A soothing massage can make you feel like you’re in heaven. But what about adding another element to the standard treatment? Hot stone massage works by placing smooth, flat, heated stones along the muscle groups in your body (near the spine, stomach, palms and feet) to provide several benefits. Learn more about the benefits of heated massage and whether the treatment is right for you.
Relaxation is the primary reason most people get a massage. And it’s not just because the 60-90-minute session is uninterrupted “me time” (though it’s a definite perk). The massage itself promotes mental relief.
- Sedation -
Hot stone massages actually have a sedative effect. After all, what else could you expect from an experience designed to soothe the body?
- Stress and Anxiety -
As your body relaxes, so too does your mind. Because of this, hot stone massage is effective at reducing stress and anxiety.
If you or a loved one suffers from a chronic condition or disease, heated massage can be highly effective. Hot stone massage has been studied in both cancer and autoimmune patients.
- Cancer Relief -
According to a three-year study in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, hot stone massage can relieve not only the pain and fatigue associated with cancer, it may also combat nausea from treatment. Researchers aren’t 100% sure of the connection, but have attributed some relief to the comforting use of human touch
- Fibromyalgia -
An autoimmune disease which causes widespread pain, fibromyalgia generally can respond well to heated massage. Research demonstrated that a 30-minute massage can reduce substance P (which sends pain signals), as well as decrease the number of trigger points on the body and allows for more uninterrupted sleep.
Healthy blood flow makes for a healthy you. Heated massage, like hot stone therapy, can improve blood flow and circulation, helping you to feel your best.
- Blood Vessels -
Heat therapy has a physical effect on your blood vessels. The heat from the stones used in hot stone massage serves to open up or dilate blood vessels, improving overall flow.
- Chronic Pain and Injury -
Healthier blood vessels promote healing. When you’re soothing a painful injury via heated massage, oxygen more readily reaches injured tissues through those dilated vessels. This allows you to heal faster.
From sitting at your desk all day, to more debilitating causes, muscle tension happens quickly and fairly often. Heated massage therapies, like hot stone massage, could help with chronic issues.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis -
Another autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, tension and swelling all over. Luckily, as noted in a 2013 study, therapies like hot stone massage are making the disease manageable, and can possibly reduce pain and reducing tension enough to enhance grip strength.
- Carpal Tunnel and Spasms -
Ever feel like you just can’t move right? These problems inhibit comfortable movement, but heated massage can both reduce inflammation and improve range of motion.
Having trouble sleeping? Regular massage might help you to retire the counting sheep and finally rest up.
- Insomnia -
Insomnia becomes more and more prevalent with age. That said, indulging in regular massage can be helpful in promoting restful sleep due to its relaxing and sedative effects.
- Back Massage -
To really hone in on sleep benefits, tell your massage therapist to focus on relaxing your back. Research shows that back massage in particular may promote deeper, restorative sleep.
From tension and pain relief to improved sleep, hot stone massage can be a helpful remedy for so many issues. Schedule your appointment with us for a hot stone massage, or explore our heat treatments for arms and legs.
