THOKKANAM MASSAGE

Thokkanam

Thokkanam is the Siddha way of touch therapy. It is the physical manipulation of the body usually done with or with out oil application It is very effective for neurological and musculoskeletal problems. It also promotes mental and physical fitness. According to Siddha, disease in the body occur due imbalance of three humours that is Vatham, Pitham and kapham which in turn are governed by five fundamental elements – Akayam (Space), Vayu (Air), Theyu (Fire), Appu (Water) and Munn (Earth). Thokkanam is one of the 32 types of external medicines mentioned in siddha literature. In this technique, the physician uses his hands on the body of the patient in 9 different unique ways with or without using medicated oil with a curative or palliative point of view. The 9 different techniques in thokkanam which makes siddha medicine unique in all aspects. They are :

Initially these procedures were used only for royal families to enhance rejuvenation and latter turned into a therapeutic application.

Thokkanam as a whole focuses on treating diseases caused by aggravation of VATHAM the kinetic force of the body. The humeral theory of Siddha states that Vatham is the active force responsible for the physiological functioning of Neuro muscular as well as musculo skeletal systems.

Thokkanam is also useful in diseases where pitham as well as kapham is deranged. A simple Thokkanam session wipes of sedentary feel which is a kapham aggravation.

Thokkanam is a word framed by combining two words Thokku and Anam. Thokku means skin, Anam mean support/tones/heat

Toning the skin, muscles and nerves where Vatham lives. It is synonymously called as Marthanam .Marthanam is performed by mallars (Wrestlers) in older days.

Mallars are masculine with calibre to perform martial arts including wrestling.

As per Siddha basic principles the meeting points of muscles, nerves, joints and skin including hair roots are places of flow of vital Vatham energy.A depletion of Vatham vital energy may lead to Vatham derangements s such as pain, altered tone, power, twitching, spasticity, Rigidity, numbness, and neuritis.

Three humour theory and thokkanam

To have a sound knowledge in application of Thokkanam clinically it is mandatory to know about three humour theory. Vatham is the force of creation, pitta is the force of maintenance, and kapham is the force of destruction.

Vatham takes care of bodily functions as below

Respiration- uyirkal(pranan)
Excretion- keel nokku kaal(Abanan)
Circulation-paravukal (vyanan)
Digestion-nadukkal (samanan)

There are six more vaayus which help the above said main vaayus.

In a Neuro muscular disorder the first three vaayus are affected leading to wasting. So by rejuvenating the depleted vaayus through Thokkanam it is easier to treat the patient and prevent disability if intervened earlier.

Benefits of thokkanam

Tones skin , muscles and nerves
Disseminates vaayu and eliminates if excess
Improves nutrition of muscles.
Relaxes and increases sleep.
Rejuvenates and increases sexual power.
Removes body pain.

Types of thokkanam.

Thokkanam is further subdivided into nine varieties which are performed at the time of treatment as per the need of the patient. the nine steps are dealt in detail

Thattal— Friction/percussive strokes
Irukkal--- wringing
Pidithal---draining
Murukkal---kneading
Alutthal--- gliding
Iluthal---pulling
Kaikattal
Mallathuthal
Asaithal—flexion and extension of limbs,spine

Friction and Percussive strokes

Friction and Percussive strokes are most used techniques in Thokkanam. Thattal covers more than 40% of techniques of Marthanam. Friction strokes are used in joints, muscles and in tendons. Friction strokes are usually relaxing when applied gently. Therapist should not exceed the tolerable and pleasurable pressure.

Percussive strokes are sub divided into hacking, cupping, and pinching-plucking. Hacking is like chopping in a slaughter house. In hacking palms are open and faces each other.

Cupping is performed effectively in larger areas like trunk, back and abdomen.

Lifting little flesh in fingers and sliding them is Pinching/Plugging.

Benefits

Improves circulation
Release muscle tension

Precautions

Percussive strokes directly on spine is to be avoided. Therapist hands and wrist should be held relax.

Irukkal

Irukkal is squeezing type of pressure .Irukkal is applied in conditions where a good nourishment to muscles and nerves is deficit. It is also called as wringing .it is usually performed across body and limbs. Wringing is usually applied in the end hours of Thokkanam. Squeeze and roll the muscle between your neck and shoulder. It’s hard to tell from the photo that he’s doing anything other than squeezing the muscle. But you should in addition to squeezing your muscle also pull or roll the muscle between your fingers. Try it. First squeeze the muscle, just like you did above. Then pull it a little and roll it in a small circle of back and forth. Try 7 slow Squeeze & Rolls on your trapezius muscle varying the intensity of each stroke. Let your muscles relax.

Purpose: Squeezing & Rolling increases your circulation and warms your muscles. It also gives your fingers a good workout.

Stroke Description: This is a two step stroke. First squeeze the muscle. Then pull the muscle and roll it between your fingers. The rolling motion moves the muscle up-and-down; it pulls the muscle away from your body. It’s similar to kneading dough.

