Guest guest Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Massage, learning to rub people the right way One of the first things we will look at and give the merits for is massage, known and applied for thousands of years .In todays society at least in the UK touch is almost alien through whatever reason be it Victorian or upbringing .Yet touch can convey so much and the UK in general has to learn this very important role. For in my experience touch can be life changing ,yet I still meet nurses who have never had a massage in their life. Clearly there is much to change for these people are supposed to be at the very front to treating the ill but as the previous chapter has explained modern conventional treatment has almost obliterated one of the prime tools for healing. Massage should be done to babies, children and adults and much soothing would take place were this in place without need for drugs, sedatives alcohol or other stimulants. if only this would go into every would be mums repertoire of dealing with their children. The results I am sure would be impressive. Various combinations of oils for massage can be used however I have only experience with using the oils of peanut /olive and almond and I am sure there are many others which are of real benefit too. Also very good results have been obtained using tincture of myrrh. Research in massage therapy has been ongoing for more than 120 years. Here are some reported benefits of massage: Preliminary results suggested cancer patients had less pain and anxiety after receiving therapeutic massage at the James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio. Women who had experienced the recent death of a child were less depressed after receiving therapeutic massage, according to preliminary results of a study at the University of South Carolina. Medical school students at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School who were massaged before an exam showed a significant decrease in anxiety and respiratory rates as well as a significant increase in white blood cells and natural killer cell activity, suggesting a benefit to the immune system Studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found massage beneficial in improving weight gain in HIV-exposed infants and facilitating recovery in patients who underwent abdominal surgery. At the University of Miami School of Medicine's Touch Research Institute, researchers have found that massage is helpful in decreasing blood pressure in people with hypertension, alleviating pain in migraine sufferers and improving alertness and performance in office workers. An increasing number of research studies show massage reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion, and increases endorphins (enhancing medical treatment). Although therapeutic massage does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and, thus, partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury. It also can hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from exercise or injury. Research has verified that: Office workers massaged regularly were more alert, performed better and were less stressed than those who weren't massaged. Massage therapy decreased the effects of anxiety, tension, depression, pain, and itching in burn patients. Abdominal surgery patients recovered more quickly after massage. Premature infants who were massaged gained more weight and fared better than those who weren't. Autistic children showed less erratic behaviour after massage therapy. According AMTA, massage helps both physically and mentally. " Often times people are stressed in our culture. Stress-related disorders make up between 80-and-90 percent of the ailments that bring people to family-practice physicians. What they require is someone to listen, someone to touch them, someone to care. That does not exist in modern medicine. One of the complaints heard frequently is that physicians don't touch their patients any more. Touch just isn't there. Years ago massage was a big part of nursing. There was so much care, so much touch, so much goodness conveyed through massage. Now nurses for the most part are as busy as physicians. They're writing charts, dealing with insurance notes, they're doing procedures and often there is no room for massage any more. I believe massage therapy is absolutely key in the healing process not only in the hospital environment but because it relieves stress, it is obviously foundational in the healing process any time and anywhere. " Joan Borysenko - Massage Journal Interview, Fall 1999 Physical Benefits of Therapeutic Massage Massage also provides another therapeutic component largely absent in today's world: tactile stimulation, or, more simply, touch. In 1986, the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami published groundbreaking research on the effects of massage on premature babies. The preterm babies who received massage therapy showed 47% greater weight gain and six-day shorter hospital stays than the infants who were not receiving massage. But is this study evidence of what loving touch can do spiritually, or rather what massage can do on a physiological level? Regardless, babies are not the only benefactors Helps relieve stress and aids relaxation Helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness. Alleviates discomfort during pregnancy Fosters faster healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments; reduces pain and swelling; reduces formation of excessive scar tissue Reduces muscle spasms. Provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion Enhances athletic performance; Treats