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LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
Clinical Massage Care offers Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a very gentle, light pressure, manual therapy. The light pressure is approximately 5 grams, which is the weight of a dime. This is all that is needed because your lymphatic capillaries are located just beneath the skin and are considered delicate. Too much pressure could collapse the lymphatic system and push into deeper layers of tissue with no stimulating effects or fluid movement. Combined with the light pressure, a repetitive rhythmic motion is performed in the direction of your lymph nodes to simulate the natural pumping rhythm of the lymphatic system. This service is said to be soothing and relaxing but much different from a traditional Swedish “relaxation” massage.
Our therapists lightly dry brush the body before applying pressure to rid the surface of dead skin cells and stimulate the lymphatic system. After the manual therapy is performed, we use a whole body vibration as part of the rhythmic continuum to assure the lymph is moving into the lymph nodes. Following this, we lightly sprinkle a pure blend of epsom salt and sea salt with a hot towel gently placed over your body areas containing the most lymph nodes. This ensures unclogging your pores and stimulating whole body detoxification.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage may help with conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, swelling (edema) from post- surgical procedures, sprains or injury, fluid retention, lupus, lymphedema, and sinusitis.
A Little More About the Lymphatic System
Our lymphatic system is a combination of fluid, vessels, and tissues (and also the lymph nodes, thymus, and spleen) that help your body eliminate waste, detect, and fight disease. Fluid from your bloodstream consisting of plasma, electrolytes, and proteins are leaked into your lymphatic system, filtered, and then transported back into your bloodstream. The lymphatic system then carries the filtered fluid substances (lymph) to your kidneys and liver for further elimination.
As this movement happens, the lymph moves through lymph nodes, which is where the detection alarm sounds off. Foreign pathogens and germs that are detected in the lymph nodes signals your body’s immune response and your immune cells and lymphocytes (white blood cells) begin to fight these pathogens. An example of this is sometimes your lymph nodes may swell up when you have an infection or cold. This is because your lymphocytes and other immune cells are fighting your infection at the source. This is how your body and lymphatic system was designed to operate​​