The technique of manual lymph drainage (MLD) developed by Dr. Vodder is a large-surface massage technique that cannot be classified among any of the other existing, well-known massage techniques. A study of manual lymph drainage will show that the technique is complex and the movements involved require special training. They cannot be learned from a book.All massage techniques have one thing in common: skin contact is used to stimulate receptors, leading to a particu- lar reaction. Which receptors are stimulated and what ef- fect is achieved is determined by the nature of the skin contact.To achieve the intended effects with Dr. Vodder’s Man- ual Lymph Drainage, it must be carried out exactly as taught in its original form at the Dr. Vodder Schools in Aus- tria and North America.Manual lymph drainage consists of four stroke techni- ques as described below. They can be applied in any com- bination during treatment. As the descriptions make clear, Dr. Vodder’s Manual Lymph Drainage is made up of a com- bination of round or oval, small or large, large-area circular motions that move the skin without sliding over it.