What is Lymph Drainage Therapy?

Lymph Drainage Therapy: What to Expect

Lymph Drainage Therapy (LDT) is a gentle form of hands-on bodywork developed by Bruno Chikly, MD, DO. It uses very light, rhythmic contact and careful attention to the body's lymphatic system and associated organs, such as the liver and connective tissues.

At Intero Bodywork, LDT is a quiet, subtle form of bodywork. Rather than working deeply into muscle or following a fixed massage sequence, we pay close attention to the tissues beneath our hands and to the direction and quality of lymphatic movement.

For many people, the experience feels very different from a conventional massage, because it's not "massage" but a modality of clinical manual therapy.

What is lymph drainage?

Your lymphatic system is a network of vessels and tissues that helps maintain fluid balance throughout the body and plays an important role in immune function.

Lymph moves through the body in response to several different forces. Movement of the body and surrounding tissues contributes to lymphatic flow, as does the activity of the lymphatic vessels themselves.

Lymph drainage work is designed to interact with this system through gentle, specific contact rather than through the deeper pressure used in many forms of massage.

That is one reason LDT can feel surprisingly light.

What makes LDT different from massage?

LDT isn't simply a lighter version of a regular massage.

The practitioner works with every layer of tissues and pays close attention to how they respond to touch. The work may involve following or encouraging particular directions of movement rather than working primarily on muscles and areas of tension.

At Intero, we also use Manual Lymphatic Mapping, an assessment approach developed by Bruno Chikly. Mapping involves using palpation to identify patterns in superficial lymphatic flow and can help us determine how we approach the work.

This means that an LDT session isn't necessarily a predetermined sequence.

We assess what we are feeling and adjust the session accordingly.

What does an LDT session feel like?

In general, the pressure is very light.

Instead of kneading, compressing, stretching or working deeply into muscles or fascia, the hands make gentle contact with the movement and rhythms of the fluid body. And depending on the level of treatment and assessment, the hand contact may be very still.

Some people notice the changes in fluid rhythm immediately. For others, the work can feel almost imperceptible at first.

There may be periods when very little appears to be happening from the client's perspective. That's part of the nature of this work. The goal isn't to create a strong sensation or to make the body "work harder."

Because LDT is so subtle, communication is important. We want you to be comfortable, and we will adjust the session based on what you are experiencing.

Why do people seek out lymph drainage?

People come to us for lymph-focused bodywork for many different reasons.

Some are interested in supporting their body following surgery or other medical treatment. Others are looking for a very gentle form of bodywork because conventional massage feels too intense.

LDT may also be appropriate for people who simply want to explore a different kind of therapeutic touch.

Importantly, you don't have to have lymphedema to receive lymph-focused bodywork. Any time the body (or mind or emotions) feel conjested, LDT can help move things along in the healing process. Interestingly, this includes the brain and even joint injuries.

We prefer an open-ended approach: understand the lymphatic system, work with it carefully, and pay attention to how your individual body responds.

Does lymph drainage "detox" your body?

We don't use the word detox to describe LDT.

The lymphatic system certainly has important roles in fluid balance and immune function. But "detox" isn't a precise medical description of what happens during lymph drainage.

Your liver, kidneys, lungs, gastrointestinal system, and other organs are responsible for processing and eliminating substances from your body. LDT can aid and decongest areas of fluid retention, especially lymphatic and pre-lympathic fluids and vessels associated with those organs, when those organs have been working harder due to illness and inflammation.

Can I receive LDT if I don't have lymphedema?

Absolutely!

Lymph-focused bodywork isn't limited to people with a diagnosis of lymphedema. We work with clients who are interested in experiencing a gentle, lymph-focused approach even when they don't have a diagnosed lymphatic condition.

However, there is an important distinction between being an appropriate person to receive LDT and having a medically established reason for LDT.

The research on LDT in otherwise healthy people is still limited. We therefore don't promise particular outcomes simply because someone receives lymph drainage.

Instead, we focus on providing thoughtful, responsive bodywork and helping you understand what to expect from the session.

What about surgery or cancer treatment?

Lymph drainage is often incorporated into care following surgery or cancer treatment, but it isn't automatically appropriate after every procedure.

Your surgery, stage of healing, medical history, medications, and other circumstances all matter.

If you have been diagnosed with lymphedema, LDT should also be understood as one possible component of a larger treatment plan. Appropriate lymphedema care may include compression, exercise, skin care, education, and other interventions depending on the individual.

If you're considering lymph drainage following a medical procedure, we'll talk with you about your situation before beginning.