Lymphatic Massage for Yourself
Why Lymphatic Drainage Massage Works
Lymphatic massage is a gentle and painless way to help the lymphatic system work more efficiently. It helps boost immune system function, and can help with reducing pain, inflammation, swelling, and stress. Additionally, it brings all the mental and physical benefits that are present in all forms of healing touch.
Using hands or other tools in a specific sequence, we can encourage the lymph system to do its job more efficiently. While there are additional benefits to receiving lymphatic massage from someone else, it’s possible to use your own hands in that same sequence to get many of the benefits at home. The sequence for lymphatic massage are easiest to understand once we understand how the lymphatic system works - and you can get a free download of that sequence at the bottom of this post.
About the Lymphatic System
The lymph system is a one-way transportation and filtration system, and is an important part of how our body prevents swelling.
The body is 90% water. Have you ever wondered how that water is kept clean? The answer of course, is the lymphatic system. As new fluid arrives, the lymphatic system moves excess fluid into the lymphatic capillaries along with cell waste, proteins, and anything else that’s been collecting in the interstitial space.
From the capillaries, the lymph fluid moves towards the center through larger and larger vessels. Muscle activity and joint movement are the primary pumping action to keep that fluid moving, supported by some contraction of the vessels themselves.
The lymph nodes are where a lot of the filtration happens. We have approximately 450 lymph nodes in the body, mostly in the abdomen, head/neck, armpits, and groin. The lymph nodes are generally organized in chains, and fluid passes from node to node to node before it’s sent on its way. Ultimately, fluid is sent toward the heart to be recirculated, or the kidneys to be urinated out.
Lymphatic Massage Sequence
Since the main purpose of lymphatic massage is to encourage the flow of the lymphatic system, let’s use our understanding of the anatomy to guide our understanding of the sequence. First, a metaphor: if you were responsible for encouraging traffic flow, how would you go about getting traffic moving? Would you start at the back of the traffic jam, and tell those stopped cars to get moving? Of course not! You would start by clearing the way, making sure the exit ramps were open and the road was clear. You’d get the cars in the front of the jam to get moving along. Only then, when there was somewhere for them to go, would you start paying attention to the cars at the back of the traffic jam.
Similarly, we start the lymphatic massage sequence at the exit ramps, where the lymph fluid is dropped off in the bloodstream at the subclavian veins near the collarbones. From there, we clear the trunk, then the lymph nodes that receive the fluid, and then finally the arms and legs. Different people may benefit from slightly different sequences depending on their condition, but the general principle remains clearing the center, working your way out to the swollen areas, and then bringing the fluid back to the center again.
Lymphatic Massage Techniques
The key word is gentle. The lymphatic capillaries are key to getting fluid stuck in the body to start moving, and they’re delicate. Many of the capillaries are located in between the dermis and the epidermis - they’re just barely below the surface of the skin. We don’t need to use much pressure to influence them. In fact, if we use too much pressure, we end up working with different body parts altogether. There’s nothing wrong with massaging the fascia or the muscles, but it won’t get the same results as working with the lymphatics.
Stretching the skin is the essential quality to lymphatic massage as opposed to other types of massage. With each stroke, we want to stretch the skin in the direction we want the fluid to go, and then allow the skin to turn to its natural position. Our hands are the tool most easily available to most of us, but dry brushing and other physical tools can also create similar effects.
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