Massage

Acupressure

Chair Massage

CranioSacral Therapy

Reiki

Massage

“2004 Massage Therapy Consumer Survey Fact Sheet.” Wyoming Nurse Dec. 2004, Jan., Feb. 2006: 17.

Results of a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation International on August 5-8, 2004, are discussed. Among the reported results, the survey found that 90% of respondents agreed that massage can be effective in reducing pain. For those respondents who have discussed massage therapy with their healthcare providers, 62% of the providers strongly recommended or encouraged their patients to get a massage. Sixty-five percent of respondents would recommend massage therapy to someone they know.

“The Benefits of Massage for Low Back Pain.” Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter Sept. 2001: 6.

Results of a recent study by the Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, Washington, are described. The researchers found that massage therapy reduced low back pain and was more effective than acupuncture and educational books and videos.

Ernst, Edzard. “Massage Is a Useful Addition to Care.” GP: General Practitioner 20 Oct. 2006: 29.

The therapeutic significance of massage is described. In the UK, massage is used to treat such conditions as anxiety, back pain, depression, musculoskeletal problems and stress. Ernst cautions that massage therapy should not be practiced if clients have phlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, burns or open wounds, skin infections or eczema, bone fractures, or advanced osteoporosis.

Gray, Patricia B. “Is This Man Getting Healthier, or Just Poorer?” Money Jun. 2007: 90-96.

Gray describes various alternative healthcare practices, their costs, potential benefits and what to expect during a session. Included are case studies of individuals experiencing the various techniques, including massage therapy and Reiki, and the benefits they found.

Greene, Elliot. “Massage Therapy.” The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. 3rd ed. 5 vols. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2006.

This encyclopedia entry offers the definition, purpose, description, preparations, precautions, side effects, research and general acceptance of massage therapy. Some of the benefits include relief of muscle spasms, relief of stress, promotion of deeper and easier breathing, creation of a feeling of well-being, reduction in levels of anxiety, and promotion of faster healing and reduced pain and swelling of soft tissue injuries.

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Hubbard, R. “Alternative Healing Practices: Massage Therapy.” Mississippi RN 63.1. (2001): 11-14.

Western and Eastern massage therapy techniques and their benefits are discussed. The advantages of massage in the workplace, for sports applications, and in the home are described. Hubbard reports that massage therapy has shown to be helpful for arthritis, asthma, autism, bulimia, anorexia, cancer, dermatitis, diabetes, psychiatric problems, and trauma.

Lewis, Kristyn Kusek. “Massage: It’s Real Medicine.” Health Mar. 2007: 77-81.

Lewis reports that hospitals are making massage therapy a standard therapy, perhaps in response to recent research suggesting that massage can help the immune system, eliminate PMS and ease insomnia. Different types of massage and their appropriateness for addressing certain client needs are described. Lewis explains how to find a well-qualified therapist, and what to expect from a massage session.

“Massage Is More Than an Indulgence.” Harvard Women’s Health Watch Mar. 2002: 7.

Massage can make you feel better both physically and mentally. Swedish massage and Eastern massage techniques are described and the benefits recent research studies have suggested are discussed, including reduction of pain, nausea and anxiety, better sleep, and lymphedema.

“Massage Therapy: The Healing Touch.” Consumer Reports on Health Jul. 2005: 8-9.

Recent studies showing the many benefits of massage therapy are discussed. Research shows that massage therapy helps with back pain, cancer, fibromyalgia, headaches, immune system diseases, post-surgical pain, pregnancy and childbirth, and sleep problems.

United States, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. "Massage Therapy as CAM." Sept. 2006 <http://nccam.nih.gov/health/massage/>.

This Backgrounder provides a general overview of massage therapy used as complementary and alternative medicine and suggests resources to obtain more information.

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Woodham, Anne, and David Peters. “Healing Massage.” The Saturday Evening Post May. – Jun. 2006: 16, 19.

Woodham and Peters discuss the history of massage therapy and its psychological, mental, and physical benefits. Types of massage including Swedish massage, deep massage, sports massage and rolfing, and the theory of massage are described. According to Woodham and Peters, studies and patient feedback illustrate the benefits of massage so clearly that most doctors endorse it.

