Massages not only contribute to physical relaxation, but also have a positive effect on the body's defense system: This has been scientifically proven . US researchers took blood samples from subjects before, during and after a massage and were able to prove that the proportion of white blood cells - responsible for the body's defenses - increased and at the same time the concentration of the stress hormone cortisol in the bloodstream decreased. So if you regularly incorporate massages into your everyday life as a small oasis of well-being, you not only feel good, you also stay healthy.