Health Articles
The Lymphatic System and Why
it is Important
Ok, ok, so what’s all this hype about the Lymphatic System? Well, you know that clear watery fluid that fills up when you get a blister? That is your Lymphatic fluid arriving like an ambulance to help bring nutrients to the injured and inflamed area for healing, as well as taking swelling and waste debris away to be detoxified and eliminated. Much like an exchange bank.
Our Lymphatic System runs just under the skin pretty much beside the same highway as your veins and arteries. Unlike veins and arteries having the heart to pump the blood around your body, the Lymphatic system does not have a pump and relies on therapies like Reflexology Lymphatic Drainage, exercise, deep breathing, dry brushing and the marvellous wee rebounder to move it.
Our Lymphatic System comprising of interstitial fluid, lymph nodes, glands, tonsils, spleen, thoracic duct and thymus plays an important role in our body’s immune system, transporting white and red blood cells, fatty acids, B cells and lymphocytes to fight off infection, heal and detoxify.
For whatever reason we have for not moving our body– from chemotherapy to physical injury or time restraints, eventually our Lymphatic System will become stagnant and react with the above listed symptoms. Think of it this way, like a creek’s drain that has been partially blocked with sticks, mud, debris and chemical toxins after a storm. This creates a back-up of the water flow and eventually becomes a stagnant slush where very little survives, eventually killing off all water wildlife. By unblocking the exit drains, this allows clear fresh water to reflow back into the creek bringing much needed nutrients to the wildlife eco-system.
As with the Lymphatic System, unblocking the body’s elimination channels and moving the stagnant fluid through the body will help to rebalance these symptoms to bring about a faster healing process. Lymphatic fluid flows against gravity and doesn’t have a pump so what can you do yourself to improve the flow?
Ways you can move that stagnant Lymphatic Fluid:
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Reflexology Lymphatic Drainage
(the perfect therapy to help you destress and take time out just for you – all you need to do is remove your shoes and relax).
Herbal medicine to detox and cleanse (all contra-indications are checked).
Deep breathing.
Move your body! Aerobic exercise which makes you puff and moves your larger limbs e.g. arms and legs. Start with a 15minute walk around the block or swimming is a great way to begin your exercise journey. The act of exercising can increase the Lymphatic fluid flow into the thoracic duct. Nearly ¾ of all lymphatic fluid in the body must pass through this duct, including lower legs, abdomen, and the entire left side of the body.
Keeping well hydrated with unchlorinated, unflouridated, filtered water.
Alkaline nutrition.
Dry brushing starting at your feet and moving up towards your heart.
Rebounder 5-10mins per day.
Elevating your feet, legs throughout the day.
Ways you can move that stagnant Lymphatic Fluid:
Recent research has uncovered that our brains contain their very own lymphatic fluid and it has been name “Glymph”. The “G” in glymph refers to glia, which is Greek for glue. Glial cells help to form the myelin sheath that wraps around and insulates the nerve cells. This Glymph helps to detox waste from the Brain’s Central Nervous System and has been shown to have a positive healing effect on those folk with neurological imbalances. Now I found this bit of new research really interesting!
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