What is lymphatic drainage treatment and how does it work?
Above: A lymphatic treatment at the Holistic Rejuvenation Center in JW Turnberry Spa in Aventura, Florida.
A lymphatic drainage massage, also known as manual lymphatic drainage, relieves swelling that happens when medical treatment or illness blocks your lymphatic system. According to the Cleveland Clinic, lymphatic drainage massage involves gently manipulating specific areas of your body to help lymph move to an area with working lymph vessels.
Understanding the lymphatic system
The lymphatic system is a vital part of the body's immune system, responsible for removing toxins and waste from the cells. Lymphatic drainage therapy is a type of massage that helps to encourage the natural flow of lymph fluid throughout the body. This can help to improve the function of the lymphatic system and promote overall good health for a better quality of life.
Electro-sound lymphatic drainage is a type of therapy and specialized massage that uses low-frequency sound waves to help stimulate the lymphatic system. This therapy can be beneficial for people who have health conditions such as treating chronic venous insufficiency or treating lymphedema, a condition characterized by abnormal fluid accumulation in tissues that involves swelling, generally in one of your legs or arms. Lymphatic medicine specialists use decongestive lymphatic therapy—the combination of lymphatic massage and compression bandaging—for the long-term management of lymphedema.
The swelling is caused by lymph fluid that's collected in the soft tissues, due to genetic disorders, injury, infection, cancer treatment, or surgery. Symptoms of lymphedema include:
Pain
Skin discoloration
Tissue swelling
Heaviness in the limbs
Weakness
Hardening or thickening of the skin
Recurring infections
There are many benefits of lymphatic massage, including improved circulation, reduced swelling and inflammation, and improved detoxification. And, of course, good hydration, a healthy diet, and physical activity are all good for your general health, and they might just help with your lymph toxins, too.
Most ailments can be linked to the lymphatic system and a compromised immune system.
Your lymph plays a vital role in the body's immunity to disease. Its complex network of fluid-filled lymph vessels continuously bathing cells and carries away the body's "sewage"-toxins, metabolic waste products, globules of fat, and excess liquid to the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are the body's filters, trapping, and neutralizing these harmful substances.
The body contains three times more lymph fluid than blood. While the circulatory system has a pump - the heart - to keep the blood flow moving, lymph fluid must be pumped by the movement of muscles. The less we move our bodies, the more stagnant the lymph system becomes. The fluid in the lymphatic system helps remove waste and toxins from body tissues. Some health conditions can cause lymph fluid to build up.
Additional factors, such as illness, chemicals, and pesticides in our food, and population can overload and stall the lymph system. With today's sedentary lifestyle, constipation, and diets low in nutrients and fiber and high in fats, sugars, chemical additives, and preservatives, our lymphatic systems become overloaded, congested, and clogged.
According to women's health research studies, 80% of women have sluggish lymphatic systems.
Because congested lymph fluid "sticks" on fat cells, many experts believe that lazy lymph is directly connected to the formation of cellulite. Getting the lymph running smoothly is a key to easy weight loss, looking good, and feeling great.
Dry brushing as a manual lymphatic drainage
Dry brushing is a type of holistic healing and lymphatic massage that has been around for centuries. It’s believed to have many health benefits. Some of the benefits may include:
stimulating the lymphatic system
exfoliating the skin improving skincare
helping the body securely process and rid itself of toxins
increased circulation and energy
exfoliation
breaking down cellulite
Dry brushing works by exfoliating the skin through a lymphatic massage. Practitioners of dry brushing rub a brush with coarse, natural-fiber bristles over their bodies in circular motions.
The idea is that the coarse fibers will help to remove dead skin and improve the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins through the pores.
Dry brushing and the removal of toxins with a lymphatic massage
The lymphoid system helps your body fight off infections. Fluids flow through the system and are filtered through the lymph nodes. If you’re sick or exposed to a lot of toxins, the system may become backed up and clogged. That is why your lymph often becomes swollen when you have a cold.
A pilot study in 2011 showed that manual lymphatic drainage treatment brought down swelling and improved cellulite significantly over the span of 10 manual lymphatic drainage massages. However, whether or not dry brushing actually stimulates lymphatic drainage isn’t conclusive.
Dry brushing is thought to help the body release toxins through sweat. The coarse bristles on the brush stimulate the pores and open them up with gentle pressure. This makes it easier for the body to sweat, which in turn reduces the number of toxins flowing through the lymphatic system.
Dry brushing your lymph nodes with a lymphatic massage
Dry brushing may work to help the body stimulate manual lymphatic drainage. Your lymphatic system is important for your immune health. Lymph nodes that aren’t draining properly or completely can aggravate the appearance of cellulite, as well as cause swelling in your limbs.
What is Electro-sound Lymphatic Drainage Therapy?
Unlike a deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, or manual lymph drainage, an electro-sound lymphatic drainage massage is an accelerated one-hour method of cleansing and detoxifying the lymphatic system. If the lymphatic system is congested, the lymphatic fluid is thick, sticky, stagnant, and laden with toxins, rendering it unable to circulate and eliminate wastes.
Lymphatic congestion and toxicity reduce the electrostatic field of the proteins in the interstitial fluids and contribute to the thickening and clumping of the lymph. Breaking down congested lymphatic fluid with gentle pressure is painlessly achieved using the Lymph Drainage XP2.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage, a Non-Invasive and Painless Two-Step Process
As the client reclines on a massage table, the qualified therapist increases electro-static tension and stimulates lymph flow with the Lymph Drainage XP2 with light pressure. This state-of-the-art device uses hand-blown glass tubes containing rare noble gases - argon, xenon, and krypton - that devitalize bacteria and viruses.
