Massage for Insomnia!!!
The neurochemistry of sleep is very complex. While there are many aspects of the brain and its chemicals that contribute to sleep, we will look at the serotonin component of sleep.
Serotonin is an extremely important neurotransmitter that is essential to our survival. Serotonin plays a role in mood, behavior, body temperature, physical coordination, appetite and sleep. Derived from the amino acid tryptophan, serotonin can also be converted by the brain into melatonin.
Serotonin is a precursor to the body’s rendering of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone released by the brain’s pineal gland to quiet and reset the part of the brain that directs circadian cycles to prepare for sleep.
The chemistry of sleep is relevant to massage therapists because massage can directly influence the body’s production of serotonin.
http://www.integrative-healthcare.org/mt/archives/2005/08/insomnia_seroto.html
