Massage Therapy
The Radiant Health Center offers therapeutic massage therapy that begins with Hawaiian hot stones, to loosen fascia and muscular tissue, and continues with deep and specific touch that addresses chronic patterns of tension and stress. We prefer hour and a half appointments, allowing enough time for deep shifts and relaxation, followed by a 30 minute sauna session for complete detoxification and restructuring of balance and muscular ease. This complete two hour appointment is $100. We can prorate hour appointments if necessary. We offer discounts for referrals and first time clients, as well as seasonal specials. Please sign up for our emailing list for quarterly newsletters with these additional discounts.

Hawaiian Hot Stone
Hawaiian hot stone therapy, or Lomi’ili’ili which literally means “flat pebbles in motion” in Hawaiian, refers to a powerful and deeply relaxing treatment of warm oiled stones. These stones are used as tools to gently release fascia and muscular tissues and are applied with broad pressure and long strokes. This therapy restores balance to the mind, body and spirit while relaxing and releasing tense areas, tonifying muscles and improving overall circulation of blood and lymph.

PNF
PNF, or Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, is a system of resisted stretching that works with neuromuscular mechanisms to reset normal muscle length and tone. This technique is especially good for muscles that have shortened and no longer maintain a full range of motion.

Prenatal Massage
The Radiant Health Center has a very special table that is designed just for pregnant and nursing mothers with retractable breast and belly areas. This allows mother and mothers- to-be to lie on their bellies comfortably and without undue pressure. During pregnancy, muscles are constantly flexing to balance ever-changing centers of gravity. Massage can help your body adjust to your new state. All the aches and pains that accompany pregnancy can be eased or alleviated with quality bodywork. Benefits of pregnancy massage include:
• Easing of stress on ankles, lower back, hips, and joints that bear the pressure of the baby’s weight and increased blood volume.
• Easing of stress on neck and upper back; the muscles balancing new abdomen and breast size.
• Increased relaxation and peace during a significant life transition.
• Improvement of posture, preventing greater discomfort later in pregnancy.
• Reduction of any pregnancy-related headaches, sciatic pain, or carpal tunnel symptoms.
• Reduction of swelling (edema) in your arms and legs.
• Increased circulation of blood and lymph.

Postpartum Massage
In the postpartum period, nature sets about undoing in eight weeks what it took nine months to create. Although it may be difficult, it is as important to care for oneself now as it was during pregnancy. The demands of a newborn can take its toll on your physical well-being by adding stress, sleep deprivation and hormonal fluctuations to your life. Breastfeeding positions can add significant pain and tension to neck and shoulder areas. Relaxing massage can help! Postpartum “blues” may also be softened by having some nurturing touch.

When should you receive your first postpartum massage? It will depend on how your delivery went, how your current health is, and when your doctor advises. For some, it is within the first week, for others it takes a few months. Please check with your primary Health Care Provider if you plan to receive massage within the first six weeks of the postpartum period. Benefits of postpartum massage:
• Nurture and provide emotional support.
• Facilitate restoration of pre-pregnancy physiology.
• Alleviate muscle strain/fatigue of labor and birth.
• Prevent and reduce back and neck pain caused by newborn care and breastfeeding.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Whether you have a specific problem or just want to improve your overall health, acupuncture is a safe, relaxing and effective method for facilitating healing, restoring balance and improving vitality. We gladly accept insurance for your acupuncture appointment!

What are Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine?
Chinese Medicine is the oldest literate medicine in the world, being practiced continually for at least the last 2,500 years. It involves stimulation of the body’s natural healing abilities using a variety of techniques, the most frequent of which is acupuncture, the penetration of the skin with thin, sterile, stainless steel needles. Often moxibustion (warming therapy) is applied and a customized herbal formula may be prescribed. In addition to acupuncture and herbal medicine, other modalities include bodywork, cupping and gua sha techniques.

How Does Acupuncture Work?
The exact mechanism of acupuncture is not yet known, but it involves the stimulation of the body’s circulatory and immune systems to heal and rebalance the body. Effects are seen across body systems with beneficial changes found in circulation, immune function, pain levels, hormone and neurotransmitter levels, and more.

The theory of acupuncture describes pathways of the body’s life force (called ‘Qi’) and is the study of which points along these pathways will affect the body’s physiology in particular ways. All aspects of your physiology are taken into account when determining which points will be effective for your condition, and the acupuncturist strives to create healing throughout the body (not just the specific condition for which you seek treatment), including your constitution as a whole.

Acupuncture is beneficial as a stand-alone therapy, or in combination with other modalities, such as herbal medicine or bodywork.

Widely practiced and accepted in Western cultures all over the world, acupuncture has been proven highly effective for addressing a wide variety of health issues. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) released their Analysis of Acupuncture*, including a list of disorders for which acupuncture – through controlled trials – has been shown to be an effective treatment. A partial list includes:

Allergic rhinitis / hay fever
Depression
Dysmenorrhea/painful periods
Facial pain
Headache
Hypertension/hypotension
Induction of labor
Knee pain
Leukopenia
Low back pain
Malposition of fetus/breech
Morning sickness
Nausea/vomiting
Neck pain
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sciatica
Sprain
Stroke

* http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js4926e/5.html

Infrared Sauna