Acupuncture and lymphatic drainage in Calgary

At Renu, acupuncture with Dr. Will Tanner and manual lymphatic drainage with our lymphatic team can be booked separately or planned together, under one roof in NW Calgary. Acupuncture is aimed at calming the nervous system and easing pain; lymphatic drainage moves fluid out of swollen tissue with very light pressure. The pairing is used for surgical recovery, lymphedema and lipedema comfort, cancer care, fertility, stress and cycle-related discomfort, and we recommend one or both at your first visit.

Acupuncture and lymphatic drainage do different jobs, and that is the point of putting them together. Acupuncture works through fine needles placed at specific points and is used mainly for pain, nausea, sleep and an overloaded nervous system. Manual lymphatic drainage is a slow, light, hands-on technique that helps move fluid out of swollen tissue toward the lymph nodes. At Renu both happen under one roof, so the people treating you can talk to each other and plan around the same calendar.

Who does what

The acupuncture half is Dr. Will Tanner’s. He is both an RMT and a practitioner trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine at CITCM. He uses ultra-fine sterile needles, and his treatments can include fire cupping or massage in the same visit.

Lymphatic drainage is delivered by our lymphatic team. Meeghan Mackenzie, our founder, is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist and Certified Compression Fitter, with lymphatic training in the Vodder and Földi methods and advanced work through the Chikly Health Institute. Leah Buschau (Vodder Level One), Sasha Bernard and Monica Von Gaza also provide lymphatic drainage. For lymphedema, lipedema and cancer-related swelling, Meeghan is usually the right person.

Some clients see one of them; others benefit from both. Nobody needs to book both to start. At your first visit we recommend what makes sense for your goals.

Who the pairing is for

The integrated approach supports a wider group of people than most expect. The six groups we see most often:

• Fertility and preconception. Acupuncture for nervous system regulation and relaxation; lymphatic therapy for the heavy, bloated feeling of treatment. See fertility lymphatic massage in Calgary.
• Surgical recovery. Acupuncture for comfort and regulation; lymphatic drainage for post-operative swelling, booked through our post-op lymphatic drainage service.
• Lymphedema and lipedema. Specialized lymphatic care from a Certified Lymphedema Therapist, with acupuncture for comfort and wellbeing.
• During and after cancer treatment. Gentle, informed care, always coordinated with your oncology team.
• Stress, burnout and poor sleep. For a body stuck in “go” mode.
• Digestive and cycle-related discomfort. Bloating, heaviness and the ups and downs of the menstrual cycle.

What the evidence says about each half

We prefer to be clear about what each part has behind it, because the combination itself has not been tested as a package in trials.

Acupuncture. NCCIH reports that reviews found acupuncture more effective than no treatment for back and neck pain, and that there is moderate-quality evidence it may reduce how often migraines occur. In cancer care, the Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO guideline (2022) recommends acupuncture for joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors and says it may be recommended for general cancer pain or musculoskeletal pain. The Canadian Cancer Society notes it may help with side effects such as pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hot flashes, dry mouth or sleeping problems.

Lymphatic drainage. Cleveland Clinic describes it as gentle massage that uses light pressure to move lymph from swollen tissue toward the nodes, used for lymphedema after breast cancer surgery among other things. In a single-blind randomized trial of 66 healthy adults aged 40 to 65, 45 minutes of lymphatic drainage therapy reduced spinal reflex excitability compared with resting on the table for the same time. That is a small study in healthy people, but it fits what clients describe: they leave calmer.

Both together. The overlap is the nervous system. Neither treatment replaces compression, exercise or medical care for swelling, and acupuncture does not drain lymph by itself.

Booking and sequencing at Renu

Each half is booked as its own appointment: acupuncture with Will, lymphatic drainage with the lymphatic team.

Appointment	Length	Price
Acupuncture: initial consultation and treatment	90 min	$150
Acupuncture: return visit	60 min	$120
Acupuncture: follow-up	45 min	$85
Classic lymphatic drainage massage	30 / 45 / 60 min	$95 / $105 / $130

For fertility care there are dedicated fertility support appointments on both sides, and after surgery the lymphatic half is booked as post-op lymphatic drainage. Everything books online through Jane.

If you want both on one day, book them back to back and tell us when you call; we will help you choose the order around your goals and energy. Our answer on getting massage and acupuncture on the same day covers how people plan that kind of day. Wear loose clothing that lets us reach your arms, legs and back.

When to check with your doctor or oncology team first

Lymphatic drainage is not appropriate with a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis, cellulitis, fever or infection, heart disease, kidney failure or a recent stroke, according to Cleveland Clinic, and therapists avoid working over cancerous tissue or skin damaged by radiation. NCCIH notes that acupuncture done improperly can cause serious harm, such as infection or a punctured organ, which is why sterile, single-use needles and a trained practitioner matter.

Talk to your care team before booking, and tell us at intake, if:

• you are in active chemotherapy or radiation, or your blood counts are low;
• you have had lymph nodes removed or radiated, so a limb is at risk of lymphedema (we take special care around that limb, and our page on acupuncture on the arm after lymph node removal explains the reasoning);
• you take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder;
• you are pregnant or mid-cycle in fertility treatment.

See a doctor the same day, not a therapist, for a limb that is suddenly red, hot and painful, a fever with new swelling, a painful swollen calf, or sudden shortness of breath. Those are signs of infection or a clot, and they need medical care first.

Questions people ask

Does acupuncture drain the lymphatic system?

Not directly. Acupuncture is used for pain, nausea, hot flashes, sleep and stress; moving fluid out of swollen tissue is the job of manual lymphatic drainage and compression. That is why we pair the two rather than treat one as a substitute for the other.

Can I have acupuncture if I have lymphedema?

Often yes, with planning. Most of the symptoms people want help with can be treated through points away from the swollen or at-risk limb, and we coordinate with your oncology team where relevant. Our page on acupuncture on the arm after lymph node removal goes through the evidence.

Is facial acupuncture part of this?

This page is about Will's acupuncture paired with lymphatic drainage of the body. If your interest is the face, our lymphatic facials at BodyTox by Renu focus on face, neck and décolleté drainage.

Who coordinates the plan between the two practitioners?

Our practitioners work as a team. When acupuncture and lymphatic therapy both suit you, Will and Meeghan plan your care together so each treatment supports the other.

Sources

1. Canadian Cancer Society: Types of complementary therapies
2. Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO (2022): Integrative medicine for pain management in oncology
3. NCCIH: Acupuncture, effectiveness and safety
4. Cleveland Clinic: Lymphatic drainage massage
5. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2021): Lymphatic drainage therapy and autonomic responses, randomized trial
6. NCCIH: Massage therapy, what you need to know

Page reviewed October 5, 2026. This page is education, not a diagnosis. For your own situation, talk to your doctor, surgeon or care team, or ask us.