There's nothing quite like the euphoric sense of peace and relaxation one experiences after a really good massage. Unfortunately, getting a massage is often considered a luxury rather than a necessary investment in one's health and well being.

Extensive studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), among others, have documented the numerous health benefits of massage. These include: reduced swelling and pain, improved immune system function, better sleep patterns, lower levels of stress hormones, improved mobility and range of motion after injury, lower levels of depression, faster recovery from surgery, and in some cases lower blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Regular massage can help produce these results in surprisingly simple ways.

When we consider how massage helps us feel better, the first thing that comes to mind is reducing overall muscle tension so we can just relax. Muscle tension, stiffness, and soreness are often the result of overuse, compounded by inadequate blood flow (which is required to provide oxygen and nutrients to the tissue), and the build up of cellular and metabolic wastes like lactic acid due to the insufficient movement of lymph fluid (the body's primary mechanism for waste transport and elimination). Chronic muscle tension can reduce the circulation of blood and movement of lymph in the areas of the body where it is prevalent.

The physical contraction of muscles accomplished by various massage techniques stretches the muscles and connective tissue surrounding them, stimulates nerve receptors which in turn dilate blood vessels enabling increased blood supply, and creates a pumping effect that gets lymph moving.

So the first job of a massage is to release the tension and the build up of toxins in the muscle, the second is to stimulate the movement of lymph to "cleanse" the muscles by carrying the toxins away, and the third is to stimulate blood circulation to nourish and regenerate tissue. Some of the other benefits that naturally follow from the increased movement of fluid and muscles that were previously stuck include:

1. Reduced swelling and inflammation. When the body properly metabolizes and eliminates cellular waste there is less inflammation, which reduces pain and discomfort. This in turn can improve sleep, reduce the presence of stress hormones, and increase one's range of motion.
2. Improved digestive and intestinal function. In the same way that massage increases the flow of blood and lymph it can also stimulate a variety of bodily secretions and excretions including the production of gastric juices, saliva, and urine, which improve digestive function and increase the body's metabolic rate. This can assist in relieving lower back pain and weight loss.
3. Enhanced skin condition. Better circulation and elimination of toxins helps promote healthy, better looking and feeling skin. Massage also enhances skin by stimulating and improving the function of our sebaceous and sweat glands.

All of these benefits serve to improve our immune system function, which in turn, speeds healing after injury and enhances recovery from disease. But one of the most important benefits of message is it releases endorphins --our body's natural pain killers --and this brings on the state of euphoria and pain relief one often feels after a massage.

Of course, one of the most overlooked benefits of massage is the simple healing power of touch. Touching eases pain and helps us better cope with stress and anxiety. Studies show the simple act of reaching out and touching another person frequently results in physical benefits such as slowing heart rate, dropping blood pressure, and speeding recovery from illness. Massage provides this important therapeutic component that is largely absent in many peoples' lives.

The benefits of massage are varied and far-reaching. When you compare the cost of getting a massage with the long-term cost of not addressing stress-related problems and conditions, or trying to address them with band aid solutions like costly prescription meds and frequent trips to the doctor, it becomes clear that something long considered a luxury reserved for the well to-do may be the best preventative health investment you can make.

If you simply can't afford ongoing professional massage you can enjoy some of the benefits by increasing the amount of touch in your life (hugging or holding hands with others), doing yoga to stretch and improve muscle elasticity, and self-care pressure point massage (to release lymph and lactic build up). Using an aromatherapy lotion or oil can greatly enhance the latter while minimizing skin friction.