Category — Massage

The topic of multiple chemical sensitivities became a focus of mine about three years ago as I was trying to understand some of the symptoms I encountered with a few of my massage clients.  I purchased a far infrared (FIR) sauna because I had heard of its many health benefits, and I began studying about FIR saunas so that I could safely offer this detoxification therapy to my clients.  In researching about FIR, I came across an environmental physician researcher that completely captivated my attention; with her personal experience with multiple chemical sensitivities, her medical knowledge, and her passion to help others overcome their discomforting experiences.  Her name is Dr. Sherry Rogers.  Her educational outreach is all about Chemical Sensitivity and what can personally be done to overcome the oftentimes debilitating effects such exposures create in the human body.

What I have learned that I have firmly come to believe is that many of the symptoms and discomforts, as well as the slow and sometimes not so slow onset of symptoms, baffle us because they appear to have no reason for being.  We ask for information from our doctors, our friends, and sometimes even strangers when we overhear someone else talking about their experiencing something we have.  At the same time, I know many of us are asking the big “why” question:  “why are so many young people coming down with disorders that not so long ago were reserved for or only experienced by the aged?

I began to understand these questions that arose in my mind when I more closely considered the evolution of our technological society.  Since the industrial revolution following WWII, manufacturing, industrialization, agriculture, and pharmaculture have accelerated at phenomenal rates bringing to the human experience new ideas, improved living standards, enriched scientific knowledge, and ease at accessing information.  At the same time, marketing all these new found expressions of development became a primary focus as well as an avenue for economic success.

We all KNOW that with industrialization, development, continued ease and comfort, and our adaptation to instant gratification that is a beautiful outcome for such progress, we have also begun to recognize with a little bit of horror that there have been consequences of such a forward moving pace.  More people are suffering from and dying from diseases.  Research scientists are frantically trying to keep up with the “latest strain” of this or that.  We mourn our losses while we ingest the ingredients of the latest “discovery.”

This trickles down, for me, to a reality that the people of the world are exposed to an excessive amount of pollutants the human body, and the bodies of all other living things, for that matter, struggle to keep up with.  Our human body task is to maintain health and well being.  It utilizes many innate sources and systems every day to keep us going.  But when the overload tops out, our bodies can only “keep on keepin’ on” as a daily struggle.  And then, when it can no longer keep up, it begins to fail, a little at a time, until disease takes over and a new struggle begins - detoxifying the contaminants, cleansing, restoring, repairing, rejuvenating, and then - my favorite “r” word - “rejoicing” when we have figured out what we need, walk the walk, and choose healing pathway for ourselves.

This is no easy endeavor.  The myriad avenues for gathering information on any particular subject can become mind boggling.  I am learning about holistic nutrition and my academic guidance leads me into many websites with abstracts utilizing language I am just beginning to acknowledge with a degree of understanding.  Prior to my exposure to how to do research and what to look for, I was overwhelmed by searching, by trying to learn from all the presentations “out there at the ready for me” and to decipher good science from bad science.

Dr. Sherry Rogers provided for me a balancing perspective.  The human population is exposed to so much pollution our bodies have become sick and chemically sensitive.  Our children (as well as our pets) have experienced exposures from the womb.  While past generations suffered disease at older ages, it took longer to accumulate the negative detritus their bodies had to deal with.  Today, our chemical sensitivities arise with contaminated food, air, water, buildings with tainted paints, carpets, and treated furniture fabrics, and such; all toxic ingredients that test the human body’s ability to detoxify and eliminate.  It becomes understandable why our children and pets suffer earlier and oftentimes succumb to illness we still consider as reserved for the elderly.

As a medical massage therapist, I see the dynamic value of massage therapy to assist in detoxifying the human body.  I see the value of experiencing a Far Infrared Sauna therapy session on a regular basis to assist in detoxifying the body.  I see the value of experiencing a manual lymph drainage massage to assist the body in specialized ways to detoxify consequences of treatments or illness.  And as a student of holistic nutrition, I see the value of eating an organically grown and locally grown, whole foods diet rich in vital vitamins, minerals, proteins, and enzymes to assist the body in its detoxifying pathways because of exposures we cannot ultimately control-what is outside and created by our advanced technology.  What we can control is our approach to what we are experiencing.  What we can control is teaching ourselves and our children more efficient ways of dealing with or coping with exposures and supporting those exposures with good food rather than processed foods that do not support health.  We can chose professionals who seek answers and who want to educate, and who see that human wellness is attainable in spite of what circulates around us.

Krystle Shapiro is a member of the Sandpoint Wellness Council.  She owns Touchstone Massage Therapies and can be reached at 208/290-6760.

Our topic this month focuses on Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). Several of the Sandpoint Wellness Council members treat clients complaining of this condition who have been searching for years for ways to alleviate the very painful and confusing symptoms FMS presents. Oftentimes, patients receive feedback from health care providers that what they are experiencing is “all in their heads” or that they are “hypochondriacs” due to no findings of specific clues leading to their discomfort, or they have experienced a series of diagnoses and treatments that have not proven beneficial for them over time.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome presents as chronic, muscular and joint pain that causes widespread body achiness with tenderness at various points on the body. This achiness tends to move around and therefore becomes hard to pinpoint sometimes reflecting a burning sensation and/or a tingling sensation. They may also complain of loss of sleep, low energy, stiffness following rest times, or a lack of feeling rested after a night’s sleep. It is often greatly debilitating. Mostly FMS causes a general all over body ache and constant pain and discomfort—a condition that affects one’s overall well being and ability to function fully.

In researching my resources (listed below) FMS symptoms often overlap other disorders such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), Sleep Disorder, and/or TMJ dysfunction (if pain first shows up in the jaw area). This is why FMS is so hard to pin down for the medical community.

The most important therapeutic direction focuses on the management of FMS and on learning all one can about what is being experienced—paying attention to body signals, timing, and when it is weak or strong.

Joseph Pizzorno, Ph.D and Michael Murray in their Textbook of Natural Medicine, pages 1672-3, discuss the findings of several research hypotheses, one centered on low serotonin levels on sleep deprived individuals that can lead to a heightened sense of pain. The research findings did not really pan out for them on this point as serotonin is a vasoconstrictor and would therefore restrict blood flow. They found a more important approach focused on hypothyroidism, whereby there exists a “particular cellular resistance to thyroid hormone or other metabolism-impeding factors.” These factors are such things as poor diet, “nutritional deficiencies, low physical fitness, and metabolism-impeding drugs.” The authors go on to report that “cellular resistance to thyroid hormone is the underlying mechanism of two main features of FMS: chronic widespread pain and abnormal tenderness.” This condition, inadequate thyroid hormone regulation (ITHR) causes impairment to two mechanisms in the body. In the first mechanism ITHR tends to increase the release of Substance P which affects the body by increasing the sensations of pain. Thyroid treatment oftentimes proves effective in lowering Substance P and therefore reduces pain in FMS patients. The second mechanism is the reduction of the synthesis and secretion of norepinephrine (NE). “Adequate NE is essential to normal function” of neurotransmission from the central nervous system mechanisms and is dependent also on the secretion of serotonin, which in turn stimulates the release of opiates, which in turn has the effect of lowering pain sensations.

