Can Massage Help a Cold?

You didn't sleep well.  You feel achy, out of sorts, snifflely with a scratchy and sore throat, maybe you have a headache and your chest feels tight.  Sounds like a massage should be the perfect solution, right?

WRONG!

Your immune system is already working overtime to fight off what ever bug got you.  Massage can be beneficial in stimulating an increase in immune response but if you are already sick, it will be like pouring gas on a fire and can actually make your system overload, thus you will feel worse.  If you are having any sinus issues, laying face down for any length of time will only cause sinuses to be congested and increase nasal drip and coughing.

Massage is best when you are no longer contagious and symptomatic.  Maybe you have a lingering cough, but it has been at least 10 days since you felt sick.  This is when massage can help loosen up tight areas that had all those aches and pains and when you will feel better.  That is when massage can give your system a boost in getting rid of any lingering aches and pains.

Not sure if you should schedule or cancel your appointment?  If you are too sick to work, you should NOT get a massage.

Our culture seems to think that "powering" through pain and illness is some kind of greatness.  No.  It is bad for you and inconsiderate of those around you.  Are you really asking a massage therapist to lock themselves in a small, warm room that is the perfect environment for bacteria and virus to grow and expose themselves to whatever you have?  When you go to work, school, shop or out and about when you are sick, you are sending out the message that you don't care about anyone but yourself. 

I know you don't mean to, but please don't expose me to your cold.  I am a self-employed person that can't afford to lose days of work.  Your cold might cost me hundreds of dollars, not to mention the discomfort. 

Things to Do When You are Sick:
Stay Home
Drink fluids
Rest
Stay warm
Take a lot of vitamin C
Echinacea is great to take at the first sign of a cold.  It stops the virus or bacteria from growing.
Wheat Grass tablets have natural antibiotic qualities
Garlic - any form and lots of it
Astragalus - great for the immune system
Reishi - another immune booster
Zinc - assists immune system
(Sunshine Market has all these and more that can help you fight a cold.  I would suggest you talk to Tim, in the supplement department.)
Laugh - it stimulates immune system. Norman Cousins cured himself with it
Look for Youtube videos on self-massage (there are tons of them)
Read that book you've been trying to get to
Have someone buy you tea: we have several that will help...Sniffle Tea, Feel Better, Throat Therapy and more.

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