A massage is a therapeutic practice known to relax, relieve stress, and promote overall well-being. It improves circulation by increasing blood flow and stimulating the lymphatic system, helping remove toxins. Considering this, many people wonder whether they can get double the benefit from a massage if they use alcohol, marijuana, or pain medication before their appointment. While a post-massage glass of wine or a pre-massage cocktail might seem like a good way to enhance relaxation, drinking alcohol before or after a massage can have negative effects on your body.
How Massage Impacts the Body
Massage therapy is known to boost circulation and encourage healthier fluid exchange throughout the body. The lymphatic system becomes more active and efficient, working to cleanse the body of harmful substances. Massage also releases toxins from muscles, leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
How Alcohol Impacts the Body
Alcohol is a diuretic that dehydrates the body. It causes dilation of blood vessels, which can lead to a temporary loss of feeling and control. Alcohol weakens the immune system; the Center for Disease Control and Prevention claims that at least 75 percent of all infectious diseases are linked to excessive alcohol intake.
Why Massage and Alcohol Don't Mix
Licensed massage therapists typically refuse to work with a customer who is visibly intoxicated. There are a few outside actions or items that might limit the benefits you can receive from massage therapy, and one good example here is alcohol in high quantities. Massage therapists generally don't approve of combining significant amounts of alcohol with massage, and there are several reasons for this. Here are some of the potential risks of mixing massage therapy with significant alcohol consumption:
Numbed Senses
Many massage therapists are trained to help clients with specific ailments or injuries recover, and they might provide deep tissue massages that involve applying some pressure. However, the deep relaxation of massage, combined with the numbing effect of alcohol, means that you may not be in touch with your body during your massage. This makes it difficult for both you and your massage therapist to judge the best level of pressure for your massage. If you're not fully aware of your surroundings due to the effects of alcohol, it's possible that a massage therapist won't be able to determine how much pressure is appropriate for your current needs. If you have alcohol in your system before your massage, you may not fully register the pressure being applied, leading to potential overexertion of your muscles or even injury.
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Amplified Drunkenness
Alcohol travels through your bloodstream. Massage increases circulation and flushes toxins from muscles, which means that alcohol both hits your bloodstream more quickly and remains there longer. Some massage therapists have seen tipsy customers become more drunk during a massage because of this amplification effect. Since massage releases toxins from the muscles into the bloodstream, the effects of alcohol become heightened after a massage, and not in a pleasant way. Because massage supports increased blood flow, drinking alcohol before a massage is not recommended. With the increased effect of alcohol on the body caused by massage, a single drink may make driving unsafe.
Intensified Hangovers
Both massage and alcohol can have a dehydrating effect. This doesn’t just make you thirstier - it can intensify hangover symptoms. You might find that you have a particularly bad one after a massage if you're drunk during it. Both massage and alcohol may work to dehydrate the body, which is the primary cause of hangover symptoms. Alcohol, a diuretic, is well-known for its dehydrating effects, as anyone who’s ever had a hangover headache will tell you.
Canceled-Out Positive Effects
Massage therapy can have a number of positive effects on the body, from encouraging better circulation to releasing toxins from your muscles. Alcohol, on the other hand, interferes with these processes by dehydrating the body and placing stress on the liver, which is responsible for metabolising toxins. Alcohol can counteract some of the key benefits you would otherwise experience from visiting a remedial massage therapist, including increased blood circulation and reduced muscle tension.
Impact on Healing and Recovery
If you are receiving a massage to help with muscle recovery, soreness, or injury, alcohol can slow down the healing process. Alcohol is known to cause inflammation in the body, while massage aims to reduce inflammation and promote muscle repair.
Masking Pain
Alcohol can dull pain perception, which might seem like a good thing, but it can actually be dangerous during a massage. If using marijuana or narcotic pain medication, clients may not be able to feel if their therapist is using too much pressure or if the massage is causing pain to an injured area. Using these substances also hampers communication with your massage therapist and may lead to more pain when the effects of the drugs wear off. These medications, plus some OTC pain relievers, can also increase the chance of bruising from deep tissue massage.
