MASSAGE ENVY: Franchisee Fetish Afoot!
Franchisee Fetish Afoot! Massage Envy Employees Seek 10-Digit Payday!
Something doesn’t smell quite right about this story. But be forewarned… it’s NSL (Not Safe for Lunch).
If your boss offered you a new BMW and $30,000 per month to let him/her smell and fondle your feet, how would you react?
Would you:
A) Run screaming from the room?
B) Kick off your shoes and put those little piggies to work?
C) Say “Make it a Porsche and I’ll throw in the ankles for free”?
D) Keep working for the boss for low wages despite his repeated attempts to sniff and rub your feet over his face, then sue when your hours are cut?
It seems that two employees of a Massage Envy franchise would rather sue than un-shoe
Here’s an excerpt from the bizarre report on Courthouse News Service:
SALT LAKE CITY (CN) – Two women who worked at a Massage Envy franchise claim their boss offered them money to smell their feet. One claims that after he “forcefully grabbed” her feet and took off her shoes, he “sniffed them in a lustful manner.” The other woman claims franchise owner John Johnson offered her “up to $30,000 per month” and a BMW if she would let him do it.
* * * * *
[Danielle] Wade claims that Johnson told her “that he wanted her to ‘check-in’ with him and that he would pay her each time. He told her that she would make up to $30,000 per month,” according to the complaint.
The complaint continues: “Mr. Johnson promised Ms. Wade that he would buy her a BMW automobile if she complied with his gestures. Mr. Johnson further told Ms. Wade he would sign a document indicating he would pay her for her the services.”
Wade says she refused. However, she says, Johnson then told her to “come into his office to talk with him. Once in the office, Mr. Johnson proceeded to lie down on the floor and removed Ms. Wade’s boots and said he wanted to massage her feet and smell them. Ms. Wade objected and put her boots back on and left his office. Ms. Wade was in shock, and shaking as she left Mr. Johnson’s office.”
Co-plaintiff Odette Provost’s allegations are more alarming….
“Mr. Johnson then forcefully grabbed Ms. Provost’s feet and proceeded to take off Ms. Provost’s shoes. Ms. Provost objected to the assault, stating that he was ‘weird’ and that her feet stunk.
“Mr. Johnson stated that he enjoyed when her feet stunk and that it just made him more of a slave to her. Mr. Johnson proceeded to rub Ms. Provost’s feet over his face and sniffed them in a lustful manner.
“Ms. Provost was in shock and frightened during the incident and could not run away.
“Mr. Johnson told Ms. Provost ‘not to say anything to anyone.’ Mr. Johnson then wrote Ms. Provost a check for $100. Mr. Johnson did not state what the check was for.
“Ms. Provost felt ashamed, frightened, and humiliated.”
Then, Provost claims, it happened again.
According to the complaint: “Mr. Johnson asked Ms. Provost if she was available for some training in his office.
“Once in the office, they began discussing issues related to the business. Suddenly, Mr. Johnson jumped to the floor, removed Ms. Provost’s shoes, and started sniffing and rubbing her feet over his face.
“Ms. Provost was frightened and told him to stop. Mr. Johnson stopped and left the office. These incidents created a hostile work environment for Ms. Provost as she could not predict when Mr. Johnson would attack her again.”
The complaint continues: “A district manager for Massage Envy Ltd., L.L.C, was informed of the incidents and stated that Mr. John Johnson was a franchisee, and corporate headquarters could not control a franchisee, and he could ‘Do what he wants.’
“Defendants took no disciplinary action against John Johnson or the franchise in response to Ms. Provost’s claims of sexual harassment and battery.
“Ms. Provost was retaliated against through a reduction in pay and hours. Management and certain employees then took a campaign upon themselves to force Ms. Provost to leave her job.”
The women seek punitive damages for gender discrimination, negligent supervision, assault, battery, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. They are represented by Kevin Robson with Bertch Robson of Salt Lake City.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
Tip o’ the hat to Oldsword and BlueMauMaufor spotting this story. Photo credit: EverJean, License: Creative Commons
Wow, that’s a very interesting scenario. If I were the employee I would of ran and file a complaint straight away from the gecko. I wonder what causes certain people to have these real odd fetishes. It cannot make for a great working environment I would imagine.
