MLD therapy: responding to a knead (From Bournemouth Echo)

MLD therapy: responding to a knead

8:00am Wednesday 24th February 2010 in

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WHEN Christine Johnson decided to try lymphatic drainage to ease the pain in her legs, she discovered it had some other unexpected health benefits too.

For not only has she got more energy and can walk for longer distances, a deep scar running along one of her legs, following an operation when she was a baby, has started to fade.

“My husband and I walk every weekend but I couldn’t walk at all at one point without discomfort. Someone recommended that I try Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD).

“I’d never had a body massage before so I didn’t know what to expect – it was a case of needs must; otherwise I was going to go to a physiotherapist.

“When I came out I was almost too exhausted to drive but the following day I felt wonderful. It’s really quite addictive.

“I now go every few weeks and I really look forward to it. I’m not absolutely cured but if I do get any discomfort she can tell – it might sound ridiculous but if there any tensions in the body she can find them.”

But more surprisingly, the life-long scar on her leg is starting to fade too.

Her therapist, Raksha Peters, who has more than 35 years’ experience in the complementary health field, set up The Red Heart Fund in 2001 in memory of her husband Eric.

The medically supervised centre in Sea Road, Boscombe, promotes natural healthcare and offers a range of complementary treatments with a particular focus on cancer support.

“The aim is to promote information about complementary therapies which can be used to help treat cancer or can help to minimise the side effects of cancer treatment,” Raksha explains.

“But emotional support is important too. Some of our clients are lost souls when they come here – we aim to give them a bit of hope and quality of life.”

Raksha explains that MLD is a light skin massage to stimulate the lymph nodes.

“We bombard our bodies with toxins every day by eating badly, living in polluted cities , eating too much sugar and drinking too much alcohol.

“Our lymphatic system’s job is to flush all the toxins away and keep you healthy. It helps to refresh your immune system and flush out toxins.

“Some women who have had breast cancer will have their lymph nodes removed, which is why you have to do it manually.

“It can speed up healing and it is also very calming as it helps to bring the body back in balance – it can even help people who want to loose weight too.”

Although treatments at the Red Heart Fund are reasonably priced compared to most High Street salons, Raksha is planning more fundraising events so she can offer further discounts for cancer patients.

But she adds: “I would never turn anybody away.”