Can spa treatments help you live longer? Can wellness programs contribute to longevity? Here’s a look at the science. 

The body of research suggesting that treatments and services available in spas can not only help increase wellbeing but may also significantly improve health and longevity is growing.

As we know, stress is well known to be correlated with negative mental and physical health outcomes. Chronic stress is associated with mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and personality disorders; cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, and obesity, among other things. And research conducted in 2021 by scientists at Yale found evidence that stress is distinctly correlated with shorter life spans.  

Given that, any means of decreasing stress in a person’s life, like visiting a spa, may directly impact healthspan and longevity.  

Here’s a deeper rundown of scientific insights into how three spa treatments can enhance health, increase joy, decrease stress, and potentially extend life.

Can massage help you live longer? The science on three treatments and services

Massage: regulates cortisol and increases immune function

A 2004 research review found that massage is correlated with significant reductions in cortisol levels and increases in serotonin and dopamine production. 

The review encompassed studies on depression, pain, auto-immune conditions (including asthma and chronic fatigue), immune system conditions (including HIV and breast cancer), and stress. They found that massage was connected to an average 31% reduction in cortisol, which is significant. They also found that the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine increased by an average of 28% and 31%, respectively.

Cortisol is essential for various bodily functions, but its excess is linked to health issues like Cushing’s Disease, which can lead to osteoporosis, muscle weakness, high blood pressure, weight gain, increased risk of thromboembolic events, and other issues. Serotonin is important for regulating mood, social behavior, appetite, digestion, sleep, memory, and sexual functions, while its deficiency is linked to depression, anger, OCD, and anxiety. Dopamine deficiency is primarily responsible for Parkinson’s disease.

The researchers wrote: “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.”

And in a 2023 study, researchers found significant cardiovascular benefits, including reduced heart rate and blood pressure were correlated with 20 minute therapeutic calf massages in 26 healthy female patients. These effects were not only immediate but sustained during 10 and 30 minute post-massage periods. 

Separate research conducted by Tiffany Field at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami has found that massage may improve immune function in breast cancer and leukemia patients.

Saunas: decrease all-cause mortality

In a 2015 study by the University of Eastern Finland, frequent sauna use was linked to a significant decrease in death rates from cardiovascular disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality. The research followed 2,300 middle-aged men over approximately 20 years, grouping them by their weekly sauna usage.

Findings revealed that 49% of men who used the sauna once a week passed away during the course of the study, compared to 38% of those who used it two to three times a week, and only 31% of those using it four to seven times a week.

Moreover, the study found a substantial reduction in the risk of dementia among the most frequent sauna users. Men who used the sauna four to seven times a week had a 66% lower chance of being diagnosed with dementia and a 65% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, compared to those who went once a week. Regular sauna users also had a nearly 30% reduced risk of developing pneumonia, and using the sauna four times a week cut the pneumonia risk by 40%.

A 2018 review of scientific databases from 2000 onward included 40 studies with a total of  3,855 participants who regularly used dry saunas. The aforementioned Finnish study was included in the review. On top of the evidence that regular Finnish sauna bathing is associated with lower incidence of dementia and cardiovascular disease, and decreased mortality, the reviewers also found evidence that saunas may provide benefits for participants suffering from arthritis, pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The researchers wrote that sauna bathing “may also improve exercise performance in athletes, skin moisture barrier properties, and quality of life.”

Scientists also suggest saunas can help increase metabolism and decrease inflammation. 

Taking the waters: lowers risk of stroke and heart disease

A 2016 study found that taking a hot bath improves health and can burn calories. Researchers at Loughborough University found that bathing was correlated with burning approximately as many calories as a half-hour walk (around 140 calories) and also with improved blood sugar and changes to the inflammatory response similar to that following exercise.

The researchers wrote: “The anti-inflammatory response to exercise is important as it helps to protect us against infection and illness, but chronic inflammation is associated with a reduced ability to fight off diseases. This suggests that repeated passive heating may contribute to reducing chronic inflammation, which is often present with long-term diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.”

A study published in the journal Heart compared people who took baths less than twice a week, with those who took baths nearly every day and found, after controlling for other lifestyle factors, that the more frequent bathers had a 28% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 26% lower risk of stroke. 

Studies also suggest hot bathing may help alleviate chronic pain associated with conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia, and can temporarily lower blood pressure, reduce risk of coronary artery disease, and decrease depression. Bathing is also associated with improved  sleep quality.

All of these things translate to better health and longevity because chronic pain, bad sleep quality, and high stress levels are associated with a variety of negative health outcomes that can increase risk of mortality.  

Research suggests that these spa treatments can have significant health benefits and do more than help us relax; they can reduce stress, improve immune function, and decrease the risk of serious health issues, contributing to a longer life.

Spa Executive is published by Book4Time, the leader in guest management, revenue and mobile solutions for the most exclusive spas, hotels, and resorts around the globe. Learn more at book4time.com.

Image by chevanon on Freepik

The post Can a massage help you live longer? How spa treatments contribute to longevity appeared first on Spa Executive.

