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 All
the Lymphatic Drainage strokes are based on one principle motion.
Research has found that the initial lymphatics open up and the
lymph angions are stimulated by a straight stretch, but even more
so with a little lateral motion. After these 2 motions, we need
to release completely to allow the initial lymphatics to close
and the lymph to be sucked down the channels. In this zero pressure
phase don’t completely disconnect from the skin, just return your
pressure to nothing. Also don’t pull the skin back with you as
you return, let it spring back by itself.
This basic motion may resemble a circle,
and is called stationary circles. All motions are based on this
principle.
In orienting this motion, we always want
to push the lymph towards the correct nodes, so the last, lateral
stretch motion should be going towards the nodes.
Think about moving
water. Visualize those initial lymphatics just in the skin, stretch,
opening them up, then release and wait for the lymph angions to
pump the lymph down the vessel. Remember how superficial this
is. If you are feeling muscle, or other tissue under the skin,
you are pushing too hard.
Here are four points remember when performing
Lymphatic Massage-
1.
Correct pressure is deep enough so that you do not slide over
the skin, but light enough so that you don’t feel anything below
the skin. This is about 1-4 ounces. It is very common for massage
therapists trained in Swedish or deep tissue to apply too much
pressure with lymphatic drainage massage. Sometimes it is hard
to believe that something so light could be effective. Always
remember- you are working on skin. How much pressure does it take
to deform the skin? Almost nothing. Remember- if you push too
hard you collapse the initial lymphatic.
2.
Direction of your stroke is of great importance, because we always
want to push the lymph towards the correct nodes. If you push
the lymph the wrong way, your work will not be effective.
3.
Rhythm is very important because with the correct rhythm and speed,
the initial lymphatics are opened, and then allowed to shut and
then there is a little time that is given for that lymph to get
sucked down along the vessel. An appropriate rhythm will also
stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, causing the client
to relax.
4.
Sequence means the order of the strokes. When we want to drain
an area, we always start near the node that we are draining to.
Always push the lymph toward the node. Then as we work, we move
further and further away from the node, but always pushing the
fluid back in the direction of the node. In this way we clear
a path for the lymph to move, as well as create a suctioning effect
that draws the lymph to the node.
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