Stress can take a toll on you in addition to giving you health problem therefore it is essential that you look at ways to alleviate stress. There are many ways to deal with stress and you will need to try it to find out what is effective for you.

What then is stress and in what way can it affect your life?

Stress is not something that is inexplicable as once we are badly affected with it, we will see signs that our body is reacting to it. You know you are upset and feel like shouting or crying, so that is stress. Stress enables a person not to think clearly and your mind is heavy with emotion, making you feel bad about yourself.

Stress leads to many health problems if not dealt with properly. Strokes, heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure are scores of the issues that we have to deal with if stress is handled badly. Therefore the ultimate goal is to remain as stress free as possible to be free of complex health issues.

What are the ways to cope with and manage stress?

You know yourself better than anyone else and what relaxes you but no one is alike but there are a few ways you can carry out that can relax your mind as well as clear your thoughts.

• Yoga is a very good form of stress reliever as it enables you to unwind. Practicing yoga alone can be a very good technique of managing your stress level as in yoga, you learn to meditate. Meditation give rise to a clear mind and eliminate negative thoughts that might obscure your thinking. The range of yoga poses relaxes the body and allows you to cope much better with stress.
• Another method that you can thrive over stress is to try aromatherapy. The use of candles and essential oil can be very comforting. In addition you can enjoy aromatherapy bath as well as the use of aromatherapy oil on massages.
• All categories of exercises help to clear the mind and a brisk walk around your scenic neighborhood can make you feel much better. Exercise is relaxing and the mind and body will feel much healthier after a round of workout.
• If all else fail, the last resort is to seek some professional help, especially medication to calm you down and relax. Medication is not a cure all and if stress prolongs learn to relax your state of mind. Time and patience can help you to bring stress to a manageable level. Learn to thrive on stress and the attitude will serve you well in whatever undertaking that life dishes up to you.
———-
Jhye is an author and loves reading on self-help. Thrive on stress is a labor of love. Read it at http://www.thriveonstress.com

Tags: emotion, meditation, exercises, strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure, health problem, health issues, health problems, negative thoughts, heart attack, mind and body, yoga, stress level, massages, brisk walk, stress reliever, life stress, candles
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When one talks about using massage for headache relief, you typically picture someone being massaged around their temples or even the back of the neck but what I’m going to talk about in this article has nothing to do with that, in fact you can actually massage headaches away by making use of acupressure points that are nowhere near your head.

What many people don’t realize is that the acupressure points for the head are based in the hand and there is one in particular that can give wonderful headache relief. This point is found in the webbing that is between the forefinger and the thumb - right in that tender area. When pressure is applied to this area in a consistent and circular motion, many people report relief from all types of headaches although it seems to work particularly well for tension headaches.

So how do you massage headaches away?

This is one of the simplest headache relief methods. Simply take the thumb and forefinger of one hand and massage in between the thumb and forefinger on the other hand - you want to get right in the webbing and massage with a firm pressure. You want to go in a circular motion about two or three rotations per second. Some people say that you should massaged the hand of the side that your headache is on and others say that doing both hands is ideal. If you don’t have someone standing by to massaged both your hands for you, you can do one side yourself and then the other one afterwards. Massage each side for a couple of minutes.

This technique will actually relieve most types of head pain including sinus pain and even toothache however, anyone who is pregnant should avoid this massage technique because it has been known to cause contractions.

Now there are also other massages for headaches thAT do involve massaging the head and, depending on the type of headache you have these can also be very effective. Some involve massaging the front of the head while others involve massaging the base or neck. If you have a tension headache that is due to strain then these could be quite effective.

All in all, using massage for headache relief is a great way to try to find pain relief that won’t leave you with side effects. You can use it in conjunction with any prescriptions that your doctor has given you or, if you prefer not to take prescription drugs you can combine it with other alternative methods such as aromatherapy and acupuncture.

