massage and bodywork professionals
a community of practitioners
Frustrating!
I read through 5 different health magazines yesterday - the kind that you can pick up free from a health food store that generally have the name of the store printed in the lower section of the cover - and saw at east 4 different references to tight muscles and the alleviating of those tight muscles to assist in treatment of a problem (low back was one, headaches another). NOT ONE TIME was there reference to the benefits and relevency of massage! They mentioned that to address tight neck muscles one might go to a chiropractor, that perhaps a misaligned bone is causing muscle tightness! Though that could be the case, from what I have seen it is most likely the opposite. I couldn't believe it!
One article was written by a ND. By the end of the column, I was getting the impression that he was seeking affirmation from the medical community and that he feared his mention of massage and other types of body work (craniosacral therapy, for example) would make him look like more of 'weirdo' in their eyes than a professional. (Sure I am reading into that one, I know!)
I just can't understand the recommending a chiropractor (or a homeopath!) for tight neck muscles. Though alternative medicine professionals claim point out the ignorance of tradional western medicine docs, we need to be careful not to do the same thing.
The other day I was speaking to a client who told me of an LMTs 'affinity' to AIS. The LMT spoke to her as if AIS was the only answer to every problem. Perhpas for some it might be. But at the same time, everybody is different. And if we, as CAM practitioners, don't provide well-balanced and well-rounded information to the public we run the risk of falling into the same category into which we have pigeon-holed other medical professional.
Thanks for letting me rant.
One article was written by a ND. By the end of the column, I was getting the impression that he was seeking affirmation from the medical community and that he feared his mention of massage and other types of body work (craniosacral therapy, for example) would make him look like more of 'weirdo' in their eyes than a professional. (Sure I am reading into that one, I know!)
I just can't understand the recommending a chiropractor (or a homeopath!) for tight neck muscles. Though alternative medicine professionals claim point out the ignorance of tradional western medicine docs, we need to be careful not to do the same thing.
The other day I was speaking to a client who told me of an LMTs 'affinity' to AIS. The LMT spoke to her as if AIS was the only answer to every problem. Perhpas for some it might be. But at the same time, everybody is different. And if we, as CAM practitioners, don't provide well-balanced and well-rounded information to the public we run the risk of falling into the same category into which we have pigeon-holed other medical professional.
Thanks for letting me rant.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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Hi Monica,
You are a writer. You said it at the beginning. There needs to be more info out there, informing people about the benefits of massage.. So, just keep researching and writing. It will help you rant and educate some at the same time. Find the common ground between East and West. Keep the Faith!
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Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on
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I agree with Mike, Monica. You write well - get out there and share your expertise.
I used to write for several Holistic Health type magazines many years ago.
Many of these publications don't have the articles, because they don't have the writers.
They may very well welcome your ideas and an article. Go for it! Don't wait for someone else, it looks like
your opportunity and it's great marketing for you. So no need to rant. Take action!
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Permalink Reply by ABMP on
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Hi Monica,
I also used to work for one of these types of magazines, and I highly recommend writing a letter to the editor. These magazines really appreciate getting feedback and they will often publish such letters. AND their audience is typically a massage-loving demographic (I'm shocked they missed the massage angle).
Lara
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Maria Brinza on
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Monica, I am with you 100% on all you said. On another note we should celebrate the grown in the practice of eastern medicine, accupuncture and whole herbs in our towns and cities. Those physicians I find are very happy to work and recommend massage instead of meds... Here in Pensacola Florida things seem to be shifting. Slowly, awareness is taking place and we just need to get to know our holistic Dr's in the community and beginning referal exchanges. One person at a time, we can do this...
We must not give up hope for our western Dr's though, perhaps more prayer. The few that acknowledge us as healers we must salute, we must support, and we must recommend due to there deeper understanding of health care. We must get our own stories into those magazines.
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SHawn et al
I thought you might appeciate the HUGE acknowledgment made at a public healing arts event recently by a Medical Doctor of 40 years -addressed a group of massage therapists and told them all that they know more than the medical community...that they are way more in tune and on the cutting edge of healing and he only wished he knew what we knew about healing!!
Yeah for those MD's !
Shawn Maria Brinza said:Monica, I am with you 100% on all you said. On another note we should celebrate the grown in the practice of eastern medicine, accupuncture and whole herbs in our towns and cities. Those physicians I find are very happy to work and recommend massage instead of meds... Here in Pensacola Florida things seem to be shifting. Slowly, awareness is taking place and we just need to get to know our holistic Dr's in the community and beginning referal exchanges. One person at a time, we can do this...
We must not give up hope for our western Dr's though, perhaps more prayer. The few that acknowledge us as healers we must salute, we must support, and we must recommend due to there deeper understanding of health care. We must get our own stories into those magazines.
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Don't give up Monica, East and West are merging, but slowly....
Monica Leibacher LMT said:That MD sounds like a very asute individual. Recently I took a road trip to Appalachicola, FL and ran across an MD who trained with Dr Weil. Though his main practice is in Jacksonville, he does have a small office there as well...and a health food store. While there I stopped in a few times and told the ladies there how pleased I was to see an MD approaching health rather than just sickness.
You are right. There are docs out there...I just wish there were more. Perhpas one day!
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