It’s no secret that I’ve been having hormonal issues for a while now. So when I learned about the possible benefits of a lymphatic drainage massage on your hormonal health, I was very intrigued to try it myself.
But before we get into the details of the massage and what happened to me afterwards, it is very important that you first know what your lymphatic system does…
What does the lymphatic system do?
The lymphatic system is made up of lymphatic vessels, nodes, ducts and many other tissues. It is located under the skin and helps the body get rid of excess bacteria, toxins and fluids. Lymph itself is the extra fluid that circulates through tissues and arteries to help clean them before draining them into your lymphatic system. Interesting, huh?
What is a lymphatic drainage massage used for?
Lymph relies entirely on your muscular action to move fluid. A lymphatic drainage massage works by moving lymph to the lymph nodes to help remove unwanted toxins and bacteria. This is done using very light pressure and long strokes, both of which encourage lymphatic fluid to move while directing toxins to organs that can properly eliminate them.
If you’ve ever heard influencers or wellness gurus promoting dry brushing online, then it’s a very similar concept that focuses on the lymphatic system.
How a Lymphatic Drainage Massage Can Benefit Your Hormones
I have been fully aware for some time now that unwanted toxins in the body can impact your hormonal health. Since the lymphatic system circulates hormones throughout your body, it is very important to keep it moving so that it can remove unwanted/excess toxins and waste. In some cases, the lymphatic system is known to cause hormonal imbalances due to these excess toxins.
My personal experience
I visited The Recovery Room in early September to have my first lymphatic drainage massage. The recovery room is located on Osborne Road, Southsea. Parking was pretty easy (and free) and the clinic itself was recently renovated, leaving it completely spotless and fresh. In fact, it was so fresh that I couldn’t help but compliment the team on how beautiful the clinic was. It was truly the perfect place to relax and de-stress for a full hour.
Vikki, my practitioner, was welcoming and easy to talk to. Once I completed a welcome questionnaire, I was taken to my own ‘recovery room’ and stripped down to my underwear while Vikki gave me time to get ready. comfortable for my massage. I loved how clean everything was, something that is really important to me.
Vikki explained to me exactly what would happen during my treatment and how she would perform the draining massage. I was completely satisfied with what I expected: light pressure and gentle brush strokes.
The massage itself was light, but nonetheless relaxing. In fact, Vikki’s brush strokes, from my upper body down, were surprisingly relaxing. However, if you are looking for an intense massage to help soothe sore and tired muscles, this massage is definitely not for you. But if you are looking to improve blood circulation, fluid retention, hormonal health, or perhaps another health issue that this type of massage will benefit from, then I would definitely recommend looking into lymphatic drainage massages.
Once my massage was finished, Vikki made me aware that I might experience an increase in bowel movements (as lymphatic waste will need to be removed from the body) and fatigue. What I felt right away was a slight headache and a feeling of dizziness. This didn’t alarm me at all, but rather made me feel like the drainage was immediately affecting my body. Overall, I left The Recovery Room feeling relaxed and light-hearted.
However, the real results for me would be whether the massage had any visible effects on my hormonal health. Could a 1-hour lymphatic drainage massage actually have a positive impact on my hormones? Well, my friends, it seems the massage could have been done exactly that…
I’m happy to report that for the first time in 6 months I had one of the best cycles (periods) in many years (!!). With a combination of mediation, yoga, deep breathing and of course lymphatic drainage massage, my September hormones were visibly much better, as well as my stress and anxiety levels.
Would I recommend a lymphatic drainage massage?
Although I feel like I need a few more treatments to fully determine if the ongoing lymphatic drainage massages are actually helping my hormonal health, I truly believe in the benefits of massage and I think anyone can benefit from it should try it. . Taking care of your lymphatic system is one of the most important things you can do for your health, especially when it comes to your hormones.
I will absolutely return to The Recovery Room once I finish working with my nutritionist over the next 3 months to continue taking care of my hormonal health (another route I am taking to improve my hormones). I would like to know if this type of massage would interest you? Let me know below!
Finally, a big thank you to Vikki from The Recovery Room for making my treatment not only relaxing, but easy. If you live near Southsea or the surrounding areas, check them out for this and many other specialty massages.
Hannah x