Smoking cravings are reduced by self-massage.
BACKGROUND
Attempts at smoking cessation have been correlated with severe withdrawal symptoms, including intense cigarette cravings, anxiety, and depressed mood. Massage therapy has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress hormones and improve mood.


METHODS
Twenty adult smokers (M age = 32.6) were randomly assigned to a self-massage treatment or a control group. The treatment group was taught to conduct a hand or ear self-massage during three cravings a day for 1 month.


RESULTS
Self-reports revealed lower anxiety scores, improved mood, and fewer withdrawal symptoms. In addition, the self-massage group smoked fewer cigarettes per day by the last week of the study.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that self-massage may be an effective adjunct treatment for adults attempting smoking cessation to alleviate smoking-related anxiety, reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, improve mood, and reduce the number of cigarettes smoked.
Hernandez-Reif
M
M
Touch Research Institute, University of Miami, School of Medicine, Florida 33101, USA.
Field
T
T
Hart
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control; D004328:Drive; D004423:Ear; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires