The guiding principle of all bodywork types is increasing circulation throughout the body’s tissues. For massage therapists, a prime illustration of integrative medicine is purposefully choosing an herbal topical application to use for a massage session. Discover what topicals best match and enhance the principles directing your own work.

By Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

The last ten years has brought great advancements to the healthcare industry. Due to medical research’s undeniable and reproducible results, many allopathic physicians now study and recommend various complementary therapies to patients. The increased acceptance of integrated medicine will lead patients to receive a single, customized treatment employing more than one modality. Massage therapists and other health practitioners who wish to learn and practice multiple modalities will lead this evolution of healing.

Guiding Principles
The primary principles directing massage therapists is analogous to many other healthcare professions. Differing only in the tools used and the tissues affected, bodyworkers of all kinds – including chiropractors, acupuncturists, osteopaths and physical therapists – generally practice according to the following guiding principles:

• Enhance circulation
• Foster relaxation
• Increase flexibility and range of motion
• Decrease inflammation

Once these healthcare professionals all recognize these shared principles, then medical breakthroughs will follow.

Integration
When cleaning a dirty floor, the best results occur from a combined approach, consisting of dusting, mopping and maybe even waxing. In this example, simply vacuuming up any loose debris could be considered the bare minimum when it comes to actual cleanliness. Similar to solving any challenge, people suffering from a certain malady typically experience a quicker resolution when the challenge is approached from more than one perspective. It is this premise that the value of integrative medicine rests.

Topicals
Techniques such as effleurage, percussion, acupressure and neuromuscular therapy all increase circulation. Combining this style of work with an herbal topical preparation whose purpose is also to enhance circulation instantly magnifies the therapeutic aim of the treatment.

Many natural herbs contain circulation-enhancing properties. Aromatherapists and herbalists are just two of the professions familiar with the substances that can be used topically to create this effect. In addition to matching the client’s needs, there are several factors to consider when choosing the ideal topical preparation:

1. Skin sensitivity: Be aware of any skin sensitivity for your chosen product. Some ingredients may irritate the skin, while others may render it photosensitive.

2. Ease of use: Having a topical preparation already prepared and conveniently dispensable will save the therapist time and effort.

3. Residue presence: Applications that rub in completely, are greaseless and non-staining are preferable for both therapists and clients. These characteristics prevent interrupting the practitioner’s tactile maneuverability due to slippage, ruining clients’ clothing and making clients’ skin oily.

4. Balanced formula: While each herbal ingredient has unique therapeutic properties, striking the right balance is critical for optimal results. Excessive amounts of one herb may be overly stimulating, especially without the presence of a different herb to offset it.

Trusted Choice
Taking the above factors into consideration, the Institute has searched far and wide for the topical preparations educated massage professionals seek. Herbal Heat and Herbal Ice are two formulations derived from Ayurvedic medicine’s rich herbal knowledge base. Both of these topical preparations are in an easy-to-use gel form, do not leave any residue, are not oily and consist of expertly balanced formulas.

Herbal Heat is a blend of eucalyptus (an excellent carrier to enhance skin absorption), wintergreen (reduces inflammation), clove and ginger (both of which block pain signals and increase muscular circulation). Without causing skin discomfort typical of a topical promoting blood flow, this gel relaxes and warms muscles while effectively enhancing circulation.

Herbal Ice is a blend of menthol (a cooling agent), cinnamon (an invigorating agent) and tea tree oil (a tissue healing enhancement agent), to assist with the reduction of muscle inflammation. This particular formula is helpful to clients suffering from an inflammatory response or those enduring vigorous and deep massage.

Choosing the right topical products contributes to the motion towards integrative medicine. Using a gel such as Herbal Ice on a client who recently incurred a soft tissue injury will assist your efforts in reducing muscle inflammation and encouraging healing. Using Herbal Heat on a person with chronic muscular pain will magnify the effectiveness of your massage strokes to enhance blood circulation and reduce pain. Herbal Heat and Herbal Ice are just two examples of well-designed topical preparations ideal for incorporating into massage therapy.

Practitioners of various healing methods are discovering the value to their practice and clients when drawing on tools within their legal scope of practice, yet outside their normal routine. Combining the effectiveness of massage therapy with the knowledge of herbal topical applications will lead your work into the next realm of integrative medicine.

Recommended Study:

Fibromyalgia and Massage
Neuromuscular Therapy

Posted by Editors at 11:02 AM

© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org

04th September 2008Author: Jenifer Moon
Views: 285

Breast massage as a method of natural breast enhancement and breast health has actually been used for years as a means of stimulating healthy breast growth and promoting breast tone, pliability and firmness.

Breast massage is one of the best ways to help create a more beautiful bustline by helping to shape, tone and promote growth of the breast and the area surrounding the breast. Not only can moderate breast massage help to make your bustline more attractive and sometimes even appear larger, but it is also an excellent way to keep in tune to your breast health by creating awareness of any fibrous areas of possible indications of breast cancer and some have even claimed moderate breast massage can help to prevent cancer.

Breast massage has been used in beauty parlors and massage parlors, especially in Asia, as a means of healthy lymphatic drainage, breast growth promotion, and as a post operative therapy for women who have undergone mastectomies, breast surgery, or other trauma to the breast area, since it helps break down scar tissues as well as stimulate healing and tissue regeneration.

There has been much speculation that the practice of wearing a bra 12-15 hours per day by most women restricts lymph flow and healthy riddance of toxins, and apart from not wearing a bra, which is not an option for many women in today’s societies, breast massage is the best way to help the lymphatic system drain these pent up toxins and help to prevent them from building up and contributing to cancer or other ailments.

