Overview

Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) is a safe, effective, gentle approach to cleansing the body's tissues. MLD drains excess fluid from the tissues and also has a detoxifying effect. It can benefit a healthy person as well as be applied to more than 60 different conditions.

History

In the 1930s, Dr. Voder and his wife, Estred, developed manual Lymph Drainage in Europe. At that time, lymph nodes were frequently removed because they were considered to be malfunctioning when swollen. Removal further compromises the body's ability to fend off infections. Today we acknowledge the importance of the lymph system - to remove, clean and store waste products and toxins in the body

Since there are contra-indications and precautions to observe when treating Lymphedema, it is advisable that you find a certified MLD therapist. MLD should always be applied with a very light skin technique by a trained individual who is mindful of the flow of lymph into the specific lymph nodes. MLD has also proven beneficial for treatment of allergies, skin problems-acne, scar tissue - fibromyalgia, and other conditions ranging from stress-related disorders to autoimmune reactions.

Benefits

• Removes metabolic waste, excess water, toxins, bacteria and foreign
  substances from the tissues
• Alleviates pain by reducing pain signals to the brain
• Relaxes the sympathetic nervous system, thus helping to relieve stress
• Supports and enhances the action of the immune system
• Helps the body to heal more quickly
• Minimizes scar formation

Procedure

The lymph drainage process involves the use of subtle manual manoeuvres to aid in the re-circulation of the lymphatic flow. Specifically, the therapist works with flat hands, using all the fingers to stimulate wave-like movements. The pressure applied is generally around five grams, or the equivalent weight of a nickel. Using this technique, trained therapists are able to detect the specific rhythm, direction, depth and quality of the lymph flow anywhere in the body.

From there, they can use their hands to perform Manual Lymphatic Mapping (MLM) of the vessels to assess overall lymphatic circulation and determine the best alternate pathways for draining body-fluid stagnations.

Therapists work with flat hands, using all the fingers to simulate gentle, specific wave-like movements. These subtle manual manoeuvres activate lymph and interstitial fluid circulation as well as stimulate the functioning of the immune and parasympathetic nervous systems.


Source of information: www.mldinfo.com