Detoxification Through Massage Therapy
By Carlota Reyes, LMBT
Massage therapy is a remarkable tool that is abundant with benefits. A good massage soothes tense muscles, encourages the healing of physical and emotional injuries, lowers blood pressure, and increases endorphins in the body(which makes us feel good and human again). But, massage therapy is not just for when you feel tense or have a muscle injury; it also aids in detoxifying your body.
At the end of a massage session we all know that our therapist will say “make sure to drink a lot of water today... you need to get rid of all the toxins released in your body.” What exactly are these toxins that my massage therapist is talking about? Let’s explore what toxins are, how they get in our body and what symptoms they can produce.
Toxins are poisonous substances that can be harmful to the body. These toxins mostly originate from plant and animal matter, but can also come from inorganic compounds or trace elements like aluminum, sulphur, sodium, chlorine and fluoride. As long as these elements are in balance within our body, we are fine. An excess of one element, such as aluminum, for example, can be harmful to the body.
Toxins can be found in our cells and transported by our blood. We know when bacterial toxins are in our body because we experience symptoms of an acute infection. Our body can also produce toxins as a result of an infection or during the normal processes of metabolism. Toxins can also be introduced into the body through the skin. We could get scratched by a cat, bitten by a dog, stung by a bee or just have an open wound. We ingest toxins everyday: smoking, alcohol, food, drugs, chemicals, preservatives and additives.
Massage is very beneficial for the treatment of toxicity. Massage helps to relieve the symptoms of headaches, myalgia and fatigue; as well as improving the function of the organ or system affected. Picture a massage stroke like squeezing a sponge. As we compress down, old blood is squeezed out of the muscle fibers and when we let go, fresh blood enters back into the fibers. This allows a good nutritional supply to all tissues in the body. Because muscles produce toxic by-products including lactic acid, carbon dioxide and water, the elimination of these toxins speeds up when the circulation within the muscle improves. Massage also enhances the venous return, which is essential for the removal of toxins. Rhythmic massage movements are suitable in the removal of toxins to the superficial tissues and muscles. Specific methods like compression massage aid in the detoxification of the visceral organs.
Our lymphatic system plays a major roll in detoxifying our body. The lymphatic system consists of organs, ducts, and nodes, which transport a watery clear fluid called lymph. Lymphatic fluid distributes immune cells and other factors throughout the body and interacts with the circulatory system to drain fluid from cells and tissues. The lymphatic system contains immune cells called lymphocytes, which protect the body against antigens (viruses, bacteria, etc.) that invade the body. Lymph massage techniques or, “lymphatic drainage” increases the actual flow of lymph in the spaces that surround the tissues. With a series of strokes, the by-products of stress, dead cells, heavy metals and other excess toxins are released from your cells. Movement is applied using an intermittent pump-like pressure, applied with the fingers and the palm of the hand. The pressure is very light and the superficial tissues are gently stretched in two directions. I know many of you enjoy deep pressure massage to work on tension areas, but lighter Swedish or lymph massage does wonders for detoxification. It is important to note that, while the objective of lymph massage is to help with detoxification, it is contraindicated if you have an active viral or bacterial infection.
Other ways to enhance lymph flow through the body is by exercise and the contraction of muscles. The key to detoxification is movement, movement, and more movement. Think about it. Most of us have jobs with extensive hours where we sit in a chair, like veal, without moving very much. Though we may take a break from time to time, we leave work feeling stressed, fatigued and compressed with headaches. All of these symptoms are a sign of the build-up of toxins. The beauty of exercise and massage is that it reverses these symptoms. The best exercise, in my opinion, for detoxification is rebounding.
A rebounder is a mini-trampoline. It's circular, maybe 4 ft in diameter. You stand on the rubber mat, and gently bounce up and down. Rebounding stimulates all of the internal organs and gets the lymph moving. Toxins don’t get a chance to hang around and cause trouble. As you bounce, the toxins are moved to the ducts, which take them to the liver and kidneys. The gentle up and down motion of rebounding also increases the movement of the cerebral-spinal fluid, and it is beneficial for the intestines. Rebounding is a super easy way to exercise and it is so much fun it will surely bring out the kid in you.
Now, let’s get back to drinking water after a massage. Besides helping you wake up, water flushes all the waste released, out of your body. It is the internal shower. If you decide that you are a camel and don’t drink enough water after a massage, the toxins could build up, causing muscle aches and soreness. Especially in the case of lymphatic massage, drinking water after a session is especially important, because the stimulation of the lymphatic system can generate a large release of waste in the body. Pushing so much fluid though the body leaves muscles dehydrated.
Another way to utilize the benefits of water is through hydrotherapy. Water is healing and detoxifying, and bathing is an excellent way to use essential oils, as it combines the benefits of inhalation with the powers of absorption through the skin.
Detoxifying Bath Salts:
- 10 drops essential oil of grapefruit
- 10 drops essential oil of juniper
- 4 drops essential oil of helichrysum
- 1 cup (250 mL) Dead Sea salts
Mix essential oils with the Dead Sea salts before pouring into a tub full of warm water.
Juniper essential oil is antiviral, antiseptic, is a diuretic, and can help relieve pain, symptoms of rheumatism, and expel uric acid. Juniper has a “spicy” aroma which helps strengthen our system when we experience low energy, anxiety, and emotional overload. Juniper oil can irritate some people’s skin, and should be avoided during pregnancy. Helichrysum helps stimulate liver cells, thin mucous secretions, and acts as a free radical scavenger. It is non-toxic and non-irritating. Grapefruit oil refreshes the mind, relieves anxiety, is reviving, uplifting, and helps disperse negative energy. Dead Sea salt’s combination of low sodium (only about 10%) with high mineral content improves your skin’s barrier function and reduces skin roughness and inflammation. Bathing with Dead Sea salt has shown to improve the condition of psoriasis and has been shown to improve sleep disturbances.
Let’s face it, our body is very forgiving, considering the neglect and bad habits we put it through. Whether it’s not eating well or not taking time to exercise or even getting enough sleep, the human body is an amazing machine that supports us in every aspect of our life. Regular massage is a wonderful way to cleanse your body physically, mentally and emotionally, not just to feel good, but to feel great.