There is debate regarding whether or not massage therapy actually removes toxins from the body. The long and short answer is no, it doesn’t remove toxins from the body, but it stimulates various internal mechanisms that support detoxification and the immune system – thus it is highly recommended as part of a thorough and comprehensive cleansing or detoxification program.
Body Balance
The world, and culture, we live in not only overwhelms our bodies with toxins but our being with stimuli. Our nervous systems were not designed to drive on the highway, while listening to music, while texting our friend, while chatting with a passenger, ALL in rush hour! Because of this, our sympathetic nervous system (responsible for fight-flight response) is fried and our parasympathetic nervous system (relaxation mode) is dormant. Therapeutic massage awakens the later, enabling our bodies to actually relax – letting our systems come back to homeostasis and actually do their jobs (i.e. pump blood, digest food, AND eliminate toxins).
Increase Circulation
Massage facilitates circulation because the pressure created by the massage technique actually moves blood through the body, especially its congested areas. The release of this same pressure causes new blood to flow in, creating improved circulation. This brings oxygen rich blood to the damaged, tense and toxic tissues, infusing them with the energy they need to heal, relax, and release impurities.
Stimulate Lymph System
The lymphatic system absorbs fluid, toxins, waste material, and foreign substances from our tissues. It then gets filtered and purified by the lymph nodes. When we undergo a detoxification program the level of impurities in the lymph is SUPER high. By stimulating this system through massage (especially light work such as Swedish massage), it works more efficiently to remove toxins, helping to speed the cleansing process.
Sound pretty basic??…it is!! Massage is a crucial part of a preventative wellness lifestyle, AND it is instrumental in detoxification programs.
