Massage for cancer therapies aid patients in improving their emotional well-being and lessens some of the symptoms associated with cancer, reducing the side effects of invasive cancer treatments. Consisting of kneading, pressing, tapping or stroking the body’s soft tissues, massage therapy aids in relaxing patients both mentally and physically.

There are many types of massage, including Swedish message, which is an all body massage, Shiatsu, which is a hands-on therapy originating from Japan, aromatherapy massage, which uses essential oils, and reflexology in which pressure is applied to points on the feet and hands in order to improve the health of various parts of the body. Aromatherapy massage is one of the gentler forms available. Thought to work on the nerve endings‚ aromatherapy is believed to facilitate the release of endorphins, which often act as natural pain relievers. Swedish massage, on the other hand, is a more vigorous form of therapy. Aiming to improve blood circulation and enhance the workings of the lymphatic system, Swedish massage relaxes the muscles and eases the tightly knotted tissues that lead to pain and stiffness.

Massage for the elderly has various physical and mental benefits, which results in the improvement of health and general well-being. The techniques used for senior citizens differ greatly from those used with younger individuals so massage therapists strive to understand those differences in order to better treat their patients.

The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork has been at the forefront of the promotion of massage for the elderly for many years. The board promotes massage as a treatment for the management and prevention of age-related diseases and views it as a good alternative to less natural pharmaceutical treatments. With regular massage, the quality of life is greatly increased, allowing the older patients to feel younger, healthier, and balanced.

Acupuncture for children is becoming an increasingly common treatment for headaches, stomachaches, back pain, depression, and many other frequent health concerns.

Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that involves puncturing the skin with very fine needles in specific areas of the body. The therapy is based on the theory that a specific form of energy flows throughout the body and travels in channels known as meridians. This energy is referred to as qi. When qi is unable to flow freely throughout the body, many forms of illness are thought to occur as a direct result. Acupuncture is believed to restore the flow of qi and once those energy flows have been restored, it is believed that good health will return.

There are many components of TCM, but the one that generates the most interest is acupuncture and essentially acupuncture for smoking.

Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM, an age-old practice of the Chinese that has been in existence for over 2,500 years, based on the belief that as we live in a universe where everything is interconnected, we cannot separate the physiological and emotional. Whatever affects one part of the body will automatically affect the other.

Traditional Chinese Medicine promotes the use of therapeutic massage, or Tui Na, for the treatment of infants. Until the age of 10, children respond well to this gentle form of therapy. Learn about the various conditions that Tui Na can heal.

The ancient Chinese practice of therapeutic massage, or Tui Na, is a sophisticated technique that can be used to treat not only aches and pains, but also medical conditions like insomnia, hypertension, ulcers, and arthritis. Tui Na looks beyond muscular tension to stimulate the natural healing capability of our bodies. By applying pressure to specific points along the skin, the massage therapist can promote the release of neurotransmitters that help to strengthen the immune system.

Studies on acupuncture and Traditonal Chinese Medicine for epilepsy have found the treatment to reduce seizures in individuals. Find out more about the benefits of TCM and acupuncture for epilepsy.

An increasing number of individuals with epilepsy are finding that TCM and acupuncture for epilepsy are helping them to better control their seizures.

IBS, Irritable bowel syndrome, can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome affects the colon (large intestine) and symptoms include pain, cramps, diarrhea and constipation. IBS is a fairly common problem and its symptoms and their severity vary between individuals. Although IBS does not permanently damage the large intestine, it can be unpleasant and uncomfortable. Massage for constipation and IBS can offer effective pain relief.

Common IBS symptoms include constipation, diarrhea (or constipation alternating with diarrhea), bloating, flatulence, pain and cramps in the abdomen. Some IBS sufferers only get mild symptoms but for some, the symptoms can be very unpleasant. IBS is usually considered a chronic condition, but for some, the symptoms can come and go. They may be present for some time and then disappear, only to appear again when triggered by certain foods, stress or anxiety.

