Clinical Tips for MassageDecember 2014

Continued on page 2

What Massage Can Do For YouBeyond Pain Relief, Massage is Valuable for Preventive CareKarrie Osborn

Massage helps you maintain a healthy body.

Learning neverexhausts themind.-da Vinci

Office Hours and Contact

Clinical Touch Massage (MM26266)Adele & Brian Boyd407-301-2739By Appointment Onlywww.massageKissimmee.comMA 21436 & MA 17222

In this Issue

What Massage Can Do For YouThe Health Benefits of GingerFabulous Figs

This article first appeared in the Summer 2013 issueofBody Sense.

Whether it is an aching back, recoveryfrom an injury, a case of carpal tunnelsyndrome, or a host of other debilitatingphysiological conditions, there's nodoubt massage and bodywork works torelieve pain. But once your therapist hashelped you tackle your pain, do you quitcalling? When the pain is gone, are yougone, too?

Massage therapy is highly effective forpain relief, but it is an amazingpreventive therapy as well. Massage helpsbuild and maintain a healthy body (andmind), it combats stress, and it works to

keep the immune system strong. Inshort, massage can keep on working foryou, even after the pain is gone.

MASSAGE FOR WELLNESSIf it's been a while since you bookedyour last massage--because your pain isno longer an issue or your injury is fullyrehabbed--you might want to considermassage for preventive care.

Massage can play an important role in agood health-care regimen. Just as youeat healthily, exercise regularly, and takeyour vitamins to ward off illness andmaintain a fit body, you should considermaking frequent massage a part of yourwellness lifestyle.

According to Benny Vaughn, a sportsmassage expert in Fort Worth, Texas,one of the benefits of consistent andregular massage therapy is betterflexibility. "This happens becauseregular and structured touch stimulusenhances the nervous system's sensoryand spatial processing capacity," he says."That is, the person becomes moreaware of her body's movement in spaceand becomes more aware of tightness or

pain long before it reaches a criticalpoint of mechanical dysfunction."

As a preventive measure, frequentmassage puts you more in tune with yourbody. "The consistency of massagetherapy over time creates a cumulativestress-reduction effect," Vaughn says.

Regular massage helps reduce stress and improve your quality of life.

Continued from page 1

"The person becomes acutely aware ofstress within her body long before it cancreate stress-driven damage."

And the more massage you receive, themore benefits you reap. "Massagetherapists know that people who getmassage regularly demonstrate greaterimprovement and notice a reduction inpain and muscular tension, as well as animprovement in posture," says AnneWilliams, author ofMassage Mastery: From Student to Professional(Lippincott Williams Wilkins, 2012).

"People regularly make a commitmentto fitness," Williams says. "Peopleregularly make a commitment tochanging their diet. The differencethey'd experience if they regularly madea commitment to massage ismind-blowing."

STRESS IS A KILLERStress is more than just a word we throwaround to describe the nature of ourhectic day. Today, we understand thatstress kills.

According to the Benson-HenryInstitute for Mind Body Medicine,60-90 percent of all US medical visitsare for stress-related disorders. Chronicpain, headaches, heart disease,hypertension, and ulcers can all bewrought from stress. Many would arguethat the best benefit of massage is itsability to reduce the stress in our lives.

From the perspective of daily living,think about the stress you felt at today'smeeting--now it's hiding in your neck.Tomorrow that can turn into stiffnessand eventually begin to affect other partsof your body. If you see your massagetherapist for your regular session thisweek, the chances are good you won'treach the tipping point. Think ofmassage and bodywork as a way torebalance your body.

Noted researcher Tiffany Field and hercolleagues from the Touch ResearchInstitute at the University of MiamiSchool of Medicine report that massagecauses positive biological changes whenit comes to stress. Through the course ofmore than 20 studies, these scientistsfound that massage decreases cortisol (astress-derived hormone that negativelyaffects immune function and kills ourimmune cells) and increases dopamine

and serotonin (the neurotransmittersmost associated with emotionalwell-being).

Add to this the research that showsmassage can lower your heart rate anddecrease your blood pressure, and youhave a mighty effective,nonpharmacological, stress-fightingtool that's about as natural as natural canget.

A ONE-HOUR VACATION AND SOMUCH MOREYou may no longer need to rehab thatknee or work the scar tissue from yoursurgery, but don't forget abouteverything else massage can do for you.Massage is the entire package, helping toheal body, mind, and spirit. Think of itas a one-hour vacation with amazingreturn on investment.

