Ear to Tampa Bay
MASSAGE SUPPORTS
HEALTH
By Deborah Karlan, L.M.T.
Massage has been scientifically
shown to affect your body
chemistry, nervous and muscle
systems. Research at Los Angeles’
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and
Miami’s Touch Research Institute
shows massage causes biological
changes, decreases levels of the stress
hormone cortisol, and increases the
helpful white blood cells. Both deep
and light touch massage affect body
chemistry. Neuromuscular therapy
is a form of deep massage that aims
to treat underlying causes of chronic
pain. However, lymphatic massage,
a systematic light touch therapy,
produced greater increases in the
hormone oxytocin, which is associated
with feelings of contentment. When
your lymphatic system is sluggish,
you can suffer from swelling, aches,
pains, and low energy. Lymph drainage
massage can stimulate the opening of the
lymphatic one-way valves and increase
the lymph flow. Manual Lymphatic
Drainage and neuromuscular massage
are effective after accidents, injury and
surgery. Lymphatic massage is used preoperative
to prepare the tissue and postoperative
to relieve discomfort, swelling
and remove cellular debris caused by
the trauma or surgery. Traumatized
tissues, lymph vessels and interrupted
lymph flow can cause reduced healing,
fibrosis scar tissue, dimpling and uneven
skin. Poor lymph flow after surgery can
cause the development of fluid pockets.
Medically oriented forms of massage
address trigger points (tender muscles),
circulation, nerve compression, postural
issues, and biomechanical problems
that can be caused by injuries. Using
a combination of neuromuscular and
lymphatic massage maximizes the
benefits of massage therapy.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Deborah Karlan, L.M.T. has
been a licensed therapist in Florida since 1982.
Her Wellness From Within office is at 2158
Drew St. in Clearwater. Her information
website is dkarlan.com. For questions and
appointments and to find harmony and balance
with massage, please call (727) 641-8979.
FL License MA4487, Est. MM27138
ADVERTORIAL
Shannon and Donna Smith opened their newly renovated vintage waterfront home in
Dunedin to host a Circle Cocktail Party with appetizers by Chef Brian of the Palm Café
for members of the Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Giving Circles.
Nancy and David
88 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JULY/AUGUST 2019
Bilheimer of
Dunedin were given
a musical thankyou
reception in
Ruth Eckerd Hall’s
Murray Theatre for
their generous
$2.5 million donation
to the hall’s State
of the Arts Capital
Campaign and
Marcia P. Hoffman
School of the Arts.
In their honor, the
Capitol Theatre in
Clearwater has been
renamed the Nancy
and David Bilheimer
Capitol Theatre. 9
GRAM
Paul Jarvis was
surprised on
his birthday by
his artist wife
Andrea with
an all-day open
house party,
complete with
three cakes and
live music at
their home in
Palm Harbor.
GRAM