Some research on massage and immune response was published this week. A Los Angeles Times story talked about the
findings. Research conducted at Cedars- Sinai Medical Center that was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed that a single massage can increase lymphocyte cell activity while decreasing certain stress-activated hormones. The story headline describes the study as ”boosting” the immune system, but with this increase/decrease dynamic, I’d say it truly is more of a “balancing” benefit. I’ve talked in the past about getting going with a weekly or bi-weekly massage routine. I’ve always blown it off. Gotta get going with it now for sure.
And how about this for an expert description of immune balance: “It is not the microbes—or germs—themselves that cause infection, but rather the failure of our immune system to keep the relationship between body and microbe in balance.” That’s from a 2006 book by Drs. Ronald Klatz and Robert Goldman called Infection Protection. The book was summarized this week on a site called Vision.org. Vision describes itself as a place where world events and news are discussed from a spiritual perspective without being preachy or proselytizing. Katz and Goldman are two highly degreed medical doctors who are leaders in the “anti-aging” movement. I prefer to call it healthy aging, myself. I don’t think the body quits aging, but it can be done with greater care and health in tact, so that the quality of life in later years is better, and the downward slide before expiration is much less protracted and miserable.
