Do you think that only people who need beauty and relaxation go to the spa center for hot stone massage? In fact, this is also a gentle treatment that you can apply for common health problems such as stress, insomnia, cancer.…
What is a Hot Stone Massage?
A hot stone massage is a type of massage therapy used to help you relax and relieve muscle tension and soft tissue damage throughout the body. During a hot stone massage, smooth, flat, hot stones are placed on specific parts of your body, usually made from basalt, a volcanic rock that retains heat. According to the University of New Hampshire Health System, the stones are heated to 130–145 degrees Celsius before the massage is performed.
The stones can be placed throughout your body, such as:
- On your abdomen
- On your chest
- On your face
- On the palms of your hands
- Along your spine
- On your feet and toes
Sometimes cold stones are also used during a hot stone massage. Cold stones can be used after a hot stone massage to soothe any strained blood vessels and soothe the skin.
Benefits of Hot Stone Massage
Here are 6 benefits of hot stone massage therapy that you may not know:
1. Hot stone massage helps relieve muscle pain
Heat has long been used to relieve pain and muscle tension, helping to increase blood flow to the affected area. At the same time, hot stone massage can also reduce muscle spasms, increase flexibility and mobility. Cold therapy can also help reduce inflammation. Depending on your symptoms, you can alternate hot and cold stones during your massage to improve the condition.
2. Hot stone massage helps reduce stress
The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) suggests that massage therapy can help reduce stress and anxiety. A 1997 study found that a 15-minute on-site massage at work significantly reduced stress compared to a 15-minute break without massage.
3. Hot stone massage can boost immunity
Hot stone massage can help boost your immune system. According to a 2010 study, Swedish massage therapy has a positive and acute effect on the body’s immune system. Blood samples taken before and after massage showed a decrease in arginine-vasopressin, a hormone that helps regulate blood pressure and water retention.
4. Hot stone massage helps you sleep better
A study found that hot stone massage can help adults with insomnia thanks to the relaxing effects of back massage. In particular, infants with sleep problems fell asleep faster after a 15-minute massage. In addition, people who received the massage often felt more alert after waking up.
5. Hot stone massage helps reduce symptoms of autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissues, muscles, and cells, causing diseases such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, etc. Hot stone massage can reduce painful conditions such as fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain. According to a 2002 study, people with fibromyalgia who received a 30-minute massage slept longer, had fewer trigger points, and had lower levels of substance P (a substance involved in transmitting pain signals) than those with the disease who received relaxation therapy.
A 2013 study found that people with rheumatoid arthritis who received hot stone massage for a month reported less pain, improved grip strength, and greater range of motion.
6. Hot Stone Massage May Reduce Cancer Symptoms
A large, three-year study found that massage affected pain, fatigue, stress, anxiety, nausea, and depression in 1,290 people with cancer. Massage improved cancer symptoms, even in people with obvious symptoms. Researchers believe that hot stone massage provides a sense of comfort to people that helps improve symptoms.
