A few months ago,  just before the Covid-19 pandemic took a turn for the worse, which led our country into a partial lockdown, I went for a deep-tissue massage. I was suffering from painful stiff shoulders for several weeks and needed a good masseuse to ease the pain.  The massage that I booked in is a fusion form of modern bio-electric meridian therapy and traditional deep tissue massage.  I had to strip down from head to toe and was provided with a disposable underwear and a robe.  The massage therapist was an experienced lady from China in her early 60s.  After a 2-hour session, I was given a cup of hot water to drink before I left the health center.  I didn’t drink the water as it was too hot as I was in a rush for school run. That was probably my mistake that caused my post-massage sickness!

That same night, I had headache, felt a slight chill and my body felt hot. I felt like I was about to fall ill. I checked my temperature and it was billy boiling at 38C.  I drank a packet of Izumio hydrogen water and applied Oregano essential oil on the soles of my feet at bedtime.  The next morning, I felt slightly better and by evening, I was right as rain again.

I suspected that my body went into a detoxification process after the massage.  I had a similar experience when I first drank hydrogen water – besides a flare of rashes on my hands, I had fever for just a day and was well again the following day. These are symptoms of a body detox.

What Is Deep-Tissue Massage?

Deep-Tissue Massage targets your body’s deepest layers of muscle and releases tension in over-stressed areas. When your muscles are badly knotted, this therapeutic treatment is designed to loosen up the muscles.

Deep-tissue massage is a mix of slow, short, strokes and penetrating finger pressure focused on tight, contracted areas. The therapist uses her thumbs, forearms, and even elbows to work muscle tissue and relieve tension.

A deep tissue massage basically releases your muscles that are stuck in an uncomfortable posture for a prolonged period of time, resulting in pain. In my case, I am always working in front of my computer and the improper posture on my chair may have caused persistent stiff shoulders.

Why Deep-Tissue Massage ‘Flushes’ Toxins Out?

Deep-tissue massage stimulates movement of the lymphatic system and byproducts of muscle metabolism.  One of the primary responsibilities of the lymphatic system is removal of waste from the blood.  The Lymph then brings the waste off to be filtered through the liver and kidneys, and eventually excreted.  This waste can be anything from allergens to metabolic wastes, excess fat to viruses and bacteria. If you have too much lymph in your body, it can build up in the tissues under the skin’s surface — the same tissues that are manipulated during a massage.   That is why during a deep-tissue massage, the body is suddenly flooded with toxins in the lymph, causing you to suddenly feel icky and feverish.

Steps To Prevent Post-Massage Sickness
As the human body is mostly made up of water, the normal functioning of all the body’s systems is dependent on how hydrated we are. Most massage therapists will advise you to drink water after a massage. Most massage centers provide warm  drinking water after a massage session.   It is also highly advisable that you are hydrated before the session too.

Another mistake I made was not keeping myself hydrated before the session as I didn’t want to go to the bathroom during the session!

Drinking water in the hours before your massage will encourage the lymphatic system to instantly process and discharge metabolic waste through the organs preventing the overloading of toxins. It is essential to ask for a drink of water during your massage if you feel thirsty, as this will usually prevent a headache from occurring later.

If you haven’t had a massage in a long time and you have previously experienced post-massage nausea, headaches or sickness it’s best to inform your therapist as often the application of lighter pressure can reduce the amount of waste discharged. You can then normally increase the pressure in subsequent massage sessions.