What Is Wood Therapy—and Does It Have Benefits?
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Medically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOMFact checked by Nick BlackmerMedically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOMFact checked by Nick Blackmer
Wood therapy is a type of massage that uses different hand-held wooden tools to massage your body. Massage therapists and spa owners who offer wood therapy claim that this type of massage has a number of benefits, such as boosting blood circulation, promoting lymphatic drainage, smoothing your skin, reducing the appearance of cellulite, and decreasing stress.
However, research on the effectiveness of wood therapy is limited at this time, so it’s important to talk to your healthcare team to learn whether this treatment is a good option for you.
How Wood Therapy Works
When you go to a wood therapy session, the massage therapist uses different pieces of wood designed to fit the contours of your body to perform the massage. Here’s the general process:
Before the massage starts, you’ll usually undress until you are comfortable with the clothes you have (or don’t have) on.
After applying a special massage oil, the therapist will use wooden rollers, rods, and sticks to work your muscles.
The therapist will use sliding, kneading, and pressure techniques to stimulate blood circulation and promote lymphatic drainage.
Potential Benefits of Wood Therapy
Currently, studies on the use and benefits of wood therapy are extremely limited. However, some research on cellulite treatments and massages purports certain benefits of wood therapy.
Reduces Cellulite
One study found that using a noninvasive vibrational device to massage areas with cellulite may be useful in reducing cellulite.
Researchers found that the appearance of cellulite in massaged skin had significantly decreased compared to non‐massaged skin. The participants also reported that their skin felt more stable, stronger, and lighter.
Participants used a vibrational device, not a wooden tool. They also used lubricant oil, which researchers say might have affected the results. More research is needed to determine the possible effects of wooden tools on cellulite.
Promotes Relaxation
There also is some evidence that simply touching wood can have a relaxing effect on people.
One research team studied how people responded physiologically when touching wood compared to other materials. They found that the participants felt more comfortable, relaxed, and warm after touching wood. While this study did not look at massages specifically, it does demonstrate the potential for wood therapy to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
Other Benefits
Because there’s not enough research on wood therapy, it’s hard to understand whether wooden tools improve massages. However, massage therapists claim that wood therapy can:
Improve blood circulation
Increase lymphatic drainage
Soften skin
More research is needed to determine the truth of these claims. In the meantime, if you’re interested in wood therapy, talking to your healthcare provider about its safety can help you decide whether it’s right for you.
Safety and Considerations
The risk for injury or harmful side effects in massage therapy is relatively low. That said, because a massage therapist uses wooden tools in wood therapy, there may be a slightly higher risk of injury. You are not likely to have any issues if you find a qualified and licensed massage therapist with experience in wood therapy.
In rare instances, people receiving massage therapy have experienced serious side effects like a blood clot, nerve injury, or even bone fracture. In these cases, people were receiving a vigorous type of massage, such as a deep tissue massage.
People who are at increased risk of injury, like older adults or those with conditions such as osteoporosis (bone thinning and weakening), may be more prone to injury or uncomfortable side effects. Talking to your provider before starting holistic treatments is important.
How To Prepare for a Wood Therapy Session
Regardless of the type of massage you receive, the focus should be on your health and well-being in a safe and comfortable environment. Expect a conversation about your goals and health concerns before the massage, as well as privacy while changing and the right to remove only the amount of clothing that you feel comfortable with.
When preparing for the massage, it's important to:
Avoid eating right before your appointment
Ensure you are well-hydrated
Arrive early and plan to discuss any allergies to essential oils and other products before the massage
Let the therapist know about any underlying conditions you have
Before the massage starts, your therapist should also ask you to fill out a consent form that mentions potential side effects.
Once your massage starts, let the massage therapist know if you are uncomfortable or experiencing pain. It’s also a good idea to provide gentle feedback on the amount of pressure and the speed of their movements so that they know if something is causing pain or discomfort. If anything happens that makes you uncomfortable, you have the right to ask the massage therapist to stop and end the session if you want to.
Alternative Options
Many people consider wood therapy to help treat cellulite. Cellulite is not a harmful condition and occurs in 80–90% of people assigned female at birth. It's not something you need to treat. However, some people may not like the appearance of their cellulite. Your decision to try massage therapy or other alternatives is personal and completely up to your preferences.
If you’re looking to soften your skin, improve the appearance of cellulite, or receive the other purported benefits of wood therapy, there are alternatives you can try. Until recently, most treatments for cellulite were not always effective, and the results were short-lived. However, cosmetic surgeons have found that the following treatments may help restore your skin to a firmer texture:
Laser treatments: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cellulaze, a treatment involving a tiny laser probe inserted just beneath the skin through a small incision (cut). This procedure is performed in a cosmetic surgeon’s office under local anesthesia and requires about one to two days of recovery. Usually, people need only one treatment and can expect the results to last one year.
Non-laser energy treatments: These treatments use energy from radio frequencies, ultrasound, infrared light, or radial pulses to heat your skin. The heat stimulates collagen production and reduces cellulite. This treatment doesn’t require any recovery time, but the results are temporary and often require repeated treatments every few months. The FDA-approved treatments include VelaShape, Venus Freeze, ThermiSmooth, and Zimmer Z Wave.
Mechanical treatments: The FDA also approved a treatment known as Cellfina, which involves inserting a very thin blade into an incision, and the skin is suctioned into the Cellfina device. To date, the results from this procedure are the longest lasting and can last up to three years. Side effects include mild bruising and soreness.
A Quick Review
Wood therapy is a type of massage that uses different hand-held wooden tools that may help reduce stress, improve circulation, and decrease the appearance of cellulite. However, research on this therapy is currently limited, and more studies are needed to understand its effectiveness.
If you're interested in trying wood therapy (or other massage alternatives) to improve your skin and overall health, talk to your healthcare provider to learn if the treatment is a safe option for you.
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