Photo by Ryan Moreno on Unsplash |
Does massage have a place in helping women manage their menopausal symptoms? As ever, I'd say that massage therapy always has something positive to offer even though by itself it can't 'solve' the symptoms. Massage therapy can be part of a holistic approach involving, for instance: appropriate herbs, talking therapy, exercise, and changes to lifestyle and diet.
- Anxiety, insomnia, depression, heart palpitations and stress
Women may experience all or some of the above due to the hormonal fluctuations during peri-menopause and menopause. Mood can also be affected by the emotional and physical significance of this time of life; there may be emotions around the ending of a woman's fertile cycles and also around the changes in how the body looks and feels. Somatic and talking therapies can both be invaluable to help explore these issues and to re-frame them more positively. Massage therapy, so grounding in its physical touch, can soothe and relax the body, helping the woman to move away from an anxious and stressed state to one where she can feel her sense of well-being improve as the para-sympathetic nervous system takes over from the 'flight or fight' sympathetic nervous system. Lighter massage strokes help with the release of the 'feel good' hormones, dopamine and serotonin, as does the use of essential oils. Feedback from clients often mentions how well they sleep the night after a massage - in fact, sleep is what they would often like to do right then and there! Improved sleep can in itself help with other symptoms such as anxiety and fatigue. I feel that massage helps people to reconnect with their body in a positive way as touch brings the mind back into the body and they notice how they are feeling whilst in a safe space.
Do note that it's important if you are experiencing symptoms such as heart palpitations, to see a medical professional so that other causes can be ruled out.
- Muscle aches and stiffness
- Looking after the bones