Tags: thumb, rotations, contractions, massage technique, massages, couple of minutes, temples, circular motion, tension headaches, tension headache, forefinger, types of headaches
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Massage therapy can be a valuable method for easing panic disorders, a serious condition that can occur repeatedly and without warning. Find out how bodywork therapy helps alleviate the severity of panic attacks by reducing a client’s stress and tension level.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

A serious condition that affects one out of every 75 people, panic disorder is an anxiety disorder where panic attacks occur repeatedly and without warning. Interfering with work and personal life, these attacks can happen many times each day or each week. Understanding different elements of this disorder will help massage therapists appropriately support their clients suffering from panic attacks.

Panic results from an adrenaline surge, otherwise referred to as the human body’s “fight or flight” response. Scientists know that certain parts of the brain and nervous system cause the emotional and physical surge of fear. A panic attack is very scary, but having a solitary attack doesn’t mean that you are developing panic disorder.

Many people with panic disorder also have agoraphobia. As defined by the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, agoraphobia is defined as:

Anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape may be difficult or embarrassing or in which help may not be available in the event of having an unexpected or situationally predisposed panic attack or panic-like symptoms.

A panic attack is far more intense than the typical feeling of being ’stressed out’. In fact, a panic attack is downright frightening. Symptoms of a panic attack include:

· racing heartbeat
· difficulty breathing, feeling as though you ‘can’t get enough air’
· terror that is almost paralyzing
· dizziness, lightheadedness or nausea
· trembling, sweating, shaking
· choking, chest pains
· hot flashes, or sudden chills
· tingling in fingers or toes (’pins and needles’)
· fear that you’re going to go crazy or are about to die

In addition to the above symptoms, a panic attack is marked by the following conditions:

· It occurs suddenly, without warning and without any way to stop it.
· The level of fear is disproportional to the actual situation and is fact, often unrelated.
· It passes within a few minutes as the body cannot sustain the ‘fight or flight’ response for an extended period. However, repeated attacks can recur for hours.

Feelings of panic start suddenly and intensify quickly, usually within 10 minutes. The symptoms of panic disorder are the same as a panic attack except that the attacks come repeatedly, and the person is quite fearful between attacks that another attack will follow, changing behavior to avoid another. In total, panic attacks usually last from 20 to 30 minutes.

Because common symptoms of a panic attack include chest pain and shortness of breath, it may be mistaken for a heart attack. Only a qualified healthcare provider or a mental health professional can diagnose a panic disorder.

Medications
Several medicines can help treat panic disorder. If pharmaceutical therapy is chosen, a health care provider will carefully select the most appropriate prescription. Some popular medicines for panic are:

· Anti-anxiety medicines such as lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), and buspirone (BuSpar)

· Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro)

· Tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine (Tofranil) and desipramine (Norpramin)

· Other antidepressant medicines such as venlafaxine (Effexor) and mirtazapine (Remeron)

Massage therapists will discover how medications influence massage in the Institute’s comprehensive and useful continuing education program, Pharmacology for Massage. This course also includes the Pharmacology Guide for Massage Therapists, a detailed, easy to use reference chart providing both the brand and trade names of the most popular prescription drugs, the drug category, side effects that impact massage, massage considerations and contraindications.

Each of these medications influence the body in a unique way, causing their own set of side effects. A massage therapist who is aware of a drug’s systemic effects, is then able to choose massage strokes to counter those effects. For example, typical side effects relevant in a massage setting of fluoxetine are orthostatic hypotension, sleepiness, anxiety and insomnia. Choosing tapotement if your client is prone to orthostatic hypotension and sleepiness or a slow and rhythmic rocking stroke to ease anxiety and insomnia would be logical massage stroke choices to best benefit such a client.

Psychotherapy
Seeing a psychiatrist or psychotherapist is often helpful for addressing panic disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy shown to be especially effective in treating panic. CBT helps identify and change thought patterns that lead to panic attacks. If you have a client with diagnosed or suspected panic disorder who hasn’t yet investigated this therapy, your suggestion to consider CBT may lead to a life-changing discovery.

