Massage and aromatherapy work in tandem to free the body from fatigue, study shows. There are differences between the physiological and psychological effects on the body of massage combined with aromatherapy.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic emergency, I had received a gift voucher for a massage. And I thought to myself, "Oh, perfect timing, I really need a massage! My back is numb from sitting in front of the computer. Except, in the meantime, we're all stuck at home and couldn't make it. But I will accomplish this mission as soon as travel restrictions are lifted. Because, all the more reason I need a massage now, when I've missed moving outdoors. I already visualize the perfect setting: relaxation, music on mute, an atmosphere enveloped in a fragrance that will awaken all my senses and take me to another world. Even if only for a while! And one more thing: I have just found out that massage combined with aromatherapy seems to be much more beneficial than we think.

A study by the Department of Physiology at Hyogo Medical College (Japan) found that massage combined with aromatherapy relieves fatigue much more easily than massage alone.

The widespread use of herbal treatments and essential oils for the prevention and treatment of diseases dates back to ancient times. However, there has been no precisely clarified scientific basis for the beneficial effects of these herbs and oils. A study was therefore necessary.

Massage and aromatherapy work in tandem and are much more effective. Aim of the study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aromatherapy treatment on the body in healthy subjects.

What the study consisted of

The authors of the study compared the physiological and psychological effects of aromatherapy body treatment (E), massage treatment with carrier oil only (C) and rest in healthy adults.

7 female and 6 male volunteers participated as subjects. Each subject underwent 3 trials, in which the Advanced Trail Making Test (ATMT) was administered as a stress-induction task before and after 1 of 3 treatments. The ATMT consists of tests of selective attention and spatial working memory. ATMT can also be useful for an objective assessment of mental fatigue as well as a fatigue induction task.

The State of Anxiety Inventory (STAI), visual analog scale and face scale were used to assess anxietyfeelings and mood, respectively.

Study results

After the treatments, the STAI score and feelings of fatigue were reduced. While, positive and comfort feelings increased. And mood improved significantly in C and E. Moreover, significant decreases in feelings of mental and total fatigue were maintained even after the second ATMT in E. On the other hand, salivary cortisol concentration did not show significant changes in any of the studies. Sec secreted immunoglobulin A levels in saliva increased significantly after all treatments.

Researchers' conclusions

The authors of the study concluded that massage treatments, irrespective of the presence of essential oils, are more beneficial than rest in terms of psychological or subjective evaluations. But not physiologically or objectively. What is more, compared with massage alone, without any other intervention, treatment combined with aromatherapy offers a more powerful and continuous release of fatigue. In particular, mental fatigue.

Study authors Takeda H 1, Tsujita J, Kaya M, Takemura M, Oku Y.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18637761