Lymph drainage – what is the hype?
There's been quite a lot of news and social media posts about the wonders of Lymphatic drainage.
- Do you know anything about it?
- Have you tried it?
- Do you know the difference in the types of lymph drainage?
You may see the terms, "Manual Lymph Drainage", "Lymphatic drainage massage" or "Brazilian lymphatic drainage" on social media or online. It's easy to think that these are all the same thing and work in the same way, but that's not actually the case.
To help understand the difference I'll start with a bit of history about Vodder Manual Lymph Drainage (also known as MLD), as that is the treatment that I have been trained to do.
Having an understanding about the lymphatic system also helps with knowing why each treatment works.
History of MLD
Manual Lymph Drainage was first developed in the early 1930s by Dr.Emil Vodder and Estrid Vodder in France. They premiered it to the world in 1936 in Paris and from this they went on to teach it around the world.
Since Vodder’s pioneering work, MLD has spread world wide and has become a popular treatment in many European hospitals and clinics. It is now beginning to gain acceptance in the UK as a part in the treatment and control of lymphoedema and oedemas.
There is a lot of good, solid medical research to back up this treatment with a medical understanding about the lymphatic system, the vessels and directions they work. Using this there are some very specific techniques used to help the lymphatic system work better, and also who can and cannot have the treatment.
What is Manual Lymph Drainage?
MLD stands for Manual Lymphatic Drainage (not to be confused with lymphatic drainage massage). Your lymphatic system manages the fluid levels in your body, helps fight infection and removes waste products through your urine.
MLD is a non-invasive therapy in which the practitioner uses a range of specialised and gentle, rhythmic, pumping techniques to move the skin, thus stimulating the Lymphatic System to work harder. This speeds up removal of excess fluid and waste products. MLD generally uses a light, painless pressure as your lymphatic vessels start shallow in the skin layer (dermis) and trained therapists know how to manipulate them, redirecting fluid away from swollen areas. (text taken from MLD UK).
The name describes some of what the treatment does. Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) is a very gentle form of body work aimed at moving the lymph under the skin, however it does not involve draining the whole of the lymphatic system away. It aids the formation and transport of lymph around the body. No oils or creams are normally used and the pressure is very gentle and rhythmic. Deeper pressures are not used as the delicate lymph collectors are under the skin so it's about gently moving and activating them to work harder. Deeper pressures will 'squash' these collectors which actually prevents them from working properly for a while.
The precise areas that will be worked, which movements, which direction and for how long will all be determined by several things including why someone has come, their medical history any other lymph issues etc. That's why very detailed training is done and detailed consultations are also requested.
The lymphatic system has many functions in the body. It forms an important part of our immune system and is also designed to assist in the removal of waste products from the cells of the body.
The circulation of the lymphatic system is not mechanically controlled by the body and has no pump, therefore this system has to rely on muscular movement, blood circulation and the nervous system to assist circulation around the body.
The lymphatic system can become very sluggish and doesn’t work at it’s best due to a variety of reasons, including lack of muscular movement, poor diets, disease and infections. A sluggish lymphatic system can lead to the body not eliminating it’s waste efficiently, and this can lead to the body suffering from a build-up of lymph which shows as an oedema, or water retention.
This gentle rhythmic technique is designed to activate the musculature of the lymph vessel system so that they contract more often, so increasing the rate of absorption of fluid and waste products from the surrounding tissues. It is a non-invasive way to remove excess fluid and waste products more quickly.
This is an excellent treatment for anyone suffering from primary or secondary lymphoedema, lipoedema or recovering from any surgery. Equally it's great for general water retention caused by hormones, flying, sinus congestion, pregnancy.
Benefits of Manual Lymph Drainage
There have been many benefits reported from receiving Manual Lymph Drainage, and a lot of research has been done for this. MLD has been used both as a preventative and as a remedial method.
Some of the conditions clients have used MLD for includes:
- Pregnancy related water retention
- Hormonal issues (from general periods, endometriosis, PCOS, fertility, menopause etc)
- Stress and anxiety – deeply relaxes and soothes
- Aiding a detox programme
- Sinus congestion and sinusitis
- Migraines/headaches
- Toothache (non-infected)
- Pre and post dental work
- Scars (including old scars) – helping to reduce the appearance of them
- Pre and post Cosmetic surgery – to aid healing and reduce swelling
- Bloating
- Wounds and burns
- Ear issues
- Skin Conditions
- Puffy eyes
- Pre and post most surgery – preparation, to aid recovery, reduce bruising and swelling and healing
- Recovery from chronic infections (inc long covid)
- Fluid congestion and general water retention (swollen ankles, puffy eyes/face, pregnancy, menopause)
- For general well being
- The treatment and control of Primary and Secondary Lymphoedema
- Assisting with conditions arising from venous insufficiency such as leg ulcers
- Promoting the healing and lessening the pain of injuries e.g. fractures, sprains, torn ligaments
- Promoting the healing of wounds and burns
- Improving chronic conditions such as skin conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, sinusitis
- Strengthening the immune system
- Minimising or reducing stretch marks
- Inducing deep relaxation as it may affect the autonomic nervous system
By encouraging the removal of waste and excess, stagnant connective tissue fluid it means that the skin gets its nutrients more quickly and begins to look fantastic.
