All Articles are From The Lymph Drainage Class I Offer

Jorge Pabon
Our body owns toxins that are necessary to expel and to eliminate. Maintaining these fluids serves like poison species which are detrimental for our organism. In order to manage to help the body to expel these toxins we can apply a massage of lymphatic drainage.
This drainage helps our body to eliminate toxins. This procedure is made up of a slight series of movement that moves the flow through weave to be explodes by the lymphatic glands. The movement does not have to be strong nor deep, very to superficial either. It must follow a pumping sequence to drain. For the best fusion of the drainage landlord must follow itself. The body is divided in four hemisphere, with its points of drainage for the elimination. These glands are first that must be stimulated before coming with the manipulations to drain.
Treatments such as for leusemia, renal cancer, problems, among others; this type of lymphatic drainage is helpful and with great benefits. It is of extreme importance always of being abreast of the condition that can have a person and the opinion of a specialized doctor.

Jett Kerns
When our lymph system is operating properly, it removes substances from our connective tissue, which cannot be carried by the venous capillaries. Some examples of these substances are toxins, proteins, viruses, bacteria and excess water.
These substances are removed via Lymph vessels, which are made of made of independently acting, onion-shaped units called angions , which shunt lymph from one angion to the next, funneling lymph into one of over 600 lymph nodes where it is cleansed and concentrated.
When the lymphatic system is inadequate, edema accumulates in the extremities and sometimes in the trunk of the body. This phenomenon is referred to as “lymph edema”.
Lymph edema is classified as being either Primary or Secondary lymph edema. Primary lymph edema is characterized by in insufficient amount of lymph vessels, such as Milroy’s or Praecox. Secondary lymph edema is characterized by damage or loss of lymph vessels dues to trauma such as surgery.
If left untreated, edema can cause excess proteins in the tissues to cause fibroses, which will in turn make it difficult for the lymph system to function properly.
Lymph edema is treated with Manual Lymph Drainage “MLD”, a pathology-oriented , massage technique by which light, rhythmic pressure is applied, following the lymph pathways
There are many benefits to MLD, including but not limited to helping lymph to flow more freely, removal of blockages along vessels and within nodes, removal of toxins and stimulation of the immune system.

Charles Hamby
The lymphatic system is a collection of organs, ducts and tissue that performs the duel role of draining lymph back into the bloodstream and of fighting infections. It is made up of lymph glands (nodules) and small vessels called lymphatics which link the glands together and to the spleen. The lymph glands produce lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells whose function is to recognize foreign cells, bacteria, minerals, fats and infectious substances. The glands function as barriers to prevent the spread of infections through the lymphatics, by trapping the infectious substances flowing through the lymphatic system. This is why the lymph glands become swollen when we have an infection. The spleen is a large lymph gland and is located behind the ribs in the in the upper left part of the abdomen. The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy fluid balance in the body. Lymphocytes and other antibodies within the lymphatic fluid defend the body from disease.
Manual Lymph Drainage was developed in the 1930’s by the Danish physical therapists Doctors Emil and Estrid Vodder. After years of detailed study and investigation of the lymph vessel system, they developed a series of light, rhythmic manipulations in order to stimulate lymph flow and fluid movement. Encouraged by their success with patients, they developed a series of manipulations for the entire body and founded a systematic approach to treatment which they called Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD). Today, MLD is a light, rhythmical massage in which the practitioner uses a range of specialized and gentle rhythmic pumping techniques to move the skin in the direction of the lymph flow which stimulates the lymphatic vessels.
MLD is both a preventive and a remedial treatment. When the lymphatic vessels are not functioning properly due to blockages, the body’s immunity drops, and it becomes susceptible to a number of ailments such as allergies, headaches, sinusitis, low energy and frequent infections. MLD provides a major boost to the immune system and is essential in removing these blockages and in restoring the lymphatic system to its normal state. MLD is very effective in the treatment of conditions such as edema, sinus congestion, abdominal bloating, migraine headaches and rheumatoid arthritis. It promotes the healing of fractures, torn ligaments, sprains and lessens pain. It is also used in the treatment of skin conditions such as acne, to heal wounds and burns, and to reduce scars and stretch marks. It also works on the nervous system, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and improves sleeping patterns.
A problem that we are all affected with at some time in our life is lymphedema. Lymphedema is an abnormal accumulation of lymph in body tissues which causes a disruption of the normal drainage of lymph. This disruption can develop from an infection, cancer, surgery, scar tissue formation, trauma or different forms of cancer treatment. Lymphedema can occur within a few days, months, or years after lymphatic injury or it may occur for no know cause. It may be present from birth or may develop later in life. Lymphedema of unknown causes affect twice as many women as men. Manual Lymph Drainage is used in combination with other therapies for the treatment of lymphedema.

