Massages are great for relaxation and beating stress but there’s one more thing they can help you with. Something usually not highlighted but can be prove to be massively beneficial for your overall health.
Lymphatic massages are not as popular as other types of massages in the world but believe it or not, it can do wonders for your health. It is a gentle, rhythmical massage treatment performed by a specially trained lymphatic massage therapist to stimulate the circulation of lymphatic fluids around the body. The massage helps speed up the removal of wastes and toxins from a sluggish or clogged lymphatic system. It can also aid in the prevention of swelling after injury or surgery. And overall it is also thought to provide a major boost to your immune system.
What is the Lymphatic System?
The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that aid the body in getting rid of toxins, waste and other unwanted substances. One of the major functions of the lymphatic system is to transport lymph, a fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, throughout the body.
There are hundreds of lymph nodes in the human body and they are located deep inside the body – such as around the heart or lungs, or somewhere closer to the surface, such as under the arm or groin, according to the American Cancer Society. The lymph nodes can be found from the head to around the knee area.
The spleen is the largest lymphatic organ which is located on the left side of the body, just above the kidney. If the spleen detects potentially dangerous bacteria or viruses in the blood, it — along with the lymph nodes — creates white blood cells called lymphocytes, which act as a defense against disease.
How Exactly Can Lymphatic Massage Help You?
Lymphatic massage is done to increase the efficiency of your lymphatic and circulatory system.The movements are done in a way so as to reduce the volume of retained fluid and to reduce the risk of impeded circulation. With gentle pressure, it can increase your circulatory system’s capacity to rapidly move out retained fluids and any toxic waste build ups. The massage also improve energy levels post drainage because it clears out unwanted buildups.
Lymphatic massage can improve circulation and also your metabolic rate and has the potential to improve your immunity. It has also proven to be very beneficial in post-operative conditions that affect your lymphatic systems such as post-mastectomy.
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Conditions That Can Be Improved With Lymphatic Massage:
- Swollen legs or arms due to fluid retention.
- Swelling of a limb: pre or post-surgery
- Lymphoedema. (Hock K, Colby L 2012)
- Post-mastectomy or breast cancer treatment. (Torres Lacomba M et al 2010)
- Breast tenderness and congestion
- Fibromyalgia & Lupus
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Depression & Anxiety Disorders
- Hormonal Imbalances
- Cellulite Fat Accumulation
- Recurrent infections such as colds, flu, tonsillitis, sinus & yeast infections
Where Can You Go For Lymphatic Massage in Pakistan?
Lymphatic massages aren’t readily available in Pakistan but there are certain spas/hospitals offering this massage. For instance, in Karachi, Ziauddin Hospital offers this massage treatment and has a number of experts available to perform it. Oxygen Spa is another avenue where you can find this and one session costs Rs. 5,500. In Lahore, Arammish is a trust-worthy spa you can visit to get this procedure done.