Naturopathic Medicine (Massage, Heat, Etc.)
Naturopathic treatment is a system of therapy that relies on natural remedies, such as sunlight supplemented with diet and massage, to treat illness. This system combines art, science, philosophy, and medicine. Some methods include:
- Clinical nutrition
- Botanical medicine
- Physical treatments (deep heating, massage)
- Eastern medicine
- Psychological therapy
How it's used: There are many different types of treatments. Deep heating and massage are described below.
Heat therapy (also known as diathermy) exposes part or all of the body to high temperatures for therapeutic purposes to enhance other treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy.
How it's used: There are three types of heat therapy: local, regional, and whole-body treatments. Heat is applied from sterile probes to a small area in local therapy. A limb or organ is heated during regional therapy. Warm blankets, hot wax, or thermal chambers are applied in whole-body therapy.
Cautions: Heat therapy can cause internal bleeding. There is a high death rate associated with whole-body heat therapy. Heat therapy should only be used under the guidance of a qualified physician.
Massage is a manual therapy that involves the rubbing or kneading of parts of the body to aid circulation and relax the muscles. There are various forms of manual therapies:
- Swedish massage
- Reflexology
- Lymphedema massage
- Myofascial release
How it's used: Massage methods vary depending on the type of massage practiced. In general, slow and steady circular motion is applied over or near the area of treatment or pain. You can go to a massage therapist for treatment or learn how to manually massage yourself.
Caution: If you are undergoing radiation therapy, avoid massaging the treatment area and any area that might be red, raw, or tender.