This chemistry can be oh so confusing to us, but even such brief information, I believe, enables those suffering from Fibromyalgia Syndrome to begin to ask pertinent questions of their care providers. Seeking appropriate tests and gathering scientific data from many sources will help in finding better pathways toward management and overall comfort.

Resource:

Pizzorno, Joseph and Michael Murray. Textbook of Natural Medicine. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, St. Louis. 2006.

Members of the Sandpoint Wellness Council offer several methods from their experiences that often prove effective in supporting their FMS clients and initiating more comfort.

Krystle Shapiro, BA, LMT, CDT, Reiki, Touchstone Massage Therapies, 208/290-6760

For many people who live with chronic pain, the idea of being touched may not be welcomed. During times of lower pain and discomfort, seeking massage therapy may be just what is needed. FMS sufferers have many irritating chemicals running through their bodies and may be hypersensitive. Massage therapy, however, provides many benefits: it is effective in reducing pain, anxiety, depression, and improves sleep patterns. Massage has a gentle detoxification effect to help rid the body of some of those unwanted or overproduced chemicals. Human touch provides a warm as well as a nurturing sensation that stimulates all of our good brain chemistry, which in turn supports all our bodily systems. With detoxification, such as with Manual Lymph Drainage Massage, the body benefits from ridding itself of accumulated wastes, and then it has clearer pathways for good nutritional ingredients to reach the cells. As the article above references, a good nutritious diet, regular exercise, restful sleep, and appropriate medications lead to reduced symptoms and painful experiences of FMS.

Penny Waters, Herbology and Reflexology, Relaxation Destination, 208/597-4343

Handling Fibromyalgia With the Touch of Reflexology and Herbs

Whether it was your nervous system, an overloaded immune system, a virus, a hormonal and/or emotional breakdown, or too much prolonged stress, your body has changed and you may have fibromyalgia.

Reflexology will stimulate the internal organs and glands, nervous system, muscular system and immune system when pressure is applied to the reflexes in the feet. This promotes a healing response in the body reducing tension, congestion, inflammation, and easing the symptoms of fibromyalgia- aches and pains, constipation or diarrhea, mucus conditions, and fatigue. It is extremely relaxing to the nervous system and clients usually report sleeping more deeply for several nights after one reflexology session.

Herbs are enormously supportive for providing relief. A formula will include herbs to strengthen the nervous system. Herbs which reduce inflammation and cleanse the toxic elements in the blood and liver will be included to reduce sore muscles and aches in the body. In particular herbs for the colon and lungs will be considered.

There’s no doubt that other lifestyle changes need to be made. Healthy, alkaline, nutritious food must replace empty fast foods; rest and time out from stress must be sought. Change can be difficult, so I make it as easy as possible. I provide a ‘super foods’ list and have a cookbook to make this easy. I also advocate the use of music, aroma, visualization, and uplifting reading for ways to balance our entire body, mind and spirit, and I provide ideas for these too. You don’t have time? Your body will make you sick enough until you have no choice!

If we listen to our bodies, they tell us what we need to do to get well. Yes, they are telling us to change our jobs, change our careers, or ask for counseling to deal with emotional situations. The journey to wellness is a journey of self-help, self-discovery, and self-actualization. It can be the most rewarding journey you will ever take.

Owen Marcus, MA, CAR, Rolfing, 208/265-8440

Fibromyalgia and Rolfing – releasing stress heals fibromyalgia

Do you have on going, non-specific pain? Is this pain worse when you are tired or stressed? If you answered yes, you may be suffering from fibromyalgia. I wrote a post on fibromyalgia for my www.StressedOut.org blog explaining fibromyalgia and its relationship to stress. This post is the most read post on that blog. When you put stress and fibromyalgia in Google, this post comes up as the fourth search result. Fibromyalgia is a hot topic.

For years, I have told my clients that as a culture we live on the fibromyalgia continuum. Virtually everyone is at least developing some of the symptoms. The subclinical symptoms may only show up sporadically when we have pushed ourselves for several days.

Chronic sufferers of fibromyalgia just didn’t suddenly catch the illness. Fibromyalgia comes from our bodies being progressively run down. Years of stress, working hard, and not getting enough rest and good nutrition are some ways the body can manifest the exhaustion which develop into fibromyalgia.

Exhausted and hyper

What is interesting from a clinical prospective is all the diagnosed fibromyalgia sufferers I have seen in my practice are wired and exhausted. Most often, their soft tissue is lacking life or as an oriental medical doc would say, low chi. Their deeper soft tissue is tense and fibrous. Many of these clients are committed to getting well and have seen many other good practitioners without getting well. These docs and healthcare providers along with the clients can’t understand why they are still sick.

Much like with depression and chronic fatigue that are closely related to fibromyalgia, fibromyalgia clients need to release the deep chronic tension to get well. That deeper layer of soft tissue needs to come back to life. It is as if that layer is blocking the chi and blood circulation from reaching vital organs and the more superficial levels.

The power of Rolfing

Over the 30 years I have treated people, I have received many referrals from others who normally get great results, but were not getting them for these clients. We all learned that without these deep layers releasing it is as if the other work such as homeopathy and clinical nutrition can’t get into the tissue. Once the stress, exhaustion and tension releases, all the therapies that once were not working start to work better than the norm. These clients often prove to be some of the most successful cases for other practitioners. Rolfing can free the body to allow other therapies to support deep healing and rejuvenation.

Fibromyalgia is not a disease

I find fibromyalgia with the correct therapies combination “curable.” As I mentioned in the post on Stressed Out.org, the medical profession fails to recognize fibromyalgia as a real problem because they believe they have a drug for it. As you read up on this drug, you read that the drug company is not promising a cure, just a mitigation of symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that developed because the body became run down – not because of an illness that was contracted from being exposed to a pathogen. To get well you don’t treat the problem, you treat the cause. Once the cause shifts, the problem disappears. Rolfing releases the tension and teaches the body not to recreate it.

From my experience, if a person truly wants to get well from fibromyalgia and is willing to step outside the presently considered treatment box – they will get well. The road back to wellness will take a while. It will require commitment and a willingness to feel and express old emotions. There will be times when the person will feel worse – more exhausted and more depressed and possibly experience more short term pain. By hanging in there – you will get well.

