Can Massage Therapy Support Your Digestive System?

The digestive system is responsible for providing nutrients to the body via the mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines. When you ingest that delicious meal that you have been salivating over, your digestive system including the mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines breaks down that food into usable nutrients. It also eliminates waste from the body.

Short and long-term Issues with digestion such as bacteria in food, infection, stress, certain medications, or chronic medical conditions such as colitis, Crohn’s disease, and IBS, constipation, diarrhea, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, gastroesophageal reflux disease and celiac disease can interrupt, slow down and inhibit the normal digestive process to the point that outside intervention is required to heal. 

One such intervention is massage therapy.  Here are some benefits and positive effects of massage on body’s the digestive system:

• helps to stimulate the peristalsis, the muscles that contract as part of the digestive process.
• activates the parasympathetic system which is responsible for supporting the activity of the digestive tract
• indirectly feeds the digestive organs’ nerve functions through reduction of muscle tension in lower body.
• helps reduce the discomfort of bloating, gas, cramping by strengthening abdominal muscles.
• boosts your metabolism which assists with absorption so that the body receives optimum mineral, vitamin and nutrient uptake.
• diminishes stress and anxiety which can interfere with digestive processes especially with such diseases as IBS.

Massage therapy can activate endorphins in body with in turn can deliver both physical and mental state of wellbeing. Such techniques as Swedish and lymphatic drainage techniques can absolutely support the integrity and function of the digestive system.