Understanding the Power of Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Dec 12

Discover the gentle yet profound impact of lymphatic drainage, guiding you towards holistic well-being and healing.

I recently completed a 32-hour training in Lymphatic Drainage Massage (LDM) at McKinnon Body Therapy Center and am thrilled to start offering this service at my studio in a few weeks! LDM is a therapeutic technique designed to support and optimize the lymphatic system's function. I was surprised of how little I knew about this vital but often overlooked system of the human body.

In this blog post, I’ll share what I learned about the lymphatic system, how lymphatic drainage massage can benefit your overall health, some info about getting LDM at Reenoo Bodywork and aftercare advice.

What’s the lymphatic system, anyways?

It’s an extensive network of vessels, nodes and organs that work together to transport lymph throughout the body. Lymph is a clear fluid and consists of water, proteins, fats and immune cells. Lymph nodes are like the body's filtration centers, where immune cells detect and eliminate pathogens, toxins and waste products from the lymph. In addition to supporting the immune system, the lymphatic system also helps maintain proper fluid balance in the body and plays an important role in nutrient transport to the bloodstream.

Unlike the circulatory system, which is responsible for pumping blood, the lymphatic system doesn't have a central pump like the heart. Instead, it relies on muscle contractions, breathing, and external factors such as… You guessed it! Massage! Massage, to maintain lymph flow.

The Importance of Lymphatic Drainage Massage

LDM is a specialized massage technique that aims to stimulate the flow of lymph and promote overall health. It’s performed with light, slow and intentional touch. After clearing the lymph nodes, I work at skin level following the lymphatic pathways to encourages lymphatic fluid movement. This technique is particularly effective in reducing swelling and edema, making it beneficial for bodies coping with conditions like lymphedema, pregnancy related swelling in the hands or feet or recuperating from surgeries.

By providing better lymphatic circulation, LDM helps boost immune function and as a result strengthens the body's ability to combat infections and illnesses. As it assists in the removal of metabolic waste, toxins and excess fluids from the body, LDM is also believed to enhance detoxification. On a more holistic level, this treatment induces a deep sense of relaxation and stress relief through its gentle and rhythmic motions. Over half of the people who have received this treatment from me end up in some kind of altered state of consciousness and I, personally, fall asleep every time I receive it.

Many bodies turn to lymphatic drainage massage as an essential component of their post-op healing process, as it aids in reducing swelling, managing pain and preventing scar tissue formation. Bodies recovering from cosmetic or gender affirming surgery have gotten amazing results with LDM.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage at Reenoo Bodywork

Lymphatic drainage massage is performed by working with 3 zones: the upper body, the lower body and the head, neck and face. The treatment plan depends on your body’s needs, here are some recommendations:

For a one-off treatment for relaxation, to take time for yourself or to help boost your immune system, I recommend a 60-minute appointment. We will work on the head, neck and face zone. If you book a 90-minute service you can get 30 minutes of bodywork in addition to the 60-minute lymphatic work.
For post-op bodies or those dealing with edema, we work in localized sessions. You can often start seeing results after the first treatment and I recommend a minimum of 3 consecutive sessions (a couple days apart) to really reap the benefits. These will be three, 90-minute sessions on the same affected zone for the body, or three, 60-minute sessions for the head, neck and face. This is just a recommendation as every body is different and some might need additional sessions to obtain the desired results.
If you wish for full-body lymphatic drainage to detox, I suggest a full drainage cycle of two 90-minute and one 60-minute sessions, ideally a couple days apart. Each treatment will focus on one zone at a time starting with the upper body, lower body, then head, neck and face.
To boost your immune system I recommend going through 2 full cycles of drainage, which will usually require 6 weekly sessions (two 90-minute and one 60-minute, twice).

Service and packages prices:

60-minute session: $135 - 90-minute session: $190

LDM Head, Neck & Face package (3 x 60mn sessions): $355 ($405 value - $50 in savings!)

LDM Head, Neck & Face + 30mn bodywork package (3 x 90mn sessions): $470 ($570 value - $100 in savings!)

LDM Upper or Lower Body package (3 x 90mn sessions): $470 ($570 value - $100 in savings!)

If more sessions are needed to achieve your desired results, you can add individual services or get a 2nd package.

LDM Full Body Detox package (2x 90mn, 1x 60mn sessions): $440 ($515 value - $75 in savings!)

LDM Full Body Immune Boost package (4x 90mn, 2x 60mn): $830 ($1,030 value - $200 in savings!)

LDM aftercare advice

To ensure that you gain maximum benefit from a massage treatment, I recommend that you:

Loosen tight clothing and underwear – this inhibits lymph flow.
Increase the amount of water you drink over the next few days – the body will be in a state of high toxicity for a few days after the treatment
Reduce your caffeine intake (coffee, tea, colas) and avoid alcohol for 24 hours
Try to cut down on smoking
Make time to rest and relax – this allows the blood pressure to return to normal if has dropped during a treatment
Regular (but not too strenuous) exercise helps with muscle contraction, therefore lymph flow
Diet is important; a light diet of raw foods is recommended so that the body does not need to concentrate on sluggish digestion. Remember, low sodium diets are recommended for a healthy lymphatic system – poor diets are a contributing factor to poor lymphatic drainage.

Occasionally, you may experience reactions during the body’s self-healing process and elimination of toxins. These reactions may include:

Frequent visit to the toilet
You might feel a little like you’re getting sick for a few days afterwards (runny nose and/or cough)
Perspiration – another way that the body can excrete waste
Conditions which have been suppressed may flare up temporarily before they heal
Deep sleep or difficulty sleeping, and vivid dreams

Those reactions are only temporary and should clear within 24-48 hours. They are positive signals that your body has responded to the treatment and is balancing itself.

Feel free to reach out to discuss how LDM can be incorporated into your wellness routine so you can start feeling your best again.

Stay healthy!