Proof of Natural Healing with Massage Therapy

Here’s some good scientific news showing proof of natural healing with massage therapy. The results of a study on the efficacy of massage show a significant measurable affect. Unfortunately science demands irrefutable proof, but anyone whose had a massage can tell you it makes a huge difference. (depending on the masseuse, that is. I’ve had some who leave you feeling worse than when you came to them!) Now at least we know some of what that amazing back rub is doing.

Proof of Natural Healing with Massage Therapy

We all loved massages even without proof of natural healing with massage therapy

Massage basically has the same pain-relieving effect as drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), says Field. Known as NSAIDS, for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, these medications work by reducing levels of substances called prostaglandins that increase levels of inflammatory cytokines. “By reducing the inflammation — or the pro-inflammatory cytokines, to be specific — you would reduce pain,” says Field.

Mainstream medicine has often dismissed massage as a bona fide therapy, but “these findings will have an impact on traditional medicine, as every ‘beneath-the-skin’ finding helps,” says Field.

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Massage basically has the same pain-relieving effect as drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), says Field. Known as NSAIDS, for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, these medications work by reducing levels of substances called prostaglandins that increase levels of inflammatory cytokines. “By reducing the inflammation — or the pro-inflammatory cytokines, to be specific — you would reduce pain,” says Field.

Mainstream medicine has often dismissed massage as a bona fide therapy, but “these findings will have an impact on traditional medicine, as every ‘beneath-the-skin’ finding helps,” says Field.

Original Article Here

The previous quote shows irrefutable evidence for the benefit of massage in the short term. There was another report on this same study, though, which had a few words of caution from the lead researcher of this study.

One future research direction will be to examine the long-term effect of massage after a workout.

While the short-term effects seem positive, Tarnopolsky said, that there are some reasons to think there may be adverse effects from massage down the line. In part, that’s because the role of the body’s natural inflammation process in healing is not fully understood.

“If we suppress inflammation, could we slow down the healing process?” Tarnopolsky said, explaining that some recent research has raised these concerns. “Although [massages] make you feel better, by reducing inflammation, is that actually reducing the body’s ability to repair?”

Future research, he said, should answer those questions.

Original Article Here

To me it sounded kind of funny that the scientists who want hard proof, and in this study found proof of natural healing with massage therapy, then come out with a statement of complete conjecture.

As for me, I love these evidences of natural healing that science passes along. I’ll keep sharing them here at wisenaturalhealing.com and will continue to take every chance I can get for a knot-melting massage.

What do you think, do we need to be concerned about the long-term effects, or is this study another short step forward for proof of natural healing?

Comment below and tweet this out.