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
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