The daughter of Vietnamese boat people, eight years in banking, then a career change before turning 30: Lisa Nguyen has made preventive wellness her calling. A naturopath certified in the Renata França method and founder of the Paris practice Les Graines de Lisa, she explains why lymphatic drainage deserves a place in our routine, and how to make its benefits last day to day.
A childhood rooted in prevention
Your parents emigrated from Vietnam when they were young. How did their journey shape your view of health?
My parents were boat people; they came over by sea. Growing up between two cultures is a real gift, and Asian culture has a deep relationship with prevention: you take care of your body, you listen to it. Our cooking was full of fresh herbs and spices, very colorful. At the first sign of a cold, we would do rubs and massages. Growing up in France, I noticed people were less into massage and prevention. Without knowing the word yet, I already had a holistic view of health.
"Why wait until you're sick to take care of your body?"
From banking to naturopathy, a story of resilience
That's not how you started your career, though. How did you go from banking to naturopathy?
My father was a factory worker. He used to tell us: do short studies, become independent quickly, get an office job. With no role models around me, I studied business and spent eight years in banking. But even at school, I chose presentation topics like sustainable tourism or food waste. At 18, I started volunteering: outreach for the homeless, raising awareness about endocrine disruptors with Générations Cobayes, the GoodPlanet Foundation, COP21. I was so shy back then, and that's where I found my confidence.
And at some point, something clicked.
After eight years, my friends told me: you have stars in your eyes when you talk about this. I listened to podcasts by women entrepreneurs who had changed careers and went to health conferences. My husband pointed out that I was finishing the experts' sentences. I told myself: before I turn 30, I'm doing the job of my dreams. I went back to school and trained in naturopathy.
"Before I turn 30, I want to do the job of my dreams. I deserve that too."
Les Graines de Lisa: planting seeds to reconnect
Your practice is called Les Graines de Lisa, "Lisa's Seeds." Why that name?
I had a lot of limiting beliefs. Volunteering taught me that every pair of hands counts, and it gave me values of sharing, tolerance and openness. Today, with every workshop, talk or session, I plant small seeds in turn: so that people reconnect with their health and their confidence, and take care of themselves and their environment.
The Renata França method: why lymphatic drainage
You're certified in the Renata França method. Why did you choose lymphatic drainage?
Massage is one of the ten techniques of naturopathy: I support clients through nutrition, guidance and touch. My connection to massage goes back to when I was seven, when my aunt came from Vietnam and massaged us for the first time. I discovered lymphatic drainage as a client first. Everyone knows about the circulatory system, far fewer people know the lymphatic system. And our modern lifestyle tends to slow it down. Bringing it into my practice was obvious.
Signs you might benefit from lymphatic drainage
Are there signs that your lymph isn't flowing well?
We all have a lymphatic system, women and men alike. I like to compare it to a road network: blood circulation is the highway; the lymphatic system is the network of country roads running alongside it. It helps clear waste and supports immunity, thanks to the lymph nodes that filter the lymph.
Unlike blood, which is pumped by the heart, lymph has no pump: movement, walking and exercise keep it flowing. That's why sitting all day has such an impact. Add hormonal and hereditary factors, heat that makes legs swell and feel heavy, not drinking enough water, or a diet too high in salt.
"When I list all these factors, people tell me: I check quite a few boxes."
The benefits of lymphatic drainage, and how to make them last
What can you feel after a session?
Right after a drainage session, people often feel instantly lighter and clearer. My clients tell me about bloating, sluggish digestion, discomfort during their period: regular sessions, combined with healthy habits, support them over time. Nothing is magic, though. I recommend cutting back on salt, cooking with more spices, drinking more water and moving more.
What do you recommend before and after a session?
There are very few contraindications. During pregnancy, wait until after the first trimester, and if you have a medical condition, always check with your doctor. After the session, listen to yourself: some clients need a nap, others head straight to a HIIT class. Then stay hydrated, keep moving and eat foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. I send each client a short recap, and the session often becomes a springboard for taking better care of themselves.
Lymphatic drainage and L'Original Leggings: an everyday pairing
How do your sessions and Elastique pieces work together?
There's never a single solution. Drainage sessions take time and a budget not everyone has. A garment that supports you throughout the day is a valuable complement. I think of hairdressers, sales associates, hospital staff, my dentist who leans over patients all day: these leggings fit into their lives effortlessly.
"You wear them without even noticing, and they do the work."
What does wearing Elastique feel like to you?
Taking care of yourself, but in a playful way. Self-care should never feel like a chore. Slipping into something comfortable, designed to support the lymphatic system, and chic and elegant on top of that: there's nothing but upside.
And in your own routine?
I wear them when I'm giving massages, standing all day, especially in summer. And at the gym, for a double effect, since exercise already boosts circulation. They're also ideal on trains, flights or at the cinema, any time you're seated for hours. I only have one pair, so I wear them once or twice a week, and I'm a little sad on the days I'm not wearing them.
Wearing compression in hot weather
Many people wonder why they'd wear full-length leggings in the heat.
That's exactly when they help. Heat dilates blood vessels: blood and lymph tend to pool in the legs, hence that heavy, swollen feeling. Graduated compression makes complete sense then. And thank you, because you're making a therapist's dream come true: my clients and I always felt that what's on the market wasn't pretty enough. You wanted to hide it. With your collection, you wear it with pride, and the fabric breathes.
"What's on the market, you want to hide. With your collection, you're not ashamed anymore."
Sitting, remote work, stress: what Lisa sees in Paris
What challenges come up most with your clients?
A sedentary lifestyle, made worse by remote work since Covid: hours sitting in front of a screen. Add hormonal shifts, bloating and water retention before your period, stress, too much salt. When clients come to my practice, they become aware of all this, and that's the start of a more mindful routine: getting up more often, taking an evening walk, drinking more water.
And stress?
As a naturopath, I know my limits: I'm not a doctor, and I refer clients to other professionals when needed. But drainage also helps people unwind: clients often leave feeling recharged. I like the dashboard image: when an orange warning light comes on, you deal with it before it turns red. Your body sends you those signals every day.
The seed to plant: "Come back to yourself"
What seed do you hope to plant for the future?
Care shouldn't be a privilege. I come from a working-class background, and you don't need a lot of money to take care of yourself. My message comes down to one sentence: come back to yourself. Be curious, break your routines, try another oil, another vegetable, and work on every pillar: nutrition, movement, stress management.
"You don't need a lot of money to take care of yourself."
Find Lisa Nguyen at her practice, Les Graines de Lisa, in Paris.
Your questions on lymphatic drainage
What are the signs you need lymphatic drainage?
Heavy legs, swelling in hot weather, bloating or a very sedentary lifestyle are common signals. A trained practitioner can guide you.
What should you do after a lymphatic drainage session?
Stay hydrated, keep moving, go easy on salt and listen to your body: rest or exercise, depending on how you feel.
Can you wear compression leggings in hot weather?
Yes. Heat often makes legs feel heavy, and graduated compression in a breathable fabric supports leg comfort.
Do L'Original Leggings replace a lymphatic drainage session?
No, they complement it. They extend a self-care routine into everyday life, between sessions.