By massaging the breasts on a regular basis, many women is Asia have claimed it has enhanced the shape, size and overall attractiveness of their breast, while also giving them a sense of oneness with their femininity, and promoting relaxation and peace of mind, as other methods of body massage do.

Many who practice breast massage for increased breast fullness and beauty also have utilized special herbal serums or creams formulated to further stimulate the breasts into “expanding”, firming and toning, creating an overall larger look and correcting sagging, droopiness and other traits deemed unattractive by other individuals.

Believe it or not, the Thai government has recently reported it supports breast massage as a means for breast enlargement and breast health, so there really must be something to this phenomena.

Here are some guidelines for breast massage you may want to follow:

1.) Use a cream or lubricant - preferably a quality one with natural stimulating herbs and botanicals (see our reviews page for info) - of your choice to help prevent friction and increase the enjoyment and relaxation of the massage for a more pleasurable and therapeutic experience. This can be an herbal mixture - there are some good ones out there that really do help to promote firmness and breast tone, while creating a larger and more rounded look.

2.) Light to moderate massaging using a gentle back and forth gentle “swishing” action is best. This can be in a counterclockwise circle around the breast to help promote maximum lymphatic drainage.

3.) To gain maximum benefit and therapeutic effects, breast massage should be practiced daily, as part of a routine - perhaps when fresh out of the shower, since the skin is still somewhat moist and the room may still be steamy, for a smoother massage which may be more easily lubricated since there will still be moisture in the air. If you prefer, even several times a day can be a great benefit. It depends on what fits into your schedule. A few minutes at a time should suffice.

Jenifer is working on women’s & men’s health issues, doing research and sourcing for better options for sexual, beauty and health issues since 2005.

Tags: breast cancer, breast surgery, cancer breast, body massage, natural breast enhancement, breast growth
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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_619403_28.html

15th April 2009Author: Aurelia McAleese
Views: 368
Childbirth… often a source of anxiety and stress for women coming up on their due date. But what if there were a way to relieve labor pain, increase dilation, and create a faster and safer birthing process? Learning how to do maternity acupressure to induce labor has all of the above benefits, as well as also being proven to decrease chances of medical intervention or C-section. Here’s how you and your partner can use pregnancy massage therapy to ensure a much better experience in the delivery room.

Maternity acupressure techniques date back to ancient times, when reflexology for pregnancy consisted of Chinese methods. There were certain massage techniques marked as forbidden during pregnancy, because these pressure points proved to induce labor. Later on, people realized these acupressure pregnancy points could be used during the initial stages of childbirth for exactly that purpose - to help bring about labor naturally, safely, and easily. They also quickly learned that acupressure during labor could ease the painful symptoms associated with childbirth, relax the mother by reducing stress levels, and even help ease the baby downward by helping it descend into the birth canal.

Pregnant massage offers many benefits to women who are suffering from the back aches and pains associated with having to carry a child for nine months. But pregnancy reflexology goes one step further, using specific pressure points within the body to trigger certain releases that are associated with the very beginning stages of childbirth. Using acupressure to induce labor allows you to begin the process of labor from within the comfort of your home, triggering dilation of the cervix and starting the mild contractions that will lead up to having the baby. Because you begin this process early, you get to fully and safely control the initial stages of childbirth. By the time you get to the hospital, your actual time in labor will be enormously reduced - this is because the reflexology and pregnancy has already advanced your body through the beginning of the birthing process.

Continued massage during labor has even more benefits. In learning how to do maternity acupressure, you are taught the pressure points that relieve pain associated with giving birth. You also learn the pregnancy massage therapy techniques needed to reduce and eliminate stress, relaxing mom and promoting dilation of the cervix. There are pregnancy reflexology pressure points that will help blood flow, and increase oxygen levels for both mother and baby during the delivery process. The combination of these acupressure pregnancy techniques result in a shorter, safer birth for your baby, offering greatly decreased chances for a cesarean section, episomity, or other type of unwanted medical procedures outside of an easy, natural birth.

Maternity acupressure techniques can be learned by anyone, regardless of experience. The reflexology points are easily accessible and they only need a gentle pressure with the thumb in order to activate them. Your partner can learn them quickly and easily, and you can begin enjoying the pain-relieving benefits of this type of massage during pregnancy right away. And acupressure during labor isn’t the only way to enjoy the benefits of these reflexology methods. The massage during labor techniques you learn can also be used post-delivery, to help mom relax and enjoy reduced stress during the months and years afterward, while enjoying your baby.

For more information, check out these Pregnancy Massage Therapy techniques. They’ll teach you how to use acupressure to induce labor, reduce stress, and eliminate anxiety leading up to childbirth. And for a complete how-to-guide on maternity acupressure, check out Baby Pregnancy Guide.

This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_856505_61.html

If the loss of a body part isn’t already difficult enough on a client, the very real sensations that can linger long after amputation adds further pain and emotional stress. Discover alternative medicine approaches and bodywork techniques that can provide relief to phantom pain sufferers.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Amputation of a body part is a devastating event that can follow surgery, infection, disease or trauma. Phantom pain adds even more insult to injury, by inflicting pain in a limb (or other body part) that no longer exists. Phantom pain is more common after the removal of an arm or a leg, but can also occur elsewhere, such as the breast or eye.

Symptoms
Described as tingling, itching, twisting, pulsing, cramping, pins-and needles, stabbing pains, pressure, a sense of fullness and more, phantom pain is experienced by the majority of amputees. These sensations range from mild and infrequent to severe and chronic.