Leslie
All of these people are too wierd for me but Mr. Johnson can smell my feet for $30,000 and I’ll even throw in my smelly butt for nothing. LMAO
I love the franchisor response. He can ‘Do what he wants.’ I’m sure the franchisor doesn’t think that. And I’m sure other franchisees don’t that either – at least, when it comes to something like this. This situation was clearly handled appallingly by the franchisor. As a consequence, I would not be surprised to see some movement on the part of other ME franchisees.
Wow! That is uncalled for! I think something really should be done!
I believe these types of institutues thrive on the desperate therapist to begin with, otherwise wait and find a better paying job, and help to increase your own clients. Then to have a fetishist behave so abhorrantly preying on therapists desperate for work is horrifying. But the real slap in the face is that when “proper procedures” were followed and complaints made to have the district manager react the way he did is just salt in the wound. I think the district manager needs some disciplanary action along with the fetishist, and those women need some councelling to learn to Stand Up for themselves, and to work through their ordeal.
Are you people serious? How is this exploitation? The guy offered to give her $360,000 per year and a brand new BMW just to play with her feet! Sounds like a dream job to me!
Also notice that ““Ms. Provost was in shock and frightened during the incident … Ms. Provost felt ashamed, frightened, and humiliated.” But then she claims “it happened again.”
If it was so terrible, why did she come back to work and get in a room with him? Sorry, but somebody’s LYING.
Let’s face it, these girls rub strangers’ bodies for money. It’s not rocket science. If places like Massage Envy didn’t book their work and provide them rooms, tables, towels, etc. they’d be sitting home getting fat on ice cream and watching soap operas.
Re: guest on October 9th, 2010 1:54 pm
In at least 36 of the states of the USA, one has to go through an exacting learning process to become a massage therapist and part of the wellness profession. They no more “rub people’s bodies for money” than surgeons “stab people with sharp knives”. There is a method, a body of knowledge and a science behind it, as well as stringent legal requirements to practice. If they weren’t working for the pit that is Massage Envy, they would be most likely striving to create their own business, albeit much more slowly, but actually contributing to the GDP of the USA.
Sweeping generalizations and uninformed nonsense like you posted does a great disservice to a difficult profession and also does nobody any good.
lol, I agree dude can smell my feet anytime,,for 30000 wow dream job
CTMT: I’ve got nothing against massagers, but please don’t compare them to real healthcare professionals like surgeons. Massage therapists get their training in 8 months or so from schools that advertise on the back of matchbooks or on TV during the Jerry Springer show and also offer exciting careers thru truck driver training, snowplowing and knife sharpening.
“If they weren’t working for the pit that is Massage Envy, they would be most likely striving to create their own business…”
Seriously, if they had that ability they’d be running their own massage parlors and never would have gone to work for someone else. Instead of complaining about it, you should save up and buy your own franchise. If the massager in the story had any sense she would have let the guy fondle her feet for a year and she could have afforded her own Massage Envy franchise You could say he would have footed the bill for her new business :)
smells like a predator to me. creepy! I agree with Leslie.
It takes 2 years of study (and more), equivalent to pre-med, to become a massage therapist, in most of the North East. You learn Anatomy and Physiology, Pathology and Kinesiology among other things. The schools are fully accredited. Some states, sure, have low standards. But those that maintain high standards of educational requirement demand a thorough working knowledge of the human musculo-skeletal structure and how the body behaves on a cellular level. It behooves you to learn about the subject that you are attempting to criticize, rather than spewing ignorant and facile opinions based on a sum total of zero research into an increasingly important part of the wellness profession.
“It takes 2 years of study (and more), equivalent to pre-med”
Hmm…I’m sure 2 years at YTI Technical Institute or Bob’s Vo-Tech & Auto Parts Store is exactly the same as Pre-Med ;) I’ve always felt that Pre-Med Students are nearly indiscernable in intellect from the gals giving backrubs down at the Happy Ending Spa. That’s why the darned admission requirements are so high for massage schools! It’s not like anybody can get in, like those medical schools!
CTMT, I appreciate you breaking out the thesaurus for me, but it would behoove you to stick to the comparison you made which was between backrubbers and surgeons and NOT backrubbers and premed students. As it obviously was too ludicrous to defend, a simple acknowledgement of that fact will do.
I also believe your use of the word “behoove,” while humorous, was a little insensitive and of questionable taste in light of the subject matter of the story above. (musculo-skeletal and facile were, admittedly, masterful)
I think you’ll find that YOU made the comparison between “backrubbers”, as you call them, and surgeons. The evidence is there for you to see, if you’ve forgotten. I made comparative analogies to show that one job is no more “X” than another is “Y”. That you equate a profession that is increasingly common in hospitals and increasingly important in medical care with “backrubbing” displays the ignorance in which you reside.
