The San Diego Union published an article Dec 7, 2011 on the increasing acceptance and growth of integrative medicine. Key drivers behind the trend include:
1) More evidence-based research that integrative therapies are effective
2) More people desiring patient-centered care which puts them in the driver’s seat
3) Greater focus on prevention and maintaining good health
Acupuncture for instance is shown to ease nausea associated with chemotherapy among many other things. Stress management techniques, including meditation can lower blood pressure. Massage can ease back pain and stress. You can download the full article here: http://ow.ly/80MbT
Integrative Medicine in San Diego has long been around, but continues to grow, and Place360 Health + Spa Del Mar is focused on supporting health within the local community of Del Mar and surrounding North County areas. Adjacent to Scripps Medical Center in the Del Mar Medical Arts building, Place360 offers a conventient location for those seeking access to both traditional western medicine as well as alternative integrative practices and stress relieving spa services all in one place.
The following results were published on NCBI/US National Library of Medicine & National Institute of Health
1) Massage therapy in the workplace: reducing employee strain and blood pressure
Source: Dept of Psychology, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS. Arla.Day@smu.ca
G Ital Med Lav Ergon. 2009 Jul-Sep;31(3 Suppl B):B25-30.
Day AL, Gillan L, Francis L, Kelloway EK, Natarajan M.
ABSTRACT:
AIM: Assess the effects of workplace-based massage therapy on physiological and psychological outcomes.
METHODS:
We used afield experiment in which 28 participants were randomly assigned into either an experimental (n = 14) or control (n = 14) group. The experimental group received weekly massage treatments at work for a four week period while the control group did not.
RESULTS:
Both strain and blood pressure were significantly reduced during treatment for the experimental group but not for the control group.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides initial support for the effectiveness of workplace-based massage therapy as part of a comprehensive workplace health strategy.
PMID: 20518225 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Publication Types, MeSH Terms
2) A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals.
J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Sep 1. [Epub ahead of print]
Rapaport MH, Schettler P, Bresee C.
Source:1 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , Los Angeles, CA.
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: Massage therapy is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States with 8.7% of adults receiving at least one massage within the last year; yet, little is known about the physiologic effects of a single session of massage in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine effects of a single session of Swedish massage on neuroendocrine and immune function. It was hypothesized that Swedish Massage Therapy would increase oxytocin (OT) levels, which would lead to a decrease in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity and enhanced immune function.
DESIGN: The study design was a head-to-head, single-session comparison of Swedish Massage Therapy with a light touch control condition. Serial measurements were performed to determine OT, arginine-vasopressin (AVP), adrenal corticotropin hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CORT), circulating phenotypic lymphocytes markers, and mitogen-stimulated cytokine production. Setting: This research was conducted in an outpatient research unit in an academic medical center.
SUBJECTS: Medically and psychiatrically healthy adults, 18-45 years old, participated in this study. Intervention: The intervention tested was 45 minutes of Swedish Massage Therapy versus a light touch control condition, using highly specified and identical protocols.
OUTCOME MEASURES: The standardized mean difference was calculated between Swedish Massage Therapy versus light touch on pre- to postintervention change in levels of OT, AVP, ACTH, CORT, lymphocyte markers, and cytokine levels.
RESULTS: Compared to light touch, Swedish Massage Therapy caused a large effect size decrease in AVP, and a small effect size decrease in CORT, but these findings were not mediated by OT. Massage increased the number of circulating lymphocytes, CD 25+ lymphocytes, CD 56+ lymphocytes, CD4 + lymphocytes, and CD8+ lymphocytes (effect sizes from 0.14 to 0.43). Mitogen-stimulated levels of interleukin (IL)-1ss, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-gamma decreased for subjects receiving Swedish Massage Therapy versus light touch (effect sizes from -0.22 to -0.63). Swedish Massage Therapy decreased IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 levels relative to baseline measures.
CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary data suggest that a single session of Swedish Massage Therapy produces measurable biologic effects. If replicated, these findings may have implications for managing inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.
PMID: 20809811 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher] PMCID: PMC3107905 [Available on 2012/3/1]