Ilutthal

Ilutthal is pulling. In this type of Thokkanam, strokes are used to pull and stretch the muscles of the trunk and legs. Pulling is performed before wringing or along

Murukkal

Murukkal is kneading. It is performed to release muscle tension and to improve circulation. Kneading is performed in areas which are fleshy .Action similar to that of kneading dough is to be perfomed here.

Pidithal

Both pressing and draining is performed in this variety. Press the muscle areas gently and drain them slowly. Draining is perfomed usually using the heel of the hand for larger areas and thumbs for smaller areas. Pidithal improves circulation and relaxes the muscles.

Alutthal

Alutthal is the combination of gliding and gentle pressing. Usually these two procedures initiates massage and repeatedly performed in the whole session Gliding is the technique used to apply oil all over the body. Gentle pressing all over the body follows gliding. Gliding can be done in longitudinal or circular motion.

Purpose: Gliding is a good beginning for every massage. It warms your skin, and sends a message to your body that a massage is coming.

Stroke Description: Glide your hand over your skin.

Note: Massage therapists call this stroke by its French name effleurage which means gliding or skimming.

Tips: Velocity, volume, and intensity are three variables you can use to change the effect each stroke has on you.

Volume: Try covering more skin with each stroke by spreading your fingers wide or make a V with your hand.

Velocity: Try varying the speed of your strokes.

Intensity: Try varying the intensity of each stroke.

Squeezing

Try It: Interlace your fingers. Rest the heels of your hands on either side of your thigh and squeeze your hands into your thigh muscles (quads). Try 7 slow quad squeezes. Slightly vary the location and intensity of each squeeze. Now, try it on your other leg.

Purpose: Squeezing warms muscles, increases circulation, and speeds recovery.

Stroke Description: Bring pressure to bear on a muscle. Try squeezing your left biceps with your right hands. It really is as simple as squeezing the muscle. It should feel good.

Squeezing & Rolling
Try It: Squeeze and roll the muscle between your neck and shoulder. It’s hard to tell from the photo that he’s doing anything other than squeezing the muscle. But you should in addition to squeezing your muscle also pull or roll the muscle between your fingers. Try it. First squeeze the muscle, just like you did above. Then pull it a little and roll it in a small circle of back and forth. Try 7 slow Squeeze & Rolls on your trapezius muscle varying the intensity of each stroke. Let your muscles relax.

Purpose: Squeezing & Rolling increases your circulation and warms your muscles. It also gives your fingers a good workout.

Stroke Description: This is a two step stroke. First squeeze the muscle just like you did above. Then pull the muscle and roll it between your fingers. The rolling motion moves the muscle up-and-down; it pulls the muscle away from your body. It’s similar to kneading dough.

Pressing
Try It: Take off your shoes and socks, and give your foot a poke. Press your thumb into the bottom of your foot and your other four fingers into the top of your foot. Try 7 slow presses. Experiment by varying intensity and moving your fingers slowly over your foot. Try it on your other foot.

Purpose: The press is powerful because it activates acupoints, triggers trigger points, jump-starts circulation, and sends endorphin cocktails flowing to every cell.

Stroke Description: Press or poke a muscle into the bone, using one or more fingers, fists, or elbows. Hold the press from 1 to 30 seconds.

Note: Massage therapists call this stroke compression.

Pressing & Rolling

Try It: Starting at your solar plexus, press and roll your abs. Perform a series of small circular rolls with your fist moving clockwise, until you’ve covered your entire belly with your fist. Slightly vary the intensity of each stroke. Alternately, relax and flex your abs. Feel the difference between pressing and pressing & rolling your abs. It’s like night and day.

Purpose: Pressing & Rolling activates acupoints, triggers trigger points, jump starts circulation, and sends endorphin cocktails cruising to stimulate every cell in your body.

Stroke Description: The Press & Roll is the Press with a twist. Press the muscles into the bone to compress them. Then roll or rotate your press. The fingers, elbows or fists can be used to press and roll the muscles

Note: This stroke can be used for deep tissue massage.

Drumming
Try It: Drum your quads. Use the sides of your hands to tap your thighs. Slightly vary the location of each stroke. Let your leg relax. Focus on the rhythm and feeling of each stroke.

Purpose: Drumming is an energizing, stimulating stroke, used to get you moving.

Stroke Description: Lightly drum or tap your hand on your body. By varying the part of your hand drumming your body, the feeling of the stroke changes. Some examples are: open flat hand, open cupped hand, side of hand, fist, knuckles, side of fist, and fingertips.

Note: Massage therapists call this stroke tapotement. It means drumming.

Asaithal

Asaithal is the commonest procedure even used extensively in physiotherapy. It is a procedure of flexion and extension of limbs, joints from major to minor. Asaithal helps in reducing spasticity, preventing contractures and restabilising muscle function.

THOKKANAM MASSAGE

Thokkanam

Initially these procedures were used only for royal families to enhance rejuvenation and latter turned into a therapeutic application.

​

Thokkanam as a whole focuses on treating diseases caused by aggravation of VATHAM the kinetic force of the body. The humeral theory of Siddha states that Vatham is the active force responsible for the physiological functioning of Neuro muscular as well as musculo skeletal systems.

