There are many massage variations and each one has its purpose. The effects of a Swedish massage are quite relaxing, while a deep tissue massage, though painful in the moment, helps get out stubborn knots. Rolfing may help to improve mobility and Thai massage incorporates stretching to loosen up the joints. There is another type of massage that you should know about if you want to help promote detoxification: lymphatic drainage massage. 

What Is Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

Manual lymphatic drainage massage, or simply lymphatic massage therapy, is a light-pressure massage that uses circular and pumping movements to encourage the movement of lymphatic fluid throughout the body. A trained lymphatic drainage massage therapist uses stretching, cupping, and gliding motions to stimulate lymphatic flow. It is a very gentle, rhythmic type of massage that does not require oil. Even though there are trained experts in this type of massage, you can easily do it yourself. 

Lymphatic drainage massage has been around for over 100 years, and it has recently grown in popularity. Nowadays, many spas offer this service, which has been widely used in European countries for quite some time. In fact, it is the most prescribed type of physical therapy in Germany! 

What Are The Benefits?

According to health experts, lymphatic drainage massage is a great treatment option for lymphedema. This condition is characterized by swollen lymph nodes caused by a blockage in the lymphatic system, typically in the arms or legs, that results from the removal or damage to lymph nodes as a part of cancer treatments. Primarily, lymphatic drainage massage helps to detoxify the body, ridding it of harmful chemicals that are easily absorbed every day. From skin care products to environmental pollution, toxins bombard the body and affect you, whether you know it or not. 

The body’s primary detoxification channels are the colon, lungs, skin, liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system. When you support these pathways, you support overall bodily health. Increasing the flow and removal of toxins via lymphatic massage, then, is a great addition to your cleansing routine.

Besides aiding the elimination of toxins, lymphatic drainage massage may help those who suffer from fibromyalgia. A meta-analysis looked at the effectiveness of massage therapy for fibromyalgia and found lymphatic drainage massage to be the most beneficial. Not only was it better than connective tissues massage in regards to stiffness, but it also improved quality of life and reduced depression. Lastly, lymphatic drainage massage helps to reduce tension and the appearance of cellulite. Most toxins are held in fat cells, so stimulating lymphatic flow can reduce that build-up. 

How To Do A DIY Lymphatic Drainage Massage

There are several techniques that help promote lymphatic drainage. Doing this therapy on yourself is a great way to assist with the body’s natural detoxification processes. You can easily fit this therapy into your day because it only demands a few minutes of your time. The best part about this DIY lymphatic drainage massage is that you can lie on your back while doing all of the the steps, which are detailed below:

• Step 1: Lie on your back in a comfortable position and take a few deep breaths. Feel the rise and fall of your abdomen and continue this type of breathing throughout the massage. 
• Step 2: Cross your arms across your chest and, with your fingers touching the tops of your shoulders, lift your elbows up toward the ceiling a few times. This movement aims to flush the lymphatic areas beneath your collarbones. 
• Step 3: Return your arms down, but keep them crossed. Start massaging the outside of your neck just above your collarbones. Work your way toward the center of the neck in a fluid motion. Repeat this flow of massage strokes a total of 10 times. 
• Step 4: Uncross your arms and extend them to the sides to form a T with your body. Bend your arms and interlock your fingers behind your head. Lean your head forward and to the sides to stretch your neck, while simultaneously applying gentle pressure at the base of your neck. 
• Step 5: Place your left hand behind your head and cup your right palm under your armpit. Gently pull the skin down and in toward your body for a total of 10 times before repeating on the other side. 
• Step 6: Relax your arms by your sides. Cross your right arm over the body and gently pull the skin on the inside of your left elbow towards your shoulder. Complete 10 pulls and then switch sides. 
• Step 7: Lymph can easily build up in your lower extremities, so this step aims to release fluid in the legs. Place both hands behind your right knee, interlace your fingers, and gently stretch the skin towards your glutes. Complete 10 pulls and then repeat on the left leg. 
• Step 8: Place your right hand behind your head and your left hand on your right hip. Gently stretch the skin upwards toward the armpit. Repeat this several times before switching sides. 
• Step 9: For the last step, you want to move lymphatic fluid away from your fingers and toes. To do this, simply start at your fingertips or toes and gently slide your hand(s) up towards your armpit or groin, respectively.

