Massage and its benefits on our Immune system

 MASSAGE IMPROVES OUR ABILITY TO FIGHT DISEASES

According to study (Poland et al. 2013) regular massage naturally increases the ability of the healthy immune system to kill certain type of cells, while decreasing the number of T-cells, in order to improve the overall immune function of the body.

 EVEN A SINGLE SESSION STIMULATES IMMUNE FUNCTION

Is our immune system affected by the number of treatments? Another study (Rapaport et al. 2010) reveals that people who have had a single session also experience significant changes in their immune and endocrine responses. Researchers found that those who received a Swedish massage experienced significant changes in their lymphocytes (i.e. white blood cells), which play an important role in a healthy immune system that protects us from disease. The Swedish massage group also had a decrease in levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP), a hormone associated with increased levels of stress hormone (cortisol), and a decrease in inflammatory cytokines, which are produced by infection-fighting white blood cells.

Sources:

• Poland RE, Gertsik L, etc. Open-label, randomized, parallelgroup controlled clinical trial of massage for treatment of depression in HIV infected subjects. J Altern Complement Med. 2013 Apr;19(4):334-40.

• Rapaport MH, Schettler P, Breese C. A preliminary study of the effects of a single session of Swedish massage on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and immune function in normal individuals. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Oct;16(10):1079-88.