Hands-on: The Massage Table

Though we often think of massage as a stand-alone therapy, Chinese medicine also uses massage as a complement to other types of healing--and Qi gong is one to note. Qi gong is a form of exercise that balances energy, blood flow, and body fluid from the inside in much the same way that massage works on the body from the outside. During a Qi gong session, subjects focus on the sensation of energy in the body, and use specific, repetitive movements to guide the energy to places in the body that promote healing. Self-massage techniques are used before Qi gong to keep the muscles loose, the blood flowing, and body relaxed. It also promotes the release of toxins and a lasting sense of relaxation. For a wake-me-up, try the self-massage technique called "washing the face."

Trust Treatment: Once upon a time, pediatricians used lollipops to soothe a child before his shot. These days some are enlisting kid-calming experts. Hospitals are experimenting with massage to ease frightened children before seeing the pediatrician. Relaxing a child may promote trust between toddler and doctor.

On the Table (and the Wagon): The detoxifying effects of massage are put to the test at Cliffside Malibu, California's premier drug and alcohol treatment center. It is one of many centers using massage therapy to quell symptoms during substance withdrawal--encouraging the body to flush out the drugs and the mind to flush the habit.

Puppy Pampering: Massage for your poochy pal? This video series is a complete how-to.  Whether he's a high-strung Husky or a sore Saint Bernard, at-home massage can help your hound.

What to expect when you’re expecting? Pregnancy and early motherhood can put a huge burden on both the physical body and the emotional state of the mommy-to-be, but regular massage can help smooth the transition from ultra-sound to playground. Not only does massage attenuate muscular pain associated with pregnancy, but when treating depression in expectant mothers, those receiving massages alongside psychotherapy showed greater mood improvement and decreased anxiety than those receiving psychotherapy alone.  Post-partum massage, a technique which pampers mothers while they hold or nurse the baby, aims to stave off the “baby blues” by encouraging maternal bonding, relieving pelvic pain, and decreasing stress hormone levels. Massage is also key when the new arrival arrives too soon: premature infants who receive moderate touch massage have bolstered immune systems, faster growth rates, and increased weight gain when compared to their non-massaged peers.

Naughty to Nice: Instead of a slap on the wrist, researchers in Sweden are exploring what a neck rub can do to decrease aggression in kids. Daily 5-10 minute massage sessions were found to be affective in the long term treatment of aggressive misbehavior in preschoolers.

Lying Down on the Job: The UK is getting a feel for massage in the workplace. In response to increased stress levels in workers, companies are turning to massage as a cost-effective, non-invasive, holistic way for treating on-the-job stress, promoting relaxation, and increasing job satisfaction.

A Touching Gift: What makes us help those we don’t even know? Neuroeconomist Paul Zak recently tested whether a massage would make someone more likely to give money to a stranger by activating the neurochemical thought to encourage such pro-social behavior, oxytocin. When participants chose to trust a computerized "stranger" with their money, those who were massaged had amplified levels of oxytocin. In addition, they trusted 243% more money to the stranger than their un-massaged peers.  For more insights from Paul Zak, see our blog.