Aura Beauty & Massage

06/02/2026

What a truly wonderful treatment Manual Lymphatic Drainage is 🥰 My clients absolutely love it and find it so beneficial!

🌿 A Realistic Lymph-Loving Routine for the Busy Working Mom

Because your lymph deserves love… even when your life is chaos.

Let’s be honest:
Most moms don’t wake up floating on a yoga mat, sipping lemon water while the sun kisses their eyelashes.
No.

They wake up because someone is shouting “MOM!” or the dog is vomiting in the hallway. 😅

So here’s a lymph-friendly routine that actually fits a REAL day — not a Pinterest fantasy.

☀️ Morning: The “I’m Awake… I Think” Phase

1. 30-Second Wake-Up Lymph Flush

Before your feet hit the floor:
• Place your hands on your collarbones
• Massage gently downward
• Take 3 deep breaths

✨ This wakes up your lymph pumps and gets your brain oxygenated.
(It also counts as “me time.” You’re welcome.)

2. Lemon Water… In the Water Bottle You Forgot on the Counter

Add:
• 1 squeeze of lemon
• Water
• The last bit of your sanity

✨ Hydration = thinner lymph = less puffiness.

3. Shower Trick: The 10-Second Chest & Underarm Sweep

While washing:
• Sweep from breast area → underarms
• Sweep from stomach → hips

✨ Opens the two biggest lymph hubs of your body.

👩‍💻 Mid-Morning: “I’m at Work But My Brain Stayed at Home”

4. Desk Lymph Hacks

Every hour (or whenever you want to pretend you’re busy):
• 10 ankle pumps
• 5 shoulder rolls
• One deep breath like you’re smelling fresh bread

✨ Micro-movements = macro lymph flow.

5. Snack: The Superhero Combo

Pick TWO:
• Berries
• Sliced cucumbers
• Nuts
• Apple
• Green tea

✨ Anti-inflammatory + hydrating + brain-friendly.

🌿 Lunch: 12 Minutes to Save Your Sanity

6. Eat Something That Looks Alive

Your lymph loves colour:
• Greens
• Roasted veggies
• Protein
• Lemon / olive oil drizzle

✨ If it has protein or grew in soil, your lymph approves.

7. Walk for 3 Minutes

To the bathroom.
To your car.
To escape your colleague.

✨ Walking = the lymph’s favourite exercise.

😮‍💨 Afternoon: The Crash Landing

8. 30-Second Diaphragm Reset

Hand on belly → breathe deep → slow exhale.
Do it twice.

✨ The diaphragm is the main lymph pump.
If you breathe shallow, your lymph goes on strike.

9. Hydration Hit

Refill your water bottle… again.
Bonus: add a slice of lemon or cucumber.

🏡 Evening: The “Everyone Needs Me” Storm

10. De-Puff Dinner

Pick meals that reduce inflammation:
• Chicken + roasted veg
• Soup
• Stir fry
• Salmon + greens

✨ Avoid heavy, creamy, fried foods — they stall drainage.

11. 2-Minute Lymph Release Before Shower or Bed

• Collarbone → scoop
• Underarms → circles
• Belly → clockwise circles
• Inner thighs → gentle sweeps

✨ Your body releases the whole day’s inflammation here.

🌙 Night: Mom Finally Gets to Exist

12. Phone Off, Nervous System On

Turn your screen off 30 minutes before bed.
Your lymph and brain clean themselves while you sleep.

✨ Sleep = the glymphatic system’s detox hour.

13. Gratitude + Grounding

One quiet moment:
“Thank you body for carrying me today.”

✨ This lowers sympathetic stress (lymph enemy #1).

🌿✨ And there you have it — a full lymph-loving routine in a REAL LIFE day.

You didn’t have to wake up at 4am.
You didn’t have to meditate in a field.
You didn’t have to quit your job and move to a mountain.

Just simple, repeatable habits that keep your lymph flowing and your body feeling lighter.

28/01/2026

Thanks so much for my lovely recent reviews. much appreciated! 😍💆‍♀️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

31/12/2025

Happy New Year! 🥂✨
Thank you so much for being part of my journey. Your support truly means the world to me. I can’t wait to take care of you again this year and help you feel your best.
Wishing you a beautiful, healthy and relaxing year ahead!

