Lymphatic Drainage

Swelling, or the accumulation of fluid, is easy to identify when it comes to a sprained ankle. The fluid accumulates around the site of the injury and is resorbed over a few days. But what about the accumulation of fluid that is happening around your tissues and organs that you can’t necessarily see, let’s say after having eaten the standard American diet for years? What is this fluid? And what can you do to help reduce this swelling and encourage healing? Unlike the sprained ankle, you can’t just throw a bag of frozen peas on your organs.

The lymphatic or lymphoid system is a system made up of tissues, organs, lymph nodes, ducts and vessels to move LYMPH, a colorless water-like fluid, back into your circulatory system. The lymphatic system is part of the circulatory system as well as the immune system. It helps protect our body from invaders and rid the body of toxins and waste that accumulate in the lymph fluid due to catabolic processes (breaking down molecules into smaller one). If the system is overwhelmed or not functioning properly, the system gets backed up. Many people have symptoms of a backed up lymphatic system and don’t even know it!

What are some signs your lymphatic system is backed up?

• Headache

• Brain fog

• Swollen lymph nodes or tonsils

• Recurrent sore throats

• Mucous, especially in the morning

• Fullness or fluid in the ears

• Ear popping or ringing

• Constipation

• Inability to lose weight

• Sore or stiff joints, especially in the morning

• Swelling or heaviness in the extremities

• Pins/needles in the arms or hands while sleeping

• Pressure or stiffness along the spine and shoulders while sleeping

• Breast swelling with your menstrual cycle

• Itchy and/or dry skin

Improving lymphatic drainage encourages the removal of toxins and waste. So in order to decrease inflammation and increase the removal of toxins, how do we increase lymphatic drainage?

Here is a list of at home techniques to increase lymphatic drainage:

Rebounding

This opens the valves within the lymph vessels to encourage lymph fluid through the vessels and back into the circulatory systems

Dry brushing

This helps to exfoliate and stimulate the skin to open the pores for elimination of toxins as well as encourage drainage of lymph fluid when strokes are swept in the direction of the lymph nodes

Yoga – Feet up the wall & shoulder-stand poses

This reduces gravitational pressure in the extremities, redirecting blood flow back to the heart for circulation, as well as bringing lymph fluid to the armpits and groin for lymphatic drainage by the lymph nodes

Lymphatic massage

This manual massage technique moves the lymph fluid to the most concentrated lymph node areas of the body (neck, armpits, and groin) to accelerate the process of removing the accumulated liquid and waste.

Lymphatic drainage is extremely important to maintain a high functioning immune system. My favorite is the feet up the wall pose at the end of the day.

If you are struggling with any of the symptoms above and are interested in additional guidance to rebuild your health, book an appointment today. I’m here to help. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness!