Need advice from the massage-minded among us, please

[rainfletcher]

Very stressful week at work today, which hit its peak for me on Wednesday when a co-worker of mine got his Very Last Warning. I consider this guy a friend, and I know enough to know that he can't afford to lose this job. And additionally, it got me worried about the tenuousness of my own situation: while I am in nowhere near the trouble this guy

Comments

[shasta71]

Ok, I'm not a certified massage therapist, but I *am* a certified skeptic, and I can tell you that I've read a thing or two about this whole "toxin" thing. Here's the thing: our body naturally releases what needs to be released. We do not need to "cleanse" or "purge" or "release" toxins through the application of massage, needles, pressure points, "meridians," spinal manipulations, colonic irrigations, fasts, foot baths, or Chinese foot pads. Our bodies are self-cleansing. This is not to say that we don't have nasty stuff that occasionally backs up in our guts, but unless you have some sort of actual physical blockage, that shit (pun intended!) will work its way out eventually. We do get lactic acid buildup in our muscles, but that is not really a toxin... and it goes away on its own. If you smoke, you will get tar in your lungs, but even that will go away if you stop smoking! Massage is good for you. It is therapeutic, it feels good, and it causes our bodies to release endorphins and other happy/relaxation chemicals... but the "toxin release" aspect that is peddled by the more New Age-y alternative medicine folks (okay, quacks) is bunk. And honestly, there is no such thing as "alternative medicine" - if it works, it's medicine! If it doesn't work, it's just a handy euphemism for separating credulous and/or vulnerable people from their money. OK, rant done! Love you and hope you are feeling better.

[rainfletcher]

Well, let me put it to you this way. Over this last vacation (ha!) weekend, my body showed me that it's more than capable of purging something it doesn't want. Along with pretty much everything else. So there ya go.

I really hope that being able to eat again (and retain what I eat) will go some length toward relieving the stress.