Bodywork
In general, massage therapy may help lower stress levels and muscular tension. These benefits may help reduce the general anxiety that accompanies panic disorder. Any technique under a therapist’s belt that helps a client relax, whether it’s a massage stroke administered during a session or a relaxation method taught to the client for practicing at home, will benefit a sufferer of panic disorder. Below are six additional suggestions to consider when addressing this condition:

1. To draw energy down and away from the head, end a session with the lower body or feet.
2. Many panic sufferers experience tightness in their chest muscles from protecting against painful or shallow breathing. Within appropriate boundaries, seek for methods to open that area.
3. Two appropriate acupressure points to relieve and prevent panic attacks are Pericardium 6 (P6) and Liver 3 (L3). P6 is on the ventral side of the forearm, between the two tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis, approximately three finger widths proximal to the wrist crease. L3 is on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression distal to the junction of the first and second metatarsals.
4. Cranial-Sacral therapy can add a profound dimension of healing to someone experiencing panic attacks.
5. A slower rhythm is favored by many with anxiety disorders, since it relaxes the sympathetic nervous system.
6. Incorporating an essential oil with soothing characteristics into your bodywork can provide an added healing dimension to your session.

A massage therapist has the knowledge and skills to help their clients with agoraphobia and panic disorder. Whether it’s administering massage strokes to counter medication’s side effects, suggesting cognitive behavioral therapy or incorporating one of the preceding six suggestions into a session, bodyworkers can significantly alter the course of this anxiety disorder.

Recommended Study:

Pharmacology for Massage
Aromatherapy Essentials
Cranial-Sacral Fundamentals

References:

Pharmacology Guide for Massage Therapy, Natural Wellness, 2006.

www.anxiety.psy.ohio-state.edu, Agoraphobia DSM-IV Criteria, Ohio State University, 2006.

www.apa.org, Answers to Your Questions about Panic Disorder, American Psychological Association, 2006.

www.med.umich.edu.com, Panic Disorder, Naakesh Dewan, MD, Gayle Zieman, PhD, McKesson Provider Technologies, 10/19/05.

Posted by Editors at 11:52 AM

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

Name: Sweet Orange Essential Oil.

Botanical Name: Citrus sinensis.

Common Method of Extraction: Cold Pressed/Expressed.

Color: Greenish Orange.

Consistency: Thin.

Perfumery Note: Top.

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong.

Aromatic Description: Citrusy, sweet, reminiscent of orange peels, but more concentrated.

Possible Uses: Colds, constipation, dull skin, flatulence, flatulence, flu, gums, mouth, slow digestion, stress. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 57-67.].

Constituents: Limonene [Shirley Price, The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons, 1993), 54-5.].

Safety Information: Lawless reports that a few people have experienced dermatitis from the limonene content of Sweet Orange. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 122.]. Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand does not indicate any special precautions when using this oil. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 209.]

All Essential oils or highly concentrated, do not ingests or add directly to the skin. Always ask your trained massage aroma therapist on how to use any essential oils. These oils are used as a guide only.

Name: Thyme Essential Oil.

Botanical Name: Thymus vulgaris.

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled.

Color: Reddish Brown.

Consistency: Medium and Slightly Oily.

Perfumery Note: Middle.

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong.

Aromatic Description: Fresh, medicinal, herbaceous.

Possible Uses: Arthritis, colds, cuts, dermatitis, flu, insect bites, laryngitis, lice, muscle aches, oily skin, poor circulation, scabies, sore throat. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 57-67.].

Constituents: a-thujene, a-pinene, camphene, B-pinene, p-cymene, a-terpinene, linalool, borneol, B-caryophyllene, thymol, carvacrol. [J. Soulier, "The Thymus Genus," Aromatherapy Records, September 1985, 38-49, cited in Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997), 204.].

Safety Information: Avoid in cases of hypertension. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 228.]. Moderate dermal irritant and strong mucous membrane irritant. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 176.].

All Essential oils or highly concentrated, do not ingests or add directly to the skin. Always ask your trained massage aroma therapist on how to use any essential oils. These oils are used as a guide only.

Name: Yarrow Essential Oil.

Botanical Name: Achillea millefolium.

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled.

Color: Dark Blue.

Consistency: Medium.

Perfumery Note: Middle.

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong.

Aromatic Description: Sharp, woody, herbaceous.

Possible Uses: Fever, hair care, hemorrhoids, hypertension, indigestion, insomnia, migraine, scars, stretch marks, varicose veins, wounds. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.].

