A massage can act on the body in different ways. The skin is stripped of keratinized dead skin flakes.  There is improved blood circulation of the skin and the loosening of sebum accumulations.  Sweat glands and deeper cells function better.  In the skin and the subcutaneous connective tissue chemicals are released that have a vasodilator effect on the vascular system.  The regeneration of tissues reduces scar tissue and stretch marks.

The circulation of blood and lymph can be disturbed by pressure from the surrounding tissues.  This wil diminish the drain of waste.  By the massage this pressure is removed and the small capillaries are mechanically drained.  This ensures that the cell metabolism restores.  By stimulating the lymphatic system the immune system improves.  Another reason why the immune system improves, is because of the fact that through massage the parasympathetic part of the nervous system is activated, allowing less cortisol and noradrenaline to be released. These are the hormones that are released during stress and are involved in the fight or flight response.  By the reduced cortisol increases the activity of the immune system, and causes a greater resistance to diseases.

Muscles need enough oxygen to function properly.  At oxygen starvation lactic acid is accumulated in the muscle tissues, which can lead to muscle fatigue and muscle pain.  Massage restores the blood circulation within the muscle, so that the excess lactic acid can be drained, and the muscle is better supplied with oxygen.  It helps athletes to recover more quickly, but also prior to intense efforts, as well as during maintenance, massage has a positive influence.  It also increases the energy level.

Massage can stimulate pain reduction.  Just think of the first gut reaction to rub in pain.  This causes a sedative and narcotic effect.  In the first place, the receptors in the nervous system are temporarily delayed, and so the pain stimulus does not get delivered so fast to the brain. In addition, thanks to the stimulating effect of the massage, body opiates are released, and by the stimulating effect of the massage on blood circulation, they will be better transported.  These opiates have a calming, analgesic effect.  In addition, the massage can have a favourable impact on the recovery of the causal factors of the pain.  The massage improves the blood flow so that the nutrition of the cells becomes better and more efficient, and at the same time waste substances are better drained.