Massage is one of the most widely practiced complimentary therapies and is increasingly used alongside orthodox medicine for treating a range of conditions. Its often used to alleviate stress, to relax, relieve pain and to facilitate healing from injury.
The benefits of massage
· Encourages the muscles to relax and lengthen, relieving tightness, tension and toxins
· Improves circulation of the blood flow from extremities back to the heart carrying nutrients and oxygen to organs and muscles
· Encourages the release of endorphins that reduce pain and produce a feeling of well-being and calm
· Strengthens the immune system
· Improves breathing patterns
· Increases healthy functioning skin
· Improves appearance
· Reduces stress and tension
Baby massage
Touch conveys nurturing and love, massage enhances bonding between mother and baby. Also, because massage releases endorphins (the body’s natural pain reliever) it helps to reduce the pain of colic and teething, helps to clear sinus and chest infection, helps baby to relax and induces sound, healthy sleep.
One of the best ways to give your baby safe, positive messages about touch is to give them massage on a regular basis. Early infant massage may stimulate the developing nervous system and brain, and memory of that positive touch may then be permanently registered in the body cells. By improving circulation, respiration, digestion and elimination, massage promotes a sense of comfort in your baby.
As the baby grows, massage prepares the body for sitting, standing and walking by promoting strength, motor coordination and self-confidence.
The benefits of baby massage are:
Reduce the pain of colic and teething.
Help to clear sinus and chest infection.
Help to relax and induce sound healthy sleep.
Promote positive safe messages about touch, leading to better social interactivity as they grow into adulthood.
Improved health.
Massage for children
Children are primarily kinaesthetic learners. That is to say that they learn initially through observation and play. Through massage, we can create a memory of relaxation and so in times of stress, be it at school, family life or from experiences in the outside world, the child is better able to cope with many given situations that have the potential of being stressful. Massage also helps to create better social patterns, we learn how to interact with each other through giving and receiving massage, we also learn social boundaries through consent, as it is the child’s choice as to whether they want a massage or if they wish for the massage they are receiving to stop, which is respect.
The benefits of infant massage to the child are:
Massage helps the child to learn as it can relax them and so aid concentration.
Stress levels are reduced, which can help the child in a given stressful situation.
Reduced frustration levels in social situations if the child finds it difficult to communicate their ideas, wants and desires and so levels of aggression in a child can be reduced, through the ability to relax.
Improved social interactivity.
Better health. If stress hormones are chronically elevated, the [hormone] cortisol will destroy the healthy immune cells that fight viruses and tumors and keep the immune system healthy. By reducing the stress hormones, we allow the immune system to do its job, which is to heal the body and keep it healthy."
Massage during pregnancy
More and more women are finding that a weekly or monthly massage during pregnancy helps to reduce stress and promote relaxation; provides emotional support (especially for those women who are going through the experience alone); relieves muscle spasms, cramps and general aches and pains; increases circulation and thus reduces the possibility of varicose veins and swelling in the feet and legs; helps with digestion and reduces the likelihood of stretch marks. Pregnant clients report that their massage sessions leave them feeling relaxed and comfortable, and with increased self-confidence and an enhanced body image. However, massage during pregnancy should be avoided by women with placental dysfunctions, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, toxaemia or threatened miscarriage. If in any doubt at all, have a chat with your doctor before booking an appointment .
Massage for the elderly
Massage can be especially helpful for the problems that most people experience as they grow older. Gentle massage can be used to soothe conditions such as muscle stiffness and soreness, loss of flexibility, arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, and help with respiratory disorders such as asthma and emphysema. But, perhaps most important of all, for elderly people who have lost their partners and live alone, massage provides the sense of nurturing that comes from being gently and respectfully touched. Elderly people with Alzheimer’s or who have had a stroke and find it hard to communicate verbally benefit greatly from massage.
Very frail or modest clients can benefit just as much from a foot, hand or face massage as they might from an all-over body massage. It’s important to make sure that the therapist is told about any medication the elderly client is taking.
Massage for cancer patients
Research carried out by Marie Curie Cancer Care in London (2002/2003) has provided new clinical evidence that aromatherapy massage (using Roman chamomile essential oil) is beneficial for cancer patients. The results of the research revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in anxiety levels between those patients who were massaged, and those who were not. Overall, the massage helped to improve patients’ physical and psychological symptoms, as well as their quality of life.
Further research undertaken at the University of Miami Medical School showed that breast cancer patients have improved immune and neuroendocrine functions following massage therapy. Cancer patients must always inform their massage therapist of the site(s) of the cancer(s), as the tumours themselves should never be massaged.
Generally, cancer patients of all ages report that massage (with or without aromatherapy oils) helps them to relax, reduces some of the symptoms of the illness and leaves them feeling more positive and better able to cope with the illness.