This euphoric state is due to massage impacting your nervous system positively by increasing your feel-good hormones and downregulating your stress hormones. Studies show that even after two weeks post-massage, cortisol and norepinephrine levels are significantly decreased Lee, et. It encourages positive social interactions and has been shown to help buffer stress and has calming effects Eckstein, et.
Post pandemic, work-from-home, mindful distance, and social media have created a world where we are experiencing fewer face-to-face interactions, and less opportunities for touch and connection. Less human connection and increased exposure to a world filled with chaos and uncertainty leads to increased stress. It helps you wake in the morning, and it also helps you respond to danger. But when you have elevated levels over time chronic stress , these hormones impact the gut-brain axis and are reported to cause systemic inflammation and gut dysbiosis and increases in proinflammatory cytokines, causing further dysregulation to the immune system Perelli, et.
Perelli, et. Endorphins help to alleviate pain, improve mood, and manage stress by regulating the release of cortisol. No, massage therapy alone cannot fix any of these chronic stress conditions, but it can aid in alleviating symptoms of many conditions, including anxiety, depression, and inflammatory responses by helping to decrease stress hormones and increasing happy hormones like serotonin, endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin.
If your body is stuck in sympathetic fight or flight , massage can help you relax enough to shift back to a more natural and desired parasympathetic state of being Meier, et. Ideally, the more frequently we can shift back into a relaxed state of being, the more we can balance our fight-or-flight response and better manage our stress. Massage is a great way to intentionally give yourself a dedicated hour or more to bring awareness back into your body, regulate your breathing, and become more centered while bringing attention to your muscle aches and pains, but there are many other ways to help regulate your stress response.
Dopamine, Eckstein, M. Frontiers in psychiatry , 11 , Field, T. Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. The International journal of neuroscience , 10 , โ The effects of heat and massage application on autonomic nervous system. Yonsei Med J. Mariotti A. The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain-body communication. Dimitroff, Annika B. Benz, Ulrike U. Bentele, Sabine M.