Often the feelings of phantom pain are highly localized. An amputee may describe the sensation as being in a specific location, such as ‘on the bottom of the little toe’ or ‘on the right side of the shin, right below the knee, going down in a straight line.’

New amputees tend to have frequent and intense sensations several times every day, often continuously for a few hours at a time. After an amputation, the sensations typically become less frequent, less intense, and bouts of pain last for a shorter amount of time. However, many amputees report that the phantom pain never completely disappears.

Varying styles of bodywork can bring a great deal of relief to phantom pain, even more relief than western medicine’s limited treatment options.

Cause
Since the removal or loss of a limb can be so emotionally distressing, many people once presumed that phantom pain was a psychological problem. However, research has since demonstrated that phantom pain is a very real, physical phenomenon.

While the exact cause of phantom pain is still unclear, experts agree that the cause is rooted in the neural circuitry, as generated from the spinal cord and brain. It is believed that when a body part is amputated, the brain region responsible for perceiving sensation in that area begins to function abnormally, leading to the perception that the body part still exists.

Relief
While western medicine primarily offers an array of medications and surgical options to dull phantom pain, alternative medicine harbors many treasures for an amputee. A few are:

• Acupuncture – Acupuncture effectively relieves chronic pain by enhancing circulation in the affected area as well as stimulating the central nervous system.

• Biofeedback – In biofeedback, the person learns to regulate body functions such as blood pressure and skin temperature, all of which affect phantom pain.

• Hypnosis – When hypnotized, a deep state of relaxation is reached where the client is open to suggestions designed to decrease the perception of pain and increase their ability to cope with it.

Relief from a massage therapist
Massage therapists also have access to a wide range of techniques benefiting phantom pain sufferers:

• Progressive muscle relaxation – Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a technique in which people consciously tense and then relax muscles. Some people who have phantom pain have anxiety about their pain, causing tension and, thus, increasing their pain. PMR can bring relief by reducing the anxiety and tension contributing to pain.

• Energy medicine – The application of Therapeutic Touch or Reiki to an amputee can change the dysfunctional energetic patterns perpetuating their pain. In addition, teaching energetic visualizations to a client can help them work with their pain at home.

• Cranial-Sacral therapy – The gentle touch of cranial-sacral therapy increases cerebrospinal fluid circulation, clearing blockages in the cranium, along the spinal cord and around the sacrum. Since phantom pain is typically viewed as abnormal brain and central nervous system processing, balancing the cranial-sacral system can bring enormous pain relief to an amputee.

• Acupressure – Based on the same principles as acupuncture, acupressure application has a unique place in relieving phantom pain. Acupressure works by stimulating qi (energy) when applying pressure to the path by which the qi travels (meridians). The stimulation of qi enhances circulation, which subsequently reduces pain. Once a therapist can identify the meridian along which the phantom pain runs, they can work with that meridian on an existing body part. Additionally, the meridians intersect the midline of the body, so stimulating a point on the right side will benefit the same point on the left, even if that left-sided location is amputated.

Due to the non-visible nature of phantom pain, the tactile approach of western medicine is at a loss for its successful treatment. While allopathic physicians may prescribe useful pain-numbing pharmaceuticals or surgically install pain-relieving devices, healthcare practitioners utilizing touch, circulation enhancement and energetic stimulation have a much greater capacity to help those afflicted with phantom pain.

Recommended Study
Cranial-Sacral Therapy
Healing Energy and Touch

References:
www.mayoclinic.org, Phantom Pain, Mayo Clinic Staff, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, November, 2005.

www.stoppain.org, Phantom and Stump Pain, University Hospital and Manhattan Campus for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Continuum Health Partners Inc., 2005.

www.transitiontoparenthood.com, Phantom Pain, Janelle Durham, 2004.

Posted by Editors at 01:31 PM

© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org <http://www.integrative-healthcare.org/>

Dislodging a blood clot represents one of the most potentially dangerous consequences of massage therapy. Learn how a client’s choice of contraception can affect massage and how to avoid a potentially risky situation.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

As an increasing number of people seek their services, the profile of massage therapists will continue to grow within the medical community. Delivering therapeutic results while maintaining the safety of each session are the backbone of bodywork’s value within medicine. As such, it is the responsibility of bodyworkers to stay current on factors that may pose an additional risk to the work they perform.

While energizing blood circulation can relieve pain, relax muscles, flush accumulated toxins out of the body and infuse new healthy cells to areas in need, enhancing circulation can also initiate an embolus. According to medicinenet.com, an embolus is: Something that travels through the bloodstream, lodges in a blood vessel and blocks it. Depending upon the location, an occluded blood vessel can have dire repercussions by lodging in:

· the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism
· the brain, causing a stroke
· the heart, causing a myocardial infarction

Being prepared to recognize what may pose a risk can help massage therapists avert a potentially lethal combination of performing circulatory massage on a client at high risk for an embolus. While there are many health problems that predispose a person to developing a blood clot, there are also seemingly innocuous lifestyle choices fostering the same predisposition.

The Pill
The oral contraceptive pill is the leading method of birth control in the United States. Approximately 12 million American women (19% of those aged 15-44) use the birth control pill. Historically, oral contraceptives have posed a considerable risk of emboli development. This risk is the reason women with other predisposing factors for blood clots, including smoking, hypertension or being over age 40, are encouraged to find other methods of birth control. By using lower doses of the active ingredients, safer oral contraceptive options have become the norm.

