The short answer is most Americans could use a lymphatic drainage massage (BTW – there are those in the massage community who wince when they hear “lymphatic drainage ‘massage’”, citing that it is not actually a ‘massage’, but that’s a post for another time). If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know that I refer to the Lymphatic System as the ‘waste management’ of the 11 body systems. And as long as the Standard American Diet (SAD) is so popular, the lymphatic system will always need a boost due to the over absorption of so many additives, unhealthy fats, fillers, coloring and the like. Our bodies are simply not meant to battle so many invaders on a regular basis.
Beyond that, lymphatic drainage is super effective if you’re experiencing any type of swelling (including consuming too much sodium). Do your ankles swell at the end of the day? Are your finger joints stiff? Do you have little puffy ‘pillows’ just below your toes? How does your neck feel – full? Bloated? These are all common signs & symptoms of a congested or slow-moving lymphatic system, so you’ll want to address those little nuisances before they lead to something more complicated.
Do you suffer with auto-immune disorders? Lupus, Lyme, Epstein Barr (EBV), Hashimoto, Fibromyalgia, etc. are all conditions that represent a struggling lymphatic system. You may present with zero visible swelling, but your Immune System (Cardiovascular + Lymphatic = Immune System) struggles to keep up.
Have you had lymph nodes removed? Even the removal of one node can change your body forever, but typically, it’s the removal of several nodes* that result in swelling that can lead to lymphedema in the regions surrounding the node removal. Lymphatic treatments are highly effective – but not foolproof - at staving off lymphedema, and as you know, lymphedema is not reversible, so you’ll want to address the swelling before it becomes permanent. Remember, we can’t guarantee that lymphatic treatments can prevent lymphedema, but we sure can make you more comfortable and help your body function better after your procedure(s).
Have you recently had a surgical procedure? Mastectomies, lipo suction, BBLs, tummy tucks, knee surgery, hip replacement, etc. ANY surgery that causes pain & swelling (the natural healing response), including chemo and radiation, will most likely benefit from lymphatic treatments as they help ‘wake-up’ the lymphatic vessels that may have been severed during the surgery. Our treatments also address some of the superficial scar tissue, which helps the area look & feel much better after just one treatment.
Do you have more questions about who can benefit from lymphatic treatments? Just reach out; we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
*The image shows a client after having 40 nodes removed from her neck. Immediate and consistent treatments have reduced the swelling, smoothed out the scar tissue, helped her to speak clearly again (along with some speech therapy) and has improved her quality of life immensely! She now comes dancing into our studio. :-)