Lymphatic Drainage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a gentle, integrative bodywork treatment that supports the lymphatic, immune, and nervous systems.

By combining gentle hands-on techniques, abdominal massage, acupressure, and Craniosacral therapy, MLD focuses both on gently addressing areas of lymphatic congestion in the body and inviting deep nervous system regulation. Our lymphatic system is foundational to our immune system’s ability to function—by keeping our cells nourished and removing waste and bacteria, regular lymphatic drainage and lymphatic health lifestyle support can significantly improve our body’s self-regulating and healing capacities.

There is also an emotional element to this work—with lymphatic drainage we are working with the waters of the body, which carry the signature of our emotional state.

As we see in nature, healthy waters are waters that flow freely; standing water gets murky and diseased. Our lymphatic system can become congested in many ways—chronic muscle tension and postural habits can compress lymphatic vessels; the more sedentary nature of our modern lives limits the regular movement that our lymphatic system depends on to flow; our exposure to pesticides, chemicals, and microplastics in our daily lives can overwhelm the limits of what the lymphatic system is designed to process.

We may feel this stagnation on many levels—trapped emotions and trouble letting things go, as well as fatigue, lethargy, or heaviness. Our lymphatic health depends on regular and holistic lifestyle shifts, and is greatly aided by regular lymphatic-informed bodywork.

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WHO CAN BENEFIT

While everyone can benefit from this work, lymphatic drainage is especially helpful for those experiencing chronic illness, compromised detoxification, or an overburdened lymphatic system.

Other conditions* for which lymphatic drainage can be supportive are:

  • chronic fatigue

  • chronic pain

  • endometriosis & pelvic pain

  • gastrointestinal issues

  • hormonal imbalances

  • Lyme disease

  • MCAS

  • migraines

  • mold & heavy metal toxicities

  • nervous system dysregulation

  • postpartum care

  • swollen lymph nodes

  • trauma (emotional or physical)

* Bodywork can be incredibly supportive to the healing process, but it is not a substitute for medical care, especially if you are experiencing one of the conditions listed above. Please consult a qualified health practitioner if you aren’t sure whether Lymphatic Drainage would be appropriate for your condition. I request that you have been released for bodywork by a health care provider if you are seeking treatment post-op or currently undergoing cancer treatment.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Manual Lymphatic Drainage consists of slow and rhythmic hands-on work, based on the Vodder method.

With MLD, we are working gently to stretch the skin at a superficial level to encourage the subdermal lymphatic fluid to flow. The touch is light, slow, and rhythmic. There is no oil used for the majority of the treatment, aside from at the abdomen, which incorporates more fluid massage techniques.

In session, you will undress and lie comfortably on a cushioned massage table. The treatment is sequential, working methodically to trace the direction of lymphatic flow throughout the body. Areas of focus mirror the areas where our lymph nodes are most concentrated: the neck, chest, armpits, abdomen, hip creases, and face. Complementary manual techniques are also woven into the treatment, including acupressure and Craniosacral therapy. All together, these create a session supportive for mental, physical, and nervous system wellbeing.

AFTER YOUR SESSION

This work can stir up a lot, and some bodies will need to support the drainage pathways with aftercare.

Our body depends on two processes to remove toxins and cellular waste from the body: detoxification, which happens internally on a cellular level, and drainage, which eliminates the toxins from the body (sweating, urination, bowel movements, etc). Manual lymphatic drainage supports the detoxification processes, but it relies on the body’s drainage pathways to complete the process. If we liberate more toxins during the session than our body has the resources to eliminate, the toxins will continue to circulate through the bloodstream and this can make us feel worse. 

All clients should prioritize extra hydration and a good night’s sleep after their session, but some will need to support their system more strategically to avoid detox reactions. See the Frequently Asked Questions below for more information about preventing or addressing detox reactions.

  • The lymphatic system is the foundation of the immune system. Lymphatic vessels run through the entire body, following the pathways of the cardiovascular system—where there is blood, there is lymph. After delivering oxygen and nutrients to the cells, about 85% of the blood plasma is re-absorbed by venous capillaries, while the rest remains as interstitial fluid. The lymphatic capillaries absorb this fluid, which now is referred to as lymph. As lymph circulates through the many lymphatic vessels, it delivers and absorbs nutrients, transports cellular waste and excess hormones to be detoxed, and monitors the body for foreign invaders. This is where our lymphatic system's role in our immunity is most clear—our lymph carries lymphocytes (white blood cells), whose job is finding and killing invaders such as bacteria, cancer cells, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

    We have clusters of lymph nodes in all our major joints—the neck, armpits, abdomen, hip creases, and knees. Skeletal movement and diaphragmatic breathing help massage the node clusters and move the lymphatic fluid. Lymph travels through this one-way circuit until it reaches the terminus, or "main drain," at the collarbone, where the lymph fluid reenters the circulatory system at the heart. By the time the lymph reaches the bloodstream, it has been thoroughly cleaned and ready to move once again through the circuit. All in all, roughly 3-4 liters of lymphatic fluid move through the lymphatic system every day.

