Marlene Marty Heffner LMT, CMLDT

Marlene Marty Heffner LMT, CMLDT Massage therapist, Lymphatic Drainage
By appointment
978-500-2517 text I am a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Lymphatic Drainage Therapist & Esthetician.

I offer spa massage, medical massage, lymph massage for post surgery or lymphedema.

Soooo interesting!!!
07/31/2025

Soooo interesting!!!

💬 What Does It Mean When Your Therapist Says “You Have Toxins”?

Let’s clear the lymph fog on a phrase you’ve probably heard more than once:
“You have toxins in your body.”

But what does that really mean?

In the world of holistic and lymphatic therapy, “toxins” isn’t a vague scare word—it’s a shorthand for a very real and layered physiological reality. Here’s what’s really going on beneath the surface when a practitioner mentions it:

đź§Ş 1. Toxins: The Scientific Breakdown

The word “toxins” in clinical or lymphatic settings usually refers to a build-up of metabolic waste, inflammatory byproducts, environmental chemicals, pathogens, or cellular debris that the body has either not cleared efficiently or is struggling to process.

These include:
• 🧂 Endotoxins – internal toxins from the gut (e.g. lipopolysaccharides from dysbiosis)
• 🦠 Exotoxins – external sources like mold, pesticides, heavy metals, and pollution
• 🔥 Inflammatory byproducts – such as cytokines and histamines
• 💥 Cellular waste – from regular metabolism, immune responses, or tissue damage

🌿 2. Why the Lymphatic System Gets Involved

The lymphatic system is your body’s sanitation and drainage network. When someone says “toxins,” they often mean that:
• Your lymph is stagnant, not effectively draining cellular debris or inflammatory waste
• Your detox pathways (liver, kidneys, gut, skin, lungs) are overloaded or underfunctioning
• Your immune system is working overtime, and toxins are accumulating in tissues

This may show up as:
• Puffy face or underarms
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fatigue or brain fog
• Skin breakouts or rashes
• Digestive discomfort
• Achy joints or low-grade inflammation

🔬 3. What We Actually See as Therapists

When we palpate or scan the body, we may feel:
• Thickened or sluggish lymph flow
• Heat or inflammation in drainage zones (like inguinal, axillary, cervical nodes)
• Fluid retention in fascia and interstitial spaces
• Liver or gut strain that points to poor elimination
• Tension in detox organs like the colon, gallbladder, or kidneys

This isn’t “woo” — it’s somatic feedback from a system that’s under pressure.

đź§° 4. What Can Be Done About It?

If your therapist mentions toxins, they’re also likely encouraging one or more of these solutions:
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) to stimulate flow
• Castor oil packs over liver, gut or lymph zones
• Infrared sauna for skin-based detox
• Anti-inflammatory diet to reduce toxic load
• Hydration + movement to enhance natural drainage
• Supplements like binders, bitters, probiotics or magnesium depending on the source of the toxin build-up

❤️ Final Thought: Toxins Aren’t a Scary Diagnosis—They’re a Signal

Toxins aren’t “bad luck” or something to fear. They’re simply a call to action from your body, telling you that something is overloaded, stagnant, or inflamed. With support, your lymphatic system knows exactly how to handle them.

When we say, “You have toxins,” we really mean:
✨“Your body is asking for support so it can do what it’s designed to do—heal, clear, and flow.”✨

©️

07/31/2025

You can stay angry at the world, or you can get up and do something about it.

Most people waste years complaining while nothing changes.

Winners turn pain into progress, letting setbacks push them to work smarter and harder.

Life doesn’t care how you feel. It responds to what you do next.

The truth is, you can’t control everything that happens, but you control your response every single time.

Make the choice to improve, not stew in bitterness. That’s how you build a life you’re actually proud of.🔥

@ Entrepreneurship Facts

07/31/2025

Did you know we offer Cancer Care Grants? If you are a woman living in either Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, or Yates county receiving medical treatments for cancer, you could be eligible to receive a $500 grant.

