Flush Your Lymphatic System
Your lymphatic system is part of your immune system, it helps get rid of toxins and protects you from inflammation and illness. Making sure your lymphatic systems don’t get stopped is important to your overall health and wellness. We will explain 5 Ways to Flush your lymphatic system in this article.
Your lymphatic systems are responsible for keeping your fluid levels in check, while being your line of defense against bacteria, infections, cancers and other threats. It is your body’s inner drainage systems, carrying fluid from your tissue and blood and back. Similar to the circulatory system, the lymphatic system which carries a watery liquid called lymph along with protein molecules, glucose, salt and other substances.
How does your LYMPHATIC system get stopped up?
Unfortunately, the lymphatic system gets out of balance when you eat a high processed diet, don’t exercise and are nutrient deficient. When your body is fighting chronic inflammation and stress this can lead to lymph congestion throughout your entire body. Your body creates more white blood cells to fight these infections but does not have a way to flush them out if your lymphatic system gets stopped up. The white blood cells begin filling up your lymph nodes, backing up your system and creating swelling. ANother reason, you could also have a digestive imbalance that causes your lymphatic system to get stopped up. Having a healthy gut will help detoxify your body, promote lymph flow and increase your immunity to fighting disease and illness.
Drinking water and moving your body are two ways you can keep your lymphatic system flowing smoothly. Your lymph system relies on certain pressure to keep things moving, if you are dehydrated or sedentary, your lymph system slows down and gets stopped up. Iodine, Vitamin C and magnesium are three important nutrients to protect your lymph system from being bombarded by environmental toxins, taking these daily will help keep your lymphatic system processing smoothly.
Symptoms of A Clogged Lymphatic System
Ever wonder why you are feeling tired, stiff and bloated? You could have a lymphatic system that is clogged. Having a clogged lymphatic system can be miserable. If these symptoms have been affecting you for a while, fatigue, bloating, headaches, you may think this is normal and how you should feel. You don’t have to feel like this. If you are having any of the following symptoms, your lymphatic system is clogged. We will go over 5 ways to flush your lymphatic system.
Here are some symptoms you should be aware of for having a clogged lymphatic system.
- Fatigue
- Stiffness
- Muscle and joint pain
- Bloating
- Holding onto water
- Breast swelling during your cycle
- Itchy and dry skin
- Brain fog
- Headaches
- Weight gain
- Swollen glands
- Cold hands and feet
- Chronic sinusitis, colds, sore throats, or ear issues
- Skin problems
- Cellulite
If you suffer from any of the above symptoms, your body may benefit from following these 5 ways to flush your lymphatic system.
- Deep Breathing
- Hydration
- Exercise
- Dry Brushing
- Herbal Support
Let’s dive in a little deeper to each way to flush your lymphatic system.
Deep Breathing
Having strategies for dealing with daily stress is crucial to living a healthy lifestyle. Deep breathing can help you slow down and lower stress. Having mindful practices like yoga, meditation and deep breathing visualization techniques, playing outside with loved ones, walking in nature can all be beneficial to your health. We all need oxygen to survive. Deep breathing helps lymph movement and detoxification. Start small with breathing in through your nose, hold it for 4 counts then breath out through your nose for 2 counts. The pumping action of deep breathing, helps the lymphatic system transport toxins into the blood before they are detoxified by the liver. As you practice deep breathing, you will be able to extend your time. If at any time, you get light headed. Stop deep breathing and sit down.
Hydration
Did you know our bodies are made up of 60% water, and our lymphatic system is made up of 95% water? Staying hydrated is essential to survival. Drinking enough water each day is essential to a healthy flow of your lymphatic system and hydration. Adding lemon to your water can help speed up hydration and detoxification while it keeps your body in an alkaline state. Drinking 8-10 cups a day at room temperature will suffice the daily intake. To Encourage lymphatic flow, drink warm water every 10 to 15 minutes throughout the day. Water lubricates your joints, promotes oxygen flow in your red blood cells, cleans toxins from your body and removes waste and toxins through your stool. Remember, baby sips throughout the day, will help you stay on track to reaching 8-10 cups a daily of your requirements.
Exercise
Exercise, you may love it or hate it. Moving your body is one of the easiest ways to flush your lymphatic system. It doesn’t matter what type of exercise, just get off the couch and move your body. Exercise also helps increase oxygen flow to your tissues and boost your immune system as well, giving you a double boost to your overall wellness. Exercising makes you sweat, reducing the toxic load on your lymph system. Moving your body enhances your mood, promotes focus, improves circulation, stimulates lymphatic drainage. Keep in mind, avoid tight clothing, this can reduce circulation causing your lymphatic system to clog up. Light, breezy clothing is best when you are exercising. Get outside and move your body. Anything goes, get creative and have fun.
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is a Ayurvedic technique that promotes circulation and blood flow, detoxification and lymphatic flow. This technique also helps eliminate dead skin cells, those frustrating cellulite spots and promotes lymphatic cleaning. You want to pick a brush that has soft natural bristles, since you will be brushing your skin, the largest organ on your body. Be careful to brush using light and gentle long strokes. Always brush towards your heart to promote lymphatic cleaning. The best time to dry brush is before a shower, set aside 3 to 5 minutes to dry brush. Then jump in the shower, so you can wash off all the dead skin cells to promote new growth. If you prefer to take a warm bath instead of a shower add some epsom salt and essential oils help lower stress, detoxification of your body and stress relief.
Herbal Support
Taking some herbal supplements can help flush your lymphatic system. Make sure you check with your doctor to see if these are safe to take with any medications. Our top 3 herbal supplements are turkey rhubarb, sheep sorrel and slippery elm bark. Turkey Rhubarb relaxes the muscles of your intestines and helps detoxify, cleanse and controls constipation. Sheep sorrel reduces inflammation, swelling and diarrhea, along with respiratory issues. Great tip, it can be used in soups and sauces. Slippery elm bark used to control fevers, wounds and sore throats. It is a staple in the Native American culture. It can be found as far north as Quebec, and far south as Florida, reaching over to eastern Texas. It is used for sore throats and coughs, IBD, UTIs and digestive issues. It can be in many forms, from powder to tea bags. Always a good reminder to check with your doctor before starting slippery elm bark, it can interfere with some medicines being digested.
Our lymphatic system is crucial for keeping us healthy, boosting our immune system and protecting us from getting sick. If your lymphatic system is clogged, this makes you prone to infection and disease. These 5 ways to flush your lymphatic system are crucial to keeping things flowing and keeping you healthy. Start small with choosing 2 or 3 of the above ways, as you build your daily routine of flushing your lymphatic system, see how you feel. You can always add a few more. These are a great way to keep your body healthy, your lymphatic system clean and boost your immunity to live a long healthy life. Check out our second article, “5 Ways to Flush Your Lymphatic System, Part 2” for more ways.
