about lymphatic drainage & auricular acupuncture

 ABOUT MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

Certified MLD therapists relieve swelling that happens when medical treatment or illness blocks your lymphatic system. Manual lymph drainage involves gently manipulating specific areas of your body to help lymph move to areas with working lymph vessels. MLD requires extensive training. It follows a specific sequence, starting with the main drains in the  body, including the lymph nodes in the neck, groin and armpits. MLD is not massage, but it is relaxing and feels great.

I like to compare MLD to a swimming pool filter. Under normal conditions the filter might keep the pool sparkling clean running a few hours a day. If a dust storm blows dirt and debris into the water, it could take a very long time to fully clear the water unless you run the filter for many more hours. MLD works similarly. Manually moving lymph greatly increases reabsorption of fluid and cellular debris. In turn, swelling and bruising resolve much more quickly. This is why surgeons love to have their patients seek out MLD treatments. Decreased swelling and bruising = less pain, decreased rates of infection and a faster return to normal functioning. 

ABOUT AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE

I am very excited to be certified by the AZ board of acupuncture to offer ear acupuncture. Treatment is free of charge when provided within the context of a massage appointment and available as a stand alone treatment at a nominal fee. Acupuncture, the insertion of tiny, hair-thin needles into acupuncture points on the body, stimulates your body’s Qi, which then sends signals to the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems telling them how to inhibit pain and/or resolve disease processes. Five needle point acupuncture stimulates points on the ear that are connected to specific parts of the body, organs, and emotions. The theory behind auricular acupuncture is that the ear contains a map of the entire body, with specific points representing various parts. It  works by releasing endorphins, which have pain-relieving and calming effects, and by balancing the nervous system. Just a few uses include: pain relief, anxiety, stress, grief, insomnia, weight management and addiction.