Proof Massage Works!

August 26th, 2011

Most people will agree that massage not only feels good but its good for you too! Specifically when it comes to relieving stress (a major cause of excellerated aging, disease and even weight gain). Still its always nice to have a little science backing it up, that’s why I wanted to share this little tid bit from Spa Magazine’s Fall 2011 issue. This was a study done by researchers at Cedars-Sinai.

“Researches studied 53 healthy adults, assigning some to a 45-minute session of Swedish Massage and others to a session of light touch massage. All 53 were outfitted with intravenous catheters so blood samples could be taken immediately before and during the massage and up to an hour afterward.

A single session resulted in measurable biologial changes: Those in the Swedish massage group experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol and in arginine vasopressin, a hormone that can lead to increases in cortisol. they also had increases in the number of lymphocutes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system. Those who had the lighter massage had an increase in oxytocin, a hormone associated with contentment, and bigger decreases in adrenal corticotrophin, a hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol.”

Pretty cool stuff! Kind of makes you want to go get a massage!