What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage?

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a gentle form of a manual techinque or light "massage" used to relieve excessive inflammation in the tissues that can occur when the body is attempting to equilibrate and heal afer sickness, injury or surgery.  Lymph fluids are moved throughout the body as we move throughout the day by the rubbing and squeezing of the lymph ducts by our muscles and skin.  Many of the estimated 800 lymph nodes in the body are located where the body normally folds such as in the neck, armpit, folds of the elbows and knees and in the groin area.  
But several hundred also exist in the layer right below the dermis (skin) in our fingers, wrists, forearms, in our thighs, and on shins and feet as well.  The lymph system filters out toxins and illness to keep us healthy. 
The lymph system does not have its own pumping system like the blood stystem has the heart to pump blood so that it can be filtered. When the lymph system is not working as effectively as it should, lymph stagnates and collects in the tissues most often in extremities such as the arms, legs, ankles or other parts of your body, making them swell.  

The swelling may be in the form of extra fluid in the tissues (edema), a mix of extra fat and fluid in the tissues (lipedema) or extra protein and fluid in the tissues (lymphedema).

 

Lymphedema can be a common side effect of many health conditions including surgeries and often after cancer treatments.  It is common that during breast cancer surgery in particular, surgeons may remove several affected lymph nodes during the procedure and edema or lymphedema may occur in the affected limb.
A massage therapist uses a manual lymphatic pumping technique with their hands to push the lymph fluid from your tissues through the lymph channels to your lymph nodes, to ease and reduce the swelling.  

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