Glasser Massage & Lymphedema Services, LLC

  Therapeutic Massage & Lymphedema Treatment Center

Lymphedema Relief -
Natural Treatments for Swollen Limbs

Issue 26  ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE  Page 27

LYMPHEDEMA is a fairly frightening and certainly disabling illness. An arm or leg swells to three times its normal thickness, from the fingers to the armpit or from the ankle to the groin, This, severely curtails your mobility and leaves you vulnerable to infection, chronic inflammation, and tissue fibrosis, Your skin begins to harden and loses its elasticity: your limb becomes heavy and painful to move. In severe cases, the skin can be so stretched that the mere touch upon it of a fingernail can produce an ulcerous sore.

While to most people lymphedema is an obscure and bizarre medical problem, an estimated 100 million people worldwide suffer from this chronic condition, characterized by swelling (edema) of the lymph, the body's other circulatory system. Typically occurring in men or women 35 to 45 years old, it most commonly results from surgery which disturbs the lymphatic system.

Of the estimated 161,000 women with breast cancer who have lymph nodes removed in conjunction with mastectomy, 35% to 40% develop lymphedema, according to Joan Swirsky, R.N., and Diane Sackett Nannery, in Coping With Lymphedema, Avery 1998. The authors further report estimates that "over three million American women who currently have breast cancer will develop some degree of lymphedema."

'When a tumor and the adjacent lymph nodes are removed, this blocks the natural drainage of lymph fluid through that area. Other surgeries for cancer that involve lymph node removal, radiation treatment, and a severe, traumatic physical injury can also precipitate lymphedema.

"When lymphatic flow is obstructed, the fluid accumulates and becomes stagnant in the tissues of the limb closest to the obstruction," explains Peter Glasser. L.M.T., a licensed massage therapist who specializes in natural treatments for lymphedema at the Ultimate Health Center, Inc. with offices in Black Mountain and Asheville. North Carolina. Glasser works under the supervision of David S. Bate, M.D.

Untreated, this stagnant fluid not only causes tissue channels to increase in size and number, it reduces oxygen supply, interferes with wound heating, and provides (continued on page 30 )

Before 6-10-98

After 6-27-98

Issue 26  ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE  Page 30

Supplement Plan for Lymphedema

continued from page 27

A culture medium for bacteria which can result in infection," says Glasser. Most physicians say lymphedema is a lifelong disability and cannot be treated effectively. But that's not the way Glasser sees it. He uses a procedure called complete decongestive physiotherapy (developed in Europe in the 1930's and refined in succeeding years) which involves manual lymph drainage, special compression techniques, and precise nutrient supplementation. With this, Glasser is able to get lymphedema patients moving about easily again, their limbs back to normal size. Glasser says patients who start a supplement program two to four weeks before beginning lymphedema treatment get "greatly enhanced results". Glasser adds "there is usually a dramatic improvement in symptoms' edema decreases, scar tissue softens, swollen limb measurements decrease, and an overall improvement in general health is noticed." Glasser relates the recent case of Vanessa, 69, who developed lymphedema in her left arm following a mastectomy for breast cancer. When she first came for treatment, Vanessa's left arm was swollen nearly double its normal size from the fingers to the shoulder. She also had arthritic pain in the thumb joint of her left hand and she was overweight, at 199 pounds. Glasser conducted the same procedure over the course of 11 treatments. First he measured Vanessa's arm in seven locations so he could monitor shrinkage as the edema cleared up. Then Glasser performed manual lymph drainage for 75 minutes, then applied a compression bandage called the Reid Sleeve to her arm and hand. The purpose of this bandage is to physically compress the edemic tissue to stop it from expanding further and to encourage lymph drainage to begin again. Immediately before putting on the bandage, Glasser applied hydrogen peroxide to Vanessa's arm as a disinfectant, followed by aloe vera gel to lubricate the skin. The bandage remained on her arm until the next treatment, usually in one week. In addition to starting Vanessa on the supplement program (see "Supplement Plan for Lymphedema"), Glasser instructed Vanessa in daily deep breathing exercises and gentle hand and arm exercises for her to do while wearing the bandage. "Bandages produce compression on the lymphatic system, helping it to function more normally, "Glasser explains, "then exercise and deep breathing provide the pumping mechanism to drain the lyrnphatic fluid. It's important to understand, Glasser emphasizes that due to the swelling lymphatic vessels are almost nonfunctioning. "The bandages,. exercises, and deep breathing act as the vehicle to get the lymph fluid moving and draining again At the time of her third office visit, Vanessa's arm measurements had come down significantly. says Glasser. "After 11 treatments, the swelling_ had decreased on areas of her left arm comparable to that of her unaffected arm," says Glasser. Her arthritic symptoms began to improve as well, However, Vanessa still had to wear the compression bandage (which she had learned to apply herself at night along with a custom hand glove and a compression sleeve during the day. But when Glasser started Vanessa on horse chestnut seed extract, given by European physicians for varicose veins, the lymph swelling receded impressively in about one month. Glasser explains that this herb's mode of action is to make the walls of the lymph vessels stronger and more resistant to leakage of lymph. thus reducing, edema. Now. as a result of taking horse chestnut seed, Vanessa no longer needed to wear her compression bandages, sleeve, and hand glove. She wore a compression piece called a CircAid and her hand glove onIy when she traveled on airplanes. The CjrcAid, says Glasser mimics bandages but with velcro straps, for attachments. This takes, the place of wrapping individual bandages on the arm, he adds. At this point, Vanessa's left arrn had almost the same measurements as her right. According to Glasser, 18 months later, after continuing with the supplements, the CircAid bandaging when traveling, and twice monthly manual lymph drainage treatments, Vanessa is much improved. "Vanessa has maintained her left arm at close to normal measurements. The only time she shows any increase in swelling, is when she lifts something she should not, but then the increase is less than a centimeter and the swelling goes down by itself when she sits and rests." Vanessa has able to drop her weight by I I pounds and to exercise more. For the past six months. says Glasscr, Vanessa's hand has been completely normal. with no signs of swelling anywhere, and she doesn't need any compression garments, even while flying, Vanessa's results are typical of the patient response to Glasser's protocols which are based on his training at Lymphedema Services, under the direction of Robert Lemer, M.D., a New York surgeon who brought this treatment program to the U.S. from Germany in 1972. Chief among Glasser's general recommendations for controlling lymphedema is the need to eliminate excess weight and keep your weight as close as possible to the norm for your height and gender. It is also essential, Glasser stresses, to give your body the nutrients it needs to heal. He emphasizes the need to consume a diet high in complex carbohydrates and high-fiber vegetables and beans - to drink at least eight glasses daily of pure water; and to increase potassium intake (found in bananas, oranges, tomatoes, dandelion, wheat germ lettuce, and broccoli, among other foods) to help reduce fluid retention. The use of natural diuretics (celery seed, parsley, corn silk herbal extract dandelion extract) can also help eliminate excess fluid from the body, Glasser says. He notes that taking digestive enzymes on an empty stomach can help dissolve excess protein and fat accumulated in the lymph vessels. Lymphedema patients must also severely curtail or eliminate their intake of alcohol and caffeine, as both depress the lymphatic system, says Glasser.

