March 2009 [Volume 8, Issue 3]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• When Not to Receive a Prenatal/Postpartum Massage
• Tea for a Lifetime
• Students of Massage Therapy Provide Relief for Cancer Patients

When Not to Receive a Prenatal/Postpartum Massage

Part of being a massage therapist professional includes knowing how to recognize when a massage should not be provided due to certain injuries, surgeries or health conditions. And when it comes to those clients whose prenatal/postpartum aching bodies' are facing certain health conditions that would prevent them from receiving a massage, it is never easy to tell that deserving client that her much-coveted massage is not going to happen. However, telling clients that a massage should be postponed until after they have been checked by their care provider is the only safe and responsible choice to make.

By the end of the pregnancy, most women have an increase of up to 40 percent more interstitial fluid. This excess fluid generally pools in the extremities, especially the legs and feet. In most cases, this "gravity" edema can be treated effectively with manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and elevation of the legs. And although the swelling can be extensive due to poor posture, poor diet, excessive sodium in the foods consumed, standing a great deal during the day, weather conditions, and restrictive clothing to name a few contributing factors, it poses no health risk and appropriate massage (MLD) will reduce the swelling by enhancing lymph absorption.

There are times, however, when the swelling is a symptom of a more serious condition – preeclampsia. This hypertensive condition is extremely dangerous for mother and her baby. Preeclampsia is a condition characterized by swelling of the face, hands, and feet, elevated blood pressure, excessive fluid retention, and protein in the urine. It is sometimes accompanied by severe or migraine headaches with or without optical "floaters." If preeclampsia is suspected or confirmed, all massage must be avoided until her blood pressure stabilizes and her care provider affirms that she and her baby are out of danger.

Other health conditions related to pregnancy include the increased risk of thromboembolism (blood clot formation) and the sequela of a pulmonary embolism after a Cesarean section. Find out more about when not to receive a massage before or after pregnancy.

Tea for a Lifetime

Originally cultivated in China and India, tea has been used for centuries for a variety of medicinal purposes. Today, increasing research suggests tea indeed possesses potent disease-fighting properties and may help you stay healthy for a lifetime.

With the exception of water, tea is the most-consumed beverage in the world, and it's available in a variety of colors and fairly distinct flavors. Three of the most common are green, black and oolong, which are derived from the leaves of the same plant: Camellia sinensis. Processing is what makes one type different from another – green tea is made from unfermented leaves that are steamed, rolled and dried, while black tea is made by putting the leaves through a process of oxidation that alters their color and flavor. Oolong tea is somewhere between green and black in terms of its color, flavor and processing.

From a health perspective, you can't talk about tea without talking about polyphenols, compounds found in tealeaves and other plants. The less processing the tea undergoes, the higher its polyphenol content, which is why research suggests green tea has so many potential health benefits. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants, the same compounds that give fruits and vegetables their disease-fighting capabilities. Antioxidants reduce damage to cells, which reduces the risk of developing cancer and other diseases.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 75 percent of all tea produced worldwide is of the black variety, while only 23 percent is green and 2 percent is oolong. But those percentages may change as research continues to link polyphenols to better health outcomes. That's not to say tea in general (regardless of the type/color) doesn't have potential health benefits including fighting cancer and heart disease, as well as promoting ideal metabolism and oral health.

Next time you take a break from your day and sit down to enjoy a nice cup of tea, recognize that you may be accomplishing a whole lot more in terms of improving your overall health. Note: It's important to communicate with your doctor before introducing anything new to your diet, as certain medications can interact with tea.

Find out more about staying healthy for a lifetime at www.toyourhealth.com.

Students of Massage Therapy Provide Relief for Cancer Patients

New Jersey's largest massage therapy school, the Institute for Therapeutic Massage (ITM), has partnered with the Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICAM) to create the nation's first Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) oncology massage certification program. Graduates of this year-long program are experiencing great success in obtaining positions as massage therapists in local hospitals serving the cancer population.

From nausea, fatigue, infection and pain, cancer patients' bodies endure a number of side effects after being poked and prodded throughout the day with treatment. As you would imagine, massage is a welcome relief. "Patients have thanked us repeatedly commenting on what a blessing this program is, how good they feel and how much more comfortable they are after the therapy," said James Zazeski, program director of ITM.

Sue Walther, a palliative-care nurse practitioner at the University Hospital in New Jersey, expressed gratitude for the program's impact. "The surprise and smiles from the patients I approach regarding their interest in having a massage student visit them, compares to nothing I have seen," said Walther. "There are patients all over the hospital who would greatly benefit from this type of healing intervention."

For more information concerning this program, contact the Institute for Therapeutic Massage at (973) 839-6131. Read the full article.

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