The lymphatic system is a network of vessels that lie just beneath the skin that help move a fluid called lymph around your body and back into your bloodstream for circulation. The lymphatic system is involved in a lot of processes including:
- Managing fluids through collecting fluids from your tissues and bringing it back into the bloodstream.
- Immune System via delivering immune cells throughout your body to monitor and fight off bacteria and viruses.
- Transportation of waste products for removal from the body.
If the lymphatic system isn’t flowing well or has blockages, the above benefits get slowed or even stopped. This results in a buildup of waste products near the lymph nodes which can ultimately result in swelling, discomfort, systemic inflammation and weak immunity.
Here are some ways you can take care of your lymphatic system and your own immune health!
- Hydrate! Drinking enough water helps add water to lymph and makes it easier to move around your body. Calculate 1/2 of your body weight (in pounds) to know your goal cups per day of water.
- Move! Unlike your blood vessels, the lymphatic system does not have a pump, so we need to pump it manually. Going on a walk, engaging in exercise, or physical activity can help move the fluids around. Exercises that really get the lymph moving are jumping/hopping (especially with rebounding like on a trampoline), dancing (have you tried Saturday Line Dance yet?) or upside down movements such as downward dog or legs up the wall in yoga. If these kinds of exercises are not accessible to you, you can stand on a vibration plate (ideally daily if you do not get much other movement) and dry skin brushing to physically move that lymph.
- Get a massage! Massages are a physical manipulation of the body and all of the skin stretching can help move lymph fluids around and enhance the body’s detox pathways. You can even do self-massage by tapping your skin from head to toe! There is also a specific massage modality called Lymphatic Drainage that some practitioners are certified to perform that focuses on manually moving built up lymph to other more open lymph nodes for disposal. Ask about lymphatic drainage massage when you book your next appointment with us.
- Get a facial! In the same way body massage works for lymphatic movement and drainage, facials also are able to manipulate the lymph within the sensitive skin of the face and neck. Certain tools such as gua sha and brushes can help to perform more light touch that gently moves lymph rather than the deeper tissue touch that manipulates more of the muscle. Learn more about skin therapy and lymphatic health in our webinar on healthy skin.
If you’re interested in lymphatic drainage via massage or facial, contact us and we will help you choose the right service for you!
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