What is manual lymphatic drainage?

Manual lymphatic drainage is a way to remove and cleanse the body of excessive water, metabolic waste, toxins, bacteria, foreign substances, large protein molecules from tissues, via the lymph vessels and venous capillaries.

How does manual lymphatic drainage work?

It is based on the principles of motion, by using rhymatic, gentle, light ‘stationary circles’ in the direction of the lymph node in order to drain the fluid effectively.

Manual lymphatic drainage is extremely relaxing and a very gentle treatment helping to calm the sympathetic nervous system.

It is an effective treatment for:

• Those who suffer regularly from common illness like colds and flu

• Other types of illnesses, Glandular Fever, ME (fatigue syndrome)

• Lymphedema

• Headaches

• Sinus congestion and puffy eyes

• Improves the activity of the immune system.

• Digestive conditions (IBS)

• Oedema

• Skin disorders (Acne, Rosacea)

• Hay Fever and other allergies

• Tissue congestion from surgical procedures

• It is useful therapy as a part of post mastectomy treatment to reduce oedema and fibrosis to alleviate tension and pain.

Patients with Lymphoedema

To help you understand how lymphoedema occurs, it is useful to understand a bit about the lymph system. The tissues in the body are bathed in lymph, a watery, pale yellowish fluid. The lymph fluid travels along lymphatic vessels which are like blood vessels, joined together to form channels. Lymph eventually filters through various lymph nodes before being drained into the bloodstream. The job of the lymphatic system is to clean and filter out debris from dead cells, bacteria, microorganisms, and cancer cells. These microscopic particles are carried in the lymphatic fluid whereby they pass through the nodes and are met by the lymphocytes. Lymphocytes break down and attack any cells they do not recognise before they enter the bloodstream, then flushing out through the body with other bodily waste.

When the lymph nodes trap any source of infection or cancer cells, they can swell and become tender and hot as a result, just like having a sore throat when the tonsils enlarge with a cold.

However, when infection is present in the lymph nodes, they become hot, swollen and painful, but, with the presence of cancer, the swollen nodes are usually painless and do not cause any discomfort when palpated (touched). This is often used as a way of distinguishing breast cancer from an infection. The nodes are then removed and evaluated by specialists as a part of managing the disease. The side-effects of having lymph nodes removed is lymphedema. The more nodes removed, the greater the risks of developing lymphedema, leading to swollen breast, trunk and hand. Manual lymphatic drainage can help manage and reduce the side-effects from lymphedema.

Treatment Sessions and Pricing