Holistic Massage as a Nurse’s Path to Healing Mind, Body, and Spirit

Massage is a healing approach that nurses can utilize to emphasize the interconnectedness of the mind, body and spirit, common in holistic practice. While it is based on ancient approaches to healing, holistic massage is making inroads to mainstream medicine with new therapeutic touch techniques that seek to provide relaxation, relief from pain, and the hastening of healing. The healing of power of massage works on physical as well as emotional and spiritual levels. In the holistic view, this balances a person’s energy elds and leaves them feeling refreshed.

Accepted as a form of Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM), the massage profession has grown signi cantly and is increasingly practiced as a non-pharmaceutical intervention in traditional medical settings to treat a long list of ailments from arthritis to lupus. As holistic nurses, we are knowledgeable about CAM, and we are encouraged by principles of holistic practice to integrate massage, including new techniques, into our practice (ANA & AHNA, 2013).

While research into energy fields and other core concepts of therapeutic touch is scant, studies suggest holistic massage therapy works. For example, Krieger (1979), who studied biochemical reactions related to touch therapies, explored the successful incorporation of healing touch therapies into nursing practice. Another study combined analyses of six groups of cancer patients receiving massage therapy for palliative care and found that the intervention effectively “reduced the subjectively perceived symptoms of pain and also alleviated symptoms of anxiety and depression (Falkensteiner, 2011).” This augers well for more potential uses for therapeutic touch, particularly for chronically ill people. One problem is that measuring or quantifying the ef cacy of therapeutic touch can be challenging for clinical research. Studies are ongoing and will lead not only to wider acceptance of the therapy but also to increased training for holistic nurses who are well-positioned to integrate the therapy into individualized and empathetic treatment plans for patients.

Background of Intentional Touch
Throughout history, touch has been recognized as a powerful healing tool that transcends language and culture because humans are innately wired for touch. The stimulation of touch receptors in the skin helps soothe away pains and reduce stress reactions. A square inch of our skin has over 1000 nerves that can send signals to nurture our physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual well-being. Unmyelinated nerve bers, called C tactile bers or “CT bers,” are widely distributed throughout our skin. These CT bers respond to the various massage modalities and have been shown to generate a bio-chemical cascade within our bodies. (Löken et al., 2009).

Various massage techniques stimulate a hypothalamic neurohormone called oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone”. This hormone is secreted by the brain in part due to sensory stimulation and is linked to increased levels of social interaction, well-being, and stress resiliency (Mason & Mason, 2009). Engaging in intentional touch techniques such as massage during nursing assessments can lead to increased oxytocin levels, resulting in stronger social connections, reduced pain sensations, and an enhanced sense of serenity.

For nurses, providing intentional touch during patient assessments in clinical settings can lead to a more comprehensive and empathetic understanding of the patient’s condition. As nurses incorporate gentle massage techniques into their physical assessments, they will witness various bene ts for patients. Massage can help relax tense muscles, improve circulation, and reduce anxiety while promoting a sense of comfort and relaxation. This can be particularly bene cial for patients who are bedridden, experiencing pain, or anxious due to their medical condition.

The Procedure of Holistic Massage
When beginning a session, the practitioner takes time to center themselves to be able to fully support a holistic and healing experience for their patient. This preparation may involve the use of meditation, breathing exercises, or imagery to achieve an altered state of consciousness opened to sensing blocked energy elds that can impede wellness in a patient (https:// www.mountsinai.org).

A typical Holistic Massage session gets underway with the patient lying on their back, abdomen, or side. Remember proper body mechanics and raise the patient’s bed if needed to an appropriate height. The nurse moves the gown (while being mindful of modesty) and applies lotion or powder to reduce friction. Firm long strokes and kneading motions are then used, starting from the neck and shoulders and moving over the entire back. Special attention is given to pressure areas, usually bony prominences such as shoulders and hips. The process can be as brief as one likes to complete a physical assessment while incorporating therapeutic touch and holistic massage techniques.