4 Reasons to Add Massage Therapy to Your Recovery

Recently, massage therapy has made many headlines for its role in pain management, leading some experts to question whether this holistic treatment holds one of the keys to combating the opioid epidemic. 

In fact, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has been actively engaged with several organizations and agencies regarding massage therapy for an alternative to opioids.

Whether or not massage therapy can help prevent addiction is still out for debate. What we do know, however, is that it has produced proven results when used as part of addiction recovery. Research has shown that the power of touch can help decrease stress, reduce anxiety and depression and help clients release negative thoughts and memories.

Here are a few more benefits of massage therapy:

• You’ll boost your immunity. Even one, 45-minute massage session can create positive changes in your body’s immune system. This is because it increases the number of lymphocytes, which are the white blood cells that help protect your body from disease. 
• You’ll sleep better. Several studies have linked massage with reduced fatigue and improved sleep. One explanation: It increases delta waves, or the brain waves responsible for deep sleep. 
• You’ll better manage anxiety and depression. Massage releases oxytocin and serotonin –happy hormones – and this can help lower your stress and boost your mood. Plus, massage therapy can target certain pressure points to relieve tension.
• You’ll be more focused. Numerous studies have touted massage therapy for its role in improving brainpower, productivity, alertness and focus – all helpful while working hard to absorb strategies and tools for staying sober. 

California Holistic Addiction Treatment

Bodywork and massage therapy and bodywork are one of the many holistic therapies offered at our CA alternative rehab center. To learn more about our alternative, non-12-step program, call today: 866-930-4673.

4 Complementary Addiction Therapies to Try

More and more treatment facilities are turning to alternative addiction therapies for a holistic approach to recovery. While these techniques can’t do the job alone, when used in conjunction with traditional treatment, they have been proven very effective in addressing the physical and psychological impact of addiction. 

Here we take a look at some study-proven methods and why they work to help patients during active recovery and years after to maintain lasting sobriety. 

Yoga: Through physical postures, breath work, and meditation, yoga helps those in recovery align the mind, body, and spirit and find inner piece and comfort. 

• Reintroduces physical sensation
• Relieves anxiety, stress and depression
• Regulates stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline
• Releases tension and alleviates mental fatigue
• Redirects thoughts and wards off harmful cravings

Massage therapy: Research into the benefits of massage therapy as an addiction treatment is ongoing, but studies have shown that this therapy is gaining traction for people recovering from substance abuse disorder.

• Raises “feel good” endorphins
• Improves circulation and rids body of toxins
• Relieves the stress and anxiety that’s a natural part of the withdrawal and recovery process
• Balances natural neurochemistry after extended periods of substance abuse

Acupuncture: Some practitioners use auricular (ear) acupuncture in addition to whole-body acupuncture to treat points on the ear associated with the nerves and organs that become weak and unhealthy with prolonged substance abuse, including the liver, kidney, lung, and nervous systems.

• Balances and restores function to the body
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Alleviates withdrawal symptoms, pain, and cravings
• Combats insomnia

Meditation: An integral part of Buddhist tradition, mindfulness meditation has been shown to help substance abusers prevent relapse by teaching them to become aware of their feelings (good or bad) without reacting to them. 

• Improves decision-making and impulse control
• Relieves stress and anxiety
• Heightens awareness of cravings and triggers for better management 
• Pushes away thoughts of self-criticism and blame

Finding Holistic Treatment for You
At Complete Harmony, we encourage the use of many different cutting-edge techniques to help patients recover, including acupuncture, yoga, mediation, massage therapy, and others. To learn more about our treatment center and our approach to addiction recovery, call today: 866-930-4673.