Society Culture Politics

The Politics Of Massage: Alternative Treatment Or Mainstream Therapy?

I tend to view massage therapy independently of broader categories of therapy, healing or other restorative practices or systems. I am inclined to do this because I am cautious about allowing massage to be classified as a traditional therapy versus an alternative therapy.

There are many practitioners who cringe when they see massage therapy lumped in with ?alternative? practices such as acupuncture, chiropractic or naturopathic health. To some these smack of quackery, fakery or, in some cases, lunacy. I believe that this aversion to association with alternative medical practices is extreme but I concede that a massage therapy purist could develop such a phobia.

On the other hand, more open-minded massage therapists abhor associating massage exclusively with clinical practices such as physical therapy or other forms of rehabilitation. There is some resentment towards the incorporation of massage therapy into traditional medicine only because they feel that massage may be viewed as simply a procedure. This view strikes me as a bit vindictive but given the historical view of the mainstream medical industry towards the alternative medical community, some bitterness can be expected.

I would hate to see massage go the way of today?s politics which attempt to label every political view as either liberal or conservative. Massage therapy is neither traditional nor alternative. Frankly, traditional medicine is, in actuality, an ?alternative? to massage when viewed in an historical context.

The first documented description of massage as a technique or therapy dates back to 3,000 B.C. in China. The Chinese believed that all illness was due to an imbalance of ?Qi? within the body. The inequitable distribution of this ?life force? or ?life energy? was blamed for all ailments and this philosophy was absorbed and incorporated by Japanese Buddhist monks into Japanese massage techniques. This eventually evolved into the unique Japanese massage therapy called Shiatsu or ?finger pressure.?

At the same time, similar approaches were evolving in India, eventually becoming the practice of Ayurvedic medicine, or the ?arts of life,? which also utilized massage as an instrumental healing methodology. Greeks, Romans and even Native Americans highly valued not just the therapeutic, but also the actual healing value of massage. Hippocrates himself is quoted as stating that ?anyone wishing to study medicine must master the art of massage.?

But with the advent of the industrial age and the development of modern scientific inquiry, massage was relegated to the list of unenlightened, unsophisticated medical practices. In my opinion, however, to dismiss the medicinal and restorative benefits of massage was to dismiss the wisdom of the Ancients. The lack of modern scientific diagnostic techniques and the inability to examine the physical being at the cellular level, forced the earliest physicians to take a macro view of the person since a micro view was unavailable. That macro view and the knowledge garnered through the ages is still the essence of the practice of the ancient art of massage.

That is not to say that the more clinical modern approach to massage is without merit. On the contrary, contemporary research has validated many of the formerly unsubstantiated claims of alternative practitioners. Scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of massage in alleviating some depressive symptoms, altering the immune system, controlling pain and reducing stress. As stress is identified as the precipitator of so many medical problems, physicians are less reluctant to recommend massage as part of an overall regime to address certain conditions.

So I echo the plea of Rodney King when he asked, ?Can?t we all just get along?? Massage does not need the blessing of the medical establishment to claim its place among the healing arts, thank you. Nor is it the exclusive therapeutic domain of the alternative community. I am comfortable with claims that massage can benefit the whole person and I welcome the recognition of the scientific examiners who methodically study the benefits of touch for healing. But I intend to plant myself firmly in the middle and surrender to no particular ideology of massage therapy. I endorse massage for what it does.

Article written by Terry McDermott.

Author Bio:: ------------

Terry McDermott

liberal

political discussion forum

email: simi_hogard@yahoo.com

MORE ARTICLES:

World of Jewish Launches Networking Site For Business, Politics, Dating, Jobs, Health and Culture
World of Jewish social and business networking website has been launched offering everything from dating, jobs and real estate to business, politics, music, art and video and health.

Politics And The Internet
According to a recent poll conducted by ComputerWorld, about forty percent of the population believes that people can increase their political power by going online. Hence, many academics believe that people in western societies are becoming more technologically educated in order to gain more influence in the political sector. For example, Mr. Jeffrey Cole, a director at the University of Southern California states, ?This year, 6% of regular Internet users said they have their own blogs, 16% said they post pictures on the Web, and more than 10% maintain their own web sites. In 2003, 3% of Internet users said they blogged, 11% posted photos, and less than 9% maintained web sites.?(ComputerWorld, 2005: 1) Thus, the question raised ...

