In the last lymphatic drainage therapy (LDT) post I covered the basics of the lymph system. This time I plan to give a sense of who can benefit from and who should avoid LDT treatment.

Let’s start with the contraindications or the reasons you should not have LDT treatment. Do you have a fever or are you hemorrhaging? If yes, wait until you’ve recovered before seeking lymph treatment. Likewise for the ACUTE phase of an infectious or inflammatory disease. Chronic, serious contraindications include congestive heart failure, blood clots (thrombosis), an aortic aneurysm, or a venous obstruction. There are precautions a therapist should take for some other conditions.

In general, though, LDT is such a gentle treatment that almost anyone with any condition (including good health) can benefit. Remember, lymph drainage (pronounced like “massage”) helps encourage fluid circulation, including lymph fluid, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and synovial fluid. Activating these systems helps your body eliminate more toxins. It also promotes tissue regeneration and faster healing after illness, injury or surgery.

The immune system can be stimulated as this improved flow of lymph increases the antibody/antigen contact in the lymph nodes. The sympathetic nervous system – the part that keeps us in the “stressed out” mode – can be calmed by LDT, reducing the effects of chronic stress. Pain and muscle spasm are also reduced by lymph drainage therapy.

I’m very excited about the application of LDT in my practice. My favorite referrals are of people who are seeking pain reduction, injury recovery, or surgical support. The pain reduction, tissue rejuvenation and toxin elimination offered by LDT can really benefit these clients.

Clients who come in for maintenance massage can benefit from having lymph drainage incorporated into the session to reduce stress and pain and to boost the immune system.

Recently I spent four information-packed days learning the first level of lymph drainage therapy (LDT1), a program developed by Dr. Bruno Chikly and presented by the Upledger Institute. Over the course of three posts, I want to share some of the basics:

1. lymph and the lymph system

2. benefits of and contraindications for LDT

3. what to expect during & after a session

The lymph system is a very important component of the immune system. The fluid (lymph fluid) that moves through the system starts from the watery environment outside of tissue cells where cellular waste accumulates. After leaving this area (the interstitial environment), the lymph fluid carries the waste products – including dead cell fragments, proteins, lipids (fats), immune cells, hormones, and junk your body doesn’t use (like food coloring or preservatives) – through a series of vessels.

These vessels gently move the lymph through lymph nodes where the fluid is filtered and concentrated (some of the liquid is reabsorbed by the body). This is also where toxins can be captured and destroyed by the immune cells. The lymph fluid is eventually dumped into the the circulatory system near the heart. From here it is mixed with the blood and circulated to the organs of elimination. You then release the waste products and toxins from your body by urinating, sweating, etc.

When lymph tissues are damaged – by injury, disease, or even some disease treatments (radiation, surgery)- their ability to clear their interstitial areas of waste can be compromised. Cells, in a sense, begin to drown in their own waste which can cause toxicity, edema (swelling), and pain.

LDT helps improve lymph flow by stimulating the lymph vessel contractions. The treatment improves the strength and speed of these contractions. In the next post we’ll look at some of the many, many conditions which can be improved by the use of LDT. Stay tuned…

Although it sounds like an obscure general from the Roman Empire, the splenius capitis is actually a neck and head muscle. You have a splenius capitis (SC) on each side of the neck attaching along the vertebrae of the upper back at one end and on the other end attaching to the skull at the mastoid process (just behind your ear).

Contracting the SC on one side will rotate and/or laterally flex (bring ear to shoulder) your neck on that same side. Looking up (extension) requires contraction of both SC simultaneously.

As a neck muscle the splenius capitis is susceptible to injuries such as whiplash. Trauma involving the neck or head can allow trigger points to develop in this muscle. Over or misuse of the muscle (especially related to posture) can also set the stage for trigger points.

Trigger points in the splenius capitis generally refer pain to the top of the head. Headaches of this nature can be relieved if trigger points are causing them and can be deactivated.