New Options
In addition to the birth control pill, two newer contraceptive options are increasing in popularity:

· Transdermal contraceptive patch (the patch) – The contraceptive patch (brand name: Ortho Evra) is placed on your upper arm, buttocks, stomach or chest (but not on the breasts). It releases birth control hormones in a method similar to birth control pills.

· Vaginal ring – The vaginal contraceptive ring (brand name: NuvaRing) uses the same hormones as most birth control pills. This flexible ring is inserted in the vagina, where its ring releases hormones that prevent pregnancy.

Ring and Patch Blood Clot Risk
Because they are relative newcomers to the contraceptive market, assessing the risk of a blood clot for the transdermal patch and vaginal ring hinges on the most recently published research. According to reputable studies published in 2006, the transdermal patch demonstrates a significantly higher risk of blood clots compared to oral contraceptives.

In the July 2006 issue of American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, researchers reported that when comparing a contraceptive vaginal ring with an oral contraceptive, the ring does not pose a higher risk of causing a blood clot. On the other hand, research on the patch revealed a different level of blood clot safety. In September 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration updated the warning label on the Ortho Evra transdermal contraceptive patch, cautioning users about the higher risk of blood clots associated with its use. The study, commissioned by drug manufacturer Johnson and Johnson, revealed that patch users faced twice the risk of clots in the legs and lungs compared to women taking traditional birth-control pills. Dr. Daniel Shames, the acting deputy director of FDA’s Office of Drug Evaluation in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said, “Blood clots occurring in the legs or lungs are serious and rare events that are a potential risk for all hormonal contraceptive therapies.”

Applicability to Bodyworkers
For massage therapists, the implications for Ortho Evra’s higher blood clot risk lie in determining possible contraindications for a circulatory massage. This information also serves to expand a therapist’s questioning during an intake interview. While simply inquiring about a client’s medications is imperative to rendering a responsible massage, the news about Ortho Evra demonstrates the need to probe beyond medications. While asking whether a client uses any type of hormonal contraception may accurately cover the contraceptive patch, a client may not consider it to be a medication since it’s not taken orally. With the reported increase of risk for developing blood clots in Ortho Evra users, a responsible massage therapist must ask all of the appropriate questions to determine whether their clients are exposed to this risk.

Recommended Study:
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Pharmacology for Massage

References:

www.arhp.org, Choosing a Birth Control Method, Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, 2005.

www.familydoctor.org, Contraceptive Options Update, American Academy of Family Physicians, 2004.

www.hearthealthywomen.org, Oral Contraceptives, Cardiovascular Research Foundation Publications, 2005.

www.medicinenet.com, Definition of emboli, MedicineNet, Inc., 2006.

www.medindia.net, Contraceptive Patch Carries risk of Blood clots, MedIndia, 9/21/06.

www.pdrhealth.com, Oral Contraceptives, Thomson Healthcare, 2006.

www.prnewswire.com, Johnson & Johnson Sued Over Ortho Evra Damage; Texas Woman Says Drug Caused Life-Threatening Blood Clots, Miscarriage, Law Offices of John David Hart, 9/5/2006.

Posted by Editors at 09:28 AM

© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org <http://www.integrative-healthcare.org/>

In addition to its tragic impact on voluntary motor skills, Parkinson’s disease typically causes muscle stiffness and rigidity. Learn how bodywork can alleviate the symptoms of this increasingly common central nervous system disorder.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Parkinson’s disease, also called Parkinsonism, is a fairly common progressive degenerative central nervous system (CNS) disorder. Affecting about one in 1,000 people in the U.S., Parkinson’s disease is a dysfunction in the basal ganglia, an area of the brain that controls voluntary movement. Characteristic symptoms of this chronic, progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder include tremors, rigidity, slow movement (bradykinesia), poor balance and difficulty walking (called parkinsonian gait).

Parkinsonism results from the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates motor neurons, the nerve cells that control muscles. When dopamine production is depleted, the motor system nerves are unable to control movement and coordination. People with Parkinson’s disease have lost 80% or more of their dopamine-producing cells by the time symptoms appear. While symptoms may appear at any age, the average age of onset is 60 years old.

Western Medicine
In addition to not knowing the cause, there is also no cure for Parkinson’s disease. Western medical treatment centers on the administration of medication to relieve symptoms. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved a surgically implanted device that lessens tremors. Medication for Parkinson’s disease is a process of experimentation and patience, as its selection and dosage must be individually tailored. As the disease progresses, medications and their dosages will likely require modification.

Medications
Designed to influence dopamine levels, the mainstay medications prescribed for Parkinson’s disease are Levodopa and Carbidopa, or a combination of the two, Sinemet. Of primary concern to bodyworkers, hypotension is a typical side effect of these drugs. Any client at increased risk of hypotension (low blood pressure) requires extra attention during a position change or when rising from a massage table.

Alternative Medicine
Tolerance to these medications builds with time, rendering them less effective and opening up the possibility of new side effects or unpredictable responses. Just like with medications, surgical therapies are not curative and often treat only selected aspects of Parkinson’s disease. It is no wonder that an increasing number of those affected with Parkinsonism are turning to complementary and alternative therapies for help.

Massage Therapy
The benefits of massage therapy have long been recognized by people with Parkinson’s disease. Because Parkinson’s disease typically causes muscle stiffness and rigidity, bodywork’s ability to alleviate joint and muscle stiffness makes it a logical choice. As long as the client has sensation in the area being worked on, it is safe for bodywork. Communicating with a client throughout a bodywork session will ensure a positive experience. However, before working with a Parkinson’s client, bodyworkers must understand the following:

· Parkinson’s disease is a CNS dysfunction, and will not be completely resolved with bodywork alone.

