what is cold massage therapy?

Cold therapy is enduring the cold for a brief amount of time to promote healing for the body and the mind. From ancient civilizations to modern practices, cold therapy is an effective way of promoting overall health and wellbeing. 

There are many forms of cold therapy including cold water immersion, using cooling agents on the skin such as creams/sprays, using an ice or gel packs, ice baths, ice massages, cold showers and more. Exposing the body to coldness has many benefits which I will list at the end of this blog. 

When it comes to massage we usually imagine a warm, often heat related treatment such as a hot stone massage to ease aches and pains, but cold massage therapy also has its benefits. When we have toothache we know to apply an ice pack to ease swelling and pain, or if we have a headache we know to apply a cool gel pad over our forehead. The same goes for pain and swelling in the body. 

Cold therapy or ice therapy works for pain relief by causing blood vessels to narrow which reduces blood flow. This then numbs the area providing pain relief, whilst the reduced circulation decreases swelling and inflammation. Once the source of cold is removed the increased blood flow supports the healing process. 

Cold therapy isn't just used for pain or injuries though...it is also used for for mental health and wellbeing. It works by stimulating the release of feel good chemicals such as dopamine and endorphins which are linked to happiness, motivation and mental clarity. It can also re set the nervous system which then reduces anxiety.  Not only that but it will leave you feeling refreshed and revitalised. 

So how does it work with massage? there are so many benefits to cold therapy but when combined with the many benefits of massage it just means that the healing will be even more effective. At Bliss we use both cold tools and stones for our cold massage therapy. We target specific areas for pain and inflammation with the cold stones and our cold tools are used to work around the body and combine it with massage. It also means that the treatment isn't as shocking as cold water immersion. You still get some warmth from the massage.

So here are some of the benefits...
reduces swelling
improves circulation
relieves migraines 
improves skin appearance
especially good for sports injuries
refreshing and leaves you feeling revitalised
releases feel good feelings 
reduces anxiety
helps sore muscles
provides pain relief 
and much more...

Like all holistic therapies the benefits are endless. Cold Massage Therapy at Bliss is a wonderful way to promote natural healing around the body and to relax the mind, body and soul. 

PLEASE READ IMPORTANT INFORMATION BELOW

Unfortunately we may be unable to offer this treatment if the following applies to you. (please feel free to contact us for further information and to discuss in more detail)

heart failure and heart conditions
hypersensitivity to the cold
open wounds
diabetes
sensory disorders
poor circulation
eczema
psoriasis
deep vein thrombosis
raynaud's disease
peripheral vascular disease
scar tissue

​Bliss Holistic Healing xx