Posted on February 9, 2009 - by admin

Massage as a Holistic Healing Therapy

Massage therapy is now at the fore in the treatment of certain illness. People suffering from long-term medical conditions seek massage therapy as a solution to their ailments. Illnesses such as arthritis, fatigue, diabetes, high blood pressure, muscle pains, and even cancer benefit from regular massage treatments. Massage healing gives relief to patients receiving them just as conventional medications could. They gain respite from pains, improved health and well-being, and increase flexibility.

Massage is the manipulation of the body’s soft-tissue purposely to provide comfort from stress and enhance circulation. It is designed to tap into body’s energies. It involves touching that aids people suffering from emotional strains, including stress and depression. Blood circulation is greatly improved, thus oxygen is more efficiently distributed to tissues and the different organs. Today, there are more than 200 known variants of massage, bodywork, and physical therapies around the world.

Therapeutic massage as a holistic treatment has been gaining ground. People who suffer from physical imbalances and pains look out to massage treatments as a holistic approach. Ailments and discomforts affecting the body can be treated with massage therapies. Holistic healing targets not only the physical discomforts, but also aims at a healthier lifestyle.

Bodywork is a type of massage therapy impressed upon the muscles, skin, and the skeleton. Massage and bodywork therapies are classified into four general classes: western, oriental, structural/functional, and non-oriental. The more familiar styles of oriental and western massages are acupressure, shiatsu, the Swedish massage, neuromuscular massage, Jin Shin Jyutsu, and Thai massage. Other famous techniques are the Feldenkrais, Yogassage, Hot stone massage, reflexology, and the Gua Sha.