· Work in cooperation with a client’s primary physician, as massage may impact the need for antidepressants and other medication.

· Since uncontrolled movement is characteristic of this disease, getting on and off a massage table may pose safety issues. Bodyworkers must predict this with Parkinson’s clients and either improvise or take extra cautionary measures to ensure the client’s safety.

Research
According to a 2002 study conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami, along with staff from the university’s neurology department and Duke University’s pharmacology department, Parkinson’s disease symptoms are reduced by massage therapy. In this study, the group of adults with Parkinson’s disease who received two massages a week for five weeks experienced improved daily functioning, increased quality of sleep and decreased stress-hormone levels. The massage consisted of 15 minutes in the prone position, focusing on the back, buttocks, ribs, thighs, calves and feet; and 15 minutes in the supine position, focusing on the thighs, lower legs, feet, hands, forearms, upper arms, neck, face and head. The study’s authors reported, “These findings suggest that massage therapy enhances functioning in progressive or degenerative central nervous system disorders or conditions.”

While several different massage modalities have been quantifiably researched in the context of Parkinsonism, including Trager, Alexander Technique and Swedish massage, all modalities report improvement in function, from the reduction of rigidity and improvement of sleep, to the reduction of tremor and increase of daily activity stamina.

Don’t be afraid of working with clients suffering from Parkinson’s disease. The pathology of this condition and the success reported with massage therapy make physical manipulation of the musculoskeletal system an ideal Parkinsonism management component. Being familiar with this disease and welcoming those affected can bring an enormous amount of satisfaction to any compassionate bodyworker.

Recommended Study:
Anatomy and Pathology
Pharmacology for Massage
Swedish Massage

References:

Massage Reduces Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, Massage Magazine, January/February 2003.

Slavin, John, PhD, LMT, Massage and Parkinson’s Disease: A Few Lessons Learned, Massage Today, October 2006.

Werner, Ruth, LMP, NCTMB, Parkinsonism, Massage Today, March 2005.

www.medterms.com, Definition of basal ganglia, MedicineNet, Inc., 2006.

www.neurologychannel.com, Parkinson’s Disease, Healthcommunities.com, Inc., 206.

www.parkinson.org, Complementary Therapies and Parkinson’s disease, Melanie M. Brandabur, MD, Jill Marjama-Lyons, MD, The National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., 1994.

Posted by Editors at 09:28 AM
© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org

Are your client sessions already starting to heat up to an uncomfortable level this summer? Here’s how to support the body’s cooling mechanisms without losing the assistance heat lends to therapeutic massage.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

As summer sends the mercury rising, intolerance to excessive heat grows. When it comes to massage administration, this intolerance poses a contradiction. The nature of bodywork is enhanced with warmth, as higher temperatures encourage tissue relaxation and fluid circulation. However, when a person is overheated, adding even more heat is anything but therapeutic.

At first thought, a cooling technique, such as ice massage, appears to be a logical technique to balance the fiery heat of summer. While valuable for reducing inflammation in acute sports injury work, ice massage will not increase local circulation or relax tense muscles. The solution to providing a balanced therapeutic massage this season is to find ways to support body cooling without sacrificing the aid of warmth in the healing process. Try incorporating some of the following suggestions, or use them to jumpstart your own ideas into your summer client sessions:

1. Cool moonstones - Consider learning how to do a cool moonstone facial. While hot stone massage is a popular choice in colder months, the heat translated by hot stones can be too warming for many individuals already heated by summer’s temperature. The Institute offers the continuing education course, Stone Massage, which includes cool moonstone facial instruction. In addition to the moonstone facial, cool stones can be held in the palm or placed behind the neck to comfortably reduce body temperature.

2. Aloe Vera – A massage medium containing aloe vera creates a cooling sensation, and is particularly effective on sunburned skin. When applied to the lower legs and feet, aloe vera can bring the body’s temperature down a few degrees without inhibiting circulation or relaxation.

3. Room Temperature – The temperature in your massage setting is always a crucial factor, particularly during summertime. Especially if a client is already perspiring and feeling warm, stepping into a hot, stuffy room will only perpetuate their experience of heat. A ceiling fan’s slow setting is an ideal choice to make certain there is air circulation in the treatment space. However, finding the right semblance of cool can be a fine line, as an air conditioner blowing directly on a client can initiate muscular tension and contraction from its chill.

4. Hydrosol Misting – Hydrosols are the pure, water-based solutions created when essential oils are steam distilled. Take advantage of the cooling properties of peppermint or wintergreen to cool and refresh your client. When spraying a hydrosol mist, be aware of and refrain from its use if there are any contraindications present. Additionally, avoid irritation with any essential oil derivative by preventing any eye or mucus membrane contact.

5. Cucumber eye pats – Often used in spa settings, a disc of fresh cucumber placed over the eyes can cool down a flushed face quickly. The cooling and moisturizing properties of cucumber are ideal for a supine client struggling with a hot perspiring body. Always seek permission before placing fresh veggies on your client’s face.

6. Water consumption – Staying hydrated in the heat is crucial, especially when combined with bodywork’s characteristic release of toxins. To reduce overheating, offer your client a bottle of water to sip during, as well as after, your session.

7. Cooling Acupressure – According to Oriental Medical Theory, working the following two locations can reduce internal body heat:

Large Intestine 11 – Located at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease, midway between the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon and the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. This is a traditional point to reduce fever, revive from heatstroke and reduce all kinds of internal heat conditions.

