by Prof. Hildegard Wittlinger
© Hildegard Wittlinger, Dr. Vodder School 2004

As I read through my papers and tried to activate my memories I realized that it is difficult to describe a man’s life. On one side you have the facts but on the other side there is a human being who created these facts and organized his life accordingly. The views about what we do, which way we go or which way we are guided and what we make of it differ a lot.

First I will start with facts and try to put the lived life in between.

Emil Vodder was born in Copenhagen on February 20, 1896. After graduation from high school he studied drawing and art history and attended comparative language studies with 10 languages. Later he worked at the Royal Nautical Chart Archives for 6 years. As a hobby he studied singing techniques and cello. At the University of Copenhagen he took biology, mineralogy and botany which is where he began studying medicine, cytology and microscopy. Early during his studies he also became interested in physical medicine.

Emil had to interrupt his medical studies near the end of the 8th semester because he contracted malaria. After recuperation he was no longer admitted to finishing his medical studies.

In 1928, the University of Bruxelles conferred upon Emil Vodder the title “Dr. Phil” because of his thesis on Historical Art.

In 1929, he and his wife Estrid – a naturopath – moved to the French Riviera. In Cannes, Vodder, at an early age, had already become interested in exploring the lymphatic system. He knew many scientists who had studied the mysterious “clear water” centuries ago. He became familiar with their research by reading their papers such as one by ASELLI (1581–1626) who did anatomical research on dogs. This was the period when various different vessel systems were discovered. PECQUET (1622-1674) described the cisterna chyli and the thoracic duct leading to the venous arch. RUDBECK (middle of the 17th century) discovered the lymph vessels of the colon and rectum and confirmed that these vessels lead to the cisterna chyli as Aselli had described already. Rudbeck was the first who discovered that the lymph from the tissue runs into lymph vessels and to the thoracic duct back to the blood circulation. In the 18th century it was discovered that the whole body contained lymph vessels and that the task of the lymph vessel system is to absorb tissue liquid. This fact was doubted for a long time. Vodder had specially studied the life of his Danish fellow citizen Thomas BARTHOLIN. In 1637 Bartholin registered at the University of Leyden (Netherlands). He continued his scientific studies in the Netherlands at the “Theatrum Anatomicum” where he found a library, a botanical garden and a hospital with patients. This was ideal because at that time only plague houses and lunatic asylums in the northern part of Europe existed. One aspect of Bartholin’s studies of Aselli’s lymph vessels was making the vessels visible with indigo dye injections. Having traveled through many countries, Bartholin, a now famous scientist, came back to Denmark where he took over the Theatrum Anatomicum in Copenhagen. Bartholin was the first to describe the lymph system as a whole. In 4 papers written in Latin he emphasized that the lymph system is a natural cleansing and watering system. He published his findings of the lymph vessels in the human body in his scientific paper “Vasa Lymphatica”.

By studying relevant literature, Vodder convinced himself that the human being is a biological unit. Based on papers from BERNARD, CARREL and DRINKER he realized that lymph as the environment of life is omnipresent. Vodder – and you can read this in his preface to the first edition of our book on Manual Lymph Drainage published in 1978 – quotes Drinker with his prophecy: the lymph system is the most important organic system for the life of human beings and animals. And here I want to add a comment from the great radiologist and lymphologist Prof. Dr. Horst Weissleder who once mentioned: “it has to be assumed that the majority of our diseases originate from microedemas in the loose connective tissue”. In order to understand the agreement in these statements one has to know that at the time of Drinker and Vodder, the interstitial fluid of the loose connective tissue was called lymph. When you consider that the lymph – say loose connective tissue – as the environment of life is changed by microedemas it is easy to be understood that this is the reason for many diseases.

But now back to 1929 when Vodder treated his patients, he gained experience and put forward hypotheses that seemed bizarre at that time. He palpated swollen lymph nodes in the cervical region in patients suffering from acne, migraine or sinus problems. He had the vision that the real cause of these pathologies was congestion in the swollen “lymph glands” – today we call them lymph nodes. The lymph nodes could not comply with their task to cleanse the tissue. His reflection was whether it was possible to decongest the nodes by an adequate massage as if one would open the floodgates of a dam and drain the excess water in order to normalize the situation. The carefully circling pumping movements of the skin brought the results that existed in his imagination. The pioneering action – and some might call it foolishness – was that Vodder treated swollen lymph nodes in the neck even though it was a complete taboo to touch the lymph nodes. His patients’ problems disappeared and he asked himself whether he had found a successful universal therapy for the lymphatic syndrome. In 1933, Vodder and his wife moved to Paris where they continued their biological studies. They especially dedicated their time to the anatomy and physiology of the lymph vessel system. In a large anatomical atlas Vodder found a collection of wonderful copper engravings by the anatomist SAPPEY (Description et iconographie des vaisseaux lymphatique concideres chez l’homme et de les vertebres, Paris 1885). These engravings were the fundamental basis for a systematic and clear working method, which Emil Vodder elaborated by intuition and many practical treatments. A completely new manual technique was necessary which was performed with pumping, circling movements and a very light pressure in order to avoid hyperemia under all circumstances.