Ilani Kopiecki, CMT, IET, CranioSacral and Integrated Massage,

208/610-2005

Approaching Fibromyalgia with CranioSacral Therapy

With the heat and inflammation of fibromyalgia, tissues can be chronically tight and painful. CranioSacral Therapy can help fibromyalgia by gently and effectively releasing tight, sore muscles and joints so that oxygen can enter those areas and enhance healing. CranioSacral Therapy also addresses areas of the body that have been holding due to chronic pain, such as the neck, lower back and spine. When those areas are relaxed and aligned the whole body can be more flexible and able to move through the day.

Cancer is such a scary word for every living being. We all have been touched by cancer in some way through family, friends, community members, and even our pets. Management of cancer becomes a horrific experience as well as an expensive one.

Cancer is ever changing because it is so adaptable and aggressive. The medical and pharmacological communities scramble each year to keep up with the science of cancer to not only heal us from this growing epidemic, but to also help us prevent its occurrence.

Prevention is key to warding off this disease and one of the most important components to focus on is healthy nutrition – reducing or eliminating processed and refined foods, increasing our intake of fresh fruits and vegetables; eating many raw and in the form of fresh juices. Whole foods are rich in nutrients containing vitamins, minerals, enzymes and a host of synergistic partners that aid in the proper breakdown and absorption of these vital ingredients all of our healthy cells require to fight the battle.

It requires a huge amount of good nutrients to detoxify the chemistry of processed foods, dyes, preservatives, herbicides, growth hormones, and antibiotics, all ingredients linked to cancer, that coat or are a part of the foods we eat daily. As well, the same healthy nutrients are necessary to detoxify the myriad environmental pollutants we are exposed to. Detoxification generally occurs first within our bodies leaving few nutrients to chemically combine, breakdown, and enable proper absorption and metabolism.

Stress is another factor that creates harmful chemistry in our bodies that must be detoxified before it can be eliminated, again using up vital nutrients needed to ward off disease. Adjusting our lifestyles to eliminate stress factors becomes essential in the fight to prevent cancer.

For those undergoing cancer therapies, it is important to recognize the complications that arise, especially if lymph nodes have been surgically removed, such as edema and lymphedema. The lymph system collects our cellular waste products and sends out our immune system fighting armies to do battle on our behalf. When lymph nodes are removed the process of eliminating these wastes slows down resulting in swelling with limb and torso enlargement. This can become painful and debilitating. We need the fullest power of our lymph system to keep our wastes moving out, so stagnation within this vital system can become disastrous.

Manual Lymph Drainage Massage Therapy (MLD) is the perfect answer for jump starting the lymph system following surgery and treatment. Its gentle pumping effect is soothing and effective at moving wastes along within a slowed down system and in supporting recovery and maintenance for the cancer patient. Teaming MLD with good nutritional choices, increasing physical exercise, learning deeper breathing techniques, and practicing relaxation strategies become the key components for helping us prevent cancer, recover from it, and manage any side effects of treatment therapies.

We want to be our optimal best each day. It is up to each of us to do our part as best we can and make the changes we can control. When we consider it is all about chemistry, providing ourselves with the benefits of life supporting chemistry rather than destructive chemistry becomes a powerful tool we all have available every day.

Krystle Shapiro, BA, LMT, CDT, Reiki

Allergies are among one of the most common medical conditions, affecting approximately one out of every five Americans. Common triggers include various grass and tree pollen, such as ragweed and elm, as well as foods or food groups like milk, nuts, or shellfish, and animal dander. Basically, anything the body does not recognize as “self” can become a potential allergen. Simply put, an allergy is an abnormal immune response to an otherwise harmless substance. The body detects a food or pollen exposure as a foreign invader, which triggers an inflammatory reaction. Symptoms range from the irritating but benign nasal congestion, sneezing and itchy eyes to possible skin rashes and hives, to the potentially fatal inflammation and swelling of upper airways.

Asthma is a respiratory condition that affects nearly 3 percent of Americans. Asthma is closely related in nature to the allergic-type response, as it too is a hyper-inflammatory reaction to an otherwise harmless substance or event. Often, people with asthma also suffer from some form of allergies. In asthma, one’s ability to breathe is greatly affected. Typical symptoms include spasm of the bronchi (or airway tubes), swelling of lining of the lungs, and excessive mucous production. Shortness of breath and wheezing are often experienced. The greatest concern is that if not immediately addressed, an asthmatic attack could lead to respiratory failure.

Mario Roxas, ND, 208/946-0984

A Naturopathic Prospective

Allergies and asthma are both conditions that can benefit from various alternative and complementary therapies. From a naturopathic perspective, one of the key considerations is to lower a person’s allergic threshold. This involves not only identifying the triggers and finding ways to reduce the risk of exposure, but also looking at aspects of an individual’s current lifestyle and health that may make them more prone to allergy reactions. If a person is already in a state of higher stress or inflammation, then they are more susceptible to react to other stressors that come their way. For example, habits such as smoking, and/or excess alcohol intake, lower an individual’s ability to handle the additional stressors that seasonal allergens may place on the body. Additionally, poor diet and nutritional deficiencies can play a very significant role in reducing one’s resistance to allergens. Key nutritional supplementation, like omega 3 fatty acids and bioflavonoids, along with certain diet and lifestyle modifications, can help reduce inflammation and strengthen the body’s resistance to stressors, allowing for better management of allergies. To find out more specific things you can do to manage your allergies and asthma, please call Mario Roxas, ND at 208-946-0984 or email at info@drroxas.com and set up a visit.

Owen Marcus, MA Certified Advance Rolfer, www.align.org, 265.8440

A Rolfer’s Perspective

Respiratory disorders, such as allergies and asthma, can actually alter the body’s physical structure. In the case of respiratory difficulty, restricted breathing can create a misshapen rib cage. If breathing is difficult–or even scary–the body will distort around that stress, adapting by creating fascial adhesions or scar tissue. Not taking full breaths creates the restricted structure reinforcing the experience that breathing is difficult.

So how do we reverse this pattern?

First, you free the chronic structural and soft tissue pattern by releasing the chronic tension held in the body. Rolfing was specifically designed to remove the chronic tension held in the body’s soft tissue and can reestablish the subtleness to allow the rib cage to move more freely.

Twenty years ago, I conducted a study on Rolfing with elite runners at Arizona State University. The biggest improvement they collectively experienced was increased vital capacity (the ability to take in more air). Even the world-class runners—including an Olympic marathon runner—experienced breathing improvements. Chronic allergy and asthma sufferers, after decades of breathing restrictions, usually see considerable improvement with Rolfing.

The other key factor with optimal breathing is to learn not to respond to stress in the old tension-producing manner.

When I had a clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, we operated a Mindfulness Stress Reduction program for hospitals and corporations. In the eight-week course, we often had students who experienced breathing problems. After a few weeks of teaching their mind and body to relax in the face of stress, the respiratory symptoms would decline. The core of the course was learning to feel, and then let what was occurring to occur. When we stop resisting our bodies, we stop tensing. For whatever reason, we learned to hold our breath when stressed; when we just let go and breathe, the stress seems to dissipate. When the tension of stress is gone, we breathe naturally.

