The Sen cannot be seen or touched. They can only be felt. The whole of Thai massage is based on the energy lines and their flow throughout the body. Even though the body is made up of 72,000 energy lines, we will work with 10 of them. When working the lines, we can often feel a kind of heat, denseness, tingling, feeling of fullness, or emptiness. Each line has different therapeutic effects on the body and are always worked on as one unit.

Sen Sumana

This line runs through the center of the body. It supports the SOURCE OF LIFE โ€“ the breathing mechanism โ€“ affecting conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, coughs and colds.

Sen Ittha & Sen Pingkala

These are two aspects of the same line โ€“ the main treatment lines for problems with internal organs. Sen Ittha runs through the left side of the body; Sen Pingkala runs through the right side. They are used therapeutically for abdominal pains, intestinal and digestive problems and diseases, diseases of the urinary tract and back pain.

Sen Kalathari

This line crisscrossesย the whole body and its potency comes from this crossover effect. As it runs from left to right and from right to left, it joins the feminine and masculine elements within the body. Sen Kalathari supports or encourages emotional release, depending on how deeply and repeatedly it is worked. Stress is often related to emotions, so it is good for tension headaches, sciatica and high blood pressure.

Sen Sahatsarangsi & Sen Thawari

These two lines are aspects of the same line. Sen Sahatsarangsi runs down the left-hand side of the body and Sen Thawari down the right-hand side of the body. Working these lines is especially effective for the treatment of knee pain.

Sen Lawusang & Sen Ulangka

These are also two different aspects of the same line. Sen Lawusang runs down the left side of the head and chest, and Sen Ulangka down the right side. Their main therapeutic use is for deafness and ear infections.

Sen Nanthakrawat & Sen Khitchana

Both of these lines are part of Sen Sumana. Sen Nanthakrawat splits into two: one aspect runs from the naval down through the urethra, while the other aspect runs from the navel down to the anus. Sen Khitchana runs from the naval down through the vagina or penis. In practical terms, both of these lines are accessed by working the abdomen from the navel down to the pubic bone. Their main areas of treatment are urinary problems, menstruation problems, infertility and impotence.

(Adapted from Thai Massage by Nicky Smith)