December 23, 2012    

Detoxify your system with a lymph drainage treatment. Do you have that tired worn out feeling?  Do you feel as if your body is stuffed full of fluid? Has your immune system been compromised? You may benefit from the detoxifying effects of a lymph drainage treatment. Our lymph system is an amazing pathway of very delicate networking all throughout the body. The proper functioning of the lymphatic system is critical to our body’s ability to drain stagnant fluids, detoxify, regenerate tissues, filter out toxins and foreign substances, and maintain a healthy immune system. It assists with draining toxins and poisons from the system. When there is a back-up, we have swelling and congestion. Unlike the circulatory system which uses the pumping of the heart to circulate blood flow, lymph vessels rely on hundreds of tiny muscular units (lymphagions) contracting throughout the body to propel lymph flow. What causes improper drainage? The action of the lymph fluid can be slowed or stopped due tosurgery, trauma, burns, infections, substantial swelling, fatigue, stress or age. Why would I need assistance with detox? Now more that ever, our bodies are bombarded with chemicals and poisons in the environment and in our foods. It’s a big enough job to detox our own metabolic wastes, but when the lymph fluid stagnates, fluids, proteins, cells and toxins accumulate, and cellular functioning is significantly comprised. How does the treatment work? A very light touch, with gentle compressive movements assists the proper recirculation of body fluids. While the exact amount of pressure applied depends on the area and the pathology involved, it averages an extremely light five grams, or the equivalent weight of a nickel. How often do I have a lymph treatment? While treatment may vary, in most cases we suggest starting with weekly sessions, for 3 weeks. Because you will be detoxifying, we begin with a short session of 35-40 min. The second session is increased to 50 min. Finally, by thethird session a person can handle receiving the complete 100 min. session. This third session constitutes a complete lymph treatment. For best results, the first 3 sessions are scheduled no further apart then one each week. What happens after I’ve done a series of 3 lymph treatments? Your trained therapist will assist you in deciding how often you should receive maintenance treatments. In most instances, patients benefit from doing a complete lymph session every 6-8 weeks. Do you have an upcoming surgery? If you were to treat the area with lymph sessions prior to and just after surgery, it would drain and heal much faster. Why is this? Anytime surgery occurs, there is a disturbance in the lymph system. Treatment restores the vital flow of lymph drainage at this site and surrounding areas. By doing this, you can help create a smooth scar which lays flat and avoid tight, ropey, swollen tissue. Lymph therapists at the Muscle Therapy & Acupuncture Center have been trained by the