lymphatic drainage

Lymphatic drainage is a pleasant decongestion therapy in which the flow of  lymph  in the body is stimulated by gentle grips, pressure and relaxation techniques. Since manual lymphatic drainage is not a classic massage, it should only be carried out under the guidance of trained experts. Used professionally, lymphatic drainage can achieve many things. Lymphatic drainage has long been used on the face in the field of dermatological cosmetics, where it is used to treat acne or scars, for example. Manual lymphatic drainage has also been recognized in medicine for years and is used, for example, to treat  lymphedema  .

The principle of lymphatic drainage

As early as the 16th century, doctors and scientists were speculating: in addition to the bloodstream, there must be a second vascular network that supplies and cleanses the body’s cells. They were right. The lymph fluid flows through the human body on branched lymph channels, transporting  nutrients  and fats to the cells and taking viruses, germs, cell waste and pollutants with it.

In order to clean the lymph of its dangerous load, filter stations, the so-called lymph nodes , are repeatedly switched on in the lymphatic system  . These are about the size of small kidney beans and are usually found in clusters near veins, in the armpits, elbows, knees, loin, chest and neck. The lymph nodes contain  white blood cells  and germ-killing cells that clean the blood. When you’re sick, your white blood cells multiply, causing your lymph nodes to swell.

Lymphatic drainage: lymph and lymph nodes

The lymph does not have its own pump, but is coupled to the pressure of the blood system. Therefore, it sometimes takes a little time for the pollutants to be removed from the blood. This process can be accelerated with manual lymphatic drainage. The flow of lymph is stimulated from the outside with stroking, circular movements.

The Danish physiotherapist Emil Vodder discovered this principle of lymphatic drainage in the 1930s. He had noticed that patients with chronic colds often had enlarged lymph nodes. When he began to gently massage the lymph nodes of some patients (lymphatic drainage), they soon recovered. Today, lymphatic drainage is a treatment technique that is used in both the medical and cosmetic fields.

Application of manual therapy

Long before lymphatic drainage was used in the medical field, it was a common treatment method in dermatological cosmetics. There, lymphatic drainage is primarily used on the face, to treat acne and scars, or for pre- and post-operative treatment.

Especially in the case of surgical interventions in the breast area, the scarring can be reduced by previous lymphatic drainage. The deep incision during an operation can destroy fine lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. This means that the water in the tissue can no longer be transported away, builds up and swells and presses on the fresh seam. This not only slows down wound healing, but can also result in ugly scars and adhesions.

In addition, the massage of the lymph nodes during lymphatic drainage generally strengthens the  immune system , reduces stress and prevents  allergies  and water retention.