One More Reason Massage is so Powerful

Science just confirmed something that touches me on the deepest level: gentle stimulation of the skin and lymphatic pathways can literally help the brain cleanse itself. Researchers have shown that when the lymphatic vessels in the face and neck are stimulated, the brain’s ability to clear toxins and waste doubles. These are the very same proteins connected to Alzheimer’s and dementia. This isn’t just “interesting research” to me. It’s personal. Toward the end of his life, my dad developed advanced dementia. Watching the decline of this strong, hardworking man—the man who raised me—was one of the most painful and powerless experiences of my life. My mom, his great love and lifelong partner, suddenly became his “enemy” in his confused mind. At ninety years old, he refused to live with her and instead drifted between mine and my brother’s homes. If we left him alone for even a moment, he might wander out into the streets, desperately trying to find his childhood home. It all happened so quickly. His mind unraveled just as I was bringing new life into the world. My son Max had just been born, and I was drowning in the overwhelm of new motherhood—sleep deprived, confused, trying to figure out how to care for this tiny baby. And at the very same time, I was watching my father slip away. What I wish, more than anything, is that I could go back and lay my hands gently on him. Not to cure him, but simply to offer comfort in the chaos of his mind. To hold his gnarled, calloused hands—the hands of a rancher, a provider—and remind him through touch that he was safe, that he was loved. I often meditate on this. As if he were here now, sitting in front of me, and I could offer him the gift of gentle, loving presence. My heart still aches with that longing. I miss you, Dad. And so when I read studies like this, I see more than science. I see a thread of hope. I see how something as simple and human as touch might one day play a role in protecting our brains, in slowing decline, in easing suffering. Massage is not “just” relaxation or relief from sore muscles. It is connection. It is support for the body’s own systems of healing and renewal. The lymphatic system, which depends on movement and touch, is one of the body’s quietest yet most vital pathways. When we receive massage—especially around the neck, shoulders, and face—we are not only softening tension, but perhaps also nurturing brain health, memory, and resilience. This is why I do what I do. This is why I believe so deeply in the power of touch. Because at its core, it is about love, comfort, and dignity. And I love seeing science finally catch up with what the body—and the heart—have always known