Archive for the ‘Massage Therapy’ Category

Raindrop Essential Oil Massage

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

Raindrop Essential Oil Massage

By: Sue Coughtry, LMT
Raindrop Essential Oil Massage is now offered at the Stram Center for Integrative Medicine. This is a powerful healing tool utilizing the layering of 8 to 10 pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils on the feet and the spine to encourage deep cellular healing. This technique was created by D. Gary Young, ND. According to the Essential Oil Desk Reference by Life Science Publishing, this combination of essential oils works together to effectively kill bacteria, viruses and other pathogens within the body, including those “hiding” within the central nervous system that are so hard to treat. This technique also reduces inflammation, supports the immune system, relaxes tight muscles, eases bone and joint pain, and supports respiratory function.

A Raindrop Essential Oil Massage consists first of massaging each of the oils into the feet, which have areas on them corresponding to all the areas of the body. Then the oils are dropped like raindrops, one oil at a time, along the spine from the base of the spine up to the neck. Each essential oil is then gently massaged into the spine and the back using massage techniques that are especially beneficial for the entire central nervous system and the body. The session can be strictly an essential oil massage, lasting about a 1/2 hour, or it can last about an hour with Craniosacral Therapy added after the oils have been applied for a deeper, more effective treatment. The Stram Center for Integrative Medicine is unique in offering this combination of Raindrop Essential Oil Massage and Craniosacral Therapy. It is also possible to replace the Craniosacral Therapy with Medical Massage. Each session is customized to each individual. These oils are also not “perfumy” in scent, so men can be very comfortable with this.

Raindrop Essential Oil Massage is exceptional for people working through the challenges of Lyme disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases and conditions. In cases like this it is recommended that the person receive one of these Raindrop massages weekly for 4 to 6 weeks. The Stram Center for Integrative Medicine offers discounts for a series of 4 weekly sessions to make this option more affordable.

It is recommended in the Essential Oil Desk Reference that people receive a Raindrop Essential Oil massage 2 to 4 times a year for general health and healing. It is excellent for adapting to the changes of the seasons and helps build up the immune system in times of stress.

This is a very powerful combination of healing elements for all aspects of the body. It is also deeply relaxing and rejuvenating. See what including occasional Raindrop Essential Oil Massages can do for your health and healing.

Tags:
Posted in Aromatherapy, Massage Therapy, Sue Coughtry LMT | Comments Off

New Orthopedic Massage Skills

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

By Sue Coughtry, LMT

I just returned from an inspiring seminar on Orthopedic Massage for Complicated Shoulder, Hip, and Knee Conditions.  It was sponsored by The New York State Society of Medical Massage Therapists, of which I’m a member, and held on Long Island.  The presenter was the world- class massage therapist, author, and instructor James Waslaski, LMT, who is known for his cutting edge work in orthopedic massage and pain management. 
James Waslaski’s work combines many different soft tissue modalities and is pain free.  He feels, as I do, that pain during massage work only inhibits the healing.  He teaches techniques that have the support of solid research behind them, and continues to modify his work as he collaborates with doctors, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and chiropractors.  I learned many new dynamic and effective ways of easing shoulder, hip, and knee pain, and better ways of freeing up frozen shoulders and hips.  There was a lot to learn and I will be incorporating the new techniques in my work as I get them perfected. 
I love taking seminars like this that give me more tools to use to help you!  And these tools really work!

Tags:
Posted in Massage Therapy, Pain Management, Sue Coughtry LMT | Comments Off

