How Is It Done
Lymphatic massage is typically done by an expert. Like when you get tooth fillings, professional help is essential to do the treatment correctly. So suppose you want to try it for aesthetic reasons. Then, it would be better to find an aesthetician qualified to do this type of treatment. For medical purposes, visit a trusted clinic like Sandstone Point Dental located near Ningi or look for a certified professional.
They will begin by applying very light pressure and gentle motions that range from tapping and stroking to rubbing and pushing. Then, they will flat their hands to gently stretch their skin toward the lymphatic flow to improve drainage.
A lymphatic facial massage works similarly. However, it may likewise include a soft brushing technique on the face.
Moreover, the bodily lymphatic massage generally lasts up to an hour, while the facial type is usually shorter. Deep breathing activities, which advance better lymphatic circulation, will typically be joined with both.
What Is A Lymphatic Drainage Massage
The lymphatic system sits alongside the bodys cardiovascular system, quietly helping to look after your health, explains Willcocks. The reason it is so important is because it performs three critical functions. It supports your immune system by removing toxins, dead blood cells, pathogens and other waste. It helps your body to absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins from your digestive system, delivering these nutrients to cells where theyre used as fuel. And it also removes excess fluid known as lymph and waste products from the spaces between the cells and organs of the body.
Willcock says that a healthy lymphatic system can become compromised due to illness, lack of physical activity, stress, poor diet or toxic overload. This can lead to a range of issues, including tissue swelling, poor skin tone, excess weight, cellulite, headaches, joint pain, fatigue and greater susceptibility to illness.
Lymphatic drainage massage can help to keep the body running smoothly by improving lymphatic flow, she says. The massage gently targets the delicate lymph vessels and nodes that sit just below the skin, which only require very light pressure in order to move fluid through. By contrast, treatments like aromatherapy, sports and Swedish massage use a firmer touch to work into a different area of the body and the muscles.
After Your Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Post-massage, make sure you keep your body hydrated with plenty of water, and try to reduce sugar and salt intake. These can impact the effects of your lymphatic drainage massage. Repeat the process two to three times per week, or whenever you start to feel slightly sluggish. Before long, you should start to see the invigorating results of your massage.
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What Does The Lymphatic System Do
The lymphatic system consists of lymph vessels, ducts, nodes, and other tissues and is located underneath the skin. Think of its function kind of like the garbage disposal of the body : It gets rid of waste in the body, whether its toxins, bacteria, or excess fluid. The lymph is a collection of the extra fluid that moves through the arteries and tissues to clean them out before draining them through the lymphatic system.
However, there is no pump to push the lymph through the body, and it relies on our muscle action to maintain fluid movement. Therefore, any kind of manual drainage is said to work by moving the lymph to the lymph nodes to eliminate the toxins and bacteria. While there is some controversy around the massage style, this system is crucial to the bodys health, and stimulating it through methodical massage could have many benefits.
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Please enroll early to ensure your place in class. Our class size limits are strictly enforced.
Orlando, FL – August 8-9, 2022 This class is scheduled to take place on a Monday and Tuesday from 8:30am-5:30pm. Seminar Location: Fairfield Inn & Suites, 8214 Universal Blvd., Orlando, FL 32819, #407-581-9001.*Limited space available. Online registration has been closed. Please call #954-596-1170 to enroll.
Seattle, WA – October 1-2, 2022 This class is scheduled to take place on a Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm. Location: Hampton Inn & Suites Seattle Airport/28th Ave., 18850 28th Ave South, SeaTac, WA 98188, #206-244-5044.
Dallas, TX – October 29-30, 2022 This class is scheduled to take place on a Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm. Location: To Be Announced
Fort Lauderdale, FL – November 5-6, 2022 This class is scheduled to take place on a Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm. Location: To Be Announced
Chicago, IL – November 12-13, 2022 This class is scheduled to take place on a Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm. Location: To Be Announced
Pittsburgh, PA – November 19-20, 2022 This class is scheduled to take place on a Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm. Location: To Be Announced
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Be A Health Leader In Lymphatics
There is an ever-increasing need to help people with lymphatic congestion pathologies, a growing market.
- 900 million people in 49 countries remain threatened by lymphatic filariasis. *
- Approximately 20% of breast cancer survivors will develop secondary lymphoedema. **
- It is estimated that a high proportion 50% of people experiencing obesity are also affected by lymphatic conditions. ***
Its just as important to keep the lymphatic system exercised and moving as it is for muscles! Its an extremely important detoxification organ in the body, and when it doesnt work at its best, the individual can become more susceptible to infections and slow healing.
Our Myo MLD online courses will help train you to confidently integrate immune health and detoxification techniques into your current wellness practice, and become a knowledgeable health leader in lymphatic bodywork.
* World Health Organisation, Lymphatic diseases, 2019.** Cancer Council NSW, Lymphoedema, 2020.*** Faerber, G. Obesity and chronic inflammation in phlebological and lymphatic diseases, 2019.
