Hot Stone Massage: Relaxing with hot stones

A massage with polished, heated stones and cooled marble balls – a successful new application promises to be the new wellness highlight. Because the heat of the stones can penetrate deep into the muscles and loosen stubborn tension. Hot and cold stimuli stimulate body and mind and counteract stress. What has long been part of the standard wellness program among Hollywood stars is gaining more and more followers in this country.

Hot-Stone-Massage

We are talking about a massage with hot (and cold) stones. This type of treatment is not that unusual if you think of the pleasant warmth that spreads through your body when you sit on heated stones or  walk barefoot  over warm stones in the first rays of sunshine in spring. All this is not really new, just rediscovered and adapted to today’s needs.

The Chinese have been using the heat-storing power of the stones in medicine for around 2,000 years. But the medicine men of the Indians also knew the power of stones and how to use them. After all, it was Mary Nelson-Hannigan from Arizona, USA, who developed the so-called “LaStone Therapy” more than ten years ago.

40 stones for the energy centers

Flat and smooth stones of different sizes are used, black basalt stones are preferred. Basalt comes from volcanoes and consists mainly of iron and magnesium silicates with olivine and pyroxene content – lots of minerals. The stones are heated to about 60 degrees in a water bath. The skin is made supple with almond or olive oil or an aromatic oil.

For example, tense muscles are gently and carefully massaged. The therapist then places the stones on the energy centers of the body – the chakras, especially on the abdomen, forehead or back. The heat stimulates and for intensive deep relaxation. Up to 40 stones are gradually placed on the abdomen, forehead and hands, later also on the back and behind the knees. Smaller stones are even stuck between toes and fingers, sometimes you just hold a suitable stone in your hand.

Interesting effect:  Once the warm stones lie on the bare skin, they stay warm for a long time. The heat from the stones can penetrate deep into the muscles, blockages and stubborn tension are released more easily.

Cold and hot stones

In addition to hot stones, cold stones are also used. Marble and jade stones are used here, which alternate with the warm stones to create a very stimulating Kneipp effect and also activate the body’s self-healing powers. Full body treatments last around 75 minutes and cost around 80 euros.

Treatment with heat and cold

Heat and cold applications are good home remedies. Many symptoms can be treated with heat: tension in the head, neck and shoulders, chronic ailments of the musculoskeletal system 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. But everyone affected has to find out for themselves what is good for them. Examples of cold therapy are:  bruises  and sprains, inflammation and  rheumatism .