Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)

The lymphatic system helps to protect us from infection and disease.

It is part of the body’s immune system. The lymphatic system’s job is to flush toxins away from the body and keep you healthy. If the system becomes ‘blocked’ the body becomes toxic making us feel sluggish and susceptible to disease. This is made more likely due to the fact that we daily dump toxins into our bodies, eat badly, drink too much alcohol, eat too much sugar, live in cities full of pollution, and generally live unhealthy lifestyles.

Manual Lymph drainage (MLD), is a technique developed by the Vodders (Dr. Emil Vodder and his wife, Estrid) in 1936 in Paris for treatment of swollen lymph nodes.

MLD is a light, skin-stretching massage that helps promote the movement of lymphatic fluid out of the swollen limb. It should not be confused with a traditional massage. MLD is specifically focused on the lymph vessels to help the flow of lymphatic fluid. Therapy is applied to your unaffected areas first, making it possible for the fluid to move out of the affected area, or “decongest” the region. MLD helps open the remaining functioning lymph collectors and move protein and fluid into them, as well as to help speed up lymph fluid flow through the lymphatics.

Lymphatic drainage massage relieves swelling that occurs when illness or medical treatment clogs your lymphatic system. Lymphatic massage involves gently manipulating specific areas of your body to move excess fluid buildup away from your tissues and toward working lymph vessels and lymph nodes so they can get rid of toxins in your body.