Lymphatic Wellness

Why Do We Have a Lymphatic System?

While the lymphatic system historically has received far less attention than its “cousin” the circulatory system, the medical community is beginning to take note of its significance in people’s overall health and well-being. (See this article from the National Institute of Health for more information about the importance of the lymphatic system.)

The lymphatic system is comprised of a network of capillary-like vessels that web through just about every tissue of the body, plus organs and tissues including the spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. The system is complex, so I’ll focus on the parts relevant to lymph drainage therapy.

This system is what collects excess fluid from all over the body, taking with it the cellular waste that results from normal cellular activity. Nearby contracting muscles keep the lymph fluid flowing, much like the heart does for the whole circulatory system. Usually the lymphatic system is managed by movement of everyday living, but when that isn’t enough for one reason or another (blockage, too few lymph vessels in an area, too much or too little pressure on the vessels, and many more possibilities), the tissue can start to swell.

Lymph movement is crucial in the process of wound healing. You may be familiar with the yellowish crust of dried fluid that appears around a cut as it heals, or the clear liquid that fills a blister on a burn. Both are the lymphatic system delivering fluid and nutrients that help supply cells with what they need to build healthy tissue.

The lymphatic system is also a large part of the immune system and produces cells that fight infection. The lymph nodes are well known for swelling up when your body is fighting an illness. That’s because infection-fighters (lymphocytes) filter through the lymph fluid at the lymph nodes and seek out and destroy foreign bodies in order to prevent sickness or help you recover from it.

When all these pieces are working efficiently and in perfect harmony, you probably won’t even stop to think about your lymphatic system. When it doesn’t work quite as it should, the results can be uncomfortable or even painful, and that’s where the therapy of Manual Lymph Drainage comes in.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Manual Lymph Drainage is a gentle therapy that works with the body’s natural healing system/lymphatic system in order to help reduce swelling, speed healing, and even help manage some chronic neurological conditions.

Through light, strategic strokes on the skin, this technique increases lymphatic speed throughout the body. Lymph normally moves at 10-12 “beats” per minute since there is no beating organ to move it (like the heart does for the circulatory system). However, after a session of MLD, lymph typically moves at 100-120 bpm for about 24-48 hours before returning to normal levels. This means that your lymphatic system can do what it does best at a faster rate, which gives your body lots of time to flush troubled areas with fresh lymph to speed healing, process retained fluid, and so much more.​

For MLD to be effective, use of the proper specialist technique and adaptation of the length of individual therapy sessions to meet the needs of the pathology concerned are essential.

In addition, using their in-depth knowledge of the lymphatic system, Vodder certified practitioners can also assist many conditions by working on proximal areas of the lymphatic system where the affected area is in trauma for example bruising, ulceration, dermatological conditions, sports injuries, as well as pre and post plastic surgery.

As a general note, whether or not you see me, or seek out another therapist, be aware that therapist certification is important for having the proper training to perform MLD effectively. Becoming a Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist (CMLDT) means completing coursework that includes learning the functions of the lymphatic system and common dysfunctions, physical features of the lymphatic system and locations of lymph nodes and major pathways, hands-on technique mastery, technique modification according to condition, and contraindications. You can view my certification.​

How Does Manual Lymphatic Drainage work?

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Since the lymphatic system needs pressure and/or movement in order to move lymph along, Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD for short) simply provides those two elements externally when your body cannot keep up on its own.

This type of massage targets the lymph nodes which carry waste and toxins from bodily tissues. It stimulates the flow of lymph which is fluid containing a mixture of proteins, waste, and infection-fighting white blood cells.​

With a knowledge of lymph node locations and the direction and placement of larger lymph vessels (anastomosis), a practitioner can create alternating low and high pressure in an area to create a pumping effect that moves the lymph along. This is done by lightly moving and releasing the skin along critical pathways, which in turn creates the suction necessary to clear out the smaller vessels connected to it. Simple physics (siphons and capillary action) combined with knowledge of human anatomy make this a safe, effective, non-invasive way to help the lymphatic system do what it does best.​

The Effects of Manual Lymphatic Drainage

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Forty years of scientific studies of MLD produces four major effects:

Decongestive effect

Any swelling of the body – with the exceptions of cardiac (heart) and renal (kidney) oedema – can be successfully treated with MLD. The lymphatic system is a kind of “one-way street”, which ultimately transports the lymphatic load (protein, fat, cellular and water load) in the right ventricle from the tissues back into the circulatory system. Just picture the lymph fluids as the waste removal system of the human body. Wherever “waste” (toxins, proteins, detritus from wounds) is produced, the lymphatic system must act in order to drain such waste. The special MLD massage technique induces a pumping effect in the tissue. The lymphatic pathways’ own rhythm is accelerated to up to 20 times its normal rate. This enhanced drainage effect results in rapid decongestion and restoration of normal tissue condition.

Sympatholytic Effect

Manual Lymph Drainage is very soothing. Frequently patients doze off within minutes. Achieving this level of relaxation is the goal. Steady and rhythmic hand strokes by a good therapist are the prerequisite for successful treatment. If you are feeling very stressed then try a series of 6 x 45 (or longer) minutes lymph drainage sessions. It is a wonderful preventive measure against burnout.

Analgesic effect

Pain relief through MLD is like trying to “scratch away” the pain and itching of mosquito bites. Scratching will stimulate large skin areas, thus reducing the feeling of pain, just as MLD stimulates the lymphatic system to alleviate pain aka Gate control theory. MLD results in pain mediators being drained into the lymphatic system more rapidly, so that they are no longer active in the tissue. Any prolonged pain, such as pain generated by migraine, acute injuries, Sudeck’s disease, fibromyalgia, etc. can be treated using lymph drainage.