Each electro-sound lymphatic session with XP2 has the equivalent effect of eight to ten manual lymphatic treatments, and the client is left feeling calm and rejuvenated.
Moving the XP2's two hand-held glass tubes over the skin, the trained professional manually directs the lymphatic flow along with the client's limbs and torso (always in the direction of the lymph ducts in the upper and lower body). The glass tubes deliver an inaudible high-frequency signal that stimulates the lymphatic system, increases circulation and proper elimination and detoxification while enhancing cell nourishment and immunity.
Benefits of Electro-Sound Lymphatic Therapy
Electro-Sound Lymphatic Drainage Massage is used as a complementary modality by a wide range of practitioners and wellness professionals, including naturopathic physicians, general practitioners, oncologists, osteopathic doctors, chiropractors, dentists, and nurses. A massage therapist, physical therapist, or colon therapist may also provide this specialized massage service.
Some of the many benefits include:
Assists with weight loss
Improves proper blood circulation
Relieves water retention
Reduces edema (swelling) and lymphedema of many origins
Relieves joint pain
Supports post-mastectomy health such as breast cancer
Regenerates tissue in pre-and post-surgical scars
Removes stretch marks and wrinkles-especially on the face
Detoxifies body tissue
Reduces cellulite tissue
Supports preventative health maintenance
Relieves discomfort from fibrocystic breasts
Reduces swollen lymph nodes
Relieves chronic joint and muscle pain
Promotes T-cell development
Lymphatic drainage massage, or manual lymph drainage as it is also known, can help the body to maintain proper blood circulation, body fluid balance, and immune function.
It’s a massage technique that works to encourage the natural movement of lymph fluids, with medical science studies and randomized controlled trials suggesting it may help people with the following health conditions:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Lymphedema (swelling in the legs, feet, or arms)
Fibromyalgia (a long-term condition that causes inflammation, discoloration of the skin, and tissue swelling)
Chronic venous insufficiency (when leg veins don’t allow blood to flow back to the heart, causing blood to pool in the legs)
A medically reviewed and randomized controlled trial looking into the impact that lymphatic drainage massage had on health-related quality of life and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency also found that it helped to reduce pain levels. The massage has been shown to be better than connective tissue massage in treating depression, and stiffness, and improving the quality of life for those living with fibromyalgia.
Electro-Sound Lymphatic Treatment at Holistic Rejuvenation Center
Here are my recommendations for prepping for treatment along with a few healthy tips after your treatment is complete:
We recommend that you arrive 60 minutes prior to your first appointment. This will give you time to familiarize yourself with the facilities and to experience our Wellness Circuit.
Please be well hydrated before every lymphatic massage treatment.
Avoid consuming alcohol prior and after your lymphatic treatment for atleast 48 hours.
Limit sugar and carbohydrate intake before and after your lymphatic treatment.
Wear comfortable or loose-fit clothing on the day(s) of each treatment.
Drink one glass of water per hour for 8 hours for optimal effect and to minimize detoxification symptoms. You may add minerals and electrolytes to your water.
Moderate physical activity such as walking or biking is highly recommended following lymphatic drainage massage therapy. These types of activities will facilitate the movement of lymph and toxins.
It is recommended to use dry skin brushing, a manual lymph drainage massage technique on a regular basis.
What to Expect During a Lymphatic Treatment?
A lymphatic drainage massage treatment can be performed as a single 60-minute session. You may experience increased energy the day after your first session. More frequent sessions may be recommended for best results in order to ensure lymphatic flow is working properly.
You can receive a Lymphatic Drainage Massage Treatment every other day or twice a week depending on your goals and condition. Maintenance is typically done once a month. With subsequent sessions, you will definitely notice improved energy levels, mental clarity, and an overall sense of well-being.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage Treatment is an effective treatment that helps move fluid within the lymphatic system and reduce swelling, and bloating, helps boost immune function and general health, by reducing toxins within the body, helps metabolism, and other cellular rejuvenating effects.
Who should not receive Lymphatic Treatments?
If you are unsure whether you should receive Lymphatic Treatments you may choose to talk to your healthcare provider.
In general, Lymphatic Massage Treatments are safe for just about everyone. There are some conditions where it is not recommended for individuals with the following health problems:
Individuals with a heart condition
Individuals with lymphedema, previous removal of lymph nodes, or other diseases with the lymph system
Individuals receiving treatment for cancer
Individuals with kidney failure
Individuals currently experiencing blood clots
Individuals with an active infection (in any affected area)
Individuals with internal bleeding
Consider Booking a Combination of Services to Make the Most of Your Appointment
At Holistic Rejuvenation Center, we believe all of the systems in our bodies need to work together to promote health, happiness, and overall well-being. For that reason, you might consider choosing a combination of services along with your Electro-Sound Lymphatic Drainage Massage Treatment for maximum effectiveness and invaluable service.
Depending on your own personal needs, you might choose one of the following:
Combination Lymphatic Drainage Massage Techniques
RF Radio Frequency + Electro-Sound Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Electro-Sound Lymphatic Drainage Massage + Cocoon Infrared Detox
Electro-Sound Lymphatic Drainage Massage + Infrared Sauna
If you are wondering what other combination of wellness services might be best for you, schedule a consultation or give us a call today. We want to help you on your journey to be the best version of yourself for a better quality of life.