Penny Waters, Relaxation Destination, 208/597-4343

Herbs and ReflexologyPerspective, Handling Allergies With the Touch of Reflexology and Herbs

Many of you are probably breathing a sigh of relief now that the days of buds in spring and grasses in summer are turning to cooler days of fall and winter. Gone will be the allergens that cause you such discomfort – itchy and runny eyes, sniffles, sore throat, stuffed up sinuses, aching head and so on. Would you like to be free of this yearly misery? Then let’s use the winter months to prepare for spring in such a way that you do not experience your allergies next year.

Without a doubt, the immune system needs to be cleansed and strengthened in order to fight the myriad of external pollutants and irritants that surround us daily that cause our allergic reactions. I recommend some wonderful herbs for this purpose. Foods that congest our system and cause our immune system to work overtime have to be reduced and eliminated, too. Foods that will be good for you are also recommended and help give you replacements for your usual fare. I also use herbs to boost immunity: Herbs that are high in Vitamin C that help flush the kidneys and detoxify the liver all find a place in an herbal formula. Herbs help curb cravings, too, when we give up some of our comfort foods for the sake of our health.

At the core of this program to control allergic reactions is reflexology. A series of reflexology sessions in the fall and then in late winter before spring will ensure success. The body is stimulated to throw off the congestion and toxic accumulation in your blood, organs, and lymphatic system. This will be strongly supported by your food program. You will be amazed at how deeply you can breathe, how clear your head feels, how alive and mobile you are, and how great it feels to experience true wellness.

Don’t wait until spring. Start now and avoid allergy misery and give yourself a health boost that will last a lifetime.

Robin and Layman Mize, Quantum Biofeedback, Certified Biofeedback Specialists, 208/610-9997.

Biofeedback and Allergies

When we hear the term “allergy testing” we most often think of the traditional medical approach, using a “scratch test” or needles to determine allergy stressors or sensitivities.

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Biofeedback Analysis is a phenomenal, scientific method to detect sensitivities using ones’ own muscle strength and the static electricity present in the body. Even children feel comfortable using this accurate, non-invasive and painless method of analysis!

Biofeedback analysis is based on the idea that there is an energy field which flows around and through all things. The Chinese call this energy Qi or Chi (pronounced “Chee”). Like a magnet creates a magnetic field which holds iron filings in a certain pattern, the Chi creates a field which holds the cells of our body in alignment. Theoretically, by altering the Chi, one can alter the body. In biofeedback analysis we use the body’s energy as a gauge to determine the level of stress intolerance to a given substance.

Krystle Shapiro, BA, LMT, CDT, Touchstone Massage Therapies,

208-290-6760

A Medical Massage Therapy Perspective

I find Manual Lymph Drainage Therapy especially helpful for clearing congestion in the sinuses and chest when my clients complain of stuffy heads, runny noses, and difficulty breathing. The lymph system works overtime during spring and summer when so much environmental toxins are present in our air and water. This specialized massage effectively encourages the lymph system to speed up its removal of accumulated toxins and cellular wastes of all kinds. This may increase a runny nose and/or coughing experience, but these reactions are short lived as the wastes are eliminated leaving the allergy/asthma sufferer feeling more clear headed, less achy, “dryer” and more energetic to get on with normal routines.

Clearing the accumulated debris from the immune system in a timely fashion enables it to continue its normal alert, attack, and manage activities that keep us healthy and vibrant. Manual Lymph Drainage is the perfect complement to your fall/winter health regimen.

It is with great pride and excitement I introduce you to The Sandpoint Wellness Council. We are an association of independent complementary wellness practitioners located in Sandpoint dedicated to holistic health care, who together see the value of our synergistic practices, and who have chosen to work diligently together to bring to you relevant and scientifically researched information on health care options. We believe that there is no “one” solution for everyone; rather each person individually has unique needs and concerns, and undertaken in such a perspective, effective remediation of causes of distress and dis-ease can be accomplished.

This year our collective aim is to bring you information about our individual practices and their objectives so that you may make informed decisions about what you want in your personal health care regimen. Complementary health care is about synergy, about working with all ideas for health improvement, prevention, and maintenance of well being. The Sandpoint Wellness Council aims to inform, generate relevant questions, answer those questions, and assist others in finding and understanding current research. Many of our practitioners offer protocols that can effectively provide relief of many common complaints.

Each month we will be presenting a topic and will provide information from several of the participating Sandpoint Wellness Council members. We invite our readers to contact us with questions you would like us to address, and we will provide that information in upcoming issues of The River Journal. Contact information is provided at the end of this article.

Our first topic focuses on Migraine Headaches. According to Ruth Werner in A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology, page 266, 28 million people experience migraines. This leads to not only lost wages but to high medical expenses each year. Women tend to suffer more than men, and causes are varied, from genetic factors, personal lifestyle choices, as well as to environmental influences.

Physiologically, migraines can occur from a narrowing of blood vessels in the brain called vasoconstriction. This increases blood pressure within the vessels. This is then followed by an expansion of the blood vessels called vasodilation. With this expansion comes the intense pain of a migraine headache.

Trying to uncover the causes of migraines remains a prominent topic among many professionals. As we accept the bio-individuality of ourselves, we also recognize that a prescription of “one size fits all” does not always effectively deal with the possible triggers that cause migraines. Ruth Werner suggests many possible triggers, such as magnesium deficiency (which allows for muscle relaxation), “consumption of certain kinds of foods, including red wine, cheese, chocolate, coffee, tea [all our favorite things!], MSG, and alcohol” (266-67). As well, Werner relates that stress and hormonal shifts may also be contributing factors.

As Complementary Health practitioners, we see people with a variety of symptoms, and each of us has learned to address these symptoms within our scopes of practice. Following are the educated and professional protocols The Sandpoint Wellness Council members utilize to bring comfort and relief for the expressions of migraine headaches for our valued clients. Your review of these multifaceted options may provide you insight for what may work for your specific needs.

From Ilani Kopiecki, CMT, Integrated Body Work and CranioSacral Therapy, 208-610-2005:

In CranioSacral Therapy we use several different release techniques to help with migraine headaches. We release the vertebrae in the neck and upper thoracic area to make sure blood flow to the head is running smoothly. We adjust the sacrum and lower back to ensure release throughout the spine. We also release the occiput, temporal, frontal, and parietal bones in the head so that the dural tissue throughout the cranium is open and pliable. Sometimes the jaw and the TMJ areas must be released as well to alleviate pressure in the neck and head. It is also important to counsel the client on diet, lifestyle, and water intake.

From Kristine Battey MSPT, ATC, CSCS, HLC, Divine Health & Fitness, www.divinehf.com, 208-946-7072

Exercise can be an excellent tool for fighting off a migraine and may also help the person to relax when they have a migraine. Light cardiovascular exercise followed by stretching and deep, relaxing breathing can relax the body and the muscles in the neck and shoulders that lead to tension related migraine headaches. The use of a foam roller or therapeutic ball for stretching can help the spinal muscles to relax. During acute migraine, I instruct clients to lie down in a quiet room, close their eyes and do gentle stretches along with relaxing, deep breathing techniques. This may relieve the migraine or at least help it to be more tolerable.

Another important part of preventing migraines is related to the person’s diet. It is important for a migraine sufferer to clear their diet of toxins and eat high quality, nutrient dense food. I assess my clients physiological load which is the sum total of all stressors acting on their body: what they eat, when they eat, stress, sleep, their digestive system, and their detoxification system. I also assess what metabolic type they are and guide them to make quality food choices according to what types of food their particular nutritional type would benefit from most. Eating an organic, whole food diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and quality sources of grass-fed, organic meat are important for optimal health and may help to decrease the incidence or severity of migraines.

From Krystle Shapiro, LMT, Touchstone Massage Therapies, 208-290-6760

Oftentimes with severe headaches, the last thing someone wants is to be touched! Depending on the severity of the headache, and/or the type of headache, i.e. cluster, migraine, sinus, tension, or chemical headaches, massage can provide a reduction of stress that may be a contributing factor. Manual lymph drainage, a specialized massage for moving lymph fluids, may be especially helpful in releasing head congestion contributing to migraine symptoms.

From Robin Mize CBS. Quantum Biofeedback, 208-263-8846
There are a number of alternative or complementary treatment options available for migraine relief. One of these options for migraines is biofeedback. Biofeedback is a technique that involves reducing the effects of pain and stress on your body by learning how your body reacts to pain and stress. Biofeedback does this through monitoring instruments that can detect and display internal bodily function. This is where the EPFX system comes in. This system picks up on those individual stressors and retrains through the subconscious mind. The practitioner is able to share with the client what those stressors may be, and then the client can use that information for lifestyle changes. This can give people better control over body function indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, muscle tension, and brain waves. Biofeedback is a type of complementary and alternative medicine known as mind-body therapy. Biofeedback for migraines may be coupled with relaxation therapy. Relaxation therapy teaches a variety of relaxation strategies for reducing tension and stress throughout the body. I have been able to assist many of my clients that suffer with migraine headaches.
From Owen Marcus, MA, CA, Rolfer, 265-8440, www.align.org

As a Rolfer over that past 28 years, I have had many referrals for migraines. Every one of these clients had an usually tense upper back, neck and head. Neurologist, who were clients of mine and who sent me some of these clients, also saw a consistent pattern of tension with migraine patients. Chronic soft tissue tension is often a reflection of not just a higher stress level, but can come from never being taught how to really relax. Once the body begins to relax, the mind learns to relax. Together the client has greater resiliency to stress, thereby less vulnerable to headaches. Once the soft tissue tension begins to release from the upper body, enviably the migraines would reduce or completely disappear.

From Penny Waters, Reflexologist, Master Herbalist, 597-4343

When a client comes to me seeking relief from migraine headaches I immediately anticipate that I will find imbalance in the liver and/or pituitary gland/brain/spine and nerve reflexes. This is because migraines are associated with digestive difficulties, especially congestion in the liver, tension from stress, which always affects the function of the pituitary gland (and, in turn, all glands), nervous system and constricting and expanding blood vessels in the brain.
We begin with a thorough written and verbal consultation about lifestyle, stresses, foods eaten, exercise habits, and so on. I offer hope and an outline of the approach we will take together to facilitate wellness.
Despite my initial suspicions, I always let the feet tell me what is out of balance in the body. My client is invited to ‘put their feet up’ and then I go to work giving a full reflexology session on the feet, making notes as to areas of tension, congestion and inflammation. Reflexology is revealing as it tells me which organs or glands are out of balance and needing healing that promote proper function of the body. Reflexology helps the migraine headaches decrease in frequency and intensity and also is profoundly relaxing to the body, mind and spirit relieving stress and the resulting impact on wellness. When the reflexology is complete, I discuss with my client the organs, glands and body parts that are out of balance and the impact of reflexology on promoting wellness. I generally recommend reflexology treatments once a week for 4-6 weeks for a transformation in the condition. Individual programs, however, will be made according to the needs of the client. I also recommend herbs that will help bring about and speed up wellness in the affected areas and relieve the migraine headaches. Generally one herbal formula in a tea or tincture is all that I recommend at any one time. At this point I will discuss foods that are commonly associated with triggering migraines and make suggestions for food changes that will help prevent migraines. The goal is to assess the whole person and the life of this person to establish patterns that are leading to this painful condition and to choose a new path leading to well-being and joyful living.

Contact information for your questions for future articles:
Krystle Shapiro, Touchstone Massage Therapies: 208-290-6760, or email at krystle.touchstone@gmail.com.

The Sandpoint Wellness Council Members:
Krystle Shapiro, Touchstone Massage Therapies, 208/290-6760
Owen Marcus, Rolfing, 208/265-8440
Tess Hahn, Acupuncture, 208/683-5211
Kristine Battey, Divine Health Physical Therapy, 208/946-7072
Ilani Kopiecki, Integrated Body Work & CranioSacral 208/610-2005
Mary Boyd, Mountain View Physical Therapy 208/290-5575
Robin Mize, Quantum Biofeedback Systems 208/610-9997
Julie Hutslar, Core Belief Restructuring 208/263-1448
Mario Roxas, Naturopath 208/946-0984
Toni Tessier, Dancing Hands Massage, Bach Flowers 208/610-8681
Penny Waters, Relaxation Destination, Herbology, Reflexology 208/597-4343

A Common Complaint from Today’s Busy People

Each of us has heard from many of our friends and family that they suffer from arthritis. It seems to be common today and we have begun to take it for granted. With the coming of the maturing of the “boomers” we have begun to expect arthritis as part of the aging experience.

Research is uncovering that arthritis has begun to affect people as early as age 25. One of the professional dental assistants I have recently been visiting shared with me that her three year old daughter is suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. I was stunned to hear that.

Arthritis is generally considered an inflammation of the joints leading to pain or tenderness, stiffness, perhaps localized swelling, sometimes a “crunchiness” sound in the joints known as crepitis, and often a loss of full use potential in the affected areas, mainly the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, hips, knees, and ankles. This occurs because joint spaces become narrowed due to a loss of cartilage or crystalline boney deposits. Wear and tear, normal for active people, as well as repetitive motions experienced in work and sports activities accumulates as we age and may cause damage to the collagen matrix covering and padding our joint ends. Our joints are always moving, bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, fluids, etc. to enable our actions. Stress and strain on our joints can cause damage that in turn causes irritation and thus inflammation. Surfaces that were once smooth become rough, irritated, and tender. Such inflammation alerts the body to release enzymes that further damage the irritated cartilage.

