Geraldine Kilkelly Lymphatic Drainage
Manual lymph drainage aims to redirect fluid from swollen areas to healthy lymphatic vessels, transporting it back to the normal circulatory system. With gentle, light but precise hand movement applied to the skin, the therapist exerts different intensities of pressure to increase the activity of normal lymphatic vessels. This encourages the fluid away from congested areas by bypassing ineffective or injured lymph vessels. A Lymphatic Drainage treatment is very gentle and a typical session will involve drainage of the neck, trunk and the effective extremity, lasting approximately 40 to 60 minutes.
Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massage
- Stimulates the contraction of lymph vessels (smooth muscles) and drains connective tissues.
- Alleviates pain as, for example, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis where a patient shows accumulation of fluid in the joints
- Relaxes the sympathetic nervous system
- Relieves stress
- Promotes the breakdown of fibrotic tissues. The fibrotic tissues are a build up of rich protein fluid characteristic of lymphedema. LDM increases the blood flow, thus, encourages protein circulation and their reabsorption into the blood stream via the venous system
- Anti-aging effects
- Enhances action of the immune system
- Minimizes keloid or scar formation. After a trauma or an operation, the tissue builds an abnormal amount of collagen and water which leads to edema. LDM makes the scars softer and allows the water to be reabsorbed into the blood system.