Feb 7, 2009 7:56 am US/Eastern
A Unique Massage Therapy For Cancer Patients
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Amma therapy is rooted in the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine and some researchers believe it is very effective in treating most ailments from a tight muscle to healing treatments associated with cancer.
Anita Dean is a licensed massage therapist, telling one patient, "Just let your arm go and let it relax."
She uses a combination of oriental massage and a western approach to medicine to help cancer patients cope with the side effects of treatment.
"Calming the spirit, calming the emotions are my main concerns," she explained. "I work with a treatment called Amma therapy which is actually a massage of the acupuncture meridians."
Dr. Neal Rothschild, an oncologist, believes that while surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are the standard treatments for breast cancer, there are less traditional therapies growing in acceptance as a complement.
"I think there is increasing receptivity to this among the medical profession. Over the last few years, we've seen it move more and more into the main stream," Dr. Rothschild added.
Dean also suggests that there are other types of massages that can help with specific cancers.
"For example, in breast cancer patients, lymphatic massage is a very important tool to address lymphedema that is often times a complication of cancer surgery and radiation."
Dean says circulation is important to keep cells and blood flowing through the body. And while these treatments are certainly proving effective, they should not replace traditional medical care.
"We don't want people to think of this as an alternative to traditional medical care," she explained. "It is certainly going to be the traditional medical care that has the greatest impact on outcomes. We look at this as a supplement or an adjunct to traditional medical care to help improve patients' quality of life."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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