Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage – The overlooked system of the body

A stagnant Lymphatic System can be likened to bath water that’s been bathed in and left sitting for days. That doesn’t exactly sound like something you’d want to bathe in if you were looking to clean your body, does it? Just as the bathtub needs a drain to be pulled when a bath is over, our lymphatic system needs consistent movement. 

The lymph, unlike other systems in our body, doesn’t have an internal pump or drain. Lymph moves through our body because of movement – when we are stagnant, so is our lymph. 

This is where lymphatic drainage massage can play an important role in helping your lymph flow freely. Simply put, movement is essential for healthy lymph circulation and the overall benefits of lymphatic drainage.

What is the Lymphatic System?

The Lymphatic System is responsible for cleansing our muscles, tissues, and organs, carrying out metabolic waste that runs through our body. Metabolic waste in the lymphatic system consists of water, glucose, salts, proteins, fats, white blood cells, and other cellular debris.

Primarily undetected, lymph delicately flows below the surface of the skin and deep within the body. You may have noticed lymph nodes around your neck, groin, or armpits, but lymph also has major pathways that flow deep within the body around the heart and lungs. Lymph nodes are primarily found from the head to the knee while the system flows throughout the entire body.

White blood cells called lymphocytes are produced and stored within the lymph nodes. Our bodies contain an average of 500–700 lymph nodes. Lymphocyte cells are distributed throughout the lymph fluid, helping fight infection and disease.

Lymph typically flows at a rate of 10–12 bpm. Following an hour-long manual lymphatic drainage massage(MLD) , the lymph can flow at 100–120 bpm for up to 48 hours post-treatment. That’s one of the many lymphatic massage benefits – it boosts circulation and supports the body’s natural detox process.

Who are (MLD) Manual Lymphatic Drainage Treatments good for?

The majority of clients we work with come in based on recommendations from their physicians post-surgery. One of the most common reasons is after lymph node removal due to breast cancer. Once lymph nodes are removed, it becomes difficult for the lymphatic system to drain properly, often resulting in swelling or edema in the arms and hands. This is where lymphatic drainage massage benefits truly shine, helping the body manage swelling and improve recovery.

Other clients visit us to aid post-op recovery from face, knee, hip, abdominal, or back surgery. We’ve also had clients with Lyme disease who combine their lymphatic massage treatments with infrared sauna sessions. They often report relief from symptoms lasting two to three weeks between sessions.

Even those not recovering from surgery can benefit. Many clients come in simply to stimulate the flow of lymph, prevent illness, and detoxify the body. The benefits of lymphatic drainage extend to nearly everyone – anyone wanting to boost their immune system and feel revitalized.

The Key Lymphatic Massage Benefits:

• Improved Immune Function: The lymphatic system plays a vital role in the immune system by transporting white blood cells that fight infection and disease.
• Reduced Inflammation: Proper lymph drainage can help reduce inflammation throughout the body, which is associated with various health problems.
• Increased Energy Levels: When the lymphatic system is functioning optimally, it can help eliminate waste products and toxins that can contribute to fatigue.
• Improved Skin Health: Efficient lymph drainage can help reduce puffiness and promote a clearer, healthier complexion.
• Faster Recovery from Injury: A healthy lymphatic system can help remove waste products and lymphatic drainage massage promote healing after injuries.

What Treatments Target the Lymph?

While body treatments may be looked upon by the average person as being a luxurious spa procedure, the primary reason for many body treatments is to stimulate the lymph. Dry Brushing, Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), body scrubs, wraps, cupping, and bathing rituals all play an important role in moving lymph through the body. Let’s take a look at each one individually to see what benefits they lend in the movement of Lymph.

Let’s look at each one and explore how they contribute to the benefits of lymphatic drainage.

Dry Brushing Lymphatic Drainage: 

Dry brushing is recommended prior to body wraps, or as a stand alone addition to your daily routine. Prior to a body treatment it stimulates the Lymphatic System as the therapist strategically begins brushing the arm pits and then brushes the body proximally to distally. In layman terms that means closer to further away.

Arms First-

What that looks like is the therapist would dry brush the arm pit in a flicking motion then would move to the elbow and brush up towards the arm pit or auxiliary nodes. Then the brushing would continue from the wrist or hand to the elbow, then from the wrist all the way to the auxiliary nodes to complete the one arm. The therapist would then repeat these motions on the other arm.

Neck and Chest–

The flow of the lymph is always moving towards the heart. Dry brushing the collarbone area over the subclavicular and supraclavicular nodes helps stimulate the lymph nodes in the neck and support natural drainage. Starting from the chin, use a gentle flicking motion with the dry brush to move the lymph towards the heart, encouraging draining lymph nodes in the neck. From the center of the collarbone, brush out and down towards the armpits, where the auxiliary nodes are located on either side of the body. Women should avoid brushing directly over the nipples but can and should dry brush the breasts from the center of the chest towards the armpits to promote lymphatic flow. This gentle technique may also support how to treat swollen lymph nodes in the neck naturally, enhancing circulation and overall detoxification.

