Is it possible that massage can really help the immune system? Yes, it can help the immune system, and it can help to a good degree. There are many ways to give your immune system a boost on your own. Some people will take a nice bath, others will work on getting more sleep, and some will find a quiet place to meditate. These are all great things to do separately, but a massage offers a way to combine all these things into one hour. Let’s examine a few ways that massage can do this.

Increase Circulation

The techniques generally used in massage are designed to improve blood circulation. Whether it’s through gently moving the hands over the tissues to warm the surface of the skin or through squeezing and compressing the tissues, both methods increase circulation. In a study published by The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2012, they found that all participants showed enhanced immune system function with regular and frequent massage sessions. Interestingly, this study had two groups. One group had individuals getting regular massage, and the other group had light touch, where the therapist used only the back of their hand for the whole massage. In both groups, an increase in blood circulation led to the efficient transport of immune cells throughout the body. Based on this study, it didn’t matter whether a person received a relaxing Swedish massage or a therapeutic, deep tissue massage; the enhanced circulation was enough to give the immune system a boost.

Stress Reduction

During a massage, it’s common to lie on the heated table, take in a few deep breaths of air, and feel your shoulders lower all before the massage begins. Stress tends to increase cortisol levels in the body, and if there’s plenty of stress, there’s plenty of cortisol. Massage has been shown to reduce the stress hormone cortisol for scores of coronary patients, those in burn units, individuals with hypertension, HIV, dementia, and more. The 2016 study in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice is a wonderful summary of research in massage. Of special note in this research is the mention of regular use of massage for these conditions. Most of these studies where massage was researched and used, had patients that received regular and frequent massages.

Improved Lymphatic Support

A person receiving a massage may not have asked for a lymphatic drainage session, but they are having one as a direct result of the massage techniques of the therapist. This should not be confused with someone who scheduled a manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) session. The difference between the two is the purpose, intent, and control of the therapist’s techniques. An example of this would be washing dishes. If you use a dishwasher, you will clean them all. If you wash a dish by hand, you’re focusing on just one dish. In this case, a regular massage is like a dishwasher in that it helps move the lymph all over the body in all the tissues, whereas a lymphatic massage is like washing a single dish, and particular care is given to make sure only that that’s the only thing being addressed.  General massage stimulates the flow of lymph in the body and helps to facilitate the waste created in the body.

Capping off Your Night Right

It’s a rhetorical question, but how many people sleep the same number of hours they work? Regular massage has been associated with improved sleep quality, which is essential for a well-functioning immune system as it is during sleep that the body undergoes various repair and immune response processes. The number of hours of sleep needed may vary from person to person. Da Vinci and Tesla only slept about 4-5 hours a night but took power naps during the day, while Einstein slept for 10 hours a night. They are all geniuses in their own right, so perhaps a happy medium of eight hours is in order.

Regardless of how many hours a person needs, the body needs to rest and recover. If you talk to a massage therapist who’s been in the field longer than 10 years, they’ll tell you that an hour massage is equal to eight hours of rest. Not eight hours of sleep, but eight hours of rest. It’s not uncommon for people to feel like they could fall asleep after a massage; some people do. Some fall asleep during the massage, and that’s fine too. For those who feel sleepy or tired after a massage, it’s best for them to schedule an appointment later in the day. Whether your massage is the first thing in the morning or the last thing you get at the end of the day, with regular massage, your sleep quality will improve, and so will your immune system.

Summary

Massage has many positive effects on stress reduction and immune function, but it cannot guarantee immunity or provide a foolproof defense against viruses, bacteria, allergies, or infections. The immune system is complex and influenced by various factors, including genetics, nutrition, and overall lifestyle. The benefits of massage are both immediate and cumulative. Consider scheduling one today and have an extra strength Calgon bath with an Epsom salt at home afterwards.

Kindest regards,

Charles “CJ” Bromfield,

Lmt, NCBTMB CEU Provider

Owner, Lakewood Massotherapy

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the content presented herein. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk. The author and publisher of this article make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this article. They disclaim any warranties, expressed or implied, regarding any matter pertaining to health or wellbeing discussed in this article. The information provided in this article is subject to change without notice. The author and publisher do not assume any responsibility for errors or omissions or the use or misuse of any information contained herein.

References:

Field, T. (2016). Massage therapy research review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 24, 19-31.

Rapaport, M. H., Schettler, P., & Bresee, C. (2010). A preliminary study of the effects of repeated massage on hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal and immune function in healthy individuals: a study of mechanisms of action and dosage. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(10), 1079-1088.

Smith, M., & Kemp, J. (2019). Massage therapy and the immune system. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 23(2), 262-268.

Hachul, H., Oliveira, D. S., Bittencourt, L., Andersen, M. L., Tufik, S., & Hachul, H. C. (2018). Sleep and immune function. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, 24(6), 546-553.