Lymph Drainage Therapy is a very gentle and effective air pressure massage technique that encourages stimulation of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a very important part of the immune system of the body.
Lymph vessels in the body form a network across the whole body. These vessels collect excess inter-cellular fluid from the body, and return it to the circulatory system. At regular intervals around the body, these vessels lead to lymph nodes (commonly called glands), these nodes are responsible for destroying any infections and then allowing the lymph to continue on it’s journey. The fluid is eventually routed via the subclavian vein to the blood circulatory system.
The flow of fluid within the lymphatics is achieved by muscles in the body forming a pumping action on the vessels as they do their normal jobs. Because the lymph vessels have one-way valves in them at regular intervals, the fluid is moved along steadily.
In some instances, this process breaks down, and the system doesn’t work very well. This can be caused by a lack of physical activity in the limbs, surgery (particularly breast cancer, and heart bypass surgery), physical injury, and in some very rare cases by parasitic infection within the lymphatics.
Lymphatic drainage massage is a modality designed to aid the flow of fluid through the lymphatic system, and draining it away from the limbs, towards the body.
This massage action is very gentle and is done in a rhythmic, pumping action. It is not deep at all.
