Understanding Lymphatics: The Body’s Essential Detox System
What is the Lymphatic System?
Because of its detoxifying properties, maintaining a healthy lymphatic system is essential for preventing and recovering from illnesses, supporting immune function, and promoting general well-being.
Dr. Perry Nickelston’s Big 6: Essential Strategies for Lymphatic Health
Dr. Perry Nickelston, a renowned expert in functional movement and lymphatic health, created the Big 6, a simple but effective, self-lymph treatment that in most cases can be done daily. He also references a framework for improving lymphatic circulation and detoxification. These strategies work to reduce lymphatic congestion, boost immune function, and increase overall energy.
Watch Dr. Perry demonstrate the Big 6 Lymphatic Self Treatment.
What Else Can We Do For Ourselves?
Breathing (Diaphragmatic Breathing):
Deep breathing is a powerful way to stimulate lymphatic circulation. When you breathe deeply, it helps to pump the lymph through the vessels. Diaphragmatic breathing, also known as “belly breathing,” encourages lymph flow and reduces fluid buildup.
Exercise:
Regular physical activity, especially movements that engage the entire body (like walking or swimming), is one of the best ways to support lymphatic health. Exercise encourages muscle contractions that help move lymph through the vessels, improving circulation and reducing the risk of stagnation.
Hydration:
Proper hydration is essential for keeping lymph fluid flowing smoothly. Water helps to dilute toxins in the body and supports the lymphatic system’s ability to eliminate waste. Aim to drink plenty of water throughout the day, ideally with added electrolytes to help maintain fluid balance.
Rebounding (Mini Trampoline Exercise):
Rebounding on a mini trampoline is a fun and effective way to activate the lymphatic system. The up-and-down motion stimulates the flow of lymph and helps to increase circulation. Just a few minutes a day can provide significant benefits, including improved detoxification and reduced swelling. Or, you can just bounce (not jump) on your feet which will pump your calf muscles.
Nutrition (Anti-Inflammatory Foods):
A nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet can help reduce lymphatic congestion and support overall lymphatic health. Foods rich in antioxidants, like leafy greens, berries, and omega-3 fatty acids, support the body’s detoxification processes and reduce inflammation. Avoiding processed foods and excess salt can also prevent lymphatic fluid retention.
What About Breast Health?
Breast Remedy Seattle is dedicated to promoting breast health through a holistic, natural approach. One of their key offerings is the P.H.A.S.T protocol, which targets the lymphatic system to support breast tissue health, reduce inflammation, and promote detoxification. The P.H.A.S.T protocol is designed to address the unique challenges of breast tissue and its susceptibility to stagnation and congestion. This technique is beneficial for men and women.
To watch Aubrey Lesicki’s video demonstrating the PHAST protocol, watch here:
Facts About the Lymphatic System
- The lymph system is a network, organs, nodes and nodules, ducts, glands and vessels that continuously and aggressively cleanse the system of waste matter.
- Millions upon millions of nodes, some tiny, some large, guard the passages into the body against the intrusion of destructive substances.
- Placed end to end in a straight line, all the lymph vessels in one body would cover a distance in excess of 100,000 miles (more than four times around the earth)
- The lymph system is involved in the production of white blood cells (lymphocytes) that seek out, capture and destroy foreign substances such as bacteria and other “invaders,” and remove them from the body
- The majority of lymph(from Latin lympha ‘water’) , is approximately 95%, water.
- Lymph is a fluid that circulates through the lymphatic system, acting as a transport medium for various substances, including water, proteins, lipids, and immune cells. This water component is crucial for maintaining fluid balance and facilitating the transport of these substances throughout the body.
- It is the least understood and most undervalued of all the body systems, yet if it stopped working we would die within 24-48 hours
- It is approximately twice the size of the blood circulation system and manages almost double the volume of fluid daily
- Lymph starts its life as plasma, the watery component that makes up over half our blood volume
- There are between 400-800 lymph nodes in the body that constantly monitor and filter the lymph to remove toxins, waste and pathogens
- Swelling of the lymph nodes (or ‘glands’) in the neck are an indication that the body is in the throes of fighting an infection
- Far from being a ‘useless, dead-end tube’, the appendix has recently been discovered to be part of the lymphatic system
- The gut is lined with millions of lymphatic vessels (called lacteals) that absorb the fats and fatty acids that we ingest and transport them directly to the heart where they enter the circulatory system as fuel
- It is considered the most important body system in Ayurvedic medicine, which considers it to be the ‘water of life’
- Unlike the circulatory system, it is a one-way system and has no ‘pump’, relying on movement, gravity and breathing to keep flowing.
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