These stones are effective when used as a cold application. Cold, used alone on the body, is a powerful decongestant, pushing blood, fluid and wastes out of overworked, chronically tense, or inflamed tissues such as the orbits, where it can help reduce dark circles through placement on the eye area. Cold stones can also be used on the sinus area, or as a pressure placement on post-extraction procedures, where it will help increase microcirculation, metabolism, and elimination thus affecting change on a cellular level, while interrupting the pain-spasm-pain cycle. In cooperation with heated stones, chilled stones create a dramatic movement of fluids within the body, generating a healing, cleansing, and nourishing effect due to the alternate constriction and dilation of the blood vessels. Cold also generates a toning, or strengthening response to several body systems, most notably the immune system.

While cryotherapy can be an effective form of medical treatment in certain circumstances, in massage, cold stones have the advantage over ice, in that stones do not desensitize the skin, as ice can, so soft tissue manipulations and mobilizations will not be taken beyond the client's tolerance. Cold stones alternated with hot stones can provide a therapeutic balance*. Some benefits of cold stones: disperse congestion, alleviate swelling, interrupt muscle spasms, stimulate the autonomic nervous system, increase metabolism and invigorate. *Alternating cold and hot stone application is not a treatment for everyone. 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.

Some Like It Hot and Cold:

• 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,” says 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.