What is the Lymphatic System and why “drain” it?

Manual Lymphatic Drainage.

In short, the lymphatic system is the pathway for toxins (viruses, bacteria, fungi, cancer cells, proteins, etc) to exit from the blood and the spaces between your cells. When functioning optimally, it sends out toxic load through the bladder, bowels, skin and lungs while a portion is filtered by the heart.

Under normal circumstances, your lymphatic system functions optimally with physical activity and a healthy circulatory system. However trauma, surgeries, radiation, lymph node removal, scar tissue, poor food choices, sedentary lifestyle and stress can all contribute to lymph stagnation. One good analogy is a fish tank. If the filters (lymph nodes and capillaries) aren’t processing the waste, the tank water will get green really quick. The same thing happens to our bodies. If our lymphatic system is stagnant, inflammation increases and all sorts of diseases can arise.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is the process of stimulating nodes and capillaries in a particular order and direction with the intention to encourage movement. While it can be relatively pain-free, there are some caveats. If you have a swollen node, this can be uncomfortable when palpated. There can also be associated “detox” effects such as: fatigue, nausea, headache and frequent urination. This usually occurs within a 24 hour window and can be lessened with hydration.

This technique while incredibly beneficial pre and post surgery, also greatly aids in reducing overall inflammation in the body. It has proven very helpful for Lyme sufferers, Rheumatoid Arthritis, cystic breasts, edema (swelling in any part of the body), chronic pain syndromes, skin and other infections, asthma and allergies, poor digestion, female problems, prostate issues, sinus issues and headaches just to name a few.