Relaxation therapy
Alternate names: Abbreviated Muscle Relaxation Therapy, Applied Relaxation, Relaxation Appliquée, Relaxation Training, Relaxation Treatment, RT, Terapia de Relajación, Therapeutic Relaxation, Thérapie de Relaxation
Background
Relaxation therapy is a behavioral therapy used to relieve psychological stress and fatigue. It can be guided by a therapist or trainer or practiced alone.
Stress might increase nervous system activity, which could have a negative effect on certain conditions. Relaxation therapy might decrease nervous system activity, slow heart rate, lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and improve mood in people with certain conditions.
People use relaxation therapy for stress, fatigue, anxiety, depression, chest pain, headache, fibromyalgia, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.
Don't confuse relaxation therapy with guided imagery, mantra meditation, mindfulness, tai chi, or yoga. These are not the same.
Stress might increase nervous system activity, which could have a negative effect on certain conditions. Relaxation therapy might decrease nervous system activity, slow heart rate, lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and improve mood in people with certain conditions.
People use relaxation therapy for stress, fatigue, anxiety, depression, chest pain, headache, fibromyalgia, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.
Don't confuse relaxation therapy with guided imagery, mantra meditation, mindfulness, tai chi, or yoga. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
Relaxation therapy is likely safe. There are no known safety concerns.
Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if relaxation therapy is safe to use when breast-feeding. But there's no reason to expect safety concerns.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Relaxation therapy is likely safe to use while pregnant. There are no known safety concerns.Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if relaxation therapy is safe to use when breast-feeding. But there's no reason to expect safety concerns.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- Chest pain (angina). Relaxation therapy seems to reduce how often people with angina have chest pain. It might also improve their ability to exercise.
- Anxiety. Relaxation therapy might somewhat reduce anxiety. But it might not work as well as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or meditation.
- Depression. Relaxation therapy seems to reduce symptoms of depression in some people. But it doesn't seem to work as well as other treatments, such as CBT.
- A type of persistent anxiety marked by exaggerated worry and tension (generalized anxiety disorder or GAD). Relaxation therapy seems to reduce symptoms of GAD, and it seems to work as well as CBT.
- High blood pressure. Relaxation therapy seems to reduce blood pressure by a small amount in people with high blood pressure.
Dosing & administration
Relaxation therapy uses a variety of methods to achieve relaxation, including imagery, breathing exercises, focused muscle tensing and relaxing, and others. It's often combined with other practices, including guided imagery and biofeedback. It can be practiced alone or with a therapist or trainer. Talk to your physician or other healthcare professional to learn more about how relaxation therapy is used for specific conditions.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
It is not known if this treatment interacts with any medicines. Before using this treatment, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 17/06/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 20/10/2020 00:52:46. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
