Massage is an old, respected and proven method of healing from headache and mental stress, he practiced snakes for hundreds of years. In addition, the massage that heals, relaxes and refreshes, it also warms and soothes the person suffering from the pain. Head massage is very useful for mental and emotional stress. He totally dismisses the tension in your head. Massage can be done with dry hands, as well as using massage oil. Massage with oil nourishes the hair. It relieves pain and relaxes the muscles and improves blood circulation in the head. In addition, people believe that head massage improves memory.

Proper and regular head massage helps to improve the condition of hair, prevents premature graying and hair loss, improves vision and concentration. One thing to keep in mind - you need to put pressure to the individual needs of the patient. If a person is suffering from any disease, the pressure should be gentle. Well perform neck and shoulder massage with a massage of the head, as it will bring relief from stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis . People suffering from migraines, dizziness, insomnia, depression Depression - a little more than a bad mood   or a headache, get relief from scalp massage.

As the head massage is very useful, it is important to do it correctly. Before the massage, the patient should make sure that it is either to learn how to massage yourself or consult a professional. A good head massage not only eliminates any kind of headache and nourishes the hair, but also calms the nervous system. He gets rid of negative thoughts and helps a person to have a clear mind.

When a person is tense and under stress, the flow of blood to the head is restrained, that, along with other symptoms causes headache Headache: Causes and Complications , Eye strain, hair loss and depression. For instant relief of this state need a head massage.

Preparing for massage

To make a head massage is not necessarily to be a massage therapist, and does not need any special equipment or massage oils. Head massage can be done almost anywhere, at home or at work. All you need - is a comfortable place to lie down or sit down, and his own fingers.

Head massage is very practical and does not take much time. It will ease the tension, stress is reduced, the energy will increase. Since the flow of blood to the head is not limited to, the eyes will again be rested and will shine. Even the hair will benefit from a head massage. Due to the removal of tension in the scalp hair will be strong and shiny.

To achieve pain relief, using certain acupuncture point. To clear the sinuses, you need to put pressure on the dimples that are on the inner ends of the eyebrows just above the corners of your eyes. To eliminate nasal congestion you need to press the recesses next to your nose, at a distance of one finger from each nostril. When the pain in my temples need to influence the temporal cavity, at a distance of finger widths from the outer edge of the eyebrow. The pain in the eyes can be removed by pressing the hole on the upper edge of the eyebrows, one finger above the pupil.

Relaxing head massage

For starters, you can ignite the aroma - lamp with some aromatherapy oils to create a soothing atmosphere .  From head massage with fingertips to do circular motion, like when washing hair with shampoo .  Walk across the head a few times in the same way .  Then, seizing large strands of hair hands knuckles touching the scalp, gently pull the hair and let go .  Do this on all head .  Now the pad of his thumb gently press on the forehead, keeping the head rest of the fingers .  Thumbs to flick the center of the forehead to the edges .  Find dimples behind the ear and to press for five seconds .  Do this three times .  Carefully lift your head and gently tilt the head and neck to the side of the shoulder and hold for one second .  Raise your head and tilt to the other shoulder .  Put both hands in the form of bowls for the neck and lift his head, stretching the neck for a few seconds .  Finishing the head massage, easy to put pressure on the base of the skull with the fingers .

For such a head massage takes only ten minutes of time and a comfortable place where you can relax.

Massage for headache

• Self-massage is the most simple and effective way to relieve headache.
• Sit in a relaxed position on the couch or reclining on a chair. Take a comfortable position.
• Try to dim the lights in the room. Bright light can intensify the headache.
• Start massage with the back of the ears, using fingertips. Slowly making a circular motion, move your fingers.
• Put your hands on either side of the head and gently squeeze. You can move back and forth, remaining in the same position, or to slide up and down a couple of centimeters. Try to move your head and not with your fingers.
• Repeat the same movements in the same sequence in the back of the neck at the base of the skull.
• Continue this technique of massage, slow moving and covering the whole head.
• In the areas that are most tense and more hurt, it is possible to apply the technique of acupressure Acupressure - Eastern practices in the service of modern science . It is necessary to hold the skin in the area between the thumb and forefinger and squeeze it for five or six seconds, and then release. Loosen the pressure for ten seconds without moving your fingers from there. You can do this for a few minutes until it's a sense of relaxation.

Classic massage (in some languages ​​it is called Swedish massage) is the most popular and well-known views of massage in the western world. If you've never done before massage, it is best to begin with the classical massage. If you think that your body needs a deeper study, and you can tolerate much pressure and even discomfort to ease muscle pain, try a deep tissue massage, which is a form of classical massage. In general, depending on the preferences and needs of the client, as well as from what has massage therapist techniques, classical massage can be a fairly gentle and unhurried, and very intense and tough.

