A lot of our ancient information is lost, I think because of two reasons, we are too enamored by the trends coming from the West (still) & we didn’t market the Kansa well enough. A closer look reveals that utilising the Kansa as a tool for the purpose of healing was the main intention and marketing it a lesser priority. The East Asian gua sha or face rollers, have been popularised as the ‘go-to’ face tool for ages now & many of us may have purchased one at some point. Yet, the Kansa, a much superior skincare tool that predates the Chinese alternatives, was hardly spoken about until recently and that too because it came back to us repackaged from the west with Hollywood celebrities gushing over its wonderous & magical effects.
Intention of this blog:
To re-educate ourselves with the history, discovery & use of this ancient face and body tool.
History & Discovery
The word Kansa comes from the Sanskrit – ‘Kamsya’ which simply means ‘bronze’, it is a metal alloy made primarily of copper & tin: approximately 80% copper, 10% to 20% tin, along with small amounts of trace minerals and metals. The Kansa wand is the vital ‘skin-care’ and ‘body-care’ tool for our armoury.
When we talk about the purity of the particular bronze selected for our Kansa wand, we are actually referring to purity of copper and very low trace minerals present in the alloy. It is the purity that gives the bronze a soft glow and an undeniable healing effect. Kansa, to this day, is still acknowledged as the healing metal, in India.
In the West, the word ‘bronze’ comes from the Latin ‘bronzo’ which means ‘bell metal’. Bronze has been used for centuries to make large church bells, cymbals, both in rock bands & orchestras and various percussion instruments, because it has a powerful resonant sound. One of the attributes that makes it such a wonderful healing metal with respect to sound vibrations.
Just to be clear, Kansa is bronze - not brass - although they look identical, brass is a combination of copper & zinc, it was discovered 500 years after bronze and has none of the healing effects. Bronze was a superstar of the ancient world.
It is not surprising that copper and copper compounds have been used by many different civilizations for more than 2 millennia to treat skin diseases, as well as other maladies. Interestingly, many different civilizations throughout human history, some in completely separate geographical locations, and mostly independent from one another, have discovered the capacity of copper to help improve & resolve skin and other tissue maladies.
The ancient Greeks (1300–323 B.C.), used copper preparations for purifying drinking water and for the treatment of various cutaneous and eye diseases, pulmonary, vaginal, and gastrointestinal disorders, and copper bracelets for arthritis.
The ancient Roman culture (~600 B.C. TO 476 A.D.), used various copper compounds for the treatment of eye and skin diseases, inflammation of the tonsils, hemorrhoids, and generally wound treatment.
The Indian Bronze Age dates back from 2600 B.C. to 1900 B.C. and copper was the choice metal used for many things in the early days of Ayurveda. Storing water in a copper vessel creates a natural purification process. It can kill microorganisms, molds, fungi, algae, and bacteria, present in the water that could be harmful to the body and make the water perfectly fit for drinking, a tradition practiced till date in India.
Kansa came about in the bronze age in India when they were able to get temperatures high enough to forge copper and tin. The pH balancing material is also a very popular choice for utensils in India. In fact, consuming food from a Kansa vessel is believed to reduce the acid content in food, making it more digestible. The Indus Valley culture is undoubtedly one of the greatest cultures of the ancient world - on a level with the superior cultures that developed along the Nile in Egypt and the Yellow River in China. Sadly, it is the least studied to this day. The Indus Valley people used bronze for many household items as well as jewelry, statues & for bowls – which, as we discovered, helped all kinds of pain when they warmed up on the skin during massage and resulting in several benefits, Kansa was used to balance the skin's pH levels, decrease puffiness, stimulate blood circulation, and encourage oxygen flow to the skin's surface, generating a natural shine.
Kansa & Skin
The Kansa face tool with the right facial oil is a game changer!
The skin is differentiated into the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous layers. It is the largest organ of the body that protects our internal tissues from chemical, physical, and microbial damage.
Skin aging is attributed to several changes. These include alterations in the dermal extracellular matrix (ECM) made up mainly by collagen (which provides strength and structure) and elastin (which provides elasticity and resilience) fibres. Collagen and elastin are secreted mostly by fibroblasts.
