Massage: Luxury or Therapy?

Most people only get massages when they want to pamper themselves.

But massages can be a powerful tool for healing your body. It’s been shown to help…

• Reduce the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and heart attacks
• Improve mobility and reduce arthritis pain
• Improve blood flow, lower blood pressure and aid hypertension
• Inhibit stress hormones, release happy hormones
• Massage is a good substitute for people who can’t exercise

There have been many studies done on the benefits of massage…

• Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center studied 263 volunteers. Those who had massages watched their blood pressure fall by 10 mg/Hg and their heart rate drop by 10 beats per minute after just one treatment. That’s the same drop you would get from blood pressure medication!

• The Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences at Universiti Selangor took 100 people and separated them into two groups. One group received a 15 minute massage 3 times a week and the other group just rested. Those that received massages saw a significant drop in blood pressure and their blood pressure stayed low for several more days.

• A similar study was conducted at the Istafahan University of Medical Sciences with a group of 50 women. Half received 1 hour massages once a week while half simply rested. The group that received massages watched their systolic and diastolic blood pressure fall significantly. Markers that showed inflammation were also much lower in the group that received massages.

But what if you can’t afford a massage?

On average, a massage costs $70.00 per hour.

$70 is a little pricey, but there are several alternatives to getting the hands-on session your body needs.

• Find a school. Students give great massages and the prices are much lower.
• Buy in packages. Buying a 5-pack or a 10-pack of massages can bring down the price per massage by as much as $20.00!
• Rewards programs with referrals and online scheduling are great for discounts too.

Even after you’ve found a well-priced, experienced therapist, I know that letting a stranger work on your body can be uncomfortable.

If you’re not sure getting a massage from someone else is right for you, you can try self-massage.

Click here for a step-by-step self massage guide.

You can even make your own massage tools with as little as a tennis ball and a sock.

Learn how to use every-day items for your self massage by clicking here.

If you’ve never had a massage before and want to try it, click here to learn what you should expect from your first session.

While massage is a great tool for keeping your muscles healthy, massage isn’t always good for everyone.

There are certain times when massage should be avoided.

If you have a cold or flu, NEVER get a massage.

You should also talk to your doctor before you get a massage if you suffer from hypertension, osteoporosis, or diabetes.

These diseases require more care, training, and knowledge to massage correctly.

If you’re not sure massage is right for you, talk to your doctor.

He’ll probably tell you what a fantastic option it is for people suffering from arthritis, stress, and joint pain.

 

Take care,

Michael Adams, Princeton Nutrients Staff

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