|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
 Alternative
Addresses in Kyiv... |
 Myotherapy   Myotherapy
is a form of deep massage used to reduce tension and pain believed to originate
at specific points in the muscle layers of the body. Those points are called
trigger points. The theory is that trigger points form any time a muscle
is damaged, such as may happen at birth, during athletics (see Athletic
Injuries), as a result of a job-related strain or from an accident. Trigger
points can be the source of a muscle spasm that, in turn, causes pain somewhere
else in the body. The myotherapist applies pressure to the trigger point to relieve the spasm and, thus, the pain it causes elsewhere. Proponents say this therapy is a non-invasive, non-chemical way to erase pain. Shiatsu  Shiatsu is a Japanese form of acupressure. All forms of acupressure share some of the same healing philosophy as acupuncture. Chi -- or ki, as it is known in Japan -- is a vital force or energy that is believed to circulate through the body along channels known as meridians. When pressure is applied along a meridian, the flow of chi can be influenced. In shiatsu, which literally means "finger pressure," the practitioner uses fingers and thumbs to apply pressure on precise points along the body's meridians. The practitioner may also use elbows, hands, knees or bare feet to apply this pressure to larger areas. The pressure is said to improve the flow of chi, conferring general relaxation and balance. During a typical session, the practitioner will travel the length of each meridian applying thumb pressure to points along the way. While the practitioner prods the acupressure points, he or she will transfer some personal chi to the patient. Shiatsu is meant to treat the whole body, but proponents claim it can be effective in treating specific ailments. For example, applying pressure to the web area between the thumb and forefinger is said to be a remedy for a headache. Shiatsu training is part of some massage therapy training and certification programs. Reflexology Reflexology involves the manipulation of specific areas on the feet, and sometimes the hands, with the goal of bringing the body into homeostasis, or balance. According to reflexologists, distinct regions of the feet correspond to particular organs or body systems; stimulation of a region is intended to eliminate energy blockages thought to produce pain or disease in the associated structures. The arrangement of reflexology areas on the feet mirrors the organization of the body, to the extent that organs on the right side of the body are represented on the right foot, and the same with the left side and foot.     Reflexology features a few basic techniques that can be performed either by you or by a partner. The basic thumb technique uses an edge of the thumb pad (the side away from the fingers) to "walk" along reflex areas; walking consists of a forward, creeping movement, with the first joint of the thumb bending and unbending slightly as the digit inches ahead. The finger technique uses the same walking motion but with the edge of the index finger closest to the thumb. When working a specific area, one hand should work and the other should hold the foot in a comfortable position with the sole flat and toes straight. Practitioners of reflexology claim that it can relieve a wide variety of ailments. Critics say that treatments are no more than glorified foot massages. |
Acupressure A relative of acupuncture, acupressure
involves pressing specific points on the body with the fingers or hands
to alter the internal flow of chi (pronounced “chee”), our vital life
force or energy. It is among the treatment methods regularly used in traditional
Chinese medicine (TCM).
|
||||
How
Acupressure Works According
to the tenets of TCM, chi is carried through our bodies along 14 channels,
called meridians. The 14 meridians do not correspond to any visible anatomical
structures in the body, such as nerves or blood vessels. But in Chinese
medicine they are thought to embody a physical reality -- that of chi
flowing through our bodies, providing nourishment and strength. Twelve
of the meridians are bilateral; that is, identical versions of them exist
on each side of the body. The other two run along the body's midline --
one along the front, the other along the back. Each of the 12 major meridians
is named according to the anatomical structure, or organ, it is thought
to influence. The meridians connect the interior and exterior of the body.
In acupressure, the flow of chi is strengthened, calmed or unblocked
by pressing specific points along the meridians; the same points
are used in the practice of acupuncture. Western scientists have shown
that many of these points are located at key crossways of the autonomic
nervous system. This may explain in part why they can affect pain that
the patient experiences in a part of the body far from where the pressure
is applied. A single point may be pressed for relief from a particular
symptom or condition; or to promote overall well-being of the body, a
series of points can be worked on in a specific order. Some well-controlled
studies suggest that acupressure can be effective for a number of health
problems, including pain, nausea and stroke-related weakness. |
|||||
|
|
|||||
