Thai
Me Up, Thai Me Down
by Nathan Johnson |
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Could
an ancient form of massage cure my distinctly 21st century problems?
After a week suffering from throbbing shin splints and a hand
and shoulder gone numb for reasons linked to incessant computer
use, I couldn't wait to find out. I had heard that Thai massage
could help cure anything from back pain to stomach aches to
psychological problems. So, armed with the recommended loose
clothing and a company credit card, I blasted into the waiting
room of San Diego's Pacific Center of Health like Seinfeld's
Kramer after one too many cups of coffee.
According to tradition, Thai massage was first introduced
around 2,500 years ago by a northern Indian doctor named Jivaka
Kumar Bhaccha, a contemporary and friend of Buddha. Thai massage
is used to treat a variety of ailments, including headaches,
back aches, gastrointestinal pains, menstrual cramps, and
psychological problems such as paranoia or depression. It
is also used simply as massage, as in my case.
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