It’s that time of year. People are constantly looking for ways to “boost” their immune systems or to try new preventative measures. Think about how we all carry things like strep and MRSA on our skin, but yet we rarely contract them. Let’s not even talk about what little bugs are living on all the surfaces we come into contact with daily. So why do some people succumb while others do not? When your body is run down from things like stress or hormonal imbalances, it just can’t keep up to fight off invaders. Keeping your body fine-tuned gives you the best chance to prevent illness, and if you are unlucky enough to get sick, a strong immune system will help you get better faster with fewer effects. So, you’re wondering if a massage boosts your immune system?
Ok, so now what?
More and more people are using massage for health benefits such as boosting your immune system during cold & flu season. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, led by Dr. Mark Rapaport, reported that a single massage produced measurable changes in the immune system and endocrine system of healthy adults*; additionally, Swedish massage participants also had an increase in lymphocytes, cells that help the immune system defend the body from harmful substances**. Massage helps ward off bugs by boosting your “natural killer cells”, the immune system’s first line of defense against invading illness. “We know that cortisol destroys natural killer cells,” Field says. “Therefore, since massage decreases cortisol, your immune cells get a boost.” Massage even seems to boost immunity in those people with severely compromised immune systems **.
So, a massage boosts your immune system? Does it?
“This research indicates that massage doesn’t only feel good, it also may be good for you,” Rapaport said in a news release. “People often seek out massage as part of a healthy lifestyle but there hasn’t been much physiological proof of the body’s heightened immune response following massage until now.”*
If you are taking a proactive role in your health, then you know it takes an integrated approach to truly harness the power of living life at 100% and if you are looking to increase the effectiveness of your immune system, a plan might include:
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, to stimulate the body’s ATP (the cells powerhouse for energy) and to oxygenate tissues for repair.
- IV nutrition; a specific blend of vitamins and minerals that energize, hydrate and repair the body.
- Massage Therapy to remove toxic substances, drain the lymphatic system, balance stress hormones and target areas of tension that are taking those valuable resources that can then be used for defenses.
Our program combines the right massage modalities and therapies to maintain and restore health on many levels because we know there often isn’t just one magic pill. There are many types of massage that each target different issues. Deep Tissue for example, often targets inflammation by breaking up waste deposits and releasing natural endorphins, while Myofascial release targets fascial restrictions that can release pinched nerves and restore lymphatic flow. Our bodies are incredibly resilient and programmed to heal ourselves if given the right “supplies”. If you are a Nava Client, you can look at your Custom Vitality Plan to see where Massage can best help you achieve your wellness goals. Even better, if you are a Nava Preferred Client, you get a free therapy each month so you can book that massage today.
*https://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/09/news/la-heb-massage-20100909