WHY MASSAGE? | Good Health To You!

Why should I include receiving massage as a regular part of my personal maintenance?

Receiving massage regularly, monthly if not more often, is a great comfort to your mind and a benefit to EVERY system in your body: Muscular, skeletal, nervous, respiratory, immune, circulatory, digestive, reproductive, endocrine and integumentary (hair, skin and nails). Following are just some of the ways massage benefits those systems:

Muscular System:

Relieves muscle tension.
Breaks up adhesions and lengthens muscles. Helps to restore proper range of motion, therefore increases flexibility and strength of joints.
Helps to speed healing. Dilates blood vessels restoring the flow of fluids, oxygen and nutrients to the injured area.
Has the ability to reduce pain in many conditions. It can block pain signals that originate within the musculoskeletal system
from reaching the brain.
Encourages the movement of metabolic waste products out of the muscles. A build up of these are responsible for the cramping and discomfort felt after activity.

Skeletal System:

Increases blood circulation which nourished skeletal cells.
Reduces muscular tension that may eventually cause structural problems because tight muscles can pull bones out of alignment.
Helps to maintain good posture and body balance.
Joints are nourished by synovial fluid which is moved and circulated by massage.
Will prevent and break down adhesions that can form between ligaments and bones.

Nervous System:

Has a normalizing effect on the Sympathetic (fight or flight impulses)and Parasympathetic (rest and digest) divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System*.
Relaxes the tissue surrounding the spinal cord which can take the strain off of nerves.
Releases secretions such as endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.
Can either sedate or stimulate the nervous system depending on the techniques used.
Can relieve restlessness and insomnia.

Respiratory System:

Normalizes breathing patterns. Relaxation encourages deeper breathing.
Releases the tension in the muscles between the ribs allowing for greater chest expansion and deeper breathing so that more oxygen is being distributed to all of the body's cells.

Immune System:

Promotes the movement of lymphatic fluid and blood throughout the body.Lymphatic fluids strengthen the immune system and helps to eliminate toxic wastes. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to each cell of the body.
Aids in reducing edema (swelling).

Circulatory System:

Helps to reduce heart rate.
Dilates blood vessels which can decrease blood pressure.
Causes contractions of the heart to be more forceful and complete.
Has a normalizing effect on the Autonomic Nervous System* therefore beneficial to the heart.
Improves general circulation so increases the supply of oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout the body.

Digestive System:

Indirectly stabilizes digestive functions through normalization of the Autonomic Nervous System*.
Improves tone and relaxes the abdominal and intestinal muscles.
Encourages peristalsis or movements within the intestine, which can aid in the relief of constipation, diarrhea and IBS.
By stimulating the small intestines, massage can aid in the absorption of fat.
Increases kidney action to remove waste.

Reproductive System:

Reduces the depression and anxiety associated with PMS.
Reduces excess fluid retention
Balances the release of reproductive hormones.

Endocrine System(glands that produce hormones):

Increases general circulation in the endocrine system and so helps in the transport of hormones.
Indirectly aids the immune system as some hormones produce lymphocytes to aid in immunization.
Promotes a restful sleep pattern.

Integumentary System(hair, skin and nails):

Aids in the vitality and elasticity of skin.
Encourages the elimination of dead skin cells.
Helps to regenerate tissue including burn, wounds and wrinkles. As well as the breaking up of scar tissue.
Send messages to the brain through sensory receptors in the skin to aid in the relaxation of the entire body.
Increased blood flow carries nutrients needed to promote hair and nail growth.

*The Autonomic Nervous System governs involuntary movements such as the beating of the heart and digestion.