You may have heard people talk about the release of toxins because of a massage session. But is this a real thing? What toxins are released after massage specifically?
In this article, we will delve into the truth of this extremely popular detox claim. We will explore insights into what really happens to your body after a massage, separating the myths from the facts. We will also look at how massage therapy may support your body’s natural healing process and journey to wellness.
Do Massages Release Toxins from Your Muscles?
Before looking at what toxins are released after a massage, we first need to look at whether a massage causes toxin release. And if it does, how?
Firstly, we need to understand the real meaning of the word ‘toxin’. While we tend to think of a poison, it refers to the byproducts or waste products of your body’s natural metabolic processes. Certain bacteria may also produce toxins, as we see in the case of certain diseases. [1-2]
So, when talking about toxins as they relate to what toxins are released after massage, we do not mean poison from an exterior source, but substances that form within the body.
The next thing to note is that a massage does not necessarily release toxins from the body. Instead, it helps with the release of waste products and stagnant blood in muscle tissue.
How Massage Therapy Releases Toxins
The next thing to look at when it comes to what toxins are released after massage therapy is the ‘how’ of the matter.
The thing is, it is a myth that massage therapy releases toxins from the body. This is the job of the liver and kidneys. Your diet and certain detoxes, like juicing, may promote the flushing out of toxins.
A massage, on the other hand, stimulates your body’s natural detoxification by targeting certain areas involved in the detoxification process. Besides this, it also has other benefits for your health. But more on that later.
Interestingly, vigorous forceful deep tissue massage may result in a condition known as rhabdomyolysis.[3] The condition may occur when muscle cells become traumatized. This is usually due to a crush-type injury, such as one may find in forceful muscle manipulation.
This type of injury, caused by extremely hard muscle manipulation, may cause the release of a protein called myoglobin. The myoglobin released during the process may cause an imbalance in your blood chemistry, with large quantities moving to the kidneys and causing damage. Dark urine is one of the symptoms associated with rhabdomyolysis.
Older individuals and those considered physically fragile are more susceptible to developing this reaction that results from rough massage sessions accompanied by heavy pressure.
The type of massage you opt for may determine how your muscles rid themselves of metabolic waste.
What Toxins Are Released After Massage?
A massage encourages the release of certain metabolic waste from the tissue.
Lactic Acid
When it comes to what toxins are released after massage, the most notable one is lactic acid.
Lactic acid, also called lactate, is a metabolic byproduct that accumulates in tissue due to stress or intense physical activity.[4] During these times, your body needs energy quickly, but the oxygen supply may be lower. As a result, your body goes into a state of anaerobic glycolysis where cells break down glucose into lactic acid.
You can attribute soreness in the muscles after exercise or stressful situations to an accumulation of lactic acid.
Massaging these sore muscles may encourage the release of lactic acid in these areas. The lactic acid will then move to your liver and kidneys via the bloodstream. There, it is once again converted into glucose or used for other body processes as and when needed.
The release of lactic acid from the muscles will ease the pain in the affected areas.
Histamines
An increase in histamine is your body’s natural response to the presence of allergens or irritants.[5] They play a key role in your inflammatory response. Unfortunately, elevated levels of histamine may present as various symptoms that include a runny nose, sneezing, flushing, skin rashes, rapid breathing, and gastrointestinal issues.
Massage therapy may have a beneficial impact on your histamine levels because of its relaxing effect on your nervous system. It also has a beneficial effect on the lymphatic system, while its soothing effect may help address stress hormone levels.
Stress Hormones
Message therapy may have a soothing effect on the body.
Because of this, it may help reduce your cortisol and adrenaline levels. These stress hormones play a key role in your body’s fight-or-flight response. This response, as part of your body’s NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response, sees a quick increase in these hormone levels so that your body can prepare itself to deal with any stressful situation.
Your body may see intense exercise as a stressful situation.
Environmental Toxins
It is extremely difficult to completely safeguard yourself from exposure to environmental toxins. We find them all around us. This includes the air we breathe, the food we eat, and even the water we drink.
Some of these toxins accumulate in our fat cells. Certain heavy metals may even accumulate in our very bones.[6]
Message therapy may help release the toxins that accumulate in our fat cells. This is because massage therapy encourages the breakdown of fat cells. In so doing, these toxins can move into the bloodstream. Massage therapy may facilitate their expulsion through the body’s natural Detoxification circuit.
Urea
Urea is formed in the body. It is a waste product formed due to protein breakdown. Although commonly formed in the liver, your muscles can produce urea when you partake in strenuous exercise, where it moves into the bloodstream and leaves the body through normal body detoxification channels in the form of urine.
Massage therapy may contribute to the elimination process of urea in tissue. This is because it enhances blood flow.
Creatinine
Although not toxic, creatinine is the byproduct of creatine metabolism during strenuous physical activity. Your kidneys expel this substance. Blood flow increase, as seen with a massage, may help to decrease your creatinine levels.
We associate extremely high creatinine levels with kidneys in a state of stress. Common symptoms of high creatinine levels include tiredness, feelings of weakness, nausea, swelling of the hands and feet, muscle cramps, and high blood pressure.
Endorphins
Although not toxins, your body does release endorphins when you get a massage. These feel-good hormones have a beneficial effect on mood and relieve pain.
This is often the reason so many people who get a massage experience a feeling of total relaxation afterwards. Of course, it also helps reduce your stress levels!
Your Body’s Natural Detoxification System
From a functional perspective, your NEM stress response and Detoxification circuit are responsible for your body’s ability to deal with stress.
The Detoxification circuit’s main role is to get rid of metabolites, the waste products produced by your body’s normal metabolic processes. It also rids the body of toxic substances typically derived from the water we drink, food we eat, etc.