Mental health has been a hot topic for some time now. Where do spas fit in? Let’s take a look at how spas benefit mental health.

People have been talking about mental health and wellbeing as a wellness trend for a few years now. And in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become more important than ever to recognize and promote spa treatments as a means of addressing issues associated with mental health. 

Chronic pain, stress, and mental health disorders are common, and there are cross relationships between these conditions.

Many studies suggest a considerable association between chronic pain and depression. “In addition to depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, individuals with chronic pain are at risk of other mental health problems.”  

Stress, meanwhile, is also linked to mental health disorders, as well as to negative physiological health outcomes, including heart disease, diabetes, and infectious diseases. Research conducted at Carnegie Mellon University found that chronic psychological stress is connected to loss of ability to regulate the inflammatory response, which may promote the development and progression of disease.

It stands to reason that if one can find relief from any one condition, there’s a good chance this will positively impact related conditions.

We know that spa treatments, including massage, thermal bathing, and sauna can have significant positive impacts on stress and pain. Let’s take a look at the research related to their direct impact on mental health and wellbeing.

Massage

Massage dates back to at least 3000 BCE in India, where it is said to have been used as an Ayurvedic treatment and believed to restore the body’s natural and physical balance, allowing for natural healing. And the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) states that massage therapy as an occupation dates back to the 1700s, where forerunners of today’s massage therapists were called rubbers. “Rubbers were experts in treating orthopedic problems with manual rubbing and friction.” 

Also according to the AMTA, massage therapy has multiple mental health benefits. Research has found that massage therapy can reduce anxiety associated with a number of conditions, including cancer, chronic pain and psychiatric disorders. Massage therapy is also correlated with reduced anxiety before and after surgery.

More findings include: 

• Massage therapy can reduce symptoms of depression for individuals with HIV.
• Back massage given during chemotherapy was associated with significantly reduced anxiety and acute fatigue.
• Military veterans reported significant reductions in anxiety, worry, depression and physical pain after massage, as well as lower levels of tension and irritability.
• Massage for nurses during work hours is associated with reduced stress and related symptoms, including headaches, shoulder tension, insomnia, fatigue and muscle and joint pain.

A review of studies also found that massage was associated with significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol, averaging 31%, and with increases of the neurotransmitters serotonin (28%) and dopamine (31%), both of which contribute to feelings of happiness and wellbeing. The authors wrote, “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.”

Finally, study subjects who underwent Swedish massage twice a week experienced decreases in cortisol levels and increases in oxytocin levels. Researchers also found slight evidence of increased white blood cell counts.

Sauna

Saunas have been around for thousands of years. The exact origin is unknown, but today these hot houses are generally associated with Northern Europe, particularly Finland, where there are an estimated 2 million saunas for a population of 5.3 million people.

According to the US News & World Report, an Alternative Medicine Review found that sauna therapy can help ease mild depression and fatigue and has been linked to improved emotional balance in those with anorexia nervosa.

Another study noted that sauna bathing has numerous health benefits including the promotion of mental well-being and relaxation, and also found that sauna bathing was strongly associated with a reduced risk of psychotic disorders. The authors wrote, “These new findings add to emerging evidence that frequent sauna therapy could reduce the risk of several acute and chronic health conditions.”

More findings: 

• Frequent sauna bathing can reduce the risk of dementia in men. Men who went to the sauna four to seven times a week were 66% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia, and 65% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, than those taking a sauna once a week.
• Sauna use elicits a multitude of beneficial health effects, including improved sleep and mood-boosting benefits. “Researchers treated patients with major depressive disorder with heat so that their core body temperature reached temperatures equivalent to those experienced with sauna use. Following just one treatment session, subjects experienced elevations in mood that lasted for several weeks.” 

The act of just sitting in the sauna may also contribute to mental health benefits due to its potential to be used as time for meditation and relaxation.

Thermal bathing

People have been taking the spring and sea waters for healing purposes for millennia. The practice is said to date back to at least the times of the ancient Greeks, who considered bathing a treatment against diseases. The Romans, influenced by the Greeks, built thermal baths at mineral and thermal springs where wounded soldiers – and everyone else – would go for rest and recuperation.

Taking the warm waters in a spring or spa bath may have a range of mental health benefits. These have been shown to include decreases in self-reported levels of depression and anxiety, and improved sleep.

More findings: 

• Balneotherapy (BT) (bathing in mineral springs) is beneficial for stress and fatigue reduction in comparison with music therapy or no therapy. Study authors concluded that geothermal water baths have a potential as an efficient approach to diminish stress caused by working or living conditions. 
• Spa bathing is associated with reduced levels of salivary stress markers, cortisol and chromogranin, an effect that was more pronounced in people with higher levels of stress.  
• Immersion bathing was associated with better outcomes for fatigue, stress, and pain, as well as significantly better general health, and mental health scores compared with showering.
• Hot springs bathing has a positive impact on chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions, which will have a positive impact on mood and stress levels. 
• Bathing in geothermal mineral water was associated with improvements in anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and stress. Review authors stated that this has implications for the use of BT as a valid complementary therapy for people with mental health conditions.
• Hot baths may improve depression as much as physical exercise. Afternoon baths just twice a week produced a moderate but persistent lift to mood, the size of which was similar to that seen with physical exercise, which is a recommended therapy for mild or moderate depression. 

