Chapter 3 Ten sen – West meets East
CHAPTER CONTENTS | |
Ten sen | 11 |
Sen and Traditional Chinese Medicine | 22 |
Sen, Ayur-veda and yoga | 22 |
Ten sen
The following descriptions of the pathways of the ten sen are based on those given in the Handbook for Traditional Thai Massage issued by the Foundation of Dr Shivaga Komarpaj in Chiang Mai.
1 Sen sumana
Sen sumana (Fig. 3.1) starts at the navel and ascends inside the throat, terminating at the base of the tongue.
2 Sen ittha
Sen ittha (Fig. 3.2) starts at the navel and travels down the inside front of the left thigh. It turns around the left knee and travels up the back of the left thigh. The line continues up the left side of the spine and over the top of the head, terminating at the left nostril.
3 Sen pingkhala
Sen pingkhala (Fig. 3.3) follows the same pathway as sen ittha but on the right side of the body. Sen pingkhala starts at the navel and travels down the inside front of the right thigh. It turns around the right knee and travels up the back of the right thigh. The line continues up the right side of the spine and over the top of the head, terminating at the right nostril.
4 Sen kalathari
Sen kalathari (Fig. 3.4) starts at the navel and divides into four branches.
Two branches travel down to the groins and continue down the inside of the legs to the toes.
Two branches travel up to the armpits and then down the inside of the arms to the fingers.
5 Sen sahatsarangsi
Sen sahatsarangsi (Fig. 3.5) starts at the navel and travels down the inside of the left leg. It crosses the foot and then travels up the outside of the left leg. The line continues up the left side of the abdomen, chest and neck terminating at the left eye.
6 Sen thawari
Sen thawari (Fig. 3.6) follows the same path as sen sahatsarangsi but on the right side of the body. Sen thawari starts at the navel and travels down the inside of the right leg. It crosses the foot and then travels up the outside of the right leg. The line continues up the right side of the abdomen, chest and neck terminating at the right eye.
7 Sen lawusang
Sen lawusang (Fig. 3.7) starts at the navel and travels up the left side of the chest. It continues up the left side of the throat and terminates at the left ear.
8 Sen ulangka
Sen ulangka (Fig. 3.8) follows the same path as sen lawusang but on the right side of the body. Sen ulangka starts at the navel and travels up the right side of the chest. It continues up the right side of the throat and terminates at the right ear.