Governing Vessel 14 – Located just below the spinous process of cervical vertebrae 7. The main point for reducing summer heat, all of the yang (heat containing) meridians intersect here, and is therefore an extremely accessible location to release interior body heat. When this intersection of yang energy is opened, it reduces the accumulation of body heat.

Being aware of your client’s body temperature translates into your awareness of their comfort. The differences in body constitutions will lead some individuals to extreme discomfort in the heat while others will feel their best. When a therapist pays attention to temperature variations and then institutes methods to balance those variations, the client’s experience will be that much more beneficial and therapeutic.

Recommended Study:

Stone Massage

References:

McCampbell, Harvest, Light Summer Massage Lotion Recipe, Massage Magazine, January/February 2001.

www.qi-elements.com, The Five Element Theory, Stefan Karlsson, Dipl. Ac., 2006.

www.tofinotime.com, Summer, Fire, Spirit, Tofinotime Magazine, June 2004.

www.yinyanghouse.com, Acupuncture Points Database, Yin Yang House, 2006.

Posted by Editors at 01:01 PM

© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org www.integrative-healthcare.org/>

The compassionate nature of many bodyworkers leaves them vulnerable to absorbing their client’s energy. Practicing these four steps - self-awareness, grounding, protection and cleansing - will help prevent emotional burnout.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Most therapists understand that they jeopardize their own emotional well-being when they intimately encounter the pain of others. –Jeffrey A. Kottler

The intimacy of bodywork requires not just firm professional boundaries, but also practiced energetic separation. The intimacy of a massage session is unrivaled, due to client expressions during history-taking and the physicality of touch during treatment. Clients typically share their innermost feelings with their therapist – and some powerfully exude their energy. Regardless of the vehicle, massage therapists are vulnerable to absorbing their client’s afflictions.

Caregivers
Choosing the profession of bodywork implies possessing a genuine interest in helping people. Typically, caregivers find pleasure in making a positive difference in people’s lives. Filled with compassion and empathy, bodyworkers can easily extend themselves too far. Although it may not loom in the conscious mind, healing can be perceived as the removal and absorption of other people’s pain. Arriving at the understanding that even as compassionate bodyworkers with the best intentions, we are unable to fix someone else’s pain. Only the person living in their body is capable of healing themselves. It is important for the massage therapist to recognize their role in healing as a separate entity, acting as an informed facilitator.

Burnout
Next to overworked hands, the most common cause of practitioner burnout is absorbing clients’ negative energy. Just as a massage therapist must pay attention to the care and protection of their hands for professional longevity, they also must be aware of their own energy, and protect it from taking on their client’s issues. Some indicators of taking on a client’s negative energy include:

· Becoming nauseous or dizzy during or after a session
· Feeling the anxiety, anger or depression your client entered with
· The development of discomfort non-existent prior to the session
· Feeling physically exhausted or emotionally drained after a session

These examples of energy transfer occur very easily, especially when the practitioner does not take separative and protective measures.

Self-awareness
The first step in maintaining energetic boundaries is to care for and be tuned in to your own body. It is crucial for therapists to pay attention to their own issues, so they are aware of the ailments, feelings and issues belonging to them. Being clear on what emotions are yours will help differentiate that which are not yours. Tending to one’s physical and emotional health is paramount in avoiding practitioner burnout.

Grounding
The second step to maintaining energetic boundaries is to ground yourself prior to each encounter. Grounding can be accomplished in a myriad of ways. Some practitioners meditate or perform qi gong exercises to connect them to the earth. The purpose of grounding exercises is to give the practitioner access to universal energy, instead of using their own personal stores.

A simple grounding technique is to take a few moments, stand upright with feet shoulder width apart, vertically align the spine, reach your hands up to the sky and visualize yourself as a tree. Imagine your feet as stable, healthy roots reaching deep into the earth. This gives you access to the earth’s grounding energy. Feel your hands as the ends of the tree’s branches, reaching up into the sky, giving you access to heaven’s intuitive energy. Tapping into the resources of heaven and earth will maintain your role as a facilitator, where universal energy flows to your client, instead of drawing from your own personal stores.

Protection
The third step in keeping your energy separate from your client’s is protection. According to Jeffrey A. Kottler, professor of counseling and educational psychology, “Physicians take careful steps to protect themselves from the infection, disease, and suffering of their patients. Rubber gloves, surgical masks, and probing stainless steel instruments keep germs at arm’s length.” There are as many techniques to protect you from negative energy transfer as there are methods of administering massage.

This easy visualization technique is best employed prior to and during a bodywork session. Imagine yourself surrounded by a force field where energy can flow out from you, but cannot be penetrated to reach you. Your imagery can include body armor, a one-way mirror or a ring of light where you can reach out to your clients, but their energy cannot reach or affect you. The more detail envisioned in this force field, the more effective it will be for its creator.

Cleansing
The fourth step to maintaining energetic boundaries is cleansing. After each session (and during if necessary), time must be preserved to shed any energy unintentionally picked up from a client. Again, there are many ways to energetically cleanse to shed anything unwanted.

Some therapists claim rituals such as hand-washing in cold water or feet stomping to be sufficient in metaphorically rinsing or shaking off negative energy. Many Asian bodywork practices include meridian brushing after a session. In meridian brushing, a hand traces meridians proximally to distally in a sweeping motion, brushing off any negative accumulation. Regardless of the chosen technique, cleansing is important to prevent carrying around any absorbed negative energy.

