Manual lymphatic drainage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Manual lymphatic drainage (pronunciation: man-yoo-uhl lim-fat-ik dreyn-ij) is a type of gentle massage which is intended to encourage the natural drainage of the lymph, which carries waste products away from the tissues back toward the heart.

Etymology

The term "manual lymphatic drainage" is derived from the Latin words "manus" meaning "hand", "lympha" meaning "water", and "drainage" meaning "the process of draining". It was first used in the early 20th century to describe a type of massage that encourages the natural drainage of the lymph system.

Procedure

Manual lymphatic drainage involves the use of gentle rhythmic pumping techniques to move the skin in the direction of the lymph flow. This stimulates the lymphatic vessels which carry substances vital to the defense of the body and removes waste products.

Benefits

Manual lymphatic drainage has many benefits including reduction in swelling, detoxification of the body, regeneration of tissue, relief of chronic and subacute inflammation, and relief of chronic pain.

Related Terms

• Lymphatic system
• Lymph
• Massage
• Detoxification
• Inflammation
• Chronic pain

See Also

• Lymphedema
• Lymphatic diseases
• Physical therapy

References

• Manual Lymphatic Drainage: A Practical Guide. Elsevier Health Sciences. 2014.
• The Complete Guide to Lymph Drainage Massage. Milady Publishing. 2011.

This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.