Through the course of our day, many of our emotions or psychological responses are repressed and stored in the body, due to a number of factors including ones personality tendencies and social or familial conditioning. The natural healing process includes the release of that which has been stored (in the body or psyche) that blocks the flows of life force, or contributes to disease or disharmony on the physical, emotional, psychological levels. Detoxification is followed by toning and rejuvenation. Therefore, it may be expected that when the natural healing process is facilitated, the client may experience the release of stored “toxins”.
Some examples of experiences that your clients may have following massage include:
Physical: As massage moves metabolic waste into the blood and lymph for cleansing, cold or flu symptoms, headaches or sinus congestion may be temporarily experienced. Flushing the system with a great deal of water (preferably distilled with lemon as properties aid in flushing toxins), should alleviate the symptoms promptly. Blemishes, acne, rashes that emerge following a massage, are also indicative of toxins beneath the surface and are the body’s way of eliminating them. Again, measures should be taken to aid the body in cleansing, rather than using substances, which suppress that which the body is rejecting.
On the emotional and psychological levels, when the muscles are reflex and parasympathetic nervous system functioning takes over, some of the stored “toxins” on those levels are also released. Clients very often report remembering vivid dreams the night or nights following a massage, or even during the massage. A client may also experience weepiness, anger, fear, grief, or any emotions, which have been locked in the musculature rather than being experienced and released. This emotional release may occur during or following the massage. The emergence and release of stored emotional and psychological toxins is an important part of the natural healing process and should be honored with the detached awareness of letting go.
Psychoneuroimmunology, a term coined in 1982, is an allopathic study which has grown out of the acknowledgement of the ancient wisdom that body, mind and emotions are inseparably linked with regard to disease, health and well being.
While the term “crisis” often carries a negative connotation, it serves as a motivational force and generally precedes significant growth patterns on the level or levels on which it is occurring. With this in mind, it may be noted that any temporary discomfort associated with symptoms emerging due to natural therapies, will eventuate in greater health and well-being.