Wunderlich Jr., Ray C. “High-Tech Medicine Can’t Replace Hands-On Benefits of Massage Therapy for Relief of Chronic Pain and Stress.” Health News & Review 3.1. (1993): 6.

Wunderlich explains the technique neuromuscular therapy, which is believed to help with such conditions as sciatica, low back pain, torticollis, tension headaches, temperomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), scoliosis, whiplash injuries and fibromyalgia. Six factors must be addressed by a neuromuscular therapist: 1. ischemia, 2. trigger points, 3. nerve entrapment and compression, 4. postural distortion, 5. faulty nutrition, and 6. emotional distress.

Acupressure

Greeley, Alexandra. “Acupressure: Hands-On Healing.” Vegetarian Times Dec. 2002: 35-41.

Greeley explains the differences between acupuncture and acupressure, how acupressure works, and the results one can expect from an acupressure session. She explains some points individuals may use to treat themselves and describes what is meant by the terms yin and yang.

Maxwell, Jan. “The Gentle Power of Acupressure.” RN Apr. 1997: 53-56.

While the author was skeptical when first introduced to acupressure, she became convinced that acupressure worked after seeing scientific evidence to support the existence of meridians and after meeting other nurses who practiced the technique and were seeing outstanding results in their patients. She then incorporated acupressure into her own practice and saw these same effects in her own patients.

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Chair Massage

Erwin, Melanie. “Employer, Workers Feel the Knead to Relieve Stress.” Intelligencer Journal 05 Aug. 1997: A8.

Erwin describes the use of chair massage as a production incentive at Good-Kruger Dolls, a manufacturer of dolls. President Tim Kruger says employees are more relaxed and happier after a massage, and that it helps manage stress.

Woodward, Nancy Hatch. “Add a Refreshing Touch to Benefit Programs.” HRMagazine Oct. 1998: 106-110.

Massage therapy is increasingly being used in the workplace as part of wellness programs. Some companies offering massage therapy include Intuit, Cigna, and StorageTek. Offering massage in the workplace increases productivity, boosts morale, reduces stress, reduces workers’ compensation, reduces absenteeism, to name just a few benefits.

CranioSacral Therapy

Greenwald, John. “A New Kind of Pulse.” Time 16 Apr. 2001: 68-69.

Greenwald discusses the founding of CranioSacral Therapy by John Upledger, the concepts behind the treatment and its beneficial effects. Upledger describes the therapy as a helping the body function better by “removing stones from the road.”

Tobias, Lori. “Craniosacral Therapy: Ease Aches and Pains with Body Work.” Vegetarian Times Nov. 2003: 41-47.

Palmer describes a Craniosacral Therapy client’s experience receiving treatment, explains what Craniosacral Therapy is, its beneficial effects, what a treatment is like, and how to look for a qualified practitioner.

Reiki

Mahoney, Sarah. “May the Force Field Be with You.” Prevention Oct. 2004: 170-200.

Mahoney describes her own experience in receiving a Reiki session and its results. She was initially skeptical of its effectiveness but became convinced of its effectiveness after receiving a session herself and learning that it is being offered as a treatment in many hospitals and that many registered nurses, whom she referred to as “sensible women,” practice it.

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Miles, Pamela. “Palliative Care Service at the NIH Includes Reiki and Other Mind-Body Modalities.” Advances Summer 2004: 30-31.

Miles reports that the National Institutes of Health’s Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, which provides medical care for patients participating in NIH research, is offering Reiki and other alternative therapies through its Pain and Palliative Care Service. Practitioners at the Center have observed that Reiki appears to enhance the effectiveness of other treatments and has soothed even patients undergoing painful procedures. Studies under way on the effectiveness of Reiki in clinical settings are briefly described.

Palmer, Lisa. “Gentle Hands.” Better Nutrition May 2006: 46-49.

Palmer describes a Reiki client’s experience receiving Reiki, explains what Reiki is, its beneficial effects, what a treatment is like, and how to look for a qualified practitioner.

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