Marma points in Ayurveda

Marmas are vital centres or subtle energy fields on the body. They are storehouses of life breath pranic energy. A thrust or unusual throbbing on these parts can cause serious problems and eventually death. Marmas are not structural organs like liver, heart or lungs, but are sensitive areas located at the junctions of the muscles, bones, and nerves. The knowledge of marma is available in Ayurveda as well as in Kerala's martial art form, Kalaripayattu. An injury to the marma because of external causes like falls and accidents can harm the body, but can be treated with medicines, therapies, and manipulation techniques and with counter thrust on other body parts.
Protect marma points
Modern science hasn't realised the concept of marma yet, hence the diagnosis of a marma injury is never done by clinical investigations. Most marma damages are difficult to diagnose, but a marma expert can identify injuries through signs and symptoms on the body. For example if the Urvi marma on the thigh is hurt, the patient may get continuous belching. A special kind of pressure on the thigh can stop this belching. No medicines are required. This shows the connection between different body parts and energy transmission. In a fatal head injury, symptoms of vomiting and giddiness can be successfully treated with special oil therapy on the head. Legs are paralysed in a marma injury at the base of the spine.
Marma therapy in disease
The Marma technique can heal many diseases. There are 107 marma points on the body and these are similar to meridians in acupuncture and acupressure. The pressure applied on marma points is good in healing hypertension, neurological problems, stomach aches, gastritis and so on. To cite an example, pressure on a particular point under the feet helps to control migraine. Marma therapy is a combination of medicines, fracture management and manipulation. Marma points must be protected and the body itself has a natural mechanism to protect them. Marma points are there in animals and birds too, but in them, they are even more sensitive than in humans. A lot of practical expertise and skill is necessary for using this knowledge effectively.
Source:TNN