Researchers have uncovered the wellness benefits of massage while investigating diseases that compromise the immune system. For example, a 12-week study of HIV –positive adolescents conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that participants who received massage therapy demonstrated improved immune performance. As documented in a 2001 International Journal of Neuroscience article, the patients who received massage therapy had increased levels of NK (natural killer) cells. These white blood cells rapidly respond to and attack viral-infected cells.

Another study of stage one and two breast cancer patients revealed increased levels of NK cells and other lymphocytes in women who received three 30-minute massages per week for five weeks. This study also found that massage resulted in increased levels of dopamine and serotonin, mood-enhancing neurotransmitters that help reduce anxiety, depression, and anger. Nothing’s more dismal than a cold winter day spent with swollen glands, a sore throat, sniffles, and a sinus headache. If you want to avoid getting sick this year, we recommend making regular appointments with a massage therapist. School teachers, shopkeepers, and other public facing workers might be less likely to miss work with regular massage. And improved immune function is a boon for anyone’s health.

You can enjoy affordable, regular massage through our on-campus clinic in Portland, where EWC massage school students practice their craft. Information learned in EWC massage therapy classes is put to practical use during clinic sessions, as students communicate with, massage, and learn from each client. Massage from EWC alumni is also available through the clinic. Call us at (503) 233-6500 to schedule an appointment at our clinic today. Your immune system will thank you!

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Nothing to sneeze at…, American Massage Therapy Association