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| Main Actions of LYmphatic Drainage 1) Liquid/blood: Activates lymph function and lymph circulation. Indirectly stimulates the liquid circulation of the body (enhance blood capillaries resorption, increase pulsation of capillaries, activate venous circulation, . . .). 2) Immune system: the passage of lymph in the lymph nodes stimulates the immune system (the humoral as much as well as the cellular immunity). The stimulation of lymph circulation activates antigen/antibody reactions. 3) Nervous system: stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (relaxation effect) inhibits various (analgesic action -- anti-pain --, antispastic effects -- muscle tonus -- , etc). Indications and applications of Lymph Drainage Therapy Don't forget that by law any disease must be diagnosed by an M.D. All the necessary studies have not been done yet, nor have all applications of Lymphatic Drainage been discovered. There is an unending list of indications that still need to be explored. The following are the most common disorders treated, and some are various ailments that showed response in therapists' daily practice. They are not all scientifically proven indications of lymphatic drainage. They are only reference points for those that don't have experiences of the lymph drainage. Every case has to be considered specifically. Angiology (Blood vessels) / Cardiology / Phlebology (veins) / Lymphology: Edema (swelling or "dropsy") is an excessive accumulation of fluid (hydro-colloid) in the interstitium. Lymphedema is an edema that is a result of impaired removal of lymph from the interstitium. It is an accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the tissues that may develop into fibrosis. Yet it is a poorly understood disease in medicine. a) Lymphostatic edema (high protein edemas): is one of the main medical indications of lymphatic drainage. Lymphostatic edema = deficit in lymphatic transport capacity. In lymphostatic edemas the lymphatic vessels themselves are not properly working. It is a decreased ability to remove fluid from the extracellular compartment. Theses edemas are also described as Low Output Failure or low volume mechanical insufficiency). There are various lymphostatic edemas: Primary lymphedema (congenital origin) Secondary lymphedema (anatomical obliteration): Post-surgery lymphedema: post-mastectomy lymphedema, post-hysterectomy lymphedema, post-prostatectomy, post-biopsy, etc. Metastatic lymphedema Post-infectious, (parasites / filariasis, tuberculosis, etc.) Post-radiations lymphedemas Post-trauma, burns Post-medications, silica dust, etc. CVI: post-phlebitic, etc. b) Lymphodynamic edema = overproduction of lymph or High Output Failure, is when normal or increase in capacity of normal lymphatics is overwhelmed by an excessive burden of intercellular fluid. The lymph vessels are functioning correctly (are still "dynamic") but they can't handle the excessive stagnant liquid in the connective tissue. The excess fluid present in the connective tissue is a burden beyond the transportation capacity of the lymphatic system. For example: defective kidney or heart function, blockage in the venous system, low protein edema, etc. Edemas of different origins can be also treated, for example: "dermatologic" edemas, e.g. chronic eczema; pediatric edemas; Traumatic edemas: torn muscles, sprain articulation, joint dislocations, knee edemas after meniscus and ligament lesions, tendinitis, tendinosynovitis, fracture (before, in and after the cast), haematomas, "ski thumb" injury. . . . Reduction of edema helps an early, less painful mobilization or prepares the patient's tissue before applying plaster; post-infectious edemas (ORL, odontologic ,etc.); pre-menstrual edemas, cyclic-idiopathic edema; gynecologic edemas; "neurologic" edemas (neuralgia, facial paresia, multiple sclerosis, etc.) Edemas associated with Rhumatism or Auto-Immune diseases: arthrosis, polyarthric, PSH, etc.: Nephrologic edema (nephrotic edema), Lipedema Edemas of veno-lymphatic conditions: we can drain from the first early stages of venous diseases to varicose veins, post thrombotic leg edema, hypodermitis to the late chronicle complications like venous ulcer. Always keep in mind the terrible contra-indication of acute phlebitis; arteritic ulcer, and other type of ulcer (diabetes mellitus ulcer); arterial hypertension (high blood