Drinking Alcohol After Receiving A Massage

[ModAdministrator]

Bodywork guy wrote: Can anyone else tell me what these "toxins" are that so many therapists speak of? .... instructors are using to strike fear into the hearts of aspiring therapists everywhere

First, let me say that I don't think instructors are trying to strike fear into therapists' hearts. I think they're simply trying to teach client self-care procedures following a massage. Maybe it's the word "toxin" that you object to, because it's easy to think of biohazardous waste & a big skull & crossbones when we hear that word. Maybe a better term would be "metabolic waste."

I think RoseofSharon described the role of massage in detoxification very well. (And really, most clients don't want a science lesson; they want information in terms they'll understand). But you asked for specific names. Here are some metabolic wastes filtered from our body through our circulatory/urinary systems: excess water, salts, nitrogen compounds, CO2, phosphates, sulphates, indoles, medicals, food additives, etc.

If massage increases circulation, it's natural that it also increases filtration. I think you, and many MT's would like to see research that measures the exact impact of massage therapy on circulation/filtration, before claiming a detoxification effect. That's a valid request, and you're right. I think that most evidence is anecdotal rather than research-based. However, I trust my own experience, and 90% of my clients need to use the bathroom after their massage, and many have asked me why the impulse is so strong & why the amount they urinate is so much more than normal. I give them an answer similar to RoseofSharon's, and I give them a bottle of water, to encourage the body's own natural cleansing process.

 

[Mr.Klaus]

Blisss,

That's why I put "like the drama" after the comment about instructors striking fear into students; because I was being melodramatic for effect. I guess that was lost on you. :?

Anyway, as far as toxins (and all sorts of other nonsense) are concerned, read this and you guys will understand how much we're taught that has no basis in fact, science or even rationality.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/massage.html

That's all I have to say on this subject. :yikes:

 

[Veronika [:]

oh, quackwatch - now there's an unbiased opinion...

 

[Bubbl3z]

Berkana, there's no such thing as an UNBIASED opinion - that's what an opinion is - BIASED. It's one persons judgment (professional or not) about a situation or thing - opinion.

Did you look at the website or did you just form an opinion based on the name? Does the name Quackwatch bother you because it is in reference to our profession in this thread? Do you think we are above being regulated, judged or singled out for quackery? If you were searching for a doctor to perfom open heart surgery on your child would his name or profession on Quackwatch seem as ridiculous to you then?

Before you judge Quackwatch, take a look at their scientific and technical advisory board, their legal board, and the fact that they have been in existence since 1969 - long before the WWW.

The only reason I pointed this out is because so much of the massage industry is riddled with all sorts of things which do not fall under our scope of practice - things which are unregulated by any true governing body. Things like accupressure, qigong, shiatsu, reflexology, reiki, healing touch, raindrop therapy and the list goes on and on. I don't want the government meddling in everything BUT I do want them to prevent people from swindling others. If you want to practice any of these "alternative" methods then that's fine but you shouldn't be allowed to charge for them unless they work.

To quote Quackwatch:

The real question is whether our society should try to prevent sellers from cheating buyers. Our laws do not condone the selling of worthless stock to people who can be persuaded that buying it will make them rich. Neither should they permit dishonest marketing of health-related products and services.

“It is only about things that do not interest one, that one can give a really unbiased opinion; and this is no doubt the reason why an unbiased opinion is always valueless.”

Oscar Wilde

 

[Shahnn]

Bodywork_Guy wrote: The only reason I pointed this out is because so much of the massage industry is riddled with all sorts of things which do not fall under our scope of practice - things which are unregulated by any true governing body. Things like accupressure, qigong, shiatsu, reflexology, reiki, healing touch, raindrop therapy and the list goes on and on. I don't want the government meddling in everything BUT I do want them to prevent people from swindling others. If you want to practice any of these "alternative" methods then that's fine but you shouldn't be allowed to charge for them unless they work.

On just how many threads are you going to lecture against the methods you personally don't like and don't practice? Honestly. This thread originally was about drinking alcohol after a massage. How did it become about this? I don't want to support the hijacking of this thread any further, so I'm going to respond to this topic on your previous thread about bodyworkers being taken seriously:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7969

Your first posts on this thread were appropriate challenges to the question of massage, toxins & drinking water. Some people aree with you & some don't. That's the point of the board - to show all points of view. I don't understand why you seem to be getting so upset. At any rate, please stick to the original topic.