If you’re looking for a thoughtful present that also serves a healing purpose, you may want to consider the health benefits of massage therapy. Our five senses are sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Of all of these, touch is the one sense we’ve most “lost touch” with—to the detriment of our health and well-being. Let me explain.
Benefit of Massage #1: Stimulates the Brain
Your skin is far more than a covering that holds you together and protects against the environment. It is the body’s largest organ, derived from the same embryonic tissue as the brain and central nervous system. To a great extent, the skin is the external continuation of the brain. In his book, Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin, anthropologist Ashley Montagu wrote, “The nervous system is, then, a buried part of the skin, or alternatively, the skin may be regarded as an exposed portion of the nervous system.” Far more areas of the brain are involved in receiving sensory input from the skin than from the other four senses combined.
The brain and nervous system connection with the skin suggests a unique and rarely considered health benefit of massage and of touch in general. But it makes sense. After all, emotional distress can cause skin problems such as acne, hives, and eczema and psoriasis flare-ups. However, mind-skin connections are a two-way street. The benefits of massage and physical contact can be extended to relaxation, enhanced mood, and improved personal relationships.
Benefit of Massage #2: Touch is Highly Therapeutic
That we write off our sense of touch is true folly because touch is the only sense that is absolutely essential for survival. In the animal kingdom, virtually every mammal licks its newborn right after birth. This instinctive behavior provides the stimulation necessary for the pup, kitten, or calf’s survival. And the more licking and body contact puppies receive the healthier and more relaxed they are. The same is true for humans. Infants deprived of physical contact fail to thrive, even if they receive adequate food and other necessities of life.
How do we fulfill this biological need for close body contact? Cultivate your physical relationship with your spouse or partner. Hug your friends and family often. Shake hands with people you meet. Give and receive massages with someone you care about. And if you really want to reap the health benefits of massage, book a professional session at your local chiropractor, health center, or day spa.
Benefit of Massage #3: A Serious Therapy for Serious Conditions
At the Whitaker Wellness Institute, we regularly advise patients to take advantage of the health benefits of massage therapy. Our doctors prescribe massage just as they would prescribe nutritional supplements, IV therapies, and EECP. It relieves pain and stiffness and improves range of motion. It provides deep relaxation and helps lower blood pressure. It turns off a worried, overactive mind and relieves anxiety and depression.
But as important as any of these therapeutic benefits is massage’s ability to satisfy the basic human need for touch. As a result, it enhances every aspect of health and well-being.
Reap the Many Health Benefits of Massage
To schedule an appointment with a massage therapist at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, call (866) 944-8253. Or look for a day spa, chiropractor, or other massage facility near you.