​

Thokkanam is also useful in diseases where pitham as well as kapham is deranged. A simple Thokkanam session wipes of sedentary feel which is a kapham aggravation.

Thokkanam is a word framed by combining two words Thokku and Anam. Thokku means skin, Anam mean support/tones/heat

​

Toning the skin, muscles and nerves where Vatham lives. It is synonymously called as Marthanam .Marthanam is performed by mallars (Wrestlers) in older days.

​

Mallars are masculine with calibre to perform martial arts including wrestling.

Three humour theory and thokkanam

To have a sound knowledge in application of Thokkanam clinically it is mandatory to know about three humour theory. Vatham is the force of creation, pitta is the force of maintenance, and kapham is the force of destruction.

​

Vatham takes care of bodily functions as below

Respiration- uyirkal(pranan)

Excretion- keel nokku kaal(Abanan)

Circulation-paravukal (vyanan)

Digestion-nadukkal (samanan)

There are six more vaayus which help the above said main vaayus.

In a Neuro muscular disorder the first three vaayus are affected leading to wasting. So by rejuvenating the depleted vaayus through Thokkanam it is easier to treat the patient and prevent disability if intervened earlier.

​

Benefits of thokkanam

Tones skin , muscles and nerves

Disseminates vaayu and eliminates if excess

Improves nutrition of muscles.

Relaxes and increases sleep.

Rejuvenates and increases sexual power.

Removes body pain.

​

​

Types of thokkanam.

Thokkanam is further subdivided into nine varieties which are performed at the time of treatment as per the need of the patient. the nine steps are dealt in detail

Thattal— Friction/percussive strokes

Irukkal--- wringing

Pidithal---draining

Murukkal---kneading

Alutthal--- gliding

Iluthal---pulling

Kaikattal

Mallathuthal

Asaithal—flexion and extension of limbs,spine

Friction and Percussive strokes

Percussive strokes are sub divided into hacking, cupping, and pinching-plucking. Hacking is like chopping in a slaughter house. In hacking palms are open and faces each other.

Cupping is performed effectively in larger areas like trunk, back and abdomen.

Lifting little flesh in fingers and sliding them is Pinching/Plugging.

Benefits

Improves circulation

Release muscle tension

Precautions

Percussive strokes directly on spine is to be avoided. Therapist hands and wrist should be held relax.

Irukkal

Purpose: Squeezing & Rolling increases your circulation and warms your muscles. It also gives your fingers a good workout.

Stroke Description: This is a two step stroke. First squeeze the muscle. Then pull the muscle and roll it between your fingers. The rolling motion moves the muscle up-and-down; it pulls the muscle away from your body. It’s similar to kneading dough.

Ilutthal

Ilutthal is pulling. In this type of Thokkanam, strokes are used to pull and stretch the muscles of the trunk and legs. Pulling is performed before wringing or along

Murukkal

Murukkal is kneading. It is performed to release muscle tension and to improve circulation. Kneading is performed in areas which are fleshy .Action similar to that of kneading dough is to be perfomed here.

Pidithal

Both pressing and draining is performed in this variety. Press the muscle areas gently and drain them slowly. Draining is perfomed usually using the heel of the hand for larger areas and thumbs for smaller areas. Pidithal improves circulation and relaxes the muscles.

Alutthal

​

Purpose: Gliding is a good beginning for every massage. It warms your skin, and sends a message to your body that a massage is coming.

Stroke Description: Glide your hand over your skin.

Note: Massage therapists call this stroke by its French name effleurage which means gliding or skimming.

Tips: Velocity, volume, and intensity are three variables you can use to change the effect each stroke has on you.

Volume: Try covering more skin with each stroke by spreading your fingers wide or make a V with your hand.

Velocity: Try varying the speed of your strokes.

Intensity: Try varying the intensity of each stroke.

​

Squeezing

Try It: Interlace your fingers. Rest the heels of your hands on either side of your thigh and squeeze your hands into your thigh muscles (quads). Try 7 slow quad squeezes. Slightly vary the location and intensity of each squeeze. Now, try it on your other leg.

Purpose: Squeezing warms muscles, increases circulation, and speeds recovery.

Stroke Description: Bring pressure to bear on a muscle. Try squeezing your left biceps with your right hands. It really is as simple as squeezing the muscle. It should feel good.

Purpose: Squeezing & Rolling increases your circulation and warms your muscles. It also gives your fingers a good workout.

Stroke Description: This is a two step stroke. First squeeze the muscle just like you did above. Then pull the muscle and roll it between your fingers. The rolling motion moves the muscle up-and-down; it pulls the muscle away from your body. It’s similar to kneading dough.

​

Purpose: The press is powerful because it activates acupoints, triggers trigger points, jump-starts circulation, and sends endorphin cocktails flowing to every cell.

Stroke Description: Press or poke a muscle into the bone, using one or more fingers, fists, or elbows. Hold the press from 1 to 30 seconds.

Drumming
Try It: Drum your quads. Use the sides of your hands to tap your thighs. Slightly vary the location of each stroke. Let your leg relax. Focus on the rhythm and feeling of each stroke.