From Pampering to a Necessity: Massage Used as Medicine
For those who are not fans of getting a massage in the Philippines, massage is seen as a form of extravagance much like getting a salon treatment that is not really a necessity but a luxurious treat. As such, those who are on a tight budget rarely get a massage except on special occasions or when they have extra money.
However, recent studies have shown that getting a massage can be used as a medicine and can improve the health conditions of sick patients.
An article from US News reported that in 2002, a 58-year old man named Bill Cook of Wisconsin who had a rare illness had been kept healthy through getting weekly massages. According to US News, Cook was diagnosed with a cardiac sarcoidosis, a health condition where in clusters of white blood cells coagulate together and react against a foreign substance in the body that scars the heart, and this led to heart failure for Cook, who was put on a waiting list for organ transplant.
As his condition got worse, Cook’s cardiologist had recommended massage therapy to help his body circulate blood. After more than a decade of weekly massage combined with stress reduction and a healthy diet, Cook said that he had stayed healthy and physically active until he was able to receive a new heart in 2013.
In another study made in 2009 featuring 30 breast cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment, it was found that a full-body massage boosted immune function and lowered heart rate and blood pressure of the participants.
Similarly, a study in 2010 involving 53 participants discovered that a 45-minute Swedish massage resulted in a decrease in arginine-vasopressin, a hormone that naturally rises with stress and aggressive behaviour, as well as slightly lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone and a decrease in cytokine proteins connected to inflammation and allergic reactions.
There are many other cases citing massage as beneficial in curing various sicknesses. In 2011, a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reported that massage therapy is good for chronic back pain. Meanwhile, licensed massage therapist Winona Bontrager said that people who sought relief from massage include those have conditions like cancer, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJ) irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.
As massage starts to be seen as a medicine and not just as a luxury by some people, the search for a cheap massage in the Philippines also continues. For those who wants a cheap massage right in their own homes, check out the cheap home massage service offered by D’ Amici Salon & Spa available at a discounted price at Supreme Deals Philippines.
