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Massage and Allergies
There are lots of treatments out there for those of us who suffer allergies, and sadly, most of them either don’t work or only work on a few symptoms. Sometimes something that used to work doesn’t work anymore, which is also super frustrating when all you want is to be able to breathe. A seasonal allergy is when your immune system thinks things such as dust mites and pollen are invaders and responds as if it were an invader/pathogen.
Let’s clear the air here. There is very, very little that massage can do to help with allergies. I’m sure you have noticed that when you’re facing down on the massage table, it’s actually the opposite. You’re nose runs more, or even stops right up. What gives? Well, gravity, mostly. As well as minor pressure on your face.
Massage can’t flush out anything that is causing you to release histamines. It won’t change your reaction whatsoever to an allergen. It probably won’t alleviate a persistent runny nose, or itchy eyes or pressure on the sinuses. If a massage helps you find respite from your symptoms that’s great, but it’s probably simply because it feels good and relieves stress as well as related pains like headaches.
What massage CAN do for allergies:
Let’s clear the air here. There is very, very little that massage can do to help with allergies. I’m sure you have noticed that when you’re facing down on the massage table, it’s actually the opposite. You’re nose runs more, or even stops right up. What gives? Well, gravity, mostly. As well as minor pressure on your face.
Massage can’t flush out anything that is causing you to release histamines. It won’t change your reaction whatsoever to an allergen. It probably won’t alleviate a persistent runny nose, or itchy eyes or pressure on the sinuses. If a massage helps you find respite from your symptoms that’s great, but it’s probably simply because it feels good and relieves stress as well as related pains like headaches.
What massage CAN do for allergies:
- Relieve general stress: Allergies are frustrating, often confounding and make people miserable. It’s like being sick for months for some people. All of this can lead to feeling extreme distress which affects how we work, how we sleep, how we eat. This can, in turn, make the symptoms feel even worse. A massage can put all that stuff at ease and even help an otherwise miserable day feel very good.
- Help with associated aches and pains: Allergies often bring neck pain, chest tightness, throbbing shoulders and headaches. These are easily addressed by massage therapy, bringing some great relief to those who deal with them.
Getting a Massage during Allergy Season
This can be challenging for people who feel their allergies intensely. Laying face down is an open invitation for pressure headaches and flooding their noses. Getting off the table after a massage may make you dizzy after their sinuses have had extra fluid drain into them, and your muscles may be extra tender from sneezing, coughing, and nose blowing. I completely understand; I have had allergies to quite a few things since I was little.
Let me know if you need to change your position to be comfortable. You can turn your head to the side to breathe, it’s completely fine. I can give you a pillow or two to prop yourself up with to help clear your head too.
There will always be tissues nearby for you.
There is some evidence that scents like rosemary, menthol, and eucalyptus can help bring some temporary relief to your nasal passages. If these things help you, you may bring something with you to use, but be aware that I do not use aromatherapy in my office because there is also an allergen risk with essential and synthetic scents.
This can be challenging for people who feel their allergies intensely. Laying face down is an open invitation for pressure headaches and flooding their noses. Getting off the table after a massage may make you dizzy after their sinuses have had extra fluid drain into them, and your muscles may be extra tender from sneezing, coughing, and nose blowing. I completely understand; I have had allergies to quite a few things since I was little.
Let me know if you need to change your position to be comfortable. You can turn your head to the side to breathe, it’s completely fine. I can give you a pillow or two to prop yourself up with to help clear your head too.
There will always be tissues nearby for you.
There is some evidence that scents like rosemary, menthol, and eucalyptus can help bring some temporary relief to your nasal passages. If these things help you, you may bring something with you to use, but be aware that I do not use aromatherapy in my office because there is also an allergen risk with essential and synthetic scents.
