Body Sense

O Our lymph system picks up fl uids and waste products from the spaces between the cells and then fi lters and cleans them. Like the roots of a tree, the lymph system starts as tiny vessels—only a single-cell wide— that eventually branch into larger and larger tubes that carry these fl uids back to the blood stream. This network of delicate vessels and lymph nodes is the primary structure of the immune system. The lymph nodes act as check points along the pathways of the vessels. They fi lter the fl uid (called lymph) and serve as the home for lymphocytes— little cells that attack and destroy foreign bacteria and viruses and even abnormal cells, like cancer cells. Lymphatic massage may help the lymph system do its job better. By using very light pressure in a rhythmic, circular motion, a massage therapist can stimulate the lymph system to work more effi ciently. Massage therapists versed in lymphatic drainage therapy, an advanced form of lymphatic massage, can identify the rhythm, direction, and quality of the lymphatic fl ow and remap drainage pathways. Lymph massage can benefi t just about everyone. If you're feeling tired and low on energy, or if you've been sick and feeling like your body is fi ghting to get back on track, lymph massage would likely serve you well. In addition, athletes, surgical patients, and fi bromyalgia and chronic fatigue sufferers may want to consider lymphatic massage. Because it's so gentle, it is well tolerated by these patients who are often experiencing sore trigger points throughout the body. By encouraging lymph fl ow, this gentle form of bodywork can help restore immune function and improve vitality. massagetherapy.com—your resource for all things bodywork 13

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