Why To Cancel When You're Sick

   
    If you have a fever or an infectious sickness, even a common cold, that is good reason to postpone your massage appointment. For one thing, touch may not feel good. For another thing, you may be contagious, especially in the first stages of a cold or flu. This is usually when you are feeling the worst, when you are coughing and sneezing frequently. The more you limit your contact with others, including your massage therapist, the less you will spread it around. For example, if you don’t “pass” a cold on to your massage therapist, he or she won’t spread it to all the other clients.

    Studies show that you can transmit a cold or flu to others one or two days before your symptoms appear, and up to five days after first being ex­posed to the virus. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), colds are most contagious two to four days after original exposure, when there is plenty of the virus present in nasal secretions.

    There is another reason to avoid massage when you have an acute cold or flu. Because one of the major impacts of massage is on the circulation (in­cluding the removal of wasteful by-products and infectious materials), it is thought that massage can actually increase the spread of infection in your body. If you are sick, your immune system is already working hard. One of the best immune supports may truly be resting and drinking plenty of liquids.

    And, remember, whenever you have any questions about the appropri­ateness of massage, be sure to talk with a massage therapist when you schedule the appointment. And, if you are under the care of a physician for any reason, let them know you are receiving massage therapy.

*** Massage should not be considered as a replacement for professional medical treatment: a physician should be consulted in all matters relating to health and especially in relation to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. In some cases, a primary physician’s approval/prescription is required before any bodywork is administered. Care should be taken during pregnancy, particularly in the use of essential oils and pressure points. Essential oils should not be ingested, and should be used for babies and children only on professional advice.