Lymphatic Massage

A Gentle Way to Support Health and Healing

If you knew that there was a procedure that could

• help you heal from injury, illness and surgery;
• promote immune system health;
• reduce inflammation;
• enhance the health of your entire body;
• and promote healthy, radiant skin

-- would you do it?

I'm guessing you would -- especially if you knew that the procedure was gentle, non-invasive, non-toxic, relaxing and downright enjoyable.

That procedure is lymphatic massage (also called lymphatic facilitation or manual lymphatic drainage). It increases lymphatic flow 8-10 times. This removes harmful substances from your tissues, nourishes tissues, reduces inflammation, and generally increases immune function.

Lymphatic massage was developed as a manual therapy in Europe, where it has been well researched and used in hospitals and clinics for decades.

I use it frequently to help clients with a variety of issues. Many of my regular clients request it.

It can help people recover more quickly from

• sprains, strains, and sore muscles
• acute injuries
• congestion due to allergies
• surgery (post-surgery requires the doctor's permission)
• wounds (as long as there is no infection)
• congested sinuses
• acne
• headaches
• swollen ankles, puffy eyes, etc.
• allergies/allergic reactions
• toxic side effects of drugs administered for surgery or other medical purposes
• scarring.

Lymphatic massage also helps people manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions and arthritis.

Skin Health

Lymphatic massage to the face is a lovely, gentle, caring treatment that enhances skin health, thereby improving skin appearance. Done regularly, it can keep skin looking younger and healthier. Facial lymphatic work can also help improve acne.

Lymphatic Massage for Pre- and Post-Surgical Support

More and more doctors -- especially plastic surgeons -- are becoming aware of the value of manual lymphatic drainage before and after surgery to help clients heal. Plastic surgeons routinely recommend it for their cosmetic surgery patients. Post-surgical treatment needs a doctor's permission.

A Light, Relaxing Touch

People are usually surprised about how light lymphatic massage is. It doesn't feel anything like a "normal" massage.

That's because this form of bodywork works with the lymphatic system, rather than the muscles, and over half of the lymph nodes and vessels are just underneath the skin. A deep or heavy touch would close off, rather than encourage, lymphatic flow.

The feather-light strokes and soft pumping action stimulate lymphatic flow, with powerful results both for general immune system health and specific conditions including inflammation, traumatic injuries such as strains and sprains, headaches, sinus issues, healing from surgery, osteoarthritis, skin conditions, and swelling from unresolved injuries such as ankle sprains.

Lymphatic massage is also profoundly relaxing. This too helps the immune system to function well.

How It Works: The Lymph System

The lymph system is a critical part of our immune system. It includes a network of thin vessels, nodes, tissues, ducts, and organs (e.g. spleen, thymus, bone marrow) throughout your entire body.

The lymphatic system has three major functions.

First, the lymphatic vessels carry lymphatic fluid from tissues throughout your body to your circulatory system, removing excess fluids from body tissues.

Second, the lymphatic system defends against disease and harmful microorganisms. Lymph nodes filter the tissue fluid, removing foreign particles and microbes, before the fluid is returned to the blood and the rest of the body. Lymphatic tissues and organs produce, store, and transport white blood cells, which fight invading organisms (such as bacteria and viruses).

The lymphatic system thus plays a crucial role in the body's ability to heal from injury, ward off disease, and purify itself.

The lymphatic system also absorbs fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the digestive system and transports them to the circulatory system.

The lymphatic system has no pumping mechanism (such as the heart is for arterial blood flow) and depends on muscle contraction through deep, abdominal breathing and exercise to move its fluid.

A sluggish lymphatic system can contribute to many health issues, including frequent and/or more severe illnesses, joint pain, headache and migraine, arthritis, fatigue, mood irregularities, acne, slow healing of wounds, and swelling in extremities.

When the lymphatic drainage becomes impaired for some reason, lymphatic massage, with its ultra-light touch and pumping motion performed in the correct sequence and direction, can greatly increase lymphatic flow and help the body remove toxins; bring white blood cells and nutrients to cells; and decrease inflammation.

Contra-indications

As with all massage therapies there are some contraindications, including bacterial infection anywhere in the body, malignant tumors, thrombosis and major heart problems. I will screen for this before giving you a lymphatic treatment.

After a Lymphatic Treatment

After a lymphatic treatment, some secondary effects that you might feel are:

• you may need to urinate more frequently
• you may feel more light and energetic
• if you were on the verge of catching a cold, the treatment may nip it in the bud, or it may intensify but shorten the course of the illness.

After a lymphatic facilitation massage, you should make sure that you drink plenty of water -- 8 glasses or so -- for the following 24 hours. This is especially important in the first few hours following the treatment -- so have a glass before you leave my office.

You will get the maximum benefit from your treatment if you can remove binding clothing or jewelry during and following the treatment (for six to twelve hours). For example, many socks and bras and most underwear place at least some pressure on the skin, and this can hinder the flow of the lymphatic fluid through the lymphatic vessels, many of which are very superficial.

When you get home, I recommend that you replace binding clothing with non-binding alternatives. For men, this might include boxers rather than briefs. For women, a soft bra and microfiber or "boy-leg" panties can be good alternatives. If you have had treatment for your feet or ankles, try to switch to loose socks or slippers.

Following these instructions will maximize your comfort and the effectiveness of the treatment.

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