  • While our cardiovascular system has the heart to continuously help pump our blood, the movement of our lymphatic system is dependent on physical movement and deep diaphragmatic breathing. With lymphatic drainage, we are mimicking the gentle pumping of the lymphatic system for extra support when the lymph is having a harder time flowing through the whole body.

    A lymphatic treatment is a wonderful way to support an over-burdened system. Clients will often report feeling deeply relaxed, lighter, clearer, energized, or more fully embodied.

  • Lymphatic drainage has become more popular as part of a general wellness routine, and is an excellent way to support the health of your whole body.

    Lymphatic drainage is also very supportive when there is a healing demand on the body and/or the body is less mobile, such as after surgery, after a period of illness, postpartum, or with chronic illness/fatigue.

    Additionally, the lymphatic system can become congested simply from the realities of our modern world—high stress, toxin exposure, long stretches of sitting, and dehydration.

    Signs that you may be dealing with lymphatic congestion are:

    • chronic fatigue

    • swelling or fluid retention

    • chronic aches or joint pains

    • bloating

    • brain fog

    • headaches

    • breast swelling before menstruation

    • Constipation

  • Unfortunately, no. Please stay home if you have cold/flu symptoms, a fever, an active virus/infection, or are on antibiotics—these are contraindications for bodywork.

    When we get sick and we notice the lymph nodes in our neck are swollen, it’s natural to want to go in and get them drained down to normal size. But the lymph nodes are swelling because they’ve detected a pathogen or virus, and are trapping that pathogen so the lymphocytes can do their work to destroy it before it spreads to other areas of the body. If we do lymphatic drainage during an acute infection or fever, we risk driving the virus deeper into the body. It’s better to rest, stay hydrated, and let your lymphatic system do its job.

    If your cold/flu symptoms and fever have resolved and you still have swollen lymph nodes, this can be a good time for lymphatic drainage to reset the lymphatic system—sometimes after an acute infection the lymph nodes need some support to flow again.

  • Manual Lymphatic Drainage is excellent for supporting one of our major detox pathways, but we depend on our body’s drainage/elimination pathways to complete the process. If our drainage pathways are challenged, it's not uncommon to experience flu-like symptoms for 1-2 days after a session, such as headache, fatigue, nausea, or fever. Detoxification is an energy-intensive process – your body likely did a lot of work and is cueing you to hydrate and rest.

    Here are some ways to enhance the benefits of your treatment and reduce the possibility of detox symptoms:

    1. Water + electrolytes: Our lymph becomes more viscous when we’re dehydrated, slowing down its flow. Extra hydration before and after your session will help flush out anything that was stirred up. I like coconut water with Celtic salt and lime juice,Quinton Hypertonic sea water, or bone broth for mineral-rich hydration.

    2. Limit caffeine and alcohol beforehand: For 1-2 days leading up to your appointment, do your best here to give your liver a break so it's more resourced to focus on lymphatic detoxification in your session.

    3. Sweating: Our skin is one of our major drainage pathways. Gently working up a sweat can be hugely supportive after lymphatic drainage. Try a magnesium bath, foot soak, or sauna.

    4. Gentle Movement: Yoga, walking, rebounding, breathwork, Qi gong—all are wonderful additions to your movement practice and especially helpful before or after your session to prime your lymphatic system for flow.

    5. Sleep: Our body does so much of its detoxification while we sleep, most critically in our liver and brain. Getting a good night’s sleep before and after your session will make all the difference.

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    * For clients with a high toxic burden:

    If your system is impacted by MTHFR/COMT genes, Lyme, mold/mycotoxins, heavy metals, etc, or if you are chronically constipated, some extra drainage support may be appropriate after your session. In addition to the above recommendations, try:

    1. Take a gentle binder before your session. A binder will help your body mop up and eliminate any toxins stirred up during your treatment so they aren't reabsorbed. I useCellCore's Biotoxin Binder, which is very gentle and does not interfere with mineral or supplement absorption.

    2. Colon hydrotherapy or coffee enema. Scheduling a colonic within 24 hours after a lymphatic drainage treatment is a wonderful way to complete the detoxification work we initiated in our session. Coffee enemas are hugely supportive for liver detoxification and increasing glutathione production, and are a great tool to prevent and clear herx reactions.

    Castor Oil. I offer castor oil during your session, but it is also helpful to apply it topically over your liver for an hour up to overnight, depending on your sensitivity. Using a castor oil pack is a common way to apply it.

  • The answer to this question will be different for everyone—there is never a one-size-fits-all when it comes to healing! I can offer your body all the lymphatic support I am capable of, and ultimately it is your body that will determine the pace of results.

    Generally, I would recommend that new clients receive three sessions within 4-8 weeks to determine if this work feels supportive for them or not at this time. Lymphatic drainage may be something you wish to receive 2-4 times a month in the more intensive healing phases of your life, and once every month or two for maintenance when your symptoms are less acute.