Integrate Myo MLD into your wellness practice today
What Is A Lymphatic Drainage Massage And How Does It Work
We ask the experts about lymphatic drainage massage and the potential benefits for your health
Lymphatic drainage massage is a type of massage therapy that may help to relieve swelling that occurs when medical treatment or poor health causes blockages to the lymphatic system. This is the part of the body that protects us from infection and disease.
Certain health conditions – including obesity, inflammation, infection and cancer – can cause lymph fluids to build up, a condition known as lymphedema. Lymphatic drainage massage can help to reduce this by using gentle pressure to move lymph from your tissues to your lymph nodes.
If you think of your body like a fish tank, the lymphatic system acts like a filtration system, says Jules Willcocks, founder of Body Ballancer® Systems Ltd . If you dont look after the filtration pipes, it doesnt matter how many times you fill it up with fresh water, it would quickly get clogged and toxic.
Willcocks says this is because the mechanics that help to keep the water fresh and healthy arent working properly. The lymphatic system works in the same way – if you dont have a fully functioning healthy lymphatic system it will, over time, get clogged with toxins that lead to a number of health concerns.
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What Is Lymphatic Drainage
There are hundreds of lymph nodes throughout your body. Their job is to filter out unwanted substances from your body, which are carried out through something called lymphatic fluid.
However, your body sometimes has trouble transporting this fluid especially when these nodes are blocked or swollen.
Lymphatic drainage is a massage technique that frees up these nodes, allowing your body to eliminate waste more easily.
This massage is gentle and simple, using repetitive stretches and moments of pressure to encourage flow throughout your bodys connective tissues.
S For Lymphatic Drainage Self
- Step 1: Lie down in a comfortable position on your back and take some deep, slow breaths, feeling the rise and fall of your abdomen. Continue this type of breathing for the remainder of the massage.
- Step 2: Cross your arms across your chest and, with fingers touching the top of your shoulders, lift your elbows up toward the ceiling several times. This movement flushes the lymphatic area beneath your clavicle.
- Step 3: With arms still crossed, massage from the outside of your neck, just above your collarbone, to the center, in one soft movement. You can do both sides at the same time. Repeat this and the following massage strokes about 10 times.
- Step 4: Stretch the front, back, and sides of your neck. This is accomplished in three strokes by placing your hands at the very top of your neck and, using gentle pressure, stretching the skin down towards the base of the neck.
- Step 5: Put one hand under your head and, with the other hand, cup your palm and gently pull the skin, starting at the top of your underarm, up and in toward your body.
- Step 6: Place your arms at your sides with palms up and gently pull the skin on the inside of your elbow towards your shoulder.
- Step 7: In order to help release the fluid in your legs, place both hands behind your knees and, with fingers interlaced, gently stretch the skin up towards the thigh.
- Step 9: In order to work on your arms and legs, simply start at the endpoint and gently slide your hand up towards your armpit or groin, respectively.
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Lymphatic Drainage Massage Benefits + How To Do It
The lymphatic system is sometimes described as the the bodys inner drainage system. Its made up of a network of blood vessels and lymph nodes that carry clear fluid, called lymph, from tissues around the body into the blood and vice versa and lymphatic drainage massage can help facilitate this process.
Certain health issues can cause lymph to get stuck in parts of the lymphatic system, leading to problems like swelling and pain.
One method that can help keep your lymphatic system working properly is manual touch, including in the form of gentle massage.
What does a lymphatic drainage massage do? Its intended to help move fluids out of your lymph nodes, thereby reducing discomfort and facilitating the bodys natural healing and detoxification processes.
Research About Lymphatic Massage
Massage therapy research can have multiple uses, from informing ones own practice to gaining legitimacy in the healthcare community. The following are sources of research about lymphatic massage:
- British Journal of Community Nursing
- National Institutes of Health
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While A Professional Treatment Delivers The Best Results Heres How To Score Similar Effects Of A Lymphatic Drainage Massage At Home No Expert
Melanie Rud is a Chicago-based beauty writer and editor. Prior to moving to Chicago, Melanie held staff positions at Shape, Good Housekeeping, and Health. She now writes for numerous print and digital outlets, appears on television as a beauty and lifestyle expert, and consults with beauty brands. She holds a BA in Journalism and English from New York University. When she’s not writing about all things beauty, you can find her organizing her beauty closet, watching anything and everything on Bravo, or spending time with her beloved rescue dog, George.
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Sure, it might be called a massage, but a lymphatic drainage massage is nothing along the lines of any candle-lit, essential oil rub-down you’ve experienced in the past. Rather than targeting your muscles to help loosen any stress-induced knots à la a Swedish massage, this type of treatment focuses on your lymphatic system, working to move fluids throughout your body. Proponents say it can do everything from reducing swelling to boosting your immune system. And, let’s be honest, who doesn’t want that?
