Many 'lymph drainage' treatments only faintly resemble authentic MLD. While they might promise aesthetic benefits, it's crucial to distinguish them from the real deal to ensure safety and effectiveness if there's actually anything needing to be medically addressed.
What is MLD?
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a specialized treatment that artificially moves waste fluid through the lymphatic system. Developed by Dr. Emil Vodder in the 1930s as a medical solution to fluid congestion, MLD involves gentle, rhythmic hand movements that stimulate lymph flow and encourage fluid to move in a particular direction through the body, sometimes against the body's normal pathways. This helps remove excess fluid and waste products from an area it may have been causing issues, reducing swelling and improving health.
How to Spot 'Inauthentic' MLD
With the rise of social media, there has been an influx of treatments labelled as "lymph drainage massage" or "lymphatic massage" claiming to have the same results but that do not adhere to the original medical principles of MLD. Here's how you can identify them:
Use of Oils, Lotions, or Handheld Tools: Authentic MLD relies solely on the hands of a trained therapist. If you see a treatment involving oils, lotions, wooden tools or scrapers, it's a red flag that you're not getting true MLD.
Pressure and Muscle Manipulation: MLD is characterized by its light, gentle touch because it is primarily a skin-receptor stimulation technique. Treatments that involve enough pressure to push down into the tissue, any vigorous muscle manipulation, or deep massage techniques are not genuine MLD.
Fast Hand Movements: The technique used in MLD is slow and deliberate to work in time with the body's natural lymph-pumping speed. If the therapist's hand movements are quick and vigorous, you're likely experiencing a different type of therapy.
Full Body Treatment: To provide original (Dr Vodder) MLD techniques to the whole body would take at least 5 hours, possibly longer depending on your body size. If you receive a treatment which covers the full body in around an hour, it certainly was not Vodder MLD.
Why It Matters
If you have a healthy lymphatic system and none of the medical conditions with which lymphatic stimulation can cause issues, having a nice massage-like treatment by someone untrained in MLD is unlikely to do you any harm whatsoever. However, if your lymphatic system is compromised due to illness, injury, a genetic condition or surgery, the distinction between genuine MLD and these derivative treatments is crucial. A therapist trained in MLD has completed extensive (many years of) education in order to understand the body and how to treat medical lymphatic system conditions safely and effectively. Untrained therapists offering so-called "lymphatic drainage massages" could potentially put these clients at risk, exacerbating existing conditions or causing new issues.
When it comes to your health, it's perfectly okay to check these things first!
The UK's national register of professionally qualified MLD therapists (which can be searched by name or area) is housed on the MLD-UK website, and a properly trained therapist will always be happy to confirm their qualification from a recognised MLD training school (Vodder, Földi, Casley-Smith, Leduc or LTA Fill & Flush).
Conclusion
While many treatments labelled as "lymphatic drainage massage" may have some aesthetic benefits, it's essential to be cautious and discerning. If your reason for seeking treatment is to address symptoms of a medical issue such as lymphoedema, lipoedema, or post-surgical recovery, always ensure that your therapist is properly certified in MLD and has the appropriate training to address your specific needs. In the age of social media, where trends can blur the lines of authenticity, being informed is your best defence against ineffective or potentially harmful treatments.
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