Therapeutic massage is an excellent and effective method of reducing stress. On the physical level, stress reduces the efficiency of the immune system. In some studies, stress has been shown to decrease the activity of Natural Killer cells as well as other components of the immune system. A study at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine confirms that regular massage increased the number and effectiveness of NK cells and other measures of immune function in HIV positive people. Symptoms such as pain, swelling, muscle spasm, joint stiffness, anxiety and insomnia have been reduced in people dealing with AIDS through the use of massage.
Emotional turmoil is another area of stress that can also be affected by therapeutic massage.
Massage can help you reduce feelings of isolation and depression as well as improve self-esteem and body image. Some of this effect comes just from the act of doing something good for yourself and some of it is from the caring touch of your massage therapist. Massage can also have effects on a spiritual level. Since I doubt any studies have been done in this area, I can only report what my clients have told me. One client comments, massage helped my muscles and my spirit.