By Michelle Fletcher, B.A., http://michellefletcher.net

It seems alternative and mainstream publications alike are praising the benefits of massage therapy. From those overcoming chemotherapy to colicky newborns, millions are reaping the many benefits of this ancient and practiced art form.

By Michelle Fletcher, B.A., http://michellefletcher.net

For some, it appears constant crying is a normal occurrence in newborns. But is it? Colic is one of the most common reported ailments in infants aged 3 weeks to about 3 or 4 months. Extended periods of loud crying lasting longer than an hour are trademarks of the ailment, and are most frequent after being fed or late into the evenings.

By: Michelle Fletcher

An Athlete’s peak performance may be dependent upon the proper use and application of sports massage. More than a treatment for injuries, sports massage produces overwhelming benefits for athletes physically, physiologically, and psychologically.

By Mario-Paul Cassar

Some of the conditions associated with toxicity

By Jeff Denny

There are over one hundred types of Arthritis disease known to modern science that afflict the human body. The manifests, symptoms, and conditions vary based on individual and type of Arthritis (i.e. Rheumatoid, TMJ, Algood-Schlatter, and Tendonitis). In terms of Western allopathic medicine there are roughly fifty phamaceutical product lines to treat Arthritis and Arthritic symptoms, all of which have their subsequent side-effect. A considerable number of people suffering from Arthritis today are turning to alternative therapies, specifically massage therapy, to alleviate the pain and discomforts associated with the condition.

With the growing popularity of complementary and alternative medicine services in hospitals, licensed massage therapists have more career options today than ever before. The massage therapy and bodywork profession is on the rise in general with 120,000 to 160,000 people practicing massage therapy and bodywork in the U.S., more than 80,000 of them nationally certified. Many hospitals have taken notice of the benefit of massage therapy and are giving it a place in their treatment systems.

For the first time since its inception in 1998, the annual survey of the American Hospital Association singled out massage therapy. The survey found that a large number of consumers and health care providers are using massage therapy and bodywork for pain management and for other important health issues. This provides more licensed massage therapists the opportunity to enter the hospital setting and further expand their skills and promote the profession.

The battle with cancer can be daunting and traumatic. Family members, caregivers and patients are asked to endure the difficulty and uncertainty of treatment and recovery. For many patients, added physical pain may develop from the cancer or from treatments.

Cancer pain is complicated because it can arise from a variety of sources. It can come directly from a tumor that destroys or presses on tissues, bones, and nerves. Muscle aches can result from the physical inactivity a patient may experience during or after drug treatments or surgery. Pain unrelated to cancer, such as headache, backache and arthritis, can significantly increase the discomfort of the patient. A massage-licensed therapist can relieve these types of pain, greatly improving the wellbeing of the patient.

An estimated 1 in 5 adults suffer from a mental health disorder in a given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common of all mental illnesses. Both are severe, chronic, and can significantly impair the individuals affected by them. Anxiety disorders can produce feelings that range from uneasiness to immobilizing moments of terror. An anxiety symptom may include excessive worrying, a feeling of being out of control, panic attacks, frequent nightmares, and lack of sleep. Any anxiety symptom can be frightening, even debilitating. Each year, 19 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, and another 19 million experience a depressive illness.

Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. Up to one-half of all visits to primary care physicians are due to conditions that are caused or exacerbated by mental or emotional problems. With so many Americans suffering from mental health disorders, the FDA estimates that sales of depression/anxiety medication , such as Prozac and Zoloft, increased from 14 million prescriptions in 1992 to 157 million in 2002. However, in a study of 2,318 patients conducted by the University of Colorado , only 20 percent of the patients taking depression/anxiety medication were found to improve as a result. Furthermore, studies show that depression/anxiety medication may even increase the risk of suicide rather than decrease it.

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine massage students got a chance to practice their skills, not only on real patients, but on serious athletes dealing with sport related injury .

Eighteen members of the San Diego and Palomar Triathlon Teams received complementary massage sports injury treatment from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine's Sports Tui Na class on Saturday, January 31. Massage is beneficial as a sports injury treatment and is a technique that has been used for hundreds of years.

Though National Senior Health and Fitness Day is May 25, most seniors don't know about the benefits Oriental medicine can have for many of the ailments endured by the elderly. Senior health care is a vital yet much ignored issue in the U.S.

According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services survey, there were 34.5 million people over the age of 65 in 1999, representing about 12.7 percent of the U.S. population. By 2030, that number will grow to 20 percent, or about 70 million people. Yet as large as it is, the elderly population experiences an alarming number of health problems that are often inadequately treated by the current senior health care system such as arthritis, depression, pain, constipation, stress and loneliness.