Throughout history, humans have employed the art of massage as a means towards greater relaxation and health. The cultures which we regard as the foundations of our civilization including Rome, medieval China and Japan, India, Greece, and even ancient Egypt, all practiced forms of massage. In addition, many cultures which have not traditionally been considered “civilized” have used massage in many different applications.

Today, the benefits of massage and massage therapy are well known, and have in fact been documented in peer reviewed medical research. This means that the best minds in the medical field endorse massage and massage therapy in a number of different situations.

Just what are the situations in which massage therapy may be called for? Let’s take a look at some common occurrences which may lead you to seek massage therapy.

An Injury:

For many, massage therapy is a key component in their road to recovery after sustaining an injury. Whether the injury in question was a pulled muscle or a broken bone, increasing levels of massage as healing takes place can greatly aid the process.

Pain Relief:

Many people suffer from chronic pains, although those pains do not occur due to a past injury. The pains may be in the form of migraine headaches or joint inflammation, incurred through age or environment.

In these cases, the pressure applied through different types of massage can greatly alleviate the amount of suffering a person is feeling. Massage appears to both dull the intensity of pain during treatment and reduce the level of pain when it re-occurs. Sometimes, massage therapy can rid the patient of specific chronic pain altogether.

Stress Relief:

Perhaps the best known massage applications is in the reduction of stress on the individual patient. Massage’s traditional application has been in the form of a relaxant, allowing the pressure of life to drift away amidst pressures placed on the physical form of the patient.

As stress is a factor in the everyday life of every human, stress reduction is the most widespread application of massage therapy. Massage has been proven not only to reduce stress but also to alleviate stress induced symptoms on both the physical and mental levels.

Why Does Massage Therapy Work?

While the benefits of massage have been proven at almost every level that matters to science (the one exception being double blind experiments, as one involving massage is impossible to design), the question of why massage works remains a mystery. Multiple theories exist that suggest why massages are effective in so many circumstances. It may activate an increased blood flow, improve sleep, release endorphins, or any number of other potentially beneficial reactions within the body.

Massage is the kneading and stroking of the body’s soft tissues – the skin AND the muscles – with varying degrees of pressure. It has long been incorporated into a number of traditional health systems such as Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine.

Generally, there are 2 types of massage and the benefits of each can be different; gentle and strong.

Gentle massage affects the nervous system through nerve endings in the skin, stimulating the release of endorphins, the body’s natural ‘feel good’ chemicals, to help induce relaxation and a sense of well being, to relieve pain and reduce levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol and noradrenaline. It helps reverse the damaging effects of stress by slowing heart rate, respiration and metabolism and lowering raised blood pressure.

Stronger massage stimulates blood circulation to improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients to body tissues and helps the lymphatic system to flush away waste products. It eases tense knotted muscles and stiff joints, improving mobility and flexibility. Many of today’s health problems can benefit from massage therapy because the manipulation of soft tissues affects so many of our bodily systems.

Prolonged periods of stress can subconsciously affect many systems of the body. Stress has been shown to aggravate, or even cause, such problems as heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, memory loss and decreased immune function. Massage therapy is one of the best antidotes for stress. Massage boosts the body’s immune system, which can become compromised from extended periods of stress.

Tension can build up in the muscles, causing a decrease in circulation and nutrient delivery to tissues. Manipulation of the soft tissue decreases muscular tension, increases removal of metabolic waste and promotes nutrient delivery to healing tissue. With a therapeutic massage, stress can be significantly reduced. This, in turn, will increase energy, improve your outlook on life, and in the process boost your immune system function.

As you can see, massage is not just a luxury anymore, it’s a better way to healthier living! If nothing else, massage just feels good. It feels good to get, and believe or not, it feels good to give it as well. Massage therapists are known to find a sense of calm themselves when giving a massage.

Massage Therapy is the most used type of complimentary and alternative medicine in hospitals and rehabilitation centers today. Nursing professionals use massage therapy to help with the relief of pain and to assist patients with sleeping. Oils are used in massage therapy to enhance the massage experience with its therapeutic effect.

Massage therapy involves an action of manipulating the body with pressure-structured movements which can be done manually with hands, elbows, fingers, forearm, knees and feet or with mechanically aids, for example hot stones or other various devices. Some of the techniques used are skin rolling, kneading, striking, stretching, compression and shearing. Different areas of the body are targeted in massage therapy, muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints and some organs. Therapy can be done clothed or unclothed, in a chair sitting or on the floor or table lying.

Essential oils and salts are used in massage therapy because they provide therapeutic benefits and help with the removal of dry skin. Each oil provides a different purpose and these are a few of the oils used. Coconut oil are the favorite oil used by therapist because it washes off easily. It helps in boosting your energy and building endurance, it enhances your performance, relieve stress and help with removing of mental fatigue. It is a safe oil to used because it prevents dryness and flaking of skin, delay wrinkles and sagging of skin, helps in treating skin ailments and preventing infections. Jojoba is the most natural oil because it resembles natural skin oil, it is soothing and nourishing and can be used on all skin type. Hazelnut is non-greasy and is used for toning skin.

Grapeseed oil is excellent for moisturizing the skin, it lubricates well, easily absorbed, tighten and tone the skin well. Macadamia oil is the best oil to used on dry skin. Sesame oil is a rich, softening oil that can be used on all skin type. Mustard oil helps to soothes arthritis pain and stiff joints and it lets off a pleasant aroma which some find appealing. Many practitioners of aromatherapy used organically produced essential oils because some states that there are pesticides residues in some essential oils.

Essential oils should not be used in its undiluted form on the skin because it can cause severe irritations or allergic reactions, it should be mixed with a carrier which is usually a vegetable base oil. Some common carrier oils used in massage therapy are Almond oil which helps with softening and lubricating dry skin. Avocado oil can be used on irritated skin, it has a lot of vitamins and can be used as a mild sunscreen. Olive oil contains a lot of protein and vitamins, absorbs rapidly into the skin and used in the treatment of muscular pains. Wheat Germ oil has vitamins, antioxidant properties and helps with diminishing of scars.

Some benefits of using oils in massage therapy are, they have antiseptic properties which provide a curative effect. They provide an uplifting feeling by decreases the feeling of anxiety and depression, increasing awareness and concentration, providing a better focus and calm mind thereby reducing stress and providing relaxation. It relieves muscular pain and provides flexibility in tense muscles. It also improves circulation, promotes deep breathing, improves posture and provides a restful sleep, increasing your general well being.