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Stress Relief: A Key to Longevity, Part 1
Duane Taylor
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Stress is one of the leading causes of health-related problems. It must be dealt with properly if we want to experience long life. There is no question we all face stressful situations, but how we deal with those stressors is what makes the difference where our health is concerned. One of the methods mentioned in last month’s article was massage therapy (as a way to relieve tension). As a Certified Massage Therapist, I have seen first hand the benefits of regular massages, not only from a physical standpoint, but also both emotionally and mentally as well. Partaking in regular massage therapy has many benefits. Understanding the physiology of massage will help you determine what type of therapy will best suit your needs.
When was the last time you had a sore muscle or a “knot” in your back you could not get rid of? The immediate tendency is to rub the area. Touching the area that hurts you is a natural human reaction to pain and physical distress. Similarly, massage is a healing tool that has been around for thousands of years in many cultures, with the earliest written record of massage therapy being discovered in Egypt and China.
In Egypt, tomb paintings depicting individuals being kneaded by others have been located. And in China, there are texts dating back to approximately 2700 B.C. documenting the benefits of massage. It was not until the fifth century B.C. that the physician, Hippocrates, prescribed “friction” to his colleagues as a means of healing.
By definition, massage is the practice of soft tissue manipulation with physical, functional, and in some cases, psychological purposes and goals. It involves acting on and manipulating the body with pressure—structured, unstructured, stationary or moving-tension; motion; or vibration done manually with hands, fingers, elbows, forearms, feet, and sometimes mechanical aids.
The Benefits of Massage
More and more people are turning to therapeutic massage treatments to provide relaxation, relieve tension, alleviate pain from injury, and also maintain good health through a holistic lifestyle. Here is a list of some of the benefits of massage:
- Increases circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.
- Stimulates the flow of lymph, one of the body’s natural defenses against toxic invaders. For example, in breast cancer patients, massages have been shown to increase the cells that fight cancer.
- Increases circulation of blood and lymph, which improves the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.
- Relaxes and softens injured and overused muscles.
- Reduces spasms and cramping.
- Increases flexibility.
- Assists with shorter labor for expectant mothers, as well as less need for medication, less depression and anxiety, and shorter hospital stays.
- Provides exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reduces shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion.
- Relieves pain for migraine sufferers and decreases the need for medication.
- Decreases discomfort for patients with back pain.
- Releases endorphins—the body’s natural pain killer.
As you can see, there are a lot of great reasons to begin a massage therapy program. Massage is more than just a luxury treatment, it is an important part of maintaining our overall health and well-being. Next month, we will examine some of the different types of massages so you can determine what best fits your needs. Here’s to your health!
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