Alternative Medicine Now

Can “touch-therapies” promote healing and wellness?

Well, according to the latest research documented in the Science Daily, the answer is YES.

For practitioners of Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, and Healing Touch this news comes as no surprise.

The acknowledgment came from Dr. Shamini Jain, UCLA Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, Dr. Paul Mills, Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, and the Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center in San Diego.

This welcome nod was based on the review of 66 clinical studies measuring the effects of “biofield therapies.”

This review group concluded that there was strong evidence to support the claim that these complementary therapies helped to reduce pain intensity.

The article noted that a number of patients are currently using biofield therapies, even though there is very little scientific research to date proving that the therapies actually work.  The authors concluded that there was strong to moderate evidence showing the effectiveness of these therapies to:

• help reduce pain intensity
• ease agitated behaviors for people suffering with dementia
• reduced anxiety for hospitalized patients

The article went on to conclude that there is a “strong need” for further research and study, and they suggested specific areas for further research:

“In order to better inform patients of the potential benefits or non-benefits of these biofield-based interventions, clinicians and scientists within behavioral medicine should familiarize themselves with current theory, practice and research of such techniques.”

It seems like traditional medicine is finally ready to create a space where centuries old techniques and treatments can finally be taken seriously and not written off as so much foolishness.

This is certainly a wonderful outcome for supporters of energy medicine.

Thank you to Sharyn Gooder from Stateline Reiki for suggesting this topic to us.

If you would like to find a reiki practitioner in your area, please visit our online reiki practitioner directory by following the link.  And we look forward to your comments and feedback as well.

Today more and more people are becoming aware of the dangers of prescription and non prescription drugs.

It’s not just concerns about side effects, either.  With costs rising, more people are concerned about treatment options that leave them little choice except a lifetime dependence of prescription medication.

With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it’s no different.

Treatment Options

Believe it or not, if you have ever told your medical doctor that you are suffering from symptoms of carpal tunnel, he or she likely told you to try drugs to manage pain.

Or even expensive surgery.

Not much of a choice, right?

Yet, massage therapy can be a safe and effective way to relieve pain from carpal tunnel syndrome.

By choosing massage therapy as your first option for relief, you are actually addressing the root cause of your dysfunction. And that’s because carpal tunnel is an entrapment of the median nerve as it passes under the transverse carpal ligament into the wrist.

In plain english, it means that the SOURCE of the pain is your nerve being trapped by a ligament in your wrist.

So, instead of masking or reducing the pain, we seek to treat the CAUSE of the problem directly. Through a combination of deep tissue massage and stretching, I will be able to address the cause of your carpal tunnel in a way that drugs and surgery simply do not.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include:

1. pain
2. tingling
3. numbness in the thumb and first three fingers.

Certain people have a greater chance of having Carpal Tunnel effect them.  Basically, if your profession involves repetitive use of your hands, you are more likely to get Carpal Tunnel.

The list of professions with a higher incidence of Carpal Tunnel include (but are not limited to):

1. Barbers
2. Cooks
3. Musicians
4. Computer programmers
5. Contractors

What about You?

Are you feeling or experiencing any of these symptoms?  Why not make your appointment today if you are suffering from any pain!

To contact us, you can visit our directory listing for Connecticut Massage Therapy.  You can also visit my website directly at Dr. Mark Carrano by clicking on the link.

My practice is located in East Haven, Connecticut, so if you are in the area stop on by.  If you don’t live in the area, but know someone that does, kindly pass along this article to them.

Questions?  Comments?  We appreciate your feedback.  If you have a story or viewpoint you’d like to share, we’d be happy to respond.