Constituents: Tricyclene, a-pinene, camphene, B-pinene, sabinene, borneol acetate, 1,8-cineole, y-terpinene, limonene, isoartemisia ketone, borneol, camphor, chamazulene. [B. Lawrence, "Yarrow Oil," Perfumer & Flavorist, August/September 1984, 37, cited in Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997), 206].

Safety Information: Neurotoxic (toxic to the nerves). Avoid in pregnancy. Avoid orally in pregnancy, epilepsy, fever (no essential oil should be taken internally without the guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner). [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 180.].

All Essential oils or highly concentrated, do not ingests or add directly to the skin. Always ask your trained massage aroma therapist on how to use any essential oils. These oils are used as a guide only.

16th September 2008Author: Brandon Thomas
Views: 20
New York is a fast growing, rapidly changing metropolis with a population of more than 8 million people. The city has long been an important center for shipping, finance, media and culture and the New York metropolitan area serves as the headquarters for many of the world’s largest corporations. The job opportunities are as varied as the population and all hope to attract the best and brightest professionals. There is stiff competition among companies to lure well-qualified candidates and retain them once they are hired.

Once hired, many employees find themselves over stressed and fatigued do to the competitive and fast paced nature of New York’s corporate culture. Increased levels of stress can have an adverse effect on job performance and health if left unaddressed. Excess stress has been shown to cause insomnia, chronic headaches, overeating, an inability to focus and can contribute to more serious problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Employers see an increase in absenteeism, lowered productivity and poor office morale, which translate into lost revenue.

A growing number of corporations are implementing employee wellness programs to keep their staff healthy and to reduce the frequency of sick days. Chair massage is an excellent addition to a corporate wellness program because of its convenience and lasting benefits. Therapeutic massage has been proven effective in calming anxiety, reducing stress and improving mental clarity. Physical benefits include relief from muscle aches, lowered blood pressure, improved circulation and improved immune system function.

Chair massage is ideal for a workplace setting because it requires only a small amount of space and is performed in short but thorough sessions. Sessions normally last between 5 and 15 minutes, which is within the span of a typical coffee break. Chair massage therapists do not use oils or lotions, which allows professionals to maintain their appearance and remain completely dressed. Positive results can be felt immediately and are long lasting. Work related injuries, resulting from poor ergonomics or repetitive stress and strain are escalating among office workers. New York massage services can alleviate pain caused by muscle strain and reduce tenderness and swelling of areas affected by repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The improved circulation that New York chair massage provides helps to rid tissues of excess fluids and toxins, while facilitating the flow of important nutrients to the area. Harried professionals often consume high levels of refined sugar and caffeine, which contributes to a nutrient-poor diet. A poor diet coupled with increased stress can take a toll on the immune system’s ability to ward off illness by hindering the production of white blood cells. A short New York City massage releases toxins and heightens the production and effectiveness of the body’s natural germ fighters.

Morale and job satisfaction are also major concerns for employers. A low office morale can greatly reduce productivity by fostering feelings of apathy and an individual’s inability to effect change. Workers within such environments report feeling burned out, unmotivated and overly anxious. The negative effects of stress are multiplied and can cause a marked increase in absenteeism and employee turnover. Companies that offer regular employee massage have found it to be a cost effective way to improve workplace morale, attract top performers and view it as an opportunity to show their commitment to their employees’ physical and emotional health.

Tags: high blood pressure, mental clarity, reducing stress, immune system function, therapeutic massage, coffee break, chronic headaches, levels of stress, chair massage, massage therapists
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15th September 2008Author: Brandon Thomas
Views: 15
New York City is a top destination and hub for the world’s most prominent companies. It’s no surprise that New York’s metro area convention centers and large venues are booked with trade shows featuring the latest innovations and products for a wide variety of applications, spanning across numerous industries. Spaces at these events are often limited and exhibitor’s fees alone can cost thousands of dollars. Advertising, furnishing and operating a trade show booth is also costly, and the price for transportation and lodging of employees comes at a premium.

