Five Surprising Benefits of Massage

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Five Surprising Benefits of Massage

We know a massage feels good, but it can have a host of therapeutic

advantages, too.

By Temma Ehrenfeld | Newsweek Web Exclusive

http://www.newsweek.com/id/157196

The newest cure-all may be an ancient one: simple touch. The Chinese

have been using massage for all kinds of medical conditions for

centuries. Now, Western research is confirming that massage isn't

just for muscle pain. One of the most surprising findings: massage

may help premature babies gain weight. When Field, a

professor of pediatrics, became a new mother, she massaged her

premature infant daughter and was so impressed with the results she

later founded the Touch Research Institute (TRI) at the University of

Miami School of Medicine. Massage, it turns out, may boost immunity

and help people with a range of conditions from premenstrual syndrome

to high blood pressure. It also seems to help soothe pain from

arthritis, burns and even surgery. Here are five surprising facts

about massage from the research findings at TRI and elsewhere that

you can put to use:

1. Pick Your Spot: You don't have to massage the part of the body

that hurts most. If you're shy about letting a friend touch your

aching lower back, for instance, she could help by massaging your

shoulders instead. This is because massage creates chemical changes

that reduce pain and stress throughout the body. One way it does this

is by reducing a brain chemical called substance P that is related to

pain. In a TRI study, for example, individuals with a form of muscle

pain called fibromyalgia showed less substance P in their saliva (and

they reported reduced pain) after a month of twice-weekly massages.

2. De-Stress, Stay Healthy. Massage may boost immunity. Several

studies have measured the stress hormone called cortisol in subjects'

saliva before and after massage sessions, and found dramatic

decreases. Cortisol, which is produced when you are stressed, kills

cells important for immunity, so when massage reduces your stress

levels and hence the cortisol in your body, it may help you avoid

getting a cold or another illness while under stress.

3. Blood Pressure Benefits: Massage reduces hypertension, suggests a

good deal of research. This may be because it stimulates pressure

receptors that prompt action from the vagus nerve, one of the nerves

that emerges from the brain. The vagus nerve regulates blood

pressure, as well as other functions. In a 2005 study at the

University of South Florida, hypertension patients who received 10

massages of 10 minutes each over three weeks showed significant

improvements in blood pressure compared to a control group who simply

rested in the same environment without any massage.

4. Technique Tactics: There's little evidence to support one kind of

massage over another, says Field, so don't worry about whether your

therapist is schooled in Shiatsu, Swedish or some other technique.

The key is pressure firm enough to make a temporary indentation in

the skin. If you try massage with a partner, use massage oil, which

you can find in a health-food store or pharmacist, but test a little

on your skin first to make sure you are not allergic.

5. Self Help. You can massage yourself. Although you don't have to

massage the part of the body that hurts to relieve pain, targeting

that area does tend to help more. One example is massaging the arms.

If you're in danger of developing inflamed nerves in your hands or

arms from repetitive movements (like typing on a keyboard, or even

gripping a steering wheel for hours at a time) try massaging your

arms for 15 minutes a day. Stroke from the wrist to the elbow and

back down on both sides of the forehand.