Contractility of the Lymphangions

Specific lymphatic drainage techniques have come into use during the past 75 years. Osteopath F. P. Millard deserves credit for developing the first precise manual approach to the lymphatic system. Beginning in 1904, Millard conducted extensive lymphatic studies, the results of which he published in “Applied Anatomy of the Lymphatics” in 1922. In his writings, Millard used the term “lymphatic drainage” to describe his techniques. Emil Vodder, a Danish practitioner and doctor of philosophy, is best known for his brilliant insights into techniques for enhancing lymphatic circulation. Between 1932 and 1936, in Cannes, France, Vodder and his wife developed a specific manual technique for lymph drainage. But because he was not a physician, physical therapist or massage therapist (in France, the practice of massage therapy is restricted to registered physical therapists), he had difficulty authenticating and gaining recognition for his technique. It was not until the end of the 1960s that Vodder’s Manual Lymph Drainage technique was scientifically tested and its effects recognized. More recently, I myself, a trained French physician, further improved on some of these techniques by developing ways to manually assess the specific rhythm, direction, depth and quality of the lymphatic flow. This approach, Lymph Drainage Therapy (LDT), also uses the technique called Manual Lymphatic Mapping (MLM), which helps practitioners assess alternative pathways to promote drainage of areas of interstitial fluid or lymphatic stagnation.