Immunological effect

MLD helps accelerate the transportation of bacteria and allergens to the places where the body’s defense system is located (i.e. the lymph nodes) and where the increased rate of lymphatic drainage heightens the sensitization of lymphocytes and macrophages. The latter can travel more rapidly via the blood flow to reach the “scene of action” and intervention by phagocytosis, which in turn will improve overall immunity.

What Will a Lymphatic Session FEEL Like?

We will always begin with a brief consultation so I can get an understanding of what issue you are dealing with, and what area/s you would like me to focus on. Once you are lying on the table cuddled under sheets and a blanket, with your head slightly elevated, I will start work at your neck and you will feel the very light amount of pressure that I will be using for the duration of the session. If we decide to work on your back, you will lie face down or turn onto your side at some points during the session, but the pressure of the strokes will always be very gentle.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a light massage therapy technique in which the skin is moved in certain directions, based on the structure of the lymphatic system, to increase the movement of lymph and interstitial fluid from a compromised to uncompromised part of the body.

After the session is over, be aware that the movement of your lymph fluid will be increased over the next 24-48 hours. That is exactly the goal, but it often means that frequent trips to the bathroom may be necessary during that time as your kidneys and colon process the extra fluid so it can leave the body. This is totally normal!

Why Do People Get Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

Even though it’s thought of as “medical” massage that can benefit anyone recovering from surgery, injury, allergy problems, assist in maintaining fluid balance within the body and with blood circulation, more people are making this type of massage a part of their health and wellness routine.

Some other benefits of Manual Lymph Drainage Massage Therapy include:

Increased circulation/rate of waste removal for faster healing

Increased resistance to infection

  • Decreased fluid retention/swelling
  • Draining of sluggish lymph nodes
  • Directing the flow of lymph
  • Helps balance hormones and chemistry
  • Encouraged production of antibodies
  • Rhythmically relaxes and increases endorphins
  • (with doctor’s approval) can also benefit those
  • With chronic illness
  • Who stand or sit excessively
  • That have gastrointestinal issues
  • Suffering from congestive heart failure
  • Who have had a stroke
  • With chronic allergy issues
  • Dealing with lymphedema with POSTOPERATIVE SWELLING including lymphadenectomy and liposuction
  • Dealing with chronic pain syndromes
  • Those with acute injuries
  • Those with excessive weight and obesity
  • Those with a history of accident or trauma
  • Lymphedema/Fluid retention (I only treat Lymphedema in stages 0 and 1, stages 2 and 3 require a therapist with 135 hours of training for Lymphedema Certification)​

Whether the swelling is sudden, localized edema (swollen feet from pregnancy), or chronic fluid retention (like in lymphedema). lymph drainage helps maximize the movement of fluid so your body can “catch up”. In these cases, following lymphatic drainage massage, you may notice that you weigh less after a couple days because the weight of that liquid is gone. However, if this is a chronic condition, the results will not be permanent. After a few days, lymph flow will slow to the normal rate and fluid will start to pool again. The great advantage to using MLD is that with an appropriate treatment program, draining the lymph allows even weeping wounds from lymphedema to heal and the affected limb to shrink down to a normal size. That size can then be maintained with a compression garment, and return treatments can be conducted as needed as you notice fluid beginning to build up again. The critical difference here is that instead of a large, swollen, painful limb being compressed by the garment prescribed by your doctor, the compression wear will help you maintain a more mobile, lighter, healthier limb.

Common examples:

  • Swollen feet
  • Lymphedema
  • Large swollen bags under the eyes
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Menstrual bloating

Surgery/Injury

Swelling is a natural part of healing. However, swelling can go too far and cause incredible pain and discomfort. Helping lymph movement after an injury or surgery ensures that fresh fluid gets to the area and doesn’t stagnate. Increasing the speed of lymph movement also decreases swelling, which in turn decreases discomfort from the wound. This can help speed and improve the healing process. Properly drained tissue will lie flat and knit together more smoothly.

Common examples:

  • Broken bone recovery
  • Knee replacement
  • Hip replacement
  • Bunion surgery
  • Rotator cuff surgery

Is Lymphatic Drainage Massage Compatible with Other Treatments?​

MLD combines extremely well with other complementary and orthodox treatments. As with all complementary therapies, some conditions may require consent from your physician.

When should I NOT get Lymphatic Drainage?​

  • Absolute contraindications: (treatment of MLD strictly prohibited) anyone with any of these conditions should avoid lymph drainage in order to best maintain their overall health.
  • Acute cellulitis (bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue most often caused by streptococci or staphylococci. Symptoms and signs are pain, warmth, rapidly spreading erythema, and edema. Fever may occur, and regional lymph nodes may enlarge in more serious infections.) Active infections are also contraindicated. Be sure to be clear of infection before getting lymph drainage done.
  • Untreated or uncontrolled congestive heart failure
  • Acute untreated venous thrombosis (DVT)
  • Fever
  • Relative contraindications: (need doctor approval)
  • malignancy, active cancer,
  • renal dysfunction, (kidney disease) ​

If the client in question is in need of palliative care, sometimes conditions that would otherwise be contraindications may still be treated with manual lymph drainage in the interest of comfort. For such cases, I will require documentation that they are on palliative or hospice care and may need approval from their doctor before beginning. This can be done by calling the doctor and requesting approval for MLD treatment and bringing in said document to your first session.​

If you are unsure whether or not lymph drainage would be safe or beneficial for your condition(s), ask your doctor to determine if this treatment is suitable for you. If so, request a record of written approval so that we can begin treatment.

Sheryl Matters

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