Massage Therapy for Immune System
You may have noticed the signs in the pharmacies and at various doctor’s offices preparing us for flu season. Every year, we take all of the preventative measures that we can, ensuring that we stay healthy, and keep those nasty colds and flu bugs away from us! Maybe we get the flu shot, stay away from others who are ill, and become careful about getting enough vitamins and minerals—but have you thought about getting periodic massages?
That’s right—massages. They aren’t just a luxury; they act as the body’s way of building the immune system. Of course they feel wonderful, make us more relaxed, ease our aching muscles, and provide our minds with a quiet bliss. While massages do all of this, they also produce measurable changes in the immune system and the endocrine system of healthy adults after just one massage according to researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Imagine the benefits that routine massages can provide!
Many times, we get colds or the flu when we are feeling stressed out and tired. When we feel like this, our body has the daunting task of fighting off the attack under already poor conditions. Taking care of our minds and bodies will help our body prepare for the fight! Getting sick is inevitable, but we can greatly decrease the response time for our bodies to recuperate from illness.
Massage therapy works by increasing the number of natural “killer cells” and lymphocytes which helps to fight off illness. Massage has also been shown to reduce the amount of the stress hormone, cortisol. If we can decrease our stress levels, we can more easily bounce back after sickness.
Getting a massage also increases the effectiveness of the circulatory system which is responsible for bringing nutrients to the cells in our body. The circulatory system also aids in removing toxins from the body.
Give the CNY Healing Arts Center nearest you a call to find out more about our individualized massage therapy treatments:
Syracuse-
195 Intrepid Lane, Syracuse, NY 13205
315.671.5755
Albany-
38A Old Sparrowbush Road, Latham, NY 12110
518.724.5750
Rochester-
2244 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14610
585.244.1280 ext. 2