Therapeutic massage (why it should be on the NHS)
Therapeutic massage is not like some dodgy back-street parlour. It’s performed by trained therapists and has huge benefits for stress, aching joints and muscles, recovery from illness and better immunity. Yet hardly any NHS trust offers it, despite it doing so much good, and a potential to reduce bills.
The NHS often offers physiotherapy. But massage therapists are just as highly-trained, and can help many illnesses like rheumatism.
Ask your GP before massage (it can have contraindications). Therapeutic massage rarely uses aromatherapy oils (if used, avoid for pregnancy/nursing and keep oils away from children and pets).
Press Here! Massage for Beginners is an illustrated guide for home use, written by a licensed therapist. It offers simple illustrations to go alongside tips to relieve pain, alleviate tension and recover from sport.
Learn how to massage the shoulders, back, neck, arms, hands, legs, feet, head, scalp and face (plus massage for relaxation). There are also treatment plans to help:
- Headaches
- Sinus congestion
- Constipation
- Menstrual cramps
- Pain relief
- Insomnia
- Inflammation
- Arthritis
Campaigns for massage on the NHS
Massage is only available as osteopathy for certain conditions. One massage therapist has put up a petition at 38 Degrees, asking for massage by qualified therapists to be free on the NHS.
The NHS could save a fortune, if they employed therapeutic massage therapists. Qualified lymphatic drainage masseurs have absolutely amazing results.
NHS England spends up to £10 billion a year treating musco-skeletal conditions (with 7.5 million days lost due to ill-health and up to 60% of patients on long-term incapacity benefits, 10% of which suffer depression).
30% of GP appointments are related to such conditions. Yet these are the kinds of conditions that massage therapists can treat (most patients could not afford private treatment of around £50 a session).
Having them available would also free up time for doctors and nurses to treat patients with other conditions.
