Other Common Healing Approaches 603health care provider. Such methods can be divided into soft
tissue therapies, energy mobilization, and meridian point
therapy.
Soft Tissue Therapies
Encompassing a variety of treatment approaches, soft tissue
therapies are geared toward decreasing dysfunction in mus-
cles and fascia (i.e., the continuous subcutaneous layer of soft
tissue throughout the body). Soft tissue therapies are pur-
ported to alleviate somatic organizational dysfunction, thus
enhancing both psychological and physical health.
The goal of massageis to decrease muscular tension using
strokes, kneading, and friction techniques. Proposed bene“ts
of massage include both psychological and physiological re-
laxation, facilitated ease with breathing, enhanced immune
function, reduced anxiety, increased vigor, lessened pain, and
improved sleep (Wanning, 1993). Positive effects from mas-
sage have been demonstrated in both adult and child popula-
tions (Field, Ironson, et al., 1996; Field, Morrow, et al.,
1992). In one study, participants with depression and adjust-
ment disorders were randomly assigned to receive a back
massage or watch relaxing videos for 30 minutes over a “ve-
day period (Field, Morrow, et al., 1992). Results demon-
strated decreased depressive symptoms, anxiety, and salivary
cortisol, as well as enhanced sleeping, for the massage group
only.
Aromatherapy,the use of fragrances to augment mood
and activity, is often used in conjunction with massage.
Aromatherapy uses speci“c essential oils from plants for
therapeutic use. For example, lavender is believed to have
calming and analgesic effects, while ginger is deemed to in-
cite stimulating, warming sensations (Jacobs, 1996). In one
study, 122 patients in an intensive care unit were randomly
assigned to massage, massage with lavender oil, or rest
(Dunn, Sleep, & Collett, 1995). Only patients receiving mas-
sage with lavender oil demonstrated signi“cantly enhanced
mood following intervention.
Aromatherapy can also be used via bathing, candles, and
culinary manners. Assessing the effects of aromatherapy
ventilated throughout a room, one nonrandomized study
demonstrated that depressed patients used less antidepressant
medication after being exposed to citrus oils (Komori,
Fujiwara, Tanida, Nomura, & Yokoyama, 1995). There are
few empirical studies on aromatherapy, and the majority of
those conducted use poor control and lack statistical analyses
(Martin, 1996). In a review article, Evans (1995) suggests
that the paucity of psychometrically sound studies makes it
dif“cult to dif ferentiate the bene“cial ef fects of aromatherapy
from attention, social interaction, or the use of massage.
Reflexologyis a soft tissue mobilization centered on the
foot. This technique is based on the belief that distinct areas
of the foot represent different parts of the body. By applying
pressure to speci“c regions of the foot, the corresponding
body structure can be stimulated, promoting a health re-
sponse. For example, the head and sinus regions are mapped
in the toes, and massage of the toes is believed to help allevi-
ate headaches and sinus pressure. A quasi-experimental
study of persons with lung or breast cancer demonstrated
positive effects on anxiety and pain following re”exology
(Stephenson, Weinrich, & Tavakoli, 2000).
Myofascial releaseandRolfingare two additional types of
soft tissue therapies, both of which are purported to decrease
pain and enhance health. The purpose of myofascial release is
to free restrictions in the myofascial caused by physical or
psychological stress using gentle pushing techniques against
the client•s skin. This technique is used to treat muscu-
loskeletal dysfunction, headaches, chronic pain, and tem-
poromandibular pain (Ramsey, 1997). Rol“ng also attempts
to manipulate myofascial constraints, but, unlike myofascial
release, it uses the forces of gravity and more vigorous pres-
sure from the practitioner. It has been suggested that Rol“ng
permits increased muscular ef“ciency, decreases physiologi-
cal stress on the body, and promotes neurological functioning
(Jacobs, 1996); however, scienti“c studies to support these
claims are not present in the literature.
Energy mobilizationattempts to alleviate poor physical
and psychological health that is said to result from distur-
bances in a person•s forces of energy. For example, therapeu-
tic touch(TT) involves techniques that are aimed at centering
awareness and energy in the client. Despite its name, this pro-
cedure does not necessarily involve direct contact with the
client and may consist of the clinician•s hands being held
over the areas of needed energy mobilization.
Some literature supports the ef“cacy of TT. For example,
the effects of TT in reducing anxiety were assessed in a sam-
ple of psychiatric in-patients (Gagne & Toye, 1994). Patients
were randomly assigned to TT, mimic TT, or relaxation ther-
apy. Results demonstrated signi“cant decreases in anxiety for
the TT and relaxation groups, with the former exhibiting
greater bene“ts than the latter. The group receiving mimic TT
demonstrated no signi“cant changes. An additional random-
ized study supports TT as being more effective than •calm
touchŽ at decreasing the time necessary to soothe medically
hospitalized children between the ages of two weeks to two
years (Kramer, 1990). In a randomized study of elderly indi-
viduals with arthritis, both TT and progressive muscle relax-
ation interventions resulted in comparable and signi“cant
improvements in pain, tension, and mood (Peck, 1998).
However, not all studies support the bene“cial ef fects of