Every year, Americans spend thousands of dollars and significant time seeking relief from illness. Many of which are stress related, like depression, heart disease, diabetes, fibromyalgia and cancer. Adding regular massage to your current health care routine has been proven to reduce stress, which reduces illness.
Receiving a massage may be one of the most relaxing things you've ever done, but in addition to offering rest and relaxation it provides a variety of health and wellness benefits. One of the best benefits of massage therapy is mental, emotional and physical stress relief. Physical manipulation of muscles can help relieve tension and tightness caused by anxiety or stress. Just having someone pamper you offers emotional benefits that help you relax.
Regular massage is no longer considered a luxury. It has become part of a pro-active plan of preventative medicine much in the same way as exercise and healthy eating. It's increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations. Doctors recognize the benefits and often recommend regular massage to their patients for reducing stress. Several studies have measured the stress hormone called cortisol and found massage decreases cortisol levels dramatically. Cortisol is produced when you are stressed, and kills important cells needed for immunity. So, when massage reduces your stress levels (and the cortisol) in your body, it may help you avoid getting sick. PubMed.gov study
There is an old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Preventing illness by being pro-active in your choices for good health is what we all strive to do. Adding regular massage to your personal health care routine will provide rest and relaxation, but more importantly, will reduce stress and reduce your chances of becoming ill.
The cost of adding regular massage to your wellness routine is low compared to what could be spent on time away from work, doctor visits and medicines, not to mention the agony of being ill. If you've been considering adding regular massage to your wellness routine, connect with me here by leaving a comment or on Facebook.