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Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

2/26/2015

 
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In recent years a number of my massage clients have been referred by medical professionals for the purpose of receiving lymphatic drainage. Because I get so many questions about this technique I thought I’d share some basic information about this therapeutic massage technique.

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 is a complex system that is comprised primarily of lymph vessels and nodes working in cooperation to accomplish these important tasks.

What is lymph? Lymph is a clear colorless fluid containing white blood cells that help rid the body of toxins and waste. When you see anatomy pictures of the lymphatic system it looks like a large spider web covering the entire body. It is found in every system in our body.

Where is lymph found? The lymph capillaries which are in almost every tissue of an organism start out feather fine.  They slowly increase in size, moving inside the lymphatic collection ducts and eventually joining the venous circulation just before reaching the heart.

How does it help overall heath? It plays a major role in your immune system, by removing waste at a cellular level and it assists with bringing nutrients and oxygen to cells. When your cells and tissue have enough oxygen, the tissue is healthier.  Lymphatic drainage can help chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune disease, bronchitis, arthritis, scar tissue, anxiety, cataracts, dry eyes, joints swelling,and people who work out on a regular basis and have tight muscles, just to name a few.

How is this massage done? Lymphatic massage is done fully clothed. The strokes are light, rhythmical and the hand positions are different and the pressure lighter than having a regular massage. The therapist feels for constrictions in the tissue, than moves the fluid toward the drain. This helps to move nutrients and oxygen back into the tissue.

You can read a little more about lymphatic massage on my website. You can also check out this interesting video that shows one technique for doing lymphatic drainage on your own face and head, which can help relieve sinus and head congestion. While the video does not show the entire drainage technique, there is enough information here to help you get some relief until you can get into a trained therapist.

If you want more information about lymphatic drainage or if you would like to schedule an appointment give me a call.

To your health!
Gail Grieger


My Daily Metabolism Booster!

2/5/2015

 
Last week I wrote about the many great benefits of green tea, which I try to drink every day. It reminded me that there is another drink that I also keep in my daily regimen, and I want to share it with you too. I think of this drink as my daily cleanser and use it to jump start my metabolism each day. I refer to it as my “Hot Lemon Drink.” You’ll see why I call it “hot” in just a minute!

This drink has the ability to do so many good things for the body. When taken daily it can help keep unwanted mucous from forming and helps loosen and eliminate waste from many cells and organs. This is a good thing because bacteria generally does not feed on healthy tissue. Getting all of that old sludge and junk out of your system can be a great preventive health tool.

Some of the other potential health benefits of the Hot Lemon Drink:

  • It helps to dissolve and eliminate toxins and congestion that is formed in many parts of the body.
  • It can help cleanse the kidneys and digestion system.
  • Many believe that it can eliminate unusable waste and hardened material in the joints and muscles. (There is not yet scientific proof of this but there is anecdotal evidence of positive effects.)
  • There are some claims that it can relieve pressure and irritation in the nerves, arteries, and blood vessels and keep the bloodstream healthy. (Again, the scientific jury is still out on those claims. It might help and but it won’t hurt!)

Many have used a version of this drink as a weight loss program where they avoid all food for an extended period of time and drink only this drink, some teas, and sometimes salt water. Doesn’t sound very appealing does it?!

Should I use this drink to lose weight?

If you listen to some of the stars like Beyonce, the answer is yes. But if you listen to the doctors and your body, the answer is probably no. First of all, there are much healthier ways to lose weight than putting your body through such stress. Plus, this type of dieting usually produces results that don’t last.  Taking this drink all by itself or with tea as some suggest, but avoiding all other foods and drinks will rob your body of essential nutrients. Don’t do it! For more on why you should think twice before using this drink as the basis for a weight loss diet, see the WebMD article The Lemon Diet / Master Cleanse.

Drink One Glass Daily

Many of my clients and other herbalists that I know drink just one glass each morning. I started doing this a few years ago and found that I felt better and seemed to be less susceptible to colds and flu. I know it gives me a quick jolt and makes my insides tingle. I think the drink does a great job of waking up the digestive track and keeping things moving in a nice healthy way. I have had people tell me they feel better after taking this drink for a week.

Give it a try and see what it does for you. Here is the recipe.

“Hot” Lemon Drink Recipe

What You Need:

  • 2 TBSP. Lemon juice (organic source)
  • 2 TBSP. Genuine maple syrup (not flavored) dark amber
  • 1/2 tsp. bulk cayenne
  • 8 oz. warm water

 What to Do:

Combine all ingredients and stir well.  Finish the drink while it is still warm.

Tip 1: You might want to start with 1/8 Tsp of cayenne pepper and work up to the larger amount one you get used  to the hot taste.

Tip 2: The syrup is not pancake syrup. Definitely find the dark amber variety. AND once you get used to the taste of the drink, cut the syrup down to just 1 TBS. No reason to add unnecessary calories!

Tip 3: Some people drink this as they sip a glass of plain water. I think that is a good idea. It makes the drink go down more quickly and the extra water helps hydrate you and flush toxins out of your system.

To your Health!
Gail Grieger

PS.

Check out my special on a Swedish Massage. Click here for details. This is one of those limited offers that will expire quickly!

    Welcome to my Blog!

    Thanks for checking out my blog. I have had a life-long interest in all things related to health and wellness, which is part of the reason I became a massage therapist. I am constantly on a mission to increase my knowledge and I like to share what I learn with others. My hope is that these posts will be interesting and provide you with information and tips that can improve your health. If I can ever answer a question or if you think you might benefit from therapeutic massage, please give me a call or send me a note.

    Gail Grieger, CMT, CFH

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