“Let’s face it, these girls rub strangers’ bodies for money. It’s not rocket science. If places like Massage Envy didn’t book their work and provide them rooms, tables, towels, etc. they’d be sitting home getting fat on ice cream and watching soap operas.”
I would really like you to tell me the difference in effect between “rubbing” longitudinally along skeletal muscle and rubbing across the fibers instead. Apparently it’s not rocket science, so I’m sure you can provide an accurate answer.
God I love keyboard tough guys.
Methinks you’ve left the hot stones on yer forehead too long again, CTMT.
You wrote “I think you’ll find that YOU made the comparison between “backrubbers”, as you call them, and surgeons.”
Before that, you wrote: “…one has to go through an exacting learning process to become a massage therapist and part of the wellness profession. They no more ‘rub people’s bodies for money’ than surgeons ‘stab people with sharp knives'”.
God, I love people with Associate Degrees in aromatherapy pretending the “wellness profession” is just like being a doctor! :)
A wise person (I think it was me) once said that there are two kinds of people in business: Those who can manage and those who are managed. If you can’t manage your own business, you are destined to be one of the “managed.”
Backrubbers are notoriously poor business people. They want to show up, rub backs, and leave. Like CMA here, they think they are medical professionals, like doctors, who don’t have to market themselves like other professions.
They think they are above doing the lowly business tasks of marketing, branding, preparing p&ls, selling, upselling, budgeting, etc. Maybe because of this “wellness” industry arrogance. So along comes businessmen who apply actual business strategy and practices and create Massage Envy and successfully make backrubbing mainstream.
Massage Therapists act like they are being subjected to forced slavery. Give me a break. If it weren’t for the Massage Envys you guys would not be paying your cell phone, tanning and mani/pedi bills. You’d still be trying to convince people massagers aren’t all prostitutes. Admit it… if you could do it better on your own you wouldn’t still be working there… the idea that ME preys on “desperate therapists” borders on the pathetic.
For the people who think “pre-med” means something — as a pharmacy student I sat in classes with med students for 2 years. As a group, they were egotistical, they cheated like mad (and the professors hated them for it) — they were pretty much “smart” kids with no common sense whatsoever (sad to realize how many are the doctors people visit now). On the flip side, my massage therapy class was filled with people who were ethical in regards to their studies and truly wanted to help others. We are not “masseurs,” and we do not work in “massage parlors.” We are Massage and Bodywork Therapists who are recognized as such by state licensing boards.
Have you ever given a massage? It’s hard work, can you run on a tread mill for 6 hours straight?Those who see massage on the shady side of the business are most likely the type who patronize these “happy ending” establishments. If you haven’t gone to Massage Therapy School then you are hardly qualified to comment on the academics of such an institution. It’s a regulated profession and recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied healthcare field. Calling licensed therapists “backrubbers” and “prostitutes” is insulting. There are plenty of occupational therapists, registered nurses, and other health care professionals that go to massage therapy school so that they can be better at their jobs. How many of you have just walked out on a job because of a hostile work environment, or harassment? Instead of slandering the entire profession why not ask the question”why are people not in a regulated health profession allowed to operate a business that requires licensed personel?”
If I am merely a backrubber and what I do is not “rocket science”, then let me ask the person “Guest” this…
First, I worked seven days last week helping people get out of pain.
One person came in yesterday showing neck pain. After removing adhesions in the upper trapezius, I found that the right splenius capitus was in spasm. Do you know how to feel what is an adhesion and what is a spasm? Do you, “Guest”, know where the splenius capitus is (without Googling it)? Do you know how to relieve a spasm in it with your bare hands?
Another person has had pain for years and was given several diagnoses and “I don’t knows” from doctors. In our session, we found that she had a section calcification of the left illiocostalis which fed into adhesions of the fascia and intercostals. Do you know how to remove calcification of the illiocostalis? Do you know how to unwind scar tissue ridden fascia with your bare hands?
Today, I will be working on someone who can’t turn their head and can’t sleep at night because of the pain. Would you, “Guest”, know how to fix this problem with your bare hands? Would you know where to start? Would you be confident that after you’re done that they would leave without pain? Would you know what structures you’re working on and what they’re doing other than just saying the patient is “tense”?
If all I do is “backrubbing” then why do I know this stuff? It’s because I got great grades in massage school.
