By Matilda French
When we are talking about different types of massages, it is know that the hot stone massage is considered as the most popular one. Yet we don’t know that a cold stone massage therapy also offers a lot of health benefits. This type of massage is regarded as a form of cryotherapy which is the use of cold for medical treatment purposes.
Unlike hot stone massage wherein basalt stones are heated in water, cold stone massage makes use of marble stones. While basalt is good in retaining heat due to its mineral and iron content, marble on the other hand is effective in maintaining a cold temperature. In either hot or cold massage, these stones help in penetrating their temperature into the body’s muscles which gives out a fulfilling massage experience as a result.
Cold stones are usually used on different parts of the body as a decongestant. These stones are responsible for relieving the swelling in the circulatory system and this is the reason why cold stone massage offers a lot of potential for treating a number of ailments. For instance, if you are suffering from a sport injury wherein a specific muscle or join is swelling, a good cold stone massage therapy can aid in releasing the accumulation of blood in the tissue and muscle. Dark circles that form under your eyes are also due to the accumulation of blood in the tissue surrounding it that is why you can get of this by using small stones to rest on the eyes. This will help in relieving the tired and puffy appearance.
Choosing cold stone massage over hot stone therapy, you have to reflect on the situation. The following are facts that you have to consider when opting for cold stone massage:
— There are cases when a patient has to undergo a cold stone massage rather than the hot one. This is because this type of massage is sometimes more preferred medically. For example, if a patient’s muscle is sore or if the muscle tissue is already damaged, the heat from the basalt stone could worsen the pain and possible damage on the tissue. That is why it is better to go through a cold stone therapy in cases such as this.
— Cold stone massage provides patients more options. There are instances as well wherein some people would rather feel the cold stones on their body rather than the heated ones.
— The use of marble stones in cold massage therapy is outstanding when it comes to reducing swelling. As mentioned above, once a tissue starts swelling because of a certain physical activity, using heat can possibly worsen the swelling and the subsequent pain. On the other hand, marble helps in spreading the swelling throughout the entire circulatory system hence it makes the healing process faster.
— Cold stone therapy aids in revitalizing certain body parts and can also help in rejuvenating patients.
Although hot stone massages are highly effective, it is definitely not for everyone. That is why we always have to consider the situation first before scheduling a session with your favorite massage therapist.
About the Author: I write for AML Stone Source, the leading
basalt stones
supplies provider. They carry products such as
massage stone
, as well as many other accessories for hot and cold stone therapy.
Source:
isnare.com
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