Few things are more comforting than touch. The little baby calms its cries when its mother touches it. Close friends embrace tightly when they meet. We touch each other, sliding our fingers over our arms, trying to ward off the cold. Lovers cannot resist the touch of their beloved. Touch promotes closeness. It fosters an energetic exchange between people. It is one of the most beautiful and primitive instincts of human beings.
By promoting energetic exchange, calming, and comforting, we can consider touch as a healing instrument. Touch with the intention of care, in the form of massage, can alleviate pain and bring well-being. Touch. A synonym for caring.
Massage is one of the health promotion tools used by traditional medicines such as Chinese and Indian medicine. In Brazil, its different modalities, aimed at various objectives (aesthetic, relaxation, therapeutic), are increasingly widespread. Many of us have undergone some massage session and have experienced its benefits. But is there any scientific evidence that it really benefits health? What happens in our bodies when we are massaged?
A recent study conducted at the University of California with 96 volunteers (1) evaluated the effect of massage on the release of oxytocin (OT) and other physiological components related to its release – adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), nitric oxide (NO), and beta-endorphin (BE). To do this, the researchers collected a blood sample from the volunteers before and after a 15-minute session of moderate pressure massage on the back. This study had a control group that rested for 15 minutes between each collection. The results of the study show that massage promoted a significant increase in the blood level of oxytocin, as well as a reduction in the levels of the other components, according to the table below:
Percentage change in physiological measures after intervention:
Physiological Measure
Massage Group
Control Group
OT
+9%
-18%
ACTH
-20%
+30%
NO
-36%
+91%
BE
-30%
No significant variations
It is worth noting that in the group that received the massage, there was a significant negative correlation between the increase in oxytocin and the reduction in ACTH, which is a hormone marker of stress.
According to the authors, this increase in oxytocin levels represents health benefits, as this hormone is related to stress reduction and increased immune system defenses. From a relational perspective, oxytocin is important for trust, generosity, and empathy, qualities essential for those who use touch to care and also for those who are being cared for.
When we talk about massage, we must consider that there are numerous modalities, and one of the most widespread for therapeutic benefits is foot reflexology. According to reflexology, the feet can represent the entire body, and massaging specific points on these limbs increases blood supply to the different organs they represent.
Recently, several studies have been published proving the benefits of this modality for health. A study published in 2011 (2) showed that foot reflexology can contribute to heart health by lowering blood pressure and promoting vagal modulation, being beneficial for both patients with coronary artery disease and healthy individuals.
Another large study involving 385 women with advanced breast cancer, conducted in the United States and published in 2012 (3), confirmed the benefits of foot reflexology in reducing symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue, which are characteristic of chemotherapy and hormonal treatment in these patients.
Recent scientific evidence regarding the benefits of techniques proposed by complementary medicines, which view human beings in a holistic and integral way, increasingly assures us that we are on the right path of study and promotion of well-being.
And it is on this path that we propose touch as a gesture of love and care for others. And we propose not only touch but also other daily gestures and light, pleasant reading materials that help us reconnect with our essence and experience well-being. Here is an invitation for you to enjoy this work developed with affection and care by the “Well-being Science” team at Natura, with support from health and education consultants, especially for you to enjoy and benefit from well-being in your daily life. Try it and share: www.natura.net/gestos
developed by the science of well-being and consultants in the health and education area especially for you to enjoy and benefit from well-being in your daily life. Try it and share
“I have spilled my dreams at your feet; walk carefully, for you are walking on my dreams.”
William Butler Yeats
References
- Morhenn V, Beavin LE, Zak PJ. Massage increases oxytocin and reduces adrenocorticotropin hormone in humans. Altern Ther Health Med. 2012 Nov-Dec;18(6):11-8;
- Lu WA, Chen GY, Kuo CD. Foot reflexology can increase vagal modulation, decrease sympathetic modulation, and lower blood pressure in healthy subjects and patients with coronary artery disease. Altern Ther Health Med. 2011 Jul-Aug;17(4):8-14;
- Wyatt G, Sikorskii A, Rahbar MH, Victorson D, You M. Health-related quality-of-life outcomes: a reflexology trial with patients with advanced-stage breast cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2012 Nov;39(6):568-77.
