What is Lymph Drainage Therapy?

Lymph Drainage Therapy (LDT) is one of a variety of similar techniques that work the Lymphatic System of the body. It is characterized by very light touch, rhythmic strokes which stretch the skin rather than gliding over the skin, and a release of the streched skin. Each stroke consists of two parts: the stretch and the release. Each storke part lasts the same amount of time. The strokes vary in length from 1 second, 6 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds and even longer, depending on the purpose of the stroke.

The other major lymph drainage techniques used in the United States are the Dr. Vodder Manual Lymph Drainage technique or Vodder technique. (The difference between these two is that the Dr. Vodder technique is taught by the direct-line school created by Dr. Vodder; the Vodder technique is taught by schools that have made some changes to the Dr. Vodder technique, so are no longer in the direct line.)

What Benefits Can I Expect From a Lymph Drainage Therapy Session?

Because if the rhythmic nature of the technique and the very light touch, people find it extremely relaxing. In fact, I often have my clients fall asleep when I am doing LDT on them, more so than all the other massages I give.

But, not only is it relaxing, it is very therapeutic. It is an excellent technique to relieve pain and soreness in joints and in muscles, reduce fluid retention (edema), improve range of motion where there is a restriction, improve the immune system, detoxify the body, decrease wrinkles, help relieve the symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. In conjunction with bandaging, lymph drainage is the gold star treatment for Lymphedema. It can be helpful in treating many other conditions, too numerous to mention here.

One additional use would be to have a session or two a couple of days before and after surgery. The benefit of having some LDT prior to surgery would be to reduce the amount of fluid within the tissues. This can result in a "cleaner" incision and less fluid leakage into the surgical area. The benefit of having sessions after surgery is to help the body rid itself of the edema (swelling) around the surgical area. This helps the incision to heal more quickly and also to help reduce the possibilty of infection.

What Is The Lymphatic System?

The Lymphatic System is a component of the circulatory system and consists of lymphatic vessels (similar to blood vessels), lymph nodes, lymph fluid. The circulatory system has one pathway for blood to leave the heart (arteries) and two ways for it (blood and components of the blood) to return to the heart (veins and lymph vessels). Many of the lymph vessels parallel the arteries and veins.

Lymph fluid is that portion of the interstitial fluid between cells of tissues (muscles, organs, etc.) that is pulled into the lymph vessels. The veins also carry away a large portion of this interstitial fluid. Lymph consists of water, proteins, fats, minerals (such as calcium, zinc, sodium, etc.), a variety of free cells (variety of blood cell types and immune cells), various hormones and a variety of waste products.

The lymph vessels connect to a succession of lymph nodes. The lymph nodes filter out excess water and harmful substances, and forms some white blood cells (which fight infection).

The lymphoid organs consist of the Thymus, the tonsils, and the spleen. These, along with the lymph nodes, play an important role in the immune system of the body. They either make or mature the cells that fight infection. So, a healthy, well functioning lymph system will enable your body to fight off infections and diseases more quickly and keep you healthier.

The lymph vessels join together until one lymph vessel on each side of the body connects to the veins close to the heart, thereby returning all the substances in the lymph fluid to the general circulation to later be processed by other systems of the body.
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Sources:

1. Chikly, Bruno, M.D., D.O. (Honorary). Silent Waves: Theory and Practice of Lymph Drainage Therapy, First Edition, Revised. I.H.H. Publishing, Scottsdale, Arizona. 2002.

2. Thibodeau, Gary and Patton, Kevin. The Human Body in Health and Disease, Fourth Edition. Elsevier Mosby, St. Louis, MO. 2006.

3. Chikly, Bruno, M.D., D.O. (Honorary). Study Guides for LDT1,LDT2, LDT3, and LDT Advanced1. Upledger Institute, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Various years.