Lymphatic Drainage

A powerful tool used in post-operative patients as well as those struggling with excessive inflammation and swelling in their tissue. This technique has a wide variety of benefits.

What is it?

Manual lymphatic drainage (LDT) is a gentle, hands-on modality focused on mobilizing the fluids of the body wherever they have become stagnant. Fluid mobilization allows the immune system and the autonomic nervous system to clear out waste products from the tissues and bring in nutritive fluid.

Therapists trained in this modality will use their hands to assess and facilitate improved circulation in the interstitial tissues, fluid in the joints, and fluid within the lymphatic pathways of the body. Conditions that can be supported include:

Subacute and chronic pain
Relief of chronic inflammation including sinusitis, bronchitis, ear infections, etc.
Regeneration of tissue, including burns, wounds, and wrinkles
Detoxification of the body
Reduction in the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
Joint swelling from acute injury
Deep relaxation to aid insomnia, stress, loss of vitality, and loss of memory

Payan-Payne, C., & Payne, J. (2001). Lymphatic Drainage: A New Approach to the Correction of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Explore, 10(6), 457-463. doi: 10.1016/s1076-6332(01)80004-1
Koulivand, P. H., Ghadiri, M. K., & Gorji, A. (2013). Lavender and the nervous system. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2013, 681304. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/681304
Paolillo, F. R., Borghi-Silva, A., & Parizotto, N. A. (2010). Curative effect of lymphatic drainage massage on anxiety and depression in women with fibromyalgia. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies, 14(1), 3–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2009.02.002
Leduc, A., & Leduc, O. (2011). Lymphatic Drainage of the Skin: A New Concept. In Lymphatic Drainage of the Skin and Breast (pp. 1-9). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-12302-7_1
Chen, Y. T., Huang, T. W., Chen, W. H., Lin, Y. T., Wang, Y. H., & Wu, C. Y. (2018). Effects of lymphatic drainage on the immune system in healthy individuals: a preliminary study. Journal of physical therapy science, 30(6), 802–806. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.30.802