Tok Sen Treatment
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Today I got hammered, Thai style. Tok Sen.
"Tok" literally means to tap or hit something, while "Sen" refers to the Thai energy meridian lines in the body. Put those two things together and you get a specialized massage treatment which has evolved and is very popular here in Northern Thailand. The body's sen lines are rhythmically tapped with a wooden mallet (usually crafted from tamarind wood) creating a deep, resonating, physical-acoustic healing vibration which clears blocked energy and opens the healing channels for restored natural balance. Why tamarind wood particularly? In Thai mythology, the large tamarind tree with its huge canopy and even deeper roots is considered a mediator between the human world and the world of the ancestor-spirits.
Having broken my left arm in 6 places about 4 months ago, I am anxious to regain full use and mobility without pain. The Dr says it may take up to a year and I may never regain full usage. I don't accept that prognosis, but let's just gently say we still have a ways to go. Sigh. To the untrained eye, it looks like I have 80-90% usage of my arm, but I have no strength in it (can't even prop myself up with it in bed), drop things all the damn time (we have a serious crockery-glassware deficit at home!) and I often wake with pain after rolling onto my arm that makes it hard to sleep again. Hence the desire for a circuit breaking treatment. The x-rays show all 6 fractures have knitted cleanly, 100%. And yet I can't move it fully, open my elbow joint properly, carry more than 2kg on that side nor get through a day without pain.
So, Tok Sen it was today.
Is Tok Sen gentle and pleasant? Errr not if you are injured. 'Hypnotically painful' for me today, but admittedly, I am recovering from multiple fractures. Something one needs to breathe through if one is injured, most definitely. But incredibly effective. One just breathes into the rhythmic, almost melodic, sounds and tries to release resistance. Breathes out when she hits super tight sore spots. The Tok Sen to the lower part of my back where there is no injury was surprisingly pleasant and rhythmic, although probably not for people who lean towards soft, stroking, gentle massage.
The improvement in the range of motion in my arm after the treatment today was amazing. She alternated between Tok Sen on my shoulders and mid-back all the way down to my pelvis, and strong trigger point Thai-style massage all over my neck, back, arms and hands, down to my hips. For one solid hour.
How do I feel? Warm and glowing all over, tired, pummeled, and like every bit of fascia, muscle and soft tissue is rearranging itself around my newly healed bones. Which is probably exactly what IS happening. Bruising? Nope. Most definitely not if done well by a well trained professional, although I do feel like I have done 973 push-ups and then some.
Expensive? 250 Thai baht for the hour's session. Which works out to about US $7.55. Very affordable by western standards - for a Thai person it's about half a day's wages.
Is she trained or just a village lady who learned from her grandma? Actually, she is remarkably well trained. And accredited by the Thai government's Dept of Public Health.
She has been practising for 6 years now and was recommended to us by our dear friends at Baan Tung Boon Lom Homestay, just across the rice-fields.
Is it a one-off treatment? For injury rehab (like mine) Pii Sriphan (means older sister Sriphan, in Thai) recommends a treatment every 3 days. So I'm back there again in a few days, to be hammered some more.
Yes, you CAN learn Tok Sen here in Chiang Mai? Where would I recommend? The famous Old Thai Medicine Hospital would be my first choice and recommendation for authentic, Thai teachers and excellent accreditation.
Can you come and have a treatment with Pii Sriphan when you are in Chiang Mai? Sure! Her English isn't great but given the proximity to our Pure Thai Naturals office, we're always happy to take you round, introduce you, translate as required and help get you settled.
Her shop is clean, easy to get to using the yellow songtaew from the North Gate (fixed price is 16 baht) and yes, her shop is air-conditioned.
Grateful for local, natural medicine. But missing my bathtub like never before after that hammering this afternoon.
BlissednBlessed.
Healing.
Grateful.
Photo and video credits: My 14 year old daughter, @nabithecat
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WOW!
The rhythm is almost a chachacha... LOL!
I'm sure you'll soon get back in great shape, my darling!
A huge hug from @amico!
Lol you're so funny @amico!! Yeah go go @artemislives so glad to SEE you diving into @dtube. I'm following suit soon and of course as always bless you for shining on our magical local massage masters! 💗
Hmmm... a little chachacha is always a good thing!! Yes, planning on being better than before. Hugs back. x
oh my god that sounds REALLY Loud!!! shes nailing you spine! never knew this was a thing..
are you still walking!!!??
im very confident you will regain FULL strength... it will take time.. but i already know you well enough to say.. you will succeed
haha... we shall see about the walking thing tomorrow. Pretty intense! She hammers the tight tissue around the bones, not the bone themselves. The word "concrete" may have been tossed around more than once. Haha... I ACHE and yet I have much freer range of motion. Long hot shower before bed. CRAVING a hot magnesium soak!! We shall see how it all settles in the morning. :)
That sounds like an interesting treatment. There are so many things that allopathic medicine doesn't understand or aim to understand. Sure according to the images the fracture is healed, you're good to go! But our bodies know that there are so many things that need to get repaired. I'm glad to know that it's helped you, with that heavy of a fracture load I'm surprised they didn't try to put a metal rod or something in.
I was incredibly lucky not to need surgery or pins-plates. It is remarkable how much pain and restricted movement there is from "only" nerve and soft tissue damage. Working on healing and improved movement, less pain. Thanks for stopping by.
That's good I'm glad you were able to stay away from the implants. I'm sure you have but have you tried acupuncture? My wife has had phenomenal success with her back pain and carpal tunnel with it.
Hi..although it's not vibration, is it similar to reflexology? I have impingement syndrome in my L shoulder where no amount of PT totally helped with the ROM, but reflexology and massage did. Due to my recent activities(lifting), pain is coming back.
Although i have not heard tok sen in the Philippines.
Reflexology is a little different, in that it stimulates one part of the body to have effect elsewhere in the organs etc. This treatment is very immediate to the spot she is hammering!!! :) If reflexology and massage helped, you should keep doing that! And yoga and strong upper body exercise. :)
I think am envious of that hammering!
That isnt available here so yeah, will stick to those, cheers!
oh, wow! This is fascinating. I am so glad you shared the video, it really is an intense treatment. I love your description 'Hypnotically painful', I think I know what you mean when you say that.
"Hypnotically painful" is a strange but wonderful place to be if you can release resistance. :)
I have never heard of tok sen, looks very interesting kind of massage. I would love to learn this if i get a chance. Hope you feel better soon.
That is very cool!! Thanks for sharing this neat old practice and I hope your arm heals speedily 💗