What is the Lymphatic System?
The lymphatic system is part of the immune system, helps keep fluid levels throughout the body in balance and helps to protect us from infection and disease.
The lymphatic system is made up of lymphatic vessels, tissues, organs, and glands that work together to drain a watery fluid called lymph from throughout the body. This lymph system acts as a drainage system from our tissues into our blood. Lymphatic fluid flows through a network of lymph vessels which connect to lymph nodes that act as a filter to trap pathogens.
Inside the lymph nodes is where our white blood cells (lymphocytes) live. They attack and break down bacteria, viruses, damaged cells, and cancer cells. Lymphatic fluid carries waste products from destroyed bacteria, viruses, and damaged cells from the lymph nodes back into the bloodstream, and onto the liver and kidneys. The liver and kidneys then remove the waste products and destroyed pathogens from the blood and pass them out of the body with other bodily waste.
The lymph system only flows one way, towards to heart. When our lymphatic system is not circulating well, we can experience swelling and edema in the tissues. The lymph system is stimulated by gravity, movement & exercise, hydrotherapy (alternating hot and cold water on the skin), breathing, lymph drainage therapy, and massage.
Ways to Boost Your Lymphatic System
Ways that people can boost functioning of their lymphatic system to improve their immune system and expedite waste removal from the body include:
- Increase Daily Water Intake
- Engage in regular physical activity
- Eat fruits and vegetables & limit the intake of processed foods
- Utilize Cold Water Therapy after Sauna
- Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Lymphatic Drainage Massage increases lymph circulation by (%) and is particularly helpful to stimulate the immune system, post surgery to help move lymph from swollen tissues into the bloodstream to expedite the healing process, and to help the body increase lymph circulation to help process & excrete excess toxins from the body.