Stomach- 

Separate the stomach in half, from above the belly button brushing in flicking motions up towards the heart. From the belly button down brush towards the groin or inguinal nodes.

Legs- 

Brushing the legs mirrors what was done on the arms. Brush in an upward motion the center of the legs closer to the groin to stimulate the inguinal nodes. Then brush behind the knee to open those nodes and then begin brushing up moving the lymph towards the center of legs. After multiple passes have been completed brushing begins at the ankle and moves to the knee. To finish the treatment start at the ankle and then dry brush the entire leg in flicking motions towards the center of the legs.

Dry Brushing in spas can usually be found as a stand alone menu item or as an add on treatment to most massages. Dry brushing is also highly recommended for anyone who desires to regularly assist the lymphatic movement of their own body. Body brushes normally can be found at your local grocery or drug store in the aisle with body wash and soap. Brushes typically range in price from $3-$15.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage:

(MLD) is often referred to as Lymphatic Massage but the combination of the two words completely contradict each other. MLD is movement of the Lymph, there is no massaging involved in Lymph Drainage. Massage is the manipulation of muscle tissue which is definitely not what you are trying to achieve in the movement of Lymph. MLD certification requires extra hours and training beyond typical massage therapy hours and anyone claiming to be a MLD therapist lymphatic before should have the certificates and documentation upon completion of such a course.

MLD can be performed on a client or patient the day following a major surgery and in fact is highly recommended by surgeons in post op care and recovery for patients. Here at Summit Medical Spa, we work with such clients regularly. Every body and surgery is different. If you are a post op client still actively recovering from surgery we highly recommend having a close friend or relative drive the patient to our facility and then be available in the waiting room until the procedure is complete. We can work around compression garments, pumps, or drains that clients may be using post surgery.

These before and after photos to the right are a personal client of ours here at Summit Medical Spa. Our sessions were 1 week apart for 6 weeks then as improvement came we reduced treatment to every other week and now on an as needed basis. All treatments included MLD each time and sometimes included lymphatic cupping.

Body Scrubs

Body scrubs work similarly to dry brushing by stimulating lymph flow. Scrubs can easily be done at home or at your favorite local spa. To get the most out of your scrub and experience the full lymphatic drainage massage benefits, your therapist should scrub using the same motion pattern described for dry brushing. This supports detoxification, smooths skin, and promotes a healthier, more active lymphatic system.

Body Wraps:

Most body wraps begin with a dry brushing treatment or scrub. Additional benefits received from dry brushing or scrubs come through the stuffing off of dead skin that will occur in the scrub or brushing process. This allows optimal penetration of the serums or muds traditionally used in a wrap as the pores are open and able to absorb the product applied .

Wraps also involve cocooning the body and allowing the product to heat up by way of heated towels or electrical blankets. Raising your internal body temperature and then subsequently the cooling off as the wrap is removed creates a pumping effect of the lymph. Think of a body wrap as the ultimate way to stimulate the lymph.

Aside from feeling completely relaxed after a body wrap, your lymph system will be extremely grateful for the cleansing that will occur during and after your treatment.

Lymphatic Cupping:

While thoughts of Michael Phelps and bright purple spots may be the image flooding your head right now, rest assured Lymphatic Cupping is a completely different experience from stationary cupping. Lymphatic cupping involves the therapist gently pumping over the lymph nodes and then moving the fluid lymphatically through the body in ways similar to what was described in the dry brushing section.

The lymph is for the most part located superficially in the body just underneath the surface of the skin. This means the cup dragging that occurs in lymph movement must be done in a way so as not to disturb the muscle tissue otherwise the lymph movement won’t be effective.

Bath Rituals

The usage of bath rituals has been around for years. Hot water will dilate blood vessels and cold water will constrict them so alternating back and forth between to extreme temperatures will act as a pump in the body to move the lymph through the lymphatic system.

Tony Robbins who is well known for his motivational speeches and books is a firm believer in the practice as he incorporates it into his daily routine.

“Cold water immersion causes your lymph vessels to contract, forcing your lymphatic system to pump lymph fluids throughout your body, flushing the waste out of the area. One of the benefits of cold showers is that they trigger the immune system’s white blood cells, prompting them to attack and destroy any unwanted substance in the fluid. It’s sort of a domino effect – the cold water affects the lymphatic system, which in turn affects the immune system, which ultimately keeps you feeling happy and healthy.”

What conditions are contraindicated for MLD?:

• Influenza
• High Fever
• Hypotension
• Infection (must be on antibiotics for 48 hour previous to treatment)
• DVT or deep vein thrombosis within 2 years
• Those undergoing active oncology treatments (we require a Dr.’s note to treat if you are active with treatments)