Abstract
In this article the positive effects of massage therapy on biochemistry are reviewed including decreased levels of cortisol and increased levels of serotonin and dopamine. The research reviewed includes studies on depression (including sex abuse and eating disorder studies), pain syndrome studies, research on autoimmune conditions (including asthma and chronic fatigue), immune studies (including HIV and breast cancer), and studies on the reduction of stress on the job, the stress of aging, and pregnancy stress. In studies in which cortisol was assayed either in saliva or in urine, significant decreases were noted in cortisol levels (averaging decreases 31%). In studies in which the activating neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) were assayed in urine, an average increase of 28% was noted for serotonin and an average increase of 31% was noted for dopamine. These studies combined suggest the stress-alleviating effects (decreased cortisol) and the activating effects (increased serotonin and dopamine) of massage therapy on a variety of medical conditions and stressful experiences.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1397-1413 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | International Journal of Neuroscience |
| Volume | 115 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1 2005 |
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Keywords
- Cortisol
- Dopamine
- Massage therapy
- Serotonin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. / Field, Tiffany M; Hernandez-Reif, Maria; Diego, Miguel A; Schanberg, Saul; Kuhn, Cynthia.
In: International Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 115, No. 10, 01.10.2005, p. 1397-1413.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy
AU - Field, Tiffany M
AU - Hernandez-Reif, Maria
AU - Diego, Miguel A
AU - Schanberg, Saul
AU - Kuhn, Cynthia
PY - 2005/10/1
Y1 - 2005/10/1
N2 - In this article the positive effects of massage therapy on biochemistry are reviewed including decreased levels of cortisol and increased levels of serotonin and dopamine. The research reviewed includes studies on depression (including sex abuse and eating disorder studies), pain syndrome studies, research on autoimmune conditions (including asthma and chronic fatigue), immune studies (including HIV and breast cancer), and studies on the reduction of stress on the job, the stress of aging, and pregnancy stress. In studies in which cortisol was assayed either in saliva or in urine, significant decreases were noted in cortisol levels (averaging decreases 31%). In studies in which the activating neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) were assayed in urine, an average increase of 28% was noted for serotonin and an average increase of 31% was noted for dopamine. These studies combined suggest the stress-alleviating effects (decreased cortisol) and the activating effects (increased serotonin and dopamine) of massage therapy on a variety of medical conditions and stressful experiences.
AB - In this article the positive effects of massage therapy on biochemistry are reviewed including decreased levels of cortisol and increased levels of serotonin and dopamine. The research reviewed includes studies on depression (including sex abuse and eating disorder studies), pain syndrome studies, research on autoimmune conditions (including asthma and chronic fatigue), immune studies (including HIV and breast cancer), and studies on the reduction of stress on the job, the stress of aging, and pregnancy stress. In studies in which cortisol was assayed either in saliva or in urine, significant decreases were noted in cortisol levels (averaging decreases 31%). In studies in which the activating neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) were assayed in urine, an average increase of 28% was noted for serotonin and an average increase of 31% was noted for dopamine. These studies combined suggest the stress-alleviating effects (decreased cortisol) and the activating effects (increased serotonin and dopamine) of massage therapy on a variety of medical conditions and stressful experiences.
KW - Cortisol
KW - Dopamine
KW - Massage therapy
KW - Serotonin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=24744469623&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=24744469623&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00207450590956459
DO - 10.1080/00207450590956459
M3 - Article
C2 - 16162447
AN - SCOPUS:24744469623
VL - 115
SP - 1397
EP - 1413
JO - International Journal of Neuroscience
JF - International Journal of Neuroscience
SN - 0020-7454
IS - 10
ER -