The body operates through a complex collection of chemical processes, each creating toxic chemical by products. These chemicals and waste products are swept away by the circulatory and lymphatic systems and ultimately eliminated. This is not a perfect process though so over time these toxins collect in the tissues of the body.

     Sometimes the toxins collect in the tissues that created them, such as in the musculature as a by-product of contraction, or in the liver as a by-product of metabolism. Toxins can collect during the transportation and filtration process in the kidneys, blood stream or lymphatic system. Toxins collect in the feet because of gravity and poor circulation or the intestinal walls and cause poor digestion. The list goes on as every cell in the entire body is constantly adding to the load.

     One of the Primary benefits of Therapeutic Massage is the cleansing, detoxifying effect that massage has on the tissues. Hard, tight tissues harboring toxins and waste products are literally squeezed and flushed out. All of the muscle and fascia are kneaded, stroked and stretched in such a way as to release toxins. Triggerpoints, uric deposits in the feet, inflammatory chemicals, etc. are broken up or released.

     There are even specialized techniques and styles of bodywork used to enhance detoxification in specific ways. For instance the ‘Inching’ technique of Reflexology is particularly effective for breaking up hard deposits and softening the fascia of the feet. There are techniques for loosening buildup on the inner intestinal wall facilitating any sort of bowel cleanse. Lymphatic drainage alone encompasses a whole system of detoxifying techniques used for everything from assisting with a sports injury to draining a limb infected with filariasis (elephantitis). Triggerpoint therapy operates primarily by removing muscular toxins and even Swedish massage is often referred to as circulation massage.

     So what happens when you get a massage and all of these toxins are released? Well the idea is that they are then eliminated rather than simply re-deposited somewhere else. In order for this to happen the therapist will usually perform some form of Swedish or lymphatic strokes with the intent of moving the newly released toxins toward the heart and the lymphatic ducts where the normal elimination process can take over.

     Often people who have never had any experience with massage or detoxification in general will complain of renewed symptoms. Their headache came back with a vengeance or they feel nauseous or kind of hung-over. Some people get down right sick from the toxins released during a session. If you have a cold or the flu, Massage Therapy can in some instances ‘push it through your system faster’ of course it also ‘brings it on harder’.