With all of the time, effort and money spent on promoting a company’s products at a trade show, it is imperative that the booth stands out among the crowd. Most corporate trade show booths offer brochures and promotional gifts to entice visitors to spend a few moments hearing about what they offer. However, these tactics are proving to be less effective as a means of attracting and retaining potential clients long enough to see a product demonstration or to hear the sales pitch. More often than not, visitors will give most corporate booths a passing glance and pick up a brochure or free pen, and then continue on their way. This makes it quite difficult for the sales team to assess whether or not they have made a lasting impression, or generated a quality lead. Spending meaningful face time with a potential client is the most effective way to produce valuable sales leads.

Offering a free chair massage at a corporate trade show booth is an enjoyable and cost effective marketing tool aimed at providing an exhibitor with increased visibility and face time with future clients. The massage chair is easily set up and is ideal for a trade show environment because a fully functional station can operate in a very compact space. Chair massage therapists do not use oils or lotions, which eliminates the need to undress. The massage is performed over clothing and sessions last for an average of five minutes. A New York chair massage is an excellent draw to a company’s booth because most trade show visitors have traveled a significant distance and are on their feet for extended periods of time. These factors can cause visitors to feel fatigued and lacking focus, which take away from the impact of the marketing message. A free massage is always attractive to weary trade show attendees, and many will wait in line just to receive one. A small crowd gathered at your corporate booth will attract more attention and the time that guests spend there will increase exponentially. Your sales team will have an extended opportunity to meet and speak with potential clients as they wait for their free chair massage, resulting in a positive effect on the number of quality leads they can generate while providing increased exposure for your company’s products.

Chair massage is also a great way to garner positive name recognition for your company and products. A short, thorough session soothes aches and calms anxiety. Recipients of New York massage services feel relaxed and invigorated with an enhanced sense of well being. These feelings are long lasting and correlate directly with the company that provided them with the enjoyable experience.

Tags: marketing tool, time effort, latest innovations, massage chair, trade show booths, lasting impression, cost effective marketing, chair massage, massage therapists, undress, trade show booth, promotional gifts, metro area, face time
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Just as the environment adjusts to each seasonal change, so does the human body. The shift into spring prompts our release of stored emotions in preparation for increased activity and productivity. Learn how bodyworkers can assist in spring’s healthful transformation of winter’s stored emotional tension.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

During the winter, we draw our energy inward to reflect, rejuvenate and rest. As the season shifts into spring, energy bursts forth, like bulbs lying dormant throughout the colder months. As daylight lengthens, contained energy begins to flow instead of being stored. Nature’s activity during early spring can be witnessed everywhere, from newly composed avian harmonies to animal mating rituals. Projects sitting on hold jump to life and bodies that have been curled up on the couch itch to move. Spring is representative of transformation and growth, bringing renewed optimism, hope and life.

According to Chinese culture, humans are microcosms of the environment, and are equally affected by the change in season. The cyclical character of energy flow creates a predominance of energy in a paired organ system during a specified time of year. According to Chinese medical theory, the energy in the liver and gallbladder systems are most active in the spring.

In addition to viewing humans as mirrors of nature, Chinese medical theory also emphasizes the interplay of physical, emotional and spiritual aspects governed by each bodily system. Encompassing much more than the western medical model’s understanding of organ structure and function, each body system also governs emotion, cognition and spirit.

The cognitive responsibility of the liver is planning while the gallbladder oversees decision-making. When the energy in these two organ systems mounts, as it naturally does each spring, there can be two possible outcomes:

1. The desired outcome is an active outpouring of creativity, productivity and release of negative patterns.
2. The undesired outcome is energetic stagnation, or resistance to allowing this energy to flow.

Restricted liver energy manifests itself as anger, frustration, depression and irritability. Disease occurs when this energy is not expressed or freed. When energy remains stuck, it coagulates, becoming thick and heavy, hampering optimal body functioning. The inability to express spring’s active energy can lead to all sorts of illnesses including migraines, PMS, heart disease and even cancer.

