The Fall 2008 online issue of Massage Envy Magazine states that stress-relieving massage also benefits the skin. It quotes dermatologist Valori Treloar, M.D. saying, “Stress worsens many skin conditions, so the anti-stress benefits are not surprising.”

The online magazine adds that massage removes toxins and improves circulation, resulting in healthier skin. Increased blood flow corresponds to better delivery of nutrients and more efficient flushing away of waste products, giving a rosy warm glow to the skin. Dermatologist Amy Newburger, M.D. says, “Massage promotes the health of the skin by getting more blood circulation into areas of the skin where they might not be getting the appropriate amount of blood circulation.”

Remedial massage uses several specialized skills to locate and repair damage and speed up the body’s repair mechanism. A professional remedial massage therapist has to draw on his knowledge of anatomy, physiology, related pathology and the techniques of Swedish massage, heat and cold therapies, Kinesthetics and many other related fields for a complete treatment.

Pregnancy Massage can be prenatal, postnatal or during the labour process, although many refer pregnancy massage to just prenatal and post-natal massage to mean massage that takes place a few days after delivery.

Hilot is the Filipino word meaning to stroke soothingly or to massage. The practitioner is also called a hilot, short for manghihilot. It is interesting to note that traditional midwives are themselves referred to as hilot, proof of how this type of soothing and healing touch is integrated into the traditional Filipino healing system.

Very closely related to the hilot is the arbularyo or practitioner of herbal medicine. The arbularyo is sometimes also a hilot. Most people in the rural areas who cannot afford to consult medical doctors go to the hilot or the arbularyo instead for any ailment. Even in urban areas, many Filipinos still go to a hilot for supportive therapy for women who have just given birth, for example, or for children who have fever, even after medical consultation.

In this ancient art of healing, the hilot is supposed to have the ability to identify illness or energy imbalance by observing the patient as a whole, reading the patient’s pulse, studying the patient’s scalp, observing the patient’s sweat, urine and stool, and sensing the patient’s energy. The hilot also feels the patient’s skin to check temperature. The hilot will want to know the balance of the elements of fire, water, earth and air in the patient’s body. Fire is associated with the body’s electrical impulses, water is associated with blood, earth is associated with flesh and bone, and air is associated with breath.