The practice of massage has been used for thousands of years. Ancient records from Japan also refer to massage therapy, and the technique is known to have been used by other cultures as well, including the Egyptians, Romans, and Arabs.

The roots of modern, science-based massage therapy begin with Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839), a Swedish fencing master and gymnastics instructor who developed a therapeutic system that included both massage and exercise.

Today there are some 80 different types of massage and related forms of bodywork. These techniques are generally organized into five broad categories:

• Traditional European massage. This includes methods based on conventional Western concepts of anatomy and physiology. Swedish massage, the most widely employed massage technique in the world today, is the primary example of traditional European massage.
• Contemporary Western massage. Also based on modern concepts of anatomy, this category includes a wide variety of manipulative techniques that go beyond the original framework of Swedish massage.
• Structural realignment and movement integration. These techniques place an emphasis on body structure and movement.

• Oriental massage. Based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, Oriental massage techniques assess and restore the vital energy that is believed to flow through invisible channels in the human body.

• Energy-based methods: These techniques, which are not founded in traditional Chinese medicine, are intended to affect the energy field that is believed to surround and infuse the human body. Examples of energy methods include polarity therapy, therapeutic touch, and Reiki.

At Holistique we offer massages based on the combination of these techniques according to your needs.

Most types of massage affect the body in a similar way. When muscles are overworked, body waste products such as lactic acid can accumulate, causing soreness, stiffness, and even muscle spasms. Massage in general--and Swedish massage in particular--improves blood and lymph circulation and brings fresh oxygen and other nutrients to the affected tissues. This helps to flush out the toxins and enhance recovery.

Tense muscles may also compress blood vessels and stretch nerves, restricting blood flow and causing pain. As the affected area is massaged, the muscles gradually release their strangle hold on the irritated nerves, and the pain eases. The same mechanisms also make massage helpful in the recovery process for an injured muscle.

In addition, massage has been shown to increase the body's production of pain-killing endorphins and the mood-altering hormone serotonin. It can also slow the release of the stress hormone cortisol. For this reason, massage is often prescribed as an adjunctive therapy for people whose immune systems are compromised by stress.

Massage will positively affect everything from circulation to the body's metabolism. Swedish massage in particular has been shown to relieve muscle pain, reduce stress, and improve immune function. It can also enhance respiratory function, reduce edema (swelling) due to blocked lymphatic vessels, and aid in the healing of soft-tissue injuries.

Massage also has proved to have profound effect on children as well as adults. Premature infants, who were massaged, for example, gained weight and were released from the hospital sooner than those who were not massaged. Autistic children showed less erratic behavior after massage.

Other ailments that have responded to massage include chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, migraine, and sciatica.

• Avoid massage if you have a high fever, inflammation, infection, phlebitis, thrombosis, jaundice, or an infectious skin condition.
• Do not have massage on an open wound or burn or at the site of a recent injury. Wait 24 hours before having massage on a strain or sprain.
• If you have a chronic condition, such as arthritis, cancer, or heart disease, talk with your DC or ND before having massage therapy.
• If you are pregnant, be sure to tell your massage therapist and consult your ND, as massage at certain sites on the body may induce labor.