Massage Boosts Immune System

When it comes to boosting the immune system, the medium is the massage, as one mid-20th century thought leader almost said. But yes, it is true: Researchers in Cedars-Sinai’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences have reported that people who undergo massage experience measureable changes in their body’s immune
and endocrine response systems. A Cedars-Sinai news release reports that researchers studied 29 subjects, who received 45 minutes of Swedish massage and 24 who received 45
minutes of light touch massage. Prior to the massage, study participants were fitted with intravenous
catheters in order to take blood samples during the study session.  Then
participants were asked to rest quietly for 30 minutes. Following the
rest period, blood samples were collected from each person five minutes
and one minute before the massage began.  At the end of the 45-minute
massage session, blood samples were collected at one, five, 10, 15, 30,
and 60 minutes after the massage. The researchers found that people in the Swedish massage group experienced significant changes
in lymphocytes ,(lymphocyte numbers and percentages white blood cells
that play a large role in defending the body from disease. Swedish
massage also caused a large decrease (effect size -.74) in Arginine
Vasopressin (AVP) a hormone believed to play a role in aggressive
behavior and linked to increases in the stress hormone
cortisol. Wait, there’s more. Swedish massage caused a decrease in levels of the
stress hormone cortisol, as well as a notable
decrease in most cytokines produced by stimulated white blood cells.

Read more from Cedars-Sinai.