Massage is an excellent ally in your fight against Flu. The best way to fight against Flu is to prevent it and massage does a great job in this matter.
Massage Works Best by Preventing the Flu
Massage Therapy helps prevent the flu in several ways:
- Reduces the stress thus helping your body focus more on fighting the infection
- Improve blood and lymph circulation consequently the elimination of “intruders” is more effective.
- Increases the overall health and this leads to better immunity.
- If you are a physical active person, one massage per month, during the flu season, will help you drastically reduce the chances to be infected with Influenza.
- If you are an inactive person, a few massage sessions per month will be best for your health.
Is Massage Indicated or Contraindicated for Flu?
Flu is one of the contraindications for a massage for several reasons:
- The Therapist is a person in contact with many people so there is a high risk to spread the virus.
- Usually Flu is associated with high fever – which one of the cases when is strictly contraindicated.
- Even when the fever is not very high, a massage would worsen the symptoms, even though it will shorten the illness time.
Despite the contraindication of a Massage for flu there are situations when Massage Techniques can be applied to relieve the flu illness.
As the person who gives the massage, you can apply certain Swedish massage techniques, only if you are not in contact with other people, to avoid spreading it. (You shouldn’t treat patients with Flu if you are a massage therapist practicing in a salon, or a Spa).
You should never give a massage when the patient has high fever. The high fever is a sign that the body already responded to the virus and it fights it. A massage would actually increase the fever so it is strictly contraindicated. After the fever is gone, you can give a massage to speed up the recovery.
You can give a gentle massage including light effleurage, or nerve strokes, light Tapotement on the lungs area to help elimination of mucus, and very light friction. On this page you can learn massage techniques that can be applied for cold and flu.
Head Massage is also a highly effective technique for recovery after flu. It helps draining the sinuses, alleviate head aches, usually associated with Colds and Flu, increases circulation alleviate many other symptoms.
Vaccine or Alternative Medicine to Prevent Flu?
Getting the vaccine shot is one of the most efficient ways to avoid Flu. Vaccines are manufactured each year based on the most active virus strains.
The problem with vaccines is that they don’t cover all of the possible strains; This is not possible because the flu virus mutates all the time. New viruses appear every year. Relying solely on vaccines is not enough, and in fact, you see many times, people who had the yearly shot, contracting the flu. Combining the vaccine with preventative measures and Alternative Medicine will help you fight the flu. Additionally, these measures will help prevent the common cold as well.
Other Tips for Fighting the Cold and Flu
Here is a list with things that you can do to fight the cold and flu:
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Spray mixture of essential oils in your home every day. Use Therapeutic Grade essential oils for best results. Essential oils known to fight bacteria: clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus, fir, pine.
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If you feel sick and it is the first day of your cold, or flu, stay home if this is possible and rest in bed. This will considerably shorten your sick time.
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Avoid crowded places where you can easily get the virus.
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Rest well to boost your immunity.
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Be physically active and get out every day, UV rays help kill bacteria.