Re: Very rude “guest” whom continually feels they must belittle MT’s…
First and foremost, I run of my own business… I handle the marketing, branding, sales, budget, etc, etc. And I’m an MT. Or as you seem to want to call us “backrubbers”.
I’ll refrain from speaking my thoughts about you and your views on MT’s.
A school is a school, and while some are admittedly better than others, the states that regulate the massage profession require MT’s to pass an exam to be licensed, as well as continued education for the life of the license. It’s the same for doctors, surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, etc, etc, etc. Yes, schooling to be a doctor is much longer than two years, and no, MT’s should not be compared with doctors as our fields are two different branches of study. What CTMT was stating, was not that MT’s are equivalent to doctors, but that saying an MT does nothing but rub backs, is the same as saying a surgeon does nothing but cut people open. YOU made the generalization of our field, and CTMT justly felt that there was a bit of ignorance there.
I seriously have to ask you, what in the world do you do for a living? Because you’re obviously a genius in the fields of Applied Kinesiology, Pathology, Ethics, Regulations, Anatomy, Physiology, Client Assessment and Treatment. I mean, these are things everyone in the world knows right?
I can’t say you aren’t entitled to your opinion, however I can say, until you’ve learned at least the minimum aspects of what we do, none of us will look at your comments with any type of educated respect. It’s comments like YOURS that keep the Massage Industry down by spreading ignorant preconceived notions.
Touchy, touchy (so to say).
Sounds like massagers are kind of like chiropracters but with less than half the schooling and none of the sales & marketing skills.
“…why are people not in a regulated health profession allowed to operate a business that requires licensed personel?”
Maybe because the operative word there is “business.” Do they teach you accounting in massage school? Finance? How to read and negotiate a lease? How to produce brochures, ads & marketing plans? Public relations?
What does it matter if you know how to decalcify trapezoids or eliminate fascist intercoastals if you don’t know how to attract customers and generate continuous profits? The people who own and run massage franchises obviously know how to do that and the people work for them for an hourly wage obviously don’t.
You all act like the backrubbing is some sacred practice, but where would you be without the businesspeople who actually generate the revenue to pay you?
It’s just kind of funny how almost every backrubber here keeps repeating that (in some states) they are “licensed professionals.”
Want to know who else are “licensed professionals”?
Fortune Tellers.
Beekeepers.
Hair Braiders.
Movie Projectionists.
Pest Control Professionals.
Managers of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers.
Rental Car Agents.
Vending Machine Repairmen.
Body Piercers.
Tattoo Artists.
Did you know 3 out of 10 US jobs require licenses? Sorry if speaking the truth is “rude” but you all have bought into this elevated BS image massage schools push. Believe me, they tell their watch repair students licensing makes them elite, too.
Witness the unearned arrogance of CMA saying that demeaning massagers is just like demeaning surgeons. Note that she didn’t say “calling MTs backrubbers is like saying Beekeepers just keep bees” or “The Orkin man just kills bugs.” or “projectionists just show movies.”
I’m not trying to hurt your feelings, but, Sorry, you’re not doctors. You’re not nurses. Once you face that fact you’ll be happier with your job at Maggage Envy or Mr. Massage and appreciate the owners who put their money on the line in order to give you a job and backs to rub.
Actually we ARE taught all of the aspects of running a business, its required in every state that massage is regulated. Have you ever made a business plan without the help of a CPA or atourney, or prepared your own business taxes? I have, and marketing is our bread and butter, and our work speaks louder than billboards, maybe if you visited reputable therapists you would see more than a stack of business cards. If I sat around waiting for someone to feed me clients I would be homeless.
Guest
SHUT THE HELL UP,
At least these people are trying and not out on the street selling drugs, or on welfare collecting your tax money, and buying crack or dope with it ,,you loser!
by the way GUEST, want to smell my feet for say 10000 a month? hahahaha
“Guest”
The fact that you continue to argue your claim that we are not doctors/nurses/etc, just goes to show that you are not listening to what we’re saying. None of us are claiming to be doctors or replacements for doctors.
You compare our licensing with that of Pest Control and Tattoo Artists, but the fact remains the same… You can’t practice that trade unless you are trained and licensed. Did you forget to realize that there’s training involved in all those licenses as well? Can someone legally do those jobs without a license?
I’m conceding the argument to your ignorance. Your word is obviously finite and true, as you fail to look at any other view other than your own.
I’m done feeding the troll. I suggest others do the same, as their views will never change.
