What is Manual
Lymph Drainage (MLD)?
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a gentle, therapeutic treatment designed to support your body’s natural detoxification and fluid-movement systems. While it may feel similar to a relaxing Swedish massage, MLD uses an ultra-light, rhythmic touch—performed without lotion—to create the subtle skin stretch needed to encourage healthy lymph flow.
Your session typically begins with you comfortably lying on your back as your therapist guides you through a calming neck and abdominal sequence. This helps activate deep lymphatic pathways and promotes restorative diaphragmatic breathing. Once these central areas are cleared, your therapist works gradually from the center of the body outward toward the arms and legs, creating space for lymph to move easily and effectively.
Each session is customized to your unique needs, with treatment time varying depending on your goals and areas of focus. Your treatment frequency depends on your goals and your body’s unique needs. While every person is different, the following guidelines can help you understand what to expect:
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Post-Operative Care:
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In the weeks following surgery, more frequent sessions can support healing and help manage swelling. Most clients benefit from 2–3 sessions per week, based on their surgeon’s recommendations and individual recovery.
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Lymphedema Management:
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For those living with lymphedema, consistent care is key. Many clients find the best results with appointments every two weeks to once a month, depending on their symptoms, lifestyle, and long-term management plan.
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General Wellness:
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For relaxation, detox support, or overall well-being, session frequency is entirely flexible. You may schedule treatments as often as you feel you benefit, whether that’s monthly, seasonally, or whenever your body needs a reset.
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MLD Fun Facts:
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Manual Lymph Drainage was developed by Dr. Emil Vodder and his wife Estrid Vodder of Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1935.
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Lymph nodes are like the ‘mini-kidneys’ of the lymphatic system, filtering and regulating the lymph fluid before it enters the circulatory system. There are 600-700 lymph nodes in the body, and 300 of those are located in the head and neck region.
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Approximately 1/6 of the human body consists of interstitium — this gelatinous substance is the “glue” that keeps our cells together. Without it, our cells would be loose and unable to form tissues. (Imagine a bowl of jello with grapes in it — the jello is the interstitium, and the grapes are your cells).
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The fluid in your interstitium is called interstitial fluid, once it enters your lymphatic system it’s called lymph fluid, and when it enters your circulatory system it becomes part of your blood — all the same fluid.
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The lymphatic system transports (or drains) approximately four liters of lymph fluid from our interstitium to our circulatory system every 24 hours!
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MLD treatment sequences were designed to follow the body’s natural lymphatic flow direction — each lymph node and lymph node group receives lymph fluid from a specific region of the body. These defined areas are called ‘tributary regions’, and are delineated by ‘lymphatic watersheds’. Located along each watershed are areas where an MLD therapist can actually ‘redirect’ the flow from one tributary to another and temporarily change the direction of your lymphatic flow for about 20 minutes!