The low down on lymph
If you’re struggling with brain fog, bloating, having digestive issues or persistent tiredness, we can pretty much guarantee that you may have dysfunction within your lymphatic system. And the only real way to improve the lymphatic system is to get that lymph moving!
The lymphatic system is in charge of cleaning, detoxifying, and removing built-up waste and toxins in the body. It flows through your body like rivers — it’s twice as large as your circulatory system, but it doesn't have a central pump to circulate it. It relies on body movement, deep breathing, and, of course, lymphatic drainage massage to transport viruses, toxins, and bacteria to lymph nodes, where they're cleaned by your immune cells and returned to your bloodstream for recirculation.
Your first line of defence
Your gut contains lymph veins, which act as the first line of defence against contaminated food by absorbing fat and returning it to your vascular system for fuel. The lymph system in your gut houses seventy percent of your immune system.
Drinking too much wine, for example, might reduce your stomach's capacity to fight dangerous bacteria, allowing it to enter your upper small intestine. Keeping this in mind, your lymphatic system can cause inflammation by impairing the mucus cells that shield your stomach lining from acid and digesting enzymes. This is why, after a few glasses of alcohol, your stomach feels bloated.
Because the lymphatic system is linked to every other bodily system, focusing on your lymphatic system will have a positive effect on all other systems in your body, cleaning out excess waste and toxins and allowing you to achieve optimal health.
Restart your lymphatic system with these habits
Implementing some of these habits would be the simplest and most efficient way to restart a sluggish lymphatic system and improve lymph drainage:
1) Keeping hydrated: When the body is dehydrated, lymph thickens and its capacity to circulate through the body slows. As a result, when your body is well hydrated, lymph maintains its normal liquid form.
2) Use hot and cold water in the shower: When cooled down, the lymphatic vessels become smaller and, when heated, lymphatic vessels become larger. So when stagnant lymphatic fluid is present, it can be moved by using varying water temperatures in the shower. Next time you have a shower, for the last ten seconds of the shower finish it with a dose of cold water to reap the benefits!
3) Move your body whenever you can: Since the lymphatic system relies entirely on the contraction (shrinking) and relaxation of muscles for the circulation of lymphatic fluid, any kind of movement is beneficial. Lymph can very easily become stagnant from sitting all day, and this is especially an issue as so many people today have desk jobs that require sitting for prolonged periods. Every chance you get to stretch your legs - walk to the opposite of the room to get that lymph pumping!
4) Lymphatic drainage by massage: This can be extremely helpful in accelerating the detoxification process, because, after all, it’s your lymphatic system’s job is to clear out excess toxins from your tissues. Having your lymphatic self-massage routine after bathing could include using a dry brush to stimulate and move stagnant lymph. Or better yet try our Signature Enzyme Treatment or Body Enzyme Treatment in the salon.
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Love,
Kelly & the team at SELF_