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Medical data is for informational purposes only. You should always consult your family physician, or one of our referral doctors prior to treatment.

Dr Chikly’s

LYMPH DRAINAGE THERAPY

By permission of author published by the Arthritis Trust of

America

/The Rheumatoid Disease Foundation,

7376 Walker Road, Fairview, Tn 37062

Bruno Chikly, M.D., Laureat of the Medical Faculty of Paris,

Member of the International Society of Lymphology (I.S.L.) is a

graduate of the medical school at Saint Antoine Hospital in France,

where his internship in general medicine included training in en-

docrinology, surgery, neurology and psychiatry. Dr. Chikly also

holds a degree in psychology at the master’s level. Further areas

of training and education consist of 10-years of study in Oriental

medicine, including acupuncture and osteopathy, including

CranioSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Spinal release,

Mechanical link, Muscle energy among others.

His doctoral thesis addressing the lymphatic system, its his-

torical evolution and the manual lymphatic drainage technique was

awarded the Medal of the Medical Faculty of Paris, VI, a presti-

gious acknowledgment for in-depth work and scientific presenta-

tion.

Lymph Drainage Therapy workshops on the body and face,

along with self-drainage techniques, currently are taught in France,

Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Israel, Tunisia, Canada, Brazil and

the United States. For more information on workshops, Upledger

Institute at 1-800-233-5880.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

History of Lymph Discovery and Lymphatic Drainage

The Water Element and the Liquids of the Body.

Circulation, Blood and Lymphatic Vessels (Physiology)

Lymph Vessels, Lymph Nodes

Lymph Circulation

Comparison Lymph system/Blood system

Composition of Lymph

Functions of the Lymphatic System

Indications and Applications of Lymph Drainage

Annex: Dr Chikly’s resume

INTRODUCTION

LYMPH DRAINAGE THERAPY

A NEW CONCEPTION OF LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

YMPHATIC

RAINAGE

is a specialized massage tech-

nique designed to activate and cleanse the human fluid system.

Because the lymphatic system itself is responsible for optimum

functioning of the water circulation and immune system, L

PHATIC

& E

NERGETIC

RAINAGE

is a key to maximizing our abil-

ity to rejuvenate and to establish resistance to stress and dis-

ease. (Also see “Lymphatic Detoxification,” www.arthritistrust.org.)

YMPHATIC

DRAINAGE

was initially developed in Europe

in 1932 by Dr. E . Vodder. By the late 60’s it established the cred-

ibility necessary to be taken seriously by the medical profession.

Dr. Johannes Askonk, a prominent German physician, then suc-

cessfully tested 20,000 patients in hospitals in order to verify its

credibility, measure its efficiency and find its indications and

counter-indications.

Today this technique is widely spread throughout Eu-

rope and is so highly recognized in the medical field that doctors

now commonly prescribe these treatments which are used in hos-

pitals and reimbursed by Social Security. This work is facilitated

by physiotherapists, chiropractors, nurses and bodyworkers.

Concisely we can say that the three main actions of lym-

phatic drainage are:

1) Stimulation of body fluid circulation. It activates lymph

function and lymph circulation. Indirectly stimulate the blood cir-

culation of the Body (enhance blood capillaries resorption, increase

pulsation of capillaries, activate venous circulation, . . .).

2) Stimulation of the immune system: the passage of

lymph in the lymph nodes stimulate the immune system (the hu-

moral as much as well as the cellular immunity). The stimulation

of lymph circulation activate antigen/antibody presentation and

immune reactions.

3) Nervous sytem: stimulate the parasympathetic nervous

system (relaxation effect, antispastic effects -- muscle tonus -- ,

etc). The constant stimulation of the C-fiber mechanoreceptors has

inhibitory effects (analgesic -anti-pain-action).

YMPHATIC

& E

NERGETIC

RAINAGE

is an original method

of L

YMPHATIC

RAINAGE

developed by a French physician, Dr. Bruno

Chikly. Today, lymphatic drainage has reached a new level of ef-

fectiveness and efficiency. The enhancements we have made to the

original Vodder technique is by incorporating the most advanced

scientific data on lymphology with whole-body healing values and

direct listening techniques. As in CranioSacral Therapy, we can

easily develop and teach the skills to identify the very specific

rhythm, then direction and quality of the lymphatic flow. Dr. Chikly

was the first in the world to make this breakthrough. The method,

Lymph Drainage Therapy (LDT), offers patients a myriad of ben-

efits. Advance practitioner can really assess their patients (lym-

phatic mapping), monitor their work and check the result of their

work at the end of the session. If needed (lymphedema, surgery,

obstruction), they can finally find the best alternate pathways to

reroute the lymph flow to a healthy area of the body.

The manual manoeuvres employed are very subtle (e.g.

cranio-sacral movements). The work is done with flat hands using

all fingers to simulate aquatic, wave-like movements, which en-

ables the practitioner to deeply listen to the rhythm of the body

fluids. A heightened awareness opens one’s ability to attune to the

exact pressure and rhythm necessary to enter into the flow of the

lympathic system.

YMPH

“E

LIXIR

IFE

”

Lymph in its flow actually takes away the toxins, the

germs, and the large molecules that the venous system can’t regain.

It can, in particular, remove “trapped proteins” and fat molecules

in the tissues.

Finally as it passes through the lymphatic nodes, small

centers of filtration, it also manages our immune defenses. Lymph

leaves the waste and germs in the lymphatic nodes, and transports

lymphocytes, specialized white corpuscles that produce antibod-

ies.

It is easy to understand, therefore, its importance for the

strength of our immune system, the state of our tissues and our

general well-being.

However, the lymphatic flow can stagnate or even stop

for many reasons such as fatigue, stress, emotional shock, lack of

physical activity, certain food additives, etc. . . If the lymphatic

circulation slows down, the supplying and regeneration of cells is

poorly carried out. Consequently, toxins accumulate, hastening the

aging process and opening the gates to various physical problems.

We use our hands to aid in Nature’s work assisting the

recirculation of the lymphatic flow.The wave-like movements of

the fingers restimulate the contractile movements of the lympatic

channels.

HISTORY OF LYMPH DISCOVERY

AND LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

It is most likely that throughout history the medical field