I've been noticing on social media
a lot of people posting about lymphatic drainage massages.
And since they're posting I'm wondering
if it's worth it,
but I don't know that much information about it.
Yeah, that's interesting.
Lymph glands are all through your body, right?
They are.
They collect our toxins or process them?
I love, thank you Dr. Rachael.
As I always say, thank you, doc.
So the lymphatic system is so important.
You're right, it consists
of lymph nodes and so many other things.
And our lymphatic system helps
to deal with fluctuating fluid in our body,
and it helps to get rid
of damaged cells and things like that.
This is what I say about the lymphatic massage.
They are popping up everywhere.
And actually we've got some graphics,
first of all like the massage part,
usually what people have done
is like gentle massage,
using gentle pressure around sort
of the lymphatic areas.
This is one technique that massage places
are offering throughout the country.
But there's also other techniques too
that some places are offering a lymphatic massage suit,
where you literally get suited up
in a suit.
Shut up!
Look at her!
She's in the blue man group.
(audience laughing)
You get a suit,
and then to your point, Rachael,
you mentioned these rollers here.
Like this is rose quartz
and this is jade.
And the thought is by using them
it can help sort
of redistribute lymph
and things like that.
Usually these places throughout the country
are claiming that it helps get rid of toxins.
It'll help make you healthier,
make your immune system be better.
But I gotta tell you guys,
as a doctor, I'm skeptical.
Let me tell you, there are people
who really need lymphatic massage.
Those are our breast cancer patients
who may have lymph edema in the arm.
Or may have lymph edema,
other people who have just lymph edema
in any other part in their body,
or people who are post surgical.
These are patients who rely on lymphatic massage
from a licensed certified person
as part of their treatment.
As part of their physical therapy.
Exactly.
But if you're totally healthy,
and you ain't got a lymph problem going on--
It's not gonna do you any extra good.
I don't know that I have any good evidence
that tells you it's going to get rid
of toxins or help your immune systems.
So I say, if you like it--
These little things are great for puffy eyes.
(laughing)
So I say if you like the feeling
of the lymph massage,
if you like the feeling of it,
and you have no contraindications,
maybe try it because you like the feeling of it.
But will it change your life drastically
if you don't have underlying medical conditions?
I'm not sure that I can say that's the case.
Okay.
Thanks, Jen. (audience applauding)
Thank you so much.
So I'm in my 50's,
I've seen a lot
of information about the shingles vaccine,
I've seen commercials,
but I've never gotten it,
and I don't know what to do at this point.
Did you have chicken pox when you were a little kid?
No.
Oh I did.
I had it.
I didn't have it.
I didn't have chicken pox.
So, okay, you are not alone.
Let's first talk about what shingles is.
So a lot of people wonder.
Shingles is actually a very painful rash
that happens on one side of the body.
We see our graphic here.
This is a classic picture of shingles.
One side of the face or the body.
And it typically happens
in a band-like formation.
You start out with vesicles,
and over two to four weeks
they start to crust over.
But you can get fever, malaise,
and just feel really kind of punky.
But the other thing about it is
this rash, guys, is super, super painful.
It can burn and itch.
And I know you guys are like so wait,
how do we even get shingles?
Let's talk about this.
First thing is shingles
and chicken pox are caused by the same virus.
And our graphic here,
this is somebody who's got chicken pox.
All the little red spots, see.
And the purple circle is the varicella zoster virus.
What happens is you've got the chicken pox, right?
There it goes, it's working, it's working.
Over a few weeks you get rid
of your chicken pox,
but that virus lays dormant in your nerves.
Oh, that's so creepy.
It's in my back.
(laughing)
And we can be in any nerve.
And what happens in some people
is that it may reactivate,
and if it does, it reactivates
and forms shingles.
And that's what we're seeing there.
So is it only possible for people to get
shingles that have had chicken pox?
That's not necessarily the case.
And I'm gonna answer that.
First of all, a lot of people wonder
who's going to have this reactivate?
One in three people actually get the shingles,
and we think it happens in people who are older
and weakened immune systems,
and things like this.
But get this,
99%, over 99% of the people
who are over the age of 40 have gotten chicken pox,
whether we remember it or not.
And that's why regardless
of whether we've gotten chicken pox
or, 'cause I haven't had chicken pox,
the CDC still recommends the shingles vaccine
for those who qualify for it.
That make sense?
So you still are eligible for it.
So if I never had chicken pox,
and I was tested that I never had chicken pox,
I can still get the vaccine shingles?
The CDC is still recommending it
regardless of whether you remember
getting chicken pox or not.
And remember this is not for everybody.
Most people will qualify for the shingles vaccine,
but there are some people who shouldn't take it, okay?
But yeah, I would talk to your doctor,
and see what they say about that.
But generally over 50 the CDC
says yes.
Get the shingles vaccine.
It's a brand new vaccine,
over 90% effective.
Super important.
(audience applauding)