How To Perform Lymphatic Massage On The Legs
The goal of lymphatic massage on the legs is to open the lymphatic vessels to let excess fluid drain back up into the lymph nodes located in the groin.
There are different techniques used to perform lymphatic massage on the legs, but all have the same end goal: to release the fluid to go back up through the lymph nodes.
To perform a lymphatic massage on the legs, you can follow these steps:
- Perform lymphatic massage of the upper body before beginning with the legs. Follow the three stages of clearing in the supraclavicular area, the axillary area, and the inner-elbow area, in that order. This ensures that the system is clear to allow fluid to drain up.
- Use light pressure. If you can feel the muscles underneath your skin, you are pressing too hard.
- Begin the leg massage at the furthest point away from the injury or affected area and work your way down. For example, if your ankle has swelling, start the massage on the upper part of the leg.
- Starting at the top of the leg, put one hand on the inside of the leg and the other on the back of your leg.
- With gentle pressure, stretch the skin from the inside of your leg up and out, toward your hip.
- Continue this motion down the leg until you reach the knee.
- When you reach the knee, stretch the skin up, with alternating hands, toward your armpit.
- Repeat 10 to 15 times.
You have now completed the clearing step of the lymphatic massage.
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Prepare Under The Arms
As we mentioned above, there are large groups of lymph nodes located in the armpits, so preparing the area under your arms can help the nodes accept lymph fluid flowing from other parts of the body.
First, cup your palm under one armpit then gently pump your palm upwards towards the body. Repeat on the other armpit.
The Clearing Stage For Arms
This step involves performing motions to flush out fluid. There are three steps to complete the clearing stage, and each one is noticeably gentle.
The first step is to clear the supraclavicular area, which is located under the collarbone. Lay down and cross your arms above your chest, resting your hands below the collarbones. Then, raise your elbows a bit thats all you have to do to clear fluid in this area.
The second step is to clear the axillary area, which is located beneath the arms. To clear this area, place one hand above your head while your massage therapist uses their hand in a cup shape to move from top to bottom under your arm.
The third step is to clear your elbows themselves. For this step, lay your arms straight, parallel to your body, while your massage therapist lightly pulls on the skin one inch after another.
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Should I Seek Help From A Professional
Lymphatic drainage should always be performed by a professional massage therapist. These professionals are trained to understand how different motions can help the body in various ways.
If you experience symptoms of lymphedema, its recommended that you visit one of these specialists to ensure that your body can heal properly though this massage can still be performed at home at any time.
Brazilian Post Surgery Lymphatic Drainage
This class is currently offered online and in person
The Brazilian Post Surgery Lymphatic Drainage by Josie Rushing technique uses the lymphatic system to flush out the fluids without the risk of contamination from squeezing out the fluids. We do not use any aggressive or invasive treatments, such as lipocavitation or wood therapy. We believe that the body has already endured enough trauma after a surgery and we can not only provide relief to the patient through their lymphatic system, but also give them the body contouring that they need.
Non aggressive techniques such as LED lights, tapping, and high frequency ultrasound are used to avoid the accumulation of scar tissue consequently leading to fibrosis.
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How To Do A Lymphatic Drainage Massage At Home
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Zara Kenyon
When you hear the word massage, whats the first thing you think of? Typically, loosened knots and soothed muscles come to mind but a lymphatic drainage massage is a different treatment altogether. Targeted at slimming, sculpting and de-puffing, this clever technique can also help to boost your immune system and ease bloating, making it a go-to for health experts and wellness lovers alike.
So, how does it work? The idea is that you massage to stimulate the natural drainage of the lymph, which helps to eliminate any unwanted waste from the body. Youre pushing fluid from swollen areas into the lymph nodes, where bacteria, viruses and microorganisms go to be destroyed.
It may sound like a complex process and theres certainly a lot of skill involved but you can DIY the treatment at home. All you need is a massage balm and the right techniques. Here, we reveal everything you need to know before you give yourself a lymphatic drainage massage, from seven steps to follow, to the correct aftercare.
Lymphatic Drainage Course Description
This course is designed for the massage therapist who wants to work with general detoxification, stimulating the immune system and general inflammation.
- The instructor will provide you with a thorough yet easy-to-understand overview of the lymphatic system.
- You will observe, learn and practice specific lymphatic drainage procedures for the face and neck, upper and lower body supine, both prone and supine.
- You will have an opportunity to practice this treatment hands-on and trade with a partner so you will be able to receive this service as well.
After completion of this course, you may enroll in the Lymphatic Drainage – Advanced Level course where you learn to apply these basic techniques to decongest fascia, work on post-op clients, including post-op Liposuction, Lymphedema and more.
This course typically takes place on a Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm.
This class is also offered at our Massage Education Vacation events including Las Vegas Success Schooland on various Seminars at Sea and at Pura Vida Retreat in Costa Rica. Days and times will vary based on the event.
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