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September 27, 2010

Benefits Of Massage More Than Skin Deep

Researchers at the Sinai Medical Hospital in Los Angeles performed a study where participants received massage. Subjects were split into two groups: one group got a 45 minute deep Swedish massage; the other got light massage. Blood samples taken before and after the massage session showed biological changes.

Volunteers who received Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol in blood and saliva, and in arginine vasopressin, a hormone that can lead to increases in cortisol. They also had increases in the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system.

Light massage subjects were show to have increased levels of oxytocin, a hormone linked to feelings of contentment. These participants also showed a decrease in adrenal corticotropin hormone, which stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol, a stress hormone.

The study was sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health, and published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Posted by linda at September 27, 2010 3:05 PM