Integrated Project - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages This is especially so if one is struggling under certain pressure like they need to lose weight, they need to perform well in a sporting activity and such things. The effect of that kind of exercising is physical and psychological injuries. This is where massage comes in (Capellini, 2010). Massage is a tool used to manipulate the body muscles and connective tissues. The outcome is increased strength, flexibility and relaxation. It also helps to improve blood circulation, get rid of lactic acid in the muscles, open up the respiratory pores, reduce anxiety, reduce depression and improve sleep. A combination of physical activity and massage is therefore very important. It helps to increase bone strength and mineralization in infants, as well as reduce anxiety in patients with breast cancer. A clinical trial carried out in Japan on the effect of aromatherapy massage indicated that the massage was very effective in reducing anxiety. The massage was also proved to improve the immunology of the participants (Paraska, 2012). Women who have reached the stage of menopause face certain health risks such as breast cancer, heart related problems and problems related to the functioning of the gallbladder. The common type of therapy that is given to these women is the hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which may have adverse reactions in their bodies such as hot flushes, pain and depression. Phytoestrogens can reduce such risks more than HRT. The best way to administer Phytoestrogen is through aromatherapy (Myung-Haeng Hur, Yun Seok Yang and Myeong Soo Lee, 2007). Evidence for the above, with reference to scientific peer reviewed articles & clinical trials. Many patients of chronic diseases tend to be anxious of the recurrence of the diseases. This anxiety may lead to fear and stress and eventually depression. This affects their immunological performance and increases the probability of the disease to re-occur. Aromatherapy massage was observed to reduce this. In a study done between 2003 and 2005 to patients with breast cancer, aromatherapy massage conducted for 30 minutes twice a week had the following results. In the psychological measures, state anxiety was reduced more significantly than trait anxiety. In immunological measures, both trait and state anxiety were observed to reduce at a great deal. Depression also reduced during and after the massage was done. The massage was therefore recommended to be the most effective therapy in reducing anxiety than even the conventional medicines (Imanishi J, Kuriyama H, Shigemori I, Watanabe S, Aihara Y, Kita M, Sawai K, Nakajima H, Yoshida N, Kunisawa M, Kawase M, Fukui K., 2007). Aromatherapy was also observed to significantly reduce the effects of the risks that are associated with the menopausal stage. In a study done on 25 climacteric women at the menopausal stage in Korea, aromatherapy administered once per week in eight weeks respectively reported a decrease in abdominal pains, depression and hot flushes. The aromatherapy had been administered through massage at the arms, the back and the abdomen of the women (Myung-Haeng Hur, Yun Seok Yang and Myeong Soo Lee, 2007). History, origins or philosophy Aromatherapy, which is the use of essential oils mainly from plants for physical and psychological relief, is dated back a thousand years. The Chinese burned aromatic plants to create harmony. The Egyptians used oils from cinnamon, ...Download file to see next pages Read More