MANUAL LYMPH STIMULATION THERAPY   Manual Lymph Stimulation Therapy (MLST) evolved  recently as an extension of my practice of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Technique. I stumbled upon this method overseas working with a lymphedema patient whose condition was critical.   Manual Lymphatic Drainage Technique (MLDT) was developed in the early nineteen thirties by a massage therapist and a doctor of philosophy Emil Vodder. By the end of the twentieth century the method was generally accepted in Western Europe, Australia and North America as a preferred therapy for dysfunctions related to the lymphatic system. In the US the term Manual Lymphatic Drainage Technique is often substituted by the term Lymph Drainage Therapy (LDT). Both are essentially the same.   MLDT is based on the anatomy and physiology of hot-blooded organisms. Modern practitioners of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Technique can detect rhythm, direction, depth and quality of the lymph flow anywhere in the body.   According to a French born lymphologist Bruno Chikly, DO Manual Lymphatic Drainage proved to be effective in:   •                      Reduction in edema (swelling) •                      Detoxification of the body, regeneration of tissue, including burns, wounds and wrinkles •                      Cosmetic anti-aging effects •                      Relief of numerous chronic and sub acute inflammations, including sinusitis, bronchitis and otitis •                      Relief of chronic pain •                      Reduction in the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia •                      Antispastic actions to relieve conditions such as muscle hyper tonus and some forms of constipation •                      Reduction of allergic reactions •                      Deep relaxation to aid insomnia, stress, loss of vitality and loss of memory •                      Reduction of adipose tissue and elimination of the cellulite •                      As an integral part of the treatment of lymphedema   In the treatment of lymphedema MLDT alone is not effective because the edema returns several hours after a MLDT session is over. The MLDT sessions have to be augmented by the compression bandages and garments help to keep the swelling in check between the drainage sessions. This combined treatment is called the Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT). The application of compression garments and compression bandages requires special training and is administrated only by licensed therapists. Unfortunately, such practitioners are not available in some parts of the World. On the other hand, some of the lymphedema patients find compression bandaging and garments uncomfortable and drop out of the CDT treatment.   In the summer of 2006 in Russia a patient with severe lymphedema was referred to me for a treatment. Since the Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) was not available there and I never practiced it myself, I felt a particular pressure to help. Out of desperation I modified the commonly used Manual Lymph Stimulation Therapy (MLST), and to my surprise and to the joy of the patient the edema and associated symptoms steadily diminished. This is how the Manual Lymphatic Stimulation (MLST) was born as one of the variety of methods of Manual Lymphatic Drainage. It is an exceptionally gentle osteopathic modality that uses the activation of the lymphatic system itself rather than coercing the lymph through obstructed pathways. What sets this method aside is that in addition to lymph it directly affects all other fluids of the organism, most notably extra cellular.   Since the summer of 2006 my students and I used Manual Lymph Stimulation Therapy (MLST) on several lymphedema patients. The decongestion achieved during MLST sessions held up till the following sessions without the application of compression bandages or garments. Thus. the steady improvement was achieved solely by Manual Lymphatic Stimulation. The method is still in the development stage. However it is save, gentle and definitely has no side effects.