What is Manual Lymph Drainage?
First, let’s break it down.
Manual tells us this is done by hand.
Lymph is a liquid in the body carrying cells that help fight infection and disease. It is also the fluid that can pool after receiving an injury or in a number of conditions that we think of as edema/swelling. The Lymphatic System is a system of organs, lymph nodes, lymph ducts, and lymph vessels that make and move lymph from tissues to the bloodstream. The lymph system is a major part of the body's immune system and works hand in hand with the Circulatory system (heart, arteries, veins).
Drainage explains that this technique is moving water/liquid.
Second, let’s shorten it to MLD from here on out.
When can MLD Help:
MLD is a gentle, non-invasive manual treatment that is recognized as a primary tool in edema/swelling management. It is known to help with the following issues:
1. Recovery from surgery (primary relief for cosmetic/medical procedures)
2. Soft tissue injuries (sprains, strains, bumps and bruises)
3. Migraines and Headaches
4. Sports/Training/Event swelling and fatigue
5. Sinus issues
6. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
7. Fibromyalgia
8. Pregnancy swelling
9. Conditions that involve circulatory challenges (restless leg syndrome, cramping)
Manual Lymph Drainage also supports the body’s natural purification and immune defense process. It’s rhythmic style also has a lovely way of calming down the nervous system.
What to expect from a Mending Hands MLD session:
Like all appointments with Mending Hands, each session will be all about YOU. If you are looking for manual care and MLD is an appropriate fit, we will discuss the treatment plan for your particular needs. I will also be happy to explain why a certain sequence will be used and as well as why this body work is a lighter, more pathway guided modality. Most of these specific stokes do not involve oil and due to the style of this work, these sessions may not be full body treatments, depending on the allotted time and need of each client.
If you are interested in booking a Manual Lymph Drainage session with Melissa or have any questions, please contact melissa@mendinghands.com!
Massage Benefits Are More Than Skin Deep
Does a good massage do more than just relax your muscles? To find out, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles recruited 53 healthy adults and randomly assigned 29 of them to a 45-minute session of deep-tissue Swedish massage and the other 24 to a session of light massage.
All of the subjects were fitted with intravenous catheters so blood samples could be taken immediately before the massage and up to an hour afterward.
To their surprise, the researchers, sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health, found that a single session of massage caused biological changes.
Volunteers who received Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol in blood and saliva, and in arginine vasopressin, a hormone that can lead to increases in cortisol. They also had increases in the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system.
Volunteers who had the light massage experienced greater increases in oxytocin, a hormone associated with contentment, than the Swedish massage group, and bigger decreases in adrenal corticotropin hormone, which stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol.
The study was published online in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
The lead author, Dr. Mark Hyman Rapaport, chairman of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai, said the findings were “very, very intriguing and very, very exciting — and I’m a skeptic.”
First seen HERE:
Mending Hearts: Why I Became a Massage Therapist
Years ago my mother survived an Aortic Dissection. Her Aorta (the major artery of the heart) started to separate (in a spiral - I remember a doctor saying) from my mothers heart. Emergency open heart surgery (with all the bells and whistle of helicopter transport and me getting a call at Martha Stewart in NYC saying I needed to come to my home state - Now! ) some medical miracles and a few days of hazy life later - she woke up.
She knew who I was and wanted to eat a whole lot of Popsicles.
In the hospital, I saw how the nurses used body work - stretches, tapotment, effleurage to get my mom's body systems working for her again. When she came home, she was in so much pain. He back, having been stretched due to how they manipulate the ribcage during open heart surgery, was one of the places she said she felt the most pain.
We had moved my childhood bed downstairs for her recovery, I crawled in behind her and just began to rub... She felt relief. She felt connected. And eventually, she healed.
This, is one of the main reason I am becoming a massage therapist. I have always been a fan of massage therapy. I had felt how it had made a difference in my mind, body and spirit. Yet it was this time with my mom, the time I used my heart and my hands to give her support in healing that planted the biggest seed.
