Hormonal imbalance can cause a range of issues, both physically and psychologically. The process of re-balancing hormones can be difficult and often lengthy. Continue reading to learn more about hormonal imbalance and how massage can help.
What Is Hormonal Imbalance?
Both males and females can experience hormonal imbalance and it occurs when there’s much or too little of a hormone. Hormones are delivered to our organs via the bloodstream and supply vital messages telling organs what to do and when. Hormones help to regulate many things, examples include:
- Blood sugar levels
- Metabolism (weight loss or gain) and appetite
- Mood and stress levels
- Sexual & reproductive cycles
- Body temperature
What Are the Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance?
People may experience different symptoms when facing hormonal imbalance. Males and females usually suffer different symptoms from one another due to hormone differences.
Examples of Female Symptoms:
- Irregular menstrual cycles and abdomen when menstruating
- Effects on fertility levels
- Skin rashes and acne
- Poor sleep quality and insomnia
- Hair loss or excessive hair growth
Examples of Male Symptoms:
- Reduced muscle mass and weight fluctuations
- Effects on hair growth and potential hair loss (thinning)
- Chest tenderness and general fatigue
- Increased anxiety and mood swings
How Can Massages Help Hormonal Imbalance?
Along with the many wonderful benefits of massage therapy, it also helps to regulate hormones and to calm associated anxiety. When massages take place, our bodies produce higher levels of dopamine and serotonin which are neurohormones produced by nerve cells. Neurohormones affect the brain and central nervous system and are delivered around the body via haemolymph.
Dopamine is a ‘feel-good’ chemical, which affects our happiness and how our bodies move. It helps us execute movements and provides the motivation and reward driving us to complete them in the first place. Whereas, Serotonin helps to regulate our mood, sleep quality and bone health along with many other factors. Other contributing neurohormones are epinephrine and oxytocin.
Massages also let your body know when to release these hormones and where to distribute them around the body. This in turn contributes to ensuring your hormonal system functions correctly and is balanced to promote overall wellbeing.
Which Types of Massages Help Treat Hormonal Imbalance?
Different massages can increase dopamine and serotonin, we recommend the following treatments:
Regardless of which treatment you choose, it’s important to have regular treatments to achieve the best results. Massages alone won’t solve hormonal imbalances, but combined with other factors it can certainly help! You can also take steps to best prepare for your massage appointment, and doing so can help maximise results.
Next Steps…
If you would like more information on how massages can help hormonal imbalance, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our friendly team will be more than happy to help and answer any questions you may have. Massage appointments can be booked at our Wakefield and Leeds massage Clinics over the phone or online.