In these days when we are all under attack by Covid-19, we must keep our immune systems in good condition. Your first thought may be to pay attention to your diet and exercise, but did you know that massage could help build a robust immune system? and as a result helps your body fight Covid-19.
Research shows that massage therapy is about much more than just a feel-good factor. By making use of this ‘healthy touch’, you can help your immune system to work as it should. Whilst massage alone cannot prevent you from contracting Covid-19, (or any other illness), it will help ensure that your body is working as well as it can.
How Massage Helps Fight Covid-19
Many people tend to rely on massage purely for physical complaints, such as headaches, injury or digestive disorders. But massage is about much more than this. Because it helps increase circulation in the body, tissue quality is enhanced. People also find that they move more easily and function at a higher level. Massage helps relieve all types of pain, which can be a burden on your immune system.
Scientists have discovered that when we feel pain, it has an immunosuppressive effect i.e. it reduces the efficiency of the immune system. When a disease, such as Covid-19, then attacks the body, the immune system is less able to fight off the infection.
Boosting the body’s immune system response
Massage taken regularly helps increase the body’s immune system response, enabling it to eradicate unwanted cells. Overall, it gives a boost to the natural immune function. As an example, in a study involving pregnant women, the group that received a massage showed reduced levels of the stress hormone – cortisol – as well as increased levels of other immune markers. Of course, you don’t have to be pregnant to have a massage but this goes to show that a professional massage can not only decrease stress but boost the immune system function in everyone.
Each massage provides benefits
If you can’t afford a whole series of massages, even just one session can help boost the immune function. When researchers studied a group of people who had had just one massage, the response of their immune and endocrine system was enhanced. This was proven by changes in their lymphocytes, which play a major role in keeping our immune system healthy.
The same people had decreased levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP); this is a hormone linked to the level of stress (cortisol). At the same time, there was a lessening of inflammatory cytokines. These are produced by white blood cells when fighting infection, showing that they had less work to do. So can massage help ward off the flu or fight Covid-19 virus?
So can massage help ward off the flu or fight Covid-19 virus?
Because massage provides relaxation and stress relief, and you are less likely to fall sick when not stressed, then yes it can. Chronic and continuing stress harms the body’s inflammatory immune response. In turn, this makes you far more susceptible to infection and disease.
Both Swedish and lymphatic drainage massage provide the immune system with a mighty boost. The long strokes (effleurage) and short strokes (petrissage) help improve the circulation of blood and lymph, aiding your body with the processing of metabolic waste. Lymphatic drainage massage may be gentle but it is very effective as it helps with the healthy movement of lymph around your body.
Lymph is essential when it comes to providing sufficient immune response in the body. As the fluid circulates the body, it removes bacteria from tissues. Improving the circulation of blood in the body also goes a long way towards circulating white blood cells to help fight disease. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, then massage is even more essential when it comes to providing your body with a healthy boost.
Oils and Massage
Adding essential oils to your massage can help, providing not only a wonderfully relaxing experience but also adding respiratory benefits. Ask your massage therapist about tea tree, peppermint and eucalyptus oils, all of which will make you feel refreshed whilst making breathing clearer. Some masseurs apply oils to the face part of the table so that when you breathe in, they can work their magic.
Massage and the COVID-19 Crisis
As for massage and the Coronavirus, facts show that by having a robust immune system, should you become infected, your body will have a much better chance of fighting back. With some people, it may even help them to ward off infection. A virus causes Covid-19 and because the immune system is strengthened by massage, it is thought that it helps reduce the risk of being infected.
It should also be noted that whilst social distancing guidelines are in place, massage therapists will be following set rules. During the pandemic, PPE will be worn including face masks and shields. Hands will be washed thoroughly or sanitised before the massage commences. All hard surfaces and massage equipment and tables will be sterilised and cleaned regularly and certainly between clients. It is also recommended that clients wear a face mask.
Getting a massage if you are sick
If you are experiencing symptoms of flu or Covid-19, it is best to have your massage once all symptoms have passed and you are no longer infectious. This will help maintain the good health of both you and your massage therapist. By both you and your masseur taking the correct precautions, you can get through the flu and Covid-19 epidemic.
Add regular massages to your routine, using them to help eliminate the stress that weakens the immune system. At the same time, as your circulatory system benefits from the experience, the flow of blood and lymph around your body will be rejuvenated.
Use massage to maintain good health
Massage provides so many benefits and has so much going for it. Whether you are used to having regular massages or this is your first experience, think of it as not only an enjoyable and relaxing aesthetic experience but also one that can help improve and maintain your good health.
For more details about massage and how it can help boost your immune system, contact the team at www.neuromassage.co.uk.