What is Stone Therapy?

Stone Therapy is the therapeutic use of stones that are either heated or cooled in water with the combination of massage. A variety of different stones (basalt, jade, soapstone…) with different properties (relaxing, revitalizing…) can be used consistently to help relax physical tension and anxiety, soothe aching muscle pain, and ultimately lift your spirit. As ongoing stress can lead to serious health issues, Hot Stone Therapy can be thought of as a preventative measure, and thus should be a part of your health maintenance program.

History

Hot Stone Therapy originated more than 5000 years ago. Here are some examples of how different cultures used stone therapy. It was used in Ayurvedic medicine in India with the stones being warmed in water or on hot coals to relieve muscle pain and discomfort; Native Americans used stones heated by the sun’s rays (heliotherapy) to ease pain, particularly cramps felt during menstruation. They also used them to heat sweat lodges and believed that this ritual could purify and cleanse the body of disease; in Hawaii lava stones were wrapped in ki leaves to heal and protect the body. As you can see, the therapeutic use of stones has been used all around the world for many years as a healing remedy.

Modern day Hot Stone Therapy is rooted in a practice that started in 1993 by Mary Nelson of Arizona, who was guided by an inner voice that explained the basis of the current techniques used in Hot Stone Therapy. Since then, Hot Stone Therapy has become quite popular, and is viewed as a holistic healing therapy that both relaxes, refreshes, and revitalizes body, mind, and soul.

What are the Benefits of Stone Therapy?

The benefits of Hot Stone Therapy are many, especially if Hot Stone Therapy is received on a regular basis. While the holistic modality of Hot Stone Therapy does not diagnose, prescribe, or treat for a specific condition, it can help to:

• Improve back, shoulder, and neck pain
• Alleviate stress and anxiety
• Improve relaxation and breathing
• Improve mental clarity and peace of mind
• Improve lymphatic circulation
• Improve circulation
• Release toxins
• Regulate metabolism
• Reduce menstrual pain
• Reduce joint pain
• Reduce tension headaches
• Reduce sciatic pain
• Improve overall well-being and vitality
• Promote grounding due to the high magnetic field found in basalt stones

Cold Stone Therapy can be combined with Hot Stone Therapy. Contrasting hot with cold dilates and constricts blood vessels, and as a result this process helps to improve circulation, reduce swelling, and improve tissue healing.  Ultimately, the result is a refreshing feeling. Cold Stone Therapy can help with:

• Local swelling, inflammation, redness
• Acute injuries
• Tension headaches
• Sinus congestion
• Toning and stimulating the body

Most people can benefit from Hot Stone Therapy, however, you should avoid it if you have:

• Advanced diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, kidney, liver, or heart disease
• Acute pneumonia
• Severe hypertension (high blood pressure) or unstable blood pressure
• Hemophilia (internal bleeding), phlebitis (inflamed veins)
• High fever
• Contagious or infectious conditions
• Rash or a condition with open wounds

If you have the following local conditions, please inform me so that the treatment would be avoided in these areas:  flare-ups of inflammatory arthritis and nerves, surgery in which nerves have been cut or altered, open wounds, recent burn or frostbite, skin conditions aggravated by heat, and metal implants.

Treatment modifications can be made by reducing the temperature of the stones (and a doctor’s note may be required) with the following conditions: cancer, hypertension, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, pregnancy, kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes, fibromyalgia, elderly people and young children, people with varicose veins and those who are on anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants.

For these reasons, it is important to communicate with me in regards to your health conditions, and also to complete your intake form with care and accuracy. And if at any time during the treatment, you experience any sensitivities, please let me know so we can discuss and so that adjustments can be made. Individuals with medical conditions or health issues are advised to consult a healthcare professional where appropriate. Always take your own health seriously and seek advice when needed.

About The Healing Hand

The Healing Hand is located in the beautiful Town of Port Perry, Ontario, Canada.  The Healing Hand does not diagnose, prescribe, or treat for a specific condition. However, the goal of The Healing Hand is to help improve and maintain your overall wellness. With this in mind, The Healing Hand offers Healing Services and Healing Products to help you “Relax, Refresh, and Revitalize”. Together, we can strive towards your health goals.  Current services include Reflexology and Hot Stone Therapy.  The Healing Hand in Port Perry also offers Healing Products that have a therapeutic objective. I design Plant Terrariums with Tropical Plants and Air Plants, as well as Zen Gardens. Looking at and taking care of plants, and tending a garden can help you develop peace of mind, focus, and balance.  I also design Bath Salts to help you relax both your mind and body.
In addition to serving Port Perry, Durham Region, The Healing Hand is conveniently located a short drive from the surrounding areas of Uxbridge, Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville, Courtice, Ajax, Pickering, and also not too far from Stouffville and Peterborough too!  The next time you plan to visit Port Perry, why not plan a visit to The Healing Hand!  And let my hands help you maintain your health! To book an appointment, please email me.