Lymphatic Drainage 

Lymphatic fluid has a variety of functions. It is part of the immune system as it produces and releases lymphocytes – a type of white blood cells to protect against bacteria, virus’ and fungi. It absorbs nutrients from the intestines and moves them into the blood stream. It also gathers excess fluid and swelling and removes them.  

The path of lymphatic drainage is as follows: Blood capillaries -> Interstitial Fluid -> Lymph Capillaries -> Lymph Veins -> Lymph Ducts -> Large circulatory Veins

The fluid is moved through muscle activation of all muscles. You can assist this process by practicing breathing with your diaphragm (breathing into your belly) and also through muscle contraction.

It is not advised to perform lymphatic drainage if you have congestive heart failure, cardiac oedema, acute infections, acute DVT, malignancy, severe unstable hypertension or up to 6 weeks after surgery/trauma.

Patients with swelling not caused by these above conditions or with the condition lymphoedema can perform self lymphatic drainage in combination with other activities such as swimming for a minimum of one hour per day.

The following can all be done laying on your back.

Diaphragm Release

1. Place hands on the lower ribs.
2. Breathe in for four counts, hold breath for four counts, breathe out for four counts.
3. Repeat 3 times.

Thoracic duct release

1. Hand over the centre of the chest under the collarbones – keep this hand relaxed.
2. Place your other hand over the top with firm pressure.
3. With the top hand move the bottom hand in and down in the shape of a C
4. Repeat this 5 times alongside slow breaths.

Axillary Release/Pec Release

1. Pinch your pec muscles between your thumb and other fingers.
2. Move your arm in a straight line diagonally towards the wall behind you. Only do this about 20 degrees and stop if there is pain.
3. Bring the arm in front of the body diagonally trying to touch the opposite hip.
4. Repeat until you feel the muscle relax. Try to not have your shoulder activated during this process.

Galbreath and Cervical Lymph node release

1. Firstly, grab the ear and move it in a circle.
2. With two knuckles either side of the jaw tracing until you reach your chin. From there trace back along the jaw and down the neck.
3. Repeat 3 times.

Sinus release/facial drainage

Maxillary:

1. Place your little fingers or thumbs either side of your nose just above the nostrils.
2. Hold until you feel a softening and release then drag back towards the ear.
3. Repeat 5 times.

Frontal:

1. With your little fingers or thumbs hook under the brow bone.
2. Wait till you feel a softening and then drag out following the brow bone back towards the ear.
3. Repeat 5 times.

Inguinal release

1. Find your hip bone and pubic bone. Following the diagonal line come to the mid point and press gently with your fingers.
2. Bring your leg towards your head with your knee bent.
3. Gently move your hip in a controlled circle until you feel the muscle under your hand start to relax.

Popliteal Release

1. Begin seated. Bend and straighten your knee to assist in fluid movement.
2. Contact the back of your knee with your fingers and the sides of your knee with the heel of your hand. Use both hands to encourage fluid movement by pushing to one side and then the other.

Massage:

You can help manually move fluid with your hands after doing all of these steps as the channels will be open.

Begin with your legs and work up, dragging the fluid past the immediate joints e.g. foot past ankle, ankle past knee, knee to hip. Take your hands off when you pass the individual joints and start again until you feel a decrease of fluid in the area – this will stop a backwash of fluid.

As Osteopaths we regularly see people with lymphatic congestion and do a lot of work to help with lymphatic drainage and restoring the body to a state where it can clear excess fluid. If you would like to know more or book an appointment call our clinic on 07 5613 3505

References:

BRMI | Therapeutics – Lymphatic Drainage & Massage. (n.d.). Bioregulatory Medicine | BRMI Bioregulatory Medicine Institute. Retrieved June 28, 2024, from https://www.brmi.online/lymph

Cleveland Clinic. (2023, July 31). What Does the Lymphatic System Do? Learn Its Function & How It Works. Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21199-lymphatic-system

Physiopedia. (n.d.). Manual Lymphatic Drainage. Physiopedia. https://www.physio-pedia.com/Manual_Lymphatic_Drainage

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). lymphatic system | Structure, Function, & Facts. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/lymphatic-system