For people who profess to be experts in “wellness,” you all sure seem to have a lot of pent up frustration & hostility. I take it I’m not the first one you’ve encountered lately who doesn’t take you all as seriously as you take yourselves. Get that a lot, do you?
Isn’t there a scented candle you can light or a splenius you can rub to calm yourselves before you get to the point of calling those who disagree with you “losers” or saying “at least MTs aren’t on welfare or buying crack”?
No, hahahaha, I wasn’t the one offering to pay for foot action. That was the highly professional, thoroughly screened and professionally licensed “Massage & Bodyworks Therapist” that passed all the stringent requirements of the state of Utah. See the story above about the highly professional, licensed Bodyworks Therapist employees who are obviously making false claims against their Massage Envy franchise owner so they can embarrass and extort money from him.
If you all want to play like you’re on par with doctors and lawyers, why don’t you petition to remove the licenses of the two extortionist chicks in the story for launching a bogus, frivolous lawsuit? Even masseuses who’ve been inhaling patchouli all day can see through these scammers’ story. And if they were doctors making outlandish claims in order to blackmail a legitimate firm for money, they’d have to answer to an ethics board.
Remember ethics? According to Restored State, your Kinko’s-produced Massage textbook dedicated several pages to it. Yet you’re all silent when it comes to obvious transgressions by two of your own noble licensed colleagues.
Funny how that works. Some people want respect, but aren’t willing to earn it. How sad.
“Prejudices are what fools use for reason.”- Voltaire
An LMP:
What do the morons who pay you to stab them with knitting needles or burn red circles on their backs to release “toxins” and evil spirits from their bodies call reason?
Thanks for the link to your crazytown website. it proves my point. What’re your October specials? 10% off bloodletting? Buy one leeching, get one free?
Great blog. Love the pus references: http://www.nwpainrelief.com/acupuncture-and-cupping/
How many of you would pay the Wicked Witch of the Northwest here to burn red circles on your back to “treat arthritic symptoms, asthma, the common cold, chronic cough, and muscle pain and tightness.” and to precipitate “the removal of pathogens” Can I get my magic beans to go?
You self-important people tolerate quackery & pseudoscience like acupuncture and fire cupping from your fellow “Bodyworks Therapists,” you let them take money from the dimwitted pincushions by making unsubstantiated claims and sleight of hand, then you WONDER why you have an IMAGE problem and people don’t take “wellness professionals” seriously!
Hmmm… got awfully quiet here all of a sudden…
You are clearly an internet troll, Guest. You have no balls to post your name let alone your own website to show what you do.
Being called a troll by a charlatan and snake oil salesperson really hurts.
Don’t worry, whatever I do can’t be worse than placing magic heated cups on people’s backs to rid them of imaginary evil toxins. All you rid them of is the available credit on their debit cards. People who sell fake hope and magical solutions belong in jail.
To the Troll, a.k.a. “Guest” who has decided to not share his profession for discussion…
Seems that you have taken this discussion way off topic. Let me restate my point, we’re not merely backrubbers that should be grateful for our clinic managers sexual harassment. We have a valuble role of helping people and should be treated with respect.
Also, you seem to be blending your impression of acupuncture and massage which only further displays your ignorance of our work. I’m not an acupuncturist so I can’t speak to the methods the Chinese and other East Asian peoples have been using to restore, promote and maintain good health for about 2,500 years. However, I can speak to my profession of massage therapy which has been used for over 4,000 years.
Since you appear to be out of the loop on current research by calling me a “Snake Oil Salesman” and a “Charleton”, I thought I’d give you some research to read so you can catch up.
