By - August 22, 2022
Categories: General
Intro to the Lymphatic System
Your lymphatic system is a system of vessels and nodes throughout your entire body. These vessels and nodes are filled with a fluid called “lymph,” which serves to transport toxins, biological waste, proteins, and fats throughout the body. It also plays an important role in your adaptive immune system.
When your immune system identifies a pathogen, it transports that pathogen to a lymph node where your fighter cells can destroy it. The resulting debris is then transported via the lymph system to where it can be eliminated from the body. It’s important for your lymph system to flow freely so that these processes can continue to take place and keep you healthy.
Problems with the lymphatic system
When your lymphatic system is not functioning as well as it should be, debris and toxins can build up, and your immune system can fail to prevent infections. Some symptoms of problems with your lymphatic system can include:
- Arthritis
- Skin conditions
- Digestive disorders
- Frequent headaches
- Sinus infections
- Unexplained injuries
- Excess weight
- Chronic Fatigue
And when the debris buildup gets bad enough, it can actually cause a clog, resulting in:
- Swelling of part or all of the arm or leg, including fingers or toes
- Feeling of heaviness or tightness
- Restricted range of motion
- Recurring infections
- Hardening and thickening of the skin
Protecting and Repairing Your Lymphatic System:
There are several actions you can take to improve the flow of your lymphatic system:
Drink clean water
Like your circulatory system, your lymphatic system is fluid based. This means that in order to flow properly, it’s essential that you stay properly hydrated. But since your lymphatic system is responsible for removing toxins, if you’re drinking unfiltered water, you’re making its job harder. I recommend the Berkley water purification system. I feel that it’s the best and most economic system on the market, and is available for purchase in our office.
Get Moving
Your lymphatic system does not have a pumping mechanism. It circulates some with the action of your heart and lungs, but for the most part it requires skeletal muscle movement to really flow properly. The best movement for circulating your lymph is using a rebounder (mini-trampoline), but a brisk walk or jog will do the trick as well.
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing involves using a natural bristle brush in circular motions over the skin. This helps to clear and open the pore, allowing your body to release toxins through sweat, which helps to ease the workload of your lymphatic system. The best time to do this is right before a bath or shower, so you can clear away the toxins you release.
Detoxify
In order to restore our lymphatic system to peak functionality, it’s important to both limit the toxins we introduce to our system, and cleanse our body of the toxins that are already present. Unfortunately, these toxins are extremely pervasive in our modern society. A good place to start is to shift your diet away from processed foods towards more whole foods (such as fruits, vegetables, and grass-fed meat). For more focused, in-depth detoxification, be sure to check out our “Getting Started with Detoxification” Guide.
The lymphatic system is a crucial part of our health, and one that is often overlooked. If you’ve been experiencing any of the symptoms that I’ve listed above, please don’t hesitate to call and schedule a consultation. We’d love to help you get back on the path to optimum health!
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or illness. Please consult your healthcare provider prior to the use of this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications or have a medical condition. Individual results may vary.