The Mindful Migraine

Today’s post is an enquiry into the latest trend that has been burning up my newsfeed: Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). I know we have lymph nodes, but it never occurred to me you could ‘drain’ them…

I’ve written in the past about different healing options I’ve spotted online, such as Rolfing and EFT Tapping as well as ear seeds and bathing in mustard… there’s a lot of unexpected things out there on the internet.

But I’ve also written about being careful about following those fads too blindly on my post “Worshiping false idols“.

I am if anything, a curious creature, so I’ll research pretty much anything if it sounds like it might assist in reducing chronic pain – with an open mind, but I also have my Hat of Skepticism firmly planted on my head.

SO… here we go…

[Disclaimer – remember that I am not a doctor and it is never a good idea to get health advice off the internet – please speak to your healthcare practitioner about healing options that best suit your individual situation.]

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The first site I visited, ClevelandClinic.org, had a post called Lymphatic Drainage Massage: What It Is & Benefits. They noted that your lymphatic system collects your lymph [a clear liquid with white blood cells in it] and returns it to your heart via a network of vessels and nodes.

If something disrupts this process, then the lymph can collect in your arms, legs, ankles or other parts of your body, making them swell. A massage therapist uses a particular type of massage to move lymph from your tissues to your lymph nodes, which eases the swelling.

Apparently, lymph-issues are very common for patients with fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms that suggest your lymph might also be affecting you include, bloating, brain fog, chronic sinus infections, fatigue or headaches.

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Another site I visited was Health.com who noted in their article Lymphatic Drainage Massage: 4 Benefits and Risks that the 4 benefits of MLD are improved blood flow, minimizing cellulite, reducing swelling, and helping relieve stiffness and pain.

They write that there are typically 4 types of massage (that all sound pretty similar, but with small variations):

• Casley-Smith: Involves the massause making circular motions using the sides and palms of the hands.
• Foldi: as above, but with moments of relaxation in between the circular motions.
• Leduc: Involves collecting lymph fluid [it doesnt say how] in the affected area and then using hand motions to move it throughout the lymphatic system.
• Vodder: The massage therapist will use sweeping motions around the affected area.

They note that Manual Lymphatic Drainage is typically considered safe and low-risk. However, this technique may not be safe for people with conditions that can move lymphatic fluid back to the heart or kidneys. These conditions include: stroke, blood clots, heart disease, kidney or liver conditions.

[Double disclaimer – speak to a doctor before you make an appointment with a massage therapist if you might fall into any of these risk categories – and don’t try any new physical therapies without your doctor’s approval if you are pregnant.]

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Even though there are plenty of sites that say the gentle massage can work wonders, helping you detoxify, lose weight, and boost your immunity… the problem is, I’m not finding a lot of science to support the claims.

UCLAHealth.com admits as much on their post Lymphatic drainage massage — separating fact from fiction. They note that your lymph system is an essential part of your immune system and moves lymph fluid “where it needs to go to help your body detoxify, fight off infection and maintain fluid balance. In short, you could not live without it.” But they also note that “The truth is that a healthy body is a well-oiled machine. Your lymphatic system does not necessarily need your help unless it’s not working well. In some cases, your ‘help’ may do more harm than good.”

They do say, however, that it can help after surgery, or reduce stress because it feels good to get a massage, but they also add Deep Vein Thrombosis and Cellulitis as conditions that should NOT try MLD, and they also advise it should only be conducted by a trained professional.

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OK, so what about migraines?

I found a site online (here) that was an advocate of MLD for migraines (they sell the massages). They note: “Migraines have been linked to inflammation and the buildup of metabolic waste in the brain. Poor glymphatic function [which is apparently part of the lymphatic system], exacerbated by factors like poor sleep, stress, and dehydration, can worsen these conditions. Therefore, improving glymphatic drainage can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.”

They recommend massage in the following 6 places: behind the ears, armpits, belly, groin, behind the knees, and the clavicle. 

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If we turn back towards science, there is one paper that I found from 2016: The efficacy of lymphatic drainage and traditional massage in the prophylaxis of migraine: a randomized, controlled parallel group study – PubMed.

I couldn’t get to the paper itself (now that I’m Dr Linda and my PhD is finished, I no longer have access to the university library – doh!), but the article’s abstract (or summary) told me that 64 patients with migraine were split into three groups which would receive lymphatic drainage massage (LD), traditional massage (TM), or were labeled a ‘waiting group’ (WG) and presumably received neither treatment option. Over several weeks the patients recorded their migraines in a diary. The test found that the number of migraine attacks decreased for both the LD and the TM groups much more than the WG, and that the LD was more successful in some of the key measures they were tracking than TM. But they also acknowledged more research was required.

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For today’s post I thought I’d finish with something different – I did a quick search on the theme in WordPress’s “Reader” and found information about MLD on a few other blogger’s posts – they each come at the same topic from a variety of different angles – so pop across and share the blog love and learn more if you’re interested:

11 Proven Steps to Master Lymphatic Stomach Massage & Debloat Fast: “Gurgling noises (borborygmi) are a great sign. It means gas and fluid are moving through the intestines and peristalsis is active. You want to hear these sounds.”

How Lymphatic Massage Destin Enhances Post-Surgery Recovery: “Lymphatic massage is a valuable component of post-surgery recovery, offering benefits such as reduced swelling and improved pain management.”

The Lymphatic System & Massage: Why Gentle Movement Matters More Than You Think: “Lymphatic tissue sits just beneath the skin. Aggressive pressure isn’t more effective — slow, intentional touch works best.”

The Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Eye Massage for Reducing Puffiness: “When the facial lymphatic drainage system becomes sluggish, stagnant lymph fluid pools in the delicate tissues beneath your eyes, leading to visible swelling and chronic puffiness.”

And lastly…

Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage Massage: Benefits & Techniques: “Originating in Brazil, this technique uses gentle yet rhythmic and slightly faster movements compared to traditional lymphatic massage.”

This last blog post uses a (7min) YouTube video, whose link I’m going to put here – it explains the science by painting on a lady’s body – so clever!:

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I don’t think MLD is a migraine-must-have, but I am going to keep it in mind as a potential new massage to try. In the meantime, here’s another very early post of mine with some other self-massage tips you can try: Face and head massage for migraines

Take care taking care of yourself lovely people,

Linda x