💆🏼FMS 4: The world’s oldest medicine

Kamaka’s healing hands

When I have aches and pains, I typically just attribute it to my waning youth. Just kidding. I take the time to learn about what could have possibly caused it and how I can help myself. Kamaka and her healing hands have been helping people by soothing their aches and pains, facilitating quicker healing and, helping clients build stronger immunity through massage therapy for almost two decades. She’s kept learning and evolved her treatments. Today she’s giving us some secrets.

**Disclaimer: we on the FOREST team are not medical professionals and cannot give you medical advice. When making decisions about your health, it is important to speak with a qualified medical professional and do your own research.**

I am a Georgia State Licensed Massage Therapist and a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (135hrs). I have been a working LMT since 2004 after receiving my massage education at the Hawaii Massage Academy in Honolulu. I became a CLT in 2018 after realizing my ability to help those with breast cancer and post op swelling fell short of what I needed to be able to provide.

I have worked as a spa trained resort therapist, a day spa therapist, a Program Director/Instructor of Therapeutic Massage, and now I am happily running my own private practice (again) since 2013. I lost the first practice in the financial recession of 2008.

I packed away all my equipment and worked anywhere I could until I could become self-employed once again. After 18 years of providing this service, my heart is in MLD, or Manual Lymphatic Drainage (clinical treatment) and lymphatic massage, which is a massage method that incorporates paying attention to lymphatic areas and drainage.

Massage is the oldest medicine in the world. You can learn self-care and self-massage, even self MLD. This is not a luxury like the first world thinks it is, it is a necessary part of keeping your immunity and your cardio health strong. In today’s viral climate and conditions, everyone who owns a human body would find it beneficial to understand how the lymphatic system works and what happens when it does not.

This application is also vital for people with auto immune issues, cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery, reconstructive surgery, orthopedic surgery, and any especially laparoscopic surgeries. Sadly, most of the Western medical community are ill-advised and uneducated regarding the importance of our lymphatic health. Finding a Certified Lymphedema Therapist, or someone who has completed a 45-hour MLD training certification is so important when beginning or continuing a massage therapy treatment plan.  

There are so many types and techniques in massage therapy, you do not have to worry that it is only “deep tissue” or only “fluffy massage” that does not feel like a massage, but more like getting petted (Eww). There are Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Reflexology, Myofascial Release, Thai, Hot Stone, Ashiatsu, Anma, Shiatsu, Esalen, Sports Massage, etc.

Along with massage therapy, there is lymphatic drainage, scar therapy, Gua Sha, IASTM, Cupping, Aromatherapy, and so on. Whatever ails you, there is a massage to help you. To find Board Certified massage therapists, visit www.nbctmb.org and see their registration site to find your state (if you are in the United States) and to also see their qualifications listed. They are very friendly over the phone and usually answer emails within 48 hours.

There are a lot of myths about massage…

People believe that a once-a-year birthday massage will do anything beneficial. It will only rip the scab off a lot of latent issues all at once.

They also believe that a massage is “dirty” or performed by prostitutes in a massage parlor. That masseuse is an appropriate title for us in the USA. That MLD and massage can spread cancer.

And there are many misunderstandings…

Physical therapists do not understand massage and are not trained in massage therapy, nor are cccupational therapists.

A section of Massage Therapy in physical therapy curriculum is not training. It would be best to find an educated Massage Therapist who understands Touch Therapy. Some physical and occupational therapists will not even offer human touch at all. I have trained with many who are very uncomfortable touching and being touched in trainings.

I have had so many experiences with clients who have done the obligatory 8-10 sessions with a physical therapist via insurance payments, then find me and get relief from pain in 90 minutes. If anything, the world would be a more painless place if doctors understood that massage therapy prepares the body for any other important therapy, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, radiation, and chemotherapy. Massage is well known and documented to alleviate anxiety, depression, lower heart rates, and detox over stressed tissues.

Self-massage of the hands, feet, scalp, extremities, and especially the abdomen (lomi) helps fatigue, stress levels, constipation, sluggish liver, and overall strain. We have more lymphatic fluid in our bodies than blood. We are a walking aquariums filled all this vitally important lymphatic fluid, but we are uneducated – and so are physicians – about what is does for us.

It is important that people know when to sense that is has been disrupted and out of balance. The basic sign is if there is pain, there is a lymphatic fluid issue. There are about 200 lymph nodes in your head and neck and serve as your first defense in fighting colds and viruses. There are about 600 lymph nodes in your body. Lymph nodes act like filters to filter out bacteria, viruses, and trap cancer cells, and are connected to other lymph nodes via lymphatic vessels.

Since we are now living in a viral world, learning to understand the importance of finding a lymphatic therapist who is well trained and educated on not only giving great lymphatic treatments with their hands, but also showing you how to do self care lymphatic treatments for your entire body is crucial.

Many physical and occupational therapists do not feel comfortable or have the time via the “insurance allowable” time frame to do at least 45 minutes of manual lymphatic drainage. Please find one who is not only proficient at using their hands, but also giving you instruction or resources to do your own at home.

I am working with a woman now who went to a well-known hospital in Atlanta for a decade to treat her left arm lymphedema caused by breast cancer treatment and did not receive MLD. She did once receive it over her shirt. This client receives Vodder MLD from me, front and back and front again, and she is amazed at the difference in her arm. She is also wearing a different size compression sleeve on her arm due to a visible reduction of lymphatic fluid in the arm. She is very pleased. I so strongly believe in the importance of correctly following the Gold Standard of Complete Decongestive Therapy and always wearing your compression garments. (If you are someone that wears compression garments, it is important to purchase a new garment every 4-6 months. Compression wears out and it does more harm than good to wear the same one for 2–3 years.)

Kamaka’s song choice

Kamaka spends her days pumping lymphatic fluid so this classic is only fitting.

Follow your curiosity

The National Library of Medicine offers many articles that can educate us on our bodily systems. Here’s one on the specific work that Kamaka does with Manual Lymphatic Drainage.

The Book of Lymph by Lisa Levitt-Gainsley offers us an insightful look into how we can benefit from lymphatic massage. This text offers details on self-massage so we can all take care of ourselves from the inside out.

In today’s world, we are both touch-deprived and touch-phobic. Trusted Touch educates us on how touch is vital to human well-being and health.

My Virtual Medical Centre offers us an interactive tour with explanations and research on what and where our Lymphatic System is within our bodies.

I always strive to learn. It keeps my mind and my eyes open to welcoming change within the ever evolving lives we live. Kamaka has embraced learning to evolve her practice to better suit the need of clientele in our world today. What can we evolve to better suit the needs around us?

Evolve slowly,
Skyler