Top 5 Body Therapies to Boost Immunity

As we continue to wade through the various nuances of Covid-19, the concept of immunity and how to promote, boost and maintain it, is a buzz all over the globe.

As leaders within the wellness community, our focus has always been on results-based treatments. As a result, we believe very strongly in the benefits of regular body therapies for not only relaxation and stress reduction, but also for full body wellness and boosting immune reactions.

So what exactly is immunity?

Our Immune system is designed to equip our body with a means to defend itself from infection, protecting us from the effects of various viruses and germs. In fact, every germ our body defeats is recorded by our immune system to ensure a quick defeat should it encounter it again.

Having a strong immune response is an important part of staying healthy and strong and body therapy is a great way to promote a robust and responsive immune system.

How does body therapy affect immunity?

Research has shown that body treatments aid in reducing inflammation by increasing blood flow throughout the body, which also helps to flush toxins. By applying pressure on the body in a variety of ways, white blood cell activity increases, reducing the stress inducing hormone, cortisol, which tends to lower our immune response.

Massage and Immunity

For massage specifically, the aim is to reduce stress, inflammation and relieve pain. It does this by increasing circulation throughout the body, which strengthens tissue quality and helps to promote ease of movement. Pain in the body actually works to lower our immune response,specifically our ability to deal with infection.

Regular massage treatments have been proven to increase serotonin production and improve the performance of our circulatory, lymph and vascular systems. In other words, getting things moving within the deep muscle tissue, also works to kick start our circulatory system into action, better enabling it to fight infection.

Dry Brushing and Immunity

One of the most important parts of the immune response is the overall health of the lymphatic system. This network of tissues, organs and blood vessels acts as a cleaning system for the body, moving out waste, fighting against foriegn bodies and keeping fluids at optimal levels.

Because most of the lymphatic system lies just below the skin, therapies like dry brushing can have a profound effect on their ability to function smoothly. Since dry brushing is known to stimulate the flow of lymphatic fluid throughout the body, it helps the body to actively detoxify itself.

One third of the body’s toxins are eliminated through the skin, promoting healthy stimulation of our body’s largest organ can have profound effects on the performance of our lymphatic system and our overall immune response. Check out our recent post for more information on how to incorporate dry brushing into your wellness routine.

If you’re looking to start a dry brushing practice, we recommend the Sisal Bath Brush. This dry brush uses sisal plant fibre bristles to increase blood flow and reduce inflamation.

Hot/Cold Therapy and Immunity

Hot-cold therapy is known to give the body an immune boost. Much like massage therapy, cold water therapy is known to decrease inflammation, promote circulatory movement and reduce stress, all factors in strengthening the immune response. Conversely, hot treatments provide relaxation, restoration and also work to reduce stress.

When the body is cold, blood rushes to the organs in order to protect them, then, when faced with a swift change to a hot environment, the blood moves to the skin as the body begins to sweat. These challenging currents promote detoxification and improved circulatory movement, creating a swift and efficient immune boost.

Hydrotherapy and Immunity

Similar to dry brushing, hydrotherapy works by enhancing the lymphatic system, allowing it to work more efficiently and effectively. Not only does hydrotherapy enhance your circulatory performance, it also helps to ease tension on the muscles and joints, increasing mobility and balance which improves strength and recovery.

Kniepp founder, Sebastian Kneipp, recognized the positive effects of hydrotherapy after successfully curing himself of Tuberculosis through immersion baths in the Danube. Kneipp’s research continued and eventually became a highly accredited therapy known as ‘Kniepping’. His approach included a multi-pronged approach to wellness with a heightened approach on hydrotherapy, including affusions, baths, wraps and rinses. Many of the Kniepp bath products are designed with this concept in mind.

If you’re looking to start a Hydrotherapy practice, we highly recommend the Kneipp Eucalyptus Collection which contains a high concentration of eucalyptus essential oil blended with pure, mineral-rich salt sourced from an ancient underground ocean. Eucalyptus is known for its soothing properties that help to clear the mind and promote relaxation.

Another highly sought after hydrotherapy product is the May Chang and Lemon Body Wash, which has wonderful euphoric properties and has been shown in trials to calm anxiety. It is helpful as an immune tonic and can settle digestive upsets. It can also be used for muscular aches and pains as it can help improve circulation.

Body Treatments and Immunity

Full body treatments differ from massage therapy in that their goal is much more therapeutic in nature. The aim of a back facial treatment or body scrub is to clear out toxins in the skin while also providing a relaxing and restorative environment to reduce overall stress within the body.

Like the effects of dry brushing, working directly with the health of the skin helps to boost the performance of the lymphatic system to eliminate toxins and increase blood flow.

Body treatments like the back facial are customized to treat individual concerns within the skin by cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing the sensitive tissues and muscles of the back. Both hot/cold therapy (hot towel rinses) and scalp, leg and foot massage are incorporated into the treatment as well, allowing for multiple immune boosting opportunities.

Other factors to consider when looking to strengthen your immune response include proper hydration, sleep hygiene and nutrition. Keeping each of these aspects in mind will help to further increase the benefits of regular body therapy in strengthening your immunity.

For at home care to keep skin moisturized and healthy, we recommend Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 Corps. Lotion P50 Corps is rich in Poly-Alpha-Beta-Hydroxy-Acids, Nettle and Lemon extracts. Its gentle exfoliating action tones and balances skin acidity levels.