The Benefits of Oncology Massage
Having completed Oncology Massage: Compassionate Touch for Clients Living with Cancer training, I would love share the following article from MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Oncology massage is an approach to massage therapybased in both compassion and specialized massage treatments to help people manage their experience with cancer.
Review of the scientific literature indicates oncology massage helps improve quality of life. Benefits include improved relaxation, sleep, and immune function as well as relieving anxiety, pain, fatigue and nausea.
Oncology massage therapists are trained to meet people where they are in their experience with cancer and apply a highly individualized massage treatment to comfort, nurture and support them in their process.
The treatments are modified according to the full spectrum of cancer-related issues: the physical, psycho-social and emotional consequences of cancer.
In addition, the person's individual goals are considered and aspects of the disease and cancer treatment side effects.
Personal goals for receiving oncology massage can include the desire for a respite - a relaxing pleasurable experience in the midst of everything that is going on - relieving nausea or other symptoms such as pain or peripheral neuropathy and helping them get though the remainder of their cancer treatments.
"Getting massage from someone who understands everything that is going on, is part of my healing process", reports Tom, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer almost three years ago and receives massage therapy at theIntegrative Medicine Center.In the past, therapists thought massage would increase circulation and therefore cause cancer to spread. The process of metastasis is very complicated and poorly understood; however increased circulation is not considered a significant part of that process by itself. However, it's true that cancer and cancer treatments can put people at risk for complications from massage, so it is important to take some precautions.Because of the different contraindications for massage in this population, it is very important for the massage therapist who is treating a person with a history of cancer - either currently or in the past - to have specialized training in oncology massage, in addition to being a licensed massage therapist.
If you or a loved one has or has had cancer, don't hesitate to contact me about receiving a massage. I would be happy to answer questions you may have and find a time to come in for a session. Melissa@mendinghands.com
7 Types of Headaches
Headache pain is the most often reported type of pain in the U.S. Learn about some of the most common types of headache pain, and if massage can help to alleviate or reduce the frequency of this sometimes debilitating infirmity.
By Linda Fehrs, LMT, Original Post Here
Some people rarely, if ever, get headaches. Some get them every few weeks or months. Others experience them frequently, several times a week or even every day. More than 9 out of 10 adults will experience headache pain at some point in their lives. It is the most common form of pain and results in time out from work or school. A moderate to severe headache often interferes with normal daily activities.
Although there are only three main categories of headaches, within those divisions are more than 200 individual types, some of which massage therapy may help to relieve or even reduce their occurrences.
Here are seven relatively common types of headaches, symptoms and common therapies used to ease them:
Tension – Tension headaches are the most frequently occurring of all headaches. They affect women more than men. The exact origin of a tension headache is not known, but it is likely a result of muscle contraction, primarily the muscles of the skull, including occipitofrontalis which draws the scalp both posteriorly and anteriorly as well as elevates the eyebrows. When a person becomes stressed – whether it be physical or emotional – so too do the muscles, which then start to spasm, causing pain. The pain is often described as band-like pressure or tightness. Even with the pain of this type of headache, a person can function normally. While massage therapy is not a cure for tension headaches, it can help to relax a person and reduce stress resulting in less frequent and less severe ones.
Cluster – The cause of cluster headaches is not known. It is the least common of the primary type, but it is the most severe. One theory is that certain parts of the brain simply begin to malfunction. The hypothalamus, located at the base of the brain, is most frequently mentioned as the culprit. It is responsible for the biological clock of the body and, in brain scans, has often appeared to have abnormal activity during a cluster headache. The pain of a cluster headache, which is usually around the eyes, can be excruciating and usually lasts no longer than 90 minutes. They are very difficult to treat, but typical options include inhalation of oxygen, various prescription medications such as sumatriptan (Imitrex) or zolmitriptan (Zomig), lidocaine injections or ingestion of caffeine – which helps to constrict blood vessels. Various antidepressants, prednisone, lithium or valproic acid are sometimes prescribed as a preventative measure. Since the origin of a cluster headache is unknown, the remedies used treat the symptoms rather than the cause. Before administering massage to a person suffering from cluster headaches ask the client to check with his or her primary care physician.
