Thai Herbal compress (Luk pa kob)
Performed for hundreds of years,
Herbal Ball Massage is known to provide deep relaxation while relieving stress and fatigue and improving health. The therapy relies on the use of hot compresses or “poultices” filled with a selection of herbs and spices.
Those compresses, generally wet and then steamed, are applied to specific points of the body releasing their healing benefits into the pores of the skin.
The Thai Herbal Ball compress technique offers several potential health benefits: It induces deep relaxation, relieves stress and fatigue, boosts both emotional and physical well-being, assists alignment and postural integrity of the body, improves circulation of blood and lymph and stimulates the internal organs.
The hot compresses are ideal for alleviating pain, stiff, sore or pulled muscles and ligaments, chronic back aches, arthritis, even skin conditions, migraines and chronic stress or anxiety. The blend of traditional Thai herbs used in these compresses has a relaxing and invigorating effect on the body and mind, soothing sore and overworked muscles while giving the body’s energy reserves a huge boost.
The herbs in the compress possess properties that are anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent and antioxidant. They are used to address sprains, bruises and sore muscles, cleanse and heal the skin by promoting cell growth, and aid upper respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, asthma, and the common cold.
Extremely popular, not only in Thailand but around the world, Thai massage balls have become somewhat a kind of souvenir that tourist buys in local handicraft shops and popular markets like Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok.
This has created a lot of confusion with professionals who are often comparing the price of quality massage balls with one of souvenir massage balls. You just need to cut out a ball to inspect its content to understand why the price are so vastly different. The number of herbs involved, their cut, their aroma (of lack of) are just a few indications of the poor quality they often command.
We, at Alodia, do not manufacture our own balls. We played with the idea for a while but after running a few trial and study how to integrate it in our current production layout we decided to leave it as it was, outsourcing.
After thorough research, we are working with great people who have their own organic plantation in the Northern Chiangrai province (also known as The Golden Triangle). It allows them to control the quality of the product from A to Z as well as providing jobs for the local population.
They only manufacture herbal products, Massage balls, Herbal sauna sachets and Herbal teas. They have their own massage school in Bangkok where they teach therapists the technique of massage balls and the benefits of the herbs.
The school is located in a secluded soi in a group of traditional Thai houses and is a peace heaven in an otherwise bustling district.
The Adjan, (Professor), who manage the whole operations, is teaching various herbalism courses in several Medical and Pharmaceutical universities and cooperate with several Public hospitals especially in Post Natal care.
All meetings are always a delight and a refreshing immersion in local wisdom and traditions.
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