Massage Therapy and Sleep Disorders
So, I’ve been having some major issues sleeping lately and not getting enough massages. We all know stress and anxiety can promote sleep disorders. I guess I haven’t been getting enough massages. You see, massges help with sleep disorders, too! Think about it, when I was a kid and I couldn’t sleep, my parents would come and rub my back until I closed my little peepers and started dreaming.
Why can’t I sleep? Well, here is a reason why and why massage helps: All of us have an autonomic nervous system comprised of two parts: the parasympathetic and sympathetic. The parasympathetic balances the sympathetic. When you have a massage, the parasympathetic is activated and thus allows your body to relax. When you are stressed, the sympathetic is activated and you will feel the urge to fight or flight. So if stress and tension are the reasons why you are not sleeping very well, you might be relieved to know that one of the benefits of massage therapy is improved sleep patterns.Some people even fall asleep while having a professional massage! I know I’ve been incredibly close to passing out during a massage. Also, there are a few essential oils that may help you get a better nights sleep and I will testify to the healing powers of them. I use a combination of lavednar, patulli and eucalytpse that my therapist put together for me. All you need is a few drops of the esetnial oil on your pressure points (your wrists or your neck) and it gets the job done. The calming attributes of the oils helps me fall asleep and stay asleep.
So, the point and conclusion: maybe I need to go get myself a few more massages and use the oils to help me fall asleep when my head hits the pillow, instead of counting sheep.
Thanks,
Tiffany