Should You Try Massage Therapy?
If you have been thinking about whether or not to include massage therapy as a part of your healthcare regimen, then you are not alone. A growing number of people are turning to massage therapy as a natural alternative in reducing mental stress as well as musculoskeletal discomfort. Research continues to show the tremendous benefits of touch.
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The flow of blood and lymph are stimulated, which is the body's natural defense system. If that is not enough, massage also helps with the removal of toxins, another vital step towards optimal health.
Massage and Therapeutic Benefits
Although the most common therapeutic uses of massage therapy are to reduce stiffness and release stress, many practitioners utilize multiple techniques of the more than 250 variation of massage and its related touch therapies to profoundly effect physiological and chemical changes throughout the body. Research shows that with massage, patients with high blood pressure showed lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety and stress hormones.
Patients suffering from arthritis noted less stiffness and pain resulting in fewer aches. Better pulmonary function and increased peak air flow were benefits noted for asthmatic children. Water retention and cramping decreased for sufferers of premenstrual syndrome. Patients with burn injuries reported less pain, itching and anxiety. Premature babies even demonstrated improved weight gain. Massage therapy may also be effective for back pain, headache control, carpal tunnel syndrome, and to alleviate the side effects of many