Bodyworkers will enjoy a healthier existence, be more effective with their treatments and can avoid practitioner burnout when the four steps of energetic separation are ritualistically adhered to. Any caregiver hoping to really make a difference in their client’s lives will treasure how practices of self-awareness, grounding, protecting and cleansing maintain energetic boundaries.

References:

Hycner, Richard, Between Person and Person, The Gestalt Journal Press, Inc., Highland, NY, 1993.

Kottler, Jeffrey A., On Being a Therapist, Jossey-Bass, Inc., San Francisco, CA, 1993.

Posted by Editors at 11:09 AM
© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org

Understanding Oriental Medical theory to appropriately choose the best acupressure points typically requires years of post-graduate education. Our experts have provided a quick and easy summary of three common health imbalances and recommended point combinations most supportive of their healing.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Most bodyworkers now perform a substantial intake evaluation prior to conducting their respective sessions. The interview process has become a requirement for conscious care, arising out of the profession’s increased presence in the healthcare industry. Once a therapist has the informative details of their client’s health, it is easier to create a customized treatment plan from the many possible massage therapy applications.

Acupressure practitioners are familiar with the meridians of the body, accessing the energy within these meridians to influence health. Out of the 12 primary meridians, the Urinary Bladder (UB) meridian is unique. With the most number of accessible points along its path, the UB meridian begins just medial to the inner canthus of the eye, ascends up the forehead, around the cranium, runs all the way down the dorsal surface of the body and finally ends at the lateral edge of the little toe. When this meridian descends along each side of the spine, UB points provide access to toning every organ system in the body.

Although not diagnosticians, bodyworkers can use the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to offer particularly beneficial treatments to their clients. In TCM, an imbalance of health is characterized by a symptomatic pattern. Discover the most beneficial points to work on the UB meridian for the following three commonly encountered imbalances:

Heart Blood Insufficiency
The symptoms of this pattern are characterized by anxiety and insomnia. Additional symptoms may include memory and concentration problems, heart palpitations, pale complexion, dizzy spells, vertigo and blurry vision. This pattern can manifest after blood loss (examples include: giving birth, surgery, trauma or heavy menses), or can be a result of chronic disease.

Working with Urinary Bladder points 15, 17 and 20 can be useful in bringing about balance to heart blood insufficiency.

UB 15 is located approximately two finger widths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebrae, at the height of the paraspinal muscle. This is the Associated Point of the Heart, and is indicated for its calming properties and ability to strengthen heart insufficiency.

UB 17 is located approximately two finger widths lateral to the lower border of the seventh thoracic vertebrae, at the height of the paraspinal muscle. This is the Influential Point of Blood, and is useful to build and nourish the blood.

UB 20 is located approximately two finger widths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebrae, at the height of the paraspinal muscle. This is the Associated Point of the Spleen, and is indicated because the spleen is the primary source of nourishment for making blood.

Liver Invading the Spleen
The symptoms of this pattern are characterized by abdominal distention and pain aggravated by emotional upset. Additional symptoms typically include alternating constipation and loose bowel movements, flank pain, decreased appetite, dysmennorhea, irritability, depression and fatigue. In TCM, unreleased emotions create stagnation in the liver, which in turn, disturbs the spleen’s digestive functions.

Working with Urinary Bladder points 18, 20 and 25 can be useful in bringing about balance to a liver invading the spleen.

UB 18 is located approximately two finger widths lateral to the lower border of the ninth thoracic vertebrae, at the height of the paraspinal muscle. This is the Associated Point of the Liver, and is used to relieve stagnation in the liver.

UB 20 is located approximately two finger widths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebrae, at the height of the paraspinal muscle. This is the Associated Point of the Spleen, and is indicated to strengthen the spleen’s digestive functions.

UB 25 is located approximately two finger widths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the fourth lumbar vertebrae. This is the associated point of the Large Intestine, and can help regulate the intestines.

Lung and Kidney Yang Deficiency
The symptoms of this pattern are characterized by asthma and coughing with watery sputum. Additional symptoms typically include a sensation of cold throughout the body, lower limb edema, low back cold and pain, fatigue, desire for warm beverages and breathlessness. In TCM, when the kidneys are lacking their life-giving fire and lung energy is weak, the body fails to transform fluids and warm itself. This pattern is commonly seen in chronic disease and the elderly.

Working with Urinary Bladder points 13, 23 and 43 can be useful in bringing about balance to lung and kidney yang deficiency.

UB 13 is located approximately two finger widths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebrae. This is the Associated Point of the Lung, and is useful in strengthening the lung.

UB 23 is located approximately two finger widths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebrae, on the quadratus lumborum muscle. This is the Associated Point of the Kidney, and tonifies kidney yang.

UB 43 is located approximately four finger widths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the fourth thoracic vertebra, on the spinal border of the scapula. This point is commonly used in chronic conditions where the lung and kidney need strengthening.

While arriving at the correct TCM diagnosis is complex, the key to this analytical process is looking at the pattern from an overarching perspective. There are at least five or six possible imbalances each for anxiety, stomach pain and asthma, so investigate further to see if a client’s additional symptoms fit the rest of the pattern as described. If the imbalance seems to fit the presented case, working with the UB points listed abovie will aim your client in the direction of healing and recovery.

Caution
Do not press on disintegrating discs or fractured or broken bones. If your client has a weak back, use caution with a stationary, light touch. If you have any questions or need medical advice, seek permission to discuss your client’s health with their physician.

