| Our bodies are incredible. Every day we are | | | | long, gentle, rhythmic strokes to increase lymphatic |
| constantly being attacked by bacteria, pollution, | | | | flow and really help to eliminate toxins from the body. |
| viruses etc. Luckily we have our own defense | | | | As with acupressure or shiatsu, the pressure during |
| system to deal with this. Most people call it the | | | | the treatment is quite powerful and can really relax |
| immune system, it's real name is the lymph system, | | | | and relieve the muscles. Lymph is so important in |
| and it's amazing | | | | keeping the immune system working properly that |
| Lymph comes from the Latin word lympha, meaning | | | | improving its flow and drainage around the body is |
| "clear water." | | | | helpful in many ways. |
| As quoted by Marcelle Pick OB/GYN/ NP "Think of a | | | | As a consequence of modern unhealthy and |
| river: a healthy river runs clean and clear. A brackish | | | | unforgiving lifestyles, we are continually putting toxins |
| river chugs along, thick with soot and silt that gets | | | | into our bodies through bad diet, pollution, excess |
| snagged, pocketing pollution in small pools along the | | | | alcohol and too much sugar. Boosting the lymphatic |
| way. Eventually, the sluggish river can become a | | | | system helps to flush all the toxins away and keep |
| breeding ground for bacteria and disease. The same | | | | the body healthy. Lymphatic drainage massage can |
| is true for your lymph." | | | | also help the body fight infection and speed up |
| This truly incredible system is a network of organs, | | | | healing and recovery from illness. It reduces water |
| nodes, fluid, ducts, vessels and tissues that produce | | | | retention, boosts weight loss and can even be an |
| and transport lymph. The nodes are strung along the | | | | effective treatment for cellulite! Manual |
| lymph vessels like pearls knotted on a string. Did you | | | | lymph-drainage is used in the treatment of |
| know that there is 3 times more lymph fluid in the | | | | lymphoedema. |
| body than there is blood. Lymph fluid is a clear, | | | | Rejuvenating your lymph system. The lymph system |
| slightly yellow fluid that flows around the body, | | | | is there to keep you clean and well. It does this |
| carrying white cells and antibodies to the tissues and | | | | non-stop 24 hours a day 365 days a year and for |
| organs. This system assists in the production of | | | | the rest of your life. To help rejuvenate your lymph |
| white blood cells. These cells search for, grab and | | | | system here is a list of considerations: -o Watch |
| destroy bacteria and remove them from the body. | | | | what you are eating. Help your body's toxicity levels |
| Unlike the heart the lymph system does not have its | | | | by avoiding processed foods, sugars and too many |
| own pump. It moves through the system in the right | | | | carbohydrates. Eat organic where possible. The less |
| direction because of the large number of valves that | | | | waste the lymph system has to deal with the easier |
| permit fluid flow only in one direction. Most of the | | | | it is to flow.o Drink plenty of purified water or filtered |
| flow is against gravity or "uphill". This movement is | | | | water. At least 8 glasses a day. Remember we are |
| due to breathing movements and skeletal muscle | | | | 70-75% water, so keep this topped up and help the |
| contractions. Exercising and proper breathing helps | | | | fluids to run.o Get some exercise. For the lymph |
| the lymph fluid move around the body. Proper | | | | system the best form of exercise is jumping on a |
| breathing is when the diaphragm is extended on an | | | | rebounder. This helps the lymph fluid to be pumped |
| inward breath. Imagine your lungs are like a triangle. | | | | around the body. Walking, cycling or running are all |
| Most people breathe in and only inflate the top of | | | | good forms of exercise. Just don't sit on the sofa |
| their lungs, which means their chests inflate. Learn to | | | | and do nothing,. Exercise makes you feel and look |
| breathe properly and extend the belly (diaphragm) on | | | | great as well as help the lymph system. When |
| an inward breath. This will fill the whole lungs with | | | | exercising don't be afraid to get sweaty. If you are |
| oxygen, which in turn, helps our bodies to cleanse | | | | sweating this helps detoxify the body.o Proper |
| itself of bacteria. | | | | breathing. Make sure you learn to breathe properly |
| An easy exercise to help move the lymph fluid, is by | | | | and practice the exercise for proper breathing. Your |
| taking a good deep breath in for the count of 5 | | | | body will thank you for it. My tip is also try it when |
| seconds, hold it for 20 seconds and then release for | | | | you are feeling tired or stressed. A good deep breath |
| 10 seconds. Do this 10 times, 3 times a day and flood | | | | that fills the lungs works wonders for making you |
| your body with oxygen and energy. We have to | | | | wake up and also for relieving stresso Avoid tight |
| breathe all day long so why don't we learn to do it | | | | clothing that puts pressure on the nodes. For women |
| properly and also make it work for us. | | | | try and not wear a bra for at least 12 hours a day |
| Another way to help the lymph system is with | | | | and don't wear one in bed. If you feel you can't then |
| massage. Massage moves the lymph fluid around the | | | | get a stretchy t-shirt.o Watch your stress level. |
| body, again assisting in the cleansing process. There | | | | Stress causes acid in the body and acid is toxic which |
| are many forms of massage including lymphatic | | | | adds to the burden of your lymph system. |
| drainage. Lymphatic drainage massage is a | | | | So take care of your lymph system and it will take |
| wonderfully therapeutic deep- tissue massage | | | | great care of you. |
| treatment. This practice uses thumb pressure and | | | | |