Massage Therapy in Naturopathy is a therapeutic cure to many diseases. It involves the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body. If correctly done on a bare body, it can be highly stimulating and refreshing.
History of Massage Therapy
Massage Therapy dates back as far as 400 B.C., when the great Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine", employed massage and manipulation in healing his patients. Since then it has been used as a mode of treatment for many ailments and it has restored many a sufferer to health and vigour.
Benefits of Massage Therapy
There are many benefits of massage therapy. The general massage, dealing with all parts of the body, tones up the nervous system, influences respiration and quickens the elimination of poisons and waste material from the body through the various eliminative organs such as the lungs, skin, kidneys and bowels.
Massage Therapy also boosts blood circulation and metabolic processes. A massage removes facial wrinkles, helps to fill out hollow cheeks and neck and eases stiffness, sore muscles and numbness. Good massage treatments helps the muscles get regenerated and are then capable of holding half of the blood supply.
Methods of Massage Therapy
Cotton seed oil is most commonly used for massaging. If the patient is averse to oil, talcum powder may be used. General body massage may be done for 40 to 45 minutes and local body massage for 10 to 15 minutes. The oil should be washed off completely after massage. There are 5 basic modes of manipulation in massage and these are:
•Effleurage (stroking)
•Friction (rubbing)
•Petrissage (kneading)
•Tapotment (percussion)
•Vibration (shaking or trembling)
Types of Massage Therapy
There are different types of massages prescribed for different body parts which are as follows;
•Aromatherapy Massage
•Hot Stone Massage
•Deep Tissue Massage
•Pregnancy Massage
•Reflexology
•Sports Massage
•Back Massage
Cautions for Massage Therapy
Stiff and swollen joints can be cured by massage combined with mechanical movements. Massage is, however, not recommended in serious inflammatory cases of the joints and in tubercular joints. It should also be avoided in infectious diseases like diphtheria and gonorrhoea which causes formation of pus as massage may spread the pus to the entire system.
Massage thus provides additional nourishment to feed the muscular tissues, helping them to grow strong.