pressure); arteritis, intermittent claudication (intermittent limping); Raynaud's disease Dentistry, orthodontic: tooth pain; post-tooth extraction (for the pain, the edema, the haematoma, the scar, etc.); tooth realignment; root canal, orthodontic surgery; gingivopathy (gums disease); parodontitis Dermatology (skin): acne vulgaris; rosacea; seborrhea; chronic and allergic eczema (avoid the area at the beginning to avoid inflammatory or allergic reactions); Peri-oral dermatitis (from cortisone treatments); chloasma; some pigmentation spots. Esthetic: wrinkles (lymph drainage hydrates the skin, nurtures wrinkles, removes toxins, regenerates skin tissue, tonifies skin, relaxes facial muscles. . . .); skin complexion; erythrosis; telangiectasia; hematosis; "bags" under the eyes; hair loss; adiposis, cellulite; breasts ptosis (sagging breasts.) Gastro-enterology (Stomach): chronic constipation; irritable bowel syndrome, chronic colitis; ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease; enteropathy, coeliac disease; diverticulosis; food intoxication; chronic gastritis, stress ulcers; chronic pancreatic insufficiency, chronic pancreatitis General: stress; fatigue; chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Epstein Barr syndrome; chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). A very common disorder, yet not clearly defined. It has worn various names: HHV6 syndrome (Human Herpes Virus 6); epidemic neuromyasthenia, Iceland disease, chronic mononucleosis, chronic teast syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, etc.; autonomic dystonia; chronic pain; sleeping disorders; snoring; detoxification (fasting, dieting, tobacco, substance dependency); toxic chemical poisoning; jetlag (pressure in airplane), edemas within the plane; alcohol hangover Gerontology (older people): L.D.T. is a very good technique to use with elderly people, because of its profound effects on tissue regeneration and oxygenation, deep cleansing of the body, as well as its immune system stimulation, stress release, and health maintenance. You can apply L.D.T. for almost every indication with elderly people because of its gentleness and harmlessness. L.D.T. be used as a home family practice. Just be careful of the reaction of your patient in the 3-4 initial treatments. Give shorter sessions and evaluate; cerebral degeneration, memory loss... Gynecology: Menstruation; PMS, painful or haemorragic menstruation; breast pain or swollen breasts (from menstruation, oestro-progestatif pill, pregnancy); pregnancy; "stretch marks (belly, breasts): "striata gravidarium" "cutis striata lymphostatica". About 50% of them can usually be alleviated. It is a very long process and the results will be better if the drainage begins in early stages; swollen legs; varicose veins; breast feeding; breasts' soreness, cracks or fissures in the puerperal period (prevention or treatment; help scaring process, anti-infectious); fibrocystic mastopathy (cysts formation in the breast); Infertility Infectious disease: (also check Dermatology, General, Ophtalmology, Pneumology) You can apply it to Pediatric (children) or Gerontology (elderly people). (Be cautious to do short sessions first to avoid inflammatory reactions); chronic amygdalitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, rhinitis, otitis, syringitis; chronic sinusitis frontalis: do neck, face, especially nose and cheeks, you can finish with Intra-oral treatment if there is no sign of fever at all (be careful of meningitis with fever. Don't work with lymph drainage, and especially not inside the mouth); chronic sinusitis maxillaris; allergic nasal catarrh; HIV positive, AIDS: Be very careful, check with an M.D. The reactions can be different depending of the state of the disease. Improve quality of life, can stimulate immune system in previous states. Recent studies suggest that as many as 2 billions of lymphocytes (CD 4) are produced every day to replace the losses induced by the virus. Neurology (Nerves): headaches; migraine; post trauma symptoms: headaches, vertigo. . . .; cerebrovascular accident (stroke), hemiplegia, chronic ischemic syndrome, apoplexia, various encephalopathies. . . . concussion (commotio cerebri, commotio spinalis); spinal injuries; cerebral spastic infantile (cerebral palsy, Little's disease); neuralgia facial, intercostal neuralgia, herpes zoster neuralgia, etc.; trigeminal neuralgia; facial