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When you think of a massage, deep tissue, Swedish, hot stone, and sports massages are the ones that come to mind. These forms of massage help promote relaxation by massaging knots out of muscles. A lymphatic drainage massage doesn’t break up muscle tissue; rather, this gentle massage aims to eliminate toxins by moving materials back into circulation. At that point, the body’s organs clear these materials from the body. 

What Is A Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

A lymphatic drainage massage focuses on draining lymph nodes, whereas regular massage focuses on muscles. The two constants in a lymphatic drainage massage are light pressure and rhythmic movements. Together, they help encourage lymphatic drainage. Lymph fluid that flows throughout the lymphatic system, which consists of various nodes and vessels. The lymphatic system collects and returns lymph to the heart via circulation. If there is a blockage or disturbance within the lymphatic system, lymph can collect in the legs and arms, potentially causing swelling. 

Lymph fluid contains white blood cells and other cells that enhance immune function. Although there are hundreds of lymph nodes in the body, they are mainly concentrated in the neck, armpits, chest, belly, and groin areas. They feel like little beans under the skin when swollen and fighting off an infection. Because the lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump like the circulatory system, it relies on movement to move fluid. Simple movements, such as walking, resistance training, swimming, biking, jogging, etc., can move lymphatic fluid. However, lymphatic drainage massages can help target thick or stagnant fluid that the body can’t drain on its own. Consider the following benefits when you receive a lymphatic drainage massage. 

It May Reduce Stress And Anxiety

Any massage is a great recipe for stress reduction because you get pampered for an hour or so and hit the pause button on life. Lymphatic drainage takes de-stressing to a whole new level. Unblocking the lymphatic system can help reduce soreness, pain, cramps, or built-up stress. Many people who struggle with panic attacks, depression, stress, or anxiety on a regular basis benefit from lymphatic drainage massages. You can incorporate essential oils to stimulate your senses and recharge your batteries as well. 

It Helps Reduce Swelling

A lymphatic drainage massage is a useful tool to relieve painful swelling in the arms and legs caused by lymphedema. This condition tends to affect people recovering from breast cancer surgery. Lymphedema occurs when tissues in the body retain fluid after the cardiovascular system delivers blood to tissues and organs. A disruption in the lymphatic system can cause lymph to accumulate in the arms and legs, causing swelling. Not only does this form of massage help reduce the pain that results from tissue swelling, but it also helps prevent swelling from happening in the future. 

It May Improve Immune Function

By targeting the lymph nodes in the body, lymphatic drainage massage may help enhance immune function. The massage works by moving lymphatic fluid to remove toxins from the body, ultimately reducing your risk of infection. Additionally, the blood and fluid that the massage moves re-stimulates it to promote detoxification. If you have the common cold or contracted a virus, for example, a lymphatic drainage massage may help the body eliminate it more quickly. 

May Help Patients With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes fatigue, tenderness, and muscle pain. If symptoms manage to flare up, there are lifestyle changes you can make to reduce the severity of symptoms. Health experts say that different types of massages offer relief from fibromyalgia symptoms. One review of studies noted that people saw improvements in symptoms after experiencing myofascial release therapy. Shiatsu and lymphatic drainage massage also helped to ease stiffness in fibromyalgia patients.

May Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition that affects the joints, causing major stiffness, pain, and swelling. Health experts say that lymph nodes swell more frequently in people with RA. Lymphatic drainage massage can be an excellent form of therapy to help stimulate lymph drainage and reduce the pain and swelling in the body.

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The lymphatic system is the body’s secondary system of circulation and has the major task of cleaning and nourishing cells. Without the lymphatic system, you would not survive for long. You can think of the lymphatic system as the body’s drainage system, working to carry clear fluid (lymph) from tissues around the body into the blood and vice versa. Both movement and lymphatic massages work to facilitate this process. 

Lymph is similar to blood in that it contains oxygen and other nutrients, only it doesn’t have red and white corpuscles. Lymphatic vessels pick up waste and excess fluid from cells and transport it via lymph nodes back into general circulation. Lymph should only ever flow in one direction: away from cells and towards the heart. Roughly 70% of lymph vessels exist just beneath the skin and gentle pressure from a therapist’s hands can help them pick up fluids between cell spaces. Ideally, light pressure in rhythmic, circular motion can stimulate the lymphatic system to work more efficiently.

