Updated: September 2026
Massage is often said to “lower cortisol,” “boost oxytocin” or “balance hormones.” Those claims sound scientific, but the research is much less clear-cut. Massage can help some people relax and may influence short-term physiological responses, yet it should not be presented as a treatment for hormonal disorders or as a reliable way to reset the endocrine system.
A more evidence-based way to describe massage is as a relaxation and soft-tissue intervention that may reduce perceived stress, muscular tension and discomfort. Any hormonal changes appear to be variable, usually short term and not well established as the mechanism behind how people feel after treatment.
What Is Cortisol?
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It plays important roles in metabolism, blood pressure, immune function and the body’s response to stress. Cortisol is not a “bad” hormone and healthy levels naturally change throughout the day.
Feeling stressed, tired or tense does not automatically mean that your cortisol is abnormally high. Those symptoms can have many causes, and persistent concerns should be assessed by an appropriate healthcare professional rather than diagnosed through symptoms alone.
Does Massage Lower Cortisol?
The short answer is: not reliably enough to make strong claims.
A quantitative review of massage research found that the between-group effects of massage on cortisol were generally small and mostly not statistically significant. The authors concluded that cortisol reduction was unlikely to explain the larger effects sometimes seen in outcomes such as anxiety or pain.
Read the quantitative review of massage and cortisol.
A more recent 2026 scoping review of manual therapies, cortisol and oxytocin found that the available research remains heterogeneous, with inconsistent methods and uneven evidence across different forms of manual therapy. That makes broad claims such as “massage lowers cortisol by X%” inappropriate.
See the 2026 scoping review of cortisol and oxytocin responses to manual therapy.
What About Oxytocin?
Oxytocin is involved in social bonding and several physiological processes. Touch and interpersonal interaction have been studied in relation to oxytocin, but the evidence does not support treating massage as a predictable way to “boost oxytocin” or correct an oxytocin deficiency.
As with cortisol, measured responses vary between studies, people, sampling methods and treatment types. It is more accurate to focus on outcomes clients can actually notice — such as relaxation, comfort and muscular tension — rather than claiming a specific hormone effect.
Does Massage “Balance Hormones”?
No evidence supports using massage as a general hormone-balancing treatment.
Hormonal conditions can involve the thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries, testes or other parts of the endocrine system. Conditions affecting insulin, thyroid hormones, sex hormones or cortisol require appropriate medical assessment and, where necessary, evidence-based treatment.
Massage can be part of a wellbeing routine, but it should not be marketed as a way to correct hormone levels.
So Why Can Massage Feel Relaxing?
Massage provides sensory input, physical contact, time away from daily demands and direct work on areas that feel tense. These factors can influence how relaxed or comfortable a person feels without requiring a large or lasting hormonal change.
Possible reasons people feel better after massage include:
- reduced perception of muscular tension
- a quieter, low-stimulation environment
- time away from work, training or screens
- pleasant touch and a sense of being cared for
- temporary changes in pain or discomfort
- an opportunity to slow down and rest
These outcomes are meaningful even if we cannot accurately attribute them to one hormone.
Massage and Stress
Research on massage and stress-related outcomes is mixed. Some studies report reductions in anxiety or improvements in relaxation, while others find smaller or inconsistent effects. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that massage has shown benefit for anxiety in some clinical populations, but evidence is not consistent and massage has not been established as a treatment for generalised anxiety disorder.
Read the NCCIH overview of complementary approaches for anxiety.
Massage, Training and Recovery
Active people sometimes describe demanding training as “raising cortisol” and massage as a way to “bring it down.” That is an oversimplification. Exercise itself produces normal physiological stress responses, and recovery depends on far more than one hormone measurement.
For athletes and gym users, massage is better viewed as one optional recovery tool alongside:
- adequate sleep
- appropriate training load
- good nutrition
- hydration
- rest and active recovery
- appropriate rehabilitation when injured
If your goal is treatment planned around exercise and recovery, see our Sports Massage Therapy service.
Massage for Relaxation
If your main goal is to switch off, reduce the feeling of muscular tension and enjoy a calm session, you do not need a hormone-based explanation to justify that goal.
Our Relaxation Massage in Slough service focuses on comfort, gentle-to-moderate pressure and a personalised experience rather than claims about “detoxing” or correcting hormone levels.
What Claims Should You Be Cautious About?
| Claim | Evidence-based interpretation |
|---|---|
| “Massage balances your hormones” | Not supported as a general medical claim |
| “Massage lowers cortisol by a large percentage” | Research does not support a consistent large effect |
| “Massage boosts oxytocin” | Possible short-term responses have been studied, but findings are inconsistent |
| “Massage helps you relax” | A reasonable wellbeing claim for many people |
| “Massage treats an endocrine disorder” | No — medical assessment and treatment should take priority |
When Should You Speak to a GP?
Massage is not a substitute for medical investigation if you have symptoms that could be related to an endocrine or other health condition. Speak with a healthcare professional about persistent or unexplained symptoms such as:
- significant unexplained weight change
- persistent severe fatigue
- new menstrual irregularity
- ongoing sleep disturbance
- unexplained changes in heart rate or blood pressure
- persistent changes in mood or energy
- other symptoms that concern you
Frequently Asked Questions
Does massage lower cortisol?
Some individual studies have reported changes, but quantitative reviews do not show a large, consistent cortisol-lowering effect. Any changes appear variable and should not be the basis for promising a medical benefit.
Does massage increase oxytocin?
Oxytocin responses to touch and manual therapy have been studied, but findings are inconsistent. Massage should not be promoted as a reliable method of increasing oxytocin.
Can massage balance hormones?
No. Massage is not a treatment for hormonal imbalance. Hormonal disorders require appropriate medical assessment and treatment.
Can massage help with stress?
Many people find massage relaxing, and some studies report improvements in stress- or anxiety-related outcomes. The effects vary and massage should be viewed as supportive wellbeing care rather than treatment for an anxiety disorder.
How often should I book massage for relaxation?
There is no evidence-based frequency that is necessary for “hormone balance.” Book according to your preferences, goals, response to treatment and budget rather than trying to achieve a specific hormonal effect.
Relaxation and Recovery Massage in Slough
If you want massage because you enjoy the relaxation, want to reduce muscular tension or would like recovery support, those are clear and realistic goals.
You can learn more about Relaxation Massage or Sports Massage, or book through ClinicSense.