* Reduce chronic muscle pain, cramps, spasms, and migraine pain
* Reduce anxiety and depression by calming the nervous system
* Decrease blood pressure
*Promote energy by stimulating the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killer
*Promote a good night's sleep and improve concentration
*Enhance immunity by clearing the lymph system of old antibodies so that the body can replenish with fresh antibodies which fight disease
*Decrease swelling by clearing the muscle tissue of toxins
*Decrease scar tissue adhesions and promote tissue regeneration
The importance of human touch is shown through a sudy done on preemies:
"Premature
infants who received a 15-minute massage and movement sequence three
times daily gained 47% more weight, secreted higher levels of cortisol
and human growth hormones, and were more active, alert, and
relaxed than unmassaged control preemies. They went home from the
hospital an average of six days earlier, and these babies' superior
development continued through the six months of follow-up study,
regardless of whether the massage was continued at home." Pre-and perinatal Massage Therapy by Carole Osborne-Sheets p 24.
