How Getting a Massage Helps in Sickness
On January 22, 2020 by admin
When down with an illness or pressed down with issues in life, getting a massage may be a perfect solution. The fact is, massage decreases tension and boosts immunity and may offer a quick fix for your sickness.
Here are some ways that massage therapy can help in sickness:
1. Massage can speed up your recovery
If you can book your massage appointment after you are over the extreme phase of your illness, you will get better faster. The symptoms may linger a few more days but it will not take as long as it would have if you had not gotten the massage.
A professional massage will push every part of your body and as a result, you may get an increase in the symptom for about 4 days. After this phase, you will fully recover from the illness.
You need to liaise with the massage therapist before booking the massage so that he can advise you regarding the best timing for your appointment.
2. Massage therapy will work better for specific symptoms
Though massage is beneficial in sickness, it works best in relieving the following symptoms such as:
- Nasal congestion
- Headache
- General body weakness
- Sneezing
- Coughs
- Pains
When the timing is right, massage will help in relieving most of the symptoms above and many more. It will help your body to flush out the remaining toxins and help your body to recuperate efficiently. However, it is important to remember that the stirring up of your body after the massage will make you feel as though you are having a relapse. A professional massage therapist will inform you about this and ask if you are ready to get the massage regardless of the ‘sickly’ feeling after the massage.
3. Some essential oils will greatly improve your condition
During your massage, the therapist may with your consent use essential oils like lavender, thyme or peppermint. Lavender oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits and will help in relieving flu, colds, sinusitis, and bronchitis, among other illnesses.
Peppermint oil also has antiseptic properties and will help to reduce mucus, relieve coughs, lower throat infections, and treat bronchitis. The massage therapist can also opt to use a combination of essential oils to get as many benefits as possible from the massage.
Precautions When Getting a Massage While Sick
- Massage therapy will overburden your immune system when suffering from flu or even a cold: during the massage, toxins will be released into your system and considering that your system is already working very hard to get rid of the sickness, the additional toxins will make the condition worse. This is why most massage therapists will advise you to take a rest until your condition improves. If you cannot go to work as a result of the illness, it would also not be right to get a massage in that condition.
- If you feel too weak, feverish, and in intense pain, you should take a rest until your condition improves: there is no need to strain your body further by getting a massage when your body is already weak. Instead, take a break and after 3 to 4 days when your condition is better, go for your massage.
- Just like you wouldn’t want to get an illness as a result of a massage, do not expose the massage therapist and other clients to the risk of contracting the illness from you. If you have a severe cold and still go for the massage, the massage therapist and every other client at the massage spa may end up suffering from the same illness. The best decisions will be to cancel your appointment until your condition improves.
