What is Lymphatic Drainage Massage? (Launching end of Feb-March 25)

It's a type of full body massage with powerful cleansing, detoxifying, relaxing, pain relieving and immune supporting effects. 

It is a very gentle, flowing, rhythmic massage with no oil. 

The Lymphatic Vessels are actually very close to the skin so anything more than light pressure will make the treatment ineffective. To encourage the lymph to flow, the vessels need to be opened and stimulated in the correct direction, at the correct speed, if the pressure is harder and faster the vessels will collapse and the lymph will not be sucked along the vessel. 

Who is it for?

Everyone can benefit from this type of massage, like any massage having it regularly promotes good health, in this case good Lymphatic Health! 

There are some specific persons and factors it can particularly benefit:

  • If you have Regular Colds and Flus 
  • Have Sinus Problems 
  • Have Dysfunctional Respiratory Systems 
  • Suffer with Hayfever and Other Allergies
  • Have ME
  • Suffer with Migraines 
  • Have Digestive Problems 
  • Struggle with Low Energy, Stress, Anxiety and Persistent holding of Tension 
  • Pre and Post Operations particularly if they involve the removal of Lymph Nodes. This includes cosmetic surgery.
  • Have Glandular Fever (Although of course do not come when contagious)  
  • Have Skin Conditions such as Acne and Rosacea
  • Cellulite especially excessive amounts
  • Before and after Long Haul Flights
  • Have Puffiness and Swelling in specific areas (Often ankles and hands) 

Your Appointment

Your first appointment will include an in depth consultation so that your medical history, lifestyle, any adaptations needed and why you have chosen this type of massage can be understood. 

 

When making your booking there are a few questions with ticky boxes to complete beforehand. This is because Lymphatic Drainage is more medical than other massages and depending on your personal circumstances I may need to have a quick call with you before your appointment.

 

There is an allowance of 15 minutes within your appointment for your consultation. 

 

The treatment itself lasts for 1 hour 15 minutes which includes massage of the whole body in a specific sequence. 

 

 

Its a good idea to book your appointment at a time you don't have any huge commitments for 48 hours afterwards. This is due to the after effects that can occur (All stated below)

 

For hygiene reasons you must wear socks to and from your appointment.

 

After Care

For the first 48 hours

  • Wear loose fitting clothing
  • Reduce caffeine intake
  • Avoid hot baths, Saunas etc
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Cut down on smoking
  • Increase the amount of water you are drinking (this will also help speed along after effects below)

Look out for positive signals that your body has responded well to the treatment

  • Frequent visits to the toilet and darker urine
  • Runny nose and 'coldy' type symptoms
  • Slight rash as the skin rebalances
  • More sweat or smellier sweat
  • Conditions that you suffer with may flare up temporarily before they heal
  • Deeper sleep or difficulty sleeping with vivid dreams

You are unlikely to experience all of these and they are all temporary and should clear within 24-48 hours.

 

Going forward things you must consider for good lymphatic health (And overall health to be honest)

  • Regular exercise, it doesn't need to be strenuous, just make sure the muscles are contracting to allow the lymph to flow.
  • Deep breathing, 10 - 15 minutes a day of deep nose breathing through the diaphragm is very important to get the lymph flowing.
  • If you are a mouth breather it will be extremely beneficial to look into retraining yourself to be a nose breather, I can provide you with information about this on request or you can of course do your own research.
  • A good diet concentrating on freshly made food (not pre-made, processed stuff) a large variety of fresh fruits, veggies and proteins will allow your lymphatic system to thrive instead of being sluggish. Low sodium is also recommended if you really struggle with lymphatic health.

The Role Of The Lymphatic System

Like all body systems The Lymphatic System is a complex intricate system that could be explained for hours, I have tried my best to summarise the key points below;

When blood circulates through your capillaries, some fluid (called interstitial fluid) leaks out into your tissues. The lymphatic system collects this excess fluid (which is now called lymph), filters it, fights off pathogens, and then returns it to the bloodstream.

