Thai practitioners stimulate energy lines and acupressure points by pressing on the surface of the skin, and for most people this pressing does feel very good and provides relief much like western deep tissue massage. But for some chronic conditions, even the lightest pressure or stretching can be painful.

     Fibromyalgia is one of the best examples of this, a condition where muscles throughout the body are unable to completely relax on their own. The constant muscle tension results in an ultra-sensitivity to pressure to such an extent that even the weight of clothing or a gentle finger stroke across the skin can be very uncomfortable or painful.

     Herbal compresses can be used to soothe these overworked and sensitive areas of the body, relaxing muscles and stimulating nerves that can not be massaged directly. Within a few sessions the body can tolerate more stretching and massage, allowing the practitioner to open the body further with each session, and eventually the daily pain and discomfort may subside altogether. Similar results are possible when treating many other conditions such as multiple sclerosis and osteo arthritis.