Need a reason (besides relaxation!) for getting a massage? Here are a few reasons why a massage can be beneficial to your health from an article in The Huffington Post -- "Massage Benefits: 9 Healthy Reasons To Make An Appointment Today," by Sarah Klein.
1. Manage Anxiety & Depression -- For the same reasons that a massage is
relaxing, it can also soothe anxiety and depression. Massage reduces levels of
the stress hormones cortisol stress, resulting in lifted spirits and often
lower blood pressure. It can also boost the neurotransmitters serotonin and
dopamine, which are involved in depression.
2. Ease Pain -- Eight out of 10 Americans will experience debilitating back pain,
according to Time.com, but a massage can help. According to a 2011 study,
massage helped people in pain feel and function better compared to people who
didn't receive any massage treatment. "We found the benefits of massage
are about as strong as those reported for other effective treatments:
medications, acupuncture, exercise and yoga," Dan Cherkin, Ph.D., lead
author of the study, said in a press release. Massage has also been linked to
decreased stiffness and pain, as well as better range of motion in people with
osteoarthritis.
3. Improve Sleep -- If you've ever dozed off on a massage table, you don't need to be
convinced that a massage can promote healthy sleep. A number of studies have
examined this link, and chalk it up to massage's affect on delta waves, the
kind of brain waves connected to deep sleep, according to Health magazine.
4. Boost Immunity -- Multiple studies, although often small, have linked massage to better
functioning of the immune system. In one 2010 study, researchers found massage
increased a person's disease-fighting white blood cells. The stress-reducing
powers of massage can also help keep you healthy.
5. Beat PMS -- At least one small study found that massage can kick pesky PMS
symptoms, like bloating and mood swings, to the curb.
6. Raise Alertness -- Want to boost your brainpower? Adults who were given a 15-minute chair
massage in a small 1996 Touch Research Institute (TRI) study were more alert
and completed a series of math questions faster and more accurately.
7. Curb Headaches -- Just like muscle and back pain, headaches can also be alleviated thanks
to massage. A regular rubdown can reduce a person's number of migraines,
according to WebMD, as well as limit how painful each migraine feels, according
to the TRI. A 2009 study found that a 30-minute massage decreased pain for
people with tension headaches, and even curbed some of the stress and anger
associated with that pounding head.
8. Save Face -- A little prodding in the right places can even have beauty benefits.
"Massage increases blood flow, which plumps up slack skin, encourages
lymphatic drainage (the shuttling of toxins out and away from cells so that
more nutrients can travel in) and adds vitality to a dull complexion and lackluster
hair," Kimara Ahnert, a New York City skin-care studio owner told Women's
Health. And you don't even have to make an appointment -- simply rubbing your
face and scalp for a few minutes can make a big difference.
9. Ease Cancer Treatment -- Because of many of the benefits listed
above, massage is particularly helpful for people living with or undergoing
treatment for serious illnesses, like cancer. Various studies have shown that
massage can relieve fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression and nausea in cancer patients.
Have a reason for a massage now? Make your appointment at The Balinese Spa today! (361) 749-0003! Or email the Spa Manager here for more information!