What Is A Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

Unlike a deep tissue or sports massage, a lymphatic drainage massage is very gentle and helps to move lymph away from swollen lymph nodes. The massage needs to be done in a particular fashion in order for it to be effective and beneficial. A specialist will apply strokes to the skin in slow motions, targeting the neck, groin, belly, chest, and armpits. These are the areas where you can find lymph nodes. Because lymph traps harmful substances, you have to work to drain lymph to avoid build-up. This helps white blood cells and other substances get where they need to go in the body.

Decrease Lymph Congestion

As we mentioned, a lymphatic massage is a manual way to promote lymphatic drainage. Think of it as a way of promoting decongestion in the lymphatic system. In addition to massage, you can decrease lymph congestion via movement because the lymphatic system is stimulated by muscle movement. Muscle contractions pump fluid around the body, helping lymphatic flow. Massage is simply another way to avoid build-up.

Helping Certain Health Conditions

Lymphedema involves swelling in either the legs or arms. Other symptoms can include tissue swelling, weakness, heaviness in the limbs, general pain, or skin discoloration. Receiving lymphatic drainage massage is similar to someone with lymphedema wearing compression bandages or stockings. The main goal is to enhance lymphatic drainage so that you can help reduce symptoms. In addition to helping people with lymphedema, rheumatoid arthritis patients may also benefit, as they tend to have poor lymphatic flow. Draining lymphatic fluid may ease joint pain and improve joint function.

Nourishing Muscles And Joints

A health lymphatic system works to nourish joints, muscles, and other tissues in the body. This is because lymph vessels have small openings that allow gasses, water, and nutrients to travel through surrounding cells. After this process, the fluid drains back into lymph vessels and goes to lymph glands, where the fluid is filtered. Finally, the fluid goes to larger lymph vessels located at the base of the neck, the thoracic duct. Tissues in the thoracic duct and other bodily tissues become inflamed when circulation slows down because lymph accumulates.

Breast Cancer And Fibromyalgia

One review found that lymphatic massage may benefit people with fibromyalgia symptoms, including pain and stiffness. The review found that both connective tissue massage and Swedish massage were not as effective at reducing symptoms as lymphatic drainage massage. A 2015 review focused on adult breast cancer survivors with lymphedema. A combination of compression bandages and lymphatic drainage massage was more effective at reducing swelling and pain than compression alone. 

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In this day and age, high stress levels seem to be an recurring conversation topic. Whether you worry about making ends meat, picking your child up from school on time, losing weight, eating clean, your social media presence, or making your flight, stress does not discriminate against age or gender. As a result of all this stress, people become overburdened, overworked, and begin consuming unhealthy foods or medications to counteract stress/anxiety in order to cope with life. So what do you do keep the body healthy?

It’s About Thyme

Thyme is a Mediterranean herb with medicinal, ornamental, and dietary properties. It is rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, and iron, and thyme acts as an antioxidant in the body. Thyme is an herb from the mint family that has been used for thousands of years to help remedy a variety of symptoms and complaints. For instance, the Ancient Egyptians used it in embalming practices and the Greeks used to burn it as a natural incense.

Fast Facts About Thyme

• Thyme can be used in its fresh or dried form, but one can also use thyme essential oil.
• Thyme is praised for its antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties. People have used thyme to repel tiger mosquito larvae in tropical areas of Southeast Asia.
• Thyme is a vitamin bomb, containing A, B, C, E, & K vitamins, folate, and beta-carotene.

Thyme To Boost Immunity

Thyme is loaded with vitamin A and vitamin C, which can help to boost the immune system. In general, thyme works to support immune and respiratory healthy, helping to fight sore throats with its natural antimicrobial properties. The carvacrol content is one of the primary reasons that thyme is beneficial for sore throats. It is also a great natural remedy for bronchitis.

Thyme For Deliciousness

Thyme is used in a variety of dishes from various cuisines. It is commonly used in French, Mediterranean, and Italian cooking, but it isn’t specifically reserved to these culinary avenues. You can add it to some homemade pesto, or you can sauté some fresh thyme sprigs with mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and garlic.

Thyme To Lower Blood Pressure

If you suffer from high blood pressure, thyme is a beneficial herb to ingest because it helps produce antihypertensive properties in the body. A recent animal study has shown that thyme extract has the ability to reduce heart rate, and it may even work to lower cholesterol levels. One of the best things you can do is to start using fresh herbs like thyme to season food instead of a lot of salt.

