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First scratch therapy salon opens in Sweden

Human interestHuman interest
Key Points
  • Antonina Svensson opened Sweden's first scratch therapy salon after self-study.
  • Scratch therapy aims to promote relaxation and give the nervous system a break.
  • Scientific research on touch therapy shows benefits, but scratch therapy lacks major studies.

Scratch therapy is primarily spread in the USA, according to official sources. According to SVT Väst, Antonina Svensson described her surprise that it was not available in Sweden, prompting her to launch the salon. She was on sick leave during a tough period in her life, official sources said, and she aims for the therapy to lead to relaxation and give the nervous system a break.

Scientific perspectives on touch therapy highlight its benefits but note gaps in scratch therapy research. Line Löken, an associate professor in physiology at Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg, pointed out that there are no major studies on scratch therapy specifically. According to SVT Väst, Line Löken described that research on touch in general shows it is very important for well-being, can be stress-reducing, and have many good effects.

I realized to my great surprise that my God, this is not offered in Sweden, why not then?

Antonina Svensson, Undersköterskan (assistant nurse) and salon owner

However, the experience of touch varies from person to person and depends on the context, she noted. Customer experiences at the salon reflect this variability. According to SVT Väst, Antonina Svensson described that she has mostly stressed women as customers.

She also cautioned that scratch therapy may not be for everyone, as some people cannot handle being touched. The specific health benefits of scratch therapy compared to other touch therapies remain unclear, and it is unknown how many customers the salon has served or what standards regulate practitioners in Sweden.

I am aware that it sounds a bit silly, but the interest is huge.

Antonina Svensson, Undersköterskan (assistant nurse) and salon owner

Primarily it is for the nervous system to be able to take a break.

Antonina Svensson, Undersköterskan (assistant nurse) and salon owner

There you see that touch is very important for well-being. It can be stress-reducing and have a lot of good effects. We think that it can affect both emotional pain but also physical pain to activate positive touch.

Line Löken, Docent i fysiologi (associate professor in physiology) at Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg

It is very difficult to say how the nervous system works, that actually requires much more research.

Line Löken, Docent i fysiologi (associate professor in physiology) at Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg

But mostly it is women who are stressed.

Antonina Svensson, Undersköterskan (assistant nurse) and salon owner

There are those who cannot handle being touched and it can depend on various things. So it may not be for everyone, but it is not a treatment.

Antonina Svensson, Undersköterskan (assistant nurse) and salon owner
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First scratch therapy salon opens in Sweden | Reed News