Massage is essential for the human body. The Greeks, Persians and Chinese practiced massage as a spiritual art. Now, as then, massage is not only a powerful therapy for recovery from tension and fatigue; it's also a powerful tool of preventative medicine, valuable in keeping people healthy.
Massage therapy may be called the most effective and accessible method of therapy and prophylaxis. One of the simplest benefits of massage therapy is its ability to evoke relaxation and relieve stress. Individuals who are fatigued, anxious or emotionally distressed can receive tremendous relief at the hands of even the most inexperienced massage therapist.
An increasing number of research studies show massage reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion, and increases endorphins (enhancing medical treatment). Although therapeutic massage does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and, thus, partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury. It also can hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from exercise or injury.
Massage decreases chronic pain
Far too many of us face our daily lives with chronic pain due to injuries or illness. Not only does massage therapy help to correct the conditions that cause chronic pain, but it also acts in two ways to decrease the actual pain itself. The first is by the trained touch of a massage therapist activating nerve receptor signals along nerve fibers to temporarily block chronic pain signals from reaching the brain. The second is by stimulated release of endorphins (the body’s natural pain killer) into the brain and nervous system to reduce your feelings of pain and discomfort without the use of drugs.
Massage increases blood circulation
Like a sponge that is squeezed, a tight muscle cannot hold much fluid nor can it allow much fluid to pass through it. This decreases your circulation of blood and increases the strain placed on your heart. Among the obvious problems this can cause, this can leave you feeling fatigued and sore, reducing your precious energy reserves. Massage therapy releases contracted muscles and pushes venous blood towards the heart thus easing the strain on this vital organ. This increase in circulation brings energy producing nutrients and oxygen to your cells as well as carries away metabolic waste products that can make you feel listless and drained. In addition, massage therapy increase your body’s oxygen carrying red blood cell count helping to bring even more oxygen to your body’s cells.
Cancer patients
In the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, breast cancer patients was reported to have improve immune and neuroendocrine function following massage therapy. In other studies, massage therapy has been reported to reduced anxiety and depression while at the same time improved immune function including increasing the number of natural killer cells.
- Relieves muscle spasms, tension headaches and RSI
- Enhances ability to think and concentrate
- Eases sore muscles and joints · Increases range of motion and flexibility
- Cleans the body of toxins and wastes
- Counterbalances travel fatigue
- Improves skin and muscle tone
- Slows the aging process
- Strengthens the immune system by reducing stress and improving circulation
- Improves energy reserve
- Reduces smoking and cravings, often due to nervous tension
- Compensating, at least in part, for lack of exercise and muscular contraction due to age, injury, or illness.
- Relieves eye strain
- Aids recovery from injuries
- Reduce blood pressure
- Improve posture·
- At last makes you feel on top of the world!!