Emil Vodder

Dr. Emil Vodder (February 20, 1896 - February 17, 1986) and his wife Dr. Estrid Vodder pioneered the specialty of medicine called "lymphology". While working on the French Riviera treating patients with chronic colds, they noticed these patients had swollen lymph nodes. In the 1930s it was taboo to tamper with the lymphatic system due to the medical profession's poor understanding of this system. The Vodders were not deterred by this, and in 1932 began to study the lymph system, and developed careful hand movements to cause lymph movement. In 1936 after four years of research they introduced this technique to the world in Paris, France. They spent the rest of their lives demonstrating and teaching this method.

This careful hand movement that stretches and twists the skin to move the lymph is taught in its unaltered form today and is the gold standard for Manual lymphatic drainage.