Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that affects up to 12% of Australian women. It can develop in women during teenage and childbearing years, causing a hormonal imbalance that triggers cysts to form over the ovaries.
Massage has been used medicinally over thousands of years by many different cultures for many different reasons including the treatment of reproductive disorders such as PCOS. Massage directly assists the body to rid itself of the cysts, as well as treating other factors that may be inhibiting the body’s natural healing ability. Read on to find out more.
Massage Increases Circulation to the Reproductive System
The good circulation of blood provided by any style of massage is imperative to the functioning of female reproductive organs. It enhances their vitality, balances hormone levels and ensures a healthy sex drive.
Femoral massage is a specific massage technique that may prove beneficial to PCOS sufferers. It stimulates blood flow to the uterus and ovaries in the application of pressure to the femoral artery with the fingertips. This causes the blood to build up in the iliac arteries, consequently forcing blood to flow up into the pelvic organs. (When released after 30-45 seconds, the blood should be felt flowing back down the leg.) The femoral massage can be repeated on each side of the body, three times in a row, and is best carried out just before ovulation.
Massage for the Ovaries
Massage can attempt to eliminate of the thick, waxy capsule that forms over many layers of cysts on the surface of the ovaries in women with PCOS.
Massage Benefits the Endocrine System
Massage benefits the endocrine system responsible for the production and transport of hormones around the body. This benefits a PCOS patient as:
- It stimulates the release natural endorphins and neurotransmitters such as Serotonin that both improve the mood and decrease the effects of stress.
- It lowers the levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol, all associated with the ‘fight or flight’ response that causes feelings of stress.
- It helps to normalize sex hormones levels that are often unstable throughout PCOS.
Massage improves overall immunity levels
Strong immunity levels are essential to those fighting inflammatory conditions such as PCOS. Science has demonstrated that white blood cells, responsible for fighting infection and disease in the body, build up in the blood stream during a massage.
Massage decreases stress levels
Massage works to decrease the stress that may trigger symptoms of PCOS. It allows the PCOS patient to feel more relaxed, feel less depressed, less anxious and decreases levels of pain.
If you would like to find out more about how massage may alleviate symptoms of PCOS, please speak to a professional massage therapist.
Find out about other effective natural PCOS treatments.
Originally published on May 07, 2010
