where the energy is blocked. The therapist “massages” the en-thereby relieving the discomfort and improving health.Massagebeen useful in the treatment of chronic health conditions.anxiety and promote relaxation and health maintenance. It has insurance plans. They treat more than 20 million people in the United States annually (Sadock & Sadock, 2007). Therapeutic Touch and MassageTherapeutic TouchThe technique of therapeutic touch was developed in the 1970s by Dolores Krieger, a nurse associated with the New York University School of Nu rsing. Th is t herapy is based on t he ph ilosophy t hat t he human body projects a fiobstruction. Therapeutic touch is thought to reduce pain and ergy fiof energy becomes blocked, pain or illness occurs. Practitioners of therapeutic touch use this technique to correct the blockages,^386 sweeping hand motions over the entire body. Heat should be felt is to repattern the energy fithe surface of the body, the practitioner need not actually touch the client’s skin. The therapist’s hands are passed over the client’s body, remaining 2 to 4 inches from the skin. The goal Massage is the technique of manipulating the muscles and soft Based on the premise that the energy fi^ ● eld in that area, smoothing it out, and thus correcting the^ SPECIAL TOPICS IN PSYCHIATRIC eld of energy around it. When this fi eld by performing slow, rhythmic, eld extends beyond eld
the treatment of disease more than 5000 years ago. The East-ments and vibrations to relax the muscles, improve circulation, ern style focuses on balancing the body’s vital energy (of a recent injury, bruise, or burn.and varicose veins. It also should not be performed over the site flsure, acute infection, osteoporosis, phlebitis, skin conditions, discussion of acupressure and acupuncture. The Western style of massage affects muscles, connective tissues (e.g., tendons and ligaments), and the cardiovascular system. Swedish massage, which is probably the best-known Western style, uses a variety of gliding and kneading strokes along with deep circular move-tissues of the body. Chinese physicians prescribed massage for and increase mobility (Trivieri & Anderson, 2002).contraindicated in certain conditions, such as high blood pres-and delivery, stress-related disorders, and whiplash. Massage is conditions: anxiety, chronic back and neck pain, arthritis, sciat-ica, migraine headaches, muscle spasms, insomnia, pain of labor accredited by the American Massage Therapy Association and ows through pathways (meridians), as described earlier in the Massage has been shown to be benefiMassage therapists require specialized training in a program cial in the following qi) as it
2 2506_Ch23_370-389.indd Sec1:386 506 Ch 23 370 - 389 .indd Sec 1 : 386 10/1/10 9:38:34 AM 10 / 1 / 10 9 : 38 : 34 AM