LYMPH DRAINAGE THERAPY:
A Little Known Preventive Therapy For Our Immune System
by Alain Schiller, LMT
The lymph contributes to the elimination of fatty tissues, bacteria and toxins which are processed in the lymph nodes, the “battleground” of our immune system. Contrary to the blood system, which has a powerful pump: the heart, the lymphatic system relies on muscle contraction and breathing as the only way to move the lymph forward within the lymphatic capillaries and ducts. Due to any of a number of factors (hereditary history, unhealthy habits, poor diet, illness, lack of exercise), the lymph becomes stagnant and our tissues become engorged with toxins, which in extreme cases may lead to pathogenic situations and other immune system problems. Manual lymphatic drainage is an excellent method of prevention to such developments as it increases the flow of lymph by 8 to 10 times.
While lymphatic drainage was initially developed in in the early 1900s, it took 30 years until the technique was taken seriously by the medical profession. It was only after a prominent German physician successfully tested the techniques of lymphatic drainage on 20,000 hospital patients to verify its effectiveness and find indications and contraindications, that the method became widely used.
Lymph Drainage Therapy sm (LDT) & Lymphatic Breast Care sm ( LBC ) are hands-on methods of lymphatic drainage developed by Bruno Chikly, MD, DO(hon.) of France . Created out of his award-winning research on the lymphatic system, LDT takes traditional lymph drainage techniques and adds an increased level of precision. Using LDT, trained therapists are able to detect the rhythm, direction, depth and quality of the lymph flow in the body. They can then use their hand to perform Manual Lymphatic Mapping ( MLM ) and assess the best pathways to redirect the lymph.
The uses of LDT are numerous it reduces edema (swelling) and detoxification, regenerates tissues for burns and scars, relieves chronic and sub acute inflammation and conditions such as sinusitis, eczema and allergies, reduces the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, has anti-aging effects, aids sleep disorders, alleviates adipose and cellulite tissue and is very useful in pre and post-surgery applications. Within the context of breast
care, LBC can help alleviate numerous conditions related to pregnancy. Since breast tissue is well-supplied with lymph nodes but lacks sources of external compression (such as muscle) to promote the natural lymphatic drainage found in most other body tissues, fluid has a tendency to accumulate. The light-touch specific approach of LBC provides an ideal solution to such fluid stagnation.
Recently, I was blessed with two dramatic results: one of my clients came with a painful, non-cancerous breast cyst. A couple of weeks after treatment her gynecologist could not find any trace of the cyst. Another client, after having cosmetic surgery commented on how LDT greatly accelerated her post-surgical healing, reduced pain, swelling and bruising. I am always amazed that such a light touch may accomplish so much.
