Trisoma^®

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and mechanical drainage are hospital prescribed and insurance accepted therapy for lymphedema and other disorders. Manual therapy is useful not only for edema, but general wellness, including lymphedema (especially following breast cancer mastectomy surgery), rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic venous insufficiency, lipedema ^[1] and holistic skin care. ^[10] According to the Cleveland Clinic, mechanical methods using pumps and pressure sleeves can help lymph move, but we have received many anecdotal reports of pain and possible vessel injury caused by mechanical methods.

Lymphatic drainage massage is generally safe, but

...ask your healthcare provider if you have any contraindications, including heart condition, kidney failure, blood clots or thrombosis, infection.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage Bodywork

...resembles swedish massage effleurage techniques, frequently with oil, and may include passive stretching. Because much of the lymphatic system is in the abdomen, treatment may include abdomen, extremities and even the head; while the back has few lymphatic vessels near the skin. In most cases clients can learn to perform some self-massage; remember that every time one rubs a towel along the extremities, this can affect lymph and venous blood flow, so moving the towel proximally (toward the heart) is along the direction of flow. Lymphatic vessels and blood veins have one-way valves, so moving distally is against the flow, and may affect the valves.

Human circulation systems

... include the cardiovascular system. However humans also have three other important circulatory systems: craniosacral, glymphatic and lymphatic, which has peripheral and meningeal divisions. The peripheral lymphatic system is the target for manual lymphatic bodywork.

Lymphatic system is analogous to a sewer

Whereas the blood circulatory system could be analogous to a water system of a city, the lymphatic system is analogous to sewer system components including inlets, piping, valves, lift stations and treatment facilities, which can become easily overloaded during a "health storm", such as injury or infection. The lymphatic system is a branched system throughout the body which transports lymph through vessels, ducts and nodes, to process centers and for elimination. If the system is not functioning well, the water can fill in the vessels (or "pipes"), overflow into the surrounding tissue (or "street"), and clog the lymph nodes. Complications occur when the system is overloaded with toxins (just as sewers may have oil and debris) or when a person is injured or sick.

Most organs of the body have lymphatics

Lymphatics have been described in most organs of the body, including thyroid gland, thymus, tongue, adrenals, kidneys, urinary bladder and even the cranial meninges. ^[2] The peripheral lymphatics are structured in two layers, comprising superficial and deep systems separated by the deep fascia. The superficial lymphatic system is particularly significant for understanding the pathology of lymphedema. The functions of the lymphatic vasculature are much broader than generally thought, and are much more than a sewer system. Lymphatic research will have many interesting and surprising aspects to offer in the future. ^[21]

The human body performs lymphatic drainage

...primarily during skeletal muscle contractions, and that is why frequent walking and activity, and lymphatic drainage helps with edema ^[3]. Full gait body mechanics, including calves and quads and glutes, will help prevent traffic jams of fluid. This is why sedentary and post surgical scenarios that lack pressure differential in the intravascular and extravasated fluid environment will contribute to edema and other lymph issues. Lymphangions and even inspiration (breathing) helps, but without active body movement, the interstitial fluid, lymph capillaries, vessels and nodes will not clear as well.

Neuromedicine researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center propose that the glymphatic/lymphatic system acts as a cornerstone in signaling between the brain and body and much remains to be studied regarding the evidence for cross talk among the glymphatic system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, and lymphatic system ^[4].