Palliative Massage & Reflexology

 

Palliative massage is offered to clients suffering from progressive or long term illness.  This holistic treatment aims to improve spiritual wellbeing, helping clients to cope with the pain associated with their illness and to improve comfort and wellbeing.   

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This gentle but effective treatment is tailored to meet the needs of the individual and can induce a feeling of relaxation, mental clarity and wellbeing.  Palliative care cancer patients can be particularly responsive to gentle massage therapy. 

 

Benefits may include:

• decreased pain

• decreased anxiety

• improved well-being

• increased relaxation

• relief from pain and stiffness

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Reflexology treatment is a popular complementary therapy for palliative care, largely because of its convenience; it can be performed on patients without them having to be moved about or repositioned, thus ensuring utmost comfort and ease for them. It is also regarded as one of the most effective complementary therapies for helping to relieve common side effects and physical problems associated with cancer treatment. These include:

• nausea

• diarrhoea

• constipation

• pain

• poor appetite

• communication difficulties

• tiredness

• sleeping problems.

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In addition to physical benefits, reflexology is also believed to help palliative care patients on an emotional and spiritual level. After being diagnosed with a life-threatening or terminal illness many patients will experience a range of emotions, from shock, fear and anger, through to frustration, helplessness and maybe even guilt for placing a burden on their loved ones.   Reflexology treatment involves positive and therapeutic touch, so can help to restore a sense of self and emotional contentment - providing a release for patients.

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