International Massage Week: July 19 - 25, 2009

July 19, 2009

International Massage Week is July 19 – 25, 2009. This week is designed to raise public awareness of the benefits of therapeutic massage and encourage people to take the extra time to care for their health through massage.

The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine is celebrating International Massage Week by inviting the pubic to experience the benefits of Asian Body Therapy first-hand in the college's Community Clinic. Graduates of the college's Asian Body Therapy (ABT) Certificate programs offer patients treatment in either Shiatsu or Tui Na Massage several days per week.

In addition to the college's Massage Clinic, ACTCM also offers certificates in Asian Body Therapy, with concentrations in either Tuina (Chinese) or Shiatsu (Japanese) massage techniques. The 12-month certificate programs are open to the public, and can be obtained either individually or in conjunction with college's Master's of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine program.

Shiatsu massage treats common psychological and physical complaints such as depression, anxiety, nausea, stiffness, headaches, arthritis, cramps, or pulled muscles. Traditionally, Shiatsu involves deep breathing, rotation and stretching of the joints, and stimulation of pressure points. Shiatsu acts to reduce pain, stimulate the immune system, Qi, blood and lymphatic flow, and generate a deep sense of harmony and relaxation in the patient.

Tui Na uses traction, massage and manipulation in conjunction with the stimulation of acupressure points. It is used to treat, or complement the treatment of, many conditions including musculoskeletal disorders and chronic stress-related disorders of the digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems. With more than 365 hand techniques available, Tui Na treatments can range from those that are light and soothing to those that are strong and invigorating. By pressing, tapping, and kneading with palms, fingertips, knuckles or other implements, Tui Na therapists are able to remove energy blockages along the body's meridians and restore balance in the body in order to promote self-healing. Tui Na acts to reduce pain, stimulate the immune system, Qi, blood and lymphatic flow, and generate a deep sense of harmony and relaxation in the patient.

According to Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), one of the largest massage associations in the U.S., consumers receive about $230 million massage sessions annually, with about 38% of adults having received a professional massage in their lives.

There are many benefits of massage such as:

• A 2006 study in Archives of Internal Medicine published that massage therapy is a safe and effective way to reduce pain and improve function in adults with osteoarthritis of the knee

• The Annals of Internal Medicine reported in 2003 that massage therapy was effective for treat- ing persistent back pain, as did a 2000 report by the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

• Research has shown massage reduces carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, according to The Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2004.

• Premature infant massage in the NICU was reported in Neonatal Network to be effective in increasing weight gain, improving develop- mental scores, shortening hospital stays and improving parent-baby bonding (2003).

• Massage therapy has been shown to strengthen the immune system, according to research published in the Journal of Neuroscience, 1996, and Psychosomatic Medicine, 2000.

• In 2005, Cancer Control reported massage therapy effectively reduced stress and anxiety in cancer patients, with a promising outlook for pain control and management of other symptoms.

• Oncology patients showed less pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety and depression following massage therapy, according to a study by Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 2004, and a report in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2002.

For more information on the health benefits of Asian Body Therapy, please click here.

To learn more about ACTCM’s Asian Body Therapy Certification Program please call (415) 355-1601 x12. To make an appointment in the ACTCM Community Clinic, please call (415) 282-9603.

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About American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM)
American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) has provided affordable, quality health care to the public and trained professionals in acupuncture, massage and Chinese medicine since 1980. In addition to its graduate curriculum, ACTCM offers continuing education, public education, community outreach and clinical services in acupuncture and herbal medicine. ACTCM has been the recipient of many awards for its curriculum, faculty and clinic, and has been voted "Best of the Bay" by both the San Francisco Weekly and the San Francisco Bay Guardian. ACTCM is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

 
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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a 3,000-year-old medical system that includes acupuncture, Chinese herbs, massage & bodywork, nutrition and exercises such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong. TCM holds that when the human body is kept in a harmonious balance, health and well-being are naturally maintained.