Earlier scientists like WINIWARTER had described the treatment of edemas and mentioned that light pressure and bandaging is helpful. However, through Vodder’s contribution and creation, there is a therapy available with special techniques characterized by subtly differentiated movements of the hand that can be used by the therapist according to the pathologies to be treated and for the best patient well-being. In 1936 Vodder presented his method as MANUAL LYMPH DRAINAGE AD MODUM VODDER to the world during a congress in Paris.

After living 11 years under the inspiring sky of France (as Vodder wrote) he and his wife repatriated to Copenhagen at which time the 2nd world war broke out.

A new beginning under difficult circumstances had to be made. It was not until the early 50’s that Vodder received invitations from European countries to teach his method. In the early 60’s a German general practitioner, Dr. Asdonk, heard of Vodder and became interested in this method. Therapists owe a lot to Dr. Asdonk. As a physician he recognized the importance of Vodder’s method and gave us the first list if indications. Lymphedemas– as we know and treat them today – were not an indication at that time.

It was in 1966 that my husband, Günther Wittlinger, first came in contact with Dr. Vodder. Vodder, Asdonk and Wittlinger founded the ASSOCIATION OF DR. VODDER’S MANUAL LYMPH DRAINAGE in 1967. They organized the first congress which was a great success. The problem at that time was that no physician or scientist could understand that a manual technique could influence the lymph vessel system positively. I am still facing this problem, especially abroad. Vodder once said “I discovered my method too early. No one understands me”.

A Professor MISLIN of Switzerland achieved a milestone in the 1970’s. His research carried out on the lymph angions, which are small functional units of the lymph vessels, proved the effects of manual lymph drainage. This confirmed that the special technique of the Vodder method of manual lymph drainage with its light circling movements of the skin and gradually increasing and decreasing pressure stimulates the dermal lymph vessels by increasing their rate of pulsation and amplitude.

This was and still is an absolutely great statement. If the source of the lymph is the loose connective tissue, as Vodder always maintained, Mislin proved the Vodder’s method could decongest the loose connective tissue of the skin, and therefore remove microedemas in the loose connective tissue which is the source of many problems. Mislin literally said” if Vodder had not invented his method as he did, we should invent it urgently”.

Vodder always saw the human as a whole. His thesis was, “if one part is sick the whole human being is sick”. He only gave whole body treatments with special dedication to the affected area.

It is difficult to describe Vodder’s personality. I consider him to have been very remarkable. His method is simple but brilliant, difficult to learn but unique in the effects. The light movements adapted to the patient’s tissue pressure, convey to the patient a pleasant feeling in addition to their therapeutic effects. Scientists and their research confirmed the effects of the method and finally helped us with the breakthrough of Vodder’s Manual Lymph Drainage. And here, I want to stress the decongestive effect. This was when the treatment of our lymph edemas began. I also want to stress that only a massage pressure, which is adjusted to the individual tissue pressure, will obtain the desired result. After adding bandaging to the lymphedema treatment, which proved to be very effective and helpful, the modern conservative lymphedema treatment – Combined Decongestive Therapy – was born. A combination of different therapies is now used to improve the quality of life of our lymphedema patients.

The health insurance companies in Germany recognized the method as being very effective in various pathologies and therefore, refund the therapists for their treatments. During the last 25 years the method has become the most physician-prescribed manual technique refunded by the German Health Insurance System.

Vodder was a humorous and humble man. His knowledge was comprehensive, in addition to his knowledge of the lymph system. He studied the immune system extensively. He found that the lymph nodes also have an immunological task as a part of the lymph vessel system and play an important role in the defense system of our body. This is what he visualized in the early 30’s.

During our many meetings, my husband Günther and I came to know Emil Vodder as a well-read and liberal minded man who was open to discussions that were always led in harmony. He taught and showed us a lot. His words were motivational and encouraged us to follow him. He said “the greatest aim in life must be to find our journey and recognize it as ours and then follow it consequently”. Emil Vodder lived in accordance with this statement.

With Günther Wittlinger who stood truly at his side, he found the fighter who made it possible that Vodder’s method would survive in its authenticity.

Vodder has been tempted from many sides to sell his method and become a rich man, but he resisted with a little smile and said “I will not sell my life”.

In 1985 the German Massage and Physical Therapy Association awarded him the Röhrbach-Medal as appreciation for his life work. With this act a professional association had confirmed the Emil Vodder created the method and gave the name to it: DR. VODDER’S MANUAL LYMPH DRAINAGE.

In February 1986, Vodder died in Copenhagen shortly before his 90th birthday. His wife Estrid stood at this side during all these years, assisted at his classes and accompanied him on the many series of lectures. She died 10 years later shortly before her 100th birthday.

Their son Arne, who became a famous architect, still lives in Copenhagen.

There are probably few people who had such a lasting impact on physical therapy and enriched it as much as Emil Vodder. Many scientists, physicians and therapists contributed to the fact that Vodder’s method, which he created 70 years ago, found world wide acceptance and recognition in the medical field and in the field of physiotherapy.