Whether it be maintaining joint

flexibility, managing blood pressure, orenhancing immunity, massage works.From repair to relief and from recoveryto relaxation, massage is a magnificentpiece of natural medicine you shouldalways have as part of your health-careroutine.

Karrie Osborn is senior editor for Body Sense.Contact her at karrie@abmp.com.

The ginger plant has many medicinal uses.

The Health Benefits of GingerEasing Nausea, Joint Pain, and Allergies

Fabulous FigsThis little known fruit is rich in beauty benefitsShelley Burns

This pungent spice is found in cuisinearound the globe, but ginger has alsobeen used for more than 2,500 yearsfor its medicinal properties. Theancient Chinese knew that it aided inthe absorption of many herbalpreparations and they prescribed itextensively as a digestive tonic.

A native root of southeast Asia, ginger isa potent ally in the treatment of nausea,motion sickness, and joint pain.Current research confirms ginger'sefficacy as an anti-inflammatory, GIcalmative, and antihistamine. The activeingredients found in ginger -- gingerolsand shagoals -- lower levels ofprostaglandins, the chemicalsresponsible for pain and inflammationin joints and muscles. By reducingprostaglandins, ginger can even have apositive effect on heart health andcirculation because chronic, systemicinflammation increases the risk of heartattack and blood vessel compromise.

Ginger comes in several forms. Fresh

and dried ginger is available insupermarkets for use in cooking. It'salso available in capsules, an extract pillform, prepackaged tea bags, crystallized,and as a topical oil.

Recommended UsesMotion Sickness and NauseaMost medications for nausea andmotion sickness work to calm thenervous system and can cause drowsinessand dry mouth. On the other hand,ginger calms the digestive tract directlyand has been shown to reduce nauseaafter surgery and chemotherapy. Formotion sickness, take 100 mg two hoursbefore departure and every four hoursafterwards or as needed.

Arthritis and Muscle AchesMassage ginger oil into affected areasand/or take up to 1 g of powdered gingerdaily to reduce inflammation.

Colds and AllergiesDrink up to 4 cups of ginger tea daily orenjoy authentic ginger ale (made from

real ginger).

While ginger has no known side effects,it's always a good idea to consult yourhealth care practitioner to make sure it'sright for you.

As one of the oldest fruits enjoyed byhumans, figs have a known historydating back to 9200 BCE in the MiddleEast. Part of the fig's mythology was thatit had medicinal properties, likebuilding muscle, enhancing fertility,and increasing stamina. Figs wereconsidered a valuable gift in ancienttimes because of beliefs about these andother medicinal benefits.

Figs are enjoyed in Mediterraneancountries, a region that has one of thehealthiest diets in the world.Mediterranean cultures appreciate thenutritional potential of the fig, thebenefits of which have been overlookedfar too long in North America.

Figs are being used today to hydrate skinand restore its elasticity and firmness.They also help prevent cracked lips and

premature wrinkling. Figs have excellenthydration properties, since each has awater content of approximately 3/4 of acup.

Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) is used torefresh and brighten skin and is oftenused as an ingredient in skin exfoliation.Figs have natural AHA properties, andwhen ingested, behave somewhat likeinternal exfoliants. They also promotehealthy digestion.

This ancient fruit also contains ficin, anantioxidant enzyme more powerful thanpapain (the active ingredient in papaya)for its ability to repair skin and slowaging.

Dried figs consist of a great source ofsoluble and insoluble fiber. Insolublefiber has been shown to reduce

low-density lipoprotein (LDL), betterknown as bad cholesterol. Keep in mindthat dried figs are high in natural sugarsand should be used with caution if youhave high blood sugar levels or diabetes.

Update your thinking on figs. They arenot only a great source of fiber, but theyare also a wonderful skin-enhancingresource.

Shelley Burns, a doctor of naturopathic medicine,completed studies at the Canadian College ofNaturopathic Medicine, and has certification incomplementary and integrative medicine fromHarvard University.

We know whatwe are, butknow not whatwe may be.-Shakespeare

GREAT NEWS: The Scar Tissue Release tool seems to beworking well with almost everyone. If you are exceptionallyticklish we will not use it in your treatment. However, therehas been so much positive feedback with different ages,conditions, and activity levels that we will be keeping it aspart of what we offer. Last chance to buy Gift Certificates is fast approaching. Youlast minute shoppers might have to call to see if we candeliver or if we will be in the office. See you in 2015. Brian &Adele

Clinical Touch Massage

1975 S John Young Pkwy Kissimmee, FL 34741