Sometimes, the Detoxification circuit cannot get rid of these waste products or toxins properly or quickly enough. As a result, they build up in the body. When this happens, certain health issues may arise.
When it comes to what toxins are released after massage, certain things could cause a buildup of these waste products. These include, amongst others, the following:
Adrenal issues- Too little sleep
- Excessive exercise
- Infections
- Hormonal issues
- Incorrect diet
- The use of certain medications
While you can adopt different protocols to help your body get rid of these excessive waste products, you can also consider massage therapy. Different massage therapies work differently and may stimulate the release of these waste products utilizing different detoxification pathways. They may also help determine what toxins are released after massage.
Your liver and kidneys, as your body’s main detoxification organs, may take a beating when it comes to ridding your body of excessive waste products and toxins. Taking a supplement like LipoNano Glutathione may help provide them with the support they need to stay healthy. Glutathione is a strong antioxidant, plays a key role in immune health, and helps with the removal of metabolic waste.
Different Types of Massage Determine What Toxins Are Released After Massage
An interesting thing about the different types of massage techniques is that different types may help release different toxins.
Deep Tissue Massage
A deep tissue massage is not designed for relaxation but rather focuses on deep tissue and deep muscle work. It is associated with firm pressure and slow strokes with the aim of releasing knots and addressing deep muscle tension.
This type of massage also increases blood flow to affected areas. In so doing, it encourages the release of lactic acid and toxins from this area. This may help reduce soreness in the affected areas.
Sports Massage
A sports massage uniquely tailored to the needs of athletes and active people usually targets specific parts of the body. These areas may need relief or be in the process of recovery from an injury.
It helps to loosen tightened muscles. Tight muscles resulting from an injury may limit your flexibility and cause pain. If not dealt with, they can also cause injuries.
The kneading motions used during this type of massage may not only reduce muscle tension but also improve blood circulation, thereby aiding in the elimination of waste products. In so doing, this type of massage promotes a faster recovery rate and enhances athletic performance.
Swedish Massage
One of the most popular massage therapies, a Swedish massage incorporates long gliding strokes, circular motions, and kneading of your superficial muscle layers. This massage aims to relieve muscle tension while promoting relaxation and improved blood circulation.
This helps get rid of waste products like carbon dioxide and lactic acid. This relaxing massage may also have a beneficial effect on cortisol levels.
Thai Massage
This traditional massage therapy combines acupressure, assisted stretching, and energy work.
This type of massage focuses on stimulating your body’s energy lines by using the hands, feet, knees, thumbs, and elbows to put pressure on certain body areas. The practitioner would also guide the recipient’s body into stretches reminiscent of certain yoga positions to increase flexibility and range of motion while encouraging muscle relaxation. The type of rhythmic movements performed also promotes relaxation and a state of calmness.
Thai massage also promotes increased blood circulation and lymph drainage to aid in detoxification.
Aromatherapy Massage
People choose aromatherapy massage for varied reasons. It may promote relaxation, improve your mood, and help with pain management.
This type of therapy sees the practitioner use essential oils during the massage session. These oils may also have therapeutic benefits of their own, including supporting toxin elimination, stress reduction, and calming down your psyche.
While your skin absorbs these oils, you also inhale them. This increases their beneficial effect.
Hot Stone Massage
This deeply relaxing technique involves the placement of heated stones on certain points of your body. The warmth radiating from these stones helps with muscle relaxation. It also increases blood flow and thus improves blood circulation. This, in turn, assists with the removal of waste products.
Combining massage with heat has a soothing effect on a person that reduces stress and leaves you feeling rejuvenated.
Lymphatic Massage
While the massage therapies mentioned above may all support your body’s detoxification process, a lymphatic massage is a therapy specifically aimed at doing so. This type of massage, often referred to as lymph drainage, is a specialized form of massage designed to stimulate your body’s lymphatic system. Your lymphatic system is part of your immune system and an integral part of your Detoxification circuit.
As part of your immune system, it produces white blood cells that track and destroy invaders like bacteria or other pathogens. As part of the Detoxification circuit, it collects waste products and toxins in muscles and tissue and removes them into the bloodstream for safe elimination through the kidneys and liver.
The therapy itself involves gentle rhythmic movements that encourage the flow of lymph, which could become stagnant and cause swelling if not drained correctly. What toxins are released after a massage using this technique depend on the waste products accumulated in the lymph.
Post-Massage Symptoms
Aside from releasing toxins, some people may experience a variety of short-lived symptoms after a massage. They include the following:
- Temporary flu-like symptoms like sweating and an increase in body temperature
- Headaches that result from the release of muscle tension or dehydration
- Fatigue, a natural response to relaxation
- Some people experience feelings of nausea that result from the release of waste products into the bloodstream
- Sore muscles due to the release of lactic acid and other metabolic waste products
Benefits of Massage Therapy
Besides knowing what toxins are released after massage, you also need to know that massage therapy has many other health benefits. [7] These include:
- Reduction in pain from muscle tension.
- Improved flexibility and range of motion.
- Improved lymphatic drainage.
- A faster recovery time from exercise or injuries.
- Reduction in feelings of stress or anxiety.
- Improved blood circulation.
- Helps with pain management.
- Improves your quality of sleep.
In Closing
When it comes to what toxins are released after massage, massage therapy may assist in removing this metabolic waste from the body.
You could also consider working with Lam Clinic to assist. Lam Clinic provides a holistic solution to safe detoxification while targeting the root cause of the problem. Give us a call at +1 (714) 709-8000 to find out more about our holistic care and what it can do to help you live a healthier life.
