Your Body Needs This After Long-Haul Flights

Lifestyle

Your Body Needs This After Long-Haul Flights

Manual lymphatic drainage massage (MLD)

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Your body needs this after long-haul flights, that’s no joke. Or at least you have to try it and consider for yourself. In this article you will get some insides on my experiences with manual lymphatic drainage massage (MLD).

 

 

What effects does flying have on the body?

If you been traveling a lot, especially long-haul, you probably recognize the feeling. Long-haul flights can often result in fluid retention in the body, swelling in the legs and feet, and of course the annoying jet-lag symptoms.

 

There are absolutely things you can do during your flight, like where compression socks, try to walk around and move your legs and feet consistently during the flight. And of course drink a lot of water.

 

But when you set your feet on the ground again, after being sky high for 12 hours –you may feel like this is not enough. Like your body needs an extra reset after a long-haul flight. And with that, MLD can be a savior.

 

 

What is manual lymphatic drainage massage?

Manual lymphatic drainage massage (MLD) is a highly specialized technique developed in Europe in the 1930’s by Dr. Emil Vodder. The method is a very gentle, light touch form of massage, that uses light, rhythmical hand movements. The soft pressure and sequences encourage the lymph fluid to flow freely around the body. The massage is usually not preformed with oils or other products.

 

Our lymphatic system circulates on average three times a minute. When you are on a long-haul flight this circulation can get clogged, which can cause fluid retention in the body and swelling in the legs and feet. When you receive a manual lymphatic drainage massage, the lymphatic circulation increases to 30 times a minute. This effect last for about 24 hours, so you will notice an even bigger difference in the body when you wake up the next morning.

 

Note: the treatment is most effective when you come hydrated, so even more reason to drink a lot of water during your flight. Ideally the suggestion is about 1,5 liters throughput the day prior to your treatment and 1,5 liters after your treatment.

 

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What is manual lymphatic drainage massage good for?

Manual lymphatic drainage massage (MLD) gives your immune system a real boost. It speeds up your body’s natural detoxification process, and detoxify excess of cell debris, protein and long chain fatty acids, among other things. MLD is therefor a great treatment for frequent travelers who get swelling in their legs, ankles and/or puffiness in the face and under eyes due to flying.

 

In addition to the boost and detox, the treatment can also work great if you are feeling particularly stressed and tense. MLD can get you in a calmer state of mind, by restoring the balance in the nervous system, sedate the flight stress response in the body and promote a feeling of deep relaxation.

 

What I didn’t expect to experience was a noticeable difference in my physical appearance after the treatment. The therapist showed me the difference on my legs when she had performed the treatment on just one leg, and my skin color was much more vibrant and glowing. Like I got the glow from the inside out. A great superficial bonus.

 

 

Does your body need this after long-haul flights?

I need to emphasis that this treatment may not be for everyone. Maybe you dont suffer from swelling in the legs and feet after long-haul flights, and maybe you like to combat your jetlag in a different way. What you do after a long flight, is totally up to you. I’m just sharing my attempt to appreciate my body, and with that, encourage you to do the same.

 

In our stressful and tense world, when everything is about being our most effective at all times, we treat our body like its an technical machine. If we give it some food (often not with a long-term strategy) and some sleep (which we often underestimate), and we expect it to perform the best at all times.

 

Make sure you do the small things needed to appreciate your body. Treat it like a friend, cause in a sense your body is a best friend your destined to live with for the rest of your life. 

 

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Additional tips:

Often you can get manual lymphatic drainage massage (MLD) as a home-visit. The therapist either bring everything to you, or you can get a great home-spa experience at the therapist’s place. This is a great way to make the experience more personalized, and the therapist will always adjust the treatment after your individual needs. I’ve can greatly recommend a home-visit in London and an unique home-spa experience in New York.

 

If your searching for a manual lymphatic drainage massage (MLD), look for a therapist offering the Vodder technique.

 

 

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