Massage and Eye Health

August 6th, 2013

August is National Eye Exam Month. From the time we open them in the morning, until the time we close them at night, our eyes are always on call. Our feet get a break when we sit, our hands work intermittently throughout the day but, aside from our ears which never seem to get a break, our eyes are just about the busiest part of our body. Learn how massage can reduce the symptoms experienced with eye fatigue and how bodywork can help keep them healthy.

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Until something happens to remind us otherwise, many of us take our eyes for granted. Our eyes tell us when it is daytime and when it is night. They warn us of oncoming danger. Our eyes show emotion through tears of sadness as well as joy. When we are in love our pupils dilate into pools of limpid darkness. When your mind is overloaded with information, your pupils constrict. Your eyes can tell a doctor if you are on drugs, or if you are having certain health problems or brain dysfunction. Throughout the ages the eyes have been considered the doorway to the soul. With this magnitude of responsibility, you can see how important it is to keep our eyes healthy and strong. Are there massage techniques that can help?

Western Massage

Any form of massage on the eye needs to be gentle. Our eyes are fragile when it comes to touch and too much pressure can be harmful. Almost any form of facial massage can benefit the eyes by helping with both blood and lymph flow, bringing in nutrients and assisting with toxin removal, even helping with increased muscle tone.

Sometimes just placing something cool and soothing on the client’s eyes while working with them in a supine position during a traditional Western style massage can offer a great deal of relief to tired eyes and help to reduce puffiness as well as redness. For example, try placing cool stones on the eyes or even a cooled gel mask or cloth. You can try keeping items in a small dorm-sized refrigerator, designated for this purpose in your office or session room. (Note: do not keep any items used for massage in the same refrigerator that you keep food.)

If eyes aren’t particularly stressed, simply placing your open palms on the client’s face for a few minutes can be extremely comforting. Rub your hands briskly together first, to get them nice and warm and then gently place them on his or her entire face, fingers towards the chin, palms over the eyes. One caveat here; you may want to work on the client’s face first, avoiding the perception of oily hands, or even hands that have worked on the feet going to the face.

Eastern Techniques

In five-element theory, part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the eyes correspond to wood. The meridians or energy channels associated with this are the Liver and Gall Bladder. These are the meridians worked to also deal with issues of the eye, such as red, burning, itchy eyes (excluding infections); dizziness; blurred vision or excess of tears. In TCM a deficient Liver can cause dry eyes, bad vision and night or color blindness. It is said that the Liver also contributes to what might be called inner vision.

The Gall Bladder, partner to the Liver in the wood element, focuses more on the mental aspects of vision. It influences decision making and discrimination – the psychological equivalent of clear and accurate vision, unclouded by emotion or affected by bias. Physically, an imbalance in the Gall Bladder might result in headaches; mentally, it can result in decisions made with a high and sometimes irrational emotional quality.

These meridians would not be worked alone. Depending on the pathology of the eye’s distress, other meridians or elements would be included. For example, dark circles under the eye might be related to kidney imbalance, or red eyes to the fire element. Careful and thorough intake needs to be taken to determine the best session routine for the client.

Self-Care

Remember, also, to take care of your own eyes. Throughout the course of the day, your eyes may become fatigued from looking at a computer screen or doing paperwork. They may become puffy because of lack of sleep or itchy and red because of allergies. Get a regular checkup for your eyes, eat a healthy diet, moderately exercise, get sufficient sleep and use the above suggestions for your clients on yourself!

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References

Beresford-Cooke, C. (2016). Shiatsu theory and practice: A comprehensive text for the student and professional. London: Singing Dragon.

Cutler, N., L.Ac. (2018, December 05). Massage for Eye Health. Retrieved June 12, 2019, from https://www.integrativehealthcare.org/mt/massage-for-eye-health/

Dean, J., PhD. (2017, January 18). Dilated Pupils: 10 Messages My Eyes are Sending You. Retrieved June 12, 2019, from http://www.spring.org.uk/2011/12/what-the-eyes-reveal-10-messages-my-pupils-are-sending-you.php

Lundberg, P. (2014). The Book of Shiatsu A Complete Guide to Using Hand Pressure and Gentle Manipulation to Improve Your Health, Vitality and Stamina. Touchstone Books.

About the Author

Linda Fehrs, LMT

Linda Fehrs, AAS, LMT is a freelance writer and massage therapy professional licensed by the New York State Department of Education. She is a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association and the New York State Society of Medical Massage Therapists. Ms. Fehrs has actively practiced massage therapy in the Mid-Hudson Valley since 2002 with a focus on those with special needs, such as developmental and physical disabilities. She is a graduate of the Hudson Valley School of Massage Therapy as well as a former instructor at the school. Prior to becoming a massage therapist she was former managing editor of a weekly community newspaper and is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Ms. Fehrs currently volunteers with the Red Cross, helping to educate others about emergency preparedness and disaster relief.