What is a Manual Lymphatic Drainage?
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a type of gentle massage which is intended to encourage the natural drainage of the lymph, which carries waste products away from the tissues, The lymphatic system is not a closed circuit, has no central pump and flows in one direction it is therefore slow and sporadic. Due to the presence of valves, the lymph does not flow backwards along the vessels. Fluid can leak back into the interstitial space and can create edema if there excessive hydrostatic pressure within the lymph vessels.
The lymphatic system is like "Cinderella" it cleanse the body of bacteria, cellular debris, excess of water proteins and waste from the connective tissue and returns it to the blood at the subclavian veins to be later eliminated bi the kidneys.
How Does it work?
Are you curious about how Manual Lymph Drainage works? This specialized massage technique applies gentle pressure, less than 9 ounces per square inch, while the client lies in an anatomical position. The therapist uses rhythmic circular movements and pumping techniques with both hands to stimulate the flow of lymph, directing the light movements toward the lymph nodes. The beauty of lymphatic drainage for detoxification lies in its simplicity and its ability to contribute to overall well-being. This type of massage can be targeted to specific points or used for a full body massage, with different lengths of time depending on the area or areas being worked on. For example, a single area such as a limb, abdomen, head, or Half body may require a 60-minute session, while a full body massage may last 90 minutes.
The body has two main Lymphatic watersheds: the vertical watershed, which separates the right and left sides of the body, and the horizontal watershed, which separates the upper and lower body at the waist area. The legs, gluteal and abdomen drain to the inguinal nodes, while the upper back, chest, and arms drain to the axillary nodes. The scalp and face drain to the clavicular nodes. Trust in the power of Manual Lymph Drainage to improve your well-being and help you feel your best
The Lymphatic Drainage can also be applied to numerous injuries and conditions, including:
Inflammation of the joints, like hip, shoulder, knee, elbow, ankle, wrist, foot/hand, or toes/fingers caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis, Edemas, Bruises, Hematomas (once the bleeding has stopped), Sprains, muscle spasms, muscle cramps or pain, ligament lesions, post- fracture or post- sprain symptoms, Scars/Fibrosis and pre and post-surgical rehabilitation, Osteoarthritis, contusions.
The key is to manage accumulated fluid while keeping it moving without increasing any inflammatory response or disrupting the healing process.
Benefits
Lymphatic drainage will remove chemicals associated with the central nervous system's pain response from the cell, producing an analgesic effect. Being a light and repetitive massage, it has a calming effect on the autonomic nervous system, accelerating the functioning of the lymphatic system and bringing benefits such as:
increased blood circulation
increased lymph circulation and reduced edema
prepares and cleans the body pre-surgery
promote tissue regeneration, and the healing will be faster
Reduce inflammation
Reduce muscle spasm
Reduce pain
Stimulates parasympathetic system
Help patients with Edema by decreasing weight
increase white
Migraine and chronic headaches, constipation, tinnitus, Ménière's, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, sinus congestion and chronic colds, tendonitis, repetitive strain injury, whiplash, swollen, heavy and edematose feet, and other trauma to name a few.
For pregnancy, the drainage can be started beginning with the third pregnancy month. The hormonal changes during pregnancy determine liquid retention and a decrease in the tonus of the vein and lymph vessels.
PMS syndrome is also effective against the swelling experienced by many women a few days before menstruation. In this case, the massage is made immediately after the end of the cycle for a week.
Contraindications
Low Blood Pressure, Viral or bacterial Infection, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained edema, Edema present in the acute phase of an injury (first 24 hours), Congestive Heart Failure or Kidney failure, or undergoing kidney dialysis, Cancer unless the massage is specially ordered by the client's physician.
Extreme care must be taken not to disturb the tissue healing process; direct work over an area of surgery needs to be delayed until incision sites are healed (5 to 7 days, maybe longer) or around injury areas after 72 hours.