Using both heat and cold in your treatments?

Cold stones alternated with hot stones can provide a therapeutic balance, but is not a treatment for everyone. Alternating between heat and cold will cause the blood vessels to alternate between dilation and constriction. The end result of this will be a dramatic increase in circulation to that area. If a client is prone to being cold day to day, or has mild circulatory problems, it is recommended that the client experience a hot stone massage only.

The combination of hot and cold stones provides therapeutic balance. "Too much heat is depleting, can produce laxity in tissues, and increase inflammation. Americans are just beginning to understand what Europeans have understood for centuries: the effects of 'just enough' cold are energizing, toning and pain reducing," according to Dew. Warm stones soften fascia faster and more deeply than traditional massage therapies while cold stones disperse congestion, alleviate swelling and interrupt muscle spasms. Heated stones increase blood circulation, lymph and digestive fluids and have sedating effects. Cold stones stimulate the autonomic nervous system, increase metabolism and invigorate.