Benefits of Massage Therapy That You Didn’t Know
It is no secret anymore that massage therapy has a multitude of benefits that those in or even associated with the medical profession are exploring continually. Currently, there is consensus on the findings that massage therapy brings about pain relief, stress reduction, and mood improvement among other benefits.
However, this article will cover all the benefits that you perhaps didn’t know about already. These are the less talked about ones, or perhaps ones that not all medical professionals agree upon. Nevertheless, knowing about them adds to your knowledge about massage therapy, and can help you decide whether this is something you wish to try.
Hence, without further ado, here are some of the unheard-of advantages to getting massage therapy.
1. Muscles, Joints, And Circulation
For starters taking massage therapy regularly may increase joint mobility and flexibility, and prevent the early onset of muscle soreness. Massage therapy in general can also help reduce the production of hormones that give rise to stress and anxiety as well.
Similarly, some research has been linked to the increasing rates of serotonin production in the brain to massage therapy, but more work is required before treating this information as fact for all.
Moreover, massage therapy has also been found to be useful for blood pressure regulation, insomnia, and a variety of other conditions that people have to live with. Some doctors have even prescribed their cancer patients and those suffering from a chronic disease to opt for massage therapy to help deal with pain.
In a sense, massage therapy can provide relief where allopathic medicine can perhaps not, making it a highly sought-after form of pain management. Depending on the time of massage you are getting, you will most likely experience some, if not all of these benefits, which is a more than fair bargain.
2. Longer, Healthier Hair
You might not have heard about this one at all, because not many know themselves. But there is credible research to suggest that a scalp massage twice a week can stimulate better hair growth. This is also believed to help increase hair volume and thickness, even!
The science behind this benefit is fairly straightforward. Massaging the scalp helps stimulate blood circulation to the hair follicles, providing them with additional oxygen and nutrients, ultimately leading to increased hair growth and volume.
In fact, according to one study, with just four minutes of massage to the scalp, you can experience results yourself within just 24 weeks! How amazing is that?
3. Say Goodbye To Headaches
Regular massage of the scalp also has another magical side effect; a decrease in headaches that are caused by stress and tension. One study found that trigger point massages when used for headaches can bring about remarkable results.
Another study discovered that having your head massaged for thirty minutes every week has some correlation with reduced migraines and sharp headaches overall. Again, the increased oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and head region are most likely responsible in some way for this advantage as well.
4. No More Constipation
Yes, you read it right the first time. Massage therapy is now being used to help patients suffering from chronic constipation, owing to a variety of conditions and illnesses, such as Crohn’s disease and IBS for example.
What massage therapy does for someone with constipation is that it initiates the stretch receptors within the intestines to expand or loosen up, allowing for stool to pass through easily. Moreover, massage therapy also helps alleviate the pain that comes with constipation in the abdominal area.
5. Strengthens Immune System
With regular massages, you will also be improving your immune system. According to one research study done on Swedish massages back in 2010, it was found that a single massage can reduce the production of the stress hormone cortisol, reducing overall tension and anxiety in the body.
Similarly, other research suggests that weekly massages can also help increase the number of white blood cells in the body, while more evidence points to the use of massage therapy for people with HIV/AIDS. As the immune system is boosted, stress levels are reduced.
This benefit is of great importance to those suffering from illnesses that target their immune systems, and also impacting their mental health in the process. For such people, massages can be quite useful in helping them relax both physically and psychologically to feel better.
6. Improves Upon Patient Care In Hospices
For the people who are going through terminal illnesses and have since found themselves in the care of a hospice, the rest of their lives can at least be made more comfortable. More and more hospices are now incorporating massage therapy for their patients to help them live out their last days with relative ease and comfort.
This service can help reduce physical pain, anxiety and even aid in getting rid of insomnia, helping patients deal with their discomfort in a professional yet nurturing manner.
7. Reduces Nausea Caused By Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, while unavoidable and necessary in many cases, is nonetheless quite a physically and mentally exhaustive ordeal. Side effects of this process include fatigue, increased levels of stress, and nausea. While there are medicines that one can take for nausea, not everyone has found relief with them.
This is where massage therapy comes in. Not only has it been proven to reduce nausea in breast cancer patients according to one study, but it can also aid in managing anxiety and stress as well as fatigue. For this reason, those on chemotherapy should consider massage therapy to help them get through this difficult time.
8. Improves Athletic Performance
If you are preparing to take part in a sports activity of any sort, you might want to incorporate massage therapy in your routine to help your athletic performance. You do not need to be a professional athlete for this to work; if you are simply looking to get better at whatever sport or physical activity you take part in, massage therapy can surely help do this.
Evidence for this comes from a multitude of short studies that investigated the effect of massage therapy on athletic abilities. Almost all of them conclusively found that massage therapy when taken during the designated recovery period can significantly improve overall performance.
So, there you have it. Here are eight unheard-of benefits of massage therapy to pique your interest. All of these benefits may seem inter-related, and that is because they are since massage therapy has certain proven effects on the body.
Ultimately, there are many benefits to massage therapy, with different styles offering somewhat different benefits to the body.
If you are new to massage, then you might want to start with the Swedish massage, and then perhaps move onto aromatherapy and then the hot stone massage. On the other hand, if you require something to help manage chronic pain as a result of an injury or illness, the trigger point massage may provide you the relief you need.
If you are in search of professionals that can offer a variety of massage services, look no further than Body of Beverly Hills Wellness. Visit our website here to book an appointment: https://www.bodyofbeverlyhillswellness.com/.