Written by Dr. Yana Shevchenko
February 2012
Massage Is a Natural Remedy
While at a Calistoga retreat, I booked a massage. That massage session was an amazing experience for me. It was not my first massage, but it was completely different from any other I had received before. When I closed my eyes, I went into another world of being. It happened with a magic touch by an experienced massage therapist who helped my body transform. Every stroke played an important role in sending messages between my skin, my mind, my soul, and my body. I disappeared and melted; I could not really say anymore who I was. A human being? A mass of energy? Or something else? That unique experience can be explained by Darren Buford who wrote, “Even though massage moves only the soft tissues, it influences a person’s energy field.” After that massage, I felt not only refreshed, relaxed, and calm, but peaceful, full of love and compassion to the whole world around me. If every person could experience this on a regular basis, there would be no wars in the world. In general, most people know what massage means, but not everyone has experienced a massage on their own body. There are several reasons why some people never get a massage. Some do not like to be touched by a stranger; some think that massage is only a luxury; some cannot afford the service; and some do not have the knowledge of how great massage is for their health. If people have more information about the types of massages and what benefits massage can bring to their health, then, certainly, they would consider receiving massages on a regular schedule or while recovering from an injury. What is massage? It is a completely natural, hands-on therapy that prevents injuries, helps rehabilitation, calms our nervous system, enhances our immune system, relieves pains, and provides many other benefits. Massage is a great modality to keep us healthy! This essay will review the history, types, and benefits of massage as well as provide practical tips on how to select a qualified therapist.
Massage has been used since ancient times in Greece, Rome, India, China, Egypt, Japan, and other countries. In 460 BC, Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine”, wrote that doctors need to know “rubbing” a client, which implies a massage technique (Calvert). In China, massage became a part of the medical curriculum after the Tang dynasty (581-618 AD) according to Fan (1). Presently, in China and Russia, massage is taught in medicine as a part of holistic health treatments. When I was attending a Russian nursing college, massage was part of our curriculum. In America, nurses used massage to help patients with insomnia and to reduce pain until the 1970s (MacGregor). Because of the growth of pharmaceutical companies and the drive for corporate profits, massage is no longer offered as a treatment in American hospitals. Patients, suffering from pains and sleep disorders, receive prescribed drugs. These drugs, although helping with health disorders, may damage or affect other body systems negatively, which does not happen with massage. Massage is considered a natural, manual, non-invasive health treatment. During massage sessions, therapists use a variety of healing techniques such as effleurage, kneading, friction, vibration, compression, stretching, and others to manipulate layers of skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues. Also, massage improves the range of motion in joints and speeds the healing process. According to studies, massage stimulates the production of endorphins which naturally reduce body pains (“Massage Therapy”). It also reduces swelling due to increased blood and lymph circulation. All these are valuable preventative measures in keeping us healthy and helping to shorten recovery times after accidents or injuries.
Massage methods vary greatly. After trying different styles, people can recognize what they prefer. Techniques are influenced by diverse cultures which in turn help develop the massage styles. For example, Thai, Balinese or Russian massages. The choice of style depends on what outcome is desired. For example, if you want a mostly relaxing experience, you can choose the most common Swedish massage where therapists work more on superficial muscle layers, using strokes in the direction of blood flow, toward the heart. Swedish massage therapy was first introduced in the USA in the 1850s by George and Charles Taylor, two brothers, New York physicians, who studied in Sweden (“Massage Therapy”). If you need a deeper work, which would help with chronic, severe muscle tensions, ask for a deep tissue massage. People who perform heavy labor or involved in heavy physical activities often find a deep tissue massage as a great remedy to prevent injuries and help with present pains. Deep tissue massage also helps clients with arthritis pains (Caruana 133). During a session, deep, slow pressure is used to reach deep muscle layers and other structures like fascia. It may feel painful, unpleasant in some areas that are overused or injured, but it helps to release tension in contracted muscles and stimulates the body’s ability to heal. Another type of massage is a stone massage. Native Americans used hot stones to treat muscle aches by heating them over fire (Brown). During a session, the therapist uses cold or hot Basalt, naturally polished, smooth, flat stones. Heated stones help to relax muscles and reach deeper layers by using more pressure. Hot stones can be left for some period of time on some body parts such as the back, neck, palms, between toes, while working on other parts. Heat plays a healing role and feels wonderful.
