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Are Massages Good for the Liver?
Find out the benefits and best types of of massages for liver health, as well as massage safety precautions for people with liver disease.
Massages are a great way to reduce stress and ease tense muscles. However, if you’re one of the more than 100 million Americans living with liver disease, (1) you may be wondering if this form of therapy offers any benefits for your condition. While there is limited research on the topic, some studies suggest that massages can have positive effects on liver health.
Benefits of Massages for Liver Health
One study involved animals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—a condition that has since been renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Animals receiving both a probiotic and abdominal massage had improved liver cell structure and repair. (2) This suggests potential benefits of massage for fatty liver.
People with advanced liver disease also sometimes experience pain, and massage is helpful for pain relief. It can reduce pain by releasing stress and anxiety, as well as by stopping pain messages from getting to the brain. (3) Massage has also been found to reduce pain in patients with various types of cancer, (4) making it a potential approach for those with cancer in the liver.
Liver transplant may be required if this organ can no longer function due to end-stage chronic liver disease, a life-threatening issue. In one study, a hand massage was enough to give patients pain (and anxiety) relief after liver transplantation. (5)
Another way that massage may help promote liver health is by enhancing detoxification. Massage has been used for centuries to help support the detoxification process by assisting with waste and toxin removal. (6) It does this, in part, by reducing stress, which improves lymph flow and supports the release of toxins. (7) Since the liver plays a critical role in detoxification, massage could help indirectly detoxify this organ.
What’s the Best Type of Massage for the Liver?
In some of the studies mentioned above, abdominal massage offered benefits related to liver cell structure and repair, while hand massage relieved pain and anxiety in liver transplant patients. It appears that foot massage may be helpful after transplantation as well.
Foot reflexology involves the massage of pressure points in the feet. A study involving patients who received a liver transplant found that those who engaged in foot reflexology treatments had less pain than those who didn’t. They also had greater levels of comfort. (8)
Massage Safety Precautions for People with Liver Disease
Massage is not necessarily safe for everyone. That’s why it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider before engaging in massage therapy, regardless of whether you have liver disease. Additionally, massage is not recommended for individuals with liver failure because it increases fluid return to the blood, placing more stress on this organ. (9)
Massage offers many potential benefits, some of which include those related to liver health. At the same time, it’s also critical to engage in a healthy lifestyle, such as eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Supplements that support healthy liver function can be helpful as well, giving you several ways to keep this organ functioning as effectively and efficiently as you can.
(1) American Liver Foundation. (2023, September 11). How Many People Have Liver Disease? Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://liverfoundation.org/about-your-liver/facts-about-liver-disease/how-many-people-have-liver-disease/
(2) Zhang, W., Li, H., et al. (2021, September 13). Lactobacillus Johnsonii BS15 Combined with Abdominal Massage on Intestinal Permeability in Rates with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver and Cell Biofilm Repair. Bioengineered. doi:10.1080/21655979.2021.1954134
(3) Harvard Health Publishing. (2016, July 01). Therapeutic Massage for Pain Relief. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/therapeutic-massage-for-pain-relief
(4) Zhang, Y., Wang, S., et al. (2023, July 07). Massage Therapy Can Effectively Relieve Cancer Pain: A Meta-Analysis. Medicine. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000033939
(5) Demir, B., Saritas, S. (2020, May). Effect of Hand Massage on Pain and Anxiety in Patients After Liver Transplantation: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101152
(6) Uddin, S., Nuri, Z.N. (2021, April 30). Preventive and Curative Method of Treatment: Regimental Therapy: A Review. International Journal of Unani and Integrative Medicine. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Md-Uddin-91/publication/351603975_Preventive_and_curative_method_of_treatment_regimental_therapy_A_review/links/609fdcce299bf147699ecb4d/Preventive-and-curative-method-of-treatment-regimental-therapy-A-review.pdf
(7) Jaheda, Sk., Lavanya, P., Nagaraja, J. (2018, April). Ways to Enhance Lymphatic Dynamics and Their Benefits. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://iosrphr.org/papers/vol8-issue4/Version-2/F0804023034.pdf
(8) Kapıkıran, G., Özkan, M. (2021, August). The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Pain, Comfort and Beta Endorphin Levels in Patients with Liver Transplantation: A Randomized Control Trial. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2021.101344
(9) Institute for Integrative Healthcare. (2019, May 21). 13 Instances When Massage Should be Avoided. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://www.integrativehealthcare.org/mt/13-instances-when-massage-should-be-avoided/
About the Author
Christina M. DeBusk, BS is an accomplished health writer and editor with a passion for natural wellness, disease prevention, and holistic treatment options. With certifications as a Nutrition Specialist, Personal Trainer, and Transformation Specialist, Christina brings a wealth of expertise to her writing. Her articles have been featured in numerous health-related publications both online and in print including Woman’s Day, Massage Magazine, Country Living, Chiropractic Economics, and Very Well Mind, empowering readers to lead healthier lives through informed choices and natural solutions.
