Massage therapy

Brigitte Mars, an herbalist and nutritional consultant in Boulder, Colorado, has been working with natural medicines for over 27 years. The formulator of the popular "UniTea" line of herbal teas, she teaches herbalism at Naropa Institute, The Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies and The Boulder School of Massage Therapy. She frequently contributes articles to The Herb Companion, Natural Health, Let s Live, and other magazines, and is a member of the American Herbalist Guild. This is her first book. 

Complementary and alternative medicine, which includes a range of practices outside of conventional medicine such as herbs, homeopathy, massage therapy, yoga, and acupuncture, hold increasing appeal for Americans. In fact, according to one estimate, 42% of Americans have used alternative therapies. In all age groups, the use of unconventional healthcare practices has steadily increased in the last 30 years, and the trend is likely to continue, although people born before 1945 are the least likely to turn to these therapies. 

Complementary and alternative medicine CAM. Forms of treatment that are used in addition to (complementary) or instead of (alternative) standard treatments. These practices are not considered standard medical approaches. CAM includes dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation. [NIH]... 

No single definition adequately captures the range of practices that fall under the CAM rubric. Those that define CAM as practices that are not part of mainstream medicine, or as practices used by patients to manage their own health care, or as therapies not widely taught in Western medical schools or available in most hospitals, fail to capture the complexity of this field. CAM includes health-care practices that range from the use of vitamins, herbal remedies, and massage therapies to the ancient traditions of Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, along with chiropractic techniques, naturopathy homeopathic medicine, meditation, hypnosis, acupuncture, and a host of other less well-known approaches to health and health care. 

There are many different forms of massage therapy, which are not normally associated with serious adverse effects. However, trauma can occur (191). 

Activities such as yoga, massage therapy and various forms of meditation are known to have relaxing properties and should be encouraged in the individual suffering from stress. 

Musculoskeletal Myopathy has been attributed to infrared heat and massage therapy [90 ]. 

Ointments used in massage therapy may sensitize the therapist or customer. Natural fragrance materials are among the causes [319]. 

Ernst, E., 1999b. Massage therapy for low back pain A systematic review.. 7. Pain Symptom. Manaee.. 17 56-69. 

Ernst, E., 2003b. The safety of massage therapy. Rheumatology, 42 1101-1106. 

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