Massage Reduces Stress Related Hormones and Alters Immune System

As per a recent U.S. study, massage can alleviate the stress related hormones and can also modify the immune system response. It was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine on Wednesday.

小孩按摩——促进小孩和家长的身心健康 (Mandarin corner)

按摩是人类古老的传统保健良方，在汉代魏晋隋唐时期并设有按摩疗法。五十年代的台湾助产士为新生儿施以黑麻油按摩，而台大医院新生儿科在2000年也有类似研究结果，每天对早产儿做3次15分钟按摩，体重增加将近50%。所以一些医疗发达国家已经实行小孩按摩护理服务。
大部分小孩对吃药和打针有抵触情绪，尤其是吃药，中药汤剂就更是不便，因此建议当小孩刚有些初起症状时，家长可以给小孩做些简单保健按摩，缓解小孩的痛苦和减轻、减小吃药的份量、次数，还助于小孩健康的恢复。
小孩按摩无创伤，无痛苦，无副作用的优势和既可治病又可强身疗效。促进小孩肌肉的生长发育、血液循环、消化、改善呼吸、加强免疫系统，还能起到强化骨骼，加快食物消化过程，预防疾病等作用。据研究表明：经常接受按摩的小孩比没有按摩的小孩体重增长速度快，小孩也变得更安静、机灵满足、不易哭闹、更能熟睡、提高感觉的灵敏度、让小孩更健康，家长更轻松地休息、工作。
针对出生100天-----12岁小孩按摩保健

摘引：http://guangzhou.ganchang.cn/showAd.asp?ad_id=39041

Reflexology for Kids & Teens

Although most of us believe that children and teens are pretty invincible to pain and injury, there are some benefits to introducing your kids to certain treatments that can help their overall health, such as reflexology. If you’re thinking about getting your child or teen involved in this process, there are some helpful things to know in order to make sure you understand what to expect and how to prepare.



So what is reflexology and how can it benefit your child or teenager? Reflexology is the act of applying pressure to the hands and feet using certain techniques of the thumb and fingers without massage oil or lotion. This practice is ideal for releasing tension, eliminating any strain or feelings of discomfort, and is also very soothing. While most kids and teens don’t have much to stress about, you’d be surprised by how well they not only adapt to reflexology, but how much they could end up enjoying it.

Scrubbing Your Way to Health and Beauty

Staying healthy and beautiful is an important endeavour for most people. We all want to have an attractive and youthful appearance, so we go to great lengths to pamper ourselves in spas and purchase products that promise to give us a gorgeous glow. One of the best products that can provide us with a lot of health and beauty benefits is a body scrub. These scrubs are commonly sold in stores, however, those who may not have the budget to buy these somewhat pricey items have the option of making their own homemade body scrub from ordinary ingredients found in the kitchen.

Foot Massage: A Nursing Intervention to modify the distressing symptoms of pain and nausea in patients hospitalized with cancer

This article was published in Cancer Nursing (journal) in June 2000 by Grealish and associates based on study related to food massage.

Abstract: This article describes the findings of an empirical study on the use of foot massage as a nursing intervention in patients hospitalized with cancer. The study was developed from the earlier work of Ferrell-Torry and Glick (1992). In a sample of 87 subjects, a 10-minute foot massage (5 minutes per foot) was found to have a significant immediate effect on the perceptions of pain, nausea, and relaxation when measured with a visual analog scale. The use of foot massage as a complementary method is recommended as a relatively simple nursing intervention for patients experiencing nausea or pain related to the cancer experience. Further research into its effectiveness in the management of these symptoms by the family at home is warranted.

For more details: http://journals.lww.com/cancernursingonline/Abstract/2000/06000/Foot_Massage__A_NURSING_INTERVENTION_TO_MODIFY_THE.12.aspx

The Art of Prenatal Massage

Pregnancy Stress & Anxiety
The Art of Prenatal Massage
Learn the Art of Massage During Pregnancy

Massage during pregnancy is therapeutic bodywork which focuses on the special needs of the mother-to-be as her body goes through the dramatic changes of the childbirth experience. It is a fast-growing field in the United States that has attracted the interest of labor and delivery nurses, nurse-midwives, childbirth educators and obstetricians. Massage therapy enhances the function of muscles and joints, improves circulation and general body tone, and relieves mental and physical fatigue.

The popularity of prenatal massage is the result of a trend toward a higher level of wellness, especially during pregnancy. Many women are postponing childbirth until they have achieved other goals, such as careers and relationships. Because of this, pregnancy is anticipated and enjoyed to its fullest for the wondrous experience it is. Today's pregnant women – along with other health care consumers – are looking for alternative approaches to support traditional health services.

Benefits of Prenatal Massage
In addition to the fact that massage during pregnancy just plain feels good, there are many other benefits for the mom-to-be and her baby, too. A study conducted by Dr. Tiffany Field at the University of Miami School of Medicine showed that massage actually reduces stress hormones in the body. Touch is vital to the mother's physical and emotional well-being as she adapts to her new body image. Regardless of individual circumstances, a pregnant woman's body is challenged, changed and stressed in many ways. Massage gives special attention to the mother-to-be, which in turn nurtures the new life that grows within her.

What are the benefits of reflexology?

In general terms the benefits of reflexology have to do with the reduction of stress. Because the feet and hands help set the tension level for the rest of the body they are an easy way to interrupt the stress signal and reset homeostasis, the body's equilibrium.

Whether reflexology can benefit certain conditions and diseases in still under investigation. Further scientific study need to be done in order to come to some definite benefits of reflexology in regard to illness and disease.

Reflexology is a complement to standard medical care. It should not be construed as medical advice. It should not be a replacement to medical help. Please use it wisely. We care about your safety.

The benefits of reflexology include:

- Relaxation
- Pain reduction
- Amelioration of symptoms for health concerns
- Rejuvenation of tired feet
- Improvement in blood flow
- Impact on physiological measures (e. g. blood pressure and cholesterol; measurements by ECG, EEG, and fMRI)
- Beneficial for post-operative recovery and pain reduction
- Enhancement of medical care (e. g. cancer, phantom limb pain, and hemodialysis patients)
- Adjunct to mental health care (e. g. depression, anxiety, Post traumatic stress disorder)
- Complement to cancer care (pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety)
- Easier birthing / delivery / post-partum recovery

* Quoted from: http://www.reflexology-research.com/whatis.htm