injuries caused during sport or work Promotes deeper and easier breathing Improves circulation of blood and movement of lymph fluids Reduces blood pressure Helps relieve tension-related headaches and effects of eye-strain Enhances the health and nourishment of skin Improves posture Strengthens the immune system Treats musculoskeletal problems Rehabilitation post operative Rehabilitation after injury (Source: AMTA Mental Benefits of Massage Therapy Fosters peace of mind Promotes a relaxed state of mental alertness Helps relieve mental stress. Improves ability to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately. Enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity. Emotional Benefits. Satisfies needs for caring nurturing touch Fosters a feeling of well-being Reduces levels of anxiety. Creates body awareness. Increases awareness of mind-body connection Here is a nice story Hi all, I just wanted to share something with you that some of the students in my therapeutic massage class are working on this semester. Part of our curriculum is clinical hands on hours. Most of us are conducting an on-campus massage clinic. We have 2 small groups of students who are working off-campus at the hospital (chair massages on nurses and hospital staff only), and at the adjacent cancer treatment center (hand and foot massages on patients, and chair massages for care givers and center staff). As a part of the quantitative study of how well the massage work is going, they are tracking the patient vital signs both before and after each massage. The results are absolutely amazing so far! They worked with 11 patients this week, and EVERYONE experienced positive results. From all the stress of the treatments blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration levels are elevated in cancer patients. After the massages most of the patients had returned to almost normal ranges. My fellow students got a chance to witness first hand exactly how powerful our gift of touch is, and how much of a difference such a simple gesture can make in someone's life - not just by making them aware that someone cares for them, but also by improving their health. With this data to track, it also gives us a small step toward making the profession of therapeutic massage that more legitimate. You wouldn't believe how much more receptive of all of us students the staff at both the hospital and the cancer center are. Makes me kind of proud to be a part of it all. Do copy this and share it phill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 , " pjb12345uk " <pho wrote: > > Massage, learning to rub people the right way > One of the first things we will look at and give the merits for is > massage, known and applied for thousands of years .In todays society > at least in the UK touch is almost alien through whatever reason be it > Victorian or upbringing .Yet touch can convey so much and the UK in > general has to learn this very important role. For in my experience > touch can be life changing ,yet I still meet nurses who have never had > a massage in their life. Clearly there is much to change for these > people are supposed to be at the very front to treating the ill but as > the previous chapter has explained modern conventional treatment has > almost obliterated one of the prime tools for healing. Massage should > be done to babies, children and adults and much soothing would take > place were this in place without need for drugs, sedatives alcohol or > other stimulants. if only this would go into every would be mums > repertoire of dealing with their children. The results I am sure > would be impressive. > > Various combinations of oils for massage can be used however I have > only experience with using the oils of peanut /olive and almond and I > am sure there are many others which are of real benefit too. Also very > good results have been obtained using tincture of myrrh. > > Research in massage therapy has been ongoing for more than 120 years. > Here are some reported benefits of massage: > > Preliminary results suggested cancer patients had less pain and > anxiety after receiving therapeutic massage at the James Cancer > Hospital and Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio. > > Women who had experienced the recent death of a child were less > depressed after receiving therapeutic massage, according to > preliminary results of a study at the University of South Carolina. > Medical school students at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of > New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School who were massaged before an exam > showed a significant decrease in anxiety and respiratory rates as well > as a significant increase in white blood cells and natural killer cell > activity, suggesting a benefit to the immune system > > > Studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found > massage beneficial in improving weight gain in HIV-exposed infants and > facilitating recovery in patients who underwent abdominal surgery. At > the University of Miami School of Medicine's Touch Research Institute, > researchers have found that massage is helpful in decreasing blood > pressure in people with hypertension, alleviating pain in migraine > sufferers and improving alertness and performance in office workers. > > An increasing number of research studies show massage reduces heart > rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph > flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion, and increases > endorphins (enhancing medical treatment). Although therapeutic massage > does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive > muscles and, thus, partially compensate for the lack of exercise and > inactivity resulting from illness or injury. It also can hasten and > lead to a more complete recovery from exercise or injury. > > Research has verified that: > Office workers massaged regularly were more alert, performed better > and were less stressed than those who weren't massaged. > Massage therapy decreased the effects of anxiety, tension, depression, > pain, and itching in burn patients. > Abdominal surgery patients recovered more quickly after massage. > Premature infants who were massaged gained more weight and fared > better than those who weren't. > Autistic children showed less erratic behaviour after massage therapy. > > According AMTA, massage helps both physically and mentally. > > " Often times people are stressed in our culture. Stress-related > disorders make up between 80-and-90 percent of the ailments that bring > people to family-practice physicians. What they require is someone to > listen, someone to touch them, someone to care. That does not exist in > modern medicine. > One of the complaints heard frequently is that physicians don't touch > their patients any more. Touch just isn't there. Years ago massage was > a big part of nursing. There was so much care, so much touch, so much > goodness conveyed through massage. Now nurses for the most part are as > busy as physicians. They're writing charts, dealing with insurance > notes, they're doing procedures and often there is no room for massage > any more. > I believe massage therapy is absolutely key in the healing process not > only in the hospital environment but because it relieves stress, it is > obviously foundational in the healing process any time and anywhere. " > > Joan Borysenko - Massage Journal Interview, Fall 1999 > Physical Benefits of Therapeutic Massage > Massage also provides another therapeutic component largely absent in > today's world: tactile stimulation, or, more simply, touch. In 1986, > the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami published > groundbreaking research on the effects of massage on premature babies. > The preterm babies who received massage therapy showed 47% greater > weight gain and six-day shorter hospital stays than the infants who > were not receiving massage. But is this study evidence of what loving > touch can do spiritually, or rather what massage can do on a > physiological level? Regardless, babies are not the only benefactors > > Helps relieve stress and aids relaxation > Helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness. Alleviates discomfort > during pregnancy > > Fosters faster healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments; > reduces pain and swelling; reduces formation of excessive scar tissue > Reduces muscle spasms. Provides greater joint flexibility and range of > motion > > Enhances athletic performance; Treats injuries caused during sport or work > > Promotes deeper and easier breathing Improves circulation of blood and > movement of lymph fluids > > Reduces blood pressure Helps relieve tension-related headaches and > effects of eye-strain > > Enhances the health and nourishment of skin Improves posture > > Strengthens the immune system Treats musculoskeletal problems > > Rehabilitation post operative Rehabilitation after injury (Source: AMTA > > Mental Benefits of Massage Therapy > Fosters peace of mind Promotes a relaxed state of mental alertness > Helps relieve mental stress. Improves ability to monitor stress > signals and respond appropriately. > Enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity. > > Emotional Benefits. > Satisfies needs for caring nurturing touch Fosters a feeling of well-being > > Reduces levels of anxiety. Creates body awareness. Increases awareness > of mind-body connection > > Here is a nice story > > Hi all, I just wanted to share something with you that some of the > students in > my therapeutic massage class are working on this semester. > > Part of our curriculum is clinical hands on hours. Most of us are > conducting > an on-campus massage clinic. We have 2 small groups of students who > are working > off-campus at the hospital (chair massages on nurses and hospital > staff only), > and at the adjacent cancer treatment center (hand and foot massages on > patients, > and chair massages for care givers and center staff). > > As a part of the quantitative study of how well the massage work is going, > they are tracking the patient vital signs both before and after each > massage. > The results are absolutely amazing so far! They worked with 11 > patients this > week, and EVERYONE experienced positive results. From all the stress > of the > treatments blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration levels are > elevated in > cancer patients. After the massages most of the patients had returned > to almost > normal ranges. > > My fellow students got a chance to witness first hand exactly how > powerful our > gift of touch is, and how much of a difference such a simple gesture > can make in > someone's life - not just by making them aware that someone cares for > them, but > also by improving their health. With this data to track, it also gives > us a > small step toward making the profession of therapeutic massage that more > legitimate. You wouldn't believe how much more receptive of all of us > students > the staff at both the hospital and the cancer center are. Makes me kind of > proud to be a part of it all. > > Do copy this and share it > > phill > I BEEN SUFFING WITH DEPRESSION FOR 14 YEARS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.