Holistic Health: Musings of a Massage Therapist

Cold and Flu Prevention

2007-02-02T16:40:00.000-05:00

The cold and flu season is in full swing. The government doesn’t track colds, but the federal Centers for Disease Control recently reported the flu in every state but one. (See map.)

How can you protect yourself against cold and flu viruses? You know most of these, but a reminder never hurts.

1. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.

Hand Washing 101: There is a trick to killing germs—and 84% don’t know it. To wash up correctly, wet your hands, lather the soap and then scrub, including between your fingers and under your nails for 15 seconds. Rinse using lukewarm—not hot—water; dry. [see note 1]

2. Avoid others who have a cold or the flu, if possible.

3. Don’t smoke, and keep away from smokers. Even passive exposure to smoke is detrimental.

4. Eat well. Good nutrition is a key to preventive health.

5. Get plenty of rest.

6. Manage stress.

7. Bolster your immune system.

Next to hand washing, stress management is probably [most important]… Research suggests that stress makes us more susceptible to upper respiratory infections. Indeed some experts believe that stress plays a role in virtually all illnesses. The link between stress and illness is not fully understood, but there is no doubt that stress depresses the immune system…

Massage therapy is an effective stress reducer. It combats stress and anxiety by reducing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, relaxing muscles, and promoting deeper and fuller breathing… The benefits of massage are far reaching because it affects nearly every system of the body. Deepak Chopra, M.D. says "Massage therapy has systemic effects. It influences your immune system, your endocrine system, and your cardiovascular system …"

Massage is [also] a powerful immune booster. It enhances relaxation and the circulation of blood and lymph, all of which enhance immune function. Studies at the University of Miami’s Touch Research Institute have also shown that massage therapy can decrease levels of cortisol, a major stress hormone, and increase natural killer cells. Natural killer cells are a type of white blood cell present in the blood and lymph that can destroy virus-infected cells. Their action is non-specific, which means they can act against a wide range of viruses. [see note 2]

Massage therapy may be just what the doctor ordered. Or should have!

To your health -- Kevin

Notes:

1. Sklar, Hallie L. "Wave Goodbye to Colds for Good," Fitness, January 2007, p. 72. www.fitnessmagazine.com

2. Clark, Kevin S. "Colds: Is Touch the Villain?," Upper Valley Guide to Whole Health, January 2000, p. 11. Soon to be reprinted on the web.

Massage Therapy Credentials

2007-01-28T18:05:00.000-05:00

A new massage therapy practice recently opened near me. An announcement in our local newspaper read in part:

"The owners … recently became certified massage therapists through New Hampshire Community Technical College, where they studied a variety of massage techniques, anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology."

Wrong! Massage therapy schools do not certify therapists. I don’t know who misspoke, the therapists or a newspaper editor, but the sentence is misleading. It implies that the therapists have a credential that they may not have. While the mistake was probably an innocent one, the public, particularly potential clients, deserve better. That’s especially true in Vermont, where massage therapy is unregulated and no certification or license is required to practice.

Certification is a process by which an independent agency or professional association grants recognition to an individual who has met professional standards for practice. Certification is generally voluntary. In the United States, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork is the only agency whose certification enjoys widespread acceptance.

Licensure, on the other hand, is the process by which a government agency grants permission to an individual to engage in a given occupation. Becoming licensed is mandatory if one wishes to practice an occupation that is regulated by the state or other jurisdiction.

Bottom Line: Massage therapists and other professionals have an ethical obligation to accurately portray their credentials. Conversely, clients have the right to know what licenses and certifications their therapists possess. If in doubt, please do not hesitate to ask.

To your health! - Kevin

Note: Definitions of certification and licensure were adapted from those shown on the FSU Psychology Department’s web page entitled "Accreditation, Certification and Licensure Information" (http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/graduate/certify1.htm#certify).

First Massage Jitters?

2007-01-28T09:33:00.000-05:00

It's not unusual for a person to be a little anxious about his or her first massage. I know I was. That's the main reason that I didn't call for an appointment until the gift certificate was about to expire.

As a massage therapist, I know the best way to put a potential client's mind at ease is through anticipatory guidance (i.e., letting the person know what to expect beforehand and encouraging any and all questions). The following is from my practice brochure. I hope you find it useful. If you have questions that aren't addressed here, please let me know and I'll answer them individually or in a future blog. It would be my pleasure.

What to Expect ...

You will be asked to complete a confidential health history form and answer some standard questions about your health, medication usage, etc. This is important because some medical conditions require modifications in massage technique. It also insures that the massage will be designed to best meet your needs.

Depending on the massage style and the areas of the body to be addressed, you may or may not need to disrobe. For a full body massage, most people undress completely but some choose not to remove their underpants. You will be given privacy to undress, and you will be draped with a sheet except for the area that is being massaged. (In my practice) Esalen massage is the exception to this rule: More than one area of the body may be undraped at one time or an abbreviated draping method may be used.

During the massage itself, relax and enjoy. It feels wonderful. And it's good for you!

To your health,

Kevin

Massage is the new health treatment in town. Athletes use it. Doctors prescribe it. Lawyers, social workers, artists, computer programmers, stock analysts, plumbers, and your neighbors all benefit from it.

-- HEALTH MAGAZINE

Free CranioSacral Therapy (Buena Park)

2007-01-25T09:15:00.000-05:00

from the Upledger Institute's E-News Update ...

FREE CranioSacral Therapy for

Expectant & New Moms in Southern California

Do you know of a new or expectant mom who could use some hands-on support? If you live in Southern California--or if you have a patient, friend or family member who does--we’d love to hear from you right away. We are now accepting applications for demonstration patients at our new "CranioSacral Applications to Obstetrics 1" workshop. The demo sessions will take place on Feb. 24 & 25 at the Embassy Suites in Buena Park (Orange County).

Here are a few of the many benefits expectant and new moms can enjoy with CranioSacral Therapy:

~ Improvements in the internal environment (the womb) to prepare baby for an easier birth

~ Release of restrictions caused by the birth process to give baby the best start to life

~ The opportunity for mom to return to full function faster after giving birth

~ Deep relaxation and freedom of movement for both mother and child.

To learn more about the class, call 1-800-233-5880 or 561-622-4334. Ask for priority code EDATES.

Benefits of Massage

2007-01-24T11:01:00.000-05:00

Massage therapy offers a myriad of health benefits. Massage affects virtually every system in the body, so its effects and potential benefits go well beyond stress reduction and muscular therapy. To learn more about the benefits of massage, please see my Winter 2007 newsletter. Just click on the link, which is located on the upper right portion of this page.

The physiology aside, massage feels good and it's good for you! That's the bottom line for many people.

Yours in health,

Kevin

In addition to The Benefits of Massage, articles in the Winter 2007 Newsletter include The Health Benefits of Ginger and The Scoop on Meditation.

Welcome!

2007-01-15T14:19:00.000-05:00

Hi, and welcome to my blog. My name is Kevin and I practice massage therapy in Norwich, Vermont. I am a holistic health practitioner, which means that I have advanced training not only in massage and bodywork but also in several related fields. My interests and areas of expertise range from acupressure to Zero Balancing, and include ayurveda, cleansing and detoxification, Edgar Cayce remedies, herbology, lymph drainage, orthobionomy, stress reduction, visceral manipulation, and yoga therapy.

I plan to update my blog on a regular basis, so please check back periodically. If you would like to know more about me or my practice, or suggest a topic for this blog, please email me at vtnaturalhealth@yahoo.com or leave a comment here.

Thanks for stopping by.