CBD (Cannabidiol)
CBD is a buzzword that has been floating around since 2018. It is a chemical found in the Cannabis sativa plant (hemp/marijuana). But do not fear, because the compound that gives one the “high” (THC) has been reduced to levels too low to detect (You will not find yourself raiding the refrigerator after a CBD treatment).
How does CBD oil work?
CBD binds with our bodies’ natural receptors of the “master regulator” system (endocannabinoid system). This system regulates how we experience pain, stress, hunger, sleep, mood, memory retention, and more [1]. It helps bring us back to a state of balance when there is stress or trauma.
The receptors of the endocannaboid system are found in nerve and immune cells in nearly every organ in the body, making CBD an effective tool for relieving the symptoms of many physical issues concurrently.
How do CBD and massage work together?
Massage therapy helps alleviate inflammation and pain by also effecting the “master regulator” system; when used together, there are many benefits to including CBD oil to a massage session. Massage-related benefits may include: less inflammation, reduced anxiety, and decreased pain.
Although the science has not caught up with the market, the research to date supports positive benefits of CBD use.
One such study was published in the July 2016 issue of the European Journal of Pain. It found that topical CBD application “has therapeutic potential for relief of arthritis pain-related behaviors. and inflammation without evident side effects.”
While studies are not finding evidential side effects to CBD applications, it is recommended that users talk to their doctors about whether or not CBD use is safe for them.
If you work someplace with regular drugs screens, you will not likely trigger the drug screen just with a CBD massage.
Mountain Massage is excited to offer CBD oil, whether targeting a specific area or using the oil during your entire massage.
Note: We personally do not recommend CBD for a first session with us in order to experience the difference of a healing "Mountain Massage" without CBD, verses experiencing a "Mountain Massage" with the added effects of the CBD.
Notes: 1. Martin A. Lee, “The Brain and Marijuana,” Project CBD, Feb. 19, 2014, www.projectcbd.org/science/brain-and-marijuana-book-excerpt.
Myofascial Release
The human body is enveloped in a continuous web of tissue called fascia (click here for a short video). Fascia is uninterrupted throughout the entire body, including throughout muscles (called myofascia), so any disruption in one part of the body can cause disruption and imbalances in another. Myofascia has three main functions:
- Holds the muscle together and keeps it in the correct place.
- Separates the muscles so they can work independently of each other.
- Provides a lubricated surface so that the muscles can move smoothly against each other.
Like many tissues in our body, myofascia can become stiff, causing muscles to feel tight and become less functional. The myofascia surrounding the entire waist and hip area (i.e., core), both front and back, most often affects the entire body. Myofascial stretch is the foundation of nearly every massage. Relaxing superficial myofascia (outer, just below the skin) helps soften the layer of tissue between the skin and muscle, making work on the muscles more manageable. It essentially helps loosen and relax the body in preparation for deeper tissues such as muscle.
A Muscle which is too tight, too loose, hyper-active (constant tension), hypo-active (lack of tension), or damaged, can cause a disruption. This disruption can cause muscle tension as the body "guards" the inhibited area to protect it. Other surrounding, and often very distal, tissues often contract as part of the "guarding" process, and cause pain in an area of the body away from the original trauma.
Swedish Massage
After the Myofascial release, Swedish massage will likely be integrated as the baseline for your massage. Expect broad, flowing strokes that will help calm your nervous system and relax exterior muscle tension. As your body becomes relaxed, pressure will gradually be increased to relax specific areas and relieve areas of muscular tension. Often, a light oil or lotion is used to allow your muscles to be massaged without causing excessive friction to the skin. The oil also helps hydrate your skin.
Also part of Swedish massage is a rhythmic percussion technique called tapotement, which is most frequently administered with the edge of the hand, a cupped hand or the tips of the fingers. You should communicate immediately if you feel any discomfort so that another approach may be taken. Massage and bodywork are most effective when your body is not resisting.
Neuromuscular Therapy
Neuromuscular therapy is a combination of the basic principles of Oriental pressure therapies, along with a specific, hands-on, deep tissue therapy to help reduce chronic muscle tension or myofascial (soft-tissue) pain. Neuromuscular therapy is applied specifically to individual muscles and helps to increase blood flow, release trigger points (intense knots of muscle tension that refer pain to other parts of the body), and release pressure on nerves caused by soft tissues.
While client-therapist communications is important for any massage, neuromuscular therapy often requires more communications during a session than other modalities. Very often, the sources of pain are not the areas initially noted by the client during the pre-massage check-in, so feedback is important to help determine the best location(s) for the sources of pain or discomfort.
There is a misconception that neuromuscular therapy has to be painful: Proper use of neuromuscular therapy may require some discomfort, and if the discomfort becomes pain, pressure is lessened to the comfort of the client. During the neuromuscular therapy part of a session, clients will be asked questions regarding intensity of pressure, type of pressure, and whether or not the pressure dissipates.