Treat Your Face to a Lymphatic Massage

A simple technique to relax, rejuvenate and regenerate facial skin.

The lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump which means you need to move the lymph through its channels some other way.

As Joanie Greggains and I concur in The Fat Flush Fitness Plan, massage is one of the most effective ways to help your lymph move through its channels and nodes more efficiently, nourishing your tissues and making white blood cells–the mainstay of your immune system–available to your entire body.

Massage also stimulates your circulation, freeing toxins and waste products and carrying them down into the lymph system which then removes them from your body.

In addition, it can be an important healing modality. A study from the University of Miami found that massage actually increased the number of natural killer cells in the immune system, boosting your ability to resist disease. And it also helps release endorphins so you feel less pain and muscle soreness–especially important when you take up a new routine or activity.

Massage reduces stress, which can be a key factor in weight gain and weight retention. Remember that stress leads to high levels of cortisol, a powerful hormone that helps your body retain fat, especially in the abdominal region. So anything that lowers cortisol levels is a huge help in your diet and fitness efforts. Cortisol may also help promote the development of cellulite, especially around your abdomen.

Meanwhile, by stimulating your circulatory system, massage improves the flow of oxygen and nutrients to every cell, boosting your energy levels and helping to create healthy, glowing skin. Massage also promotes regular sleep, which reduces stress, lowers cortisol levels, and so, indirectly, can lead to weight loss.

Special Lymphatic Facial Massage

While you may already be aware of the benefits of a full body massage, here is a rather innovative method for massaging your face. I first learned of this technique from skin care specialist and veteran Fat Flusher Karie Wagner on our charter Fat Flush cruise. Joanie and I liked it so much we adapted it for The Fat Flush Fitness Plan book!

4 Simple Steps

1. Using the side of your index fingers, briskly massage up and down on your forehead. Using the side of your index fingers, briskly massage the sides of your face, from the temples near the hairline to the bottom of your ears.

2. Using the sides of your index fingers, start at your cheekbone beside your nose. Hook your finger under the cheekbone and gently vibrate your fingers back and forth. Gradually move down the cheekbone, vibrating your fingers, until you reach the center of the cheekbone, directly below the center of your eye. Using the same vibrating motion, finish this region by placing the underside of your thumbs under the cheekbone directly below the outer corner of your eyes and moving toward the center of the cheekbone.

3. Open your mouth slightly to create slackness in the hollow directly below your cheekbone. Using the tips of three fingers, massage both sides in a circular motion. Place your thumbs, underside against your skin, behind your jawline and just below your ears. Vibrate your thumbs and move down the jawline until your thumbs meet at your chin.

4. Bend your head to the left so your neck muscles are relaxed on the left side. Hold the four fingers of your right hand straight and firmly together. Start just under the jawline on the left side and slide your right hand down your neck and across your shoulder. Repeat ten times on the left side, then carry out the same process on the right side. You may feel a tingling sensation in your neck and arm as the lymph flows.