Lymphatic massage is surprisingly gentle.

When I first got interested in lymphatic drainage, I was surprised at how well it worked. Like, instantly! After one session, my friend’s edema in her swollen legs was visibly reduced and the pressure and pain were alleviated. She felt so much relief that tears came to her eyes.

When most people receive their first manual lymph drainage massage, they’re usually surprised that the hand technique is so very gentle. Lymphatic massage requires a controlled, yet light touch. Why so gentle?

Lymph vessels are delicate and tiny. The largest are less than one millimeter in diameter, and the precapillary channels are even smaller. The hand movements therefore must be rhythmic and gentle, but provide enough tension to slightly stretch the skin, which encourages the small segments of the lymph vessels to pump lymph fluid. This special type of lymphatic massage is called the Vodder Technique.

The originators of the Vodder Technique

The Vodder...

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Contraindications for Manual Lymphatic Drainage

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Different Types of Fluid Drainage After Surgery

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Healing Sleep

Image by Microgen, Adobe Stock

Here’s what to expect in the age of COVID.

Last week I joined five other massage therapists on a Zoom call about the new normal in the massage therapy world. We’ve been restricted since mid-March, meanwhile gathering best practices for the summer reopening. We discussed how our practice will change, and what will remain the same.

Here in Texas, on May 18 Governor Abbot issued an order under phase two of his reopen plan that allows licensed massage therapists and schools to reopen. This affected three of us Texans on the call. Two others from the UK are planning their reopen date for sometime in July. An Alaskan therapist joined the call from her car. She was on her way to work at a chiropractor’s office where she’s booked through June.

As people venture out after the lockdown, many are craving a massage

I know I could use one! But how safe do you feel about lying on your massage therapist’s table these days? Chances are...

Thank your body for doing thousands of things without you even having to think about it. 

You take a bite of a sandwich, and after chewing and swallowing, your job is done. The digestive system largely takes over from there. You bang your head on the edge of the pool, and after a couple of stitches and a bandage, your circulatory system comes to the rescue to heal the wound. Your brain and nervous system receive information via your eyes, ears, nose, and touch, alerting you to environmental dangers, as well as pleasurable opportunities. You fall asleep each night and your body grows, heals, rests, recuperates, and stores energy for you to get up and do life again the next day. All without much conscious intervention on your part.

The lymphatic system also functions with or without your help. But if you want to increase its immunity-building capabilities, you can actually do something about it. Like a bodybuilder works to define her muscles, your behavior actually facilitates a...

You just dropped an iron on your big toe.

After crumpling to your knees and spewing a curse word or two, you know what’s going to happen. Your toe will turn bright red, it’ll get very hot to the touch, it will be sore and puffy. You may not be able to move it for a while. These are all signs of inflammation, your body’s natural defenses coming to the rescue.

What you can’t see is the dilation of the blood vessels, which allow more blood to reach the tissue. This blood contains a gang of white blood cells rushing into the wounded tissue, ready to fight a battle against infection. Inflammatory mediators trigger immune system cells to pass out of the small blood vessels to prevent further tissue damage. Hormonal signals irritate nerves and cause pain. Inflammation, from the Latin “inflammare”( to burn), sounds an alarm to your entire body. If something hurts, you’re more likely to notice and protect that body part. 

Inflammation...