Megan Thomann, LMT, BCTMB, CLT, MLD-C

​EDUCATION
• Massage Therapy & Bodywork Program, Black Hawk College, East Moline, Illinois
• Complete Lymphedema Certification & Manual Lymph Drainage (Vodder Technique) Certification, Academy of Lymphatic Studies

SERVICES
• Integrative therapeutic massage
• Integrated lymphatic massage
• Manual lymph drainage
• Complete decongestive therapy
• Measurement and fitting of medical compression garments

CONTACT
mthomannLMT@gmail.com
(309) 798-7896
@livelaughlymph

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As a Board Certified Massage Therapist with a dedication to continuing education and a high standard of research-based comprehensive training, Megan is driven by a curiosity about and enthusiasm for the human body—how it works, how it heals, and how it’s affected by complementary and alternative medicines. Her interest is more than professional; living with chronic issues like asthma and sciatica, bodywork and alternative medicine have been essential to improving her quality of life.

Since completing massage school, Megan has provided therapeutic massage in spa settings and given care and comfort to nursing home residents with compassionate touch. But she really found her groove when she began studying the lymphatic system and specializing in Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD).

“Chronic pain and chronic inflammation are underaddressed and oversimplified issues in our society—and they’re widespread,” she says. “Since I can remember, I or someone in my immediate family or community has been affected by them.” Megan intuitively responded with comforting touch and nurturing care and later extended her natural skills with training in massage therapy. “When I learned that MLD was a recognized, research-supported, and non-invasive technique recommended specifically for a number of disorders that impacted many around me, it wasn’t long before I decided to get certified.”

MLD is a clinical approach but also a very soothing therapeutic modality that can benefit anyone. By deeply relaxing the nervous system, it positively impacts mood, sleep, stress, and pain, in addition to supporting the body's circulation, immunity, and mechanisms of detoxification. Megan is excited to share her passion for and optimism about MLD and lymphatic health as a dynamic piece in the puzzle of managing chronic pain and chronic inflammatory conditions.

As a therapist, Megan shows up with an open heart and an attentive ear. All body types, gender expressions, and states of wellbeing are welcome on her table. Megan will work with you to identify areas of painful or limited function and develop a plan of care, with tools and techniques to take home. Together, you will establish functional goals to restore activities of daily living and improve your quality of life.

When she’s not nerding out about the lymphatic system, you can find Megan dancing, enjoying live music, biking, preserving seasonal foods, camping, working in theater as a local Union Stagehand, and appreciating the lovely Sonoran desert.

Subtle yet powerful, the lymphatic system is responsible for maintaining fluid balance in all tissues and for removing metabolic wastes; it also plays a crucial role in the immune response. Manual Lymph Drainage is a light manual therapy that stimulates and directs lymph flow. It can be a treatment in itself or it can be incorporated into a therapeutic massage promoting relaxation and pain relief and encouraging lymphatic movement. To become a Certified Lymphedema Therapist, Megan completed 135 hours of in-depth education on the structure and function of the lymphatic system and techniques for addressing dysfunction. Her training meets the standards set by the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA).

Manual Lymph Drainange is beneficial for people with rheumatoid arthritis (subacute), migraine headaches, early stages of chronic venous insufficiency, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, post surgical and post traumatic swelling, and those looking to optimize immune function and move stagnant tissue fluid. Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT), which includes Manual Lymph Drainage, compression, skin care, decongestive exercises, and education, is the “gold standard” treatment for lymphedema. CDT is also indicated for people with lipedema and later stages of chronic venous insufficiency.