Because the energy in the liver and gallbladder systems increase during the spring, people often experience an increase in stress, anger and anxiety during this season. When an outlet for this energy is found, these emotions can be transformed into creativity, opportunity and change. Springtime is ideal to convert these difficult emotions by focusing on their movement and release. Nature provides us this time of year to spring clean our stored emotions. Feeling these intense emotions is a healthy first step, and indicates readiness for the second spring cleaning step: release.

Emotional release can be achieved in many different ways, and each person must find the method that works best for them. Some methods that may be useful include:

· Engaging in physical activity
· Receiving bodywork
· Verbalizing emotions to a friend or professional
· Journaling or writing about one’s feelings
· Crying and/or laughing
· Meditation and/or visualization
· Using creativity as an emotional outlet

Bodyworkers can assist in this process by understanding the need for and paying extra attention to modalities encouraging emotional release. In general, relaxing massage strokes help clients shed tension and drop resistance. Techniques to invigorate the Liver and Gallbladder meridians are especially useful in facilitating the desired free and easy flow of energy. A specific acupressure combination to address this is called The Four Gates. While The Four Gates is typically used to reduce pain, its overarching purpose benefits both physical and emotional pain by invigorating and moving stagnation. For more specific information on The Four Gates, please see the previous article, Differentiating Back Pain from Kidney Pain, under bodywork techniques for Kidney stones.

Regardless of the method used, finding the path to emotional release keeps the body, mind and spirit healthy. The natural instinct to spring clean our homes and environment answers our spiritual yearning to clear away the cobwebs (stagnation) left over from winter. When spring cleaning is applied to emotional health, our ability to plan and make decisions blossoms, and we experience renewed optimism, creativity, hope and transformation. From the Chinese perspective, the free flow of liver and gallbladder energy is the number one disease preventative, and best way to guarantee a healthy and happy year.

Posted by Editors at 04:19 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/>

Massage therapists are often in a difficult position; western medical diagnosis is beyond their scope of practice, yet awareness and recognition of medical disorders is crucial to their client’s well-being and safety. Mistaking kidney inflammation for a muscular strain can result in inappropriate therapy. Learn how to detect kidney inflammation masquerading as back pain, and what to do about it.

One of the primary reasons for client visits to clinically oriented massage practices is back pain. Recognizing the signs of kidney inflammation enables therapists to differentiate it from a muscular strain/sprain.

Often mistaken to be tense or strained back muscles, kidney inflammation’s most prominent symptom can be back pain. Three kidney inflammatory conditions that can cause back pain are:

• Nephritis — kidney infection
• Renal calculi — kidney stones
• Polycystic kidneys

When a client complains of back pain, from the lower-thoracic to the mid-lumbar regions, it is important to rule out kidney inflammation. When the kidneys are not functioning optimally, the body’s ability to manage fluid balance is impaired, often resulting in edema. Systemic circulatory massage is inappropriate for these individuals, as it would push more fluid through an already overburdened system. Additionally, if the kidneys are inflamed, they are more susceptible to injury from vigorous massage. The kidneys are vulnerable because they are only partially protected by the rib cage. The right kidney’s location underneath the liver results in its position being slightly lower than the left kidney.

A solid, anatomical understanding of each kidney’s location will contribute to accurate differentiation. The superior border of the kidney reaches the level of the 12th thoracic vertebrae. The inferior border lies just above the horizontal plane of the umbilicus, typically level with the 3rd lumbar vertebrae. The inferior border is one finger breadth superior to the iliac crest. The center of the kidney, where the ureter is attached, is level with the intervertebral disc between the first and second lumbar vertebrae. Therefore, pain originating in the kidney is typically felt in the upper lumbar region and can radiate to the upper right or left quadrant of the abdomen.

A thorough client history and intake is an essential component of safe practice, especially when evaluating back pain. To help the bodyworker identify kidney involvement, the three kidney inflammatory conditions previously listed are explained below.

