teacher for a start. Thereafter, the student underwent the process of knowledge acquisition being a part of the teacher’s family, often catering to the errands of the teacher, assisting him in his daily routine etc. Abject reverence, implicit obedience, etc. were the basic qualities essential to become a student. Class divides too played a major role in knowledge percolation in a narrow range.
Codification of Texts
A number of Hindu texts carry numerous references to human metabolism, categories of food and its pervasive effect on the individual, daily routine for proper upkeep of health, etc. Food was to be consumed only after symbolically offering it to God; the Guest had to be served first, eating position was always on the floor (squatting) with appropriate leaves spread out ( in place of today’s porcelain or other plates) and only the hands were used for eating (no forks, no spoons). To stand and eat, holding a plate in one hand and eating with the other was considered a sin and extreme disrespect to food. Religion, mythology, or spirituality were not the core objectives of these prescriptions. They had deep underlying scientific reasons. In the ancient society, nobody questioned the dictates of the elders and therefore these reasons were not elucidated to the masses. They simply stood as codes to be followed, no questions asked.
Across the texts, several bits of information lay scattered, and some effort towards codifying into a medical knowledge base began somewhere between the 2nd century B. C. and the 10th century A. D. when a structured presentation came into existence. The earliest form of this is the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, the former dealing with general medicine and the latter with surgery. This was followed by Ashtangasangraha which is a combination of both general medicine and surgery. Later, a further revision was titled as Ashtangahrudayam. Ashtangahrudayam is the basic text for today’s practitioner of Ayurveda.
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What is Champi
Champi is a very popular head massage practiced in India for several centuries now. “Champi” is a Hindi word, and the modern word “shampoo” is derived from it. Ayurveda recommends regular massage to help detoxification of the body and provide nourishment to the deeper tissues. This type of massage is called Abhyanga by the practitioners of Ayurveda. A daily regimen of massage can impart a powerful preventive and rejuvenative effect on the body. The bonus would be that a proper massage could leave you feeling younger, vital, healthy, and beautiful.
Champi involves massaging the hair with warm oil, and is generally infused with nourishing herbs for added advantage. This is considered the best way to nurture the scalp and hair topically. To augment the benefit of this massage, typically, Ayurvedic oils designed for hair and scalp massage include some hair-friendly herbs too. In the traditional method, these herbs are cooked with the oil, and then strained for ready use. The massage is capable of working wonders on your hair. The added advantage is that the massage relaxes your mind and the nervous system.
Customizing Champi
Champi can be customized to suit your body and hair type. If you have hair that is thin, dry, frizzy, and prone to split-ends, Ayurveda classifies it as Vata hair. Almond oil and sesame oil form the base oil for you. Both these oils carry not only nourishing effect for the scalp and hair, but also reduce stiffness and tightness in the scalp.
For the Pitta type of hair, (fine hair susceptible to premature thinning or graying) coconut oil is recommended. Coconut is considered a pitta pacifying agent and can retard hair problems on account of aggravated pitta dosha. For Kapha hair (thick and oily), Olive oil or sesame oil are ideal. The purifying properties of olive oil help keep pores open.
Practicing Champi at Home
Place a small bowl of oil in another vessel of hot water (to warm the oil). Apply the oil to different part of your scalp in small doses, using your finger pads, and parting your hair as needed. Work some oil along the length of your hair and into your scalp, using circular motions like in shampooing. The entire scalp, all the way down the sides of your ears and up to the back of your neck should be covered with the oil. Gently tap the head all over, using both fists. This action will stimulate circulation and alert the nervous system. In the next step, rub your fingers along the scalp and pull small tufts of hair gently, to relieve muscle tension. Leave the oil on for about an hour and longer if you can. You can wrap a warm towel (dip the towel in hot water and wring it out) around your head after the massage, for added effect. If you choose to leave the oil on overnight, place a thick towel over your pillow, this will protect your linens. Finally, wash your hair with a gentle and natural shampoo.
The Champi advantages
By massaging the scalp and hair, the scalp is stimulated and hair roots and hair get nourishment. It helps to relieve mental fatigue, enhance mental clarity and focus, and nourishes the emotions. Slow and deliberate movements will be relaxing while vigorous and steady movements help enhance energy and circulation. Herbal extracts in the base oil will not only address hair health and growth, but also promote calmness of the mind, better quality of sleep, enhance memory and help tide over the day-to-day stress.
