How to Use Massage Therapy for Substance Abuse

Massage therapy has physical benefits such as stimulating blood flow, helping the body clear itself of toxins and relaxing nerves and muscles. It also helps psychologically by calming the patient and boosting feelings of worth and well-being.
Both aspects are valuable in helping a person recover from substance abuse and return to a non-dependent lifestyle.

Things You'll Need

• Massage table or futon
• Sheets
• Massage oil
• Towels
• Hand sanitizer

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Instructions

Massage as part of Substance Abuse Therapy

• 1

  Consult with the abuse treatment physician before performing massage therapy. There may be physical reasons such as blood vessel damage or organ damage which make massage of specific areas harmful or require only the lightest of strokes. A trained massage therapist is best-suited for this work, but a caring friend can perform some of the basic strokes.

• 2

  Place the massage table (or if one is unavailable, a futon or mattress will do) in a quiet room, preferably dimly lit for a calm and relaxed environment. Spread the sheets over your table to keep oils from soaking into the table and to provide a more comfortable surface for the patient to lie on.

• 3

  Have the patient disrobe to their shorts and lie face down between the sheets. While performing the massage, only expose the limb or area being worked and re-cover after the work is done, to keep the patient warm and comfortable.

• 4

  Pour a small amount of oil into the palm of your sanitized hands, warming it with your hands before spreading it across the patient's back and shoulders.
  Long, smooth strokes across the skin are the most relaxing. Ask the patient if you are using too much pressure, start with light strokes and gradually add pressure for the most comfortable level. Do not apply direct pressure to the spine, elbows or knees (unless you are trained in massage) and use only light pressure over the organs (between lower ribs and hips).

• 5

  Massage the arms starting from the hands and the legs starting from the feet. Push the blood and toxins from the extremities towards the main trunk where the blood is filtered. This is part of the detoxification advantages offered by massage therapy.

• 6

  Wipe the massaged areas down with your towels when done with the massage to remove excess oils.

• 7

  Have the patient consume at least on pint of water following the massage due to the movement of toxins from the limbs into the main trunk of the body.
  Even with a good water flush, many patients may have a slight headache after a massage as the body processes the released toxins.

• 8

  Wash and sanitize your hands after the massage, before you touch anything else.
  Launder the sheets and towels and sanitize the table surface before you perform another massage with them.