A new salon offering scratch therapy has opened in Borås, Sweden, as a method to reduce stress. The concept, which originated in the US, involves clients paying to be scratched to help their nervous system take a break and promote relaxation. Antonina Svensson, a nurse who started the salon after her own stressful period, says interest is huge despite it sounding silly.
She notes most clients are stressed women, but it may not be suitable for everyone, especially those uncomfortable with touch. According to physiologist Line Löken, there are no large studies on scratch therapy specifically, but research on touch in general shows it can be stress-reducing and beneficial for well-being. However, she cautions that the health effects are hard to quantify and more research is needed.
She started the salon after discovering scratch therapy during a difficult period in her life when she was on sick leave, aiming to provide a moment without demands that leads to relaxation, primarily to give the nervous system a break.
While there are no large studies specifically on scratch therapy, research on touch in general shows it is important for well-being, can be stress-reducing, and may have positive effects on emotional and physical pain.
However, Löken notes that the experience of touch varies from person to person and depends on the context, and she advises caution in claiming strong health effects due to the need for more research on how the nervous system functions.
Svensson, who has self-studied scratch therapy due to a lack of formal training, says most of her clients are stressed women, but acknowledges it may not be suitable for everyone, especially those who cannot tolerate being touched.