Textbook of Dr. Vodder's Manual Lymph Drainage

Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD), first introduced in 1936 by Drs. Emil and Estrid Vodder of Denmark, is a procedure which stimulates the lymphatic circulation with slow circular and careful pumping massage movements of the hand and the thumb. The thin lymph vessels run through the body tissue like a drainage system which transports the lymphatic fluid via large collecting vessels, the lymph nodes, on to the blood circulation. Manual Lymph Drainage has especially proven its worth in the case of a congestion of the lymphatic flow. This is often the result of postoperative abdominal surgery and surgical treatment of breast carcinoma. It is only with this smooth and harmonic form of massage that the lymphatic flow is stimulated in the sensitive lymph capillaries. Painful swelling is removed and healing is encouraged.