7 Hard Facts About Therapeutic Hot Stones and Hot Stone Therapy By Chris Turley At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Have you heard the expression “Just the facts, ma’am”? Although it has become the catchphrase of the popular TV show “Dragnet,” interestingly nobody ever uttered the sentence in the show. Instead, it originates from the parody “St. George and the Dragonet.” Still, facts are important. Here are some facts about hot stone therapy, which you should know of if you want a soothing, relaxing massage:

1. The massage costs more than a basic massage

In this case, you indeed “get what you pay for.” A hot stone massage does not include a standard Thai, Swedish, Shiatsu, or Sports massage. Instead, the extra element includes (as you might guess) heated stones of various sizes, which the therapist places at key locations on your body.

2. The hot massage stones are not run-of-the-mill stones

The stones that therapists use are not ones that you can dig up in your backyard. Typically, a hot massage kit includes basalt stones. That is a black rock that originates from volcanoes. These smooth stones hold heat well, making them ideal for a hot stone massage. Before the therapist places the stones on various parts of your body, he or she sanitizes them, and then heats them in water ranging from 120°-150° degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Hot stone massages include stones of different shapes and sizes

Size matters in the case of hot stone massages. Therapists place stones of different sizes, on different parts of the body. The largest stones go on the shoulders and hips, the medium-size stones go on either side of the backbone, and the smallest stones go between fingers or toes. Obviously, placing a huge stone atop a patient’s hand would be somewhat counterproductive.

4. Muscles relax faster with hot stone massages

One of the objectives of a massage, is to relax the muscles. Through heat therapy, massage stones speed up the process. After removing the stones, the muscles are already more supple, making the work of the therapist much easier and effective.

5. People have used hot stones for medicinal purposes for thousands of years

Hot stones have existed as a means of medical treatment, for thousands of years. That includes various parts of the world, such as India, the Americas, Egypt, and ancient Greece. People positioned warmed stones on patients’ bodies, wore stones, and even used stones in healing ceremonies!

6. The therapist can massage while holding a heated stone

One method that massage therapists use, is to hold a heated stone, while using various massage strokes on the patient. Within time, the stone will cool. At that time, the therapist uses a warm stone to replace the cool one, and then continues the hot stone massage.

7. A therapist can use cold stones

Cold stones are better if the patient’s muscles are tender or damaged.

Before deciding to experience a hot stone massage, it is important to have “just the facts.” The aforementioned facts provide some solid details about hot stones and hot stone massages. The most important fact is that hot stone massages work!

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