Nephritis
Nephritis typically causes tenderness, pain and swelling in the back, below the costal margin and lateral to the vertebrae. The pain can be constant or sharp, and is typically unilateral. Other symptoms can include one or more of the following:

• Dark, red or foamy urine
• Decreased urine output
• Urinary urgency and/or burning
• Groin pain
• Fever
• Recent history of sore throat
• Abdominal pain or pressure

Severe infection may also include:

• High fever
• Chills
• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea or vomiting
• Confusion
• High blood pressure
• Edema

An individual with nephritis has an impaired ability to process fluids, contraindicating circulatory massage. However, non-circulatory techniques can offer substantial benefits without challenging fluid balance. If you suspect an untreated kidney infection, an immediate referral to a physician is warranted. Medical professionals take these symptoms very seriously, as an untreated kidney infection can have dire consequences.

Kidney Stones
A kidney stone is a solid deposit of crystalline substances inside the kidney. Stone size can vary greatly, ranging from the size of a grain of sand to a small pebble. When the stones are large enough, they scrape the delicate lining of the urinary tract, causing an enormous amount of pain. The intense pain, referred to as renal colic, comes and goes in waves, is typically unilateral, and is often likened to giving birth. Additional symptoms can include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Back pain referred to the groin
• Frequent urination
• Blood in the urine
• Fever and chills, if accompanied by an infection

Those prone to kidney stones are excellent candidates for massage, as long as they are asymptomatic. If kidney stones are suspected, most sources suggest avoiding massage during the acute phase. However, some Asian styles of bodywork include specific techniques that may reduce the spasmodic pain of renal colic. These techniques involve bodywork on the following distal areas:

• The kidney area is on the sole of the foot. In reflexology, this point is near the center of the sole of the foot, level with the arch. In acupressure, this point is in the center of the width of the foot, one-third of the way down from the toes, just proximal to the distal pad of the foot. Stimulation of this area may ease kidney pain.

• According to Chinese Medicine, Stomach 36 is widely used for invigoration. This invigoration is gentle, so as not to overload the kidneys, yet effective. Stomach 36 is located four finger breadths below the eye of the knee, one finger breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia, in the tibialis anterior.

• According to Chinese Medicine, Urinary Bladder 39 opens up water passages in the lower part of the body. Urinary Bladder 39 is located in the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa, lateral from the center, on the medial border of the tendon of the biceps femoris. While deep pressure should not be applied to the back of the knee, energy techniques can be employed.

• Gently massaging the entire Kidney meridian can relax its associated organ’s tissues, calming renal colic. The Kidney meridian begins under the little toe, crosses the sole of the foot, ascends along the medial aspect of the leg, follows the postero-medial aspect of the thigh to the tip of the coccyx, and goes up the anterior aspect of the abdomen and chest to just below the clavicle. Meridian work on the foot and lower leg will have the greatest affect on the kidney.

• The Four Gates are four points used in Chinese Medicine to ease pain. Simultaneously apply pressure to Large Intestine 4, located on the dorsum of the hand, in the center of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side, and Liver 3, located on the dorsum of the foot in the depression distal to the junctions of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones. If you have access to an assistant, it is ideal to stimulate all four of these points at the same time.

Polycystic Kidneys
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited disease where sacs of fluid (cysts) grow in the kidneys. If too many cysts grow or if they get too big, the kidneys become damaged. The cysts may also cause pain or may get infected.

The most common symptom of PKD is high blood pressure. Other symptoms include:

• Pain in the back and side
• Abdominal pain
• Increased abdomen size
• Blood in the urine
• Frequent kidney infections

Abdominal massage is contraindicated for polycystic kidney disease. In an effort to remove toxins from the body and to prevent an excessive circulatory load on the kidneys, lymphatic drainage massage is an excellent choice for someone with PKD.

As an increased number of people with complex medical disorders seek the benefits of massage therapy, bodyworkers need to have a basic understanding of the conditions they may encounter. Practitioners should never assume back pain is due to a muscular imbalance and should have a screening process to rule out kidney inflammation in place. Taking the extra time during a client intake will enable you to administer a condition-appropriate massage, prevent symptom exacerbation and could even lead to a referral your client will be extremely thankful for.

References

Premkumar, Kalyani, The Massage Connection: Anatomy and Physiology, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2004.

Werner, Ruth, A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2005.

www.merck.com, Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis), Merck and Co, Inc., 2006.

Posted by Nicole at 04:09 PM
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