Massage Therapy can Relieve Depression Symptoms

If you’ve ever had a massage you know that massage is good for the body and spirit. It relieves stress and tension and leaves you feeling more relaxed and at peace. Therapeutic touch is just that, therapeutic on many levels. And science has shown that massage is therapeutic for depression sufferers:

A course of 17 studies involving 786 people conducted by Dr. Wen-Hsuan Hou of I-Shou University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, who used massage and other alternative treatments showed that massage is “significantly effective” in the treatment of depression symptoms.

Another study conducted by Kira M. Weier, CNM, MSN, and Margaret W. Beal, CNM, PhD compared relaxation and massage on 32 teen mothers suffering from depression to determine the effects. Overall the participants showed improvement, but only the massage group had “significant decreases in depression scores”.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, roughly 9.5 percent of the U.S. population is afflicted with a type of mood disorder (Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder.) Of the mood disorders, Major Depressive Disorder is number one cause of disability for people between the ages of 15 and 44. It affects 6.7 percent of Americans age 18 and over.

Massage doesn’t promise to be the miracle cure for depression, but it is a therapy that can be used in conjunction with counseling, diet, and other complimentary health techniques.

If you choose to use massage to treat depression, look for a caring, mature massage therapist that has some experience with energy work and embraces a philosophy of holistic health. Work with your MT to set up a series of massage sessions to reap maximum benefits. Massage has cumulative effects, the more you have it, the better it is for you.

Massage Therapy Research

High Fructose Corn Syrup Causes Tumors to Proliferate

A study conducted at the University of California Los Angeles and published in the journal Cancer Research showed that fructose was easily metabolized by cancer cells which caused the cells to proliferate.

This is significant! Take a look at most of the processed food labels and you'll see that High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is listed in the ingredients. And don't be fooled by packaging that claims natural ingredients, I've seen HFCS in whole grain bread and other foods touted to be "healthy".

In the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition there are several studies that indicate that fructose contributes to obesity, insulin resistance and other maladies. And between 1970 and 1990 Americans consumed 1,000 percent more HFCS according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. I remember reading a Los Angeles Times news article when that finding was published, they also tracked the growing trend of obesity to the increased use of HFCS.

Step away from the fructose. There are other alternatives to using a sweetener that clearly does more harm than good. Take care of your health avoid HFCS.