Can Regular Massages Help You Sleep Better?

There are times when a good night’s sleep seems impossible to attain.

 

                    

 

Whether it is because of hormonal changes, stress, short-term body aches or chronic pains, there’s nothing more frustrating than watching the clock count off hours while you lie awake trying your best to sleep. 

Getting a good night’s sleep is important for our physical and mental health. Not only does insufficient sleep impair overall mental stability and concentration but studies have found prolonged occurrence of poor sleep can lead to numerous chronic illnesses including heart disease, diabetes and depression. You might have seen the ads for pills that promise a good night’s sleep, but not everyone wants to rely on prescription medication. Over the counter remedies aren’t always effective. If you are looking for ways to treat insomnia naturally, massage therapy can make a significant difference.

It is a drug-free, natural method to an improved physical and mental well-being. Massage promotes overall wellness. It has been observed that patients after getting a massage, experience a state of relaxation and positive mood. Also, studies indicate that massage is an effective therapy to reduce pain, muscle fatigue, anxiety and depression. Research has shown that regular insomnia massage therapy not only reduces pain and anxiety but also increases relaxation, which can help restore your sleep pattern.

"When you are deprived of deep sleep, certain kinds of pain chemicals are released," explains Dr. Tiffany Field, director of the Touch Research Institute at the University Of Miami School Of Medicine. But that changes with any kind of massage, whether for insomnia or increased flexibility or greater relaxation. "There is a release of serotonin, which is the body's natural production of anti-pain chemicals. Massage is very effective at increasing deep sleep."  

Massage helps to combat insomnia by promoting the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain. It is believed that the area of the brain that facilitates the body entering deep sleep uses serotonin to communicate. The brain also uses serotonin to produce melatonin. The hormone which tells the brain to “slow down” and to prepare to sleep. Other research has found that delta waves – brain waves which appear in heaviest concentration during the deepest realm of sleep - increase as a result of massage.

Along with treating insomnia and promoting sleep, a massage can work wonders for your overall health. Getting a massage regularly will improve your overall health, reduce muscle pain, increase blood circulation and take away the stress and negativity.