The principles of classical massage is based on Western concepts of anatomy and physiology, which is usually contrasted with the theory of energy channels (meridians) that employs people who have Asian massage techniques.

Standard classical massage session lasts 50 to 60 minutes. If a person has specific problems with muscles or joints are recommended sessions lasting 75-90 minutes.

How is a session of classical massage

Regardless of the variety of classical massage during a session of the expert is required to lubricate the client's body massage oil. Then he performs a variety of massage movements of different strengths and different rhythms - they warm up the muscle tissue, relax clenched muscles, relieve tension. Classic massage promotes relaxation Relaxation and stress - calm, not panic!   - Both physical and psychological.

Prior to the session, the therapist should ask you about whether you have any injury or disease, because of which a massage is necessary to take special precautions. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have muscle pain, allergies, and if you are pregnant. In addition, you should immediately tell what kind of massage you prefer - soft or more intense. Classic and any other massage is not recommended if you are sick (even if you have the common cold).

After a preliminary conversation the therapist will tell you how lies on a massage table - face up or down, in and out of the room to give you time to prepare. Before you enter again, he knocks on the door and ask if you are ready.

Before a session of classical massage people tend to undress completely and lies down on the table, hiding behind a towel or sheet. Masseur opens only that part of the body you are working on at the moment. If you do not want to be in the session completely naked, you can not remove underwear - so do many people who visit massage parlors have not become a habit.

At the beginning of the session the client usually lies face down on a table with his head in a special niche in the shape of the letter U. As a rule, start with a back massage, then massage the legs, then flipped the client. Now a specialist again massaging the feet - on the other hand, arms, neck and shoulders. Some massage therapists are doing a massage in a different order. During a session of classical massage you can ask for a massage therapist to pay more attention to me, or that part of the body; Also be sure to tell him, if you feel discomfort or pain.

The history of classical massage

The invention of classical massage is traditionally credited with the Swedish physiologist and physician Peru Henrik Ling (1776-1837). He established not only a system of classical massage, but physical therapy, during his work at Stockholm University. Classical massage has become the basis for sport, aromatherapy massage and deep tissue massage. In English, this kind of massage is even called Swedish massage. Over the past hundred years, probably it was not written in a book dedicated to massage, where Ling not be called the father of classical massage. In fact, Ling was not the creator of this type of massage - it was part of any system they developed the so-called Swedish gymnastics, or in a training program based Ling in 1813, the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics.

Initially, the basic movements of classical massage techniques were stroking, kneading, effleurage and rubbing (later they added vibration). To identify these massage movements in the literature have been widely used - and still use - French terms (effleurage - stroking, petrissage - kneading, tapotement - effleurage and frictions - grinding). In the works of Per Henrik Ling, as in the works of his followers, these terms are not met. Where did they come from?

Dutch doctor Johann Georg Mezger (1838-1909) adapted the French terms for basic massage movements and systematized massage technique that is now widely known as classic massage. Around the second half of the 19th century, the concept of "the Swedish gymnastic system" was born the concept of "Swedish massage system", while Ling was created system of gymnastics. The authors of the first books devoted to the system Ling, used French terms, which first began to apply Metzger. Later, these terms have become associated primarily with Ling and his system.

Already by 1890, it has been published a lot of books (not only belong to the pen of doctors) with texts and illustrations describing the motion of a classical massage. Its founder of the authors of these works were called Ling. At the same time classic massage finally separated in the representation of the public from medical gymnastics, and became an independent direction in therapy. Without underestimating the importance of the achievements of Per Henrik Ling, we must remember that the first person to systematize the techniques of classical massage was Johann Georg Metzger.

Classic massage can reduce the level of the stress hormone cortisol

After the massage, you will not just think that you have become quieter and stress receded into the background. A recent study showed that the classical (or Swedish) massage actually reduces stress hormone levels How to beat stress? Create an oasis   - Cortisol - in the body. In addition, it was found that massage can improve the key "soldiers" of the immune system - the white blood cells. Even skeptics point out that the study results are very promising.

The study involved 53 adults. 29 of them went to the sessions of classical massage duration 45 minutes once or twice a week for five weeks. The other 24 subjects also often went for a light massage.

It turned out that the subjects of the first group of five weeks significantly reduced the level of cortisol, increased levels of oxytocin (a hormone that plays a role in the emergence of a sense of trust in others), and increased the number of white blood cells. It was also noted reduction of antidiuretic hormone (also known as vasopressin), the activity of which is associated with high levels of cortisol. In subjects who walked at a gentle massage, such changes were noted.

The scientists who conducted the study, said that the beneficial properties of classical massage are not limited. It can also stabilize blood pressure, eliminate pain and stiffness in the joints, helps fight anxiety Anxiety - how to distinguish normal from disease?   and depression Depression - a little more than a bad mood .