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The role of Massage in helping to alleviate depression byWilliam McAllister IIST IIHHT
Everyone reading this article would probably agree we live in stressful times whether the cause being socio-economic, fear of crime, employment instability, fear of advancing age and its associated problems and many problems associated with our modern era.
We do indeed live in difficult times and sometimes critical times which for many are hard to deal with.
Depression has been an increasing problem for the human family and can take the form of reactionary depression, usually as a result of a major stressful event in ones life, like the death of a loved one, or divorce from ones spouse. Clinical depression on the other hand can be the result of a genetic predisposition to the illness and this can be treated with anti-depressive medicines which can bring relief, as can behavioural and psychological therapies.
Much of the mainstream medical profession have for a long time traditionally rejected massage as a treatment for depression but this is changing.
Much major research into the effectiveness of massage in the treatment of depression has come to the conclusion that massage can have a beneficial affect by reducing the symptoms of depression. Researcher have said that it is too simplistic to say massage can cure depression but it certainly can help us cope better and improve our quality of life by having what is called these days as ‘my time’.
Massage helps the body excrete toxins by stimulation; this same massage procedure also helps the body release certain brain chemical and hormones which enhance the mood of the recipient.
The complexity of the skin and its millions of nerve endings enhance the power of touch in massage, to closely compliment each other, with resulting relaxing and improvement in skin and muscle tone.
I have for many years seen the benefits of massage on many clients I’ve treated and have also personally experienced and benefited from massage after a stressful day or after a vigorous physical training session.