INTRODUCTION TO MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE OR COMBINED DECONGESTIVE THERAPY
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) or Combined Decongestive Therapy is a "retraining" of the lymph to make it flow faster and more efficiently.

The lymph system is the "waste disposal system" within the body. It acts as the body’s defence; it clears away toxins, bacteria, cell debris, excess water and proteins. Without this important system we would die within twenty-four hours.

Dr. Emil Vodder developed MLD in France in the 1930’s. He discovered that a malfunction of the Lymph Nodes produced a blockage which could be removed using an appropriate massage technique. Following this discovery, he developed a massage/touch method that could imitate the pump of the Lymphatic system. This involved gentle stationary circles on Lymph Nodes, and also employed the use of compression bandages or garments after treatment to enhance the MLD treatment given.

These days "Lymphology" is widely studied and research has proven that the method of Dr. Vodders MLD therapy does work. Dr. Vodder's work has been continued in the clinic in Austria and North America B.C. and is now taught worldwide.