Massage therapy is hands down one of the best things you can do for your health. As if laying down on a comfy table for an hour or more, as a skilled massage therapist kneads and rubs your whole body until it's loose as a wet noodle wasn’t enough of a treat, you also receive a handful of health benefits by getting massages. From as early as 2700 B.C., massage was used by several ancient cultures to treat injuries and cure terminal conditions. Massage was the preferred treatment for sports and war injuries. Massage therapy continues to hold its place as one of the most effective, safe and natural ways to treat mental and physical ailments, such as stress, pain, anxiety and depression. Here are its top benefits.