New Craniosacral Therapy Techniques

Monday, November 29th, 2010

by Sue Coughtry, LMT
I love learning new things that can be of help to my patients.  I took a new craniosacral seminar two weeks ago.  This was part refresher class and part new techniques and skills. 
I really enjoyed the refresher aspect – I have been doing craniosacral therapy  for a long time now and this refresher gave me perspectives I either had missed or wasn’t ready to incorporate earlier.  The teachers were exceptional.  There was a great deal of anatomy of the brain and spinal cord, and the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid.  Some of this was review but a lot of it was new and presented better than the first time around many years ago.  I also learned new skills in feeling and evaluating areas of dysfunction in the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid and how to assist the body in correcting it.
The class culminated in a great new set of techniques specifically for improving the flow of all the fluids within the head.  These new techniques are very effective for clearing out congestion and problems in the sinuses, ears, and Eustachian tubes.  They are also excellent for easing dizziness, eye, and TMJ disorders.  I’ve already incorporated them into my sessions and am getting excellent results.  This is very exciting – for me and for my patients.
This class also reminded me about how profound craniosacral therapy is and how it can improve virtually any health problem we have, in the gentlest and most relaxing way possible.  It is accessing, enhancing, and balancing the workings of the Central Nervous System, which runs and organizes everything in our bodies.  It calms our nervous system down so that the body can adjust and heal itself.  Nothing is gentler, and it is so effective. 
I’m very excited about these new techniques and how well they are working.  Feel free to come in a try them and see if they can be of help to you.

Posted in Craniosacral Therapy, Massage Therapy, Pain Management, Preventative Health, Sue Coughtry LMT | Comments Off

Craniosacral Therapy Found to Significantly Improve Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Friday, September 10th, 2010

By Sue Coughtry, LMT

I just read a research study on Craniosacral Therapy’s beneficial effects on people suffering from fibromyalgia.  The results of this study were very clear and significant.  Craniosacral Therapy definitely and significantly reduced the body pain, anxiety and depression experienced by the participants of the study, all of whom had fibromyalgia.  It improved their overall quality of life – there were clear improvements in physical function, general health and vitality, and therefore the ability to take part in social activities.  Craniosacral Therapy also improved the quality of their sleep in the participants.

This was a scientific study published in 2009 in the reputable Oxford Journal on-line edition (http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/nep125).  One group received 2 Craniosacral Therapy sessions a week for 25 weeks.  The other group – the control group – received a fake ultrasound treatment twice a week for the same 25 weeks.  The control group experienced no changes in their fibromyalgia symptoms, while the Craniosacral group had significant improvements in all the above categories. Now here’s the exciting part – the improvements continued to last for over a year even though the sessions had ended!

I find this very exciting and plan to implement more craniosacral work with my clients who are challenged with fibromyalgia.  I don’t expect anyone to do the twice weekly sessions for 25 weeks – that was for the structure of the study.   I do feel, with something as debilitating as fibromyalgia, that getting some regular sessions for a bit, in a schedule that fits the client’s time and finances, can really make a big difference, and this study proves it.   

If you’re living with the challenge of fibromyalgia, consider giving Craniosacral Therapy a try.  There is truly nothing more relaxing (I get a session every month without fail).  It’s a time, just for you, to rest and heal on a very deep cellular level.  I’m very excited to have a research study show how well it works for this!

Posted in fibromyalgia, General, Massage Therapy, Pain Management, Preventative Health, Sue Coughtry LMT | Comments Off

Sleeping Positions and Pain- Part 2

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

By Sue Coughtry, LMT

I have heard from a number of people since I wrote my first blog about this on how hard it is to change from being a stomach sleeper to being comfortable in any other position, even though sleeping on their stomach causes pain.  I understand because I was a stomach-sleeper till I was in my teens.  Then my neck cramped up big time and I couldn’t do that any more.  It was a tough transition but I had no choice and eventually succeeded.

I heard a great idea from a client the other day and wanted to pas it on.  This client has been able to remain comfortable sleeping on her stomach her entire life, but she now uses a pillow under her stomach for even greater comfort.  I tried that last night and it actually helps.  You can have the pillow in whatever position is most comfortable for you – just under your stomach or under your chest and stomach.  What it does is let your spine rest in a more natural curve.  Your face is always facing to the side and I do feel you need part of another pillow under just the back of your head so that your face is tilting down towards the mattress as opposed to lying flat to the side.  That relieves some of the stress off your neck.  Like I said – I tried this and it wasn’t bad.  I didn’t sleep that way but it was pretty comfortable – lots more so that just lying flat.
For you stomach sleepers in pain out there, give this a try. Sleeping on your stomach is still the most challenging position for comfort but this may help some of you.

