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| Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage (MLD)
Lymph drainage has powerful cleansing, relaxing, pain relieving and immunological effects. In its manual form, it is a gentle, flowing, rhythmic massage. In any form, it can be applied to a wide range of pathologies, to great effect.
MLD is both preventative and remedial and can enhance your well being. MLD is deeply relaxing Promotes the healing of fractures, torn ligaments, sprains and lessens pain. Can improve many chronic conditions: sinusitus, rheumatoid arthritis,scleroderma, acne and other skin conditions. Strengthens the immune system. Relieves fluid congestion: swollen ankles, tired puffy eyes and swollen legs due to pregnancy. Is an effective component of the treatment and control of lymphoedema and assists in conditions arising from venous insufficiency. Promotes healing of wounds and burns and improves the appearance of old scars. Minimises or reduces stretch marks. Lymph drainage is used primarily to promote the optimal functioning of the lymphatic vessels that lead to the circulatory system. Lymph drainage techniques facilitate the removal of metabolic wastes, excess water, toxins, bacteria, large protein molecules, and foreign substances from tissue via the initial lymph vessels and the venous capillaries.
Lymph drainage relaxes the sympathetic nervous system, reduces pain, and enhances the activity of the immune system. It is effective in the treatment of a wide variety of problems, including edema, skin disorders, headache, sinus congestion, sprains and aches, stress, digestive disorders, and before and after surgery, to remove tissue congestion and minimize scar formation. It is particularly useful as part of post-mastectomy therapy, to reduce edema and fibrosis, and to relieve pain and tension.
What is the function of the Lymphatic system ?
The lymph vessel system is responsible for carrying excess water, proteins and wastes from the connective tissue back to the blood stream, and maintaining blood volume. This includes the by-products of inflammation, dead cells and toxins. During the transportation process the lymph is cleaned, filtered and concentrated, with many immune reactions occurring in the lymph nodes, where lymphocytes are harbored.
Lymphatic vessels are found throughout the body, in parallel with the capillary system. The vessels are as small in diameter as the capillaries, and the nodes are about the size of a pea. If you picture a string with knots tied in it along its length, the string is the lymph vessel, and the knots are the lymph nodes.
If the pathways become congested, damaged or severed, then fluids and toxins can build up in the connective tissue and eventually cell pathology may begin. Cellular oxygenation and nourishment is reduced, as is waste elimination. Toxins eventually penetrate the cells and create the symptoms of chronic disease. So lymph drainage can enhance recovery rates, by moving out toxins and wastes, boosting immunity and oxygenation, and reducing inflammation.
Lymph flow is stimulated by a number of elements, including internal stimulation, arterial pulse, respiration, peristalsis and exercise. Exercise is the one variable you can use yourself to stimulate lymph flow.
How can MLD help the Lymphatic System?
Artificially, movement can be stimulated by either manual lymphatic drainage, through triggering the receptors in the vessel walls, or through electrically changing the tissue charge, effecting the pressure gradient between the blood vessels, the cells, and the lymphatic vessels.
Manual lymph drainage is extremely gentle and feels wonderful and relaxing. The majority of patients either fall asleep or go into a highly relaxed state, due to the slow, gentle rhythmic motions involved, which stimulate the movement of lymph through the lymph vessels.
As our culture's dietary norms stress the lymphatic system with excess wastes and toxins, and too little fluid, most of us have sluggish lymphatic systems. This causes more anaerobic metabolism to occur, with more waste products, and less energy. A self-perpetuating cycle begins. For this reason, any patient can benefit from lymph drainage as part of a general detoxification programme. This can improve energy, increase cellular oxygenation and nourishment, and build immunity. Deep breathing exercises Before and after MLD, breathing exercises can help to stimulate lymphatic drainage. Use the following simple exercises:
Sit upright in a comfortable chair or lie on your bed with your knees slightly bent. Rest your hands on your ribs. Take deep breaths to relax. As you breathe in - direct the air down to your abdomen, which you will feel rising under your hands. Breathe out slowly by 'sighing' the air out. While breathing out, let your abdomen relax in again. Do the deep breathing exercises 5 times. Have a short rest before getting up to avoid getting dizzy.
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