Lymphatic Drainage

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Moira <dunmor

 

Friday, March 30, 2001 7:07 AM

[AX] Fw: LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

 

Hi Moira,

 

I first sent this 1st April '01 (not a good date to chose) and I notice it

hasn't turned up on the list. So I will try one more time. Here it is again,

aplogies to you all if it arrives twice.

 

This post 'caught my eye' - I'll just do a quick response before my

favourite 'soap' starts.

 

I provide specialised manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage and so I will

try and answer your questions. It is a large topic so I shall stick to just

the main points you have raised.

 

>

> I have had some conflicting information on lymphatic drainage during

therapeutic >aromatherapy massage.

 

A limited amount of lymphatic drainage massage will be accomplished during

traditional aromatherapy massage.

 

>Firstly what are the main movements for encouraging lymphatic drainage? Are

they >Petrissage and Squeezing?

>

 

Neither really, in specialised MLD massage the 'massage movements' (which

are only a part of the 'whole thing') are more akin to variations on light

effleurage (the lymph vessels are close to the surface). Also, the movements

are restricted to areas containing these vessels so you do this massage over

this system rather than the muscle groups. The massage also has to be

carried out in a specific order around the lymph system and also includes

completely different work at the major lymph nodes. When this latter part is

done the receiver/client has to work with the therapist with breathing and

breath. In addition, very gentle manipulation of the joints are carried out.

 

> When massaging a limb for instance with lymphatic drainage in mind does

one drain >the top of the limb first and then the bottom? Or the other way

around?

>

> For example does one begin massaging at the elbow and up to the shoulder

and

>at the knee and massage up the thigh and thereafter start at the ankle and

massage up >the calf?

 

For these two parts of the body the order is pretty much as you suggest but

with my foregoing caveats about lymph vessels, nodes and joints.

 

>Finishing off with effleurage movements that are directed towards the heart

>and begin >at the bottom of the limb moving up to the top.?

>

 

Lymph drainage massage finishes (and starts) with the cisterna chyli.

 

> I look forward to some info on this but please dont reply unless you are

absolutely >sure that the information is correct.

>

I hope this helps, it is very brief but gives you an idea. Moira, in my

experience, and when used to target specific problems, MLD massage is very

profound. It is a discipline I would always advise a trained therapist to

consider adding to their 'skill base'.

 

> Thanks

>

> Moira

> JHB SOUTH AFRICA

>

>

You are welcome ..... Richard MIFA/England