More like the body’s cleaning crew is the lymphatic system. It comprises veins, nodes, and organs that cooperate to ensure that lymph flows properly, remove waste from it, and send the waste to organs that are in charge of flushing it out of the body. Toxins and lymphatic fluid may accumulate in your tissues if your lymphatic system isn’t functioning correctly, increasing your chance of contracting various illnesses.
Long, soft, and rhythmic strokes are used in a lymphatic drainage massage method to restore the lymphatic system’s maximum performance.
Continue reading to discover how to determine whether you need a lymphatic drainage massage as well as the particular ailments that might considerably profit from its curative benefits.
Signs That You Need a Massage for Lymphatic Drainage
The following symptoms may seem harmless, but if you encounter one or more of them on a regular basis, it may indicate that your body is overloaded with toxins and that you require a lymphatic drainage massage.
- Sensitivity to certain foods or allergies.
- Mental fog.
- Chronic fatigue (persistent tiredness).
- Digestive issues.
- Lymph nodes with swelling.
- Extra weight.
- Increased proneness to the flu and the common cold.
- Infection of the nose.
- Skin conditions/dry, itchy skin.
- Swelling in your fingers, causing tighter-fitting rings.
Conditions That Lymphatic Drainage Massage Can Help.
Numerous studies have shown the advantages of lymphatic drainage massage in the management of a variety of health issues, particularly:
Lymphedema.
A blockage in the lymphatic system causes lymphedema, a persistent, crippling illness marked by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the soft tissues.
Decongestive lymphatic treatment, which combines lymphatic drainage massage and compression bandaging, is used by professionals in lymphatic medicine to treat lymphedema over the long term.
Researchers looked at six studies that used lymphatic drainage massage on women who had had mastectomies and had lymphedema (surgical removal of the breast done to prevent the spread of cancer). According to the findings, compression bandages are more effective in treating lymphedema after mastectomy than lymphatic drainage massage.
Arthritis rheumatica.
As the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis worsen, you can notice impaired lymphatic drainage. Along with the enlargement of the tissues, the joints also experience a rise in discomfort, function loss, and skin color changes. These later-stage rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may be reduced by lymph drainage massage.
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
When the valves or walls of the veins in the legs don’t function properly, the condition is known as chronic venous insufficiency. The blood’s ability to return from the legs to the heart is hampered as a result. In persons with CVI, lymphatic drainage massage may aid in accelerating blood flow.
The main artery in the thigh, the femoral artery, may function better right away after the massage session. Uncertainty surrounds the duration of this effect and the extent to which the massage reduces pain and edema over the long term. It might be possible to learn more about the impact of this massage method on CVI with additional study in this field.
Fibromyalgia.
People who have fibromyalgia may benefit from lymph drainage massage. Skin nerve irritation, skin discoloration, and tissue swelling are all symptoms of this illness. For patients with fibromyalgia, the massage has been demonstrated to be more effective than connective tissue massage in reducing depression, and stiffness, and enhancing the quality of life.
Types of massages for lymphatic drainage.
There are four forms of lymphatic drainage massage that are often performed by physicians, physical therapists, and massage therapists. These consist of.
Vodder.
This fundamental method involves the therapist using a variety of sweeping strokes in the region they are treating.
Foldi.
Using circular hand strokes and brief periods of relaxation, the massage therapist must switch between the Foldi method and the Vodder extension.
Casley-Smith.
Circular hand movements are used in this kind of lymphatic massage as well, primarily utilizing the sides and palms of the hands.
Leduc.
In order to collect lymph fluid and then reroute it for reabsorption into the broader lymphatic system, this approach uses hand movements.
These methods all operate according to the same theory. To stretch the skin in the direction of lymph flow, they all employ gentle motions. The techniques must work their way outward from the area of the leg closest to the body. Usually, the operation takes between 15 and 60 minutes.
Final thoughts
Make sure you’re receiving care from a qualified practitioner and consult your doctor before having a lymphatic drainage massage. Stretching, compressing, gliding, and cupping movements are just a few massage methods the massage therapist will use in a certain order.