Rub Away Colds

You have heard "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away" but have ever considered massage therapy as integral in your health as your daily nutrition? A recent study shows confirming reports to the truth on massage and health. The report gave impressive results on how massage therapy improves immune function in the body. This past September, the study titled " A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals" was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. The experiment evaluated a group consisting of medically and psychiatrically healthy adults, ages 18-45 years old. Each person received a 45 minute Swedish massage session while a control treatment was performed with only light touch. The results are fascinating! From only one therapeutic session this is what people experienced:

• Increase in circulation of lymphocytes (improving immune system)
• Decrease in cortisol (stress hormone)
• Decrease in arginine-vasopressin (hormone stimulating cortisol levels)
• Decrease in mitogen
• Stimulated levels of interleukin (improving immune system, nervous system, and endocrine system)

It is extremely important to take good preventative care of our bodies especially with cold and flu season upon us. Dedicate yourself to keeping your body strong and healthy, and witness the biological effects of massage therapy on your own. For more information, talk to your professional massage therapist.

Source:
Massage Today. "A Session of Massage Keeps The Doctor Away". December 2010.