Reflexology, or foot massage, is a completely different form of treatment which has been widely used in Egypt, China, and India for thousands of years. It is gaining popularity in the U.S. and other countries (Fan 1). During treatment, a massage therapist applies firm pressure, using fingers or the thumb, on points which affect the body organs and systems. Fan describes that rubbing and massaging the soles of feet was used as preventive medicine to maintain health since the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127 AD) in China. The techniques used then are similar to our present knowledge of reflexology (2). “Clearly the therapy was based on Chinese medical knowledge of meridians...,” mentioned in Fan’s article (3).
The benefits of massage are well documented. The most widely known benefits are: positive effects on blood and lymph circulations; the reduction of muscular tension, stiffness, and pains; calming the nervous system and decreasing anxiety; reduced headaches and depression; improved posture and sleep, as well as creating a sense well-being (“Massage Therapy”). Research by Niki Munk, Tina Kruger, and Faika Zanjani was printed in November of 2011: one hundred and forty four participants, aged sixty or more, determined the effects of massage therapy. The report shows that participants felt better emotionally and physically and their energy level increased.
The most important component of a massage therapy is the ability of the therapist to impart their touch effectively. It is “a form of communication” (Massage Therapy”). We may wonder what, exactly, does that mean as all therapists touch during massage sessions. To understand it we can imagine a painting lesson where subjects are placed in front of students taking the class. They all use similar brushes, easels, paints, canvases, and other painting materials and supplies. But at the end of the lesson, when we look at each student’s painting, we can see that they are all different. The subjects were the same, but the final art pieces are not. It happens because we all see our world with our own vision. We all have our personal experience, imagination, feelings, emotions, thoughts, and ability to create. These elements affect our final work. The same happens when we get a massage. Each therapist is unique, has absorbed different knowledge, and their hands have different sensitivity. Great massage therapists develop their own individual style while listening deeply to each cell of their hands, receiving any slight signal from their patient’s body, reading any small body language sign which informs them about a session. This sensory ability is extremely important to become a highly effective and successful therapist.
History proves that massage has been used for a very long time, for thousands of years. Many people value the benefits of massage highly and receive it regularly. I schedule the massages I receive monthly because my work involves physical labor, I work out frequently and these regularly scheduled sessions are restorative. Usually, I receive deep tissue sessions as I have tried a broad variety of massage styles and the deep tissue works the best for my body. To decide which style would be most useful for each individual, it is the best to try different types after gathering information through personal research. Also, it is wise to ask around for a referral to a great massage therapist, as some sessions may be very disappointing due to unskilled therapists. Carefully consider all recommendations and you will fall in love with the experience of massage, as well as all the significant health benefits that will come with it.
Work Cited
Brown, Anitra. “What is Hot Stone Massage? : Don’t Get Burned With This Warming Treatment." About.com, n. d. Web. 23 Feb. 2012. http://spas.about.com/od/hotstonemassage/a/Hotstone.htm
Buford, Darren. “Mind, Body and Spirit: The Spiritual Consciousness of Massage and Bodywork.” Massagetherapy.com, Feb./Mar. 2002. Web. 18 Feb. 2012. http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/81/Mind-Body-and-Spirit
Calvert, Robert N. “Pages From History: Hippocratic Massage.” MassageMag.com, 2005. Web. 26 Feb.2012. http://www.massagemag.com/Magazine/2005/issue116/history116.php
Caruana, Claudia M. “You Really Need a Massage.” Essence (Time Inc.) 39.3 (July 2008): 132-133. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Feb. 2012.
Fan, Ka Wai. “Foot Massage in Chinese Medical History.” Journal of Alternative Medicine 12.1 (Jan./Feb. 2006): 1-3. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Feb 2012.
Kruger, Tina, Munk, Niki, and Zanjani, Faika. “Massage Therapy Usage and Reported Health in Older Adults Experiencing Persistent Pain.” Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine 17.7 (July 2011): 609-616. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Feb. 2012.
MacGregor, Hilary. “Hospitals Getting a Grip: Massage Therapy Finds Place in Patient Care for FM and More.” Los Angeles Times, Dec. 2004. http://www.prohealth.com/library/showaracticle.cfm?id=6151&t=cfids_fm
“Massage Therapy.” Medical-Dictionary.thefreedictionary.com, n. d. Web. 18 Feb. 2012. https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/massage+therapy
“Types of Massage and Bodywork Defined.” Massagetherapy.com, n. d. Web. 18 Feb. 2012. http://www.massagetherapy.com/glossary/