Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is getting to be so common in our society that most people forget that it is really a complementary/alternative therapy. Though I find that I am not able to experience massage therapy as often as I would like, it is something that I do not want to live without!

According to the US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine:

The term "massage therapy" encompasses many different techniques (see box for examples). In general, therapists press, rub, and otherwise manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. They most often use their hands and fingers, but may use their forearms, elbows, or feet.^[1]

There are so many benefits to massage therapy, the best in my mind being the general relaxation. Massage therapy has also been shown to reduce anxiety, blood pressure and heart rate.^[1] Over multiple sessions massage therapy can reduce the tendency to be anxious, and reduce depression and pain.^[1] There is also some evidence that supports the use of massage therapy to help with a wide variety of diseases including fibromyalgia and sleep disorders.

And there isn't just one type of massage therapy. Some of the most commonly known types are relaxation massage and deep tissue massage, but there are many other kinds including Swedish massage, hot stone massage, Thai massage and Shiatsu. Each type of massage therapy has a different background, involves different techniques and provides different benefits. Even among massage therapists of a particular type there are wide variations in style and strength so you may need to explore your options.

There are certain conditions that are not compatible with massage therapy. A well-trained massage therapist will know whether your situation warrants massage but you will not likely be able to experience massage if you have a fever, blood clots, kidney or liver conditions, serious inflammation, or uncontrolled hypertension. If you are pregnant, it would be wise to visit a massage therapist trained in prenatal massage as there are special precautions to be taken in that case.

When my back is tense, there's nothing I want more than a good deep tissue massage. Have you tried massage therapy?

[1] NCCAM. Massage Therapy: An Introduction, accessed February 6, 2011 from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/massage/massageintroduction.htm

Acupressure Massage

If you're interested in the positive effects of acupuncture (see my previous post on acupuncture) but aren't into needles, listen up because acupressure massage might be for you! And even if needles aren't an issue for you but you enjoy the feeling of bodywork such as massage, you might be interested in acupressure.

Acupressure (sometimes called acupressure massage) is an ancient Chinese technique which involves applying pressure to acupoints - points on the skin that lie along energy meridians through which qi flows. If you're interested in knowing a little more about qi and energy meridians, see my previous post here. When qi is not flowing ideally, physical and emotional discomfort or illness can occur. Acupressure is a way of repairing and restoring proper flow of qi.

There are a wide number of studies that have shown that acupressure is beneficial to people in a number of different ways. Acupressure has been shown to reduce menstrual cramping and pain, reduce nausea caused by chemotherapy, improve insomnia symptoms, and reduce chronic headache pain.^[1] It is also "believed that acupressure can reduce your blood pressure, regulate your menstrual cycle, lessen the pain of labor, treat mental anxiety, treat stomach problems like indigestion and nausea, relieve headaches and migraines, eliminate pain in the neck, shoulders and back, help with insomnia, enhance your spirituality, improve your mental aptitude and increase your overall energy levels as well as treat other disorders and ailments."^[2]

So that's all the good news about the benefits. But when it comes down to it, acupressure feels great! I experienced a couple of sessions a little while ago and I was surprised about how good the acupressure felt. It was absolutely relaxing! As with other bodywork therapies, the style of your practitioner can make a big difference so you might want to shop around. A good practitioner will teach you how to work on your own acupressure points (at least one or two that are most useful to you and your situation) if you ask them to. Sometimes acupressure massage is covered under some insurance plans so check yours out!

Some people believe the benefits of acupressure come from the movement of qi it can create and some believe the benefits come from the increased blood flow and relaxation effects. Whatever the source of the benefits, acupressure is good for you and feels great!

[1] Acupressure News and Reviews. The Healthy Fellow. Accessed December 7, 2010 from http://www.healthyfellow.com/491/acupressure-news-and-reviews/
[2] Dana George. Benefits of Acupressure. Accessed December 8, 2010 from http://www.ehow.com/about_4612730_benefits-of-acupressure.html

Chiropractic - Fear of the Crunch

Chiropractic is the single most frequently used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment in Canada.^[1] And yet for many of those who haven't tried it, the idea can be frightening, even horrifying! I understand because before I tried it, I didn't like the idea at all.

"Chiropractors diagnose, treat and help prevent conditions related to the spine, nervous system and musculoskeletal system."^[2] Studies have shown that chiropractic care may be helpful with back pain, migraine and neck-related headaches, neck pain, joint conditions, and whiplash-associated disorders.^[3]

Chiropractors use a number of different therapies to help their clients, but primarily use manual adjustment which "is a non-invasive procedure that consists of a precise directed movement to help relieve pain and discomfort, and restore range of motion."^[4] The way the adjustment feels depends on the chiropractor. I have experienced adjustments that have felt sudden, and I have experienced adjustments that were downright gentle. If you aren't happy with the feel of your chiropractor, shop around a little! At least in the Edmonton area, there are quite a few chiropractors to choose from.

