If you are like majority of people, you most likely schedule a massage when you are feeling a bit of stress or tweak something, which could be once a month or even less often like 3-4 times a year. What many people don’t realize is that more frequent massages can help with common ailments we all deal with in our day to day lives. Here are seven common health issues that frequent massages can help with!
1. Management of Emotional Disorders
Massage therapy is a great technique used in the management of emotional disorders as it increases the production of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. The increase of both serotonin and dopamine in massage goers leaves them feeling more relaxed and less anxious since depression and anxiety are primarily caused by a drop in both of these brain chemicals.
2. Stress Management
Similar but not exactly the same as the previous benefit regular massages can leave you feeling less stressed due the decrease of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is the stress producing hormone which can lead to higher blood pressure. By seeing your therapist twice a month you can dramatically reduce your cortisol levels as well as seeing drops in your blood pressure.
3. Raise Alertness
This might surprise you as a good massage can easily put you to sleep. However, massage therapy actually boosts brain power! Research shows that a 15 min chair massage resulted in recipients being more alert and being able to do a series of math problems more quickly. Massage also stimulates brain-wave activity which is directly linked to improved attention. Touch to Heal Spa does onsite chair massages which is perfect for your office!
4. Improve Sleep
Studies show that massage increases the stimulation of your brain's sleep regulators, called delta waves which offers insomnia relief and aids in a more satisfying sleep. So put down your sleeping pills or melatonin and book a session with your favorite massage therapist.
5. Relieves Headaches
Tension headaches and migraines can be made worse by muscle tension in your back, neck and shoulders. A study published on TRI showed that twenty-six adults with migraine headaches received two 30-minute massages per week for five consecutive weeks, and they reported less pain and more headache free days. Also by working out the tension in your neck and shoulder muscles you can reduce the frequency and severity of your tension headaches.
6. Pain Management
Massage therapy treatment is about as strong as those reported for other affective treatments such as medication, acupuncture, and exercise. Not only does massage work out knots, the increased blood flow to the muscles helps reduce pain and increase trunk range in motion.
7. Immune System Support
Deep tissue massage is fabulous for boosting your immune system since it increases blood circulation. This boots your white blood cell count, which are responsible for fighting disease, and even helps flush out toxins! Adding essential oils to your massage also helps boost your immunity system and fight allergies.
So how frequently should you be seeing your massage therapist to reap these benefits? If you are a hard core athlete you are looking at once a week, and for others every other week is ideal but no fewer than once a month. Adding essential oils to your massage is another great way to increase the benefits. So whether you are constantly suffering from a cold and allergies or work is leaving you super stressed, pick up the phone and give you massage therapist a call to set up a standing appointment!
July Oil Add Ons
This month our featured oils are Digest Zen and Melaleuca. Melaleuca is great for skin allergies, rashes, and sunburns. Digest Zen is great for those of us who might indulge too much and grab lots of food on the go. All July aromatherapy treatments with these oils are only an additional $10.
