WHAT IS MANUAL LYMPH DRAINAGE

WHAT IS MANUAL LYMPH DRAINAGE?
Here is what manual lymphatic drainage does:

First of all, (let's abbreviate it:) MLD (manual lymphatic drainage) is a very specific and sloooow, systemic technique that functions to help do 1 very important thing: aid in moving /"draining" lymph (but we don't technically "drain" it... it's more of a figure of speech- we move it and this movement helps it filter through the lymph nodes, into the ducts, back through the blood-circulatory system.. etc...MLD follows a very particular path and requires specialized training and study, very different from classic massage.
Generally:
Consider our circulatory system has a heart ("pump") to move and deliver blood all throughout the body with each powerful beat... well, our lymphatic system is responsible for moving lymph all throughout the body, however, it doesn't have a pump. It relies on voluntary physical movement of the muscles in the form of activity or exercise to move it. And it is only supposed to move in an upward direction.
Moving forward: There are certain instances where inactivity/tissue damage can cause problems that interfere with normal lymphatic flow. Let's say for example: POST-surgery... most of us have probably seen cases of swelling in the legs of bedridden hospital patients. This swelling is often due to the pooling of lymph, aka edema. Picture a clogged tub drain: water in the tub will just sit there and get ickier and gunkier if the clog is not cleared. This is sort of what happens when healthy lymphatic flow is hindered due to tissue damage, inactivity, or other disruption. Then we need some serious help unclogging the drain...
NOW: Enter the MLD therapist! In cases where the body is unable to circulate its own lymph, the assistance of qualified (external) hands is important and can make a HUGE difference. MLD is a very light, delicate, and superficial technique- very different from classic massage (although classic massage also moves lymph, but also affects muscles, veins, arteries- which lie deeper). It is implemented with the sole purpose of effecting the surface lymph vessels and encourage the circulation of lymph to, especially if even classic massage could be damaging to the deeper, compromised tissues.
MLD also helps speed up recovery in cases of injury, surgery, illness, etc. Once again, it is very specialized and clinical work.