Sinus – This type of headache occurs when the flow of fluid within the sinuses gets backed up and the sinus cavities become inflamed. This may be because of an allergic reaction or infection. The only way to relieve a sinus headache is to treat the underlying cause. In the case of a bacterial infection a doctor might prescribe antibiotics. For an allergy, you need to find out what triggers the allergic reaction and act accordingly. Light massage on the face, especially around the eyes, may help to move the fluid out of the sinuses. When administering massage to someone who has a sinus inflammation, limit the time he or she spends in the prone position. Laying facedown for more than a few minutes can cause the sinus fluid to shift, causing more pain and an embarrassing flow out of the nose for the client.
Hormone – Women are the ones most affected by hormonal headaches, sometimes referred to as menstrual headaches. They experience the ebb and flow of hormones, especially estrogen and progesterone, each month. A doctor may prescribe drugs, but interfering with hormone fluctuation can be tricky. Sometimes the only remedies that can help are over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and applying a cold compress to the back of the neck and shoulders. Massage therapy has been shown to help regulate hormone fluctuation. Light massage, like lymphatic drainage, can help reduce the fluid buildup common in the week prior to menstruation. Massage can also be used to help reduce the stress that comes along and seems to increase with the monthly hormone fluctuation.
Drug Withdrawal – These are sometimes referred to as “rebound headaches.” This type of headache pain can be caused not only by the withdrawal of habitual illicit drugs, but also commonly prescribed medications, especially pain killers as well as over-the-counter analgesics. Individuals with chronic pain or drug addiction will often increase dosages as the body becomes resistant to the medication. It is theorized that the frequent use of pain killers changes the way certain pain receptors work. The only effective way to stop these headaches is to slowly wean off the drug, which is best done under the supervision of a medical professional familiar with withdrawal symptoms. In the meantime, the headaches will most likely continue and maybe even get worse. Massage alone cannot help with this kind of headache, but it can be part of a team effort supporting the client. Traditional Swedish massage or lymph drainage massage can hasten the elimination of toxic drugs from the system as well as reduce some of the stress occurring because of the constant pain and discomfort.
Caffeine Withdrawal – A caffeine headache is somewhat similar to a drug withdrawal headache. Caffeine is a very addictive substance enjoyed throughout the world, and many people feel they cannot start the day without the prerequisite cup or two of good strong coffee in the morning – and then again at lunch as a quick pick-me-up. Stopping the habit cold-turkey can cause a throbbing, pulsing headache relieved only by having another cup of coffee or other caffeinated drink. If someone is trying to kick caffeine, whether it is from coffee or cola drinks, it should be done slowly. A good way is to start mixing small amounts of decaffeinated versions in with the caffeinated beverages over a period of a few weeks. Massage therapy can be used to alleviate some of the stress and tension that comes with stopping any habit. It also helps to speed up the removal of toxins, such as caffeine, from the body. Afterwards be sure to offer your client water or herbal tea!
Eyestrain – With computers at every desk, long hours watching videos or reading in the dark, it is not surprising that so many people get headaches caused by eyestrain. The best way to avoid the headache pain caused by eyestrain is to stop doing whatever may be causing them. Don’t sit in front of any kind of image projecting screen – computer or television – for long periods of time. Get up and walk around. Give your eyes and body a break. Make sure your computer has an antiglare screen. Special coatings are also available for glasses to protect your eyes from the glare. Take a few minutes to lie down, close your eyes and place a cool cloth or chilled eye-mask over them. If the pain persists make an appointment with an eye specialist, optometrist or ophthalmologist. If you don’t currently wear glasses, you may need them. If you do wear glasses you may need a different prescription. The eye doctor can also detect if there might be anything else of concern in the eyes. Massage cannot directly help with eyestrain, but any time away from a computer screen or television set is helpful. So why not use that time for massage?!
