Lymphatic Drainage

What is Lymphatic Drainage?

Lymphatic drainage is a delicate form of massage that stimulates the body’s lymphatic system with the intent of improving metabolism, helping the body to eliminate waste and toxins and providing a boost to the immune system. 

What are the Benefits?

Lymphatic drainage massage boosts the immune system so, as well as helping the body ward off illness, treatment can facilitate general feelings of health and vitality. It also has a positive physical effect, improving the appearance of the skin and reducing puffiness caused by water retention, surgical procedures, poor circulation or pregnancy. Because of it's effectiveness in reducing fluid retention some advertise lymphatic massage as a 'non-surgical facelift' and it is often used after plastic surgery to reduce swelling and recovery time. As with other massage, it can help with pain from fractures and sprains and rheumatism, and it promotes the body’s own healing mechanisms. Lymphatic drainage massage utilizes light pressure.

How Does it Work?

The lymphatic system is responsible for filtering and moving fluid and waste by-products out of the body and for regulating the immune system. When the lymphatic system becomes compromised, fluid builds up and stagnates, making us feel sluggish and more susceptible to viral or contagious diseases.

By stimulating this system through massage lymph fluid is returned to the circulatory system by way of the subclavian veins, which are located just under the collar bones, and it once again circulates throughout the body as plasma. This allows it to work more efficiently, which in turn boosts the immune system, clears blockages, eliminates wastes, transports nutrients to cells and increases the metabolism.

What Does it Involve?

Lymphatic drainage utilizes a very light pressure combined with soft pumping movements in the direction of the lymph nodes. The process can take anywhere from 30 minutes with the therapist concentrating on a localized area, to two hours when working on the whole body.

Definitions:

Lymph:  A clear fluid that travels through lymph vessels carrying immune system cells and tissue waste products.

Lymph nodes:  Small, pea-sized collections of tissue found near the breast under the arm, above the collarbone, in the chest, and in many other parts of the body. Lymph nodes filter lymph, and store immune cells such as lymphocytes.

Lymphatic system: Tissues and organs that produce and carry white blood cells that fight infection. The system includes a network of thin tubes that carry lymph and white blood cells. The tubes branch into all tissues of the body.

Lymphedema:  A condition in which fluid does not drain from the lymph nodes, causing swelling. Sometimes this happens in the arm after lymph nodes have been removed from the underarm. It can also happen after radiation therapy.

Lymphocyte:  A type of white blood cell. Lymphocytes are responsible for certain types of immunity; they also produce antibodies and other substances that fight infection and disease.