Manual lymphatic drainage techniques were developed following the work of the Danish massage practitioner and doctor of philosophy Emil Vodder and his wife Estrid Vodder in 1928. He was working in Cannes France between 1932 and 1936 when he made his discoveries regarding draining the lymphatic system.
Lymphatic massage is a very gentle form of massage that stimulates the lymphatic system and encourages the natural drainage of the body’s waste products away from the tissues and back to the heart. Lymphatic massage aids with puffiness and swollen tissues in addition to flushing toxins from the body. The massage involves the use of light circular strokes applied with a pumping action which has a soothing relaxing effect.