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How Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage Massage Can Help with Stress and Anxiety

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Life can get overwhelming, and stress or anxiety can sometimes feel like an unwanted companion. While there are plenty of ways to unwind at home, Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage (BLD) and Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) massages stand out as powerful tools for managing stress and boosting mental health. When done by a licensed massage therapist, the benefits extend far beyond simple relaxation.

What Makes Lymphatic Drainage Special for Mental Health?

Studies show that MLD can help with stress and pain. For example, after breast cancer surgery, patients who received regular 20-minute MLD sessions for four weeks experienced a noticeable drop in stress and discomfort (Ko, 2021). It’s amazing how something as gentle as lymphatic massage can make such a big difference.

Another study looked at 31 women dealing with breast cancer-related lymphedema. They had 45-minute MLD sessions every day for three weeks. By the end, they felt less worried, less irritable, and even less depressed (Williams et al., 2002).

And guess what? You don’t have to be dealing with a medical condition to benefit. Healthy people also saw improvements. Kim (2009) found that a 40-minute session boosted heart rate variability (HRV), which basically means their bodies handled stress better.

Why Does Heart Rate Variability Matter?

HRV is a fancy way of measuring how well your body switches between "fight or flight" and "rest and digest" modes. The higher your HRV, the better your body is at handling stress (Majerova et al., 2022). So, if MLD can increase HRV, it means you're likely to feel more relaxed and resilient.

Shim et al. (2017) even compared MLD to regular abdominal massage for people under psychological stress. The MLD group had more brain activity linked to relaxation and less activity linked to stress. It turns out MLD can do more to calm your mind than a standard massage.

How Lymphatic Drainage Connects to the Nervous System

The lymphatic and nervous systems are deeply intertwined. Keser and Esmer (2019) explain that the autonomic nervous system (the one that controls things like heart rate and digestion) is all over your body, including in the lymphatic vessels. When you get an MLD massage, it taps into that system, helping to calm everything down.

Even hormones get involved. MLD has been shown to affect serotonin, histamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline levels—all key players in your mood and stress levels (Williams, 2010). In one study, a 30-minute MLD session lowered stress hormones in menopausal women (Inoue & Maruoka, 2017).

Why Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage with a Professional is Worth It


Woman receiving lymphatic massage for face
Woman receiving lymphatic massage for face

Sure, you can try self-massage or buy devices and garments to help your lymphatic system, but the real magic happens when a trained professional does it. Licensed massage therapists use techniques that activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the "relax" mode) much more effectively than DIY methods. For example, rocking or shaking can have a calming effect on the nervous system by stimulating the vestibular system in the inner ear, which can help to regulate stress and anxiety by releasing muscle tension and excess adrenaline, potentially leading to a feeling of relaxation and grounding. Dr. Peter Levine's work on Somatic Experiencing® suggests that shaking can help release stored trauma and alleviate related symptoms such as stress and anxiety. In his book “Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma,” Levine notes that animals can be observed shaking to release tension and stress after a life threatening experience (Miller, 2023). Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage integrates repetitive movements and rocking throughout each session, which likely contributes to the reported outcomes of relaxation and calm.

Plus, even quick sessions can work wonders. Kim (2014) found that a simple 15-minute neck-focused MLD session reduced anxiety and boosted relaxation. A simple Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage session for the face and neck is a quick 30 minute option to do just that.

And let’s not forget the human connection. Just the act of receiving massage from someone trained to care for your well-being can have its own stress-relieving benefits (Williams et al., 2002).

Final Thoughts

Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage is a specialized form of Manual Lymphatic Drainage that offers more than just relaxation and swelling reduction. Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage is a highly effective tool for managing stress and anxiety. With proven benefits for both physical and emotional health, BLD can help you find balance and improve your overall well-being. If you're looking for a holistic way to unwind, booking a session with a licensed therapist might be just what you need.

References

Inoue, T., & Maruoka, H. (2017). The effects of manual lymph drainage on cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels in menopausal women. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 29(6), 1037-1040. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.29.1037

Keser, G., & Esmer, E. (2019). The effects of manual lymphatic drainage on pain and autonomic nervous system responses in healthy subjects. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8(2), 234. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8020234

Kim, S. J., Kwon, O. Y., & Yi, C. H. (2009). Effects of manual lymph drainage on cardiac autonomic tone in healthy subjects. International Journal of Neuroscience, 119(8), 1105–1117. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450902834884

Ko, Y. (2021). Stress and pain reduction following manual lymph drainage in post-breast cancer surgery patients. Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 28(4), 559-567. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034521100932

Majerova, K., et al. (2022). Increased sympathetic modulation in breast cancer survivors determined by measurement of heart rate variability. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 14666. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18865-7 Miller, K. (2023). Can shaking your body heal stress and trauma? Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/can-shaking-your-body-heal-stress-and-trauma

Shim, J., Yeun, Y., Kim, H., & Kim, S. (2017). Effects of manual lymph drainage for abdomen on the brain activity of subjects with psychological stress. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 29, 491–494. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.29.491

Williams, A. F., et al. (2002). A randomized controlled crossover study of manual lymphatic drainage therapy in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. European Journal of Cancer Care, 11(4), 254-261. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2354.2002.00312.x

 

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