PATIENTS with light to moderate lymphedema may use this supplement program starting several weeks before treatment and then continue it through treatment, says lymphedema expert, Peter Glasser, L.M.T.
Before Treatment:

• Flor Essence tea (2 oz twice daily, 30 minutes before meals); for gentle detoxification when there is a history of infections.
• Harmony Multi Herbal Cleanse (1-6 capsules twice daily, 60 minutes before rneals; increase water intake to 4 - 12 glasses daily); for colon and body cleansing when there is no history of infections. Add two teaspoons of colloidal silver twice daily to prevent an infection. *
• Colon Formula (1-6 capsules twice daily, 30 minutes before meals): use if you're not having one bowel motion daily; when once-daily regularity begins, then switch to Harmony Multi Herbal Cleanse.
• Basic Preventive (two capsules three times daily, at meals); a well-rounded multivitamin with minerals.
• PCO Phytosome (one capsule twice daily, at meals); grape seed extract as an antioxidant.
• Dandelion leaf/root extract (30 drops three times daily, at meals); increases urination (works as a diuretic).
• Garlic extract, colloidal silver, echinacea (per directions); natural antibiotics in cases of infection.
  
  At Start of Treatment:
• Infla-Zyme Forte (3-5 capsules three times daily, 30 minutes before meals on empty stomach): enzymes to break up fat and protein deposits in the lymph and tissues.
• Lymphotend (ten drops three times daily, on tongue, taken just before Infla-Zyrne Forte); homeopathic remedy to cleanse the lymph.
• Burdock/red root herbal extract (10-40 drops three times daily; start at ten drops, then increase); to cleanse the blood and lymph.
• Garlicin Pro (one capsule twice daily); an internal disinfectant.
• Lymphatic System Cleanse (10-30 drops three times daily, at meals; take for six days, omit seventh day, then resume); contains cleansing herbs.
• Horse chestnut seed capsules (one capsule twice daily with meals); to reduce swelling and strengthen lymph vessel walls. Vitamin C with bioflavonoids (1,350 mg, at meals); strengthens vascular system.
• Rutin (500 mg twice daily); to be taken with horse chestnut seed; a bioflavonoid or vitamin C helper, helps reduce swelling and strengthens lymph vessel walls.
• Optional: Flaxseed oil (1,000 mg daily, with a meal); reduces inflammation.
• Optional: Echinacea,/red root herbal extract (30-40 drops three times daily); cleanses blood and lymph.
• Optional: CurcuMax (three capsules three times daily, 30 minutes before meals); contains enzymes, herbs, vitamins, and minerals to reduce inflammation.
• Optional: GingerMax (two capsules twice daily, before meals); improves blood circulation.

* Using Harmony cleanse can sometimes trigger an infection in lymphedema patients by moving toxins faster than the sluggish lymphatic system can eliminate them, says Glasser. For that reason, he always includes a course of colloidal silver to be used with it.

Peter Glasser, L.M.T., uses decongestive physiotherapy to eliminate lymphedema