A lymphatic self drainage session at St Paul de Vence

Introduction:

The objective of the following article is to focus on the most important lymph node areas, in order to de-clutter these areas for better functioning of the lymph all over the body.

This is not a complete drainage, for which for the intervention of a practitioner would be recommended for a better result.

However, a session can allow maintenance of your lymphatic system between 2 sessions with a professional, or as a means of prevention of lymphatic problems.

If you don’t have time to complete the whole session, try to do at least (and regularly) the 1st step, which helps to maintain the “central pump” of your lymphatic system.

Use your 4 fingers on both hands to perform the self-draining movements.

Basic principles:

1 do the drainage without oil, cream or talc:

Since your fingers should not slide over the skin, but pull and stretch the skin, it is not recommended to use oils or creams.

2 exert light pressure:

Care should be taken not to press too hard, as the lymphatic vessels are located just below the surface of the skin.

If you press too hard, you will crush these vessels instead of emptying them.

The pressure should be just enough so that your fingers don’t just slide over your skin, but can stretch that skin.

3 gently stretch and release the skin:

The skin must be stretched and relaxed gently to be able to stimulate the lymphatic vessels.

The stretching and releasing will be done in the motion of a stationary circle.

 

You can find a demonstration of stationary circles in this video.

 

4 perform the drainage movements very slowly:

The movements should be in conjunction with the normal rhythm of the lymph, which is slow.

To put it simply, the movements suggested in this session are to perform 5 stretching / releasing stationary circles.

The right pace is therefore to just count from 1 to 5 by making the 5 circles.

5 drain in the direction of the normal flow of lymph:

Stretching should be done in the direction of the lymph flow i.d towards the collarbone.

7-step session:

1st step: clavicle area

You will start your movements at the height of your collarbone by placing your two hands crossed in the hollow between your collarbone and your neck.

Then, with your fingers, you will create a stationary circle by pressing and stretching lightly on your skin at the beginning of the circle, and then releasing at the end of the circle.

The accentuated phase of the movement (pressure) is done by the outer side of the circle towards the clavicle, and the relaxation phase by the inner side of the circle.

Do 5 circles 3 times at the same area.

It is the most important area of the lymph nodes.

This will help empty the lymph node area, which works much like the heart does for blood.

 

2nd step: the neck area

Then, you will perform the drainage on the neck.

You’ll apply the stationary circle on 3 areas (from the base of the ears to the base of the collarbone).

With your 2 hands crossed at your neck, starting at the height of the ears, you will make 5 circles in one place, then another 5 circles in the middle of the neck, then at the base of the clavicle with 5 more circles.

Then you repeat the same cycle two more times (from the ears to the collarbone).

As with the first movement, the pressure and stretching on the skin is very light. The pressure should be directed towards the collarbone. Do not press hard.

 

3rd step: the armpit and upper arm area

Next, you will drain the lymph nodes located under the armpits and at the inner base of the arm.

In the same way that you did the movements above (a stationary circle of 5), you will do them at the armpit, by directing the pressure towards the armpit, from both above it and below it.

For armpit drainage, the movement will be directed upwards from the base of the armpit, then downwards from the arm towards the armpit.

You have to make 5 stationary circles on each place, and then repeat the same cycle twice (lower inner arm and upper armpit).

 

4th step: the abdominal area

Then we drain the abdominal area, starting from the top of the navel progressing in a circle to the left of the navel, then the lower left area of the abdomen, then under the navel, then the lower right area of the abdomen, then the right navel area to finish at the starting point.

Here, we are going to push back and forth with your fingertips by pressing a little harder on the skin, pushing it forward and then releasing the pressure a little to press and push again.

To be repeated 5 times on the spot at each place.

Repeat the cycle 2 times.

 

5th step: the inner thigh area

Then you will drain the upper inner thighs on an area called Scarpa’s triangle on 6 places.

You treat one leg after the other.

You start with point 1 and go to point 6

At each position, you will perform, with your fingers, a stationary circle by pressing and stretching lightly on your skin at the beginning of the circle and release at the end of the circle.

The accentuated phase of the movement (pressure) is done by the outer side of the circle towards the upper body and the relaxation phase by the inner side of the circle.

At each position you make 5 stationary circles, before moving on to the next position.

When you have finished a cycle (from position 1 to position 6), you repeat the same course twice.

When you have done the inside of one thigh, you can drain the inside thigh of the opposite leg.

 

6th step: inner knee area

You will now drain the area in the hollow of the knee.

There are 3 positions here where you perform the movement:  the low part under the knee, the part in the middle under the knee and finally, the high part under the knee.

The movement is therefore from the bottom to the top.

At each position, you will perform, with your fingers, a stationary circle by pressing and stretching lightly on your skin at the beginning of the circle to release at the end of the circle.

The accentuated phase of the movement (pressure) is done by the outer side of the circle towards the upper body and the relaxation phase by the inner side of the circle.

At each position you make 5 circles, before moving on to the next position.

When you have finished a cycle (from position 1 to position 3), you repeat the same course twice.

When you have done the inside of one knee, you can drain the inside of the knee of the opposite leg.

 

7th step: ankle area

Finally you will finish this drainage at the ankles.

You place the 2 hands on each side of the Achilles tendons and you do the stationary circle in the direction of the upper body, doing it in 2 places, slightly apart, in the area.

You do 5 stationary circles each time in each position before moving on to the other.

And then you repeat the cycle 2 times.

When you have completed an ankle, you do the same process on the opposite ankle.

There you go, the session is complete!

We can summarize it as follows:

1 clavicle area
2 neck area
3 armpit-arm zone
4 belly area
5 inner thigh area
6 inner knee area
7 ankle zone

 

Conclusion:

Performed regularly this session will allow you to have better lymph circulation in your body.

It can be used both to reduce existing lymphatic problems as well as for prevention.

Obviously, the more you practice, the more effective the results will be.

Finally, a suitable lifestyle is also necessary to have a lymphatic system in good working order.

Do not hesitate to consult our article giving you some tips for having a good lymphatic system.

Blue Tree Massage operates on the French Riviera, mainly in the Alpes Maritimes, in the principal towns along the coast (Cannes, Antibes, Cagnes Sur Mer, Nice, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villefranche, Monaco, Menton…) as well as further inland (Mougins, Grasse, Valbonne, Biot, Roquefort les pins, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Vence…).