Lok Pra Kob:
Thai Massage Treatment with
“Lok Pra Kob”, or "herbal pressing sphere", is a traditional Thai therapy that is a complement to Thai Massage, but can also be a stand-alone treatment. Also known as Thai herbal compress, it is a balancing and nurturing application of medicinal herbs and moist heat to treat sore and tense muscles, alleviate aches and pains, and stimulate a powerful detoxification process in the body. The steamed herbal compress and herbal massage oil application provide a truly unique and luxurious experience that stimulates all the senses.
Using organic, dried and powdered herbs wrapped in cotton cloth, your massage therapist will use two compress spheres, which are kept hot in a steamer throughout your session. The medicinal properties of these herbs are activated through steam, which allows the volatile essential oils to be released, creating a wondrous aroma of herbs, including ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, camphor, tamarind, kaffir lime leaves, and more. Truly, the treatment begins as soon as you step into the room! The herbs possess properties that are anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, astringent, and antioxidant.
Your massage therapist will expertly combine eastern and western massage techniques, applying herbal massage oil and using a pressure range from light to deep, according to your needs and preferences. The compresses are steamed to provide penetrating warmth while the herbal essences and the essential oils are absorbed deep into the skin and the underlying tissues, stimulating the body to detoxify and heal itself. The heated and rhythmic application of the herbal compress will leave you feeling nurtured and grounded.
There are extensive benefits of treating the “sen” (or energy meridians, according to eastern medicine), with herbal compresses: alleviating pain, reducing inflammation, and increasing energy and circulation. It is an incredibly relaxing, yet invigorating treatment for body, mind and spirit. Lok Pra Kob is the ultimate tension-melting, stress-reducing, and detoxifying experience.
The herbal compresses used in your treatment are yours to take home and reuse. They are traditionally used to treat muscle sprains, bruised and sore muscles, skin conditions, and upper respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, asthma, and the common cold. We recommend keeping them in the freezer until you are ready to use them again. They can easily be steamed in a rice steamer (or similar appliance) and used an additional 3- 4 times.