Clinical massage and modified Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with latent myofascial trigger points. http://dld.bz/uNUJ
Chronic spinal cord injury pain: pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments and treatment effectiveness http://dld.bz/uNXQ
Back massage therapy promotes psychological relaxation and an increase in salivary chromogranin http://dld.bz/uNUg
Chair Massage for Treating Anxiety in Patients Withdrawing from Psychoactive Drugs. http://dld.bz/uNTc
Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Immune Function http://dld.bz/uNSE
Clinical trial to evaluate 15 myofascial therapy treatments using ischemic compression on shoulder trigger points http://dld.bz/quR9
Massage therapy for fibromyalgia symptoms http://dld.bz/nMtd
Effect of massage therapy on pain, anxiety, and tension after cardiac surgery: a randomized study http://dld.bz/nMsS
Treatment effects of massage therapy in depressed people: a meta-analysis http://dld.bz/nMrA
Effects of precompetition massage on the kinematic parameters of 20-m sprint performance http://dld.bz/nMq5
Results of patient information and of a therapeutic exercise program in the treatment of plantar fasciitis http://dld.bz/nMqn
Effect of manual therapy on masseter muscle pain and spasm http://dld.bz/nMpj
Perceived benefit of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for back pain: a national survey http://dld.bz/nMnb
Itching, pain, and anxiety levels are reduced with massage therapy in burned adolescents http://dld.bz/nMmF
Massage therapy in the workplace: reducing employee strain and blood pressure. http://dld.bz/nMj2
Short-duration massage at the hamstrings musculotendinous junction induces greater range of motion http://dld.bz/nMhv
Manual lymphatic drainage: exploring the history and evidence base http://dld.bz/nMgm
Massage: a helping hand for people with chronic oedema and lymphoedema http://dld.bz/nMfJ
Physiological responses to touch massage in healthy volunteers http://dld.bz/nMdM
Effectiveness of foot and hand massage in postcesarean pain control in a group of Turkish pregnant women http://dld.bz/nMdw
Efficacy of Massage Therapy in Chronic Pain: A Pragmatic Randomized Trial http://dld.bz/bYcv
Randomized trial of therapeutic massage for chronic neck pain http://dld.bz/gPYk
Myofascial trigger points in children with tension-type headache: a new diagnostic and therapeutic option http://dld.bz/gPXQ
Troll, don’t tell me that our methods are unproven when you’re talking to someone who really helps people every day, works in research, and owns (and markets) my own practice.
Troll, you are a complete ASSHOLE! And I’m not a massage therapist I am a computer programmer. And no, my profession does not require a license. Does that make me an idiot?
B
“Guest”
You are pretty ignorant aren’t you? Did you go to a massage parlor and get turned down for a happy ending? Is this why you are so angry at these professionals? The fact that you came on here to bash the profession is just assanine. The article had nothing to do with a massage incident. The article is about a bad boss. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were the boss of this establishment, trying to make yourself feel better.
Why don’t you tell us what you do? You probably flip burgers at McDonald’s and lack any real education, which is quite clear by your grammatical errors. Regardless of what you think Mr. I know everything, it is a respected profession, and people need help from these massage therapists because what you call the “real” doctors, can’t help them. You are probably one of those people who is jacked up on prescription drugs to fix your problems. Can we say addict? You should probably go to rehab for your drug addiction and get an attitude adjustment while your there. Better yet, do us all a favor and jump off a cliff. You are an INTERNET TROLL with, what is clearly obvious, no friends, therefore no life. You are a useless individual, so just help us all out and remove yourself from the gene pool. GOD I hope you aren’t a breeder.
“An LMP” preys on the wishful thinking of morons for money and I’M the asshole? She burns polka dots on people’s backs and I’M the troll? No wonder rational people – especially REAL medical professionals – laugh at you “licensed professionals” behind your backs!
About Cupping, Professor Edzard Ernst Dept. of medicine at the University of Exeter: “There is no evidence for its efficacy… It has not been submitted to clinical trials”
American Cancer Society: “There is no scientific evidence that cupping leads to any health benefits….No research or clinical studies have been done on cupping. Any reports of successful treatment with cupping are anecdotal. There is no scientific evidence that cupping can cure cancer or any other disease.” Source: Skeptic’s dictionary http://www.skepdic.com/cupping.html
Cupping is featured at Debunkatron for the scam it is: http://debunkatron.com/
You will all no doubt be too humorless to watch Penn & Teller’s BULLSHIT!
Cupping is debunked in Part 2. Pay extra attention to how they got the same reactions from moronic patients in a mock therapy using toilet plungers(!) This is what AN LMP sells to anyone with a VISA or Mastercard. Sure you want to defend her as one of your own?
Penn & Teller – BULLSHIT! : New Age Medicine (Part 1/2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w7fztpQego&p=8BE77013E24BAFAE&playnext=1&index=40
Penn & Teller – BULLSHIT! : New Age Medicine (Part 2/2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhhOFdpWTgg&p=8BE77013E24BAFAE&playnext=1&index=41
It’s ok. I’d be a bit defensive if Penn & Teller & Quackwatch.org exposed my scam on national TV too, I guess.
By the way, An LMP, I hope your insurance is paid up. Here’s the story of a fellow “cupper” who lit his patient on fire: http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2559447.ece
This idiot WAS a doctor: “Local medical authorities are surprised by what happened. Cupping is not an accepted medical treatment and I find it strange that a family doctor should be doing it, says doctor Finn Bowim, who supervises medical practitioners in this part of Oslo.”
