Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is designed to beautifully promote the healthy flow of the lymph vessels in the body, encouraging and supporting the lymph to return waste products and toxins from the body.  A healthy Lymphatic system plays an important role in the immune function of the body and protecting the body from illness.  Lymphatic drainage enhances detoxification, boosts immune function for wellbeing and fastens tissue healing.  It also has an indirect relaxation and pain reduction effect on our muscles, and sometimes an MLD session interspersed with remedial massage can have a powerful effect, making the remedial work much easier and more effective. 

The hand movements aim to drain lymph nodes and move lymph fluid which mostly sit alongside the blood vessels just under the surface of the skin, hence it is a delicate, precise and gentle manual therapy which is very relaxing, activating the parasympathetic nervous system.  It is a low pressure and low speed technique, performed in a rhythmic manner in the direction of lymph flow in the body.  Clients marvel at the feeling of the movement of the fluid in the body during the treatment.  MLD serves as an effective therapy to invigorate a sluggish lymphatic system, accelerating the return of lymph by up to 10 times the body’s normal rate of return.  Normally the body circulates 1.5-2litres of fluid per day, whereas the efficient activation of lymphatic circulation can increase this figure to 10-20 litres per day.

At Alstonville Remedial Massage, Emma combines a lymphatic massage with connective tissue therapy, which takes the body into an even deeper state of healing and profound relaxation.  Gentle, rhythmic technique is applied to certain parts of the body activating the connective tissue matrix, allowing the tissues that have become dense, hardened and contracted, to soften and expand from the inside out, giving a sense of spaciousness in the body.  Combined with the mechanical traction of lymphatic drainage massage, it facilitates decongestion and draws fluid from the fascia and other connective tissues.