How a Lymphatic Massage Helps Your Immune System

A lot of people know about how the body can rid itself of wastes from the digestive 
system, but there are not as many people aware of another major system needed for 
proper waste removal. This would be the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a 
connected group of tissues and organs that helps to carry wastes and foreign agents 
away to locations where they can be eliminated from the body, but sometimes it needs 
a little bit of help from you, it’s owner. You might ask, “How can I help?” The answer is 
lymphatic massage. 

What It Can Do For You 

When you get a lymphatic massage, the stimulation to your lymph system causes your 
lymph fluids to flow more efficiently. This allows dead cells, toxins, byproducts, and 
wastes to be carried from the tissues toward the lymph glands for filtering and 
purification. What is surprising, is that this action can have an actual effect on the 
immune system by increasing the production of a type of white blood cell called 
lymphocytes, which are further spread by these motions. 

Some Common Uses 

In some cases, surgery of damages sustained from accidents, a sedentary lifestyle, or 
any other disruptions of an otherwise normal amount of healthy activity can cause a 
buildup of lymph. This can cause a sluggish system, especially for the immune system. 
A lymphatic massage can help jump start lymph flow again, by helping to carry toxins 
that have collected in areas that haven’t been touched frequently. This is especially 
important for cases of edema caused by a clogged lymph system. 

How It’s Done

Generally, when you go to get a lymphatic massage, it is performed by doing small 
circular motions in the direction of the heart. This helps the lymph to move with the 
pumping direction of the heart, and can even increase the flow of lymph to 10 times 
what your normal flow would be during rest or relaxation periods. The trained 
professional will work on each quadrant until the massage is completed. A period of 
massage will stimulate parasympathetic response, which is the physical feeling of 
relaxation you have after a pleasant experience, usually characterized by the loosening 
of multiple muscle groups. Professionals have emphasized that the care protocol calls 
for slow, gentle touch, and the skin only needs to be stretched slightly to achieve the 
desired effect.

