Your Body on Massage: Brain, Aches and Pains

Brain
Your brain waves start to change, moving further into their current state. So if it’s morning and you’re wide awake, you may feel more alert after a massage.  If you’re getting an evening treatment, however, your brain waves may shift into a sleep pattern, leading to solid shut-eye that night.

Aches and Pains
You may be able to skip the aspirin because massage can trigger powerful natural pain relief: On the way to your brain, those pressures signals from your skin’s nerve cells go through the spinal cord, one of your body’s pain centers.  Pressure signals travel faster than pain signals, temporarily blocking any ouches.  This may be why your instinct is to press on a painful spot after you hurt yourself.

Women’s Health
Dec. 2011