Introduction
The lymphatic system is part of the body’s immune system. It removes waste products from tissues in the body and transports them to the liver for processing. Lymphatic drainage massages are gentle, relaxing and have been proven effective for treating cancer patients. A study performed by researchers from the University of Freiburg in Germany compared lymphatic drainage massage with therapy sessions in which patients talked about their problems (a psychosocial intervention). Both treatments reduced stress levels in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy; they also improved patients’ moods. In particular, lymphatic drainage may be of particular benefit to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy because it reduces nausea, vomiting and constipation—all common side effects experienced when undergoing treatment for this disease.”
What is lymphatic drainage?
Lymphatic drainage massage course Sydney is a type of massage that helps to remove waste products, including excess fluid and bacteria, from your body. The lymphatic system is an important part of your immune system. It’s made up of lymph nodes, lymph vessels and the fluid that moves through them (lymph).
Lymph nodes are small organs that filter out bacteria and other foreign substances in the bloodstream. As they do this, they also collect a protein-rich fluid called lymph — which can be thought of as a “soupy” version of blood — so it can be sent back into circulation for further filtering by other parts of the immune system (known as reticular tissue). These organ systems work together to fight disease by identifying threats to your health and neutralizing them before they can cause damage or spread infection throughout your body.*
The lymphatic system is part of the immune system.
The lymphatic system is part of the immune system. It’s a network of vessels and nodes that move fluids and cells around the body. The lymphatic system also helps with immunity by removing waste products from tissues, including viruses and bacteria.
The lymphatic system includes cells called lymphocytes (cells involved in immunity) which are produced in bone marrow. Lymphocytes move through the blood stream, but they need to pass through certain areas where they can be collected by specialized structures called lymph nodes before being returned back into circulation via a process called recirculation. These nodes filter out harmful materials from your blood such as bacteria or viruses so that they cannot reach other parts of your body such as organs like your kidneys or liver where these infections could cause serious damage if left untreated
Lymphatic drainage massages are gentle and relaxing.
Lymphatic drainage massage is a gentle, non-invasive technique that can be done in a clinic or at home. It can be performed by trained therapists or by the patient themselves with the help of a partner. The lymphatic system helps to eliminate toxins from the body and boost immunity, but it doesn’t have its own pump like blood vessels do; therefore, it relies on movement (such as walking) to move waste products away from tissues and into the bloodstream so they can be removed from the body.
Lymphatic drainage massages involve applying gentle pressure to specific points on your body for about 15 minutes at a time. This will make your lymph nodes release fluid into surrounding tissues to improve circulation and drain out any waste products such as dead cells or bacteria that may cause infection.
A study has found that lymphatic drainage massage can reduce stress, anxiety and depression in cancer patients.
A study conducted by researchers from the University of Freiburg in Germany compared lymphatic drainage massage with therapy sessions in which patients talked about their problems, called a psychosocial intervention. The participants were randomly assigned to either group.
The researchers found that lymphatic drainage massage reduced stress, anxiety and depression scores more than did the psychosocial intervention.
A study performed by researchers from the University of Freiburg in Germany compared lymphatic drainage massage with therapy sessions in which patients talked about their problems, called a psychosocial intervention.
The researchers found that lymphatic drainage massage reduced stress levels and improved the moods of cancer patients.
The study is important because it confirms what many practitioners of lymphatic drainage massage have suspected for years: that this type of treatment can be effective in reducing stress and improving moods, which may help patients cope with pain more effectively.
Not only did they discover that lymphatic drainage was a viable alternative to psychosocial interventions such as talk therapy, but also that it may have unique benefits for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, who often experience some of the most severe physical side effects from their treatments.
Both treatments reduced stress levels.
The researchers found that both groups had reduced stress levels. In the lymphatic drainage group, stress levels were reduced by 28% and in the psychosocial intervention group by 24%. But for patients with cancer who had lymphatic drainage massage, stress levels went down even further—by 43%, which is a big difference.
It’s important to know that this was an experimental study and not a clinical trial. So while it might be interesting to see these results, they don’t necessarily mean that one treatment is better than another when it comes to reducing stress. But it does show us something about how well each method works individually.
Lymphatic drainage massage also improved patients’ moods.
Most of the patients who received lymphatic drainage massage experienced a significant improvement in their moods, as measured using standardized scales. Most notably, they were less stressed and anxious and had improved quality of life scores. They also experienced better sleep quality and quantity, which is important for cancer patients undergoing treatment. These results indicate that lymphatic drainage massage may be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for improving mood among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Lymphatic drainage may be of particular benefit to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Lymphatic drainage massage may be of particular benefit to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, who often experience nausea and vomiting. Chemotherapy can also cause fatigue, which means that the patient is unable to perform daily activities for a period of time after treatment. Lymphatic drainage massage has been shown to reduce nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy by improving lymph flow. The increased movement of fluids through the body can help with other side effects such as fatigue or constipation.
Lymphatic drainage may also help cancer patients cope with pain more effectively.
Lymphatic drainage massage may also help cancer patients cope with pain more effectively. “Massage can reduce anxiety and depression,” says Helen Barnett, L.M.T., the author of Massage for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Complete Guide to Self-Care (New Harbinger Publications).
In a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management in 2006, researchers found that lymphatic drainage massage reduced pain intensity by an average of 40 percent after only three sessions. The massage also improved mood and quality of life for breast cancer patients as well as decreased swelling in their limbs.
#4: Lymphatic Drainage Massage Provides Other Benefits
Aside from reducing stress levels and boosting energy levels, lymphatic drainage massage offers several other benefits that make it ideal for anyone dealing with a medical condition or chronic pain:
Future studies will investigate how hypnotic relaxation can impact cancer patients’ ability to cope with treatment side effects like nausea, vomiting and constipation.
Hypnotic relaxation is a treatment that may help cancer patients cope with side effects. In this technique, the patient focuses on a specific word or phrase for distraction from pain and anxiety. The hypnotist guides the patient through relaxation and breathing exercises to induce a state of deep relaxation. Side effects like nausea, vomiting and constipation can be reduced by using hypnosis as an intervention during chemotherapy.
Future studies will investigate how hypnotic relaxation can impact cancer patients’ ability to cope with treatment side effects like nausea, vomiting and constipation.
Lymphatic drainage massage is relaxing, reduces anxiety and improves moods in cancer patients
Lymphatic drainage massage is a gentle, relaxing treatment that uses light to medium pressure to gently massage the lymph nodes, which then drain into the blood vessels. Lymphatic drainage massage helps reduce stress and anxiety by releasing endorphins (our “feel good” hormones). This can also help improve moods in cancer patients.
Lymphatic drainage massage may also help cancer patients cope with pain more effectively by reducing swelling around their tumors and improving circulation of oxygen-rich blood through their bodies—which prevents them from feeling fatigued during treatment sessions.
Conclusion
This study suggests that lymphatic drainage massage may be a viable option for cancer patients who are dealing with anxiety, depression and stress. It also shows that this type of massage can help patients cope with pain more effectively. Further studies will investigate how hypnotic relaxation can impact cancer patients’ ability to cope with treatment side effects like nausea, vomiting and constipation. Click here for lymphatic drainage treatment.