Thyme To Boost Your Mood

A 2013 study analyzed the carvacrol that naturally occurs in thyme, and results showed that it had positive mood-boosting properties. When administered to animals for seven consecutive days, thyme was able to increase serotonin and dopamine levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These are two essential neurotransmitters that influence your mood. This study may have revealed that carvacrol is a molecule that can influence brain activity vita neurotransmitters.

Thyme has many health benefits, including the ability to help the formation of red blood cells. It can also help relieve symptoms of lupus, fibromyalgia, arthritis, Hashimoto’s disease, and vertigo. Make the following drink every day to help fight the aforementioned illnesses.

Ingredients:

• A handful of fresh thyme
• 1 cup water
• Agave or stevia to sweeten it (optional)

Instructions:

• Wash the thyme and place it in a bowl or large mug. Boil the water and pour it over the thyme. Let it steep for about 5 minutes and then strain the liquid through a mesh strainer. You can sweeten the tea with agave or stevia.

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Being intolerant to gluten is a lot more common than people realize. A person could live his or her entire life with gluten intolerance without being diagnosed, and never fix the problem. Almost 15% of Americans are allergic to gluten or have gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease, which affects about 1% of the American population, is the most severe form of gluten intolerance.

There are many signs that indicate an intolerance to gluten. The body lets you know when it doesn’t have a good reaction to something you eat. Sometimes the best way to figure this out is by eliminating foods from your diet for 21 days, and then reintroducing those foods one at a time. Upon reintroduction to those foods, you can see if your body reacts negatively. Pay attention to the following signs when you eat gluten to know whether or not you have gluten intolerance.

Abdominal Pain

This is probably the most common symptom of gluten intolerance. In fact, 83% of people who are intolerant to gluten experience abdominal pain or discomfort after consuming gluten products.

Bloating

Bloating describes a swollen belly, due to gas, water retention, or eating way too much. While bloating can have a variety of causes, feeling bloated is a common complaint of gluten-intolerant people.

Fibromyalgia

A lot of people with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue typically have gluten intolerance and don’t realize it. If you are diagnosed with either of these conditions, make sure to ask your health care practitioner if a gluten allergy could be the cause. Make sure to get tested.

Headaches

Headaches are obviously not a unique symptom, as they can be symptoms of many conditions. Gluten-intolerant people are about 10-12% more likely to experience migraines. If you have migraines that are accompanied by daily diarrhea, low iron count, and a skin rash, you may very well be gluten-intolerant.

Joint & Muscle Pain

Sore joints and muscles may have numerous causes; however, gluten-intolerant people who consume gluten may cause inflammation or widespread pain in muscles and joints. Pay attention to how your joints or muscles feel next time you eat gluten.

Skin Problems

Dermatitis is a very common skin manifestation for those with celiac disease. This is a blistering condition that can be the result of consuming gluten. Several studies have shown that consuming a gluten-free diet has helped to improve psoriasis, alopecia, and chronic urticaria (skin condition with itchy, pink lesions).

Constipation or Diarrhea

If you are constipated or experience diarrhea once in a while, you have no reason to be concerned. Because gluten actually damages the gut lining and can lead to poor nutrient absorption, consuming gluten can result in frequent diarrhea or constipation. Over 50% of gluten-sensitive people experience diarrhea and about 25% experience constipation. People with celiac disease typically experience pale or foul-smelling feces, which stems from nutrient absorption.

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Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder than is accompanied by musculoskeletal pain. Fatigue, sleep troubles, memory problems, and mood swings are several common symptoms. Research has shown that turmeric may help reduce the pain and discomfort associated with fibromyalgia. Just make sure to season the soup with black pepper because that helps the body absorb turmeric efficiently.

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Fibromyalgia syndrome is not a disease, rather it is a musculoskeletal condition that can involve a multitude of symptoms. It is commonly thought to be arthritis-related, but fibromyalgia does not cause joint damage or inflammation like arthritis. People with fibromyalgia often experience unexplained muscle pain or painful trigger points that include the back of the head, tops of shoulders, upper chest, knees, outer elbows, or hips.

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

Experts believe that fibromyalgia isn’t caused by one thing in particular; rather, the syndrome is due to a combination of factors. Traumatic, stressful, or emotional events can be linked to the development of fibromyalgia. Additionally, people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or spinal arthritis have a greater risk of developing fibromyalgia. Other factors, which are believed to contribute to the syndrome, are listed below.

