If you have ever tried to do a “cleanse” or stopped by the supplement aisle in a grocery store, you are likely familiar with the phrase “detoxing your body”. What you may not know is that there is no pill, powder, or protein shake out there that will detox you – but all you need to remove toxins is already inside your body. Your liver and digestive system break down the food you ingest, but what about the waste your body produces during this breakdown process, or its own dead cells? That is what your lymphatic system is for.
What Does the Lymphatic System Do?
The lymphatic system is a network of interconnected tissues and vessels that pull toxins, dead cells, chemical by-products, and other unwanted waste from different parts of the body. Relying on a fluid, lymph, and smaller nodes and glands around the body, this waste is moved into the bloodstream where it can be flushed out into the digestive system and excreted. This makes the lymphatic network an important part of natural immunity, blood health, and overall body wellness.
However, as with any vascular system, the lymphatic vessels are susceptible to blockages where the fluids cannot move as freely. This often results in swelling and a buildup of toxins – heavy metals, environmental pollutants, your body’s by-products, indigestible proteins, and other unwanted compounds. With underlying conditions like diabetes and cancer, or even passing illnesses like strep throat or colds, the lymphatic system slows down and the risk can get even higher. It is plain to see how a lack of drainage in the body can lead to health issues.
Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massages
A common and effective solution for these blockages is known as a lymphatic drainage massage. Using very light pressure (as opposed to therapeutic massage, which goes deep into the tissue), this process involves long pulls across the body to break up lymph blockages and restore flow to the vessels. Benefits include:
Recovery from illness.
If you have just been sick and are now feeling better, lymph drainage massage is an excellent way to boost your immune system and quicken your recovery. When functioning properly, it removes dead virus and bacteria cells from your tissues, reduces excess fluid, and promotes blood cell replenishment.
Swelling and edema reduction.
Lymphatic blockages often cause fluid to build up in one area, leading to swollen joints and tissue – usually in the extremities, such as the feet, ankles, hands, and arms. A healthy lymphatic system will combat this and bring your body back into balance.
A more defined jaw and face.
During our facials, we generally do some massage of the area to improve lymphatic drainage along the jaw, chin, and neck. This keeps the vessels clear, and often it does not just improve the health of your facial muscles and skin – it also makes the area appear less “swollen”, and tighter to your bone structure.
Much more! Lymph massages improve healing after surgery, relieve inflammation and pain, contribute to tissue regeneration, help with migraines, assist in deep relaxation, and more.
Ways to Help Your Body Detox
While the massage is a good start, there are some simple things you can do to help your body get the most out of the process and see the best results.
First, when you show up to your appointment, make sure you wear loose clothing. The whole point of the massage is to let fluid flow freely, so the last thing you want to do after your massage is restrict your body with tight leggings or restrictive collars. In fact, we recommend wearing loose-fitting clothes for at least 24 hours after your appointment in order to get the full effect.
After your massage, the single best thing you can do for you body is drink lots of water for a few days. Your lymphatic system will be in overdrive trying to catch up, and your tissues may have higher toxicity – so drinking plenty of water will keep you in equilibrium and make the detoxification easier.
For something that takes a little less time, you can also sit and relax with an ionic detoxing foot bath. This uses the power of ionic attraction at the atomic level, rebalancing the pH of your body fluids (not your blood) to be more alkaline – which in turn results in a body environment where illness and toxins are more easily flushed out of the body through sweat and urination. And yes, it really works! It is as simple as sitting and watching the water change colour.
You can also take the time to enjoy a Dead Sea mud wrap, which not only detoxifies your body, but also adds many of the minerals and elements it needs to function at its best. A lymphatic massage followed by one of these wraps is all but certain to have you feeling incredible in the days ahead.
To book your lymphatic drainage massage (or any of our services for men and women), simply give us a call at (403) 294-1346 or use our online booking tool. We look forward to seeing you, right in the heart of downtown Calgary!
