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Natural HealthTherapiesA hands-on approach to massage
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A hands-on approach to massage

continued from page 2
How does it work?
Touch is our first sensual experience and remains, along with smell, the most immediate and evocative link between mind and body. The skin is the body's largest sensory organ and thousands of specialised receptors in the dermis, the second layer of skin, react to external stimuli such as heat, cold and pressure by sending messages through the nervous system to the brain. Massage is said to increase activity of the vagus nerve, one of ten cranial nerves, which affects the secretion of food absorption hormones as well as heart rate and respiration.

What is it good for?
Studies at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami, Florida, show that massage reduces anxiety and depression, relieves back pain and muscle pain, lowers high blood pressure, eases PMS symptoms, re-energises stressed office workers and boosts the immune system which fights infection. A recent multicentre study in the American Medical Association's Annals of Internal Medicine showed that therapeutic massage was an effective treatment for persistent low back pain, out-performing acupuncture.

Massage is also commonly used to help insomnia, headaches and other stress-related conditions, as well arthritis and digestive disorders like constipation.

What to watch out for

  • Massage of the abdomen should be avoided in the first three months of pregnancy
  • Consult a doctor before having a massage if you have phlebitis, thrombosis, varicose veins, acute back pain, cancer, a personality disorder, psychotic illness or any undiagnosed pain, lumps or bumps
  • Do not massage bruises, fractures or skin infections
How much does it cost?
Sessions range from 15-90 minutes, depending on the type of massage required. Fees vary widely according to location and the therapist's qualifications, but £30 for a 45-minute session is an average figure.

How can I find it?
The British Massage Therapy Council
Umbrella body representing UK massage schools and associations
Email: info@bmtc.co.uk
www.bmtc.co.uk

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