 MAGAZINESoothing, healing and wonderfully relaxing, manual lymphatic drainage |
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| If your feet or ankles swell on air flights, you get bags beneath your eyes, feel constantly tired, suffer from cellulite, spots or premature ageing, the chances are your lymphatic system, that crucial body detoxer, is weak or sluggish. Along with the skin, kidneys, lungs and bowels, the lymphatic system collects toxins from the tissues. Numerous nodes or glands - the main ones in the neck, under arms and groin - cleanse and return lymph into the system to continue its work. If the system is under par - because you are run down, tense or stressed - then, not surprisingly, it becomes congested and swelling can occur. It's a condition doctors have more recently begun to treat with a gentle massage technique known as manual lymphatic drainage (MLD). Developed in the thirties by a Danish massage therapist, Dr Emil Vodder, and his wife Estrid, delicate pumping, stroking and scooping motions encourage lymph to move more easily around the body. Where the therapist focuses depends on the patient's needs. MLD has been used at the lymphodema clinic at London's Royal Marsden Hospital for women who have had breast or cervical cancer. In Paris, MLD, used after mastectomy, prevents scarring and helps the healing process. Siobhan Feeney, a physiotherapist trained in MLD, is one of only two practitioners in Ireland. On my first visit, she recommended an initial programme of three hour-long sessions a week for two weeks, during which the benefits could be monitored and a long-term programme, if necessary, scheduled. She also asked me to take a morning glass of Epsom salts for the first five days to help clear toxins. |
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She concentrated on fluid retention, headaches and skin tone - although MLD is also recognised as an effective anticellulite technique. Once I was covered in heated towels on the massage table, Siobhan started on the gland in the neck, working without oils to create an almost vacuum-like effect, drawing lymph fluid in from around the body. From there she moved onto the face, butterfly strokes around the chin, nose, eyes and forehead, inducing a state of near coma - definitely a stress-reducing exercise. In fact, the whole process is so delicate and minimal it is hard to believe how effective it is. But the detoxing effect is clear from the deep thirst ensuing. Each subsequent session began with neck and shoulders, then focused either on the face or the stomach - MLD is also good at combating fat build-up. At the end of six sessions, pre-menstrual tension and fluid retention were non-existent - normally painful periods crept up on me without the usual breast tenderness and swelling, daily headaches had completely disappeared and skin was clearer and less spot-prone. Although, to keep PMT at bay, Siobhan recommended a return once a month pre-period the treatment is so addictive more frequent sessions may be necessary. MLD, £30 for about an hour. Siobhan Feeney, the Priory Clinic, 18 Priory Hall, Stillorgan, Co Dublin, 01 283 5566. To visit the Priory Clinic website - click here.
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