Implicit in the last blog post is an understanding that physical pain comes attached with certain emotions and thoughts that are unique to the individual, depending upon their past experiences and situations that are still affecting the present. Often, we are oblivious to these subconscious processes that keep us bound in the past with its pain. The good news is that, with intentional work, we can uncover the thoughts and narratives we have surrounding our pain.
1 Comment
In the last blog post, we talked about the physical input of pain gathered from our tissues and how pain is not processed in the damaged or diseased tissue itself, but in the fascia where the receptors of the nervous system reside. Input of pain from receptors of damaged tissue is also mixed with other input in our nervous system from our thoughts, emotions, and memories of past experiences. In fact, these are the filters through which we process the physical pain, which accounts for how widely we experience what should be the same amount of pain for the same physical injury New studies on the nature of chronic pain are teaching us that pain is the product of a complex of physiological, emotional, attitudinal, and social factors. It is important to keep in mind that pain is not just one or the other of these factors, but a complex of all. In spite of the danger of continuing the traditional separation of these factors, in the interest of your time, this blog post is going to focus on the physiological nature of pain. We’ll cover the other factors in future blog posts. Pain is not processed in the location where you feel it, but in our nervous system. How many times have you been on the massage table to say, “It hurts here,” only to have the massage therapist find that that’s not really where the problem is? My left front hip pain is often from a problem with my right back hip, but I’d swear to you that the problem is my front left hip because that’s where it hurts—and I know better! On Saturday, March 14, after consulting with the World Health Organization, the CDC, and the Ohio Medical Board, I made the decision to temporarily close the office in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Even though I took every precaution previously, the more I researched this virus, the more concerned I grew. This is not a normal flu. Humans have no immunity to this. For some the symptoms are similar to a flu; for others it can be deadly. I researched first-hand accounts and learned that this is one sneaky virus. Folks think they have a cold or flu, think they’re getting better, only to end up with pneumonia the next day and ventilated a couple days later fighting for their lives. Those who are at high risk are those with compromised immune systems, but also able-bodied men have become seriously ill. Others who test positive have no symptoms at all. It’s baffling. Because it’s a new disease, data is still being collected and is awaiting full analysis. We just don’t know yet exactly what we’re up against, especially because symptoms are so varied. Sanitation has always been something important at Massage Ministration. I routinely diffuse DoTerra’s On Guard in the room, which has a sanitizing effect in the atmosphere. I’ve also been putting On Guard in everyone’s essential oil mix because it’s been scientifically proven to boost the immune system. I'm mixing up a batch of oils from a recipe that warded off the plague in the Middle Ages to anoint clients with as well. In addition to wiping down the table, bolsters, face cradle, room surfaces, and door knobs with bleach, I'm now also wiping down all door knobs you touch to get into the massage room and paying more attention to sanitizing the shared restroom and everything we touch in there. In addition, I’m giving folks their own disinfectant wipe to use as they leave the building. Massage is about lengthening tight fascia and muscles. But how we stand and move also determines how our muscles lengthen or shorten into set patterns over time. This is why massage is only one part of healing and wholeness. Believe it or not, how we walk is an important piece of the healing puzzle. It’s why I spend time really opening your feet and calves so that you can walk correctly, which is something most of us have never learned. We just stood up and started walking, and everyone cheered. But if you really want the full benefit of a massage, you’ll also want to practice good posture and walking patterns so that your body can release its old painful patterns and create new healthy ones. I am allergic to mosquito bites, so I need a good insect repellant, but I hate pesticides of any kind. Pesticides are the only known cause of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which killed my mother. So I don’t like to wear insect repellant with any pesticides like DEET in it. What to do? I mix my own essential oil insect repellant, which I found to be very effective, and much better smelling than store bought bug sprays. Here's what you'll need:
Put 5-10 drops each of as many of the following oils as you have in a 2-ounce dark glass spray bottle: geranium lemongrass rosemary basil lavender catnip bergamot vetiver arborvitae patchouli cypress melaleuca eucalyptus clary sage cedar wood citronella peppermint thyme litsea lemon eucalyptus You can also add any of the following that also have some repellant properties, but these are second-tier: lemon clove birch cinnamon douglas fir ylang ylang The more oils you use, the stronger your repellant will be. You must put these in a glass container because the essential oils are strong enough to break down plastic, and it needs to be dark (brown or cobalt blue) to keep the sunlight from breaking down the oils.
Because essential oils alone can irritate the skin, you need to add a little carrier oil to the mixture. Add about 10-20 drops of a light oil, such as fractionated coconut, almond, or avocado oil, to the bottle. The lighter this oil, the better, so that it won’t clog the sprayer. I use fractionated coconut oil, but I have that on hand. In addition, you may want to add 5 drops of glycerin. Fill the rest of the bottle with witch hazel. This will thin the spray, keep the sprayer clear, and distribute the oils evenly on the skin. About half of your mixture should be witch hazel. Shake well before use, and reapply frequently. Caution: citrus oils can make your skin more sensitive to light. And some of these oils are not pet-friendly. So go mix up your own repellant, and enjoy the great outdoors. If you'd like to purchase your own high-quality essential oils at wholesale cost, let me know and I can help you become a doTerra member to purchase these at cost. Massage therapy is priestly in its ministrations. As I prepare for a massage, I methodically set the table, turn on its heater, warm the stones, heat the towels, choose appropriate essential oils, and light candles with prayer for our work together. I’m often struck by how similar my massage preparations are to readying a space for worship.
No one has a normal body. Normal is a construct based on what's most frequently found among a myriad of variations. Yet too often, medical professionals expect us to conform to what they learn is normal. I don’t want to bad-mouth doctors; they heal us. But their education is based on a heuristic norm, a standard that can be taught. Massage therapists are also licensed by the Ohio Medical Board who learn anatomy like medical doctors. We have the anatomical charts that indicate where all the muscles are. Except--when you get your hands on people, you find that no one is exactly like the person in the anatomy charts. |
AuthorTeresa Eisenlohr is a licensed massage therapist who's also an ordained Presbyterian pastor with a Ph.D. in Christian theology. Needless to say, it's been a weird and interesting healing journey. |