To relieve allergy symptoms, many Americans rely primarily on conventional treatments, including antihistamines and steroids, both of which can have some adverse side effects. Massage therapists, however, can help relieve some allergy symptoms by reducing stress, increasing circulation, releasing muscle tension and reprogramming the body’s panic reaction, which can exacerbate symptoms.
“It’s not to take away from the biological, inflammatory component of the disorder,” says Rosalind Wright, MD, a pulmonist on staff at the Harvard Medical School. “But if you use complementary modalities, including massage therapy, you could optimize the results.”
Massage therapy and allergy relief exist, primarily, because massage helps with stress, as shown in the 1992 Touch Research Institute study where 30-minute body massages on depressed adolescents decreased saliva cortisol levels. Moreover, stress definitely affects allergies. A 2008 Harvard Medical School study co-authored by Wright, showed that mothers-to-be who expose their unborn children to stress might increase these kids’ vulnerability to allergies and asthma.
Just getting clients to relax may help their allergies. Most experienced massage therapists know the immediate relief from sinus congestion that can result from just lying face down. This position gives the therapist a chance to work on the upper back and shoulders, where many sinus trigger points are located.
So, if you are suffering from allergies and would like to try massage therapy to help relieve your symptoms, our Massage Therapists would be happy to work with you! For more information on all our Therapists go to http://ethosfitness.com/the-spa/spa-staff-and-schedules/.
To schedule your appointment call 201-251-4500.