Posted in Massage Therapy, Pain Management, Preventative Health, Stress Management, Sue Coughtry LMT | Comments Off

Myofascial Release for Muscle and Joint Pain

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

By Sue Coughtry,  LMT
I just completed additional training in myofascial release techniques over the weekend. Myofascial means muscles and the connective tissue wrapping (fascia) around them and around every organ and cell in the body.   The seminar was excellent.  In this seminar we learned how constrictions in the fascia can cause pain, posture issues, and a host of other health problems.  The alignment of the hips can actually cause and definitely intensify irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic pain syndromes, and urinary frequency through myofascial restrictions.
I now have more effective skills on how to address this.  I can also release the chest muscles and diaphragm better for improvement in chronic respiratory problems.  I learned another technique for correcting hiatal hernias that can enhance the usual work that I do for that problem.  And of course I learned more techniques for back, neck, shoulder and facial pain, TMJ disorders, headaches and migraines.  I now have better treatment ideas for plantar fasciitis too.  I know that myofascial release has a reputation for being painful, but this was taught in a gentler, non-painful way that fits in very well with how I do the rest of my work.  I’m very excited about the possibilities for helping more people.  Massage therapy isn’t just for muscle and joint pain; in addition,  it definitely helps digestive, urinary, and respiratory issues as well.  That’s why what I practice is called, “medical massage.”  And I love it!

Posted in Massage Therapy, Pain Management, Preventative Health, Sue Coughtry LMT | Comments Off

The Essence of the Healing Power of Reiki

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

By Sue Coughtry, LMT, Reiki Master /Teacher

I found a wonderful article about Reiki in the May 2010 issue of Body and Soul magazine (Touch of Grace by Lynn Darling, page 72-75).  It very poignantly describes the anger that a woman experiences as she undergoes radiation treatment for her breast cancer.  Her descriptions are so very personal and vivid.  She is not a woman who puts much faith in alternative therapies but decides to see if Reiki can help her release some of her anger.  She describes what she experiences during her first Reiki session, and how it really did allow her to let the anger go, finding more peace and freedom and comfort than she had felt in a long time.   In her words “whatever Reiki is, and whether or not, by any quantifiable measure, it works, it works for me.”  I found the article to be very moving.  It shows how taking a chance and trying something new in times of great challenges can give you such gifts and tools to help you on your way.  A sidebar in this article also explains that New York’s Beth Israel Medical Center has “recently launched a program that includes Reiki as one of 5 interventions used to create an optimal healing environment on the cancer floor”.  Reiki is becoming more accepted and used by major medical centers all the time.  I have been working with Reiki for 14 years and can attest to its ability to bring peace and comfort, to relieve pain and stress, and to encourage healing, as well as to maintain your health.  It is a wonderful tool to explore, and you can learn to use it for yourself very easily.  Reiki started me, many years ago, on my path to healing myself to, now, helping others to find their own healing through working at the Center.   It is a powerful and profound tool of healing and transformation, and yet is so simple.  If you so desire, see where it can take you.

Posted in Massage Therapy, Mind Body Medicine, Preventative Health, Reiki, Stress Management, Sue Coughtry LMT | 1 Comment, Click Here to Add Yours »

Lyme Disease and Craniosacral Therapy

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

By Sue Coughtry, LMT
This has been a bumper year for ticks and that has resulted in as big a year for Lyme disease here in the Northeast.  While craniosacral therapy can’t treat or cure Lyme disease, it can definitely make a big difference in the amount of pain and discomfort you find yourself in and helps speed the healing process.  Lyme disease often results in muscle, joint, and nerve pain as well as fuzzy thinking and cognitive and neurological problems.  Craniosacral therapy can be a big help in coping with and easing the symptoms and may actually help speed the healing.  It improves and balances the flow of the fluids (cerebrospinal fluid) bathing the brain and spinal cord, which in turn helps calm and relax the entire nervous system. . If you are more relaxed you are in less pain and the neurological effects can be eased.  (I personally find craniosacral therapy to be the most relaxing therapy I ever have experienced, and I get sessions monthly without fail, just to maintain my health). Craniosacral therapy also stimulates your immune system so that your own body can heal faster.  Once you are on the mend, combinations of craniosacral therapy with massage, lymphatic drainage, and positional release therapy can ease any lingering discomfort.  If anyone you know is dealing with lyme disease, tell them to try craniosacral therapy to help them get through it.

