Lymph Drainage Therapy

The fluid in the lymphatic system helps separate body fluids from waste and contaminants. Some health conditions can cause fluid to build up in the lymph. Massages related to lymphatic drainage may help people with lymphedema, fibromyalgia, and other conditions.

Many people are familiar with the body’s vessel system which carries blood to and from the tissues, but few realize that there is another equally important vessel system which removes cell wastes, proteins, excess fluid, viruses , and bacteria. The lymph system absorbs fluids and waste materials from the cells’ rooms, and then removes and cleans them.

Like a tree’s roots, the lymph system starts as tiny vessels — only one single-cell wide — that gradually branch into wider and wider channels that bring these fluids out into the bloodstream. This network of fragile vessels and lymph nodes is the immune system’s prime structure. The lymph nodes serve as checkpoints in vessel pathways. We drain the fluid (called lymph) and function as the refuge for lymphocytes — small Pac Man-like cells that attack and kill foreign bacteria and viruses, and even rare cells, such as cancer cells.

We feel safe as the lymph system functions properly and provide a good protection against disease. We may have inflammation, feel drained, and be more vulnerable to colds and infections when it’s slow or blocked — say after surgery or an accident.

In this post, we describe the advantages of a lymphatic massage, and the people who may benefit from using it.