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Research Shows Massage Reduces Stress Hormones & Blood Pressure

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Image: healingdream / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The New York Times reports on new research from The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine regarding the "Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals." The report says that there is an increase in oxytocin which affects the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal axis which in the end reduces ACTH and cortisol, a stress hormone. Oxytocin is used for breast feeding, giving birth with uterine contractions and other functions. Cortisol affects many biological functions like inhibiting insulin (reduced blood sugar metabolism), reducing collagen (increased skin wrinkles), reduced stomach & kidney functions, inhibiting sodium secretion (inhibiting normal blood ion levels), increasing blood pressure, reduces immunity by inhibiting copper function and T cells, lowers bone formation (increased osteoporosis), increases "flash-bulb memories" but in the long term damages the hippocampus for impaired learning. The results are preliminary but they do make sense theoretically. Now you have a reason to go out and get a massage.


ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com
Graston Technique Certified
FAKTR-PM Completed

Disclaimer: The content in this blog is for informational purposes only and an opinion for specific individualized circumstances. It is not a prescription for therapy or diagnosis for you. All opinions expressed in these articles are solely those of the particular author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Anthony Tsai, Graston Technique®, its employees, providers or affiliates. Any opinions of the author on the site are or have been rendered based on scientific facts and/or anecdotal evidence, under certain conditions, and subject to certain assumptions, and may not and should not be used or relied upon for any other purpose, including but not limited to for use in or in connection with any legal proceeding. If there is any issue with the content or images on this blog, contact us an we will remove it immediately. Please refer to http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/ for more information.

References:
Ronin Caryn Rabin: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/health/research/21regimens.html?emc=eta1
Mark Hyman Rapaport, Pamela Schettler, Catherine Bresee: http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2009.0634
Elizabeth Scott, M.S.: http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/cortisol.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortisol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxytocin
http://nccam.nih.gov/
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