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Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Field, T; Hernandez-Reif, M; Diego, M; Schanberg, S; Kuhn, C
Published in: Int J Neurosci
October 2005

In this article the positive effects of massage therapy on biochemistry are reviewed including decreased levels of cortisol and increased levels of serotonin and dopamine. The research reviewed includes studies on depression (including sex abuse and eating disorder studies), pain syndrome studies, research on auto-immune conditions (including asthma and chronic fatigue), immune studies (including HIV and breast cancer), and studies on the reduction of stress on the job, the stress of aging, and pregnancy stress. In studies in which cortisol was assayed either in saliva or in urine, significant decreases were noted in cortisol levels (averaging decreases 31%). In studies in which the activating neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) were assayed in urine, an average increase of 28% was noted for serotonin and an average increase of 31% was noted for dopamine. These studies combined suggest the stress-alleviating effects (decreased cortisol) and the activating effects (increased serotonin and dopamine) of massage therapy on a variety of medical conditions and stressful experiences.

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Published In

Int J Neurosci

DOI

ISSN

0020-7454

Publication Date

October 2005

Volume

115

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1397 / 1413

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Serotonin
  • Saliva
  • Relaxation Therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Pain Management
  • Pain
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Massage
 

Citation

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Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Diego, M., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (2005). Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. Int J Neurosci, 115(10), 1397–1413. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450590956459
Field, Tiffany, Maria Hernandez-Reif, Miguel Diego, Saul Schanberg, and Cynthia Kuhn. “Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy.Int J Neurosci 115, no. 10 (October 2005): 1397–1413. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450590956459.
Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Diego M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. Int J Neurosci. 2005 Oct;115(10):1397–413.
Field, Tiffany, et al. “Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy.Int J Neurosci, vol. 115, no. 10, Oct. 2005, pp. 1397–413. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/00207450590956459.
Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Diego M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. Int J Neurosci. 2005 Oct;115(10):1397–1413.
Journal cover image

Published In

Int J Neurosci

DOI

ISSN

0020-7454

Publication Date

October 2005

Volume

115

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1397 / 1413

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Serotonin
  • Saliva
  • Relaxation Therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Pain Management
  • Pain
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Massage