Find your Flow
Advanced Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Neurological Reset:
Restoring Systemic Flow
Benefits
of Manual Lymphatic Drainage
MLD is available for clients with intact and compromised Lymphatic Systems. If you have had Radiation/Removal of Lymph Nodes, or have a diagnosis of Lymphedema, you will need to complete a phone consultation before scheduling.
Though MLD is beneficial for most people, it is contraindicated for individuals with the following:
+ Acute infections/fever
+ Untreated Thrombosis/blood clots
+ Acute Bronchitis
+Untreated maglignant tumors*
+Uncontrolled hypertension
+Renal Failure
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*Clients undergoing chemotherapy/radiation or under oncologist’s care can receive MLD as palliative care, with clearance from your physician.
General Wellness
Support Immune function, Encourage skin repair, Alleviate Inflammation,
Surgery Recovery
Optimize your healing process with pre-and post-procedure Manual Lymphatic Drainage.
Prenatal/Postnatal
Lighten the load in your extremities with gentle support.
Injury Recovery
Reduce swelling and encourage bruises to resolve more quickly, restore range of motion
Chronic Pain/Auto-Immune Disease
Encourage elimination of pain-related chemicals from your body and reset your nervous system.
Osteo and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Reduce fluid around arthritic joints to increase range of motion and relieve pressure
Lymphedema
I am certified to provide Complete Decongestive Therapy, known as the "Gold Standard" of Lymphedema management.
Lipedema
A conservative manual approach combined with compression to create space, encourage fluid to move, reduce sensitivity and prevent progression.
Wellness-support for challenged Lymphatic Systems
Intervention for compromised Lymphatic Systems...
Surgical Swelling and Bruising, injuries
Any procedure or accident that breaks skin, tears, or incises muscle will insult circulatory and lymphatic structures located near that injury/incision. This is why we bruise and swell. MLD will re-route lymphatic fluid that has accumulated near the injury and increase the speed at which your lymph vessels move, thus accelerating the recovery process. This is applicable for pre- and post-cosmetic and orthopedic surgery, muscle tears, sprains, and strains. Recommended schedule of at least ONE visit pre-surgery, 2-3 times per week for the first 4-6 weeks post op/injury, and once per week the next 2-3 weeks. Maintenance as needed following.
Chronic Pain and Auto-Immune Inflammation
Chronic pain is often fueled by a buildup of chemicals in the tissues (prostaglandins, cytokines, lactic acid). MLD coaxes these chemicals into the lymphatic vessels, reducing chemical irritation to nerves. The rhythmic, repetitive, gentle technique may stimulate the parasympathetic (rest and digest) response, producing deep relaxation and often reducing perceived pain. People with conditions like Fibromyalgia, CRPS, Rheumatoid and Osteo-Arthritis, Migraines, Neuropathy, Herniated discs, IBS, and other chronic conditions who find traditional massage difficult to withstand subjectively report symptom relief from MLD. Recommended schedule of once per month, or as often as needed.
Allergies/Histamine Overload
A healthy lymphatic system transports pathogens and immune mediators (including histamine) toward lymph nodes, where immune cells help process and clear them before filtered interstitial fluid returns toward the bloodstream. When lymphatic flow is reduced or sluggish, fluid and immune mediators can linger in tissues, which may worsen local swelling and inflammation. Some people with sinus congestion or inflammation from histamine reactions, seasonal allergies, or a lingering cold report symptomatic relief after MLD. Recommended schedule of once per month, or as often as needed.
Lymphedema
Primary--If you didn't grow up knowing what Primary Lymphedema is, you most likely don't have it. It is considered swelling due to the malformation of your Lymphatic System. Most people who are diagnosed with Lymphedema have Secondary Lymphedema. This means it is a result of an injury/insult to the Lymphatic system--an accident that damaged an area of your system, radiation or removal of Lymph Nodes, or complications from a connective tissue disorder leading to Chronic Venous Insufficiency are a few examples. If you have had lymph nodes removed or radiated, you are considered to be Stage Zero lymphedema. You may never progress beyond this stage, but your lymphatic system is compromised. There are particular protocols that must be followed if you would like to benefit from MLD, and only a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) should do this work. Though you may have a referral to a Lymphedema Clinic, you may have a long wait to be seen. If you would like preliminary assessments pre-surgery, while you are post-surgery Stage Zero, or even think you might be swelling as you wait to be seen by your hospital's clinic, I can support you.
