A massage with polished, heated stones and cooled marble balls – a successful new application promises to be the new wellness highlight. This is because the heat from the stones can penetrate deep into the muscles and relieve stubborn tension. Hot-cold stimuli stimulate body and mind and counteract stress.What has long been part of the standard wellness program among Hollywood stars is getting more and more new followers in this country.
Hot stone massage
We are talking about a massage with hot (and cold) stones. This kind of treatment is not that unusual, if you think about the pleasant warmth that spreads through the body when you sit down on heated stones during the first rays of sunshine in spring or walk barefoot over warm stones. All this is not really new, just rediscovered and adapted to today’s needs.
Already before approximately 2,000 years the Chinese used the warmth-storing strength of the stones in the medicine. But also the medicine men of the Indians knew, which strength is in stones and how one uses them. It was finally Mary Nelson-Hannigan from Arizona, USA, who developed the so-called “LaStone therapy” more than ten years ago.
40 stones for the energy centers
One uses flat and smooth stones in quite different sizes, preferred are the black basalt stones. Basalt comes from volcanoes and consists mainly of iron and magnesium silicates with olivine and pyroxene components – so lots of minerals. The stones are heated to about 60 degrees in a water bath. Almond or olive oil or an aromatic oil is used to soften the skin.
Tense muscles, for example, are gently massaged. Then the therapist places the stones on the energy centers of the body – the chakras, especially on the abdomen, forehead or back. The warmth stimulates and for an intensive deep relaxation. Up to 40 stones are gradually distributed on the abdomen, forehead and hands, and later on the back and in the back of the knees. Smaller stones are even stuck between the toes and fingers, sometimes you just hold a suitable stone in your hand.
Interesting effect: once the warm stones are on the bare skin, they stay warm for a very long time. The warmth of the stones can penetrate deep into the muscles, blockages and stubborn tensions are released more easily.
Cold and hot stones
In addition to hot stones, one also uses cold stones. Marble and jade stones are used here, which in alternation with the warm stones create a very stimulating Kneipp effect and likewise activate the self-healing powers of the organism. Full body treatments last about 75 minutes and cost about 80 euros.
Treatment with heat and cold
Heat and cold treatments are good home remedies. Thus, many symptoms can be treated with heat: Tension in the head, neck and shoulders, chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as muscle or joint rheumatism, lumbago and sciatica need heat. But also bladder and kidney problems, stomach problems, headaches, cold feet or colds in the early stages.
Use for acute and chronic pain
Acute pain usually improves with cold, chronic pain with heat. However, each sufferer must find out for themselves what is good for them. Examples of cold therapy include: Bruises and sprains, inflammation and rheumatism.