As the conversation around mental health continues, knowing how we can contribute will help us move it forward.

We’ve released a list of the spa & wellness trends we’ll be watching next year. Click here to download the Handbook: Seven wellness trends for 2022

The post Research roundup: how spas benefit mental health appeared first on Spa Executive.

New research has found that aromatherapy, specifically the scent of rose, enhances learning during sleep, even outside of a laboratory setting. 

A new aromatherapy study has found that the scent of rose enhances learning during sleep. And it can be used in an everyday setting.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Freiburg – Medical Center, the Freiburg Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health (IGPP) and the Faculty of Biology at the University of Freiburg.

Fragrances can be used in a “targeted way”

“We showed that the supportive effect of fragrances works very reliably in everyday life and can be used in a targeted way,” said study leader PD Dr. Jürgen Kornmeier, head of the Perception and Cognition Research Group at the Freiburg-based IGPP and scientist at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Freiburg – Medical Center in Germany.

For the study, several experiments were conducted with 54 students from two 6th grade classes from a school in southern Germany. The students were given English vocabulary to learn and took an exam a week later. 

The children were split into four groups:

• Group 1, the control, was not exposed to any odor cues.
• Group 2 was told to put rose scented incense sticks on their desks while learning at home and during the vocabulary test.
• Group 3 was told to put rose scented incense sticks on their desks while learning at home and nearby during each night before the test but not during the test.
• Group 4 was exposed to the rose scented sticks while learning at home, every night before the test, and during the test.

Use during sleep is the critical factor

According to Medical News Today, Groups 3 and 4 performed significantly better on the test than Groups 1 and 2. Particularly interesting is that Group 2, which experienced the aroma during learning and testing, did not benefit, and that Group 4 did perform slightly better than Group 3, but the difference was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that exposure during sleep is the critical factor.

“The students showed a significant increase in learning success by about 30% if the incense sticks were used during both the learning and sleeping phases,” Franziska Neumann, first author of the study, said in a statement.

Another key finding is that the fragrance also works when it is present all night. Previous studies had suggested that in order to enhance sleep learning, the fragrance had to be only present during a particularly sensitive sleeping phase. And since an electroencephalogram (EEG) measuring brain activity is required to determine if and when a subject has achieved this phase, the findings weren’t suitable for everyday use. The new research suggests otherwise. 

“Our study shows that we can make learning during sleep easier,” said Kornmeier. The results suggest that this technique could be useful for people in real-life situations hoping to enhance sleep learning.

Rosemary also has been found to enhance learning

Previous research also found that the scent of rosemary may enhance learning as well. A study found that students working in a room with the aroma of rosemary essential oil achieved 5% to 7% better results in memory tests.

Findings like these can help people in the spa and wellness industry target retail sales. Products with scents of rose and rosemary, for example, can be packaged to appeal to guests who want to enhance learning and memory. 

The study was published in the Nature Group’s Open Access journal Scientific Reports on 27 January 2020.

We’ve released our spa and wellness trends to watch for 2020. Sign up for Spa Executive’s newsletter and download the free report! CLICK HERE >>

Spa Executive magazine is published by Book4Time, the world’s most innovative spa, salon, wellness, and activity management software. Learn more at Book4Time.com.

The post Scent of rose enhances learning during sleep says aromatherapy study appeared first on Spa Executive.

Frequent sauna bathing can reduce the risk of dementia in men, according to a recent study at the University of Eastern Finland.

The study, led by Jari Laukkanen, a professor of clinical medicine, followed more than 2,300 middle-aged Finnish men (aged 42-60) for more than 20 years and found that the most frequent sauna users had the lowest risk of dementia.

Men who went to the sauna four to seven times a week were 66% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia, and 65% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, than those taking a sauna once a week.

This is the first time the effects of sauna bathing on the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia have been studied.

“We have taken into account other lifestyle factors, like physical activity and socioeconomic factors … There is an independent effect of sauna on these outcomes,” Laukkanen reportedly said. He also noted that more research is required on different age groups, other nationalities, and women.

Previously released results from the same study suggested that men who take frequent saunas also have a lower risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and all-cause mortality.

For fatal coronary heart disease the risk was 48% lower for 4 to 7 sauna sessions per week compared to once a week. And for all-cause mortality, 4 to 7 times per week was associated with a 40% reduction in risk compared to once per week.

“Further studies are warranted to establish the potential mechanism that links sauna bathing and cardiovascular health,” the study said.

Reuters quotes Laukkonen as saying, “In the sauna, the heart rate increases and we start to sweat. This is a bit like physical exercise.

“After sauna, you may have lower blood pressure, and blood pressure is an important risk factor in cardiovascular and memory diseases. This may be one possible explanation for our findings.”

In Finland, sauna is part of the national culture. There are an estimated two million saunas in Finland, for a population of 5.3 million.

The post Frequent sauna bathing may protect against dementia appeared first on Spa Executive.