There are several reasons why lymphatic fluid might begin to accumulate in your legs or elsewhere in the body.  Following surgery, or blockage in the veins there can be a disruption in the flow of lymphatic fluids which causes that area of the body to swell up and appear unsightly, and if not treated, it can cause health problems because of the continuing buildup. For this reason, a number of techniques have been developed to relieve such blockages, so that normal circulation can return, and the buildup of fluid can be removed. Lymphatic drainage massage involves gentle manipulation of the area(s) where blockage has occurred, so that the excess fluid can be moved to an area where the lymph vessels are working properly.

Importance of the lymphatic system

Removing toxic buildup in the body is absolutely essential for maintaining good overall health. The lymphatic system of the body consists of a number of organs and glands that excrete toxins from the body when they're functioning normally. Unfortunately, it is extremely common for some kind of blockage to occur, and when that happens the inevitable result is toxic buildup. Since the lymphatic system relies on good circulation, it's easy to see why any kind of blockage can quickly cause a degradation of the lymphatic system.

Consisting of various glands, the spleen, the lymph nodes, the tonsils, and the thymus gland, the lymphatic system functions to remove interstitial fluid from tissues, remove fats from the digestive system, transport white blood cells around the body, and transporting dendritic cells to the lymph nodes. When dendritic cells reach the lymph nodes, and immune response is triggered, and normal good health is maintained.

In the vast majority of people, the lymphatic system is at least somewhat out of balance because there's an obstruction somewhere in the body. This can occur as a result of excessive intake of processed foods, nutrient deficiency, and quite often, the lack of physical activity. When the buildup becomes severe, it will very often trigger some kind of health condition, such as any of the following:

• excess weight, usually gained fairly quickly

• chronic fatigue or weariness

• sinus infections

• unexplained injuries that seem to have no origin

• frequent headaches or dizziness

• digestive disorders or complications

• some types of arthritis

• skin conditions attributable to toxic buildup.

Since the lymphatic system does not have a natural pumping system to move materials around the body, it must rely on the body's muscular action, breathing, movements, and intestinal activities to transport lymph as needed. All these assists can break down when a blockage occurs, and that's when some external method of stimulating lymph movement within the body is necessary. Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do to maintain an active, healthy lymphatic system. But even with regular exercise, sometimes fluid buildup occurs in certain areas, and it then becomes necessary to help the body by removing the buildup of toxins in a specific area.

Effectiveness of ordinary lymphatic drainage massage 

When your cardiovascular system sends blood and nutrients to a specific area of the body, sometimes excess fluid gets left behind in the form of lymph. When the lymphatic system is functioning properly, this excess fluid gets recycled to the heart via a large network of lymph nodes and lymph vessels. If this process gets interrupted somehow, that lymph will then collect in the arms, legs, or other body areas. A skilled massage therapist will be able to move this collected lymph to another area of the body where there is no obstruction, and that will allow it to be circulated as normal.

Several studies have been performed about the effectiveness of lymph massage, and the most pronounced results generally occur in individuals who are aged 60 and above. However, almost anyone can benefit by having a lymphatic drainage massage performed on them, even if all lymph is not moved along to another area. When this kind of massage is performed, a two-step process occurs: first, the accumulated lymph will be released into the lymph tissues, and from there it will be reabsorbed into the lymph nodes. There are other methods of removing a lymph buildup than having a massage therapist operate on you, and in this article we'll discuss a few of these alternative approaches to removing lymph.

Other methods of improving lymphatic drainage

If you've been wondering how you can improve lymphatic drainage in legs or your arms, continue reading below. In addition to the traditional lymphatic massage, there are a couple other approaches that have proven to be at least somewhat effective at removing lymph buildup. One of these involves putting a special sleeve over the arm or leg where buildup has occurred. This sleeve is coupled with a pneumatic pump that pulsates and stimulates the movement of lymph away from tissues and back toward the lymph nodes. Another very effective way of removing lymph buildup from your body tissues is to use a device called the Star Lymphactive. 

How Star Lymphactive can improve lymphatic drainage

The Star Lymphactive device is marketed in North America by Skin Science Solutions as the distributor of Pagani products on this continent. The Star Lymphactive works through pressotherapy, which is an approach that exerts pressure on the affected area, thereby causing fluid to move elsewhere. This device is considered to be ten times more effective than traditional lymphatic massage, and can be worn either vertically or horizontally for maxium effectiveness. It is not only used for physiotherapy, but is also adept at helping athletic recovery and can even be used in certain beauty applications. It is therefore one of the most versatile devices on the market today and is equally useful for all applications.

By removing the lymph buildup in body tissues, it allows the body organs to function more efficiently, and it purifies and reactivates the body's lymph system. While it purifies the lymph system, it also contributes to minor weight loss and reduces the presence of cellulite. When lymph is not allowed to accumulate, that means toxins will not build up in body tissues, and an individual can remain in good health more consistently. That's one reason why it is favored by elite athletes - because with toxins eliminated, a person will be able to perform at their very best. The athlete can also expect quicker recovery times, because muscles and tissues aren't bogged down with harmful lymph and toxic waste material. With lymph moved along to the lymph nodes, much better circulation ensues and an individual can enjoy better health. 

Pressotherapy is very effective at delivering a detoxifying treatment, lowering the level of trapped water and lymph, and causing trapped lymph to free up and be transported to the lymph nodes. With excess water, lymph, and toxic waste being removed by drainage, the body's natural healing techniques can once again come into play and restore good health. When body tissue gets revitalized in this way, it leads directly to better oxygenation and a revitalized appearance. All affected tissue gets slimmer and better defined, so your appearance improves dramatically. This kind of special massage can also impact your immune system, because there are no blockages that might lead to health issues.

Conditions that would be improved by Star Lymphactive

Given that the pressotherapy approach adopted by Star Lymphactive is so effective, it can be used to treat a number of different conditions that a person might have. Here are several conditions that might be excellent candidates for such treatment:

• lymphedema - when excess fat and fluid accumulate somewhere in the lower body, the lymphatic pathways can become blocked and lymphedema may be the result. This is particularly common somewhere in the lower legs, ankles, and feet.

• chronic venous inefficiency - if the veins in your legs aren't working properly for some reason, it can be difficult for blood to get back to the heart. When this happens, it causes noticeable inefficiency in your circulation, and all kinds of problems and issues may be the result.

• fibromyalgia - anyone afflicted by fibromyalgia will probably undergo consistent pain in their muscles and joints. While pain medication may temporarily relieve the discomfort, the underlying condition will still be present. Therefore, it becomes advisable to take steps that will reduce the toxic buildup which causes all the pain.

• rheumatoid arthritis - many people, particularly elderly citizens, are bothered by constant pain, stiffness, and swelling in their joints. This can get to be so severe that it causes a major distraction and makes it difficult to concentrate on ordinary daily tasks. Pressotherapy can help relieve this condition by reducing the fluid buildup and swelling that exerts pressure on tissues and joints. 

There are undoubtedly other medical conditions that would be helped greatly by the removal of excess fluid and toxins in the tissues of the body. Once all that material is circulating through the body normally again, a significant improvement can be expected in the legs, arms, and wherever else fluid buildup has occurred. When the lymphatic system can be maintained in its normal healthy state, general good health is much more likely.