Marma

Marma is a term from traditional Indian medicine and related martial arts that refers to vital points on the body. The word marma comes from Sanskrit, meaning a secret or vital point. In Ayurvedic and Siddha traditions, marmas are believed to be junctions where muscles, bones, arteries, veins, nerves, and ligaments meet, and where life force or prana is concentrated.

Classical Ayurveda identifies a fixed set of marmas, traditionally numbered at 107 across the body. These points are used in diagnostic and therapeutic contexts described as marma chikitsa or marmatherapy. Depending on the therapeutic goal, stimulation (through touch, pressure, or massage) or avoidance of certain marmas is used to influence physiological balance, energy flow, and mental state.

Marma practice appears in several traditions, including Ayurveda, Siddha medicine, and related disciplines such as Thai massage and certain martial arts such as Kalaripayattu, where marmas are described as vulnerable targets. In these contexts, blows or misdirected pressure to marmas are said to produce a range of effects, from local pain to broader disturbance, reflecting the belief that these points modulate systemic well-being.

In modern usage, marmas are considered part of traditional knowledge rather than established scientific medicine. While some studies and clinical observations explore correlations with neurovascular structures and energetic concepts, marma-based therapies are generally regarded as complementary. Practitioners emphasize proper training, accurate identification of points, and safety to avoid injury.