Why Massage is So Good for You

The Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

There aren’t many people who don’t appreciate a good massage.

It’s stimulating, relaxing, and it feels fantastic, especially when your muscles are tight or you’re feeling tense and stressed.

A massage can put you into a state of complete relaxation, or it can help you achieve a state of total awareness. Some people fall asleep on the massage table, others perk up, but just about everyone enjoys it – immensely.

But in addition to feeling good, massage also has plenty of benefits for your health and well being.

There are various types of message. Some can be quite rough, others require knowledge of pressure points to stimulate and still others merely are for relaxation or sensual arousal.

Although massage can be beneficial to your health, you should always check with your doctor if you seeking alternative health care for either pain or disease.

Massage for Pain Relief

Muscular and skeletal injuries, as well as certain types of headaches can be alleviated through massage, and/or acupressure techniques, which involves applying pressure to specific pressure points on the body.

Because massage encourages relaxation and also tends to increase the blood flow to the injured area, pain that is caused by tension is especially minimized through massage therapy.

Massage for physical injury is usually only temporary - at least at first. But as the injured part of the body is manipulated, flexibilty and range of motion can be restored as injured joints,tendons and muscles once again begin to function properly.

Chiropratic medicine is based on massage and spinal manipulation which is designed to alleviate pain and restore function to injured parts of the body.

Massage for Stress, Anxiety, Blood Pressure, and Heart Rate

Because it puts the body into a deep state of relaxation, massage can be very helpful in reducing anxiety, blood pressure and heart rate. What a pleasurable way to slow down!

Unforunate;ay the effect is only temporary - but that just gives you an excuse to get another massage.

Massage for Academic Performance

Although not clinically proven, some studies show that after a massage, brain patterns show improved performance and increased alertness, particularly in mathematics, possibly because massage decreases stress and tension, which can be distracting during academic or left-brain thought processes.

Immune System and Aromatherapy

By increasing blood flow throughout the body, massage can also stimulate the immune system, although this specific massage related health benefit is particular to aromatherapy massage.

Most massages incorporate the use of oils, and in aromatherapy, these oils are heavily scented. Especially beneficial are sweet almond oil, lavender, and cypress.

For more information read our article about Aromatherapy.

In addition, massage is noted for reducing some forms of depression, and helping patients cope with diseases such as cerebral palsy, and HIV.

Types of Massage

There are a wide variety of types of massages, ranging from shiatsu to Swedish massages.

Some massages involve the use of heated stones placed or rubbed on the body, while others incorporate lotions and oils, which, through lubrication, allow the massage therapist to work more easily.

Be sure to consult with your massage therapist to determine which type of massage will be most beneficial for your specific needs.

Sensual Message

Massage is pleasurable and can be a great addition to your love life - which is one of the most beneficial forms of exercise we can participate in.

See Your Love Life for more information.

A gentle message using lots of oil that is not irritating to sensitive body areas is a fantastic form of foreplay, especially if each partner has his or her turn on the receiving end.

This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.