Skin rubdown with a dry towel, ^|^lsquo;kanpu-masatsu' is an aerobic exercise affecting body temperature, energy production, and the immune and autonomic nervous systems

Abstract

Skin rubdown using a dry towel (SRDT) to scrub the whole body is a traditional therapy for health promotion. To investigate its mechanism, 24 healthy male volunteers were studied. Body temperature, pulse rate, red blood cells (RBCs), serum levels of catecholamines and cortisol, blood gases (PO 2 , sO 2 , PCO 2 and pH), lactate and glucose, and the ratio and number of white blood cells (WBCs) were assessed before and after SRDT. After SRDT, pulse rate and body temperature were increased. PO 2 , sO 2 and pH were also increased and there was no Rouleaux formation by RBCs. Lactate level tended to increase, whereas that of glucose did not. Adrenaline and noradrenaline levels increased, indicating sympathetic nerve (SN) dominance with increase in granulocytes. WBC number and ratio were divided into two groups according to granulocyte ratio (≤ or < 60%) before SRDT: a normal group and a SN group. Only in the SN group did the granulocyte ratio decrease and the lymphocyte ratio and number increase after SRDT. It is suggested that SRDT is a mild aerobic, systemic exercise that might affect the immune system via the autonomic nervous system. Skin rubdown using a dry towel (SRDT) to scrub the whole body, called 'kanpu-masatsu' is popular in Japan. It is said that it became common in 1940 as a prevention against infectious respiratory diseases in elementary educational institutions; however, its origin is unknown (6). At present, officer candidates in the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force practice it every morning, as do students in elementary schools and kindergartens, where it is required as part of the winter daily schedule to prevent asthma and colds. SRDT thus remains popular nationwide as a health promoting therapy.SRDT has parallels with other traditional oriental therapies such as acupuncture, moxibustion and massage, all of which stimulate the skin. These therapies have much supporting evidence for their effects in preventing colds, enhancing immunity, increasing blood flow, activating natural killer cells via somato-autonomic reflexes, and improving metabolism via the autonomic nervous system (ANS) (5,8,9,12,(22)(23)(24). However, there have been insufficient studies of the effects of SRDT. There is a report that SRDT activates natural killer cells (6), but the subjects of that study were limited to bedridden elderly patients, and SRDT was performed not by the subjects themselves but by their nursing personnel. In the present study, healthy volunteers were investigated. We assessed body temperature

Kanpumasatsu: A superficial self-massage with a dry towel to enhance relaxation and immune functions

“…Some researchers translated kanpumasatsu in English as skin rubdown with a dry towel. 34 , 35 It stimulates the skin in a way similar to other oriental medical practices, such as acupuncture, moxibustion and massage (Kanpumasatsu towa, 2021).…”

“…There is ample research evidence on these techniques' effects in preventing colds, 35 enhancing immunity, 36 , 37 increasing blood flow, activating natural killer cells, and improving metabolism through the autonomic nervous system. 38 , 39 Tactile stimulation to the skin has been known to play a critical role in animal and human growth, influencing DNA expressions, and reflexive effects on a variety of physiological functions 40 .…”

“…It was concluded that kanpumasatsu is a mild aerobic, systemic exercise that might affect immune function through the autonomic nervous system. 35 The Health Channel, a Japanese public TV program explored the kanpumasatsu's health benefits by interviewing participants who practiced it twice a day (upon waking up in the morning and before going to bed) for one month. They revealed that 10 out of 12 participants reported that they perceived higher quality of sleep during this practice (Kanpumasatsu towa, 2021).…”

“…39 ; In animal studies using rats, rubbing the skin showed to aid in animal growth, 41 , 43 an increase in serotonin production in rats, 26 , 27 a decrease in catecholamine, 44 and an increase in dopamine production. 45 In human research on kanpumasatsu's health benefits, there were some evidence of immune function enhancement 35 and demonstration of an increase in natural killer cells and neutrophils among bed-ridden older adults. 34 Anecdotal accounts exist for enhancement of immune function, prevention of cold, and improvement of sleep quality (NHK Kenkou Channel, 2021).…”

Does East Meet West?—The Association between Oriental Tongue Inspection and Western Clinical Assays of White Blood Cell Subsets

“…Moreover, we should obtain samples from healthy subjects to compare with those of the AT and AM groups. Additionally, body temperature and pulse rates obtained by western methods should be assessed as we studied the effect of an ancient type of acupuncture needle [24]- [26]. If we could obtain those data in larger samples, multiple logistic regression analysis could be used to investigate the relationship between the tongue inspection and clinical assays of WBC subsets to contribute to medical advances in the future.…”