Thursday, June 25, 2009

Massage to Improve Immunity?

Massage is probably the last thing that you would think of when looking for strategies to improve your immune system.

But a specific type of massage, Lymphatic or Lymphatic Drainage Massage (known as LDM), could do just that.
LDM's link to immune functions is clear enough that it is contra-indicated with those who have had an organ transplant. Transplant patients must take immune-suppressing medications for the rest of their lives, so anything that boosts immune function is not desired.

I will be writing about the research behind Lymphatic Massage and other issues, but more research needs to be done to show exactly how strong the connection is and what patients benefit the most. We need long-term studies done, with followup reports over the course of a decade (at least) not just a few months.

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