Hand Massage: Relieve Hurts Sooner

Day in, day out, we use our hands

Day in, day out, we use our hands. There isn't anything we aren't willing to do that needs to be done to keep the household running. Put away dishes, hammer in a nail, buckle the child in the car seat. Plant the garden, slice the vegetables. Our hands don't get a break. We type, despite the pain of repetitive motion. Sure, lotion will keep our skin from drying out, but what of our muscles, joints? A hand massage can feel good on hands, and cure a plethora of other internal complains.

If you are new to massage, here's something you should know. It is not a great new cure, no, this art has been practiced throughout the world. Chinese records dating back 3,000 years document its use; the ancient Hindus, Persians and Egyptians applied forms of massage for many ailments; and even Hippocrates wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems. So, how is this cure practiced? Well, there are a variety of methods, over 250 to be precise. Massage is the manipulation of superficial layers of muscle and connective tissue. Hand massage is done to restore function and alleviate pain in your hands. It is also done to relieve a plethora of symptoms such as headache, stuffy nose, stomach problems to name just a few.

In the early 1800's, massage therapy became very popular and this increased until the 1930's and 40's. As modern medicine developed, the benefits of massage therapy were discounted. It was used less and less. In the 1960's and 1970's nurses began to use it to alleviate pain in patients. Again, its popularity grew until finally in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta massage was deemed a core medical service, which gave it great credibility. It's good enough for the Olympics, how about you?

There are many words in many languages that give us the word massage. I love studying different languages. It's especially exciting when all cultures have the same word and customs. The word comes from the Latin word "frictio", as well as from the French word meaning "friction or kneading", and the Arabic word "massa" meaning to touch, feel or handle. A hand massage can be done at your local spa, as one itself, or part of a massage package.

The hand, just like the feet, have specific pressure points that affect different parts of the body. Your local masseuse will be able to show you a map of the hands and tell you the pressure points and what's affected by each specific one. Both the palm and back of the hand, as well as the finger tips have different pressure points. Different techniques also affect different parts. Each pressure point is numbered and targets each specific area. For example, point #31 when rubbed will help with a weak bladder, whereas point #22 when twisted will relieve constipation. Rubbing the side of the middle finger tip will relieve fatigue. Pressing and rubbing point #30 will relieve dizziness. Whatever ails you, a hand massage may cure it. Try it at your local spa.

by: Heidi Gleason

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