Massage therapy types & benefits

There are many records that indicate that massage therapy was practiced thousands of years ago in many ancient cultures, which believed in its medical advantages. The Indian, Egyptian and the Chinese cultures were the pioneers of this form of treatment, as indicated by many historic records dated from 2500 BC. Today, it is recognized as a holistic form of healing and is known to cure many ailments. The massage therapy involves kneading or applying pressure to the soft tissues of the body, which then encourages them to reach equilibrium.

The philosophy of the massage therapy is based on the principle that the body possesses an inherent ability to heal itself and a basic friction of the tissues would lead to increased health and wellbeing.

Touch is a necessary medium used in massage. The therapy involves different types of strokes and various directions of their application on the patient’s body in order to provide maximal relief. This helps the therapist to gauge the patient’s reactions to the strokes and also helps identify areas of concern (Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 2008).

Massage can reduce your stress levels and slow your heart rate, thus helping you to relax. Besides, it increases blood circulation, corrects posture, reduces inflammation, and relieves joint and muscular pain. It improves mobility, reduces blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, and improves post-operative and post-injury rehabilitation (Salvo 2015). Furthermore, massage works wonders on infants and helps in their bone development along with increasing their flexibility. It is recommended for insomnia, tension headaches, sports injuries, asthma, arthritis or digestive problems.

If you take blood thinners or blood pressure medications, massage may not be a good idea. In the case of burns or any wounds, it can burn and irritate you, along with increasing bleeding. It should be avoided in case of fractures and severe osteoporosis. If you are pregnant, discuss the pros and cons of the therapy before undergoing massage. In the case of malignant cancer or during chemotherapy, avoid using a massage.

In rare cases, you may have allergic reactions to the massage oils and herbs. You may also experience internal bleeding or soreness along with extreme pain.

Massage is a wonderful therapy that has been seen to increase oxytocin hormonal levels while decreasing the adrenocorticotropin hormone levels in people. Oxytocin is an anxiolytic chemical and reduces the stress levels in people, whereas increased ACTH acts as an indicator for high-stress levels. In a study, the participants were encouraged to undergo massage therapy. These people experienced complete relaxation, which further caused hormonal changes that were detected by the researchers (Morhenn et. al., 2012).

Message therapy is not only a form to de-stress yourself, but it is also able to cure many ailments. Massage helps the patient feel comforted, empowered and more connected to their therapist. Massage impacts the emotional, physical and psychological needs of the individual. It is being offered along with many traditional forms of medication to improve the patient’s health.