Lymphatic drainage plays an important role in any health or anti-aging regimen on several fronts. Not only does it improve overall skin tone, but getting proper lymphatic flow and detoxification aids in healthy cell turnover.
In a nutshell, the lymphatic system is a pumping system made up of lymph nodes and lymphatic fluid. Lymphatic fluid is one of the body’s mechanisms for removing toxins by placing them in the intestine or pushing them through the skin to eliminate them. When you have lymphatic drainage work, most people notice a strong odor coming from their skin. This is the oxidation of the toxic chemicals that are released.
A quick way to see if your lymphatic system is blocked or overloaded is to gently touch your face and the skin on your forearm and upper arm with your fingertips. If your skin feels spongy or like swimming water, your lymphatic system is sluggish and needs help. The deeper the spongiosity, the more severe the blockage.
When the lymphatic system is blocked in the nodes and the fluid and/or pumping system slows down due to inactivity and weight gain, the system does not remove toxins from the body. Not only does this affect the way your skin looks, but it also affects your immune system due to a lack of good white blood cell production.
The benefits of lymphatic drainage work
Lymphatic drainage opens blockages in the lymph nodes and stimulates the body’s pumping system. In this way the toxins begin to be released. Results vary from client to client, but most people can expect the following:
- Immediate energy boost
- You feel like you could run a marathon
- Inch loss (in most cases)
- Firmer and brighter skin
- Relieves pain (particularly arthritis pain)
- Reduces swelling and fluid retention.
- Speeds healing (particularly skin abrasions and burns)
- Deep feeling of relaxation.
- Promotes healing and general health.
Some people can and do experience a detoxification reaction in the form of a headache or tiredness. This is caused by the release of too many toxins at once. This usually occurs in overweight and highly toxic bodies that are dehydrated. If you are going to do lymphatic drainage work, be sure to stop drinking alcohol, soft drinks, sugary drinks, caffeinated coffee and tea, as well as red meat and dairy for at least 3 days before work and also during it. Drink at least 10 glasses of purified fluoride-free water daily to flush out toxins. This will go a long way in preventing a detox reaction. It is also recommended to do an intestinal cleansing before the lymphatic work and it is important to keep the colon open 3-4 times a day. You may need to take extra fiber if you don’t eliminate many times in a day.
Manual versus Mechanical Treatments
Whether you choose a manual lymphatic drainage massage or a mechanical one with Lumology, Endermolie, Derma Ray and Jade Esthetics Massage, any lymphatic drainage is better than nothing. Both can be very relaxing and enjoyable. Manual massage can be more relaxing as pulsations are used to open up the lymph nodes. However, mechanical lymphatic drainage is faster and more efficient at opening the lymph nodes and causing the pumping action to occur. It is also more effective for weight loss. The combination of Derma Ray with Jade Esthetics Massage is deep and very fast and has the added benefit of leaving your skin looking young, new and silky smooth.
For health and well-being reasons, it is recommended to carry out 6 sessions of lymphatic drainage in 3 weeks twice a year in spring and autumn. For anti-aging purposes, 3 times per season per year for slim people and 6 times per season for overweight people. The bottom line is that in this toxic world we live in, lymphatic drainage plays a huge role in overall health, disease prevention and is a good addition to your anti-aging routine.