Therapeutic Eastern Massage

Unlike Western types of massage, Eastern massage applies principles based on more traditional principles, such as the body’s energy source or Chi, pressure points, and Chinese meridians of the body.

Two great examples of Eastern massage therapy are Shiatsu (acupressure) and Reflexology. To learn more about reflexology, auriculotherapy, and acupressure, read this and find out how massage therapy can be an effective and natural way to provide pain relief.

Another type of Eastern massage is decongestive lymphatic therapy. Read on to find out more about this type of massage therapy.

What is lymphatic therapy?

Lymphatic therapy is a type of Eastern massage that aims to reduce the congestion of the lymphatic system. It is a rather complicated massage, which includes bandages, skin care, certain exercises, and manual lymphatic drainage (also known as MLD).

MLD involves a gentle massage aimed at treating lymphedema. Areas closer to the heart are treated first so that any lymph drainage from more remote parts of the body do not flood these areas. Manual lymphatic drainage aims to stretch out the collecting ducts of the lymphatic system and to promote drainage. After the manual drainage, bandages are used to provide a compressive effect. A person undergoing lymphatic therapy will also be taught how to care for his skin and for his health in general.

What are the other types of massage?

There are many other types of message. For example, Western massage involves effleurage, deep friction, tapotement, and petrissage. Read more on effleurage and petrissage in this article. Find out about deep friction and tapotement and how they provide natural pain relief right here. These types of massage provide different benefits through different physiologic mechanisms.

Massage therapy has long played an important role among people with different ailments and body aches. Known for both mechanical and psychological effects, massage therapy is a natural means of promoting one’s health and improving the body’s capacity to heal. More studies are needed to prove how exactly massage and touch therapy have become powerful tools to both the Eastern and Western world.

For instance, did you know that a healthy, well-fed baby will die if deprived of human touch? Read more on this report by clicking here.

Arm Massage Gives Post Operative Pain Relief

Massage therapy provides natural pain relief in people with different conditions such as low back pain or fibromyalgia. But the benefits of massage seem to go beyond nonspecific pain, with more and more lymph node dissection patients claiming pain relief after being given arm massage.

Women with breast cancer who undergo surgery usually undergo lymph node dissection either for cancer staging or to ensure that the cancer does not spread. However, lymph node dissection can be painful. It can also result in arm and shoulder mobility problems or lymphedema.

Thankfully, patients who have been given arm massage after lymph node dissection seem to experience less pain. A study was then done to evaluate the effectiveness of massage in alleviating pain after lymph node dissection.

Summary of the Study:

• Fifty-nine patients diagnosed of breast cancer participated in the study. They all underwent lymph node dissection. Information was collected before the surgery and after the surgery at fixed intervals (one day after, ten to fourteen days after, and four months after the lymph node dissection).
• The patient’s loved ones were taught how to do arm massage and were asked to do the massage after the participants underwent lymph node dissection.

Results of the Study:

• The information gathered from the participants revealed that there was a decrease in post-operative pain by those whose arms were massaged by their loved ones.
• There was also an improved shoulder and arm function in this group compared to those who did not undergo arm massage.

Arm massage a natural means of providing pain relief for patients who undergo lymph node dissection as part of their breast cancer surgery. It effectively decreases discomfort and pain. Pain relief is important to ensure that a post-operative patient will not suffer from long-term consequences of prolonged arm immobility, such as contractures or reduction in muscle size.

In addition, arm massage makes breast cancer patients feel closer to their family. Arm massage may be a loved one’s way of showing support for someone suffering from breast cancer who has just undergone lymph node dissection.

If you want to find out how the study was done, read the details here.