As we age, there is a reduction of elastin and collagen production. The skin undergoes vast changes, becoming wrinkled and rigid, losing its firmness, elasticity, tone, texture, thickness, flexibility, and moisture content. These events, accelerated by inflammation and oxidative stress in photoaged skin are controlled chiefly via the mitogen activated protein kinase (MApK) and signal transduction pathways.
Copper plays a key role in many physiological and metabolic processes, including angiogenesis, skin generation and stabilization of extracellular skin proteins. The metal also has potent wide spectrum biocidal properties. This makes Kansa a very attractive active material for the improvement of skin health. It is essential to wound healing, as it promotes angiogenesis (development of new blood vessels) and skin ECM (extra-cellular matrix) formation and stabilization.
Copper has two key properties that endow it as an excellent active ingredient to be used in products, which come in contact with the skin, aiming to improve the skin’s well-being. Copper plays a key role in the synthesis and stabilization of skin proteins, and it also has potent biocidal properties. Modern medicine has utilised the benefits of implements primarily made of copper. We know that copper rich surfaces are unfriendly to harmful microbes so, similar to gold, this precious alloy is very clean and helps to cleanse the skin. Micro particles of copper support healthy collagen - the material that supports good tone and vibrancy of the skin. The precious metal is said to help skin regeneration and strengthen the immune system, helping the body to heal wounds faster.
Today, copper and copper compounds are widely used in many medical related applications. Metallic copper is used already for many years in dental fillings and in copper intrauterine devices for reversible contraception by millions worldwide. Copper compounds are widely used in
anthroposophical medicine via oral, subcutaneous injections, or topical applications, in order to stimulate the body to heal itself.
Kansa Wand – Benefits
A Kansa wand is a dome-shaped massaging tool designed to stimulate blood circulation & promote cell regeneration. Kansa is revered in Ayurvedic texts as it promotes lymphatic drainage and removes built up toxins. The process of gentle massage of metal to skin, makes the skin more alkaline thus making your skin less susceptible to acne or inflammation, thereby resulting in healthier & more youthful looking skin with every use.
How Kansa Works as per Ayurveda
As per Ayurveda texts, Kansa is said to pull the Pitta or excess fiery-ness that has accumulated in our tissues out of the body through our skin. Partly due to the physical process of friction (rubbing). A deeper understanding will reveal that it is actually working on an electro-magnetic level. The result is the pulling & drawing of heat, acidity, inflammation & toxins out of the body. Due to the nature of piezo-electricity (electricity resulting from pressure and latent heat, in certain solid materials—such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA, and various proteins—in response to applied mechanical stress) and how it courses through the body. Kansa works easily and effectively with the body’s subtle electric fields and the piezoelectricity that runs in the collagen layer and fascia. It’s using your body’s own natural currents, many of the side effects of such as galvanic stimulation for pain or low current stimulation for face lifting are avoided while creating the same or similar beneficial results.
Today, there is a renewed interest in the effects of magnetism, sound, and or light vibration. People are re-learning the benefits from being exposed to healthier frequencies created by gems, lights, and metals.
Our wands are hand crafted by a third-generation Kansa maker who prides himself on the purity and tradition behind his product. Keeping tradition alive and supporting local artisans that have honed their skills over decades, to produce the best Kansa with a deep respect for the traditional processes.
Kansa & Marmas
The first step to holistic health is balancing our body by relieving stress and muscle tensions. The body is a highly sophisticated, integrated system. When one thing goes wrong with it the rest of the machine is out of balance. Marma Therapy is an integral part of Ayurveda which uses tools such as Kansa wands and other holistic massage tools to trigger marma points to achieve this balance.
