| While the practice of therapeutic massage has | | | | their urine. It quickly became evident to |
| been used for centuries in the east, it is a | | | | researchers that massage can play a significant |
| relatively recent phenomenon here in the west. | | | | role in stress reduction. |
| While the wonders of modern medicine have left | | | | It is highly encouraging that both the medical |
| many awestruck, more and more people are | | | | establishment and the general public are starting |
| looking towards complimentary therapies and | | | | to realize the impact that stress can have on an |
| non-invasive treatments for their ailments. | | | | individual's health and well being. Some physicians |
| Massage therapy has never been as popular as it | | | | and researchers have suggested that stress is |
| is today in America. | | | | responsible for over 75% of all disease in the |
| A number of studies have shown that massage | | | | western world, including skin disorders, high blood |
| therapy is a highly effective stress reduction | | | | pressure, headaches, digestive ailments, muscle |
| technique. An earlier study, conducted by the | | | | pain, and depression. By employing the age-old |
| University of Miami Medical School and published in | | | | techniques of massage therapy, there exists the |
| the Journal of the American Academy of Child | | | | distinct possibility of overcoming these terrible |
| Adolescent Psychiatry, suggested that children | | | | afflictions. |
| receiving 30 minutes of therapeutic massage daily | | | | The eminent Victorian physician, Dr. Stretch |
| were less depressed and anxious than they were | | | | Dowse, noted the following back in 1887: "The |
| at the time of their admittance. | | | | mind, which before massage is in a perturbed, |
| This particular study also observed marked | | | | restless, vacillating and, even despondent state, |
| differences in the health and behavior of the | | | | becomes after massage, calm, quiet, peaceful and |
| children in the test group, over the children in the | | | | subdued; in fact, the wearied and worried mind |
| control group. The nurses taking part in the study | | | | has been converted into a mind restful, placid, and |
| also noted that the children were more | | | | refreshed." While modern medicine is full of |
| cooperative, and were able to achieve a higher | | | | promise in certain areas, it is not wise to ignore |
| level of sleep quality. On the biological level, the | | | | the knowledge and insights of the past. Massage |
| children in the control group exhibited lower levels | | | | therapy has helped countless people cope with |
| of cortisol (a stress hormone) in their saliva and in | | | | the stress of modern life. It could help you, too. |