 

 

The lymphatic system consists of:

  • Lymphatic vessels, capillaries, nodes, and ducts
  • Spleen
  • Tonsils
  • Thymus
  • Adenoids (part of the tonsils)
  • Appendix (contains lymphoid tissue)
  • Peyer's patches (in the small intestine)

 

The Lymphatic system is closely connected to the Circulatory System and the Immune System.

 

The Journey of Lymph:

  1. Interstitial fluid, a derivative of blood plasma, leaks out of the blood capillaries into surrounding tissues.
  2. This fluid is absorbed by lymphatic capillaries, where it is now called lymph.
  3. The lymph travels through larger lymphatic vessels.
  4. It passes through lymph nodes, where it is filtered and immune cells (like T-cells and B-cells) help clean it.
  5. Finally, lymph moves into lymphatic ducts (such as the thoracic duct) and is returned to the bloodstream at the subclavian vein.

 

The Main Purpose of the system:

 

It Balances the Fluid in your body:

  • It acts as a "helper" to the circulatory system. Not all of the fluid that leaks out of blood capillaries is reabsorbed back into blood vessels. If the excess wasn't collected by the lymphatic system it would accumulate and cause oedema (swelling) and a whole heap of other problems. 

Cleans It Up:

  • It acts as a ''helper'' to the immune system. When the lymph reaches the lymph nodes, immune cells (such as T-cells and B-cells) detect and respond to any pathogens it contains, neutralising or killing them. 

Removes Waste: 

 

  • The lymph nodes also filter out dead cells, foreign particles, and other waste products. When returned to the bloodstream they move further to be processed by the liver and kidneys, which filter and remove them from the body.

 

Helps Larger Molecules Along the Way:

  • It picks up larger molecules such as some proteins that are too big to be reabsorbed via blood vessels and transports them to the bloodstream for them. 

Absorbs Fats and Nutrients:

  • In the small intestine, the lymphatic system plays an important role in absorbing fats and fat-soluble vitamins/nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K.

 

How Does Lymph Move Through the Body ?

 

Lymph is not pumped by a heart like blood is; instead, it relies on body movement, muscle contraction and the breathing process to propel it through the lymphatic vessels. These vessels have valves to prevent back flow, ensuring lymph moves in one direction.

Due to it not having its own pump, it can sometimes move too slowly, especially in areas of the body where movement or circulation is limited. Dehydration can also cause the lymph to become thicker and more sluggish.

.  

What Impact Does Poor Lymphatic Health Have?

 

If your Lymph isn't moving properly it can cause:  

  • Chronic Inflammation in your tissues Chronic inflammation is associated with various conditions, including autoimmune diseases, arthritis, and even cardiovascular diseases. 
  • Oversensitivity to allergens/Hayfever chronic inflammation also makes the body more prone to overreacting to allergens. The immune system may produce more antibodies (such as IgE) in response to harmless substances like pollen, which causes an allergic reaction.
  • Impaired Nutrient Absorption This can lead to deficiencies in essential vitamins and nutrients, impacting overall health.
  • Weakened Immune Function The immune response will be delayed and pathogens or other harmful substances may not be effectively eliminated from the body. This makes you more susceptible to infections and illness.
  • Toxin buildup and poor detoxification which will in turn lead to an increased burden on organs like the kidneys and liver, which may struggle to filter out these toxins effectively. When you have a buildup of toxins in the body you will experience symptoms like fatigue, brain fog and persistent low energy.
  • Skin problems like acne, rashes, and even cellulitis (a skin infection). The toxins not filtered can eventually manifest as skin conditions. 
  • Odema and lymphodema which are conditions comprised of excessive swelling in body parts 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Copyright Aurello Holistics. All rights reserved. 

We need your consent to load the translations

We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.