Lymphatic System—Good Health!
The lymphatic system is critical to your body’s ability to maintain a healthy immune system as it filters toxins and foreign substances, drains stagnant fluids, eliminates metabolic wastes, and regenerates tissues.
Discovered in the 17th century as “milky veins” by an Italian physician during surgery an understanding of the importance of the lymph system has been brought through to the 21st century by numerous physicians and osteopaths like Andrew T. Still, Earl C. Miller, Emil Vodder, and Bruno Chikly.
The lymph system lies under your skin and is made up of the lymph capillaries, vessels and nodes. In the lymph vessels thousands of tiny muscular swinging, door-like units called (lymphangions) contract throughout the body to move and transport the lymph fluid and substances (proteins, toxins like bacteria and urea, lipids, minerals, enzymes, hormones, and lymphocytes or immune cells) to the lymph nodes to be processed before entering the heart.
Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (LDT) is used by doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors, dentists, physical therapists, massage therapists, lymphedema specialists, and bodyworkers. It is the hands-on technique of manually manipulating the lymph capillaries, vessels and nodes to attain and sustain a properly functioning lymph system which has been compromised or stopped by burns, surgery, trauma, infections, swelling, fatigue, inactivity, stress or age.
Benefits of Lymphatic Massage
• Stimulates fluid circulation to reduces edema or swelling.
• Immune system stimulant for preventative and therapeutic health maintenance.
• Relieves chronic and subacute inflammation such as acne, eczema, allergies, sinusitis, brochitis, hay-fever and rhinitis.
• Encourages tissue regeneration (e.g., burns, wounds, stretch marks, and pre & post surgical scarring).
• Provides deep relaxation that can aid insomnia, depression, and stress.
• Reduces the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
• Relieves chronic and subacute pain, sprains, and strains (sports injuries) by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system.
•Encourages flow and release of toxins from the body.