You lie down, the lights dim, calming music plays and the massage begins. As skilled hands knead into tired muscles, something unexpected rises – not emotion, not enlightenment… but a burp. Why?
Ah, the human body – equal parts science experiment and mystery novel. When you’re on the massage table, your nervous system shifts gears. You go from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest, like flipping a biological light switch.
This shift:
- Relaxes your diaphragm – the muscle just under your lungs.
- Stimulates your vagus nerve – a long, wandering nerve that connects your brain to your gut and tells your stomach it’s safe to move things along.
- Loosens up the digestive tract, like letting out a sigh after a long day.
And what’s one of the first things your gut does when it gets the green light?
Yup, it lets gas out. Despite cultural myths, such as in Indonesia where a masseuse’s burps are viewed as a transfer of illness, experts clarify that these noises indicate relaxation, rather than a mystical exchange. Ultimately, these bodily sounds reflect the body’s natural processes during a massage, allowing clients to appreciate the therapeutic benefits without embarrassment.
Where relaxation meets digestion
The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), or “rest and digest” mode, is crucial for digestion. Abdominal massage activates this system, reducing stress hormones like cortisol and promoting relaxation, which enhances digestive efficiency.
Stress negatively impacts digestion, causing issues like bloating and constipation. Massage therapy helps alleviate these symptoms, creating a better environment for digestion. It does so by firstly, improving blood flow.
Enhanced circulation delivers nutrients to digestive organs and aids waste removal, significantly improving gut function. Research indicates that abdominal massage can stimulate blood flow, alleviating symptoms like bloating.
A 2015 study found it particularly beneficial for cancer patients, suggesting broader applications for digestive relief. Meanwhile, peristalsis involves wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract, which is crucial for digestion.
Massage therapy can stimulate this process, particularly for those with constipation or irregular bowel movements. Gentle abdominal pressure encourages intestinal movement, akin to a motivational coach.
A 2018 study found that abdominal massage significantly improved digestive symptoms, including constipation and reduced abdominal circumference. Finally, the gut-brain axis links emotions and digestion.
Massage therapy alleviates emotional tension, promoting relaxation and communication between the gut and brain. A 2015 study indicated that regular abdominal massages reduced depression and anxiety, highlighting the holistic benefits of massage for digestive health.
Letting it out
During massage, your body may produce sounds like gurgles and burps due to the activation of the PNS. These noises, such as abdominal gurgles (borborygmi), signify increased intestinal activity as digestion reactivates.
When digestion resumes, it stimulates peristalsis, which moves food and gas through the intestines. This can cause rumbling noises and gas release if stress has caused tension in the gut. Therefore, burping and farting during a massage are natural as gas moves through your digestive tract; the digestive system is essentially catching up on “unfinished business”.
Lying down, as during a massage, also shifts gravity, allowing trapped air to escape, especially when the PNS relaxes abdominal muscles. For instance, lying on your stomach can promote upward gas movement (burping) or downward (farting).
Additionally, muscles soften when you’re in a relaxed state, leading to potential snoring or drooling as the body may “forget” to keep the mouth closed. This indicates deep relaxation and PNS engagement. Activation of your PNS also results in the release of hormones like oxytocin, endorphins and serotonin. Oxytocin stimulates intestinal activity, while endorphins reduce pain and tension, contributing to the sensations experienced during a massage.
Myths about massage noises
A common myth in massage therapy is that a therapist’s burp signifies the transfer of illness or negative energy. However, there is no scientific evidence supporting this. Some therapists report feeling clients’ energy during massages, sometimes resulting in burping.
However, this is largely due to the physical exertion of the massage and the therapist’s own relaxation, leading to physiological changes like gas release. Massage oils and repetitive pressure can stimulate the therapist’s digestive system, causing burping, not illness transfer.
In fact, in some cultures that believe in “bad air” or “negative energy”, burping during a massage is actually often seen as a sign of effective treatment. For instance, in the Philippines, the term “napasukan ng hangin” suggests that trapped air can cause illness, and burping is viewed as its release.
Another therapy often linked to gas release is reflexology, which applies pressure to specific points on the body. While it may enhance relaxation and blood flow, there is no evidence that reflexology directly causes the expulsion of “bad air”.
Relaxation can loosen the lower oesophageal sphincter, allowing trapped gas to escape, providing a more grounded explanation than mystical claims. While massage can relieve symptoms like bloating, it does not remove air in any mystical way.
Despite the lack of evidence, the myth of illness transfer through burping persists due to psychological and cultural factors. People often look for signs of treatment efficacy, and a burp can serve as a confirmation.
This placebo effect can enhance massage effectiveness perceptions, even if the rationale is flawed. The communal sharing of these beliefs further solidifies their presence in the cultural narrative of massage therapy.
DIY techniques
Aside from going to a professional masseuse, you can also practice self-massage for some digestive support:
- Circular motions: Make small, clockwise circles around your belly button to stimulate digestion.
- Kneading: Gently knead your abdominal muscles to release tension.
- Pressure points: Apply gentle pressure below your ribs to relieve bloating.
Do note however, that massage, whether done by yourself or others, is not a substitute for professional care; do consult a healthcare professional if you have chronic digestive issues.
By Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar
Published in Star Newspaper, 30 Jun 2025