In addition to the physical and mental toll of cancer treatment, we understand that many women also experience significant economic challenges beyond what insurance and existing household finances can manage. This fund supports those struggling with financial burdens that consistently affect their ability to receive treatment and feel as self-confident as possible. Examples of expenses we help support include wigs, head coverings, transportation, childcare, elder care, nutrition, prosthetics, skin care, insurance premiums, or any other expense not covered by insurance.

Learn more and apply today at the link: https://ffwst.org/grants/cancer-care/

LYMPHATIC MASSAGE HELPS!!!
07/31/2025

LYMPHATIC MASSAGE HELPS!!!

🌿 PROPERTY OF LYMPHATICA 🌿

What You Don’t See After Surgery: The Silent Swell Beneath the Skin 🌿

Why Lymphatic Drainage Is Essential for Post-Op Healing

This image shows the stages of healing after major surgery — the bruising, the sutures, the swelling… and beneath it all, a silent storm of inflammation and fluid accumulation that most people never talk about:

👉 Lymphatic overload.
👉 Internal stagnation.
👉 Trauma that the body can’t drain fast enough.

🌀 Surgery Disrupts the Body’s Natural Drainage System

When you undergo surgery, your lymphatic system — the body’s inner cleansing and immune network — is often cut through, compressed, or shut down temporarily.
• Lymphatic vessels are delicate. Even minor surgical trauma can cause blockages.
• The body floods the area with immune cells and fluid. This is part of healing, but when drainage is impaired, it turns into painful swelling, tightness, and a higher risk of complications.
• Scar tissue traps fluid. Without proper drainage, inflammation lingers longer than it should.

🔬 The Science: Why Lymphatic Drainage After Surgery Matters

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a specialized, medically recognized therapy that helps restore the flow of lymph fluid after surgery.

📚 Studies have shown that post-operative MLD can accelerate wound healing, reduce edema by up to 60%, decrease pain levels, and minimize the risk of infection or fibrosis (Öztürk et al., 2020; Liao et al., 2017).

🧬 Here’s What Lymph Drainage Can Do Post-Surgery:

✅ Reduces Swelling – by clearing stagnant lymph fluid trapped under the skin
✅ Prevents Scar Tissue Complications – especially around joints or implants
✅ Boosts Immune Response – helping to fight post-op infections
✅ Improves Range of Motion – by reducing tightness from swelling
✅ Speeds Up Healing – by clearing cellular waste and inflammation
✅ Supports Emotional Recovery – releasing pressure and improving nervous system tone

đź“· Behind This Image

This is not just a photo of a scar.

It’s the battlefield of recovery — a body doing its best to heal, while quietly pleading for support. Look closer, and you’ll see:
• Tissue trauma
• Fluid congestion
• Yellowing from stagnant blood and lymph
• The slow, brave return of circulation

But healing shouldn’t be this hard. And it doesn’t have to be.

🌿 The Takeaway

Lymphatic therapy after surgery is not luxury — it is medicine.
It’s the gentle, hands-on care that tells your body:
“I see your trauma, and I’m helping you carry it out.”

If you’ve had surgery — from knee replacements to cosmetic procedures —
Please don’t wait until you’re swollen, stiff, or scarred.
Support your lymph. Support your healing.

đź”— Research Links:
• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8027095/
• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5836011/
• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5721193/

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health regimen.

07/31/2025

Reclaim your confidence and find peace within ✨ Dear Friend— Our co-founder Michelle’s new book—is your daily thrive guide and companion in your self-care routine 💌 Pre-order now at thedearfriendbook.com

Your lymphatic system is like this incredible universe inside your body. Lymphatic massage helps keep it healthy & resto...
07/31/2025

Your lymphatic system is like this incredible universe inside your body. Lymphatic massage helps keep it healthy & restores flow!!!

🔥 There Are Tiny Flames Inside You — And Your Lymphatic System Puts Them Out

Most people think of inflammation as something you can see: a red rash, a swollen joint, or a puffy face. But beneath the surface, your immune system starts microscopic “fires” — and your lymphatic system is the silent hero that puts them out.

🧬 What Are These Fires?

