An introduction to Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)

Manual Lymphatic Drainage benefits the body in a different number of ways. For example, it has helped patients during IVF treatment and others with Lymphedema. It boots the immune system and can also help with autoimmune diseases. Many patients use MLD before and after plastic surgery to have better results and heal faster.

We have discussed, in different blogs,  some of these areas, but there are much more. Just to remind you, we would like to take a closer look at what the Lymphatic system is, and the important role it plays. Besides, we will explain the benefits of having Manual Lymphatic Drainage massage to help get rid of toxins.

What is the role of the Lymphatic System?

There are some of the most important roles of the Lymphatic system:

  • The Lymphatic System is there to get all the unwanted stuff out of the body.
  • It helps to clear away toxins and waste to help maintain a healthy balance within the body.
  • The lymphatic system plays a key role in the immune system.
  • It helps in the absorption of fats and fat-soluble nutrients.

The Lymph is a fluid that is clear and colourless. Its main role is to transport white blood cells. These white blood cells are central to fighting infection.

The Lymphatic System is formed from a network of tissues and organs within the body. Just like the circulatory system, it has a number of vessels that are similar in type to veins and capillaries.

But unlike some of the other systems such as the one for carrying blood, the lymph system does not flow in a continuous circuit. On the contrary, it only flows in one direction. Namely, towards the neck in an upward direction.

The vessels of the Lymphatic system are connected by hundreds of nodes throughout the body. Some that you may sound familiar to you are the spleen, the tonsils or your adenoids. All these nodes play an important role in catching the debris from the lymph fluid.

What is Manual Lymphatic drainage?

Manual Lymph drainage, is a technique developed by Dr. Emil Vodder and his wife Estrid Vodder. It was created in 1936 in Paris. They developed it for treatment of swollen lymph nodes.

The role of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), unsurprisingly, is to keep this magical lymphatic defence system working efficiently.

MLD is a particular type of massage that is used to stimulate the flow of the lymph fluid that we mentioned previously.

It is a particularly gentle form of skin massage that uses only a minimum of pressure. The soothing technique helps encourage the lymph to move out of a limb and into an area that drains normally.

In essence, MLD stops the debris in the body from getting congested and lets the fluid flow optimally. It also has a secondary benefit of increasing blood flow in both deep and superficial veins.

Is MLD safe?

The pressure used in MLD is so light that there is little chance of damaging tissue. However, the technique used is very sophisticated and needs to be applied by a qualified professional. An inexperienced or unqualified practitioner could create unnecessary blockages that would be counter-productive.

There are also some conditions, and in some instances, where it is unwise to apply MLD. A good (and honest) practitioner will always refer you on to a specialist when necessary.

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!

References:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21199-lymphatic-system

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/303087

https://www.physio-pedia.com/Manual_Lymphatic_Drainage

 

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

xxx hd
×