Two forms of arthritis are more familiarly recognized: Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). We ask ourselves, “What, if I am living a normal active lifestyle, causes me to acquire such a condition?” Some causes may be congenital predisposition as arthritis tends to run in families, such as abnormalities in joint or bone structures. Also trauma, obesity whereby excess weight places additional wear on weight bearing joints, nutritional deficiencies, illness or disease, even previously experienced ones leaving an “imprint” on structures, allergies, immune disorders, stress (and who doesn’t experience stress in our busy lives), and our everyday exposures to environmental pollutants and toxins.

Most of these “symptoms” are addressed with pain relieving medications, and many work well in spite of the variety of side effects. But the causes are the real culprits that must be addressed to bring on the most long lasting results.

Natural therapies have become more widespread in reducing the pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of mobility in affected joints and can work in complement with ongoing medical interventions. As a massage therapist studying holistic nutrition, I have become fascinated with the connection of dietary choices that can accelerate or diminish the symptoms of OA or RA. And, as well, our exposures to industrial pollutants and toxins have lead to many disorders affecting digestion, all with a connection to OA and RA, such as leaky gut syndrome, GERD (acid reflux), candidiasis (overgrowth of yeasts in the gut), allergies, chemical sensitivities, chronic infections, and autoimmune disorders as in ankylosing spondylitis and lupus erythematosis.

The members of The Sandpoint Wellness Council often serve clients suffering from arthritic conditions and seek to find answers and solutions to the many individualistic causes. Following are the therapies they find most effective in relieving the day-to-day symptoms enabling an improvement in pain management, overall health and healing, and mobility. Our goal is to provide information to help you choose a therapy best suited for your needs, and we always welcome your responses to our articles. Please visit our website, www.sandpointwellnesscouncil.com, and share with us your stories, comments, and ideas.

Krystle Shapiro, LMT. Touchstone Massage Therapy 208/290-6760

When joints are stiff and inflamed, the surrounding muscles respond by tightening up. The brain sends chemistry to the affected areas signaling the need to protect, and this in turn informs the muscles to react whereby they then further compress the joints. Massage therapy can relax tensed muscles, gently stretch and release spasms, reduce associated pain, and improve overall mobility of joint function.

Ilani Kopiecki, CMT, Ilani Healing CranioSacral, 208/610-2005

The pain and inflammation from arthritis can be miserable and sometimes debilitating. Through the release work of CranioSacral Therapy, tight tissues brought on by arthritis can be softened, enabling blood flow and oxygen to surge into inflamed areas, providing pain relief and mobility. Since CranioSacral Therapy is based on light touch, the affected area can be treated without much invasive manipulation, thus preventing more discomfort for the client.

Owen Marcus, MA, Certified Advance Rolfer, 208/265-8440, www.align.org

In thirty years of practice, I’ve worked with many people who were diagnosed with arthritis. After Rolfing, the symptoms usually went away when the soft tissue tension left. In this country, we traditionally had little understanding of how soft tissue (muscles and fascia – the tissue that holds everything together) affects all aspects of our existence. Last summer, my colleagues produced the first international conference on fascia at Harvard Medical School for clinicians and researchers. It was so successful that another one is planned.

Often, someone who has osteoarthritis will tell me that the joint they injured many years ago is now the joint with arthritis. Previous trauma creates a cascade of body responses that can end with a joint locking up. By releasing the effect of the trauma in the soft tissue, we can often prevent–and in few cases, reverse–arthritis. I will be the first to admit, however, that after a joint has deteriorated, removing the soft tissue strain may be of little benefit to the joint – Rolfing can prevent other areas from tightening.

Penny Waters, Reflexology and Herbs, Relaxation Destination, 208/597-4343, sunpen54@yahoo.com

Whether suffering from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, a client will benefit from reflexology and herbs. They decrease inflammation and pain and help prevent a worsening condition. Reflexology is proven to improve blood circulation. This means stagnant, inflamed areas are flushed so swelling decreases and soreness improves. With improved circulation the liver cleanses and kidneys filter impurities more frequently, which reduces toxicity that promotes inflammation.

Reflexology will help stimulate the natural release of cortisone from the adrenal glands which reduces inflammation and pain. The relaxation of reflexology coupled with the improved circulation results in joints feeling less stiff as well as less painful. It’s wonderful that improvement can happen in painful places without having to touch them directly.

Herbs are selected for their specific properties which will benefit the person with arthritis. I look for herbs which will reduce inflammation and swelling and support liver and kidney function. Burdock is an excellent choice for these goals. Cleansing herbs that will penetrate into muscles and tissue walls; cleansers that will break down organic waste such as uric acid; pain relieving herbs; herbs with high levels of vitamin C to return an acid system to an alkaline system will all be combined into a formula for relief.

Lifestyle support is very valuable so I make the following suggestions: Movement/exercise will help stiff joints from becoming heavily arthritic. Do a little every day. Reduction of highly acidic foods (examples are meats, acidic fruit) will also support a return to well-being. I encourage my clients to do their best to make dietary changes that will help them feel better. All kinds of supportive ideas are available in a little booklet I have for my clients for easy reference. Reflexology and herbs offer a safe and healthy way to relieve the symptoms of arthritis. Check with your doctor, as always, and then discover the help that is available.

Mario Roxas, Naturopathic Physician, 208/946-0984

Arthritis is an inflammatory condition affecting the joints. There are several potential factors that can contribute to an individual developing arthritis. Such factors include genetics, age, weight, previous injuries, illness or infection, and chronic repetitive movements as associated with a job or a sport. Mounting clinical evidence suggests that dietary habits and potential nutritional deficiencies can also be significant contributing factors to arthritis.

As a naturopathic physician I work with patients not only to diminish their arthritis, but get to the cause of their pain and inflammation. This involves taking a fairly comprehensive personal medical history that looks at all those factors mentioned above, from family history, to past illnesses and injuries, to occupation, hobbies and level of physical activity. This medical history also includes taking an in-depth look at a patient’s diet. Once this done, I develop a treatment plan that outlines specific nutritional considerations and dietary recommendations that can help lessen inflammation and promote healing for that particular individual. I may also incorporate anti-inflammatory herbs to further help soothe pain and promote relaxation and soft tissue repair, and physiotherapeutic modalities, such as hydrotherapy, stretching, and various bodywork techniques, to help increase circulation, reduce stress, and enhance flexibility.

