The chief therapeutic effect of massage therapy is increased circulation.

After a massage…

• more blood flows through muscles instead of around them
• blood flows more rapidly and effectively, especially through minor capillaries
• more red blood cells are put into circulation, increasing oxygen levels
• blood supply to injured tissues, muscles, wounds or joints is increased, expediting the healing process
• Toxins are forced into the bloodstream to exit the body sooner

The lymphatic system is a series of vessels and nodes throughout the body (similar to blood vessels) in which lymphatic fluid travels, filtering out foreign substances from the blood and performing an overall detoxification.

If flowing freely, it maintains a healthy immune system for the body.

But it can be hindered by such things as stress, lack of physical activity, infections, chemicals, and food additives. The immune system is then weakened, making the body more prone to disease.

• Massage aids in increasing lymphatic flow and decreasing toxins
• Regular massage boosts and maintains a healthy immune system
• With regular massage, the body can fight off colds, viruses and infections more easily.

Massage…

• alleviates muscle and joint paint
• expedites healing of strained muscles and ligaments
• reduces swelling and scar tissue
• reduces muscle spasms
• provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion

Aging: Counteracts aging by increases circulation and lymph flow, improving skin tone.

Anemia: Increases the amount of red blood cells in circulation, energizes.

Arthritis: Improves soft tissue surrounding joints, improves joint mobility, alleviates pain from flare-ups, cures insomnia that results from night pain

Diabetes: Decreases stress hormones, allowing more insulin uptake, improves circulation in extremities, relieves thickening of connective tissue (from glucose build-up).

Digestive Disorders: Improves by increasing absorption and elimination; alleviates stressful factors that cause disorder.

Fibromyalgia: Clears toxins, releases trigger points and alleviates associated pain,
stress, and insomnia.

Insomnia: Stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows heart rate and calms the body—restoring balance to entire nervous system.

Lymphedema: Regular massage increases lymphatic activity, decreases swelling.

Migraines: Can lessen the amount of incidences by alleviating pain in neck muscles that spasm; increases circulation and rids body of toxins and stress hormones that trigger an episode.

Sciatica: Pressure on sciatic notch and surrounding muscles (that go into spasm and irritate sciatic nerve) alleviates pain.

Sprains (or fractures): Improves circulation in areas above and below affected ligament or
bone, increasing blood supply and speeding up healing

Surgery:
(Pre) clears toxins from body, boosts immune system, reduces chances of infection
(Post) prevents infection, alleviates spasms, detoxifies system, minimizes swelling and scarring

Mental Effects of Massage Therapy

"Stress-related disorders make up between 80-and-90 percent of the ailments that bring people to family-practice physicians.”
Joan Borysenko - Massage Journal Interview, Fall 1999

Massage activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which

• slows heart rate
• restores deeper breathing patterns
• reduces blood pressure

And therefore…

• reduces stress and anxiety
• clears a cluttered mind
• alleviates depression
• improves mental alertness
• increases awareness of a mind-body connection
• brings a sense of peace and wellbeing