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Disrupted Sleep Patterns
While many people associate alcohol with relaxation, it actually disrupts sleep patterns and prevents deep, restorative rest.
Safety Concerns
Being under the influence of alcohol can impair your judgement, coordination and balance, making it hazardous to get onto and off from the massage table. Alcohol affects the central nervous system, slowing down communication between your brain and your body. This can numb the pain and discomfort signals, resulting in the potential for a deeper or harsher massage than your body can actually tolerate, leading to post-massage soreness or injury.
Alcohol After Massage: Is It a Good Idea?
Just as you shouldn't have alcohol before a massage, you might wonder, "can you drink after a massage?" While a post-massage drink might seem tempting, it's advisable to refrain for similar reasons. Drinking alcohol after a massage can result in rapid rehydration. After a massage, your body is in a state of relaxation and detoxification, and introducing alcohol can counteract these effects, potentially causing a harsher hangover or adverse reactions.
Alternatives for Relaxation
If you're considering combining alcohol and massage in the name of relaxation, there are safer and more effective alternatives. A warm bath, calming music, or gentle yoga can all enhance your relaxation before a massage. At Resonance, they are proud to offer CBD oils as a safe way to enhance your massage. Some of the pain relief and relaxation benefits that clients may be seeking through marijuana can be found with massage and CBD oil together.
Remedial Massage and What to Avoid After
Remedial massage is a therapeutic, hands-on treatment targeting damaged, knotted, tense, or immobile muscles, aiming to facilitate the body’s natural healing process. To maximise the benefits offered by your remedial massage therapist, there are a few things you should do - and NOT do - after your appointment is complete.
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What is a Remedial Massage and the Benefits Offered by Your Therapist?
Remedial massage is a therapeutic, hands-on treatment targeting damaged, knotted, tense, or immobile muscles, aiming to facilitate the body’s natural healing process. Techniques may vary in intensity, from deep to gentle, depending on the injury or desired outcome. A remedial massage therapist will possess advanced knowledge of anatomy and physiology, allowing them to effectively prevent and manage injuries, especially those involving soft tissues. These therapists are skilled in assessing, observing, and crafting individualised treatment plans for clients, often working alongside other health professionals to provide comprehensive care.
Remedial Massage Benefits:
- Increases Joint Motion Range: Improves joint mobility by targeting surrounding muscles.
- Relieves Neck and Shoulder Tension: Particularly beneficial for individuals with poor posture, office workers, or frequent computer users.
- Releases Tight and Overworked Muscles: Reduces muscle spasms and assists in tissue regeneration.
- Manages Pain: Alleviates pain associated with both acute injuries and chronic conditions.
- Treats Various Health Disorders: Effective for sporting injuries, arthritis, muscle cramps, whiplash, frozen shoulder, insomnia, anxiety, chronic pain, and disabilities like multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and muscular atrophy.
- Encourages Blood Flow: Stimulates circulation, aiding in the healing process and tissue repair.
- Relieves Tight Muscles: Techniques used to elongate abnormally tight muscles and break down adhesions or scar tissues formed post-injury.
- Reduces Stress: Decreases cortisol levels while increasing serotonin and dopamine levels, promoting relaxation and pain relief.
What to Avoid After a Remedial Massage to Obtain the Most Benefits
1. Avoid Alcohol: Consuming alcohol after a massage may cause your body to rapidly dehydrate, making you feel lightheaded, disorientated and even giving you a serious headache.
2. Limit Large Meals: If you suddenly consume large amounts of food, you can inadvertently place your digestive system under a lot of strain, making you feel tired and fatigued. Try to limit yourself to light meals or snacks to get the full benefits of your appointment.
3. Delay Showering: Showering after a massage can compromise how your body adjusts to your session with a massage therapist. High water temperatures can cause your muscles to tense, which directly contradicts the purpose of a remedial massage.
4. Avoid Coffee: While it may be tempting to seek that burst of energy coming from a caffeinated drink following a remedial massage, you may end up experiencing the reverse effect, with a nasty headache to boot.