Does Massage Really Release Toxins? Let's Set the Record Straight

You’ve probably heard this: “Massage helps flush out toxins.” But is that actually true? It’s time to clear up the confusion and talk about what’s actually happening in your body with massage therapy.

The Truth About Toxins and Massage

The idea that a massage releases toxins is a bit of a myth. Andrea Beornsen, a certified massage therapist at Alexander Chiropractic and Wellness, explains it best:

“Toxins are not necessarily released after a massage. What it does is release metabolic waste and stagnant blood that gets trapped in the tissue.”

So, while your body isn’t purging mysterious toxins, it is clearing out waste byproducts from muscle activity, which is an important distinction.

What Is Metabolic Waste, Anyway?

Every time your muscles work, they use energy—kind of like how a car burns fuel. The “exhaust” from that process is metabolic waste. Your body naturally eliminates it through your circulatory and lymphatic systems, and massage can help move it along more efficiently.

Is Massage the Only Way to Release Metabolic Waste?

Not at all. Other bodywork techniques, like cupping and gua sha, also encourage circulation and waste removal. Since your skin is one of the body’s primary detox organs, these methods bring waste to the surface, where it can then be processed and eliminated.

What About Lymphatic Massage?

The one massage technique that helps aid the body with waste release is lymphatic massage, which helps support the lymphatic system’s natural ability to rid the body of toxins and waste. But massage therapy itself does not remove toxins—it only helps the body’s different systems that do that naturally.

So, Should You Chug Water After a Massage?

You’ve probably been told to drink water post-massage to “flush out toxins.” In reality, drinking water won’t speed up the process, but it does help rehydrate your muscles and keep everything flowing smoothly.

The takeaway? A massage won’t detox you like a juice cleanse, but it will support your body’s natural processes. And we think that’s pretty amazing.