Human touch makes a person healthier physically, psychologically and spiritually in many ways.
Babies who are touched, cuddled, felt being loved and thrive.
All these are frequently quoted in massage. Here comes up the report from BBC.
Study in 7 HIV patients, taking blood for T-lymphocytes as baseline, after 1 hour of lying down and relaxation, and then after 1 hour of massage. The research team compare the blood test.
Study result
The massage group showed 70% boost in white blood cells. Higher reading than those simply doing relaxation.
Mechanism
Nerve ending in the skin connect to the glands where the T cells are stored and these glands releasing lots of lymphocytes in the blood.
Functions of T-lymphocytes
Perform a wide array of function in human body which involve growth and repair.
BBC video
The Truth About Boosting Your Immune System: The power of massage