What is Manual Lymph Drainage Massage?

Manual lymph drainage massage is a gentle rhythmic skin massage that drains connective tissue when swelling is present. This massage stimulates the lymph vessels in the skin to begin to pull the fluids into the body to be recycled through the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system cleans the fluids, and cycles it back to the heart to be redistributed along with blood, oxygen and nutrients that are critical to cell life and regeneration.

The massage also slows the sympathetic nervous system (the flight or fight system) and speeds up the parasympathetic system. The parasympathetic system is the system that allows the body to heal and regenerate cellls. The lymphatic system is innervated by the parasympathetic system. This massage encourages the lymphatic system to speed up so that our immune system is working properly.

This massage helps in healing after surgeries and procedures because the pulling away of the fluids allows the cells in the area to receive all that is necessary to the skin to heal cleaner and faster.

The gentle movement of the skin around scar areas encourages the collagen to lay down smoother fibers which is necessary for smoother, less noticeable scarring.