Manual Lymphatic Drainage

BEFORE READING, Please note, I do not currently offer this service.

Incredibly relaxing and at the same time effective, I’ve recently been trained in Manual Lymphatic Drainage, based on Dr. Vodder’s approach. This methodical, meditative massage works to support a lymph system that may be not be functioning at it’s best. And also to support one that is.

Many things, including traditional Swedish massage, help support the body’s lymph system. Since it’s not a closed system and does not have it’s own pump, its flow is generated with physical movement and deep breathing. While that may seem simple enough, often this is a challenge for people who are ill, injured or who have had any kind of flow impairment. Furthermore, if the system does get backed up, it’s hard for the body to catch up without some outside help, since its progression is quite slow and accumulation of fluids might cause lymph valves to reverse. So, it’s no wonder someone came up with a way to manually help things along, especially given the superficial placement (i.e. not far beneath the surface of the skin) of many of the nodes. This explains why the pressure of this technique is quite light; a deeper touch might bypass effective “contact” of this particular aspect of the body.

The massage is gentle and often recommended for people who are working to generally detoxify the body, on cleanses and more specifically, for local edema. For instance, if someone has an accumulation of fluid around his or her knee post surgery, the therapist could perform treatments with the limb raised, first simply getting gravity on board for better drainage. Then, one would slowly and thoroughly clear space for the excess fluid further ahead on the “lymphatic path” toward the heart. After the path is more spacious, the affected area is worked on to help move the excess fluid into the natural flow. Shorter, more frequent sessions might be advised to see better results. And as with any ailment or injury, the client’s diligence between treatments greatly affects the outcome.