February 2004 [Volume 3, Issue 2]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Study Seeks to Validate Reiki
• New York Nightclub Nourishes Mind, Body and Soul
• This Month's Massage Q & A

The word Reiki comes from two Japanese words - rei, meaning higher power or universal force, and ki, meaning life energy. Loosely translated, Reiki means universal or spiritually guided life-force energy.

Practiced for thousands of years throughout several Asian nations, Reiki (pronounced "ray-key") was brought to the West in the 1930s by a Japanese-American woman who learned the practice from a Reiki master in Japan. While not technically massage, Reiki is often practiced in conjunction with bodywork, and as a method of healing illness and reducing stress through light touch or by placing hands near or above the body in specific positions or patterns. Through these positions, a Reiki practitioner can correct energetic imbalances in the body, improving health and restoring a person's energy levels.

Researchers at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle are attempting to understand more about Reiki by using a $304,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to determine whether it can ease the pain and suffering associated with fibromyalgia, a debilitating rheumatic condition that affects roughly 6 million Americans. The study will involve 100 fibromyalgia patients divided into four groups of 25 participants each. Patients in each group will receive Reiki treatments twice per week for eight consecutive weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30 minutes.

The research project marks the second time in the past few years that a major Reiki study has been funded by a grant from the NIH. The first grant was given to the University of Michigan Complementary Research Center in Ann Arbor, to study the effects of Reiki on approximately 200 people with diabetic neuropathy.

To learn more about this study, visit www.massagetoday.com/archives/2004/02/06.html.

Source: Devitt, M. "Federally Funded Reiki Study Underway in Washington." Massage Today. Feb 2004.

In an interesting twist on the spa concept, Spirit, a New York City nightclub located in West Chelsea, has unveiled Mind, Body and Soul, a "spiritual wellness" triad that combines the entertainment of a nightclub with spa services and an eatery featuring organic cuisine.

The spa center, dubbed Mind, is open every Saturday from 6 p.m. - 4 a.m., and offers massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, Reiki and more, as well as charkra balancing, intuitive readings and astrology reports; Body features a live performance that "celebrates life and frees the spirit," while club-goers can dine on organic and health-conscious cuisine at Soul. All three services are located within the 35,000-square-foot nightclub.

For more information on health, wellness, and massage and spa therapies visit www.massagetoday.com/topics/.

Source: Spirit New York to Introduce Mind. Press Release. Spirit New York. Jan. 7, 2004. www.spiritnewyork.com.

Question: I have a close friend that has breast cancer. She loves and needs massage. Are there any worries or problems with giving her a massage?

Answer: Massage therapy works wonders for people with cancer. A compassionate touch can relieve anxiety, and physical and mental stressors, as well as calm the mind and nourish the soul; however, I recommend that your friend receive clearance from her doctor before receiving massage therapy treatments.

Question: What affect does massage have on blood pressure, heart rate and circulation?

Answer: The effects of massage therapy on the cardiovascular system are significant. Blood vessels in the body dilate from massage therapy by a reflexive response, which improves circulation. Some specific massage techniques act as mechanical pumps and assist blood flow to the heart. Blood pressure is decreased by the dilation of blood vessels, and it has been documented that systolic and diastolic decreases may last up to 40 minutes following a massage therapy treatment. Additionally, massage therapy lowers the heart rate through the relaxation response, which also lowers the pulse rate.

Note: Information provided in the Massage Q & A section is drawn from the "Ask a Massage Therapist" forum, in which massage therapists field questions relative to the massage profession. The forum is located online at www.massagetoday.com/ask/.

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