At this point it is important to note is that there is no one set treatment plan. For instance, if 10 people came to the office diagnosed with arthritis, they may all share similar general symptoms, but their root cause may be different. For one person it may be an underlying nutritional deficiency. For another, an immune function issue. And for yet another it may be a metabolism issue. Consequently, each person may leave with a different treatment plan. One thing that is consistent with each plan is my adherence to the principles of naturopathic medicine which are: First, do no harm, address the cause not just the symptom, treat the whole individual not just the injury, help the body heal itself, and promote prevention and wellness. Please visit my website at: www.drroxas.com

Kristine Battey MSPT, ATC, CSCS, HLC, Owner Divine Health & Fitness, www.divinehf.com, 208-946-7072

I have worked with many people with varying levels of arthritis. I teach people exercises designed to preserve and increase the strength and use of their joints. People who suffer from arthritis usually always feel better after exercising. Exercise helps the joints to become looser and glide better which in turn decreases the amount of pain and stiffness a person may suffer from.

An exercise session may begin with low or non-impact aerobic exercise such as the stationary bike or elliptical machine to warm up the body and begin to loosen the joints. Aerobic exercise also strengthens the heart, helps to maintain weight, and increases the overall fitness level. The more fit a person with arthritis is, the easier the disease is to manage and the more active and pain-free the person is likely to be. Gentle range of motion exercises are another type of exercise that moves the joint through it’s full range of motion helping to relieve stiffness, improving and maintaining joint mobility, and increasing flexibility. Strengthening exercises preserve and increase muscle strength, increase the person’s general level of fitness, and help to maintain overall body strength and weight.

Any exercise program that I design is always tailored to the individual’s disease and limitations. Any movement is better than no movement and will improve the person’s quality of life significantly.

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Joint Pain, Joint Disorders and Massage Therapy

In my practice as well as in general conversations, many people complain about achy joints, especially hips, knees, hands and wrists. These conditions are especially problematic as they can deter normal activities affecting our work and play. Some joint issues may fall under the category of regional affectations, whereby some activity was undertaken and swelling, inflammation, and achiness became temporary. Or the condition might fall under the category of degenerative joint disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, whereby irritation, inflammation, and general deterioration have been long term with no improvement.

Many of our joints are weight bearing and most are confronted with repetitive motions from work or sports activities. The tough and tender components of our joints are bathed in fluids to keep them moving freely and to keep nutrition flowing to the cells. Several factors can lead to the breakdown of these internal joint structures, such as inadequate dietary nutrition, overwork, overstress, excess weight, especially on hips, knees, and ankles, strained musculature pulling on tendon and ligament attachments or even lax musculature that puts a strain on surrounding structures creating imbalance and misalignment. Ruth Werner in her textbook, A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology , third edition, informs us that hormone deficiencies, dehydration, allergic reactions creating inflammation that often settles in joint capsules, or improper metabolic absorption, as well, can all lead to compromises in joint capsules. (p.111)

Massage therapy can be highly effective for alleviating the pain and swelling of arthritic conditions. The warmth, touch, and gentle movements become a welcome nurturance to areas plagued by chronic pain. It is important to note, however, for therapists as well as patients, that arthritic conditions have subacute and acute stages, and massage may not be helpful during the acute stage, also referred to as the flare-up stage, as it is too painful oftentimes to touch or manipulate. When a patient is in the subacute stage, a state that may be uncomfortable, but not inflamed, massage can be helpful in alleviating any strained, cramped, or spasmed musculature creating pressure on the joint capsules. Gentle manipulation working inner structures may begin to improve normal ranges of motion and may be helpful in restoring synovial joint fluids and creating spaces for nutrients to enter especially if one is taking nutritional supplements assisting joint repair. This may reduce stiffness and lower pain sensations.

For both the client with arthritis and the massage therapist treating the client, it is important to work with the health care team to determine any other associated underlying medical conditions that might exist.

Thinking differently often means having more information about options in health care, in knowing what else we can do synergistically with present medical care that enables us to take better care of ourselves.

Krystle Shapiro is a Washington State licensed medical massage therapist. She owns Touchstone Massage Therapies located in the Stepping Stones Wellness Center at 803 W. Pine Street, Sandpoint. Krystle specializes in oncology massage therapy with emphasis on lymphedema treatment. She is currently undertaking a Master of Science of Holistic Nutrition program and can be reached at 208/290-6760.

All of us have experienced muscular sprains and/or strains at some point in our lives. I know I have when I feel stiff getting up from a chair, or when my hamstrings burn from lifting too many heavy objects, or when my quads and back muscles feel stiff from too many hours kneeling in the garden. Sprains oftentimes generate inflammation, swelling and subsequently pain and discomfort. Strains generate pain and stiffness and loss of range of motion.

Massage therapy provides an effective methodology for addressing the concerns of strains and sprains. Here is why. When sprains bring inflammation, heat, redness, and swelling, it might be from micro tears in the regional tissues. Our immune system rises to the signals and sends in the antibody troops to fight for us and repair the damage. Manual lymph drainage therapy can alleviate much of the swelling, move out debris, and thus reduce discomfort and pain accelerating healing time. But something else is also occurring.

When we suffer an injury to a specific site; for example, an ankle sprain from a fall, the muscles involved may be injured in such a way as to not function at their optimal best or at all, and may require full resting. Other associated or surrounding muscles must take up the task of keeping us moving, erect, and functional. These muscles become the “guardians” and work overtime doing not only their prescribed function, but taking on remedial efforts for the injured neighbor musculature. If the injury site is not easily or quickly healed, our “guardians” become overworked, and then they become strained. Now we have the beginnings of postural misalignment as our body and its innate wisdom compensates for its situation. When this becomes chronic, postural deviations can occur and pain and strain becomes an adaptive mechanism in associated structures of the body.

I believe it is vitally important for massage therapists as well as other medical professionals to help people understand not only what is physically occurring when injury happens, but also what is taking place biochemically as the body communicates its needs to all the healing centers within us. My medical massage training developed within me a voracious interest in physical body mechanics from all levels. I have learned of the magnificence of our bodies to heal themselves if only we provide a little outside support. When we understand how our body systems work synergistically on all levels, physically, biochemically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, we can find convenient ways to support ourselves that do not intrude on our lifestyles. Receiving regular massage therapy sessions keeps us at our optimal best, addresses guardian stresses, removes lymph fluids more rapidly, and supports the biochemistry of the body with appropriate nutritional information directed to the specific needs of our organ systems, our nervous system, and our muscle and bone systems.

Our community provides many well trained massage therapists to meet the needs of our active lifestyles. My suggestion is to interview them and find out their background, training, and specialties. Thinking differently for me means that massage therapy becomes a household “buzzword” and a regular and welcomed part of everyone’s annual health regimen.

Take care of yourself. You deserve it. Your body is your most important home.

