MLD helps the body to detox itself faster. What does this mean exactly? The lymphatic system is your body’s detox system, cleansing waste products that travel from the blood, through the various lymphatic vessels and into the lymph nodes (we have about up to 1000 in our bodies). Lymph nodes are like mini recycling centres and also help to filter out antigens, which are tackled in addition by other lymph structures: the spleen, macrophages (a type of white blood cell) and dendritic cells (also connected to the immune system). Anything that can’t be recirculated is expelled in the urine or by sweating.
The first visit will include a consultation during which the therapist will ask about any symptoms, medical history etc., and recommend the number and frequency of future sessions. Each session will last approximately one hour. Where appropriate, the therapist will work in conjunction with your medical practitioner.
You’ll have to remove some of your clothing so that the therapist can have access to the skin, but towels will cover the areas not being treated. We don’t use oil – just our hands, working with the sebum in the skin. So no concerns about coming away oily!
We usually start with the neck, as a third of the body’s lymph nodes are there and it stimulates the system. Then we focus on the areas that need attention. We can treat up to about three areas but not the whole body in a single session, as the technique itself is quite time-consuming. Specific and gentle pumping movements of the skin stimulate and increase the rate of removal of waste products, toxins and excess fluid from the body’s tissues. The lymph is directed into the main clusters of lymph nodes – there are several main areas around the body. Any waste products that can’t be cleaned by the nodes and sent back into the bloodstream get expelled by the body. It’s generally incredibly gentle as we mainly stimulate the superficial flow of lymph directly under the skin, as the lymphatic vessels do not respond as well to pressure. But there are a few deeper techniques, for example on the abdomen.
The most common side effects of this cleansing treatment to be aware of are urinating more frequently (as your body expels waste products) and tiredness. You often have a good sound sleep at night after having the treatment. Rarely, people can feel slightly nauseous. As with the feeling of soreness after a massage, the nausea is usually experienced by people who have not had the treatment before or not for a long time. Also similarly to massage, good results are achieved and side effects eliminated/reduced after a series of regular treatments.
As with massage, we advise drinking water after the treatment, to help the body flush out the toxins. It’s advisable not to drink alcohol or caffeine after lymphatic drainage for the rest of that day as that would be reloading your newly-cleansed body with toxins, and it could make you feel a bit queasy.
Lymphatic-specific homecare advice may include simple tips such as elevating a swollen leg to assist venous return and the flow of lymph, information about compression stockings, or particular exercises that may help to stimulate the lymphatic system.