🩷 Charmaine

27/10/2025

01/10/2025

Benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Reduces Swelling: It effectively decongests swollen tissues by promoting the drainage of lymph fluid.

Pain and Bruising Relief: MLD can help reduce pain, inflammation, and bruising, particularly after surgery.

Immune System Support: By accelerating lymph flow, it helps transport waste products, bacteria, and allergens, supporting a healthier immune system.

Relaxation and Stress Reduction: The gentle nature of the massage can induce a calming and relaxing effect, helping to reduce stress levels.

Post-Surgery Recovery: It is a valuable complementary treatment for recovery from surgical procedures like liposuction or lymph node removal.

When to Use MLD

MLD can be beneficial for:
Lymphedema: Swelling caused by an impaired lymphatic system, often due to cancer treatments.
Post-Surgical Recovery: To reduce swelling, pain, and bruising after surgery or trauma.
Fluid Retention: General fluid retention in areas like the feet or ankles.
Headaches and Sinus Congestion: Its relaxing and cleansing effects can help with these issues.
General Well-being: For overall health, relaxation, and stress control.

Contact Charmaine at Aura Beauty & Massage 07775628931 for an appointment. Gift Vouchers available for someone special 🥰

01/09/2025

💧 What’s in Your Urine After Lymphatic Drainage Therapy?

If you’ve ever needed to rush to the bathroom after a lymphatic drainage session, you’re not alone — and it’s not just because you drank more water. Something powerful is happening inside your body.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is more than a relaxing therapy — it’s a cellular-level cleanse. And the urine you pass afterward gives you clues about what your body is finally able to release.

So, what exactly is in that post-therapy p*e?

🧬 Your Lymphatic System: The Body’s Fluid Filter

Before we get to the urine, let’s look at what the lymphatic system collects:
• Old immune cells
• Pathogens and toxins
• Cellular debris and waste proteins
• Excess fluid from tissues
• Fats from digestion (through lacteals)
• Inflammatory molecules and cytokines

These are transported through lymph vessels and nodes, then emptied into your bloodstream near the collarbone. From there, your liver and kidneys filter and excrete them — often through your urine.

🚽 What’s in Your Urine After MLD?
1. Interstitial Fluid
The puffiness you carry around is made of excess fluid between cells — which now has somewhere to go.
Result: Increased urination, often within hours.
2. Urea and Nitrogenous Waste
Your lymph brings metabolic waste and dead cells to your kidneys. You may notice:

• A stronger smell
• Slightly cloudy urine (short-lived)

3. Inflammatory Byproducts
If you have autoimmunity or chronic inflammation, your lymph may carry:

• Cytokine fragments
• Histamine byproducts
• Immune waste proteins
This is why some people feel tired or “off” after their first few sessions.

4. Fat-Soluble Waste
Your deep abdominal lymph carries fats and toxins from the gut and liver. These may show up in your urine after drainage therapy.
5. Electrolytes
As fluid shifts, sodium, potassium, and magnesium may fluctuate. That’s why hydration is essential.

🧠 Why This Is a Good Thing

The fact that your kidneys are eliminating waste after lymph drainage is a win — it means your lymph system is working, your detox organs are responding, and your body is healing from the inside out.

✅ What’s Normal to Notice After a Session
• More frequent urination
• Stronger-smelling or darker urine (temporarily)
• Mild cloudiness or foam
• Feeling thirsty, tired, or slightly headachy

🌿 How to Support Your Body After MLD
• Drink 1–2L of water with electrolytes or lemon
• Sip herbal teas like nettle, rooibos, or dandelion
• Use castor oil packs over the abdomen
• Avoid alcohol, processed food, and sugar for 24 hours
• Breathe deeply and rest well

💬 Final Thought

“Your lymphatic system is the janitor — but your urine is the garbage truck. If it’s moving, you’re healing.”

So next time you notice changes in your bathroom habits after a lymph session, smile — your body is doing exactly what it’s designed to do.

