What Toxins Are Released After a Massage?
- Nicco Castell
- Oct 21, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 22, 2024

When the idea of getting a muscle massage comes to one’s mind, it is not surprising that one assumes that massage has therapeutic effects that focus on reducing muscle tension and strain. Having said that, let’s turn to another interesting debate about what happens after getting a massage. There is a popular belief that getting a massage helps a person flush out toxins from their body, but this postulate is riddled with questions. What exactly are those toxins? And how exactly does getting a massage help the human body get rid of such toxins?
This blog is here to tackle those questions by explaining the types of toxins that are released after a massage, while also emphasizing on its technique and other related things that a massage therapist can do.
Understanding Toxins Released During a Massage
Now that we have made that clear, let’s focus on the starting point, after all the concept of “toxins” sounds frightening. Let's look at the bigger picture by starting with some of the smaller details. The basic tenets of humanity include taking in oxygen and eating food, these are vital processes which if turned into waste then become harmful to the body. Now here it is important to note that humans have a natural healer called the ‘natural process’, and this is where the role of massage is important as it accelerates this natural process. This waste includes:
#1 Lactic Acid
The most primary source of muscle activation is activities like workouts, workouts or exercises that release a by-product called lactic acid. When muscles are active it is common for lactic acid to be produced which often causes pain in the individual while lactate builds up in the human body. This allows the lactic acid to be flushed or released during massage with the aim of healing the muscles from fatigue, stress or pain.
#2 Urea
Proteins are the building blocks of the human body while breaking them down produces a waste called urea. Urea can be further broken down into ammonia, but for this process to occur the lymphatic system must be stimulated and massage does exactly that, plus massage reduces the cycle time of urea building blocks, so it is considered efficient for the body.
#3 Metabolic Waste
Your body has a metabolic process for nutrients and also has to dispose of waste. Massage can speed this up as it helps the blood flow and improves the drainage of lymph very effectively.
#4 Carbon Dioxide
It is risky to refer to carbon dioxide as a toxin, but again carbon dioxide is considered a waste from the body in broad and general terms. If there is too much carbon dioxide in the body, the blood flow helps to flush the carbon out easily during massage.
#5 Toxins from Lifestyle Choices
Lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking and high intake of processed foods can cause a build-up of toxins in the body. Massage can activate the lymphatic system, which removes toxins from the body.
How Does Massage Help Eliminate These Toxins?

Massage therapy works on blood circulation, lymphatic drainage, and muscle relaxation, combining all these interventions to make the task easier for the body’s detoxification processes, allowing waste expulsion through urine, sweat, and respiration.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage: This massage technique is targeted at the lymphatic system which plays a very important role in flushing out all toxins from the body. Its application is gentle and helps develop lymphatic flow which makes it useful for detoxifying the body.
Sports Massage: Sports massage causes sweating, releasing stress, and relieving pain after a hard exercise. Additionally, it aids in the faster elimination of lactic acid from the muscles.
Lomi Lomi Massage: This massage technique, which has its roots in Hawaii, involves flowing techniques that resemble the crashing of ocean waves on the shore. This form of massage is effective in promoting relaxation while aiding the body's ability to flush out harmful substances.
The Most Important Things to Keep in Mind While Getting a Massage
Instead of wasting time on creating an effective strategy, it is advisable to ensure that you do not have any free time at the start. For example, when should I eat before getting a massage? To reduce the chances of discomfort while relaxing on the massage table, eat a light meal at least an hour before the session.
Why has dry brushing gained so much popularity?
It is apparently simple. This is because dry brushing completely follows the following instructions: Before starting the massage, it is important to exfoliate the skin and prepare the body for the session.
After the Massage: What to do after that?
Just like during the massage session, your body is still busy trying to expel waste substances that have circulated through the body fluids. To facilitate this process:
Hydrate: Drinking plenty of water after a massage promotes urination and, in this sense, helps to flush toxins and waste from the body. In addition, water increases the chances of reducing pain.
Relax: Relaxing your body after a massage promotes the healing process of the muscles and also enables the body's detoxification process to proceed uninterrupted.
Stretch: Gentle stretching of your muscles can also be useful in reducing tension and discomfort and reducing soreness associated with pain after a deep tissue or sports massage.
Avoid alcohol or caffeine: These can block the body's detoxification processes. Therefore, it is better to avoid using these substances after a massage.
Massage Therapy: A Career in Wellness

If you are interested in the effects of massage and are keen to practice this healing art, you are probably asking where you should start to become a massage therapist. To become recognized as a certified therapist, it is usually necessary to complete a massage therapy course that can last between 500 and 1000 hours, depending on your living state and qualification level. This education includes gaining knowledge of anatomy and physiology and different types of massage such as lymphatic massage and lomi lomi massage.
Where can you find a 5-star male massage therapist in Denver Colorado? Visiting such a studio will also make it clear why the very concept of enjoying and rejuvenating a good massage is coveted.
Kommentare