Lymphatic drainage massage is an easy home remedy with profound effects. According to a lymph system article (http://www.jonbarron.org/article/optimizing-your-lymph-system) by Jon Barron of the Baseline of Health Foundation, lymphatic massage can increase the volume of lymph flow by as much as 20 times, vastly increasing the system’s ability to remove toxins and infectious materials. Studies have found lymphatic drainage massage to be a medically beneficial form of physical therapy for a range of lymphedema-related problems.
If you’re generally healthy, self lymphatic drainage can help you heal more quickly from a cold or shake off fatigue. According to Heather Wibbels, LMT (http://www.massagebyheather.com/videos.html), you can safely perform lymphatic drainage massage on the lymph nodes around your neck, ears, and throat, on the abdomen, and on the legs. Using very gentle pressure, first perform lymph drainage for the ears (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA-wi0d7-Ro&noredirect=1) on the neck area, then lymphatic breathing for the abdomen (http://blog.massagebyheather.com/lymphatic-drainage-abdomen-breathing/), and finally, self-lymphatic drainage on the legs (http://blog.massagebyheather.com/self-lymphatic-drainage-for-legs/). Starting in the region of the neck helps clear the system for the lymph that is pumped to the lymph nodes as you work on the abdomen and legs.
A regular yoga practice can also help you improve the effects of lymphedema. If you already have lymphedema, according to a Yoga Journal article (http://www.yogajournal.com/health/1690) by Michelle Stewardson, you should work with a specialist to build a safe practice that will work for you.
