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Contra-indications
For most people holistic therapies are a safe treatment as they are natural, relaxing and non-invasive but there are sometimes reasons that mean that it is not possible to carry out the treatment, or to have to adapt a treatment so please have a read before booking and contact me if you have any questions.
There are 3 types of contra-indications
- Total – when a treatment should not be carried out at all
- Local – when a treatment can be carried out but not over the
contra-indicated areas
- Medical – when a treatment can only be carried out once medical permission has been given
This is only for your health and well being so please have a read. I will first give a general overview of contra-indications to massage, then list any that differ / apply to individual treatments so please also have a look to see if there is anything added specific to the therapy that you are looking for.
Massage
Total
- Fever
- Contagious or infectious diseases including colds and flu
- Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including pain medication
- Recent operations or acute injuries
- Recent hemorrhage
- Neuritis
Local
- Varicose veins
- Undiagnosed lumps, bumps or swellings
- Pregnancy
- Bruising
- Sunburn
- Rashes
- Undiagnosed pain
- Inflammation – including arthritis
Medical
- Cardio-vascular conditions (thrombosis, phlebitis, hypertension, heart conditions)
- Any condition being treated by a medical practitioner
- Oedema
- Psoriasis or eczema
- High blood pressure / low blood pressure
- Osteoporosis
- Cancer – although research has shown that gentle aromatherapy hand and foot massage can be a benefit as part of palliative care
- Nervous or psychotic conditions
- Heart problems, angina, pacemakers
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Bell's palsy, trapped or pinched nerves
- Gynecological infections
Hopi ear candles / Thermal auricular therapy
- Recent head or neck injury
- Grommets
- Infections in the area
- Perforated ear drum
- High or low blood pressure
- Circulatory disorders
- Dysfunction of the nervous system
- Epilepsy
- Inflammation in the area
- Skin disorders – weeping eczema, psoriasis
- Neuralgia – can't carry out the treatment if there is pain at the time
- Severe bruising, open cuts or abrasions in the treatment area
- Recent ear surgery
- Cysts in the ear
- Mastoiditis (inflammation of the bone behind the ear)
- Ear drains (tubes) are present
- Osteosclerosis
- Ankylosis of the stages (fusing of the bones in the middle ear)
- Paracentesis (surgical puncture of a cavity for the purpose of removing fluid)
- Tumour of the ear
- A person is currently under supervision of a medical doctor for ear problems
- Allergy to bee stings (which is a risk with bee's wax candles / honey)
Reiki
The normal contra-indications are quite different with reiki as the aim of reiki is to clear energy blockages to allow the body's energy to flow and help start the body's own healing process without physically manipulating the body. Therefore any diseases, illnesses, imbalances or injuries may benefit as reiki may help to encourage the body to start healing itself.
Reiki should be avoided for the first 15 weeks of pregnancy as with any other therapy, just as a precautionary measure. It is upto the mother whether she wants to receive reiki during pregnancy, but the reason it is said not to is because baby will be receiving the energy too without having a choice and you should always ask permission to give energy from whoever is going to be receiving the reiki energy before giving it.
Baby massage
- Not until after baby's 6-8 week medical check has been carried out
- When baby is not too tired or too hungry, so maybe 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes after feeding
- Not when baby is sleeping or crying (if baby is sleeping during an instruction session the moves can still be demonstrated and practiced on a doll so don't worry)
- When baby is unwell he / she should not be massaged (fever or infectious disease).
- If baby has just been immunised it is advisable to wait for 48 hours to see how baby reacts.
- Recent operations / surgery – consult GP first
- Recent fractures, sprains or swellings – avoid massaging until signs of inflammation have gone down.
- Skin disorders – avoid rashes and affected areas.
- Cuts and bruises – avoid the area
- Unhealed navel – no massage until area has healed.
- Recent hemorrhage – avoid massage and ask for medical advice.
- Congenital heart condition – GP approval will be needed
Conditions
A lot of conditions vary from baby to baby so it is often necessary to seek professional approval from the baby's GP first to find out what is advised for your baby.
- Spastic conditions – massage may help increase joint mobility and reduce rigidity as well as being comforting. GP approval will be requires first.
- Dysfunction of the nervous system – discuss with GP first
- Epilepsy – seek advice from GP first and if approval is given it may mean sessions have to be shorter and results will have to monitored.
- Downs syndrome – consult GP first but massage usually benefits downs syndrome babies as it can help increase muscle tone and also improve balance and co-ordination
- Muscular dystrophy – seek GP advice first. Care should be taken as muscles can be painful but by massaging the abdominal area lightly it can help ease constipation because of the affect the disease has on the involuntary nervous system. It may also slow down muscle atrophy.
- Spina bifida – seek GP approval first and if granted massage should be carried out very carefully but it may help increase joint mobility which will help to prevent contractures of muscles and may also help to reduce the plasticity of the muscles.
- Cerebral palsy – seek GP approval first but massage can provide great emotional support as well as improving circulation to the skin and muscles that are used , improving posture, reducing stress and reducing plasticity helping to prevent contractures.
- Autism – seek medical advise first and massage would have to be monitored to see how baby gets on with it as autistic children have difficulty expressing verbal and / or non-verbal communication and may get distressed, on the other hand it may be a comfort and help them to relax.
- Cystic fibrosis – seek GP advise first. It is important with cystic fibrosis to make sure that baby doesn't come into contact with any form of infection but massage can help drain the viscous mucus from the lungs and increase blood flow and lymph drainage in the fatigued respiratory muscles.
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