Some people are concerned about the possible side effects of working on the spine. The worst side effect that some claim to be related to chiropractic care is stroke but those reports are extremely rare and studies have been unable to find the relation between stroke and chiropractic.^[3] "Side effects from spinal manipulation can include temporary headaches, tiredness, or discomfort in the parts of the body that were treated."^[3]

After a little experience with an excellent chiropractor, I quite enjoy my chiropractic visits. Before the adjustments, I always get a short massage and I come out of the session feeling relaxed. If you suffer from chronic back pain, headaches or joint issues and you haven't tried chiropractic before, you might want to consider it. The risks are low and the potential benefits might be just what you're looking for.

[1] Bentson McFarland, Douglas Bigelow, Brigid Zani, Jason Newsom, and Mark Kaplan. "Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Canada and the United States." American Journal of Public Health, 92, no 10 (2002): 1616–1618. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447296/
[2] "Public Home," Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://www.albertachiro.com/#/public_home
[3] "Chiropractic: An Introduction [NCCAM Backgrounder]," National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/chiropractic/
[4] "About Chiropractic," Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors. Accessed November 17, 2010 from http://www.albertachiro.com/#/about_chiropractic

Acupuncture

A few years ago, one evening I started to get a horrible pain in my abdomen. The next morning, the pain was gone and the next evening it started all over again. The pain came back every day for several weeks. I finally noticed that the pain always followed eating protein (especially meat and cheese). The doctor couldn't tell me what it was and put me on a three month wait list for a not-so-pleasant test. So my options were to wait months for a test that may or may not tell me what the problem was, never eat protein again, or try something completely different. Well, I decided to go with that last option and what I chose to try was acupuncture. One single treatment later and I have never experienced that pain again!

If there's one complementary therapy that is truly gaining credibility in conventional medicine, it's acupuncture. There are tons and tons of studies that show that acupuncture can be beneficial in a number of conditions and diseases. Some of these include pain, addiction, AIDS, infertility, and cancer treatment side effects.^[1] Acupuncture may also be helpful with migraine headaches, hypertension, osteoarthritis and any number of other issues.

In acupuncture, special needles are inserted into the skin at special points (called acupoints) which lie along energy meridians.^[1] These needles help enhance the flow of qi in the body (see my explanation of qi and energy meridians). There are over 1,000 possible acupuncture points so you need a good acupuncturist to determine exactly what points will work for you and your unique situation. Your practitioner will interview you, take your pulses (according to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, there are 12 different pulses to check), and look at the surface of your tongue. Every individual is unique and the acupuncture points are selected for the individual, not just the disease or condition.

Some people are terrified of needles, which I can understand. All I can say is that acupuncture needles are much thinner than needles used to give vaccinations or take blood. There are generally 10 to 12 needles per treatment and they are generally left in place for 20 to 30 minutes, though treatments can vary greatly.^[1] Though you might feel a slight prick on your skin as the needle is inserted (depending on how sensitive you are), acupuncture is mostly pain-free. That being said, acupuncture is not for everyone and should be avoided if you have bleeding disorders or are taking blood thinners.

If you are interesting in exploring if acupuncture is right for you or you're looking for other alternative health options, come try a personal health consultation at Know Thy Health.

[1] Larry Trivieri, Jr. and John W. Anderson, eds., Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide (Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 2002), 62-70.

Flower Essence Therapy

"Flower Essences are liquid remedies which contain the vibrational or energetic 'essence' of a particular flower."^[1] Yup, here we go with an energy healing practice! Basically, flower essences are very similar to homeopathic remedies in that they are made of plant (in this case the flower of the plant) tinctures that are diluted over and over again. By the time you get a Flower Essence, there is nothing chemically left of the original flower. Actually, Flower Essences aren't meant to help a person heal chemically but energetically, and an electrical signature of the flower does remain in the Flower Essence tincture you buy at the store.

But can this liquid made of alcohol and water really affect your "energy?" Dr. Jeffrey Cram studied some specific Flower Essences against a placebo to see if the essences could calm people when they were exposed to mental stress. He didn't test the Flower Essences by asking the 24 subjects how they were feeling; he measured the electrical activity of their brains and muscles. And yes, he found that Flower Essences did make a difference compared to the placebo!^[2]

So what can Flower Essences help you with? Flower Essences help you address mental, emotional and spiritual issues and are a useful in self-development. A Flower Essence Therapy practitioner interviews you and determines which particular Flower Essences, or combination thereof, are best suited to help you reach your goals. There are Flower Essences for everything from learning how to accept your limits (Oak) to helping you feel emotional balance (Chamomile). "As Flower Essences help you uncover your unwanted thoughts and feelings, you can deal with unresolved issues and release feelings which may be negatively affecting your health."^[1]

Most Flower Essence combinations are taken for 28 days, during which it is also recommended that you engage in some sort of self-reflection activity, something like journal-writing or drawing. The self-reflection helps you realize what may be happening with the Flower Essences and helps you deal with your feelings.

If you are interested in trying Flower Essence Therapy, please book a session at Know Thy Health.

[1] Know Thy Health. "Know Thy Health's Services." Accessed September 11, 2010 from http://www.knowthyhealth.ca/services.html.
[2] Flower Essence Society. "Flower Essences stress reduction study." Accessed September 11, 2020 from http://www.flowersociety.org/cram2.html.