If treating the face - typically you can expect skin to look clearer and feel softer, eyes to be brighter, dark areas below the eyes to lighten, puffiness and congestion to reduce and a more defined jaw-line.
Head, eye, ear, nose, mouth, dental, throat, sinus and skin problems resulting from lymphatic related congestion can respond positively. Some people use this treatment to help slow down signs of ageing and rosacea.
This is also an excellent treatment to have pre and post dental work, for any facial puffiness, ear issues, nerve pain (inc Bell’s Palsy) and sinus conditions.
Contraindications
If you suffer from any of the following then please contact us prior to booking a session of Manual Lymph Drainage:
- Currently active cancer
- Chronic infection
- Current allergy
- Thrombosis
- Heart problems
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Low blood pressure
- Nevus moles
- Skin infections
- Any current colds/flus or fevers
So what's the difference in the styles?
MLD differs from Lymphatic body massage and Brazilian lymphatic massage in one key way -
MLD is very gentle (skin deep) whereas the other two treatments are much deeper. They use pressures like deep tissue massage down to muscle level.
Another key difference is with MLD there are no oils or creams used.
With the other 2 treatments they do use oils, balms or creams.
Some of the techniques they use are similar to MLD in places, but much deeper and doesn't follow the specific lymph vessels and movement of lymph.
Also, taking note of what the research shows about the lymph collector vessels under the skin, the deeper pressures actually don't increase the amount or speed of lymph collected out of the tissues and moved around the lymphatic vessels. The deeper pressure actually would stop these from working for a while and just moves the tissues underneath.
The key benefits from having a lovely deep massage is definitely there, including increased blood circulation and helping muscles but it's not specifically helping the lymphatic system.
The Lymphatic body massage and Brazilian lymphatic massage both have been shown mostly due to "sculpting" and "toning" effects. From the bits of research studies done it would seem that the main way this works is due to the increased bloody circulation and activation of the muscles. A general body massage like this can actually increase the amount of waste products produced (from the muscles) and the 'upward pushing' moves the fluid away from that particular area. It doesn't however cause the lymphatic system itself to work better or harder which helps keep fluid moving continuously even after the MLD treatments.
MLD with Rima
I can do MLD and DLT (decongestive lymphatic therapy) on face and/or body. I've done very detailed and intensive training with the Vodder School, and that includes intra-oral MLD.
There's been some press written about my MLD treatments:
- Harper's Bazaar - "Tried & Tested: VASER Liposuction"
- Belfast Telegraph - "Why lymphatic drainage massage could be the answer to many of your chronic health problems"
- City AM - "Get your body beach-ready"
- Cosmopolitan .co.uk - "Treatment of the Week"
Research on MLD
- Effects of manual lymph drainage on cardiac autonomic tone in healthy subjects.
Kim SJ, Kwon OY, Yi CH.
Int J Neurosci. 2009;119(8):1105-17.
Department of Physical Therapy, Kangwon National University, Kangwon-do, 245-711, Republic of Korea.
2. Manual lymph drainage efficiently reduces postoperative facial swelling and discomfort after removal of impacted third molars.
Szolnoky G, Szendi-Horváth K, Seres L, Boda K, Kemény L.
Lymphology. 2007 Sep;40(3):138-42.
Department of Dermatology and Allergology (Phlebo-Lymphology and Wound Care Unit), University of Szeged, Hungary. szolnoky@mail.derma.szote.u-szeged.hu
3. Lymphangiomotoricity and tissue pressure.
[Article in German]
Hutzschenreuter P, Brümmer H.
Z Lymphol. 1986 Dec;10(2):55-7.
4. Does medical treatment of lymphedema act by increasing lymph flow?
François A, Richaud C, Bouchet JY, Franco A, Comet M.
Vasa. 1989;18(4):281-6.
5. Manual lymph drainage in migraine treatment--a pathophysiologic explanatory model.
[Article in German]
Trettin H.
Abteilung Neurologie, REHA-Klinik Damp.
Z Lymphol. 1989 Jul;13(1):48-53.
6. Treatment of leg edema and wounds in a patient with severe musculoskeletal injuries.
Weiss JM.
Cox Regional Center for Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Springfield, MO 65807, USA.
Phys Ther. 1998 Oct;78(10):1104-13.
Comment in:
Phys Ther. 1998 Dec;78(12):1338-9.
7. Chronic tension-type headache non conventional therapy with manual lymphatic drainage.
[Article in Italian]
Longo C, Rizzo R, Inzitari MT, Scumaci G, Caroleo S, Iocco M.
Recenti Prog Med. 2006 Sep;97(9):462-5.
Cattedra di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitazione, Università degli Studi Magna Graecia di Catanzaro. piax@libero.it
8. The Utility of Lymphatic Massage in Cosmetic Procedures.
Marxen T, Shauly O, Goel P, Tsan T, Faria R, Gould DJ.
Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2023 Feb 28;5:ojad023.
doi: 10.1093/asjof/ojad023.
PMID: 36998743; PMCID: PMC10045879.