Dalak, or massage, is a type of exercise that involves rubbing the surface of the body with hands to increase blood circulation and remove waste materials. There are various types of dalak classified according to factors like pressure applied, part of body treated, and properties of oils used. The effects of dalak include increased mobility of soft tissues, reduced muscle spasm and pain, enhanced circulation, mobilization of secretions in the lungs, and reduced edema. Contraindications of dalak include certain skin disorders, infections, fractures, tumors, and certain cardiovascular or kidney conditions.

1. DALAK (MASSAGE)<br />Definition<br />It is the type of exercise in which surface of the body rubbed with hands so as to increase the blood circulation and remove waste materials from the body. <br />Massage has been described under the heading of exercise, because it executes the same function as exercise i.e. it disintegrates the waste products, liquefies the viscid matter, produces energy and strengthens ligaments & tendons. (Kulliyat e nafeesi) <br />Massage may be described as a scientific way of treating some form of disease, by internal manipulations applied in a variety of ways to the soft tissue of the body. (Goodall-Copestake, 1926) <br />Any technique be it manual or mechanical which imparts mechanical energy to the soft tissue of body through the skin without prod using any change in the position of joint, in order to elicit certain physiological or psychological effect which can be utilized for therapeutic, restorative or a healthy individual.<br />Types of dalak<br />According to unani system of medicine<br />According to the mikdaar-wo-kaifiyat<br />1)Dalak-e Sulab, (2) Dalak-e Layyan, (3) Dalak-e Moatdil, (4) Dalak-e Kasheer, (5) Dalak-e Qaleel, <br />According to the Dalak-e Murakkab<br />(1)Dalak-e Sulab kasheer, (2) Dalak-e Sulab Qaleel, (3) Dalak-e Sulab Moatdil, (4) Dalak-e Layyan kasheer, (5) Dalak-e Layyan Qaleel, (6) Dalak-e Layyan moatdil, (7) Dalak-e Moatdil kasheer, (8) Dalak-e Moatdil qaleel, (9) Dalak-e Moatdil moatdil <br />Other type’s also of the dalak<br />(1)Dalak-e Khashan, (2) Dalak-e Amlas, (3) Dalak-e Istedal, (4) Dalak-e Istedad <br /> Sub types of dalak-e istedad<br />(a)Dalak-e Qawee, (b) Dalak-e Zaiyf, (c) Dalak-e Moatdil, (d) Dalak-e Tool, (e) Dalak-e Kasheer, (f) Dalak-e Moatdil<br />According to the buniyad<br />Dalak-e Faily <br />Dalak-e Munfaily<br />According modern system of medicine <br />According to the character of technique<br />Stroking massage – (1) Superficial (2) Deep<br />Pressure manipulation massage<br />Petrissage massage<br />Vibration massage<br />Percussion massage – e.g. Clapping, Capping, Pounding, Contact heat,<br />According to the tissue approached<br />Light massage<br />Deep massage<br />According to the part of body<br />Generalised massage<br />Local massage<br />According to the Pressure application<br />Manual massage<br />Mechanical massage <br />Mechanism explaining the effects of massage<br />Mobility of soft tissue<br />Any injury or inflammation of the soft tissue leads to adhesion formation which decreases their mobility and causes pain. The to and fro movement of (Dalak) massage mechanically breaks down the adhesion and facilitates the free movement of the adherent structure. The various condition in which massage is used for mobilization of the soft tissues are tendonitis, fibroids, muscular injury, ligament sprain, post surgical, scar and postburn contracture. Massage is also found responsible for activation of lipolysis by the release of catecholamine.<br />Muscle spasm and pain:<br />Spasm is the increased muscle tone in a localized area. In the presence of spasm there is capillary constriction which reduces the blood flow that results in limitation of flow of nutrients and oxygen to the area and retention of waster products that produces more spasm. This spasm can be broken by massage by the following mechanism.<br />Massage stimulates the sensory nerve endings and production of mild pain, massage blocks the pathways of this pain.