Massage is one of the most controversial forms of holistic therapy. Viewed by some as a rather dubious service, and by others as a merely physical treatment; on occasions it has got a very bad press. Yet massage has many positive physical, psychological and spiritual benefits. As part of a holistic program it is a powerful treatment, which can enhance any healing offered by the medical profession.
Positive touch releases endorphins and helps to create a state of well-being and calm. This physical reaction can lead to beneficial psychological states, but is there any reason for thinking that such states are anything more than the release of chemicals? How can massage heal the mind and spirit as well as the body?
Healing touch is what we do intuitively. When our five year child old falls over and hurts herself then for most people the natural response is to hug her and offer reassurance. When we hurt ourselves we automatically rub the wound. Touch is an automatic natural response. Even the simplest of actions such as stroking a pet can be beneficial.
Using touch to heal is thousands of years old. There is some evidence from images in the pyramids that the Ancient Egyptians used foot massage similar to reflexology. Other ancient forms of healing such as Ayurvedic medicine, demonstrate the potential of using massage to foster links between body, mind and spirit. Ayurvedic treatments recorded in the holy Vedas focus on the whole person through the three doshas or energies, which relate to the five elements. The concept of chakras or energy centres is also an important part of Ayurvedic massage. Consequently, an Ayurvedic masseuse will view the body as more than merely mechanical or the sum of its parts. Such practitioners often understand the subtle interconnection of all living beings and the interaction of their energies.
One benefit of taking a more holistic approach to the person is in the treatment of stress. The role of stress in ill-health is pretty well documented as it can be a trigger for many chronic conditions. Massage plays a key role in helping to relieve stress and bring about a positive frame of mind. Not only can it directly reduce stress, but can also: relieve symptoms of depression, reduce aggression, reduce pain and hence the psychological effects of pain, decrease fatigue and so promote mental resilience, calm aggression, improve immune health, assist in recovery after illness or surgery (with medical consent), alleviate sleep disorders and so stimulate energy, encourage detoxification and generally promote well-being.
Holistic massage differs from the modern bio-medical approach, which focuses on illness as a deviation from statistical normality and seeks to alleviate the symptoms of disease. Doctors and nurses treat the body. We desperately need their expertise and logical clear thinking, but perhaps we also need to treat the whole person not merely the disease. May be there more to health than a healthy body or just the absence of symptoms?
A good massage therapist will connect with the client as a whole person. They will understand the relationships between body, mind and spirit; and will be interested in their client's lifestyle and beliefs. They may well be able to suggest positive steps to help their client deal with illness. Some may offer other therapies such as reiki or colour therapy, to enhance the massage and to connect with their inner most being. How does this happen? Perhaps it is something to do with the interplay of energies between therapist, client and healing process. May be it is to do with the stimulation of the chakras or energy centres. Perhaps we are tapping into something deep and ancient.
So is massage more than a physical treatment? I think it is. Massage touches something ancient and intuitive within us. It helps us to cope with stress. Some systems link directly with spiritual teachings such as chakras. More than this, if we define 'spirit' in its widest sense then massage is a spiritual treatment because it is the expression of creativity and loving-care based on an equal relationship of trust and respect. Thus massage can relax the body and mind; and bring joy to the ailing spirit.
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