I have a new type of work that I offer- It's manual lymphatic drainage- a wellness focused bodywork treatment for the lymphatic system. I combine it with craniosacral therapy and visceral manipulation (organ massage) to increase its integrated benefits. It's a bodywork combination that works well together.
MLD + congestive therapy (treatment for lymphedema) is often used with people, post surgery or disease that have significant swelling issues in their body, often in one limb. This is not the type of client I work with. (Out of my scope- but there is someone on Nantucket who can work with this at the physical therapy department at the hospital.)
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (gently skin stretching to benefit the lymphatic system) can also be done to improve wellness, and this is where my type of work comes in. It will improve your overall health, but it MAY help improve conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic lymes, rheumatoid arthritis, or improve brain lymph clearing in concussions, Alzhimers and Parkinsons. MLD benefits STABLE conditions of the central nervous system, not acute infections, acute heart conditions, not kidney disease.
The Lymphatic System (often called your second circulatory system) is the filtering system for toxins in your body. Its twice the size of the circulatory system- but it has no pump like the heart is for the circulatory system. Instead, the lymphatic system depends on muscle contraction, pulsing of arteries, breathing (which moves the abdomen) and gravity etc to move the lymph around. The natural rhythm of the lymphatic system is 6 per minutes. After MLD, the RATE increases dramatically for about 24 hours, increasing the ability to filter toxins efficiently.
The lymphatic system maintains your body's fluid balance. It helps the circulatory system maintain proper blood pressure, but is also responsible to pick up the interstitial fluid (free lymph between cells and tissue) and return it to the circulatory system via the lymphatic system. You can see problems/ stress with the lymphatic system when you get swelling in your legs (gravity) or arms (post surgery or injury) or in your face post surgery or drinking alcohol.
The lymphatic system is part of your immune system, producing white blood cells to mount an attack on infection. The lymphatic system is also the garbage collector- filtering out bacteria, toxins and waste to be excreted.
The lymphatic system also works with your digestive system to absorb fat and fatty acids and carry it for the body as fuel. This chyle travels up to the thoracic duct, emptying near the heart. Once in the blood, LPL enzymes on the surface of blood vessels cells break down the fat (triglycerides) into fatty acids that can be used by cells for energy. (Excess is stored as fat.)
A tremendous benefit can happen in your body when you maintain a well working filtering system in your body. Minimally it will help with immunity and keeping you well. There are lots of additional benefits. Dealing with headaches, improved skin conditions, sleeping better, feeling well are the common ones (though if you have a lot of toxins to excrete you may want to take it slow.)
While you can do a single session of MLD and see benefits, its often recommended to have a series depending on your needs. While the bodywork trio of craniosacral/MLD/visceral work is tailored to your body- self MLD can easily be done at home to continue the benefits. Additionally, movement, breathing techniques, body brushing, and drinking water (dilution is the solution) all increase lymphatic flow.
If you think this is something you would benefit from, feel free to reach out.