Editor’s Note
For more information on acupressure, read the article, Ten Highly Effective Acupressure Points

References
Flaws, B., Finney, D., A Compendium of TCM Patterns and Treatments, Blue Poppy Press, 1996.

Lade, A., Acupuncture Points: Images and Functions, Eastland Press, 1989.

Liangyue, D., Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, 1993.

Maciocia, G., The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Churchill Livingstone, 1995.

Posted by Editors at 10:39 AM
© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org http://www.integrative-healthcare.org

Bodyworkers rely heavily on hand strength and dexterity for optimal work performance. Knuckle cracking has become customary to those trying to loosen or relax the phalanges. Find out whether this practice does more harm than good.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Bodyworkers are one of the many types of professionals who physically and repeatedly rely on hand strength and dexterity for optimal work performance. Knuckle cracking is an unconscious custom practiced by many who rely on their hands in an attempt to loosen or relax the phalanges.

Controversy has long surrounded the benefit and/or detriment of knuckle cracking. While some claim the end result of knuckle cracking is arthritic hands, others tout it as a completely normal and healthy act. Whether you do it yourself, administer treatments to or simply care for a chronic cracker, being familiar with the anatomy, physiology and possible pathology of this habit can help in sorting out the details of this on-going debate.

What occurs during knuckle cracking? Research on joint cracking is sparse. A joint capable of cracking is a diarthrodial joint, where two bones contact one another at their cartilage surfaces. These surfaces are surrounded by a joint capsule, which is filled with synovial fluid to lubricate the joint. Synovial fluid contains dissolved gases including oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

According to Raymond Brodeur on the Ergonomics Research Laboratory at Michigan State University, “As the joint capsule stretches, its expansion is limited by a number of factors. When small forces are applied to the joint, one factor that limits the motion is the volume of the joint. That volume is set by the amount of synovial fluid contained in the joint. The synovial fluid cannot expand unless the pressure inside the capsule drops to a point at which the dissolved gases can escape the solution; when the gases come out of solution, they increase the volume and hence the mobility of the joint. The cracking or popping sound is thought to be caused by the gases rapidly coming out of solution, allowing the capsule to stretch a little further.”

This predominant theory alleges that a pulled finger stresses the joint capsule’s capability, triggering a change in the synovial fluid for increased volume. The synovial fluid’s air bubble forms and quickly bursts, making the characteristic ‘cracking’ sound.

Brodeur adds, “If you take an x-ray of the joint after cracking, you can see a gas bubble inside the joint. This gas increases the joint volume by 15 to 20 percent; it consists mostly (about 80 percent) of carbon dioxide. The joint cannot be cracked again until the gases have dissolved back into the synovial fluid, which explains why you cannot crack the same knuckle repeatedly.”

According to Jonathan Cluett, MD, an orthopedic surgery fellow in sports medicine and arthroscopy in California, a cracking joint can also be due to the tendons and ligaments crossing over a joint. Ligaments and tendons crossing over bones may produce a pop or cracking sound as they tighten and snap over a moving joint. This is the likely mechanism responsible for inadvertent crackling hands of a massage therapist, or in any other manually demanding occupation.

Does knuckle cracking actually loosen the finger joints? As Brodeur explained, knuckle cracking does temporarily widen the joint space between phalanges. However, it does not lengthen and relax the muscles of the hands and fingers. Peter Bonafede, MD, medical director of the Providence Arthritis Center, suggests replacing knuckle cracking with the more useful practice of bending and stretching out of the fingers. When hands get cramped or tired, finger bending and stretching serves to oxygenate and lengthen fatigued muscles.

WebMD suggests trying the following hand, wrist and finger exercises for increasing flexibility and strength:

1. Rotating your wrist up, down, and from side to side.
2. Stretching your fingers far apart, then relaxing them, then stretching them again.
3. Squeezing a rubber ball.
4. Wrist curls and extensions with a light weight.

Is there any danger to knuckle cracking? This question evokes the most controversy. Most knuckle crackers support their habit by citing a mid-1970s study of 28 people concluding that knuckle cracking does not cause or lead to arthritis. Many specialists in this area claim no harm is being done, as long as there is no pain, swelling or mobility restriction associated with the cracking.

A 1990 study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases evaluated 300 participants. The authors came to a similar conclusion, where the prevalence of arthritis in habitual knuckle crackers was comparable to those not identified as habitual knuckle crackers. However, a significantly greater number of knuckle crackers suffered from decreased hand function and reduced grip strength.

The cracking of finger and hand joints can be deliberate or unintentional. In either case, maintaining flexibility in the hand is governed by the health of its muscles, tendons and ligaments. Stressing the joint capsule may result in an audibly satisfying pop, but the long- term results show potential for tissue damage. If you or someone you know is a habitual cracker, or experiences inadvertent snapping with hand activity, periodic finger bends, stretches and exercises are the best preventative measure for maintaining hand health.

References:

Castellanos J, Axelrod D., Effect of habitual knuckle cracking on hand function, Ann Rheum Dis 1990; 49: 308-9.

Swezey R, Swezey S, The consequences of habitual knuckle cracking, WJM, 1975; 122: 377-9.

www.orthopedics.about.com, Cluett, J., Does joint cracking cause arthritis?, 2006.

www.providence.org, Bonafede, P., Knuckle Cracking and Arthritis, July 2004.

www.scientificamerican.com, Brodeur, R., What makes the sound when we crack our knuckles?, 10/26/01.

www.webmd.com, Exercises for flexibility and strength in your hand, wrist and arm, 2/4/05.

Posted by Editors at 02:33 PM
© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org www.integrative-healthcare.org