Don’t know why you’re going off on the Oriental Medicine/Acupuncture technique of Cupping which isn’t one of my services… Says a lot about what you know about massage… If you want to pick a fight with an acupuncturist, go find another blog…
Are you unemployed, Troll? You still haven’t mentioned your profession.
Troll, you cite Penn Teller. WTF! That is an opinion show, not scientific fact. You are a complete idiot and you still don’t have the balls to tell anyone what you do. And where the hell does An LMP state that they do Cupping? I’ll say it again, you are an asshole! When was the last time you saw a legitimate LMT who was NOT the kind who offered “happy endings”? I doubt you ever have.
I AM a medical professional. I have a college degree, TROLL! Don’t know about you since you decline to declare your profession.
I work in an area where there is constant physical abuse to my body. For example: On Thursday I hurt my back doing CPR on a patient. Do I call my doctor, no. I would rather see my massage therapist for pain relief since my doctor will just prescribe me pain medication which will just mask my symptoms.
As a medical professional I prefer massage therapy instead of conventional medicine.
An LMP: Do you read your own website? Are you intentionally lying or did you inhale some bad chi? Is this not you saying you LOVE cupping and it cures whatever ails you (step right up!) http://www.nwpainrelief.com/acupuncture-and-cupping/
B: It’s “Penn & Teller” not “Penn Teller” and if you watched it you’d see an actual doctor (as in MD – not a “wellness” professional) debunking this witchcraft. Yes, the real doctor who went to real medical school and whose training is based on something called “science.”
And btw, B, it’s not your lack of a license that makes you an idiot.
Perhaps I am an idiot Troll, but at least I am not an ASSHOLE!
Guest: do you even HAVE a license in ANYTHING..or a degree in ANYTHING? other than being an ASSHOLE? Or is there a degree in being an ASSHOLE..cause you got that!
Once again, I am here to talk about massage and not Oriental Medicine. No, that’s not my post because it’s from the acupuncturist.
I think “guest” is a burger flipper who has nothing better to do but search out blogs to shout his stupidity. If he needs a hooker to massage him, good for him. But that does NOT define the PROFESSION represented here!
Get a job Guest! or at least lie on here and tell us what you do.
Hey GUEST!!!! Don’t you have anything better to do? Do you just go onto all the message boards and pick fights with people? Remember that cliff I mentioned above? What about the gene pool you should remove yourself from? HOW IS THE BURGER FLIPPING GOING? Making you a lot of money? Look up the definition of douche bag, you’ll find yourself listed under it.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU. HOW DOES WHAT A MASSAGE THERAPIST OR ACUPUNCTURIST DO FOR A LIVING DIRECTLY AFFECT YOU IN YOUR DAILY LIFE? There are a few things that I’m still trying to clarify about people like you. Maybe you can help us out and get us some answers. Does this get you off? Do you get some sort of sick satisfaction out of criticizing something you CLEARLY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT? You need some serious help dude. Did you forget your medication? If Penn & Teller jumped off a bridge, would you too? I like how you attack ‘B’ above because she said Penn Teller. Is that all you got? Please! Do you know how many websites that are out there that criticize shows like Penn & Teller and Mythbusters for experiments that aren’t accurate. Do you believe everything you see on tv? I love that you are basing your argument off of tv shows and not real facts. You’re a pathetic loser who clearly has no life, since you spend the majority of your time trolling message boards and watching unintelligent tv shows. Once you have an educated argument we will take your words into consideration.
I am an RN. A REAL medical professional. I hurt my back a couple of days ago doing CPR on a patient….Who am I going to see for my pain? NOT a doctor but a message therapist. WHY? Because a doctor will just give me drugs to mask the pain but not fix what is causing the pain.
“Guest” You must be using a prostitute for your massage therapy and good for you if that is what you are into. I am not. I look for a professional.
I think you “guest” are here to cause trouble and just have nothing better to do….Go back to your burger flipping since you also will not disclose what exactly you do for a living. Everyone else here has. What are you afraid of?
Listen to yourselves. Profanity & insults. Threats of physical violence. Disparagement of the professions of others. You people are powderkegs of negative chi. I fear the term “Going Postal” may soon be replaced by “Going Massage Therapist.”!