The Politics of Health
I was thinking about the quarrel (well, fight to the death, actually) between conventional medicine and alternatives like herbal or holistic medicine. So, I did some research to see if I could figure out what's the big beef between these to approaches to healing. I always believed that herbal medicine pre-dated conventional medicine by thousands of years. It turns out that it doesn't, not by THOUSANDS, anyway! Conventional medicine appears to be younger than herbal medicine by only about 1,100 years.

The Politics Of Fashion
Everyone knows that clothes make the man. From the executive suits that litter Wall Street like the remnants of a ticker-tape parade to the coveralls and work boots worn by construction workers and mechanics, clothes tell the story of who we are and where we're going. Even when the workday is done, what we choose to wear on our own time is still a reflection of our personalities. From the sweat-suit to the wet-suit, our clothes are meant to be not only functional, but forthcoming as well. Clothes tell others what we like, and often, how we spend our time. Sports franchise logos are constantly on display on Main Street America. T-shirts with well known television, film and music icons can be seen almost anywhere. Clothes have som...

Internal Politics Is The Cause Of Why People Are Buying Investment Property In Coqueirinho, Brazil
Over 1 million new jobs are predicted to be created in Brazil by the end of 2008, according to the tourism department in Brazil as a result of increased holiday makers. Walfrido doe Mares Guia, the minister of the tourist board, says that 575,000 jobs have been created as a result of tourists and subsequent 500,000 jobs are to be created before the end of 2008. Praise should be given to to the Brazilian government who have forked out money into improving existing infrastructure around Brazil for tourists, this programme is known as PRODETUR.

The Politics Behind Olympics Games
Among the Greeks, fitness competitions and games were nationalistic in spirit; states were said to have been prouder of Olympic victories than of battles won. Women, foreigners, slaves, and dishonored persons were forbidden to compete. Contestants were required to train faithfully for 10 months before the games and had to take an oath that they had fulfilled the training requirements before participating. At first, the Olympic Games were confined to running, but over time new events were added. The winners of the Olympics were crowned with chaplets of wild olive, and in their home city-states male champions were also awarded valuable gifts and privileges.

Clash of Civilizations Musically Projects Their View of Politics, History and World Issues
Debut EP "Legacy" by Boston-based electronic world music project Clash of Civilizations exposes musical, political, cultural and ideological clashes and paints a creative and provocative musical portrait of modern times, politics, history and world issues.

Vocus Recognized as Exceptional Business by Gazette of Politics and Business
Vocus, Inc., (NASDAQ: VOCS) a leading provider of on-demand software for public relations management, today announced that the company has received the Exceptional Business Award by The Gazette of Politics and Business.

International Museum of Women Launches New Global Online Exhibition "Women, Power and Politics"
Why do we keep hearing about Hillary Clinton's cleavage, Condoleezza Rice's stilettos and Cristina Kirchner's handbags? The International Museum of Women (I.M.O.W.), a non-partisan social change museum that connects and inspires people, will confront provocative questions about women in politics and more with the new global online exhibition, 'Women, Power and Politics'.

The Myth of NASCAR Redneck Politics
G.O.P. candidate Rudy Giuliani made an appearance at Daytona International Speedway over the weekend announcing - "I want a ride in a pace car."

Talking Politics With Teens
It can be challenging to discuss politics across generations without someone melting down (usually you) or tuning out (usually them), but it's not impossible. Here are six traits of adults with the power to engage teens and inspire them to activism.

Free Online Games and Funny Politics
You may have heard several opinions about the gaming platforms or gaming industry in general. Whether you play games on your computer or in a stand alone console, both methods are sure to keep you busy for several hours if you let them. Must of us have heard of kids spending a lot of hours in front of the computer at the expense of school responsibilities and chores. It can't be denied that whenever you start playing, you can?t get off your seat or take your eyes away from the monitor. In some cases, you might even forget that your phone is ringing, your food you are cooking in the oven is ready or that someone might be waiting for you. But hey, playing online games is not all that bad.

Gazette of Politics and Business Recognizes CEO John T.C. Yeh
Deaf executive of telecommunications company recognized in 2008 list of 25 CEOs in State of Maryland.

Gazette of Politics and Business Names Viable #2 on List of Exceptional 53 Businesses
Deaf-owned provider of video relay services for deaf and hard of hearing people receives honor at Bethesda awards ceremony.