Hot stone massage is an old healing method which was recently brought back to life by US massage therapist Mary Nelson.

The smooth, flat basalt stones are immersed in water and heated in an electric heating device until they reach certain temperature, bearable for the patient’s skin. Then they are placed on some key points of the body, (e.g. on points that are thought to be energy centers, to rebalance the body and mind), in the palms of the hand, or between the toes. The massage therapist may also use the stones as medium between their hands and the patient’s skin while massaging certain areas of their body. The heat warms and relaxes the muscles, which allows the therapist to apply deeper pressure, if needed. The warmth of the hot stones improves circulation and calms the nervous system.

In certain cases cold marble stones, with similar shape to basalt one can be used as alternating to hot stones to help muscular injury and inflammation by helping the lymphatic and blood vessels to increase the flow of blood and flush waste materials away from the injured area.

Indications: muscular pains, sprains and strains, rheumatic and arthritic conditions, stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, poor circulation, fibromyalgia, back pain, MS etc.