In the wellness world, lymphatic drainage is the top trend at the moment. We hear a lot about eliminating swelling and inflammation, but is this the same thing? And do treatments like gua sha and cupping help?
These treatments claim to reduce lymphedema. Lymphedema occurs when fluid remains in your tissues after your cardiovascular system sends blood to your tissues and organs. This remaining fluid is called lymph, and the lymphatic system should collect it and return it to the heart through lymph vessels and lymph nodes.
When the lymphatic system’s process is disrupted, this fluid collects, causing swelling. LariJean Estrada-Brooks is a doctor of physical therapy and the clinical director of the Chantilly office of the Virginian Rehabilitation and Wellness Services. She says, “if you look at lymphoedema, it’s almost always associated with oncology, with patients who just went through a radical mastectomy. So, it commonly happens when you remove the lymph or the lymph nodes.”
“Obviously, if you have the whole system and you remove part of the system you have a workload for the whole system, but you have less lymph nodes to handle the job. That’s when the lymphoedema starts developing,” she says.
She explains that lymphatic drainage is a process for people who have a diagnosis and a prescription for her services, but that spa treatments might help people relax or just feel generally good on an off day. Aside from seeking an aesthetic treatment, the best thing Estrada-Brooks says to do if your joints are feeling swollen, is to walk to get your system flowing again.
If you are having an off day, here are a few places around the region with treatments that might help you relax.
Gua Sha/Body Scraping
To activate your muscles and pull down knots, give gua sha a try. A flat tool will be rubbed over your body in one direction, pulling knots away and activating your muscles. Try eastern style bodywork at Lansdowne Resort’s Spa Minerale, where you’ll get a combination of gua sha, cupping, and Thai table massage. Landsdowne Resort: 44050 Woodridge Pkwy., Leesburg
Cupping
Another form of Chinese medicine is the practice of cupping. These are glass globes that are suctioned to the back using negative pressure to adhere the cups to the skin. They then work to draw out toxins and get blood flowing again through your body. You can add a cupping treatment onto any massage service at the Retreat Center in Fairfax. We recommend adding it onto the deep tissue massage. The Retreat: 9938 Main St., Fairfax
Lymphatic Massage
A body detox massage should help you feel like you accomplished something that would relieve pressure and swelling throughout the body. The massage includes exfoliation followed by massage, and a body mask. Aikana Esthetic Center: 5103 Backlick Rd., Annandale
Dry Brushing
Try the Calming Antara Ritual at Salamander Resort’s Spa. This luxury treatment starts with dry brushing and then a CBD-infused shea butter balm is applied all over. There’s a scalp and neck massage with Zent’s Relief Balm, and the treatment is supposed to relieve muscle aches and pains, as well as reduce inflammation. Salamander Resort and Spa: 500 N. Pendleton St., Middleburg
Feature image, Татьяна Волкова/stock.adobe.com
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