Benefits of Frequent Massage
Massage provides relief for anyone seeking to decrease physical pain or stress. By increasing the blood flow, massage can help flush out waste generated by your muscles and body. Relieving physical pain and stress improves your mental health and your physical well-being. A person may also be stimulated into self-healing with massage. In many cases, this helps eliminate the need to take harmful chemical drugs, which will unnecessarily burden the liver, kidneys, and other vital organs.

Specific techniques may be employed to target the lymphatic system, the digestive tract or other body systems. Most people feel very relaxed and experience relief from long-term aches and pains developed from tension, stress or a repetitive activity. Following an initial period of calmness, people often experience a surge of energy, heightened awareness and greater productivity.

Massage enhances medical treatments and may shorten the time it takes for the body to recover from injury and illness. Massage or Reflexology can help release chronic muscular tension and pain, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, reduce mental and physical fatigue and stress, promote faster healing of injured muscular tissue, improve posture and reduce blood pressure.

There are some conditions where massage is not recommended, however. Your practitioner should ask for information regarding any specific health conditions from which you may be suffering in order to determine if massage, bodywork, or somatic therapies are contraindicated. In some cases, the practitioner may need your doctor ’s permission before providing services.
Insurance
If you are in a car accident or have a job-related injury covered by workers’ compensation, insurance may cover massage, bodywork, or somatic therapies when prescribed by a physician. If your insurance covers chiropractic or osteopathic services, the services of a bodywork professional may be covered when prescribed by a chiropractor or osteopath. Therapies provided as part of the prescribed treatment by a physician or registered physical therapist are often covered. Check with your insurance company to see exactly what is covered under what circumstances.

Finding a Qualified Practitioner
Your massage, bodywork, or somatic therapy services should be provided by a professional who has received proper training. Don ’t hesitate to ask practitioners about their background, training, and experience. Referrals from friends can usually be relied upon. Members of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals have met stringent requirements regarding training and must adhere to a strict code of ethics in order to remain members. ABMP offers a referral service to the public and will provide you with a list of practitioners in your area. For information, call 800/458-2267, or visit their website at www.massagetherapy.com.

A Brief History of Massage
Massage is considered to be among the oldest of all treatments used by man. Chinese records dating back 3,000 years documented its use. The ancient Hindus, Persians, and Egyptians used forms of massage for some ailments, and Hippocrates wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems. Today, massage is an accepted part of many physical rehabilitation programs and has proven beneficial to many chronic conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, and bursitis. Massage helps relieve the stress and tension of everyday living.