Lymphatic massage or lymph drainage massage is a technique used to help increase lymph flow.
Increased lymph flow removals harmful substances from the tissues and increases immune function.
Lymphatic massage can be useful in cases of edema, sports injury or for people experiencing a sluggish immune system or those suffering from a lack of energy.
What is the Lymphatic System?
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in your body's ability heal from injury and ward off disease.
It is essential to the body's drainage system for cleaning and filtering out toxins and bacteria.
Problems With The Lymphatic System
Aches, pains, soreness and flu like symptoms could all be caused by congested lymph pathways.
The Benefits of Lymphatic Massage
Lymphatic massage can help to unblock the lymph system by manually cleansing the lymph system in a clockwise fashion.
Performing lymphatic massage correctly can stimulate the opening of the initial lymphatic and increase the volume of lymph flow by as much as 20 times.
Because lymph cleanses almost every cell in your body the negative effects of chronic lymph blockages include but are not limited to:
o Frequent cold and flu infections
o Joint pain
o Headache and migraine
o Menstrual cramps
o Arthritis
o Loss of appetite
o Fatigue
o Mood irregularities
o Depression
o Acne
o Cellulite
What is Lymphatic Massage?
The use of massage as a healing therapy dates back centuries.
Lymphatic massage was developed in the 1930s and is a delicate form of massage that stimulates the body's lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system has no central pump and depends on muscle contracting through deep breathing, exercise and manual manipulation to move fluid.
Lymphatic massage utilizes a very light pressure combined with soft pumping movements in the direction of the lymph nodes. Immune system function can be significantly increased, improving metabolism and helping the body to eliminate waste and toxins.
A strong immune system makes you feel balanced, happy and whole.
As with most massage, it is vital to drink lots of water after a lymphatic massage to flush away toxins that have been released.
Lymphatic Massage – What can it be used for?
Lymphatic massage has been used for years to enhance the quality of the skin.
o Lymphatic massage aids the increase of lymph flow. When the lymph is flowing as it should, cells are washed in fresh fluid making the skin look fresh and alive.
Lymphatic massage is also useful for people with sports injuries.
o When applied after neuromuscular massage, lymphatic massage helps to clear the tissue of debris and reduce the minor edema that can occur after deep tissue massage.
o Repeated lymphatic massage while healing from a sports injury can help to strengthen the tissue regeneration process by keeping the tissue as healthy as possible.
It is thought that lymphatic massage can also help the scarring process by enhancing circulation and immunity.
o Increased lymph flow around the scar stimulates damaged lymph vessels to heal.
o Increased lymph flow draws away toxins improving the health of the tissues.
Another common use of lymph drainage massage is in breast cancer cases.
o Women who have had axillary lymph nodes removed sometimes develop edema in their arm. As long as there is only minor swapping, then a massage therapist with a good knowledge of contraindication and some specific techniques can do a great amount of good.
Lymphatic Massage – Is it Safe?
For the most part lymphatic massage is safe. However as with all massage therapies there are some contra indications. For lymphatic massage specifically, these include acute inflammation, malignant tumors, thrombosis and major heart problems.
To get the best results from a lymphatic massage, seek out a suitably trained and qualified therapist.