The essential work of MLD is that it encourages those hypothetical pipes to drain.

Unfortunately, we can’t give a Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) treatment to a person who has an active infection, bacterial or viral.

First, I’m going to describe the terms which are based in the science of MLD: gentle, light touch, rhythmic. Then I will dig into the descriptors that are a little more complicated because it varies from person to person: relaxing, comforting, and boring.

As someone who identifies as neurodivergent (LINK), I’ve gotten massages in the past that I considered “too light”, i.e. not deep enough. However, I consider MLD to be different.

One of the neuronormative benefits of massage is relaxation. So why is it that those of us who identify as neurodiverse are often terrified of the thought of scheduling a massage?

One of the things that drew me to MLD was the fact that I underwent jaw replacement surgery two years ago as a 38 year old woman.