Benefits of Massage

Extensive historical research reveals that manual therapy is one of the oldest known healing practices, dating back thousands of years. Evidence of massage therapy's benefits appears in ancient Chinese medical texts over 3,000 years old, showcasing its long standing role in health and wellness. 

Massage therapy has deep roots across several ancient civilizations. Historical records from cultures such as the Hindus, Egyptians, and Persians reveal that manual massage was widely used for therapeutic purposes.

The word 'massage' itself is rooted in Arabic, "mass" which means "to touch" or "to feel," while in Greek, "massein" means to 'knead' or 'rub.' Both Arabic and Greek cultures, as well as the ones mentioned previously, recognized the healing power of touch and physical manipulation, considering them essential to well-being and recovery and maintain massage as an important branch of therapy to this day. 

The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates of Cos , (460 to 380 BC),  wrote in his memoirs that a physician must be experienced in many things, but most assuredly in the "Art of Rubbing".

Doctors such as Ambroise Paré, a french physician in the 16th century, praised massage as a treatment for various alignments, injuries and as a means to enhance physical health .

 In 1813, , Pehr Heinrik Ling, Swedish physical therapist and gymnastics instructor, used massage as a manual therapy for athletes, specifically gymnasts, leading to his development and research of manual techniques focused on manipulating soft tissue . In addition, Ling is credited with being the founder of the highly beneficial Swedish Massage.

The twenty-first century, a time period known for increased scientific research, where medicine stands as a paragon of scientific advancement, also embraces natural approaches. An example of this, can be seen in Dr. James Gordon’s assertion that “Massage is a medicament.” 

Currently there is increased growth and interest in contact therapy by . This trend has led to the creation of institutions that are dedicated to investigate this area. 

One such institution is the Touch Research Institute (TRI), in Miami, that has been researching contact massage since 1982. Dr. Tiffany Field's research established that massage, when used properly, is a powerful therapeutic tool.

Today, there is overwhelming evidence proving that massage works as therapy for various medical conditions and ailments. Therapists are well trained in the workings of the body. Having confidence in the massage method for therapy is important in the effectiveness of the treatment.

To understand the effects of therapeutic massage from the concept of the school of Hipocratica Grega: Vis Medicatrix Naturae; 

"This refers to the capacity of an innate organism for healing itself. The hypothesis is not that massage cures diseases, rather that it stimulates the natural mechanisms of the body to accelerate the healing process".

The art of the massage healing process starts with the effects of applying a physical phenomenon to the tissue, with the second step of transmitting a reflex to the neurons and stimulating receptors cutaneous that are located in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, that further stimulate and activate the proprioceptor located in the walls of the circulatory system.

Stimuli are sent by impulses to the central nervous system reaching different area of the spinal cord, hemispheres and cerebral cortex. All these mechanisms cause functional changes to the organism helping to restore the body's well-being. 

It is important to incorporate massage  into your daily life. Regularly scheduled massages can play an integral part in your health and overall well being. Massage for Healing therapy relieves stress and restores a sense of well being while promoting body healing. Our treatments relax, energize, restores and rejuvenated the body, mind and spirit. 

Massage is a healing tool. Whether it's stress, illness or simply to pamper yourself, the benefits of massage are life changing. 

Physical:

Enhanced tissue repair and reduction of scar formation

Improve connective tissue health

Release adhesions and improve flexibility of fascia

Stimulate sensory receptors in the skin

Promote smooth joint function

"Milk" metabolic wastes into venous and lymph flow

Stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, (i.e. relaxation response)

Reduce pain

Release of endorphins

Increase general and local circulation, enhance venous return, and reduce blood pressure and heart rate

Increase lymph fluid movement and improve the immune system

Encourage diaphragmatic breathing and relax the muscle of respiration.

Psychological:

Increase mental clarity

Reduce anxiety

Facilitate emotional release

Promote feelings of general well being

Additional Benefits Include:

Improved digestion with relaxation

Improved reproductive function

Removal of dead skin

Increased sebaceous gland secretions

Promote optimal joint flexibility and range of motion

Proper skeletal alignment

General muscle relaxation

Relieve myofascial trigger points

Promote growth and development in infants