Obviously your stress relieving backrubs, aromatherapy candles, crystels, magnetic coil bracelets, self-empowerment chants and Kenny G tapes are not enough to overcome the deep insecurity and self-doubt that plagues those in your profession. I am here to help. I am a licensed image consultant to the wellness profession. Like you, I had to study hard and pass rigorous tests to get my license (which also allows me to operate Class A motor vehicles in all 50 states).
For me to help you, you must first release your anger. Let it go. Breath. Now you must realize you have a problem. The next step is for you to accept the help I offer you out of love and helpfullness. Unlike you all, I extend my help for free.
“An LMP”: You cannot be taken seriously when you work at a place that practices voodoo, witchcraft and new age quackery. You cannot link to your “pain relief NW” website and then say, no, the bloodletting and leech treatments are a different department and expect that people will respect you as a professional. If your co-workers scam people for money, you are part of a criminal enterprise. Go work for Massage Envy or Massage R Us franchise so at least you’ll be as legit as a normal backrubber.
RN: I suggest you ask the licensed personal trainers at Planet Fitness for some back exercises and also take a refresher course in CPR before you kill someone. Anyone who throws their back out is either using improper technique, is woefully out-of-shape, or both. Getting respect as a professional starts with having respect for yourself.
B writes “…I am an idiot…” Good for you, B. Gaining self-awareness is half the battle! Please, everyone, congratulate B. on his personal breakthrough.
Friend of an LMP: I took your advice and looked up “douchebag” but you were incorrect as I was not mentioned in there. I did learn that the practice of “douching” has been discredited by healthcare professionals as having no real value. So, in a way, it mentioned you and your “friend.”
Friend of an LMP, it’s clear that your animosity stems from living through others (defining yourself through your friend) and your lack of original thought (use of cliches like the brilliant “If Penn & Teller jumped off a bridge, would you too?”)
Actually, if Penn & Teller jumped off a bridge I might, too, in an attempt to save them. You see, some of us are motivated by love and a desire to help others – not just by money or a wish to play doctor.
From: Does Massage Therapy Work?
http://saveyourself.ca/articles/reality-checks/does-massage-work.php
“Even in places with high training standards, massage therapists almost always have to sell themselves to clients who are paying hard-earned cash, so it’s not hard to see why massage therapists become habitually overzealous in promoting therapeutic services for which there is little evidence, no evidence, or only a mess of controversial evidence.
“The road to intellectual dishonesty is paved with good intentions…. And many are unwary and have no idea that what they are doing is unethical. The stereotype of massage therapy as “hippy health care” is still strong, because a large number of massage therapists, probably the majority in North America, are what many people would describe as “flaky” or leaning in that direction. Such therapists are mostly ignorant of how science works, and actually hostile towards the idea of evidence-based care. They define themselves in opposition to the “mainstream” and distrust of The Man more than by their scientific and clinical knowledge and skills.
“If scientifically unsupportable practices are surprisingly common amongst medical massage therapists, they are close to universal among barely-trained and untrained bodyworkers. Many of them aspire to greater skill, but usually don’t do so by studying orthopedics and physical therapy — a project that could occupy anyone for a lifetime — but instead by increasing their repertoire of certifications in proprietary hands-on techniques, most of which are either silly and/or medically unimportant (i.e. pleasant and harmless, but producing no significant therapeutic effect for any important health problem — hot stone massage would be a good example of this).
“And that is why most people still go to a doctor or physiotherapist when they have an obvious injury.”
New term of the day: Hippy Health Care
Guest: licensed image consultant. Really, how did you make that one up? Your a truck driver.
Done with this conversation with someone who makes crap up and is obviously uneducated.
Asshole or Troll what ever you call yourself, you are not worth this argument since the you seem to think your shit doesn’t stink. I’m done arguing with you as that is all you seem to be looking for.
I am an ex patent of PT, I have 3 slipped disks in my neck, Dr wanted to do surgury, I instead request PT, i have traction done, 3x a week, heat, electrodes, and message, it’s been 3 years now, I will always have pain. But the lessons on stretching, and how to stand plus the messages, has helped me I rather avoid the Surgury.
I feel noone should answer to guest no more he/she is getting exactly what the want feed back he/she is probably just a DR that PT places are taking the patients from,,to all PT out there Thank you!!!
am good now: Please try that again after you’ve found a licensed spelling consultant. I have know ideah wat yur trin 2 sey.
B/RN: Too bad you couldn’t answer any of my substantive points with anything other than low profanity and vulgar insults. You’ve represented the intellectual level of the “wellness” community quite predictably, sorry to say. All emotion, no substance.