Fortunately, there are many ways to treat IBS. Many patients learn to manage the problems with lifestyle choices that can help to keep IBS under control. These include paying attention to diet, using massage and other alternative treatments, and stress reduction techniques.
In irritable bowel syndrome, the muscles that line the walls of the intestine contract stronger than in a healthy person, and food passes through the colon faster. This then causes diarrhea or gas. Sometimes food passes through too slowly and constipation follows. IBS patients often react to certain foods differently from a healthy person and some foods may trigger symptoms or make existing symptoms worse. Other lifestyle issues that affect IBS patients include stress and anxiety.

Stress is not a cause of IBS but being stressed can aggravate the condition. If you are under stress, or experience negative emotions or anxiety, you may notice that symptoms suddenly appear or get worse. Many people get an upset stomach if they are stressed or anxious, and but in IBS patients stress and nervousness can make symptoms become more severe or more frequent.

Alternative treatments that can be used to relieve the symptoms include massage. Specific massage movements and massage on pressure points can be used to stimulate sluggish digestion in case of constipation, to relax abdominal muscles or to relieve bloating. Massage on acupressure points can also help to stimulate the colon. Some studies have shown that regular abdominal massage reduced gastrointestinal symptoms with regard to constipation and abdominal pain, and resulted in an increased number of bowel movements, although it may take up to two weeks to begin seeing the increase.

Massage also has another function in treating IBS: it's an effective way to relieve and to prevent stress and anxiety. The Touch Research Institute has supported several studies on the efficiency of massage therapy on a variety of health conditions, including stress and anxiety. In a study by Field, T., Ironson, G., Scafidi, F., Nawrocki, T.,Goncalves, A., Burman, I. , Pickens, J., Fox, N., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (1996) adults were given chair massage and a control group was given relaxation exercises in a chair. While both groups scored lower in depression scores, it was only the massage group that had lower scores for job stress.

Regular massage treatments for IBS and constipation can thus be used to relieve symptoms but also to prevent further problems.

For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine has used herbs and acupuncture to treat a variety of maladies from internal health problems to skin disorders, such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, alopecia and others. Many practitioners today continue to apply these methods to treat their patients who prefer a less invasive and non-chemical treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicine views good health as a balance between the body's internal systems and the environment we live in. Displacement of the balance between energy (Qi), blood, yin and yang result to the development of diseases. The impact of environmental conditions, such as wind, heat, cold, dampness and dryness also contribute to the illness. In addition, traditional Chinese medicine views the mind as a powerful influence on a person's health.

There are four areas of dermatology where traditional Chinese medicine is applied: Chang Yang (skin sores), Pi Fu Ling (skin disorders, such as eruptions and warts), Gan Men Bing (rectal or anus disorders, such as hemorrhoids), and Za Bing (other disorders, such as acute abdominal disorders and gangrene).

Traditional Chinese medicine use the Three Yellow Cleanser (San Huan Xi Ji) to treat about 60% of skin disorders, which include acne, eczema, dermatitis, rashes, and psoriasis. The formula, which has been in use for many centuries, consists of four cleansing herbs with a "cold property" that clears the internal heat (Qing Re), stops itching (Zhi Yang) and prevents secretions (Shou Se) from oozing further. Three of the four herbs used in the formula have a yellow hue, hence the name.

The four herbs -- Rhubarb (Dai Huang), Sophora (Ku Shen), Phellodendron (Huang Bai) and Skullcap (Huang Qin) -- were placed under scientific study and were found to have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral qualities. Clinical research indicated that Phellodendron (Huang Bai) is very effective in treating eczema.

Aside from the extensive use of Chinese herbs, traditional Chinese medicine also recommends acupuncture as a parallel treatment for skin disorders. Stimulation of acupuncture points increases the production of endorphins and simultaneously activates the immune and endocrine systems. Acupuncture points are specific nerve points that give particular access to the system of energetic meridians, which perform different functions depending on their location.

For skin disorders, acupuncture points are stimulated along the arms, legs and torso. The acupuncturist uses fine high-grade surgical steel needles, which are used only once, to stimulate those acupuncture points. The needles may remain from 10 minutes to one hour, depending on the desired effect. Heat or electricity may also be applied using three fire needles (heated needles) or wired small alligator clips attached to the needles, which passes a very mild electrical charge from a small battery.

