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Lymphatic Drainage Massage: Detoxify and Revitalize

A Specialized Kind Of Manual Massage Therapy

The lymphatic system, a part of the immune system, performs many crucial functions. This network of tissues, vessels, and organs serves concurrently for the movement of watery fluids called lymph back into the circulatory system. It also wipes out bodily ruins and averts various illnesses and infections by the transmission of the white blood cells in the blood vessels.

What Lymph Drainage Is?

Lymphatic Drainage is a specialized kind of Manual Massage Therapy, which is required when there's any sort of obstacle in someone's lymphatic system. It stimulates the lymphatic network to function promptly by facilitating the movement of the lymph to the lymph nodes throughout the body.

In earlier times, Lymph Drainage Massage was typically used to cure lymphedema, which is an ailment where after the removal of the lymph node, a chronic swelling occurs, generally in either arms or legs.

However, in recent times, people have come to be integrating the lymphatic drainage therapy of the facial with their beauty routine as a technique against puffy eyes, skin resentment or dull skin tone.

What Is Lymph Drainage Good For?

Lymph Drainage Therapy has become a very prominent technique of massage owing to its potential advantages to one's state of health. The first and foremost benefit of this massage is that it helps in the treatment of Lymphedema, but the manual form of this massage might be helpful in enhancing the benefits of the same. Apart from this, research shows that the Lymphatic Drainage Massage Therapy can be useful in treating a number of health-related issues, such as:

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is an ailment where walls and valves of the veins in the legs are unable to function adequately, which makes it tough for the blood to flow from the legs back into the heart.

And it has been observed that Lymphatic Drainage Therapy can provide some sort of relief in the swelling as well as the pain. It also stimulates the proper circulation of blood and lessens the danger of untimely death due to cardiac arrest.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

A person suffering from this health problem may at first experience an enhancement in the circulation of lymph throughout the body, but at the later stages of this disease, the flow of lymph gets either very poor or partially impaired.

In such a case, lymphatic drainage therapy can be useful in reducing these symptoms visible at the progression of the disease. It at least provides temporary relief.

The benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massage Therapy are not just limited to medical benefits like the circulation or elimination of ruined fluids, but is also followed by several other benefits, such as:

  • Reduction in water retention, swelling, and pain.

  • Energizing the body helps it stay fit and healthy.

  • Enhancing the relaxation of the mind as well as the body.

  • Improving the efficiency of the immune system through eliminating infections and toxins.

  • Accelerating the generation of tissues.

  • A technique to refine skin appearance by minimizing wrinkles and eye puffiness.

What Does The Lymphatic System Do?

The Lymphatic System seems to have come a long way when looked at its past functioning. The Lymphatic System consists of nodes and vessels having lymph, water, bodily wastes, a variety of proteins, and some of the components of the immune system as well.

It is placed all over the body and all the waste is being screened by the lymph nodes. The body parts like the neck and armpits have some substantial lymph nodes, and they all are said to function concurrently in order to make sure that only the clean lymph is carried back to the veins that are responsible for circulating the blood towards the heart.

The Lymphatic System is distinguished to perform three fundamental duties:

  1. Sustaining the balance or equilibrium of the fluids of the body in between the blood and the tissues.

  2. Operating as a major component of the immune system of the body.

  3. Enabling the absorption of fat as well as the fat-soluble nutrients for the purpose of digestion.

Furthermore, the Lymphatic System is composed of three vital parts:

  1. The Lymphatic Vessels, which are found throughout the body structure, are responsible only for carrying out the fluids away from the tissues.

  2. The Lymphatic Fluid, which mainly comprises of white blood cells, fluids rich in fats, proteins, or minerals, is one of the most essential parts of the immune system and is liable for the circulation of nutrients all over the body.

  3. The Lymphatic Ducts - the lymph that flows from the body quadrant of the upper right is the right lymphatic duct, while the one that flows all over the remaining body quadrants is known to be the thoracic duct.

In short, the main function of the Lymph system is to re-absorb all the superfluous fluids and liquids from the breakage points of the vessels and bring them back to the required place. Professional help is essential.

How Is Lymphatic Drainage Massage Supposed To Work?

The primary purpose of manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage Therapy is to advance the cycle of eliminating the liquid that has been amassed between the cells and their points of breakdown and leading them to the capillary vessels. This involves a set of stretching, rolling, pressing, and squeezing the body of the concerned person by a well-trained massage therapist.

The slow movements in rhythm, without applying the massaging oil, accelerate the whole lymphatic system, letting the facile movement of lymph through the tissues, nodes, and other vessels. And due to the absence of any autonomous pump system, this process relies on the active and passive movements of the joints and muscles.

The Bottom Line

Lymphatic drainage massage is undoubtedly a very beneficial treatment for several health problems, accompanied by its beauty advantages. This approach is also normally safe to use.


If you have any further doubts or questions regarding this subject or another treatment, contact one of our experienced Acupuncturists or Registered Massage Therapists here at West End Wellness Clinic. You can either give us a call or make an appointment.

Disclaimer: Please remember this article is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Please consult a healthcare provider or someone with the correct qualifications before starting any new exercise or treatment program.