Most massage therapists will not work on you if you are sick – for a couple of reasons. The most important one is that what you have may be contagious. Going out to get a massage can mean you are spreading the germs not only to the massage therapist but to other clients as well. If your massage therapist gets sick, then he or she will be unable to work for a few days. Most massage therapists do not get sick pay.

Another reason is that if you are getting sick or already sick, there is a chance that getting a massage will actually make the symptoms worse. Massage therapy affects both your circulatory system and your lymph system, which in turn can affect how your body eliminates toxins. Your body is already working hard to heal itself from illness; getting a massage – even though relaxing – actually taxes your body even more.