Lipedema
Lipedema is a connective tissue disorder that affects women. Women with Lipedema often have sensitive and easily bruised skin, carry a feeling of heaviness in their legs, and can palpate painful nodules beneath the skin's surface. Physical markers are symmetrical deposits of extra adipose tissue, usually on the bottom half of the body. It can affect only upper thighs or the entire leg, sparing the feet. Less frequently arms, abdomen, and pelvis are involved. There may be spider veins present. Left unchecked, it can develop into a combination of Lipo/Lymphedema. MLD combined with fascial release and compression can help manage this condition.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
If your calves swell daily but resolve after putting your feet up, cramp at night after standing all day, if you've got new spider veins or varicose veins, this could be the beginning of Chronic Venous Insufficiency. If this used to describe your situation, but now you no longer fit into old shoes/boots, or even clothing because of swelling, MLD and compression can help to prevent progression of swelling, and reduce the circumference of involved extremities.
The nervous and lymphatic systems
How working with one affects the other
Nervous
System
Lymphatic
System
RESTORation
MLD affects the Lymphatic system, but also the Nervous System. Living with chronic pain, acute injuries, limited mobility, physical, or emotional health setbacks, we forget to breathe. We are waiting to exhale. Wondering, "what is going to happen?" "why me?" and "when can I get back to feeling like myself?" Our bodies begin to respond--digestion slows, cortisol rises, irritability grows.
Our nervous system is operating in survival mode. Fight or Flight.
When our Nervous System is in overdrive, our Lymphatic System, the immunity power house, is inhibited. The gentle, rhythmic, and repetitive movements of MLD send a new message to the brain, and the Parasympathetic Nervous System is given a safe place to activate. Rest and Digest... breathe deeply, and balance is encouraged to restore.
Treatment Options
Wellness
Healthy lymphatic systems can use MLD as a complimentary support for overall wellness. For sluggish systems and auto-immune disorders, MLD can target problem areas that repeatedly swell but still resolve on their own with positioning, or help resolve general inflammation and heaviness.
Suggested schedule: once monthly or as needed.
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60-minutes: $145
works major lymphatic pathways plus targeted areas.
90-minutes: $225
same as 60-mins, adds trunk work.
Surgical Support
Customised toward your cosmetic, reconstructive, or orothopedic procedure. Post-op treatments can begin as soon as 3 days after surgery.
Suggested schedule: 1-3 visits pre-op, 2-3 times per week for 2 weeks post-op, then once per week for 3-4 weeks. Once monthly or as needed for the following 6 months.
60-minutes: $145
90-minutes: $225
Compromised Lymphatics
If you have had lymph nodes removed or radiated, or you already have a diagnosis of Lymphedema, your frst step is to schedule a short discovery call with our Certified Lymphedema Therapist. During the phone call, Gloria will schedule a 30-minute initial in-person consult where you will give a detailed history and have affected limbs/extremities measured. There is a $50 fee for this consult that will be credited to your first treatment, should you choose to proceed.
Appointments can be made online for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and occasional Saturdays.
If you prefer a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday appointment, please call
Vital Nutrition and Chiropractic:
803-399-8104
Click here to Schedule
About Gloria Morken...
I have over twenty-two years of experience as a massage therapist, and am passionate about lymphatic health. I offer Manual Lymphatic Drainage to support optimal wellness, and as a Certified Lymphedema Therapist I provide support for Lymphedema, Lipedema, and Chronic Venous Insufficiency, including Complete Decongestive Therapy.
As the spouse of an Active Duty Army soldier, I have partnered with clients at every stage of their wellness journey, with a focus on measurable, lasting results, in Springfield Missouri, Anchorage Alaska, Killeen and El Paso Texas, Sanford North Carolina, Wiesbaden Germany, and now Lexington South Carolina. I've supported people around the globe to help them feel more comfortable in their bodies.
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When I'm not working, you'll find me tackling home improvements, taming the wilds of my jungle (yard), piddling around with a sewing machine, plucking on a guitar, reviving my sourdough starter, letting my cats in (or out... no, in. No, out) and making sure the men of my home (2 sons and a fantastic husband) are fed and safe.
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I am privileged to be working alongside the team at Vital Nutrition and Chiropractic, in Lexington, SC where wellness practitioners across multiple modalities are passionate about helping you and your family forge a path to optimal health. To schedule an appointment, you can follow the links and buttons provided on this page. Please be aware that anyone with a compromised lymphatic system (lymph nodes removed or radiated, or a diagnosis of Lymphedema or Lipedema) will not be able to book without completing a quick discovery call with me. This will be scheduled by our front desk when you call 803-399-8104.