Krystle Shapiro is a Washington State licensed medical massage therapist. She owns Touchstone Massage Therapies located in the Stepping Stones Wellness Center at 803 W. Pine Street, Sandpoint. Krystle specializes in oncology massage therapy with emphasis on lymphedema treatment. She is currently undertaking a Master of Science of Holistic Nutrition program and can be reached at 208/290-6760.

Image by daruma3 via Flickr

What a scare one receives when the big “C” word (cancer) enters their lives. Not only is the individual affected by this devastating diagnosis, but also family, friends and community. How many of us have heartfelt reactions when we learn of someone, whether we know them or not, who is struggling to overcome some form of cancer or has lost their battle with cancer?

I undertook specialized training to provide treatment to patients undergoing complications of cancer treatment, namely lymphedema. Lymphedema has been grossly overlooked, in my opinion, within the medical community. The lymph system of the body has not been widely understood, yet it is one of the most prominent systems of the body.

Every day our cells work hard on our behalf creating energy to run our lives as we choose. That cellular work effort generates waste products that must find adequate pathways of exit, because more is coming behind it. Our bodies have two main detoxification pathways, a complex chemistry with each one; but for us, the laymen, we can rest assured that this dual mechanism works hard to keep us healthy.

With global industrialization, its myriad pollutants, and our daily exposures to these toxic elements, our dual pathways risk becoming overworked, clogged, and dysfunctional. As well, manufacturing procedures with our food sources provide us with a vast array of herbicides and pesticides that our bodies must detoxify. We consume processed foods containing many substances such as antibiotics, growth hormones, and residues of pesticides, herbicides, along with synthetic ingredients known to be carcinogenic. It is important to understand nothing has to remain stagnant for long if we inform ourselves and ultimately act upon that information. We have choices, but we must learn to make different choices if we are to assist our bodies in overcoming exposures to what we cannot control when it comes to pollution.

Understanding the biochemistry of cancer, the immune system response, the battle within our DNA, scientific applications of medical treatment, and ultimately the body’s demand for essential ingredients that support healing, repair, and restoration of optimal systems, we can find mental sustenance that a true cure exists and is forthcoming. But it is, in my mind, about synergy—body, mind, spirit, and science. It is also about our informing ourselves and changing our ways of thinking about solutions.

In the meantime, I find that the consequences of cancer treatment, both on the mental/emotional levels as well as the physical/scientific levels, respond extremely well with regular massage therapy sessions. First of all, cancer patients are poked and prodded in a clinical setting oftentimes losing their sense of self, sense of privacy, and sense of direction. “Who have I become but a guinea pig for cancer experimentation?” I am sure many patients feel this way.

Massage therapy provides a return to nature with its human touch enabling the patient to “re-feel” their “whole” body and its magnificence. But more than the so called “touchy-feely-get-back-in-touch-with -oneself” benefit, massage therapy provides for the cancer patient extended medical benefits. Here’s a partial list:

Reduction of pain and pain induced anxiety

Improved sleep patterns (Sleep is when the body does most of

its healing and repair)

Improved body image (Self esteem diminishes when we loose

our hair and body mass. Massage lets us feel ourselves

again in a healthy nurturing way associated with those who

care and see us as important and still whole human beings)

Improved white cell proliferation (These cells are our fighting army. Many die off in the battle, but massage moves debris out more quickly enabling the manufacture and acceleration of immune cells in a less waste oriented environment)

Reduces nausea and vomiting

Reduces depression

Reduces fatigue

Massage therapy for the cancer patient is enormously favorable in their healing processes. Then . . . should the cancer patient experience lymphedema, a condition that can occur following the removal of lymph nodes in strategic locations backing up the natural flow of cellular fluids and their exit from the body, specialized massage therapy assists in this endeavor by the body and enables the patient to not be debilitated by undue fluid retention, pain, and loss of the ability to use their affected limbs.

It is vitally important that massage therapists treating cancer patients have advanced education and are able to work with the oncology team when providing treatment. It is important for the oncology team to be aware of the benefits massage therapy provides for their patients and to encourage patients to seek massage therapy to alleviate their side effects and to improve their overall well being.

Krystle Shapiro is a Washington State licensed medical massage therapist. She owns Touchstone Massage Therapies located in the Stepping Stones Wellness Center at 803 W. Pine Street, Sandpoint. Krystle specializes in oncology massage therapy with emphasis on lymphedema treatment. She is currently undertaking a Master of Science of Holistic Nutrition program and can be reached at 208/290-6760.

Image by fmc.nikon.d40 via Flickr

In my previous column, I spoke about the benefits of massage therapy as one method of assisting our bodies to detox everyday pollutants ingested in some form through food, inhalation, or contact that we oftentimes cannot control. As a licensed massage therapist who undertook this profession in my mid-fifties, I have come to learn how important massage therapy is to one’s overall health and well being. Just look at this list of benefits we receive when we choose massage therapy on a regular basis.

• Relieves stress, pain, pain induced anxiety, and muscle congestion
• Improves range of motion increasing flexibility and muscle tone
• Improves sleep patterns
• Improves metabolic waste removal strengthening immune function
• Improves alertness
• Reduces swelling
• Clears thinking
• Encourages faster healing time
• Relieves tension headaches
• Provides a sense of well-being
• Reduces fatigue
• Supports white blood cell proliferation aiding our immune system
• Reduces depression
• Relives symptoms of nausea and vomiting for the cancer patient
• Enhances body image

Just think: 60 to 90 minutes of specialized care by a skilled professional massage therapist gives you all these benefits. What’s more: in the long run, each of us will be sick less often or not at all, thus reducing medical costs and lost time at work. Overall the cost of massage is a small price to pay to have great health and to take personal care of one’s self.

By giving the gift of massage to yourself and to those you love, it demonstrates an investment in caring and health. If you are an employer, a massage gift certificate becomes a special employee gift that says you care. But don’t forget to give one to yourself as well, for you cannot lead as effectively if you are not at your optimal best.

I believe it is important to select a massage therapist who is knowledgeable about the biological, chemical, and physiological systems of the body. Our community is fortunate to have many well trained therapists, many of whom specialize in effective modalities such as cranio-sacral therapy, myofascial release therapy, positional release therapy, Swedish relaxation massage, and deep tissue sports injury related massage therapy. I suggest conducting an interview with the therapist of your choice. A well trained therapist will welcome your concern and will knowledgeably answer all your questions. But don’t hesitate to experience the health-filled benefits massage therapy holds for your well being. Taking care of ourselves is of primary importance in today’s industrialized, toxin-filled life experience.

Krystle Shapiro is a Washington State licensed medical massage therapist. She owns Touchstone Massage Therapies located in the Stepping Stones Wellness Center at 803 W. Pine Street, Sandpoint. Krystle specializes in oncology massage therapy with emphasis on lymphedema treatment. She is currently undertaking a Master of Science of Holistic Nutrition program and can be reached at 208/290-6760.