<br />The mechanical movement of massage stretches the individual fibres of soft tissue and reduce their tension.<br />Massage helps in the removal of metabolic waste products as these substances are noxious to the tissue and irritate the free nerve endings, this results in reduction of pain.<br />All these factors to gether aid to reduce the spasm. Massage is employed in unspecified back pain fibrositis, and post exercise muscle soreness etc.<br />Enhancement of circulation<br /> Massage has been used since long time for the treatment where the blood supply is decreased due to vasoconstriction in response to cold. The rubbing action histamine like substances from mast cells thereby causing local vasodilatation and increasing circulation of the part. Massage is prescribed in nerve palsies and in various lower motor neuron lesions. The purpose of this to maintain the trophic condition of the paralysed part, utilizing the circulatory effect from the massage. This improved arterial circulation following massage stimulates the exchange of nutrents into paralysed extremities.<br />Mobilise secretions in the lungs<br /> Dalak finds a major role in the treatment of those chest disorders where increased and viscid secretions are the source of problem for e.g. chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectesis etc. there occurs increased production of sputum, which accumulates, stagnates, dries up and block the small respiratory pathways. The various manual and mechanical respiratory techniques of massage i.e.vibration, shaking, percussion, etc, produces a jarring effect on the lung tissue. The mechanical energy transmitted to the lung tissue through the chest walls, leads to the loosening up of the viscid secretion.<br />Reduction of oedema: <br /> According to mager and McCue (1995), massage is an important aspect of oedema reduction programme. Massage reduces oedema utilizing its mechanical effect of forcing the fluid into the drainage channels. When the oedema is due to mechanical factors such as muscle inactivity as in paralysis, valve insufficiency, lymphmode blockage etc. massage procedures are helpful in the rduction of swelling.<br />Improve the general appearance of the skin:<br /> Massage in general improves the nutritive status of the skin. Massage facilitates the movement of skin over the subcutaneous structures. As a result skin becomes soften more supply and finer, furthermore, after prolong massage, the skin also becomes tough, more flexible, elastic and its sensitivity is reduced, so that it can be handled fairly, roughly without causing much discomfort. It has a soothing effect on the highly sensitive and vascular papillae. The dead cells or removed by the constant contact of the hand over the skin. The sweat glands, hair follicles and sebaceous glands, thus become free from obstruction and can function more effectively<br />General and local relaxation:<br /> Psychologically and emotionally Dalak has been used since ages to enhance a feeling of well being and relaxation. Tiredness afer prolonged work, anxiety of a feverish child as well as pain and apprehension of an arthritic elderly responding well to massage. Massage has been shown a beneficial influence on development, attitudes and emotional status of the body (Schneider, 1992). Crompton and fox (1987) also observed that massage technique promotes two to thrice times faster recovery of psychological and physiological status of atheletes. <br />Properties and action of oils used in Dalak<br />Roghan-e Amla Khas <br />Composition: Emblica officinalis (Amla sabz) 250 gm, Eclipta erecta (Bhangra sabz) 250 gm, Lawsonia alba (Leaves mehndi) 250 gm, Valeriana afficinalis (balchar) 50 gm, Zingiber zerumbet ( Zarnabad) 50 gm, Sesamum indicum oil (Roghan Kunjad) 1 lit. +125 ml Action: Inhibits falling hairs.<br />Roghan-e Azaraqi <br />Composition (Azaraqi) 125 gm, Sesamum indicum ( Roghan Kunjad) 750 ml Action Anti inflammatory (Tahleel-e waram), Anti arthritis and Analgesic.