The arts of aromatherapy and massage have been around for centuries, used as far back as the Ancient Egyptians, with us still hailing Cleopatra as one of the most beautiful women ever to have lived. As with many other things, the Egyptians were on to something. Scientists at Leeds University now believe a regular neck massage could also prove a life-saver to the eight in ten people who suffer from neck pain or stiffness as it lowers blood pressure and the risks of stroke and heart disease.
Research by Professor Jim Deuchars and colleagues, whose study was published in The Journal of Neuroscience, suggests that signals from the neck play a key role when we change posture, for instance when standing up. The signals help the brain maintain a healthy heart rate and breathing and it is when they stop - perhaps because the neck is stiff and not being moved – that problems with blood pressure and balance can occur.
Massage can also be beneficial for many other symptoms including relieving muscle tension, anxiety and stress. Stress affects one in ten Britons at any one time, with three-quarters of us suffering from it at some point in our lives.
Researchers at the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Trust in Reading studied the effects of massage and massage using aromatherapy oils in the intensive care unit as a means of helping to alleviate anxiety and stress.
Around 122 patients were selected to receive either massage, aromatherapy massage, or bed rest. All of the patients were assessed before and after the therapy sessions. Results showed that overall the patients in the aromatherapy massage group were found to be less anxious and more positive and relaxed immediately after the treatment.
So with all this in mind, why aren’t we giving ourselves a regular tonic to keep us in tip top condition?
