Your Body on a Massage: Glands and Immune System

Glands
Hands running over your body – even self-massage can work – do wonders for your anxienty.  The vagus nerve instructs the adrenal glands to cut back the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and vasopressin.

Immune System
Stimulated by the soothing pressure of massage, your infection-fighting white blood cells increase their activity.  In particular, natural “killer cells” go on vigilant patrol, hunting down and helping to kill viral, bacterial and cancerous cells.

July 3, 2012