Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)

Around since the Thirties, it is both preventative and remedial and can enhance your well being. It is a very gentle, deeply relaxing and very specific (pulsating) form of massage; it stimulates the body's lymphatic system, therefore improving metabolism, helping the body to eliminate waste, toxins and excess water and providing a boost to the immune system. The lymphatic system has no pumping mechanism like the heart for the blood circulation so it is always at a higher risk of blockages; lymph fluid is moved only by deep breathing, physical exercise, gravitational force, peristalsis and massage (especially MLD).

It is particularly helpful for individuals who suffer regularly from common illnesses such as colds and flu (best used in very early stage or just before the cold and flu season starts) and it is recommended for people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and those who want to reduce puffiness and swelling. It has also been cited as having a positive effect on skin, cellulite, respiratory problems (congestion) and low energy level (by reducing the accumulated and stagnating waste products).

Manual Lymphatic Drainage can have a beneficial effect on your general health, because an efficient lymphatic system is key to keeping your immune system working properly; improving the flow and drainage of lymph around the body is therefore good for you in many ways. It can help with:

• Improving many chronic conditions: colds, sinusitis, flu, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma (needs to be discussed first), scleroderma, ME, lethargy, acne and other skin conditions like eczema.
• Reducing cellulite and water retention.
• Strengthening the immune system as part of a "detox" treatment, facilitating a general feeling of health and vitality.
• Facilitating weight loss; by improving the lymphatic system one improves general metabolism, helping to burn calories more efficiently.
• Relieving fluid congestion: swollen ankles, tired puffy eyes and swollen legs due to pregnancy.
• Promoting healing of wounds and burns and improve the appearance of old scars.
• Minimising or reducing stretch marks.
• Speeding up healing after cosmetic surgery by reducing swelling and bruising.
• Promoting the healing of fractures, torn ligaments and sprains and lessening the pain.

On a more specialised level it is an effective component of the treatment and control of lymphoedema (which may occur notably after cancer when lymph nodes have been removed).

Rather than a massage it is a succession of manual techniques (light rhythmic strokes) to gently stimulate the lymphatic system; it is a very light touch, because the lymphatic vessels we work on are located directly beneath the skin, but it has a profound effect and affects the whole of the lymphatic system. A session will be 45/60 min and concentrate on one or two area(s) or 90 min and cover the whole body including the face. The number of sessions and frequency will depend on your condition and your body's response to the treatment, however for best result it is common practice to start with an initial 3 sessions within 9 days (more or less).

It is recommended that even a healthy person has a couple of treatments per year, to boost the immune system and keep healthy, and here again it is much more effective to have two or three treatments within a few days (once or twice a year) rather than one treatment occasionally. It will make an excellent (and beneficial) addition to a detox program.

The Lymphatic system was once described as "a system which purifies the body and regulates irritation, swelling and oedema." (Thomas Bartholin around 1954) and manual lymphatic drainage was later said to be "One of the best kept secrets on the health and beauty scene." (Jane Alexander, Daily Mail, Saturday 1996)

While it is an excellent way to prevent infections, people currently suffering an acute infection (fever etc) should not receive MLD and there are other contra-indications and cautions; should you be interested in having this treatment please do contact me first to discuss.

I was taught the Vodder method, by Anne Vadgama in London and Prof Hildegard Wittlinger (taught by Dr Vodder himself) in Austria.

You can find more information on the following site: http://www.mlduk.org.uk/.