I like good massages, which is why I have added lymphatic massage to my repertoire.

Lymphatic massage is refreshing. It boosts lymph flow, allowing your system to filter and cleanse toxins from tissues and remove excess water. Enabling lymph improves energy, recovery from work and sports, and perks your immune system.

That’s a pretty good list of benefits, and why lymphatic massage is now tops in my book. It’s just so darn different from other massages. It’s as if I had to throw out the playbook on how to do massages and start over.

Lymph massage is light pressure, while most receivers of massage ask for firm or deep-tissue massages. It’s very subtle, and it works the opposite of how most people would guess it works. As a therapist, it’s not easy to do a mental headstand, but I must say the lymph massage has well been worth the topsy-turvy.

I am going back to the kitchen, the most comfortable room in my house, to explain. Let’s take the plunger. When I have to plunge the sink in my kitchen, I’m going to use some direct muscle force to push water through the drain. Anything in the way is pushed through until the water is running freely again.

 

Now, people plumbing is radically different, thank Heaven. Heavy pressure like a plunger closes delicate lymph channels, backing up fluid even more. Our lymph system relies on whole-body movement to create gentle waves. Those waves encourage lymph to drain back to the organs that filter fluid.

This is where “the scoop” comes in.

Massaging lymph involves a light, rhythmic scooping action to open lymph channels and allow fluid to flow through those channels. It starts near the end of the system, in the neck area above the collarbone. As lymph moves from the end of the drainage system, the therapist “scoops” more lymph fluid forward, all the while moving backward along the channels to lymph node clusters in the neck, underarms, and down into the arms. I follow the lymph system backward to the chest, trunk, legs, etc.

Even though the pressure is light, it is not the easiest massage to do, because I have to stay focused on where and how lymph is moving and follow the system backwards. That extra focus and energy has made lymph massage unpopular with a lot of massage therapists. It’s easier to use more pressure and work on big muscles instead of tiny little channels.

Who has sluggish lymph?

Some therapists specialize in treating so-called pathology edema, but right now there is little agreement how much and what method of training is best for these edema treatments. The Europeans who have the best results require a minimum of five years of training. But there’s an American school that trains therapists with a 10-day class. I’m not touching this controversy with a 10-foot scoop. If you have edema, check it out for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Better yet, ask your doctor. If you have edema after breast surgery, your doctor probably has tried different treatments and therapists for edema control and has some good ideas already.

Now, the rest of the scoop: It’s in your court!

In addition to massage, you can do several things to improve lymph flow on your own. One easy way is to incorporate gentle, steady walking into your daily routine. Walk on softer surfaces, such as asphalt or dirt instead of cement, and leave your inner over-achiever at home. Lymph flow improves with steady walking at a comfortable pace.

 

Get in the water. And I mean that, literally. Lymph is encouraged by the increased pressure on your body from surrounding water. Walking in the pool, gentle stretching and movement helps lymph.

Learn more about my lymphatic massage service or give me a call at (949) 251-8907.