Lymphatic drainage massage is a gentle, slow massage that moves fluid out of puffy tissue and toward the lymph nodes, where the body can reabsorb it. It uses much lighter pressure than a normal massage.
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What does the lymphatic system do?
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and nodes that carries lymph, a clear fluid, back into the bloodstream and helps the immune system. It has no pump of its own, so it relies on muscle movement and breathing to keep fluid moving. Cleveland Clinic has a clear overview.
How does lymphatic drainage massage work?
A therapist starts near the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, then uses light, stretching strokes to move fluid from swollen areas toward them. The classic clinical method is called manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), sometimes called the Vodder method after the couple who developed it.
What are the benefits?
According to Cleveland Clinic, it is used to reduce swelling and fluid retention, including lymphedema after cancer surgery, and people also use it for stress relief and a less puffy face. Everyday users mostly want one thing: to feel less swollen and heavy after long days, salty meals, flights or before a period.
How long do results last?
The lighter, less puffy feeling usually lasts hours to a day or two. Clinics often recommend a series of sessions, and results are not always immediate.
Who should not have it?
People with a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis, an infection or fever, heart disease, kidney failure, or a history of stroke should skip it unless a doctor says otherwise.
Can you do lymphatic drainage massage yourself?
Yes, a simple version. Use flat hands and light pressure, and stroke toward the nearest nodes: up the legs toward the groin, clockwise around the stomach, up the arms toward the armpits. Ten minutes is plenty. Our step-by-step guide covers lymphatic drainage massage at home.
Is there an easier way to keep it up?
Hand massage takes effort, which is why most people stop. A strap-on massager like the ryng V3 runs on the stomach, waist or thighs for about fifteen minutes while you sit. It is a massage device for the puffy, heavy feeling, and it does not replace treatment for medical swelling.
the ryng V3
Six vibration levels and a raised contact edge. Straps on with the included belt and runs while you sit.
See the ryng V3