I’ve already professed my love for the Swedish massage. It’s the white bread of the spa world; inoffensive, basic and always available. Lymphatic drainage massage on the other hand; well…that’s more like stone-ground, sprouted 7 grain bread. It’s much harder to find and it’s typically done for health reasons; not enjoyment. Now that my food analogies have given you an idea between the two I want to share my experience with Lymphatic Drainage Massage; and yes, I’ve actually been getting them done for some time now. Here’s why:
- I believe a massage can and should be utilized for it therapeutic values when appropriate.
- Lymphatic drainage massage is proven to help with most cases of edema; I don’t know about you but even the leanest female specimens are not-immune to the effects of a salty binge fest.
- It targets and focuses on oftentimes overlooked areas, like the extremities and under arms.
- It’s a relatively simple way to help stimulate the lymphatic system and move extra fluid out of the body without being too invasive.
One day I may conjure up the courage to post a picture of my thick, herculean thighs and text-book worthy cankles and show you why this underrated treatment is so important. I have found that it really helps makes a difference with swelling and overall tone…it’s not a Miami plastic surgeons office but if your expectations are realistic you will see the difference. I always drink plenty of water afterwards to help maintain the effects and like most treatments, the more regularly you have the massages done the better. Most often, the lymphatic manipulation is done by hand although this last massage was done by a Jade roller. While the pressure was less using this roller, the sensation was a nice way to break up the monotony. Either way, if you are able to find a practitioner who specializes in this type of technique I urge you to give it go. At a loss about where to look? Look for someone who specializes in natural healing or holistic health.
