Maya Abdominal Massage?

[LilyoftheValley]

A woman I know is considering Maya Abdominal Massage as treatment for infertility. Supposedly it moves around your inner organs(!)? I’m skeptical of the potential results and want to provide some balanced info, not just what the practitioner says.

Can anyone give me some factual info on this massage technique?

Thanks.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

Factual info? Yes. There is no clinically based evidence that it works for infertility.

And that’s a fact.

'nuff said.

QtM, MD

[fluiddruid]

Maya abdominal massage is an alternative therapy. In Googling, I haven’t been able to find any neutral sites (i.e. one that doesn’t espouse the proven results of maya abdominal massage next to information about spiritual healing, shamanistic meditation, or chiropractors).

From this site:

Maya abdominal massage is a self-care practice supported by professional instruction, and is an integral part of Maya medicine. The massage is performed over clothing and greatly assists in the release of trauma after accidents, childbirth or illness, as well as resetting the position of the uterus in the female…Midwives and healers of Central America agree that most “female troubles” are caused by the wandering womb. Normally the uterus leans slightly over the bladder in the center of the pelvis, about one and a half inches above the pubic bone. It is held in this position by muscles, the vaginal wall and ligaments that attach it to the back, front, and sides of the pelvis. Uterine ligaments are made to accommodate a growing fetus and to move freely when the bladder or bowel is full. The ligaments and muscles can weaken and loosen, causing the uterus to fall downward, forward, backward or to either side. A uterus in any of these positions is referred to as “tipped.”

However, this site also makes the claim that conventional medicine “has little or nothing to offer women with this problem”, which flashes a huge warning at me, as does the purported claim to ancient, presumably wise healers knowing better than modern science.

The same issue comes up on this site, which advertises their service in this area as “centered around the ancient Mayan techniques, which reposition organs that have dropped and restricted the flow of blood, lymph, nerve and chi energy.” When we start talking about energy redirection, again, warning sign, but in the FAQ they mention (in response to “does this work”):

Most definitely! These external, noninvasive massage techniques have been known and used by the Maya and many other Central and South American people for thousands of years. There is evidence of this knowledge in many other global cultures. If it didn’t work it wouldn’t still be with us today, five thousand or so years later.

I don’t think I need to say anything more about that issue. I tend to be very skeptical of this technique causing any special results towards helping infertility.

[LilyoftheValley]

Thanks QtM and fluiddruid.

QtM: are you aware if there have been any studies done? I’ve actually never heard of it before. I’d like to be able to balance anecdotal evidence with something. BTW, can you really “untip” a uterus from movements on the surface of a person’s body through their clothes?

druid, thanks for the quotes. I see some of the usual suspects pop up for key words. It also helps to see that they’re claiming that a “wandering womb” causes the infertility…sigh. I’d comment on them suggesting that traditional medicine can’t help, but this is not the Pit.

If it didn’t work it wouldn’t still be with us today, five thousand or so years later.

Which smilie is more appropriate here, a smack or a rolleyes?

[LilyoftheValley]

Um…that was not the preview button.

No insult intended by the failure to bold usernames throughout.

[dqa]

@LilyoftheValley

QtM: are you aware if there have been any studies done? I’ve actually never heard of it before.

You’re not the only one. A Medline search finds no articles with both “maya” and “massage” in the title or abstract since 1966. However, combining “abdominal”, “massage”, and “uterus” I found an article which seems to cover something similar to your Mayan technique, although the authors were from Malaysia. Obviously it’s a bit different; this is during pregnancy, while Maya (at least in the case you mention) is outside pregnancy.

Here is part of the abstract:
Case report: torsion of a gravid horn of a didelphic uterus by Achanna S. Monga D. Hassan MS.

from Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Research. 22(2):107-9, 1996 Apr.
…Abdominal massage by traditional birth attendants (TBAs’) during early labour is a common practice in the rural population, as it is perceived to give a soothening effect to the labouring mother. Many instances of abruptio placentae were reported in the past by this procedure, and in this case, the clinical picture presented as an abruptio placenta. Malpresentation and failure to progress were the indications for caesarean section despite the fetal demise. Severe post partum haemorrhage and failure to contract despite massive oxytocics resulted in the hysterectomy of the gravid horn, leaving the other horn intact

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

I am not aware of any studies being done on the procedure. It certainly behooves the advocates of this technique to supply studies showing its efficacy. Rather than citing “The wisdom of the ancients”.

[DanBlather]

I am sure she will receive a walletectomy at the same time,