Marma Shastra (sacred scripture) lends its origin to sage Agasthya who wrote extensively about this science in the Agasthya Marma Shastra. The root word of Marma is derived from ‘mrt’, which means death. The word is of Sanskrit origin ‘Mrin Maranae’. If we translate the sanskrit phrase, “mriyatae asmin iti marma” means ‘there is likelihood of death or serious damage to health when these points are inflicted’. In Sanskrit, Marma also means hidden or secret. Marma points are the vital, hidden, or secret energy points used in Ayurveda. They were discovered in a variety of ways by our ancestors; through meditation, developing great inner awareness and sensitivity, as well as in combat. As acupuncture points can be used to heal or harm, the same is true for marmas as there are martial arts in India which use the marmas in their techniques. The vulnerability linked to the Marmas has been utilized in Kalaripayyat, the Indian martial art dealing with the science of striking and reviving, and in Ayurvedic massage.
The Marmas respond to different patterns of muscular use, movement and breathing. Each Marma relates to a specific Vayu or wind, Dosha or constitutional type, Dhatus (nature of the tissue involved) and Shrotas (system of the body). As per Ayurveda, these points are located on the body where multiple types of tissues meet such as muscles, veins, ligaments, joints etc. They are located all over the body including the hands & feet, back & neck and face – along meridians, which are pathways of pranic energy flow through our bodies starting at the crown chakra (top of head). The "Sushruta Samhita", a classic Ayurved text outlines this topic in great detail.
Kansa tools are used in Marma Therapy, which involves the application of pressure externally at certain points on the body that stimulates inner healing and has preventive and curative properties.
What are the main differences between acupressure points & Marma points?
Marmas work on a grid like the chakras. Chakras are maha-marmas. Maha means large so they are major marma points. Varying in size and only a gentle touch ris equired to open and function well. There are as many as 84,000 marmas – one for every type of consciousness in the universe. You cannot touch the body without touching a marma of some size which is why touch is so vital to health. Marma therapy utilizes 107 points or “doorways” into the body and consciousness. The mind is considered as the 108th marma. Marmas are not physical structures but rather energy or communication centers. Think of them like eyes that look around and inform the tissues what is needed for health and wellbeing. When the eyes are open, then tissues are well cared for and remain more youthful.
Most likely you can relate, when you are experiencing a massage, gentle pressure on certain points generates a gentle current in your body and you feel extremely relaxed or a ‘tingling in the brain’ sensation, that is all because a marma point has been activated subtly.
Marmas can be closed by physical trauma – birth, baby massage, emotional trauma, poor digestion, or environmental toxins. When closed or partially closed, problems can arise such as dryness, congestion, extra oiliness, sensitivities, or skin discoloration. They are opened by touch, exercise, aroma, sound/mantra – sacred sounds, music, singing and colours.
Marmas carry light energy, so open marma points give a healthy glow.
Golden Rules while using the Kansa wand:
Use high quality cold pressed oils: Avoid using the kansa wand without oil or cow’s ghee. The oil reduces friction and prevents the wand from tugging at your skin. Only use cold pressed oils such as coconut, jojoba oil, almond, sesame or our Cāru saffron oil.
Monitor application pressure: Make sure you don’t push too hard, apply gentle pressure. A little firmer on the upward and outward stroke and very light on the downward and inward strokes.
Lookout for grayish skin coloration: Don’t freak out if the oil starts to turn grey while you’re using your wand. This is a common reaction that occurs when toxins are being pulled out of the skin. After your session is complete. You can wash with warm water or wipe clean with a damp cotton cloth. More about this later in the blog
Perform a skin patch test: Ensure that you don’t have an allergy to the metals by testing out on a small patch of skin before using.
How to care for your Kansa wand
When you initially receive your wand, simply clean it by wiping the metal surface with a clean cloth or wash it with a gentle face wash. After each session wipe away any residue and if the Kansa wand is being shared by two individuals, then use a very mild soap like your facial cleanser to clean and prevent any transfer of bacteria. Kansa is a sensitive metal and a little care in keeping things clean goes a long way. It needs particular attention, not only for hygienic purposes, but also to protect the metal from becoming compromised over time due to incorrect practices.
The Infamous Greying Affect
What about the greying effect that some people note or experience when they use the Kansa wands?
Here are the reasons...
1. In Ayurvedic terms, it can be explained by the fact that you are strongly constitutionally or, as a result of life’s circumstances, conditionally Pitta. This fiery quality tends to make the body and/or skin more prone to being acidic.
