Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician and father of Western medicine, advocated massage therapy for its natural healing benefits. Massage promotes circulation, soothes and stimulates the nervous system, and aids with the repair of muscles and connective tissue to encourage natural healing. Massage therapy can also help strengthen your immune system, lift your mood, and improve your overall health and well-being.
Benefits Circulatory System
Your circulatory system plays a major role in the various functions of your body. Oxygenated blood circulates to provide nourishment to your body's cells, connective tissue and internal organs. When your circulation is compromised, your heart works harder to pump the blood around your body. This can lead to a range of complications and can hamper your health.
Massage can greatly improve sluggish circulation. Long sweeping effleurage strokes with Swedish massage, or penetrative deep tissue techniques all help break down adhesions, relax tight contracted muscles and dilate blood vessels to keep your blood flowing effectively, reducing unnecessary strain on your heart.
Promotes Waste Elimination
The lymphatic system is an important component to circulatory health. Lymph fluid assists in the elimination process of waste and impurities from your body. When it's stagnated or sluggish, you may experience toxic build-up, which can affect your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to infections and disease.
Massage helps move lymph fluids, assisting in the cleansing of your body's system. Swelling or edemas associated with ineffective lymph drainage can benefit from massage. According to a 2008 article on the Lymphedema Advice website, swelling or edemas are either caused by a salt-rich diet or an injury to the lymphatic system.
The article highlights massage as an effective tool in managing lymphedema. If you have any unusual edemas or swelling, it's important to check with your doctor to determine the cause before opting for massage therapy.
Aids Muscle Recovery
If you are an athlete or train regularly, you may experience pain from minor injuries, as well as stiffness in your muscles and joints from overuse. Sports massage can help heal soft tissue injuries, improve your range of motion, encourage blood circulation and help muscles repair and recover more rapidly.
Massage rids the muscle of built-up lactic and carbonic acid to relieve cramps. Tightly contracted muscles and connective tissue will loosen when massaged, allowing blood to penetrate, nourish and heal.
Lowers Blood Pressure
A 2008 article on the "Newsweek" website highlighted a 2005 study carried out at the University of South Florida to determine if hypertension benefited from massage. Over a three-week period, a group of patients received 10-minute massages, while another group rested. Those receiving massages experienced a significant drop in blood pressure in comparison to the other group.
A 2007 article cited in the Institution for Integrative Health Care website questioned the validity of massage being recognized as a contra-indication for hypertension, despite obvious benefits. Relaxing treatments like Swedish massage, reflexology and cranial-sacral therapy were recommended for patients suffering from hypertension, with a caution to avoid the less painful ones such as deep tissue massage and trigger point release.
Enhances Mood
Massage can provide pain and stress relief, relaxation or can invigorate you, depending on the therapist's technique. During a massage, your body will release hormones such as dopamine and serotonin, which have a relaxing effect on your mood. Stress hormones like cortisol are reduced along with adrenaline and noradrenaline.
A 2009 article on Massage mag.com highlighted a study by Japanese scientists on women receiving facial massages. An electrocardiogram or ECG was used to record and evaluate the women's heart rate and sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. During the massage, the women experienced an increase in parasympathetic nervous activity, indicating a relaxed state.
Once completed, the sympathetic nervous system, or fight or flight response activated. The conclusion of the study was that massage acts as a de-stressor, while also energizing and lifting your mood.
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