Not only do foot massages feel like heaven, they also come with a whole host of amazing health benefits: Blood circulation improves, levels of depression go down, foot pain of course decreases, swelling is reduced, blood pressure is lowered, your sleep improves, and symptoms of menopause and PMS also get much better. Here’s a closer look.
1. Improvement of Blood Circulation
Nobody wants to wear shoes that don’t fit well. As a result, most people opt to wear tight shoes which in turn make it impossible for oxygen to circulate well in the blood. The fact that you spend almost the entire day with those shoes on your feet makes it essential to take at least 10 minutes each day to massage your feet. Your blood pressure will thank you.
2. Lowers Levels of Depression
Foot massages help you to relax and improve your sleep. In turn, levels of depression are significantly reduced. In fact, a study published by the Journal of Clinical Nursing shows that foot massages, as well as hand massages, can help people cope with grief after the death of a loved one.
3. Lowers Foot Pain
People who suffer from arthritis experience a lot of pain in their joints, including their ankles. It’s even worse if they spend a long day on their feet. The website FreeYourSpine.info explains how after a long day of walking, a foot massage will help relieve those aches and pains. That is why reflexology is a miracle cure for joint pain. It might not get rid of the pain altogether, but it will definitely help lower it.
4. Alleviates Edema
Most women get edema during pregnancy, which is swelling of the feet and ankles. Foot massages are terrific for pregnant women because it pushes the fluid towards the kidneys which helps to expel the fluids more quickly from the body.
5. Controls Blood Pressure
Foot massage improves your mood and curbs anxiety, so your blood pressure will be reduced significantly. South Koren researchers at Pusan National University have proven that massages reduce levels of systolic blood pressure, as well as triglyceride levels. In consultation with your doctor, you will likely be able to reduce the amount of medication you take when you incorporate massages into your daily schedule.
6. Promotes Sleep
Reflexology helps to relieve much of the tension that’s disrupting your sleep. As a result, you can finally get restful sleeps which come with their own set of amazing health benefits. Furthermore, if you get a foot massage right before bedtime your nervous system will feel like it’s brand new.
7. Alleviates Symptoms of PMS and Menopause
During PMS most women experience spikes of anger, anxiety, mood swings, and overall fatigue. Menopause comes with its own set of symptoms including: stress, anxiety, anger, and more. Foot massages can work wonders for all of these issues.
Conclusion
A long day on your feet can make your whole body feel completely overwhelmed and depleted. You’ll often end up with headaches, as well as pain in your ankles and swollen feet. In most cases, medication is not the smartest way to treat the problem. Foot massages, however, are a godsend. However you fit foot massages into your schedule–be it from a partner, a friend, or a pro–there’s no better time to start reaping the benefits than today!
Photo by Frank Vex (@frankvex)