The brain itself does not feel pain; rather, it interprets the sense of pain though a complex system of sending and receiving impulses throughout the nervous system. Massage therapy can be of help by addressing the muscles and nerves affected by stress and injury, sending alternate signals to the brain, which then in turn may help to reduce the pain and discomfort of headaches.
Headaches can range from mildly annoying to debilitating and even life-threatening. An occasional headache is not usually anything serious, but chronic headaches or headaches of unbearable pain should be checked out by a doctor.
As a massage therapist you can work closely with other medical professionals and offer your client the most effective care in relieving, reducing and hopefully eliminating the seemingly omnipresent headache so common in our culture.
What is a Muscle Cramp?
"A muscle cramp is a sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles. If you've ever been awakened in the night or stopped in your tracks by a sudden charley horse, you know that muscle cramps can cause excruciating pain. Though generally harmless, muscle cramps can make it temporarily impossible to use the affected muscle.
Long periods of exercise or physical labor, particularly in hot weather, may lead to muscle cramps. Some medications and certain medical conditions also may cause muscle cramps. You can usually treat muscle cramps at home with self-care measures." Full Article Here: http://mayocl.in/1EItIKm
Massage Therapy Improves Circulation, Alleviates Muscle Soreness
Massage therapy improves general blood flow and alleviates muscle soreness after exercise, according to a study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The study, reported online in advance of print in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, also showed that massage improved vascular function in people who had not exercised, suggesting that massage has benefits for people regardless of their level of physical activity.
Improved circulation and relief of muscle soreness are common claims made for massage's benefits, but no studies have substantiated such claims, even though massage therapy is increasingly used as an adjunct to traditional medical interventions, said Shane Phillips, UIC associate professor of physical therapy and principal investigator on the study.
"Our study validates the value of massage in exercise and injury, which has been previously recognized but based on minimal data," said Nina Cherie Franklin, UIC postdoctoral fellow in physical therapy and first author of the study. "It also suggests the value of massage outside of the context of exercise."
The researchers had set out to see if massage would improve systemic circulation and reduce muscle soreness after exercise. Healthy sedentary adults were asked to exercise their legs to soreness using a standard leg press machine. Half of the exercisers received leg massages, using conventional Swedish massage techniques, after the exercise. Participants rated their muscle soreness on a scale from 1 to 10.
As expected, both exercise groups experienced soreness immediately after exercise. The exercise-and-massage group reported no continuing soreness 90 minutes after massage therapy. The exercise-only group reported lasting soreness 24 hours after exercise.
Exercise-induced muscle injury has been shown to reduce blood flow. In this study, brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD) -- a standard metric of general vascular health, measured in the upper arm -- was taken by ultrasound at 90 minutes, 24, 48 and 72 hours after exercise.
For the exercise-and massage-group, FMD indicated improved blood flow at all time points, with improvement tapering off after 72 hours. As expected, the exercise-only group showed reduced blood flow after 90 minutes and 24 and 48 hours, with a return to normal levels at 72 hours.
"We believe that massage is really changing physiology in a positive way," said Franklin. "This is not just blood flow speeds -- this is actually a vascular response."
Because vascular function was changed at a distance from both the site of injury and the massage, the finding suggests a "systemic rather than just a local response," she said.
"The big surprise was the massage-only control group, who showed virtually identical levels of improvement in circulation as the exercise and massage group," said Phillips.
"The circulatory response was sustained for a number of days, which suggests that massage may be protective," said Phillips.
For people with limited mobility or those with impaired vascular function, further research may show that regular massage offers significant benefits, the authors say.
Article HERE: http://bit.ly/1J7P6wL