Megan Hosea
Working in the Medical field was a great thing for me because when I started as a massage therapist it really helped when learning about the major systems and the functions of the body. Through school we learned about the lymphatic system and i knew that it causes swelling. I didn't know about how MLD could help to prevent lymphedem and could help reduce the swelling.
I was surprised to find out that our lymphatic system contain over 600 collection sites which are lymph nodes.  The lymphatic system is responsible for supplying plasma-rich protein to the blood. It also helps to fight against bacteria, viruses, and fungus. Most of chronic problem s occur at the junction of lymph vessels.
In women the axillary nodes, are lactated in the arm pit, and are the primary channel for releasing lymph from the breasts. It is said that most women who have breast cancer will have some kind of lymph problems after their surgery. MLD can help to prevent this and keep women healthy. In males the inguinal nodes, are located in the crease of the groin, and is the primary channel for release of lymph  from the prostate.
I never realized that cellulite is really a blockage of lymphatic fluid. I am very interested in trying this out on my clients because i know of a lot of women who complain about the cellulite on their legs.
I couldn't believe that there is 6 to 10 liters of lymph in the body, compared to 3.5 to 5 liters of blood, and not only that but it can increase to 10-30 liters per day of fluid with activation of the lymphatic circulation. The muscular units contract in humans at a rate of about 10 centimeter/minute or 3 inches/minute.  The pulse rate can be 1 to 30/min. Swedish massage can actually cause serious complication if applied in lymphedematous tissue. I never knew this!
The lymph fluid flows one way in the lymph ducts, from the extremities to the junctions of the subclavian and jugular veins. Starting at the axillary, you would move up towards the head while pushing the fluid down towards the heart. When doing the abdomen, you should use a little more pressure and push up towards the heart. When starting in the inguinal region, start at the groin and push up towards the heart while moving down the leg towards the feet. You only need to apply about 5 grams of pressure, not more then that except on the stomach. On the stomach you only apply a little more pressure than you would on the rest of the body. Around the knees you should use your thumbs and apply a little bit of pressure to move the fluid up towards the heart.  When applying MLD, you should start with the right side of the body. The right side drains only into the right side and the left with the left.  You should drain the axillary first before you work on the arm and you should work on the inguinal before you start on the leg. When doing the breast, you should start away from the areola and work your way in 1-5 oz of pressure.
When applying MLD it is better if you elevate the legs, head and arms while supine and the claves while prone, because it helps the lymph system to flow better if the area is raised above their heart.
In one of the videos it shows how to really work on the groin area and not only release the lymph but also help the person stretch. He did say in the video that you have to make sure to be careful when stretching the leg in differnt positons to make sure they dont get a cramp.
This was a really great course and i enjoyed it a lot.

Sudhakar Raju
The human body has two major circulatory systems that govern the body’s well being and continued health. They are the blood circulatory and the lymph circulatory systems. The body contains about 50% more lymphatic fluid than blood. It also contains over 600 collection sites called lymph nodes. These circulating systems cover the entire body enmeshed in various tissues. The arteries send out blood along with the nourishment to all tissues, the veins collect the blood and sends the blood back to the hearts and lungs for purification and replenishments. It is most often ignored that the lymphatic system also assists in the drainage and supplements the venous circulation. The lymph vessels having much thinner walls than the blood vessels have more permeability and hence can extract more toxins and waste to allow more expulsion from the body system. Like the veins the lymph ducts also have a one way valves that keep up the floow in the right direction. Apart from this function the lymph plays a major role by supplying plasma-rich protein to the blood.
Though the external compression forces from the muscles, the surging blood and movements within the body help in shunting the lymph along from one angion/node to the other, it sometimes is not adequate enough to fully achieve its purpose in expelling toxins. The need for assistance through external pressure of massage therapies becomes essential to keep up the good work of the lymphatics.. As the body ages the vessels age loosing its elasticity and muscular capacity, added to this the daily grind, over indulgence and sedentary life styles of today play havoc on the tissues, weakening them. Then it is imperative for various therapies to assist in lymph drainage and blood circulation. Thus Manual Lymph Drainage has proved to be beneficial to human beings by virtue of its capacity to remove toxins, blockages of the vessels, and in turn stimulating the immune system. Apart from this it also plays an equally important role in cosmetics by removal of scars, wrinkles, stretch marks, fat/cellulite and fluid retention.