Massage can reduce stress and stress related hormones, along with encouraging the liver to dispose of excess hormone which disrupt the healthy functioning of our bodies.
Among the many benefits of massage therapy are those related to the body’s production and regulation of Neurohormones.
These are the hormones produced by the nervous system that affect an individual’s behaviour and general wellbeing. It has long been suspected that massage therapy offers several mood-enhancing benefits. Research conducted at the TOUCH Research Institute at the University of Miami revealed that massage increases the availability of all neurohormones affecting brain chemistry.
^ Increase levels of dopamine. Low dopamine looks like clumsiness, poor focus, and being easily distracted.
^ Availability of serotonin, regulating emotions, and calming irritability and cravings. Those low in serotonin often have difficulty sleeping and tend to suffer from depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
^ Increase oxytocin, another neurohormone produced by massage therapy. It supports feelings of attachment and can help during pregnancy, birthing, and lactation.
^ Reduce levels of Cortisol — the stress related neurohormone produced by the adrenal glands.
^ By encouraging sleep, massage can increase the availability of growth hormones, which promote cell division and is involved in tissue repair, regeneration, and healing.