paralysis; Parkinson disease, choreic disorders: sometime diminution of the trembling. . .; multiple sclerosis (MS): If the disease cannot be cured with Lymph Drainage, some patients really appreciate the results of the technique especially for their legs. It seems after some studies that the crisis becomes shorter and the remissions of M.S. longer with Lymph Drainage. The action of the drainage might work on the auto-aggressive T lymphocytes that cross the blood-brain barrier in M.S.; vertigo; memory disorder; peripheral nerve disorders/cranial nerve disorders: facial nerve paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, Bell's Palsy. . . ; myopathy, muscular dystrophy or atrophy; spinal poliomyelitis (edemas); epilepsy Ophtalmology: Visual acuity: many clients said their sight became much better after the sessions; scotoma; chronic dacryocystitis (infection of the lachrymal sac), blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid margins); chronic glaucoma; chronic edema of the eyelids; retina detachment Orthopedy (Bones-Surgery): trauma; hematoma; sprain; dislocation, luxation; ligaments and meniscus pathologies; fracture; post fracture or post-sprain symptoms: pain, discomfort etc. Osteopathic/Chiropractic: (Also check Orthopedy, Rheumatology, Sport); neck pain, whiplash; lower back pain, lumbago, lumbalgia. . . ; sciatica: there are many different etiologies (origins) of sciatica. It is not the best indication of Lymphatic Drainage, but in some cases it really helped patients. Maybe it is the anti-edematous action around the "nerve" and the anti-pain action that makes it work. Otorhinolaringology - ORL (Nose-Throat-Ear): peridontal disease; tinnitis: tinkling, ringing or buzzing in the ear; vertigo; Meniere's disease; asialie-hyposialie; Sjrogren's syndrome (dry eyes and mouth syndrome): tremor Pediatrics (Children): All quoted diseases can be applied to children. Be especially careful not to enhance fever in a child. Pneumology (Lungs) Allergology: chronic bronchitis, emphysemal bronchitis; bronchial asthma; emphysema; post-pleuritic disorders; silicosis: pneumoconiosis resulting from inhalation of silica (quartz) dust; cystic fibrosis: (mucoviscidosis); hay fever Rheumatology (Bones-Articulation), musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorder: Lymph drainage can effectively alleviate the edemas of many rheumatologic ailments after signs of acute inflammation have disappeared; arthrosis (neck, shoulders, hips, knees. . . .), polyarthrosis deformans; rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, polyarthritis; ankylosing spondylitis (ankylopoietic spondylarthritis); gout, chondrocalcinosis (pseudogout); psoriasic arthritis: psoriasis associated with arthritis; allergic arthropathies, endocrine arthropathies, diabetic arthropathies, etc; lupus erythematosus; scleroderma; polymyositis and dermatomyositis; osteoporosis; lumbago, lumbalgia; Sudeck's atrophy (traumatic osteoporosis, algoneurodystrophy or "shoulder-arm" syndrome); fibrositis syndrome: bursitis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, tendoperiostosis, etc; tennis elbow (lateral humeral epicondylitis), etc.; carpal tunnel syndrome; Dupuytren's contracture; spasmodic torticollis; noctural paraesthetic brachialgia; fibromyalgia syndrome (FS): it is today maybe the third most common rheumatic disease. Sport: To improve the conditions of muscles before and after a sport event (waste and acid lactic in the tissue); muscles spasms; Sport trauma: any edemas, haematomas (be sure that any bleeding has stopped); sprains, dislocations, etc.; muscles cramps or pain; ligament and meniscal lesions; fractures (under cast, after the cast); scars/fibrosis Surgery: Pre-surgery: prepare the tissue for the intervention, drain the tissue clear the lymph ways before the post-surgery edema; post-surgery: scars-fibrosis (help scaring process, anti-pain, anti-infectious, etc. . .) Some effects against hypertrophic or keloides scars; for any surgery taking off major lymph nodes (post-mastectomy, post-prostatectomy, post-hysterectomy, post-ovariectomy, post-nephrectomy, ORL surgery, tumor removal. . .); post-plebitis and post thrombotic surgery; post-trauma surgery; limb amputation; prosthetic surgery; skin transplant; burns; oral surgery, face surgery, face-lifting, ear lifting. . .; vein stripping Veterinarian Lymph drainage can also be applied to animals. |
| LYMPHLAND |