Although no long-term comprehensive studies have been performed to investigate acupuncture's effects on skin disorders, several clinical trials focusing on less than a hundred cases were included in the 2002 World Health Organization nonserial publication, Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials.

According to WHO, there were random clinical trials that proved the effectiveness of acupuncture on chloasma, herpes zoster, pruritus, and neurodermatitis. Luan et al reports in Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion (1996), 60 cases of chloasma recovered after treatment with auricular acupuncture and acupressure, which produced significantly better effects than Vitamins C and E.

In another report in the World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion (1994), Chen et al observed the curative effects of laser acupuncture on the human (alpha) herpes virus 3. The procedure brought about pain relief and scar tissue formation more quickly than polyinosinic acid treatment.

Aside from performing significantly better than other treatment modalities, acupuncture also produced anti-pruritic effects (British Journal of Dermatology, 1987) and proved to be effective in treating neurodermatitis using the three-step seven-star needling therapy (Journal of Guiyang Chinese Medical College, 1998).

Aside from herbs and acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine also recommends changes in diet. Generally, people with skin disorders should avoid alcohol, fish, shrimp, and crab. Eating leafy green vegetables and fruits is strongly recommended.

Massage therapy can be adapted to accommodate patients with autism.  The massage techniques are slightly modified to help autistics become more comfortable with human touch.  Clinical results have shown great improvements in communication between autistic patients and their caregivers, leading to a better quality of life.

Autism, or Kanner's Syndrome, is a developmental disorder with early onset that causes both children and adults to seem withdrawn or dissociated from their environments.  Patients may respond defensively to being touched, and tend to respond negatively to certain textures.  This improper or incomplete maturation of the tactile system can be treated with therapeutic massage, where the senses are stimulated gradually with a safe and nurturing approach.  Massage therapists who specialize in Autism have to slowly develop a very consistent relationship with their autistic patients in order to make progress with the treatment.

Interestingly, autistics are more sensitive to light touch than heavy touch.  Glancing, inconsistent, or brief skin contact sends irregular neural signals to the brain where they interfere with and over-stimulate the central nervous system.  This makes it difficult to perform organized behavior or to concentrate.  Massage on the other hand, utilizes deep tissue massage and joint compression, which do not send such confusing signals to the brain cortex.

According to data collected by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), Autism affects 1 in 150 children in America, over half of which have opted for alternative treatment methods like massage.  There are clinical studies to support the use of massage as a complementary therapy.  For example, a small-scale intervention was performed on just under 50 autistic children using Qi Gong Sensory Training.  With weekly massage sessions over the course of 5 months, both the teachers and parents of these children noticed less autistic behavior and improved social and language skills.

Additionally, young autistic children between the ages of 3 and 10 have been shown to respond well to a sensory integration therapy that incorporated massage.  More specifically, a Thai massage technique was used over the course of eight weeks with a variety of positive effects.  This form of massage uses stretches and yoga poses to energize the patient while stimulating circulation and challenging flexibility.  Patients experienced an immediate reduction of anxiety, and outside of the clinic, they enjoyed higher quality sleep, heightened concentration, and more positive social interactions.

Those with Autism can also benefit greatly from a deep massage of the foot and leg muscles.  Children with Autism tend to walk on their toes, so the feet and legs become tense.  This form of massage targets the gastrocnemius and soleus to fully relax the feet, allowing the patient to walk flat-footed for at least a short period of time following the massage.

Massage also promotes relaxation and breathing regulation.  Breathing exercises often work to calm autistic patients and reduce hyperactivity.

Overall, with the proper patience and communication techniques, massage therapy can be extended to autistic patients.  By providing consistent, nurturing human contact and touch, massage can overcome some of the defensive tendencies characteristic of the tactile system in those with autism.  While massage is not a cure for this disability, it can help autistic patients to relax, communicate more effectively, and greatly improve their quality of life.