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Massage helps sooth pain of Indonesia quake victims

Posted on: Thursday, 1 June 2006, 11:14 CDT

KLATEN, Indonesia (Reuters) - Elderly Indonesian masseurs in the country's earthquake-devastated Java region have found themselves in high demand as traumatized survivors seek alternative treatment to soothe their pain.

Two masseurs have been hired by a real estate company in Semarang, the provincial capital of Central Java, to offer the free alternative treatment.

Many survivors suffer from bruises and broken bones after being struck by debris as their homes crumbled.

Suparjo, 61, has suffered from persistent headaches and had trouble walking since the magnitude 6.3 quake rattled Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces at dawn on Saturday.

More than 6,200 people perished and about 130,000 were made homeless after the quake struck, flattening thousands of homes.

More than 30 people at Suparjo's village were killed.

"You are suffering from stress," the masseur, 73-year-old Yoso Dumeri, told Suparjo. "A lot of people here are suffering from stress and high blood pressure because of the quake."

The masseurs apply pressure points on the nerves to restore the blood flow -- a procedure so painful it can make patients cry.

"It hurts like hell but I feel so much better now. My headache is gone," Suparjo said.

Ponim, a 45-year survivor, could not sleep after the quake.

"I have trouble breathing. Maybe because I was so exhausted. I couldn't even swallow food," she said.

"I visited the masseurs yesterday. They massaged my shoulder and fingers. I am fine now. I can sleep again. Some people even come here after being treated by doctors," she said, smiling.

Source: REUTERS

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