Effects of massage theropy on the Central Nervous System

QUESTION: "What general effects does massage have on the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system? Also discuss the general relationship between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland and various target organs." INTRODUCTION: This essay explores the effects of a variety of massage approaches on the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system. Swedish massage, energy balancing methods, aromatherapy, lymphatic drainage, Bindegewebsmassage, serial connective tissue massage and general deep …

…great discipline and practise are required to elicit body changes compared to shorter training times in biofeedback situations. "By learning to induce a relaxation response, subjects can modify the way in which stressful events affect the sympathetic nervous system". Studies suggest that the relaxation response decreases the bodies response to norepinephrine. (Soliman, Schmidt and Adragna, 1990). Thus it is now recognised that it is possible to modify the responses of the ANS through operant conditioning techniques.