2. This acidity build up can be the result of diet and/or being in an environment that has a lot of pollution in the air (such as near or in a city or where there may be a factory or premises that uses chemicals which leave particulates in the air).
3. It can be that one or more of the beauty products you currently use on your body and face are not pH balanced. This resultant excess acidic residue may have settled in the pores and is drawn out by the Kansa. This could be sunscreen, moisturizers, make-up, and so forth. It may even be that they are considered excellent products, but they might also not match or be helpful for your particular skin type, in which case the Kansa is giving you vital feedback.
4. The greying effect can happen immediately or after a period of time. In terms of the ‘time’ factor, it can be that you are rubbing away on your face or feet and after about 5 minutes, the greying begins to come out. What this means is that you are drawing toxins from deeper within the body / tissue.
The bottom line in all of these circumstances is that the greying effect is positive. You are eliminating toxins, decreasing your body’s acidity, and bringing yourself to a higher level of balance and wellness.
When this greying occurs, at the end of the ritual, all you need to do is wipe it off the surface of your skin with a soft tissue or splash some water & wipe with a clean cloth. You can gently mist your face after wiping it clean. When you are finished with your Kansa wand session, clean as directed before the next use.
Self Kansa Massage
The Kansa wand for the face is smaller and as you can imagine, quite a bit lighter in weight than the foot wand. This makes it the perfect size for the face and very comfortable to hold and to work on your own face.
You can use organic cold processed sesame, jojoba or any cold processed oil that suits your skin. For those who have a strong aversion to oil - we cannot recommend lotion as they tend to get sticky with the gentle friction from the wand and we cannot ensure the pH is suitable. Using cold pressed oil or ghee is the traditional practice and the most effective. Cāru, our supercritical saffron face oil is most suited for a massage with the Kansa wand & gives extra-ordinary results.
I find five to seven minutes is a good amount of time which means you can repeat each stroke 3-5 times but there is no problem with working a little longer on any particular areas. Just go with the flow. I practice self-massage with my Kansa wand at the end of the day and I find it relaxes me quite a bit and gives me a good night’s sleep, not to mention waking up to beautiful bright skin everyday.
When you start your Kansa journey you might find that sometimes the oil goes a little grey, sometimes there is no change and rarely, the oil goes very dark grey. Remember, the greyness is an indication of the acidity of the skin’s mantle. The more acid imbalance, the darker the grey coloration. Acidity can vary with time of month for women, stress level, diet and environment.
Remember colour changing means the acidity is being pulled out of the skin and is a very gentle detox. Also, no change in colour is not a sign that the wand is not working.
How to Use a Kansa Wand on your Face
First cleanse your face and wipe dry
Apply oil of choice over your face
Start with using the Kansa to make small circular movements at the centre of your eyebrows, the Ajna chakra. Counter or anti-clockwise first, then clockwise.
Then glide the kansa wand in a figure-eight motion on your forehead. Counter or anti-clockwise first, then clockwise.
Gently trace with the wand around your eye, use very light circular movements from the temple to the base of the bridge of your nose
When working your jaw, apply a gentle upward stroke, work from the centre point of your chin and go upwards towards the ear, either side, you can also use zig-zag movements
Work from the base of your ear down to your neckline till your collarbones to drain our the lymph nodes.
Use for 5 - 10 minutes. Follow a zig-zag or figure 8 pattern through your massage
Once your ritual is complete, gently wipe your face clean with a damp cotton cloth.
It is good practice to clean your wand after every use as a build- up of skin oils and product can accumulate on the surface of the wand. Use a clean cloth to wipe the metal area.
What should you expect from your Kansa massage?
Face will feel re-energized & firm
Even skin tone
Face will look fresh, vibrant and you will notice a natural glow
Reduced appearance of fine lines & wrinkles due to activation of natural collagen production
A plump, firm and radiant face
A Natural & gentle face lift
Relaxed state of being post massage
Do note some hygiene points:
You should never work over open wounds, sores or stitches
You should consult your doctor before doing any type of massage if you have skin or lymphatic cancer
Avoid working on an area in which you are experiencing a lot of pain
Get in touch with us, start your Kansa journey and experience the magic of this relaxing, yet ancient healing tool.