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June 16, 2009

Could Massage Make Illnesses Easier To Treat?

Massage reduces anxiety levels.

While it makes perfect sense that massage's release of muscle tension would also reduce anxiety levels, our empirical society demands that scientific research prove any generally accepted notion.

Tiffany Fields, PhD and the Touch Research Institute have numerous articles on the positive impact of massage on multiple medical conditions. According to the Institute for Integrative Healthcare Studies, mainstream medicine is recognizing the role that anxiety plays in illness, especially in relation to major illness of the cardiac, pulmonary and gastrointestinal systems.

According to Harvard University scholars, physical diseases are harder to treat in the estimated 57 million adults who suffer from an anxiety disorder. More specifically, heart disease, chronic respiratory disorders and gastrointestinal ailments are more severe when coupled with anxiety.

Logically, a non-invasive, low cost, low side-effect solution would be the best. Maybe, finally, massage therapy will find it's rightful place in mainstream medicine for those who desire to practice there.

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health

Posted by linda at June 16, 2009 8:30 PM