Andullation

Andullation is a fairly recent method of treatment, one of the so-called ‘biophysical’ therapies. Combining mechanical vibrations and infrared heat, Andullation has been used for over 10 years in Germany to alleviate pain, improve performance and provide overall body relaxation. This technique has been developed in university clinics by doctors and researchers. Andullation does not act specifically on a single organ, but has a global influence on all the body’s basic functions.

Three simple principles are used in this therapy:

  • Decubitus, i.e. lying down, the ultimate relaxation position
  • Infrareds, known as long as the sun has existed
  • Oscillations at frequencies of between 20 and 80 oscillations per second, whose beneficial effects have been known since the ’30s.

Andullation applies the combined effects of mechanical vibration and infrared heat to stimulate cellular metabolism and promote the regeneration process. This is the secret behind Andullation mattresses, used for relaxation, back problems, fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions.

The first Andullation system was launched in 2001. In 2004, the second model from HHP, the company behind the concept and its development, entered the market, still known as the “massage mattress”. In those days, medical programs didn’t yet exist. Since then, HHP has developed a range of professional devices, instruments and services to help relieve the pain of chronic pathologies, as well as problems of circulation or muscular tension.

How does Andullation work?

Our body’s energy-producing cells

To function properly, our cells need energy. They obtain it thanks to the ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecule. If our cells lack energy, they die. If they receive sufficient energy, they are (usually) healthy, which is reflected in our organs. Then, the proper functioning of each of our organs is necessary for our general health.

Effects on our cells

Our cells are regularly renewed. Each time, an identical copy of the predecessor is created, equipped with everything a cell needs to live. This is a very delicate process, and highly susceptible to disturbance. Inadequate nutrition, natural aging, stress and environmental influences give our cells a hard time. Their ability to produce energy and regenerate diminishes, and they lose their vitality. In this sense, our cells are a direct reflection of our lifestyle. So we ourselves are responsible for the health of our cells. The loss of energy can therefore not only be perceived at the cellular level, but is also felt as a general loss of vital energy.

Increasing energy in our cells

Through mechanical vibrations, andullation generates electrical micro-currents, which penetrate our cells and activate ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production. This process increases the amount of energy in our cells, which in turn has a positive effect on our organs and overall health.

Thanks to andullation, painful signals can be ‘repressed’. In the first instance, andullation creates positive signals in our body, which, so to speak, repress the painful ones. As a result of this repression, the brain receives more and more positive signals, which ultimately results in pain relief. Secondly, regular application of andullation releases endorphins. Endorphins are considered our ‘natural painkillers’. They further increase the repression effect.

Through the action of the blood, our body is supplied with nutrients. When blood circulation is insufficient, this process is disrupted, leading to fatigue or illness. This is a determining factor in the health of our blood. Blood cells in diseased blood coagulate and shrivel. As a result, they lose vitality and carry fewer and fewer nutrients. Andullation reactivates the blood and releases coagulated blood cells. The blood becomes more liquid again, and the transport of necessary nutrients is restored. We feel healthier again and enjoy greater vitality.

Physical relaxation

Constant activity creates muscular tension in the body. As a result, the muscles are not sufficiently nourished, and aches and pains appear. The infrared heat of andullation dilates the blood vessels, and the mechanical vibrations improve the blood supply to the muscles. Nutrients are reabsorbed and tensions dissolved. Many complaints are due to poor blood supply.

Mental relaxation

Stress has a detrimental effect on our nervous system. The human nervous system has two parts: a stimulating (sympathetic) part and a calming (parasympathetic) part. In stressful situations, the sympathetic system is over-activated. To restore balance, andullation uses mechanical vibrations to produce positive signals which, so to speak, ‘relativize’ the negative signals from the sympathetic system. Thanks to infrared heat, the vibrations can penetrate deeper into the tissue. This helps relieve stress.

Lymph is a milky, slightly cloudy body fluid that circulates in lymphatic vessels. Lymph has a detoxifying function and plays an important role in tissue drainage (drainage = elimination of body fluids). In fact, lymph eliminates superfluous tissue fluids through the lymphatic vessels and processes them as part of the metabolic process. These are mainly fats and proteins which, given their volume, are unable to enter the blood vessels through the capillary walls. After blood circulation, the lymphatic system is the human body’s most important transport system. It is specially equipped for transporting nutrients and waste, and above all eliminates external pathogens. As a result, andullation promotes better metabolism in the lymphatic system, as well as a more effective immune system, since the elimination of pathogens prevents disease.

Why use Andullation?

Chronic pain

Thanks to andullation, pain due to various pathologies, such as back problems, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, can be alleviated. Complaints linked to chronic conditions in particular can be the cause of a long and arduous ordeal affecting quality of life. Andullation can help improve quality of life through pain relief. The second basic principle, namely the repression of painful signals, applies here. Thanks to a natural process, you can once again lead a normal daily life and restore your quality of life.