Posted in Lyme Disease, Massage Therapy, Preventative Health, Sue Coughtry LMT | Comments Off

Massage Therapists are Health Professionals

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

by: Sue Coughtry, LMT

Something that I find disappointing in my practice is how seldom doctors recommend therapeutic massage to theirpatients for the alleviation of pain.  They prescribe drugs, give shots, some recommend physical therapy (which is good and physical therapists can do some massage, but usually do very little in their work) and recommend surgery.  Only a rare doctor recommends massage or soft tissue work.  But massage therapy can do wonders for many conditions in a gentle way with only beneficial side effects.  I think part of the problem is that most doctors – and most people for that matter – look at massage therapy as simply a relaxing luxury instead of a set of soft tissue techniques for relieving pain.  This became obvious just this year as our Governor considered taxing massage therapy as part of the beauty industry, though we are licensed in a health field.  Fortunately the economic stimulus package allowed the Governor to drop this idea, but it made it clear how most people view massage therapy.

NYS has the most stringent requirements and the toughest licensing exam in the country for massage therapists.  While there is no separate licensing exam or certification for medical or orthopedic massage therapists, it is generally understood that a medical massage therapist has had more hours of schooling and continuing education to learn the latest and most cutting edge techniques for pain relief.  Medical massage therapists are specialists in muscles and they know how muscle imbalances can affect the joints and the organs and posture and cause pain. 

I’d love to see massage therapy taken seriously as the health profession that it is. I’d love to see options for higher levels of education and licensure. I would love to see physicians refer patients to highly trained massage therapists – medical massage therapists – as a first step to see if the soft tissue techniques can solve the particular problem before they try something more invasive.  I’d love to see physicians collaborate with massage therapists the way many chiropractors do now.   I’m so grateful and delighted to be working with a group of doctors and health professionals who do take this seriously.  We have great success working together here at the Center.

Posted in Healthcare Reform, Massage Therapy, Sue Coughtry LMT | Comments Off

What’s Really Going on When You’re Hurting: Trigger Points and Muscle Pain

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

By Sue Coughtry, LMT

Spring is here and we’re all out cleaning up our lawns and planting gardens and brushing up on our summer activities. Often we over-do it and get sore. My patients often ask what causes those knots that they feel in their muscles.  They often wonder what trigger points are.

Here is what’s often going on when you hurt:

Muscles work in pairs.  When one muscle tightens to move a part of the body, the opposite muscle relaxes and lengthens to allow that movement.  So one side pulls and the other side relaxes.  When there is a muscle strain of any kind, the side that tightens actually pulls too hard or too fast, and the side that lengthens gets over-stretched.  To protect the muscles that are over-stretching from reaching the point of tearing, nerve fibers within the muscles themselves immediately makes that over-stretching muscle contract back pretty hard.  While it protects against tearing, which  is a really good thing, that muscle can also now get stuck in this new, now overly contracted state.  This creates a knot in the muscle, and that knot is a trigger point.

When you try to move, the affected muscle tightens even more to protect itself, creating a cycle of pain and more contraction, which causes more pain and then more contraction. You may get other supporting muscles to join in to protect the injured one.  We call that splinting.  Then the area gets even more painful.  You can often feel those areas of contraction as knots in a muscle, and they are very tender to pressure.  These trigger points can also cause pain in other areas of the body – this is called referred pain.

How medical massage can help:

There are many massage and bodywork techniques to release the trigger points, ease the pain and get both sides of the affected muscle back into balance.  Trigger point work, positional release therapy, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy and myokinesiology can all release these trigger points and help your muscles return to a more balanced, pain free state.  Each person responds to these techniques differently so when one technique doesn’t seem to work, another may.  This is why I tailor any of my bodywork sessions to the individual clients’ needs. Often my sessions will include a combination of techniques.  If you find yourself really sore after an afternoon of spring clean up, come in to the Center and see what some of these techniques can do for you.

Learn more about positional release therapy, and craniosacral therapy.

Posted in Massage Therapy, Preventative Health, Sue Coughtry LMT | 1 Comment, Click Here to Add Yours »

Back to top

Bookmark|Share|Subscribe

Bookmark and Share

Subscribe

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Read more about integrative medicine news

Register and Login

  • Categories

    • Archives