Massage, in its many varied forms, has been used for hundreds of years around the world as a primary form of healing. From Swedish Relaxation to hot stone, Bamboo rolling to Gua Sha, both Eastern and Western medicine has long utilised massage techniques for the repair, release, and rejuvenation of muscle, tissue, fascia and joints throughout the body. But there’s a reason that massage leaves you feeling incredible that is much more than just the physical aspect. 

Massage has a profound effect on the nervous system, and can be used very effectively to address ailments of the mind as well as the body. Stress, poor mental health, depression, brain fog, and low mood can all be positively influenced by massage of all kinds. Here’s how... 

The Stress Response 
When we experience stress, our sympathetic nervous system is activated. This triggers a number of functions, biologically designed to help us respond to danger, including increased heart rate and the release of stress hormones including cortisol and norepinephrine. This system is essential for our everyday function, keeps us alert, and helps us to better navigate through tough situations. However, it can have damaging impacts on the body if this system is continuously activated over long periods of time. The other important aspect of the sympathetic nervous system is that the body prioritises only what it deems as vital systems, such as cardiovascular. Things like digestion and skin health are low priority for the body during stress, which is why those experiencing severe stress or psychological conditions often experience bowel-related issues and poor skin health. 

Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous System 
Think of the sympathetic nervous system as our mode of operation during stress, and the parasympathetic nervous system as our relaxation mode. These work in tandem, we are either in one or the other at a time. The body has a negative feedback loop so that when a stressor is encountered, we engage the sympathetic nervous system until that stressor is removed. So how does massage relate to all of this? Here’s how - massage actually has the ability to engage the parasympathetic nervous system, disengaging our stress response. Studies (like this one) have shown us examples of this by measuring significantly decreased levels of cortisol and norepinephrine with regular application of massage. 

Facial massage offers the exact same benefits. We don’t often prioritise the muscles of the face, however, these muscles can accumulate just as much (if not more) tension than other areas of the body. Addressing this tension can alleviate neck and jaw pain, improve skin cell function through heightening circulation, and adjust and lift facial contours that have been impacted by stiff bulging muscles. And on top of all of this, you’ll receive all the wonderful benefits of reducing the body’s stress response - improving mental health, aiding digestion, and reducing the negative impacts of stress hormones like inflammation, breakouts, and poor cell function. For these reasons, facial massage really is an important aspect of your skin health regime.

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