Acute pain

Nowadays, acute pain due to physical exertion is no longer exceptional. In the case of acute pain, too, andullation can provide pain relief. For acute pain, the 2nd basic principle also applies. Here, short sessions of andullation are all that’s needed to suppress painful signals with the positive signals of mechanical vibrations.

Prevention

Andullation not only alleviates existing pain, but also has a preventive effect, preventing pain from occurring in the first place. Through the 1st basic principle, andullation treatment stimulates cells to produce more energy. This has a positive influence on our health. In addition, Basic Principle 5 stimulates the elimination of pathogens and protects against disease. Our vitality increases and our immune system is strengthened.

Warm-up

Andullation can be used to warm up the body before sporting activities. Blood circulation improves and cells receive more energy. No one is capable of physical performance without prior preparation. However, preparation time can be considerably shortened by a good warm-up, which also prevents muscle strains. This effect is made possible by basic principle no. 3, better blood supply, and basic principle no. 1, energy production in the cell.

Best performance

Thanks to the effects of andullation, cells are stimulated to produce more energy. On the one hand, this energy is necessary for the physical effort itself, i.e. to achieve the proposed objective. On the other hand, cellular energy has a positive effect on the proper functioning of our organs, which is a prerequisite for good sporting performance. Thanks to basic principle no. 1, energy production in the cell, current performance can be improved.

Regeneration

When it comes to exceptional sporting effort, it’s important to take the best possible care of your body, and to counterbalance this effort in one way or another. When the body is subjected to continuous strain, muscles harden and blood flow decreases. At this point, basic principle no. 3 applies. Andullation vibrations relax muscles, reactivate blood circulation and stimulate lymphatic flow. This process optimizes physical regeneration and prevents tension.

Anti-aging

In order to have a positive influence on the anti-aging process, stimulation of the collagen substance is of crucial importance. Collagen is found everywhere in our bodies: in bones, cartilage, tendons, joints, teeth, skin and many other places. Collagen is an essential component of our connective tissue. It’s thanks to this that the contours of our skin are ‘padded’, so to speak. As a result, the quality of the collagenous substance is visible through our skin. If the amount of collagen in the body decreases, wrinkles appear, making us look older. Basic principle no. 1, energy production in the cell, enables the reconstruction of collagen substance by supplying energy to the cells. But also basic principle no. 2 – improved blood circulation and basic principle no. 4, activation of relaxation mechanisms, support this process by improving metabolic functions and activating relaxation mechanisms. A more efficient metabolism transports the material needed for cell regeneration into the skin and eliminates metabolic waste from the body. Since muscle tension also plays a role in wrinkle formation, it’s essential to relax the muscles. Unlike Botox treatment, andullation does not paralyze the skin, but naturally relaxes it from within.

Anti-stress

As we are increasingly exposed to stress in our daily lives, our bodies no longer have the opportunity to relax. A “Burn Out” is no longer a rare occurrence. The cause? Prolonged negative stress, also known as ‘disstress’. Stress is caused by a number of factors. In addition to external influences, there are also psychic constraints that cause stress. Especially in professional life, the bar is set ever higher. We often make unrealistic demands of ourselves. The consequence is that we are victims of stress. The way we react to professional demands determines our stress level. Basic principle no. 4, activation of the relaxation mechanisms, helps us to cope with the demands of daily life by restoring harmony to the vegetative nervous system in a natural way. As a result, stress levels are reduced and a protective shield is built up. So we ourselves are responsible for our own stress levels.

Relaxation

Our muscles play an important role in physical and mental relaxation. Exhausting activities and stressful situations harden our muscles. But it can be fixed! Andullation allows muscles to relax. The result is a state of deep relaxation and total regeneration of body and mind. Stress can lead to a whole range of complaints. In the worst case, you’re hit by a burn-out. Continual negative stress is also called ‘distress’. It is often the result of an exaggerated physical load. How well we cope with the demands of our jobs and daily lives determines our individual stress situation. By paralyzing our stress mechanism, we become masters of stress ourselves. This is what happens when we balance our vegetative nervous system. Stress levels drop and our ability to manage stress increases.

Body contouring

Metabolism is an essential factor in our body weight. Our metabolism regulates the biochemical cellular processes required for our bodily functions. Our bodies need to be supplied with nutrients, but at the same time they need to be cleansed of waste products. However, the degree of metabolic activity is different for each individual. That’s why some people lose weight more easily, or regain it more quickly, than others. When the metabolism is not efficient, all attempts to lose weight are doomed to failure. It’s demotivating and depressing! Andullation helps to boost metabolism, thereby improving quality of life. For slimming, basic principle no. 3 applies (improved blood circulation), as well as basic principle no. 5, stimulation of lymphatic flow. Thanks to basic principle no. 3, essential nutrients penetrate our bodies. They give us more vitality. And thanks to basic principle no. 5, metabolic waste products are evacuated. These two basic principles are essential functions of our metabolic activity. They are favored by Andullation therapy.