Every time your immune system responds to injury, toxins, pathogens, or stress, it initiates an inflammatory cascade:
• Cytokines fire off
• Histamine surges
• White blood cells flood in
• Heat rises in tissues
• Fluid leaks from capillaries

It’s a brilliantly protective response — but if the fire isn’t cleaned up, it smolders.
Enter your lymphatic system: the built-in firefighter of your body.

đź’§ Your Lymphatic System: The Clean-Up Crew

Once the immune response has done its job, debris remains:
• Dead cells
• Inflammatory proteins
• Excess fluid
• Toxins and oxidants

Your lymph vessels collect this waste and transport it to lymph nodes, where it’s filtered and expelled from the system. But when your lymph is sluggish or blocked, toxins linger — and inflammation becomes chronic.

⚠️ What Happens When the Fire Isn’t Doused?
• 🔥 Autoimmune flare-ups – inflammation on repeat
• 🔥 Chronic fatigue & brain fog – unresolved systemic burden
• 🔥 Fibromyalgia & chronic pain – inflammatory interstitial stasis
• 🔥 Digestive issues & bloating – gut lymph overload
• 🔥 Cellulite & puffiness – inflammation trapped in fascia

You don’t just feel inflamed. You feel heavy, puffy, foggy, sore, and tired — because the fire hasn’t been cleared.

🌿 How to Support Your Lymphatic “Firefighters”

✅ Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) – opens lymph pathways
✅ Castor Oil Packs – draw out internal heat
✅ Anti-inflammatory Nutrition – removes the fuel
✅ Deep breathing & movement – activates thoracic duct flow
✅ Hydration with electrolytes – keeps lymph fluid thin
✅ Dry brushing & Gua Sha – stimulate surface drainage

đź’ˇ WOW Insight

“The lymphatic system doesn’t just move fluid —
it determines how long inflammation stays in your body.”

📚 Scientific Sources & Research Articles:
1. www.frontiersin.org/journals/pain-research/articles/10.3389/fpain.2021.691740/full
2. www.verywellmind.com/lymphatic-drainage-massage-8601938
3. www.my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21768-lymphatic-drainage-massage
4. www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/7/3907
5. www.physio-pedia.com/Manual_Lymphatic_Drainage
6. www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-journal/research-update-lymph-drainage
7. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513247
8. www.glamour.com/story/how-to-diy-lymphatic-drainage-according-to-experts
9. www.researchgate.net/publication/331355404_Inflammation_and_Lymphatic_Function
10. www.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17394405
11. www.inflammregen.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41232-021-00175-6
12. www.allure.com/story/what-is-lymphatic-drainage-massage
13. www.ft.com/content/d1c3f9c2-15f1-443c-9a2c-b3e7f8d8ef3f

07/31/2025
07/23/2025

Happiness is having your kid sit you down to tell you how proud they are of you!! (Yep I cried) ❣️

07/18/2025

This week I'm reminded again why I do what I do. Prostrate cancer often causes lymphedema in the thighs, breast cancer in the arms and sides. Cosmetic surgery recovery inflammation can be reduced. Long covid, Lyme, lupus & other inflammatory diseases are all able to be helped by lymphatic massage. I love that this gives people such relief!

07/10/2025

17 years ago I moved to NY & found a wonderful job on Market St doing nails. Friendships were formed. Laughter, tears, dinners, theater & ice cream. Today my heart just shattered as I learned of the passing of one of my favorite humans.
Her smile lit up every room
Her laughter was contagious
Her generosity was legend
Volunteer, planner, friend to many 🧡
Linda Conway, I've thought of you often over the years. When we would run into each other it was always a gift!! Thank you for always being in my corner. Give my love to Dale.
If anyone would like to adopt her 2 grown sibling cats please let me know. ❣️(I can let someone know)

I just now saw this!!! I love love love receiving good reviews!! Knowing someone liked my service enough to take the tim...
07/10/2025

I just now saw this!!! I love love love receiving good reviews!! Knowing someone liked my service enough to take the time to write this just makes my heart so so happy!!!

Address

143 Pine Street
Corning, NY
14830

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 7pm
Tuesday 10am - 7pm
Wednesday 10am - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 7pm
Saturday 11am - 2pm
Sunday 11am - 2pm

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