7 Ways Massage Therapy Can Be Good for Your Health

Massage therapy has been an effective means of treatment in China for around 3,000 years. Through the careful and considered movement and touch of muscles and soft tissue; practitioners can instil calm, relaxation, increased function, and physical, mental, and emotional healing. Whether through a professional as therapy or a partner, there are many ways that massage can be good for your health.

Combats Anxiety and Depression

First and foremost; massage therapy won’t heal or undo your depression. However, what it can do is manage and relieve the symptoms associated with the condition. Which in turn can help the sufferer take a well needed rest from the cycle of depression leading to symptom and symptom prolonging the depression. Needless to say, when globally more than 264 million suffer from depression; we should be aware of every tool at our disposal for our mental well-being.

Massage therapy is an effective means of easing the aches, pains and stiffness that comes from stress, depression, and anxiety; that’s not all though. It also helps sleep (more on that later) issues which are another common side effect and cause of depression. Finally, the therapy lowers cortisol and releases serotonin, which helps to stay calm and relaxed.

Relieves Pain and Tension

The friction resulted in a massage enables blood flow; this means more oxygen and critical nutrients can move freely about the body. Stimulating the nerve fibres can act as a blocker to the pain signals sent to and from the brain, allowing periods of relief and aiding in recovery. Which is why therapeutic massage has become a necessity in modern physical therapy.

Helps with Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common ailments people struggle with, in-fact only 5-10% of people do not experience them and science struggles to explain why. Whilst a quite common issue; they do vary from person-to-person and some find it difficult to work or maintain an acceptable quality of life when particularly bad headaches or migraines take root.

Massage therapy helps with headaches because massaging increases circulation and blood flow in places that could otherwise be lacking. The movement associated with the process also eases pain and discomfort from tissue that has become tender and irritable.

Improves Sleep

Sleep is critical to our sense of general well-being. However, surveys have shown that almost 40% of Britons don’t get enough. Sleep deprivation completely messes with your cognitive functions and makes more mentally, physically, and emotionally vulnerable than we would be otherwise.

Fortunately, massages have been shown to improve sleep. As already mentioned, massages therapy is an effective means of dealing with depression and anxiety and helps the receiver to relax. Serotonin (the neurotransmitter released during therapy) increases calm which leads to a clearer state of mind and likelihood of sleep.

Fights Fatigue

It’s weird that massage as a therapeutic solution is still considered an alternative treatment; I imagine this Is because more studies are required rather than any other reason as medical professionals worldwide frequently recommend it as a form of treatment.

When it comes to mild, notable, or even actual chronic fatigue syndrome; body massages are typically a recommended form of treatment. This is because it aids in muscles and nerve relaxation as well as aiding with anxiety and sleeping disorders.

Aids the Immune System

Many don’t realise that massages can promote a healthier and more responsive immune system, but this is the case. Put simply, the friction on the muscles increase white blood cell activity that gives the body an added boost in fighting disease and infection as well as flushing toxins from your system.

Lower Blood Pressure

Finally, one of the longer-term benefits of massage therapy is that it can lower blood pressure.

If you want to know more about the science, you can find it here; but, the general idea is that the motion and action of the massage will free the passages stagnant build-up by reducing the distribution of cortisol in the body and increasing blood flow. It keeps things pumping, so to speak.

The benefits last beyond the period of the therapy itself though and just a 20-minute massage from time-to-time can leave the body running in a much more efficient state.

Undoubtedly massage therapy is good for your health; as always though, if you have any health concerns you should check with your healthcare professional before scheduling a massage or incorporating them into intimate moments with your partner.

*Disclosure: This is a collaberative post