Why you need to know about your lymphatic system.

I am so happy to be able to share some great information with you all, after recently  spending several days diving deep into understanding the lymphatic system. 

It is an understatement to say that it is important. I feel it is a huge missing piece in chronic health conditions and it’s just not talked about enough. So let’s talk lymphatics. 

What is it?  

Well, every cell in your body has a blood supply that brings nutrients and oxygen. Each cell (all 70 trillion of them!) is like a little factory that takes these basic materials and turns them into energy. This process (metabolism) has acidic byproducts that need to be carried away from the area. If they build up in or around the cell, toxicity is the result. 

So the lymphatic system is the drainage system. All the toxic material travels through a very specific pathway through the body, passing through the lymph nodes that are like filters, filtering out bacteria, viruses, toxins, parasites and  metabolic waste, so that there is no build up of these materials and we stay healthy.

Ultimately the lymph fluid drains into the blood stream at the collar bones and from there is eliminated from the body through the large intestine (via the stool), the kidneys (via urine), the lungs (exhalation) and the skin (sweat).

A cell that is not draining properly will become toxic, that simple.

It doesn’t matter how much good food, or supplements you put into that cell, it’s only as healthy as it’s drainage. A perfect analogy is the fish tank, see below.

Drainage and filtering keeps the water sparkling and clear, otherwise murkiness ensues. 

If the lymph flow is blocked…

If the lymph flow is blocked, the system backs up, acids and toxins build up. This can manifest as:

• swelling or puffiness, fluid retention. 

• excess fat (fat is a mechanism of the body to store toxins and therefore protect the body)

• pain (due to build up of acids and reduction in oxygen)

• brain fog (there are huge amounts of lymphatics in the brain) 

• swollen glands 

• cellulite 

• gut problems (gut associated lymphatic tissue is responsible for approximately 50% of the lymph going through the system). 

• immune issues, including autoimmune conditions

• pretty much any chronic condition more than likely has an element of lymph stagnation

Why does it get stagnant in the first place? 

The usual suspects: diet, stress, lifestyle. 

If you are interested in finding out more about the nutrition component I can recommend the following book:  Lymphedema and Lipedema nutrition guide. By Chuck Ehrlick et al. 

The abridged version is this: stop eating junk food and processed food. 

Move. Manage stress. Deep diaphragmatic breathing. However, even if you are doing all of that, if there are physical restrictions along the lymph pathways they will need to be released before the system can flow properly, which is where manual lymphatic work comes in. I am now incorporating lymph work into my sessions with almost everyone, as I know that if the lymph is not draining it will hamper, if not prevent, healing. 

Prior to lymph work it’s extremely important that your bowels are moving at least once a day. There is no point dumping all of this toxicity into your blood stream if your body cannot excrete it through your bowels. 

If your system is backed up and you overdo it…

You can be a lot of detoxification symptoms as suddenly these toxins are released into your blood stream.

It is common to feel tired or have a headache after a session and this effect will be less with subsequent sessions.

My personal experience when I started to apply what I had learned to myself, was that I began to get pain in my teeth and gums that lasted for about ten days. As someone who has had a lifetime of dental problems despite good dental hygiene, my conclusion was that the lymph from my mouth was not draining and that was leading to dental decay.

If my theory is correct I just saved myself a lot in future dental bills. 

If you suspect you might have lymph issues…

It really is best to come and have some work done professionally. However, if you feel like doing a basic routine yourself here is what is called the Big Six (coined by Dr Perry Nickelston).

Massage the following areas in this order: (the right order is absolutely essential). 

1) below and above your collar bones 

2) the space below your ears and behind your jaws 

3) the armpits 

4) the upper abdomen from the bottom end of the breast bone down to the navel 

5) the groin creases 

6) the backs of the knees. 

Go gently, start off slow and wait 48 hours to see if you have a reaction before continuing. 

Let’s all give our lymph some love!