<br />Roghan-e Babuna <br />Composition: Matricaria chamomilla (Gul-e Babuna) 100 gm, Sesamum indicum (Roghan-e Kunjad) 300 gm Action: Cervical Spondilysis, Anti inflammatory, Anti arthritis, Analgesic, Anti phlogistic such as Pneumonia and Pleurisy.<br />Roghan-e Banafsha <br />Composition: Viola odorata (Gul-e Banafsha) 300gm, Sesamum indicum (Roghan Kunjad) 3 litere +375ml Action: Analgesic for headache (Shuddah), Insomnia (Sahar) and Sudoritic.<br />Roghan-e Bayed- Anjeer<br />Composition: Maghz-e Bayed-anjeer As req. Action: Constipation (orally) 25-50 ml, Arthritis (locally).<br />Roghan-e Baiza-Murgh<br />Composition: Poultry eggs (Murghi ke anday) 10 Nos, Petroleum etner (Petrol safaid) 1 litere Or Sesamum indicum oil (Roghn-Kunjad) 700 ml Indication: Hair growth Promoter, Prevents premature graying of hair Aphrodisiaces.<br />Roghan-e Badam shirin <br />Composition: Prunus amygdalus (Maghz-badam shirin) As req. Indication: Constipation due to intestinal dry ness, Anodyne and sudorific, Pestoratine and tonic Does: 5-10 ml with 250 ml milk in constipation, Also L/A Hair and part of the body with massage<br />Roghan-e Mom<br />Composition: Bees wax (Mom desi) 1kg, Acacia Arabica (Charcol /kikar ka koila) 50 gm, Indication: General analgesic, Anti arthritic, Anti Colic, Emollient for scalds and burns, Anti phlogistic such as Pneumonia, Pleurisy,<br />Roghan-e Mastagi<br />Compositión: Pistacia lentiscus (mastagi) 75 gm, Sesamum indicus (Roghn-kujad) 700 ml, Indication: Hardness of the Liver, Spleen, Muscles, Nervine tonic<br />Roghan-e Aakh<br />Composition: Caloptropis gigantea (Gule- akh taza) 200 gm, Zingiber officinali (Zanjibil) 100 gm, Colchicum autumnale (Suranjan talkh) 100 gm, Sesamum indicum oil (Roghan kunjad) 850 ml, Indication: Gout, rheumatic arthritis, Lumbago, Analgesic for pain in the leg, joints<br />Roghan-e Kaddu<br /> Composition: Lagenaria siceraria (Maghaz-e Tukhum kaddu) As req. Indication: Analgesic, Sudoritic and Cerebral tonic.<br />Roghan-e Surkh<br />Composition: Calotropis gigantea (Buró-aakh taza) 100 gm, Allium sativum (lehsan) 40 gm, Berberis aristata (Darhald nimkofta) 20 gm, Curcuma longa (Haldi) 20 gm, Santalum album (burada sandal safaid) 20 gm, Strychnos nux-vomica (hab-ul gharab) 20 gm, Zingiber zerumbet (Nar kachur) 20 gm, Red oily dyc (Roghani rand) 1 gm, Brassica integritolia (Roghan-e Sarson) 250 ml, Brassica cernua (Roghan-e Rai) 450 ml, Cinna momum officinalis (Roghan-e darchini) 5 ml, Clove oil (Roghan-e Luang) 5 ml <br /> Indication: Facial parálysis (Laqwa), Paralysis (Faliz), Gout (Nakarash), Gonagra, Podagra, Omagra, Sciatica and Lumbago, Vulnerary, anti phlogistic like Pneumonia, Pleurisy. Allied diseases due to accumulation of uric acid and crystals<br />Roghan-e Dhatura<br />Composition: Datura metal (Tukhm datura siyaha) 100 gm, Sesamum indicum oil (Til ka tail) 250 ml, Indication: Palsy Paralysis, Facial Paralysis and Gout.<br />Contraindications of massage<br />Skin disorders which would be irritated by either increase in warmth of the part or by the lubricants which night be used e.g. eczema, ulcer, inflammation<br />When superficial infections of skin are suppurating or in case of ulcer.<br />In the presence of malignant tumor.<br />In the presence of recent, unhealed scars or open wounds.<br />Adjacent to recent fracture sites.<br />Over joints or other tissue which are acutely inflamed, especially joints with tubercular infection <br />Osteoporosis, varicose veins.<br />Congestive heart disease, kidney failure. <br />Hyperpyrexia<br />Hypersensitive state of a person <br />Malignancy<br />Open wound<br />Ligament injury<br />Vein varicose<br />References<br />Abul waleed mohammad bin rushd, Kitabul kulliyat, 1st edition, CCRUM, Delhi :<br />Abul waleed Mohammed bin rushd, Kitabul kulliyat, 1st edition, CCRUM, Delhi, 1900:<br />Mohammed Bin Zakaria Razi, Kitabul Murshid, Urdu development board, 1994:<br />Sadeeduddin Gazrooni, Kuliyat sadidi, 1st edition, Munshi nawal kishore, Lucknow, 1911.<br />Hamdard pharmocopia<br />National formulary of Unani medicine<br />