How does the lymphatic system work?
In Kinesiology we do a huge amount of work with the lymph and, I have to admit, it’s one of my favourite areas.
There’s honestly no better feeling than receiving targeted lymphatic massage through Kinesiology. It can be tender at the time but afterwards you feel so much lighter and clearer, like everything is flowing again.
So, at this time, when we’re all concerned with our immune health, I thought it was necessary to write about the powerhouse that is our lymphatic system, and the vital role it plays in our immune function.
What is the lymphatic system?
Your lymphatic system is absolutely incredible. It runs everywhere in the body feeding the cells, clearing out harmful toxins and filtering waste out via the elimination channels of the body.
It also feeds and cleans on an intracellular level, where the blood can’t reach, sending in antibodies and white blood cells to engulf bacteria and dead cell debris, and removing it from the body. Its role is vital for the healthy function of the whole body, muscles and organs.
We have twice as much lymph in the body as blood but, while blood has the heart to pump it round, the lymphatic system has nothing like that to help it move.
Instead, the lymphatic system has an incredible network of one-way valves to stop it falling back, thus keeping it moving one way.
It therefore relies on external muscular movement to propel it along which is why exercise, in particular anything that moves your body up and down such as rebounding or jogging, is vital to keep it flowing.
Toxic build up from restricted lymph flow
The pressure in the lymph system is tiny so even a slight restriction in the vessels can result in a greatly impeded flow and block in the lymphatic system. This restriction can stem from stressful and tense shoulders to sitting down all day and lack of movement. This can lead to a build-up of toxins that the lymph struggles to clear out.
Even if there's no external experience of lymphatic congestion, like swelling or nodules, lymph flow can still be seriously impeded by physical restriction in the lymph vessels and ducts.
This is why we need to move and exercise, so it doesn’t become stagnant. If we’re too sedentary we’ll experience lymphatic congestion, meaning the tissue isn’t fed or cleaned properly.
People who experience an unreasonable number of infections and colds, or do not improve as fast as we would expect after an illness, often need to look at the lymph flow to see what’s restricting it.
When I do targeted lymphatic massage on clients it often feels tender, sticky and niggly. However, this is temporary and after a few minutes of firm massage the tenderness quickly goes down, meaning the lymph is once again flowing well.
What role does lymph play in our immune system?
We all want to know how to boost our immune system, especially during the winter when it’s easier to become run down in the cold weather and darker days. In Kinesiology we learn that the immune system is quite literally wrapped up in every other system of the body. It can’t be separated from the lymphatic, digestive or endocrine systems, they are all intertwined.
The immune system has no singular organs that work under it, it can’t be categorized or labelled on a diagram, the whole body is your immune system!
Not only your whole body but your mind as well. Our thoughts affect our physical bodies too. Through the study of psychoneuroimmunology science is beginning to understand how our thoughts can have a positive or negative effect on our immune system.
When we think about our immune system in this way, we begin to understand that to boost our immune function, there’s so many wonderful practices we can be doing, on a physical, nutritional, energetic and emotional level, like the following.
Moving the body through brisk walking, jogging, rebounding and cross-crawl exercises. Nourishing the body through warming food and drinks such as soups, broths, stews and herbal teas. Supplementing your diet with nutritional aids such as herbs, vitamins and minerals. Positive thinking and moving away from fear and stress which both vastly inhibit your immune function.
How does Kinesiology massage the lymph?
One of the most powerful ways of enhancing immune function is through working with the lymph. In Kinesiology, when we find an imbalance through muscle testing, we’re able to rub specific lymphatic points to alert and move the lymph to that particular area to feed and clean it immediately.
This targeted lymphatic work gets the lymph working in the area that needs it most, nourishing your immune function through improved lymph flow. This is incredibly beneficial for anyone who is feeling under the weather with low energy levels, feeling sluggish or drained, also those struggling to regain their energy post illness.
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