Therapeutic Massage As a Smoking Cessation Aid




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All of us who have ever tried to quit smoking know how really hard it is to resist tobacco cravings. Both physiological and psychological symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can be very tough to cope with, especially for long-term smokers. Although a whole array of medications, nicotine patches, gums and other pharmaceutical aids have been developed to help fresh ex-smokers adapt to their new, smoke-free life, wholistic therapies and support groups can still offer a lot to those who want to kick their unhealthy habit. Smoking cessation is virtually impossible without a help of your family, friends, and co-workers. Just like an encouraging support of your social circle, regular cessions with your wholistic therapist, be it an acupuncturist, masseuse, or aromatherapist, can become a great help in your desire to become smoke-free for life.

Massage therapy is one of safe and effective wholistic approaches to smoking cessation. It works wonderfully to curb nicotine cravings, improve mood, and lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety associated with quitting smoking. It is a well-documented fact that a relaxing cession of therapeutic massage gives a prolonged feeling of relaxation and well-being. A study on massage and stress revealed that just a 15-minute massage treatment successfully reduced levels of cortisol and adrenalin, the stress hormones. People who are attempting to stop smoking usually suffer from high levels of acute stress, nervous headaches, tension, and inability to relax, which can be greatly lowered by regular relaxation massages.

A recent study conducted by researchers of New York and published in the journal Preventive Medicine showed that massage was very effective in helping people quit smoking. The researchers now confirmed anecdotal evidence that massage could reduce anxiety caused by abrupt nicotine withdrawal.

According to the study, both massage performed by a skilful therapist and self-massage could be helpful in improving mood and reducing psychological symptoms of tobacco withdrawal. Twenty adult participants of the study, both men and women, who had been regular smokers for at least a five-year period and smoked about 15 cigarettes a day each, were asked to stop smoking and report their nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Part of the group underwent regular cessions of massage therapy, including short self-massage treatments, while a control group did not apply any massage techniques to curb nicotine cravings and reduce levels of stress. As a result, the researchers documented that the massage group suffered less anxiety, tension, depression, mood swings, and tobacco cravings than the control group.

Although the mechanism by which wholistic therapies work to reduce levels of stress hormones remains unclear, various types of bodywork, including massage, can offer a substantial aid to individuals who attempt to quit smoking.

Melanie Twist

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Posted on March 28, 2008 
Filed Under How to Quit Smoking, Stop Smoking

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