The Hidden Health Benefits of Massage
Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008
by Sandra Hishinuma
Many people love to get massages because they feel great, but what most people may not realize is that massage also provides health benefits. When massage therapy and techniques are done properly, massage can decrease stress levels, provide muscle relaxation, and improve your immune system. Massages can help to relive pain in the body and cure headaches. Massage can also be used for healing injuries and retaining muscle and joint mobility. If you are having any type of problems with these areas, and traditional medical procedures are not working for you, talk to your healthcare provider about alternative therapy options like massage.
There are various types of massages that target certain parts of the body. A Cranio-Sacral massage will focus on your neck, head, and spine to get it properly aligned and working normally. This massage also loosens up tight muscles in the body. Chi Nei Tsang is another type of massage that focuses on a person's abdominal organs to help with digestive pain or disease. If your joints are giving you problems, consider using the Trager Approach. This type of massage is able to improve your life when it is done properly. You can also use this massage in connection with the Swedish massage or other types of massage to target specific problems and relax the whole body.
Other types of massages provide relaxation or relieve stress like the Rosen Method. All massages should make you feel physically and emotionally better. There are a few types of massage, like the deep tissue massage, that can be a little painful and should only be used if your physician recommends this type of treatment for you. An example of this type of technique is rolfing. Rolfing works to align tissues the right way and straighten the spine. After this type of massage, you should feel better and not worse. If your condition worsens, you need to speak to your doctor and take alternative measures immediately.
There are some types of massage that are used specifically for healing. These include the Alexander technique, acupressure, feldenfrais, reflexology, Reiki, and Shiatsu methods. There are different ways to use these techniques and research should be done before attempting to use these alternative therapy methods for healing. You can also find information on how to perform simple massage techniques on yourself to improve your comfort level, or you can purchase a massage chair for your home or office. Your doctor or massage therapist can help you decide what form of massage therapy would be best for you and what your body is able to handle.
So the next time you need to relax or relieve body aches, consider using massage therapy to obtain relief.
A self-proclaimed information addict, Sandi H. has come to the conclusion that knowledge is power when it comes to finding alternative healing methods to traditional medicine. Go to http://alternativemedicineinfoguide.com to find more information on alternative healing methods to meet your specific needs.
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