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Lymphatic Flow to GO!

The Lymphatic System is the most underappreciated system in your body; it is a crucial part of your immune system, vital in protection from illness and inflammation. The Lymphatic System surrounds and repeatedly penetrates all of the organs, bones, and muscles. Keeping your lymphatic flow free from congestion is absolutely critical to your health and well-being.

Healthy flowing lymphatics prevent many diseases which affect your heart, brain and gastrointestinal tract. Lymphatic flow combats skin problems, joint pain and inflammation, reduces migraines and headaches, fatigue and general malaise. Dr Gerald Lemole describes lymphatics as the “Secret River of Health” in his book ‘Lymph & Longevity’.

Lymphatic Flow has a significant impact on the central nervous system (CNS). Maintaining lymph fluid movement can reduce the progression of neuro-degenerative diseases, neuro-inflammation and cerebrovascular diseases. Research shows lymphatic drainage regulates immune response and reduces brain oedema after a stroke, helping regain homeostasis.

Improving Lymphatic Flow is fantastic for your HEALTH!!! Studies prove regular maintenance of the lymphatic system prevents chronic inflammation throughout the body. Improved flow helps regulate and reduce the impact of pro-inflammatory cytokines and detoxify your body, which reduces the risk to the health and improve healing times.

Let the good times flow……

Manual Lymphatic Drainage improves lymph flow, reduces oedema and boosts immunity.  Lymphatic drainage can benefit you in a number of positive ways:

  • Helps to prevent infection
  • Reduces painful swelling
  • Resolves bruising and reduces fibrosis of tissue
  • Supports the production of lymphocytes and promotes immunity
  • Encourages tissue reformation and healing
  • Restores optimal function in a timely manner
  • Soothes and relaxes the central nervous system following surgery, which promotes well-being

Let it flow, Let it flow, Let it flow…

Healthy hydration supports optimal flow and function of lymph. Your lymphatic system produces 3 litres of lymph a day and this requires water to keep it moving, moving, moving…. If your body is dehydrated your lymph can not flow, your lymph fluid will become slow and sluggish, your lymph nodes cannot filter toxins out, and your lymph becomes congested and stagnant.

Regular exercise keeps the flow on the go, controls a healthy weight, improves mood and reduces stress. Numerous studies have shown that physical activity increases lymph flow and improves immune response. Exercise and activity increases lymph flow by 50-75%.

Maintain a healthy weight to prevent risk of diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Weight loss can markedly improve lymphatic function, eating a well-balanced diet which includes essential nutrients can boost your body’s circulation and lymphatic flow.

Hey ho let’s flow, hey ho lymph go!

Good quality sleep is linked to good health. While you sleep your immune system produces proteins which target infections and inflammation. Restful sleep can improve lymphatic vessel pumping capacity.

Relax and flow… Stress has a detrimental effect on health, increasing inflammation and promoting the progression of diseases, including cancer. Reducing stress has a positive impact on our natural defenses and improves your lymphatic flow.

Deep breathing techniques help calm and relax the body and mind. Lymphatic flow is facilitated by the movement of the diaphragm so you can help manipulate your lymphatic flow with diaphragmatic breathing exercises.

Temperature can also influence the speed of the lymphatic flow and well-synchronized spontaneous contractions of lymph vessels; the function of the lymphatic system is optimal at temperatures ranging between 32°C and 37°C – get the temperature right to activate lymph flow.

Dry brushing is a useful method to stimulate the lymphatic flow from your initial lymphatics, helping move lymph along by stimulating the skin. Use a soft brush and stroke upwards towards the heart. CHHC therapists can show you how to do this effectively, and further details are demonstrated in our video links.

Back to helpful info

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Bland, J.S., 2022. Clinical Understanding of the Sleep-Immune Connection. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal21(1), p.12.

Chen, J., Wang, L., Xu, H., Wang, Y. and Liang, Q., 2021. The lymphatic drainage system of the CNS plays a role in lymphatic drainage, immunity, and neuro-inflammation in stroke. Journal of Leukocyte Biology110(2), pp.283-291.

Choi, I., Lee, S. and Hong, Y.K., 2012. The new era of the lymphatic system: no longer secondary to the blood vascular system. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine2(4), p.a006445.

Choi, Y.H., Laaker, C., Hsu, M., Cismaru, P., Sandor, M. and Fabry, Z., 2021. Molecular mechanisms of neuro-immune crosstalk in the pathogenesis of stroke. International Journal of Molecular Sciences22(17), p.9486.

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Ezzo, J., Manheimer, E., McNeely, M.L., Howell, D.M., Weiss, R., Johansson, K.I., Bao, T., Bily, L., Tuppo, C.M., Williams, A.F. and Karadibak, D., 2015. Manual lymphatic drainage for lymphedema following breast cancer treatment. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (5).

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Kraft, Jamie D., Robert Blomgran, Iben Lundgaard, Marianne Quiding-Järbrink, Jonathan S. Bromberg, and Emma Börgeson. 2021. “Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators and the Lymphatic System” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 5: 2750. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22052750

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Mortimer P, Levine G. Let’s talk lymphoedema, the essential guide to everything you need to know 2017. ISBN-1-78396-285-3

Müller, M., Klingberg, K., Wertli, M.M. and Carreira, H., 2018. Manual lymphatic drainage and quality of life in patients with lymphoedema and mixed oedema: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Quality of life research27(6), pp.1403-1414.

Nikolakis, Dimitrios, Floris A.E. de Voogd, Maarten J. Pruijt, Joep Grootjans, Marleen G. van de Sande, and Geert R. D’Haens. 2022. “The Role of the Lymphatic System in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23, no. 3: 1854. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031854

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Thompson, B., Gaitatzis, K., Janse de Jonge, X., Blackwell, R. and Koelmeyer, L.A., 2021. Manual lymphatic drainage treatment for lymphedema: a systematic review of the literature. Journal of Cancer Survivorship15(2), pp.244-258.

Tong, X., Zhang, T., Li, S., Chen, Y., Xu, Y., Deng, C., Hu, J. and Lu, H., 2023. Rotator cuff healing is regulated by the lymphatic vasculature. Journal of Orthopaedic Translation38, pp.65-75.

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Zimmermann, A., Wozniewski, M., Szklarska, A., Lipowicz, A. and Szuba, A., 2012. Efficacy of manual lymphatic drainage in preventing secondary lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. Lymphology45(3), pp.103-112.