©️

28/08/2025

Thanks so much to my amazing clients for my recent reviews! 🥰

05/07/2025

Great result for my new client today! Before and after Facial Lymphatic Drainage for swelling 🥰

04/07/2025

🌬️✨ Meet Your Vagus Nerve: The Wanderer That Talks to Your Lymph!

Did you know there’s a superhighway of communication between your gut, your brain, and your immune system? It’s called the vagus nerve — and this magical nerve does way more than most people realise.

The vagus nerve (Latin for “wandering”) is the longest cranial nerve in your body. It starts at your brainstem and wanders all the way down to your chest and abdomen. Along the way, it stops to chat with your heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, digestive organs… and yes, your lymphatic system!

🧠 What Makes the Vagus Nerve So Special?

This powerful nerve is the main highway of the parasympathetic nervous system — the “rest and digest” part of your nervous system. When your vagus nerve is happy, it promotes calmness, slows your heart rate, helps you digest food, and reduces inflammation.

But when it’s underactive or overwhelmed, your body gets stuck in fight or flight mode. That’s bad news for healing, detoxing, and lymphatic flow. 😮‍💨

💧 So, How Does the Vagus Nerve Help the Lymphatic System?

Great question! Here’s where it gets juicy:

1️⃣ It Regulates Lymphatic Flow Through Movement and Rhythm

The vagus nerve influences the smooth muscle tone of your intestines (peristalsis). These gentle contractions actually help to pump lymph, especially through the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), one of the biggest immune hubs in your body.

➡️ When the vagus nerve is stimulated, it keeps this rhythm going — supporting lymphatic drainage through the abdomen.

2️⃣ It Reduces Systemic Inflammation

The vagus nerve activates something called the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. This directly reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines — a massive help for anyone with autoimmune disease, chronic inflammation, or sluggish lymph.

➡️ Less inflammation = less lymphatic congestion.

3️⃣ It Enhances Immune Surveillance

A well-toned vagus nerve improves communication between the brain and immune system. This helps the lymphatic system filter invaders more efficiently and coordinate better with the spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes.

➡️ This means quicker detection and clearance of toxins and pathogens.

4️⃣ It Works With the Glymphatic System While You Sleep 🧼🧠

Yep, your brain has its own lymph system — called the glymphatic system. The vagus nerve supports deeper sleep, during which cerebrospinal fluid washes over your brain to clear waste. This reduces the burden on your body’s detox and immune systems.

➡️ Vagus + Glymphatics = Dream detox duo!

🌀 How to Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve (And Support Your Lymph)

The best part? You don’t need expensive tools to activate this healing connection. Try these daily habits:

🌬️ Deep belly breathing
🎶 Humming, chanting, or singing
💧 Gargling water for 30 seconds
🧊 Splashing cold water on your face
🧘‍♀️ Meditation or prayer
🌿 Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy
💚 Castor oil packs (calm + drainage = yes please!)
🐾 Lying down with a pup (bonus points for your 5 dachshunds!)

🧠💧 In Summary

The vagus nerve is the calm conductor of your inner healing orchestra. When it’s functioning well, it works hand-in-hand with the lymphatic system to reduce inflammation, support detoxification, enhance immunity, and promote true rest.

So if you’re working on healing your lymphatic system, don’t forget the nerve that’s quietly running the show behind the scenes.

📚 Research & Resources
• Tracey, K. J. (2002). The inflammatory reflex. Nature, 420(6917), 853–859. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01321
• Breit, S., Kupferberg, A., Rogler, G., & Hasler, G. (2018). Vagus nerve as modulator of the brain–gut axis in psychiatric and inflammatory disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, 44. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00044
• Meneses, G., Bautista, M., Florentino, A., et al. (2016). Electric stimulation of the vagus nerve reduced the mortality and serum TNF in a murine sepsis model. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 47, 191–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2015.03.012
• Jessen, N. A., et al. (2015). The glymphatic system: A beginner’s guide. Neurochemical Research, 40, 2583–2599. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-015-1581-6

©️

29/06/2025

💦❤️

07/06/2025

Thanks to my wonderful clients for my great ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews! Much appreciated 🙌🏻❤️