The Benefits Of Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage is probably one of the most popular complementary medicine which uses Swedish massage technique and heated stones for natural healing.

Although almost any type of smooth stones can be used as medium for this type of massage therapy, most therapists use a special stone called basalt stones because of their ability to trap warmth for a long period of time. Basalt rocks are known to be rich in iron which is a suitable material for retaining heat. Other types of stones are mostly found on the river beds which were smoothened by time from the river's strong current.

This type of massage therapy has been used during the ancient times for conditioning the body as well as improving the immune system of the patient. As time passed by, this method has been improved from the use of more appropriate types of stones as medium and a good massage technique which is both gentle and effective at the same time. The Swedish massage technique is commonly used as it is a smooth massage technique that doesn't require body movement from the patient, allowing the hot stones to remain on their places.

Applying heated stones on the meridian or key points of a patient's body while massaging it with the popular Swedish massage is effective and beneficial. Here are some of the benefits a patient can expect after a good massage therapy session using hot stones:

Muscle relaxation - heat has always been known as an ideal method of relieving muscle tension. By using hot stones on the different key areas, our body absorbs the heat which is then distributed all over the body and relaxes the stiff parts of our body such as our muscle.

Calms and improves the nervous system - hot stones placed on the key points improve the circulation of energy all over the body which in return improves the flow on our nervous system. This chain reaction then calms down our emotional and physical condition.

Warms up and improves the patient's body condition - before the massage therapist begins the actual massage therapy, 120 to 125 degree Fahrenheit stones are deployed all over the meridian points or energy pathways of the patient's body. This process is done for the preparation and warming up of the patient's body to receive the best effects from the massage therapy. It helps the massage therapist to have a better manipulation with the patient's deep muscle tissues.

Relieves stress - hot stone massage is known as an effective method in removing stress. The heat of the stones together with a good Swedish massage will surely remove any type of stress from the patient's body.

Body pain - as with any other type of massage therapy, relieving body pain is one of their main goal. Body pain are the result of rigid work, stressful environment, and many other factors that affect the good condition of the body of a human being. By applying heat, the body simply reacts in a positive reaction by releasing muscle tension and toxins. The massage therapy seals of and addresses any blocked energy pathway which creates pain within the patient's body.