Massage and How It Supports Healing

Massage is perhaps one of the oldest healing traditions.  Many ancient peoples — the Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, and Indians — were convinced of the therapeutic properties of massage, and used it to treat a variety of ailments.  Massage therapy is the practice of kneading or manipulating a person’s muscles and other soft-tissue in order to improve health.  When people think of massage, they frequently focus on how it offers physical, emotional, and mental relaxation, and helps alleviate stress.  However, the true benefit of massage is the pivotal role it plays in increased circulation/cleansing/toxin elimination, and the healing that elimination provides for our bodies

How do toxins end up in our bodies?

All the cellular metabolic processes that keep us alive also produce by-products and cellular waste, which are toxins.  Another way toxins end up in our bodies is that high levels of stress can cause the body to produce more acid than it is able to eliminate, which becomes toxins.  A third way toxins end up in our bodies is that bacteria in the body can lead to toxins.  Exotoxins and endotoxins are released through the destruction of bacteria.  Overall, your muscles act like a sponge, absorbing toxins and cellular waste into your body’s soft tissue and fat.

How does massage therapy help the body detox? 

The physical stimulation created by massage helps dissolve and eliminate toxin buildup in the tissues.  A massage effectively squeezes the toxins out from between the cells and muscle fibers to help your body detox.  But once the toxins and cellular waste are out of your tissues, they still need to be removed from your body.

The lymph system is essential to eliminating toxins.

Your body has sophisticated processes for eliminating toxins.  The lymphatic and circulatory systems transport the toxins out of the body’s tissue.  The primary mechanism of toxin removal is the circulation of blood and lymph.  The lymphatic system is responsible for the flow of lymph fluid, which is like the body’s “trash collector.”  The lymph picks up the toxins and metabolic waste materials from the cells, and brings it to the blood.  Then the body harnesses the natural cleansing abilities of the liver and kidneys to remove the toxins and waste from the blood.  The body then passes the toxins out with other body waste, through bowel movements, urine, or sweat where the by-products are removed through glands and nodes of the body.  While the lymphatic system is fundamental to naturally detoxifying your body, there is no pump in the lymph system to keep toxins moving, so it relies on exercise, deep breathing, and therapies like massage.  Massage can markedly improve blood and lymph circulation.  By stimulating the lymphatic system, it’s easier for the body to release wastes and avoid toxin build-up that could lead to lethargy or illness.  Overall, your natural cleansing abilities can slow down for a number of reasons — lack of exercise, or too little fluid or fiber in your diet.  When your lymph system is slow, the immune cells that help combat infections throughout the body don’t always circulate to where they are most needed.  Without immune cells, your body could have symptoms like aches, pains, and swelling.  Slow lymph fluid circulation can also cause deterioration in the organs and glands that play a vital part in your immune system.  Massage is a great way to jumpstart a slow lymphatic system, and help get your body back on track.

Massage also enhances oxygenation.

While we think of massage therapy supporting lymph and blood flow to carry toxins out of the muscles and tissues of the body, we shouldn’t forget about what improved blood flow brings TO the muscles and tissues of the body.  Better circulation means more oxygen, nutrients, and energy for the entire body.

OHI guests can enhance their cleansing experience with massage and body work.  We have a variety of services available, including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, reflexology, and lymph drainage.  Overall, a massage encourages your body to realign its own cleansing processes to work more efficiently, promoting efficient toxin removal, and creating lasting positive changes in your health.  Put the power of massage to work for you in your journey toward optimal health!

Enhance your cleansing experience at OHI with massage and body work provided by our third-party service partners. These services* can relieve stress, remove toxins, or simply make your stay more enjoyable.  Our caring team can help you achieve your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual goals for optimal health. Visit our website at www.optimumhealth.org , and call us at (800) 588-0809 to make your reservation.

*At OHI, we carefully select our third-party service partners; however, our service partners are independently operated and not employees of the OHI. Therefore, Optimum Health Institute is not responsible or liable for actions taken by these service partners or any injury that may result from the provision of these services.