• Repetitive Injuries
• Traumatic, Stressful, or Emotional Events (e.g. PTSD or a car accident)
• Genetics (a family history of Fibromyalgia can make you more prone to it)
• Infections or Illnesses (Lupus)
• CNS (central nervous system) problems
• Rheumatoid Arthritis

Get Your Yoga On

Yoga has been shown to relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia. Taking a 60-75 minute yoga class twice a week, for a total of eight weeks, can help decrease pain in people who have fibromyalgia. Since yoga is a calming exercise, it lowers cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Other stress-lowering workouts include tai chi, Pilates, and swimming.

Eat Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Eat foods with anti-inflammatory properties because inflammation causes joint and muscle pain. Green tea, ginger, broccoli, red onion, and tomato, among other fruits and vegetables, can help naturally reduce inflammation. Additionally, you may want to eliminate meat, dairy, processed foods, junk food, salt, sugar, and gluten from you diet. Gluten can cause inflammation, weight gain, neurological problems, muscle pain, and fatigue. Try a gluten-free and raw foods diet to help reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia.

You Need Magnesium & Vitamin D

Eating foods that are high in vitamin D and magnesium can help reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia. Proper magnesium levels help reduce stress and vitamin D can ease muscle pain and stiffness. Avocados, bananas, kale, collards, cashews, pine nuts, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, spinach, and almonds are great sources of magnesium. Mushrooms, freshly squeezed orange juice, and almond milk (free of thickeners and sweeteners) are great sources of vitamin D.

Try Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an age-old alternative treatment for chronic pain. This ancient Chinese method helps ease pain by pricking the skin with needles at certain points of the body. It is best to continually receive acupuncture to help relieve pain, because a one-off treatment may only have short-term effects.

Chiropractic Therapy

Chiropractic treatment is another alternative treatment that can help correct past injuries or damages from serious traumas. Chiropractic care helps realign the spine through adjustments. People with fibromyalgia have been known to have hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system, and cervical spinal adjustments have helped to decrease this hyperactivity.

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Fibromyalgia is classified as a rheumatic disease or disorder characterized by chronic achy muscle pain, stiffness and easy fatigue. Body areas commonly affected by this disorder include the lower back, the neck, shoulders, upper chest, thighs, and back of the head. It is a degenerative disease that affects approximately 3.7 million Americans according to statistics (National Women’s Health Centre).

Causes and Risk Factors

Fibromyalgic attacks can be triggered by:

• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Frustration
• Overexertion
• Lack of exercise (immobility, sedentariness)
• Lack of sleep
• Trauma
• Extreme temperature changes

Fibromyalgia can interfere with normal daily activities and in worse case scenarios, can outright be disabling, resulting in disability.

Symptoms

People who suffer with fibromyalgia experience a chronic burning, shooting, throbbing, and stabbing pain that at times can become quite excruciating.

It is reported that the pain is greater in the morning than at other times of the day. The pain may be associated with chronic headaches, strange sensations in the skin, insomnia (or alpha -EEG, a sleep disorder); TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome), PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome), painful menses, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), anxiety, palpitations, bladder problems, skin sensitivities, dry eyes, dry mouth, vertigo, impaired coordination, and mild to moderate depression.

Natural Healing For Fibromyalgia

Magnetic therapy is ideal for healing pain conditions naturally.

Acupuncture and massage can help redirect blood flow and energy to the brain, bones, muscles and nerves, and can offer relief for fibromyalgia symptoms.

Yoga or tai chi offer a combination of deep breathing, meditation and slow movement, which can help with fibromyalgia.

Other healing options are:

• Stress reduction
• Get enough sleep
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Dietary Intervention

Eat predominantly fruits and vegetables. Consider a vegan raw foods diet as well. Fruits and vegetables offer our bodies the necessary building blocks to restore optimal health and wellbeing.

Drink alkaline water! It’s the best water you can drink today. Alkaline water helps to restore our body’s pH level to its natural level (7.3 pH).

To facilitate and improve sleep, before bedtime, consume tea or capsules of the following nervine herbs:

• Kava Kava
• Valerian Root
• Jatamansi
• Blue Vervain
• Wild Lettuce
• Lavender Flower
• Hops
• Skullcap
• Passionflower
• Chamomile

Herbs that help with reducing pain include:

• Feverfew
• Meadowsweet
• White Willow Bark
• Black Willow Bark
• Balm of Gilead
• Wood Betony
• Woodruff

Other dietary recommendations for managing fibromyalgia are:

• Limit caffeine intake
• Don’t smoke
• Don’t drink alcohol or other drugs

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