Healing Massage Therapy
Massage Therapy Research
Massage therapy is no longer considered a luxury. Research is demonstrating the power of massage therapy for relief from many chronic conditions.
Read the research articles listed below to find out how massage therapy can help you with headaches, back pain, fibromyalgia, cancer, depression, and more.
Experience the power of therapeutic massage for yourself and get relief. You’ll be glad you did!
From the first time I felt OmShi’s touch, I knew I was in the hands of a very special person. Having had hundreds of massages, body work, adjustments, and spa treatments over the past 30 years, I can truly say that OmShi’ is at the top of her profession. She can pinpoint one specific area and help it begin to heal, or put you into the most deeply relaxed state you will ever experience. She has the gift.
JM ~ West Chester, Pennsylvania
Hypertension and Massage Therapy
“Massage therapy has been shown to lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure.”
Massage therapy lowered blood pressure, stress, and cortisol levels in this study comparing massage therapy with relaxation techniques in patients with controlled high blood pressure.
METHOD: Thirty adults with controlled hypertension (for at least the last six months) were randomly assigned to either a massage therapy group or a progressive relaxation group. Those in the massage group were given twice-weekly 30-minute massage sessions for five weeks. Participants in the progressive muscle relaxation group received instructions on completing self-administered, twice-weekly 30-minute exercises for five weeks. Researchers instructed subjects to only perform their session on assigned days to ensure compatibility with the massage group's schedule. Relaxation sessions began with participants breathing deeply for several minutes while in a supine position with the hands alongside the body. They then followed instructions to tighten and then relax different muscles, moving upward from the feet to the head. Muscle groups included were of the feet, calves, thighs, hands, arms, back and face. Pre- and post-treatment assessments included: a state anxiety inventory (STAI) to assess current emotions; a salivary sample to measure the levels of the stress hormone cortisol; systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure measures; the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) questionnaire to rate depressive symptoms; Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) self-report symptom inventory of depression, anxiety and hostility; and urinary catecholamines (biologically active amines which affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems) and cortisol measurement.
RESULTS: Results showed that while both group had lower anxiety levels (STAI) and lower levels of depression (CES-D), only the massage therapy group showed decreases in sitting diastolic and systolic blood pressure; decreases in salivary and urinary cortisol stress-hormone levels; and lower scores for depression, anxiety and hostility.
Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Krasnegor, J. & Theakston, H.(2000). High blood pressure and associated symptoms were reduced by massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 4, 31-38.
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- Massage Therapy Research home page
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Omshi’ is the most spiritually gifted healer and teacher I have ever encountered. She came to my wife and me first to give us massage and we were astounded at her level of ability in this area and the unmistakable spiritual healing that took place as well.
DM & NM ~ St. Davids, Pennsylvania

