One of the most memorable massages I experienced was on a trip to the Canadian Rockies about 10 years ago. My massage therapist used a Thai poultice. A poultice is a bundle of herbs and spices wrapped in cotton. The therapist steam-heats the bundle which releases essential oils and offers aromatherapy. During the massage the poultice provides heat and rich relaxation to the skin and muscles. The herb combination is designed to be medicinal. It works on reducing inflammation, pain and alleviating nasal congestion. Although I searched, I noticed this wasn’t offered anywhere in Knoxville or very common in spas across the U.S.

Recently, a friend of mine returned from a trip to Telluride, Colorado and came into the clinic with a herbal poultice that was used during her massage. She was raving about how great the massage felt and “smelled”. One whiff of the lovely smell brought back vivid memories of intense relaxation. I was motivated to find some for our clinic. My search was successful, and we are now offering the Thai Poultice as an add-on to your massage service. The poultice is yours to take home and can be used again within a two-week period if stored correctly. We are excited to offer this new service and look forward to adding it to your next massage.

Stephanie Pender, LMT
Kramer Physical Therapy

Photo by: Annie Spratt