Yas said:
I had 3 sessions of drainage and, even though I got some flu symptoms immediately afterwards, it did seem to help a bit, especially concerning intestinal cleanse, yet, from what I understood, that can be because the lymphatic drainage flushes through the intestines primarily.
Just my two cents :)
Hey Yas! I think it's great that you're getting your lymphatic system detoxed, it plays such a vital role in the body.
In one of my recent biology classes, I learned quite a bit about the function of the lymphatic system. The human body is truly incredible in the way it works!
From what I've understood, the lymphatic system actually drains through your blood even though it's very much connected and involved in the digestion process. The lymphatic system include the thymus, spleen, tonsils, and appendix, along with some special tissue and vessels in the gut. From what I understand, the lacteal vessels (of the lymphatic system) around your intestine have selective permeability, a lot can go in, but not much goes out from these specific vessels. Improper digestion of your food and lack of lymphatic pumping clogs up your lymphatic vessels. This causes and an accumulation in the digestive tract, and continues to worsen without the help of the lymphatic system, this in turn causes improper absorption of nutrients. Often times, being ‘overweight’ is actually swelling and excess water from poor lymph flow.
As we know, approximately 80% of our immune system lies within the intestinal walls, and this is because of the lymphatic system. In fact, you appendix, which was thought at some point to be useless is actually a lymphatic organ that stores good flora in order to replenish for/if you have a strong immune response and kill off all your gut bacteria. (I don’t know how true this is).
One the other hand, fat - which once digested and packed are called chylomicrons, are absorbed and transported only by you lacteal vessels (along with other lipid soluble vitamins and nutrients) because they're too big of a molecule to pass through your capillaries and are also hydrophobic - once in the lacteal vessels, they travel through the lymphatic system up to your lymphatic ducts located in the back of your neck/shoulder area where it then drain into you subclavian veins, into your blood stream to then be transported around the body.
The lymphatic system also flows around your body picking up substances like dead cells, germs, excess protein, excess plasma, foreign bodies, pathogens etc... That your blood vessels cannot reach themselves. Without this process, your cells would be living in a toxic wasteland. The lymphatic system is critical for proper, detoxification, assimilation and immunity.
The lymph fluid is filtered of the debris through the many lymphatic nodules in your body. A good example of the lymphatic system’s filtration system is your lymph nodes, which is one of the many filters in your lymphatic system. Your Lymph nodes contain immune cells that can attack and destroy the germs that the lymph vessels have gathered and isolated within themselves. This is what causes swollen nodules when you’re sick – the inflammation of your white blood cells gathering and attacking. But also, Lymph nodes will become tender and swollen when the lymph system becomes backed up and overburdened with toxins, parasites, weakened cells from acidosis, mucus, metabolic wastes etc.
But once the fluid is cleansed and filter, (Lymph fluid is not discharged from the body) it enter backs into your blood stream as plasma to either be carried to the spleen where dead cells can be recycled, or to your liver, which gets ride of the waste in multiple ways. If the waste is water soluble, it gets sent back through the blood stream to gets filter through the kidneys, if it’s not, it’s extricated through bile into the intestinal tract, and then leaves through the colon.
Although, when your lymphatic system is overwhelmed, it looks for Plan B, which is to secrete mucus which can be expelled through our sinuses, chest, colon etc... This is not optimal. If you find yourself having an over production of mucus in your stool or anywhere else in your body, this is a sign of a clogged and overwhelmed lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system is 90% of your body’s water! :O As that article you posted pointed out, the lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump, like you heart for blood vessels circulatory system, so they do indeed depend on movement, and clogging and slow lymphatic system can hinder your immune system immensely, especially because your T-cells and B-cells come from you lymphatic system.
Quite a few auto-immune diseases have also been linked to improper flow of the lymphatic system.
The reason elders are recommended to elevate their feet or put on compression socks for swollen legs is to stimulate lymphatic circulation, as it is weakest in the leg area. Movement (even spinning) is your friend, and if you can’t, then go for a massage!
Actually, in some studies, Iodine deficiency is thought to be a common cause of lymphatic congestion. Iodine is thought to help support the lymph at the cellular level.
Speaking of which, a lot of people have been getting an increase in mucus production since starting the iodine protocol, including myself, and I also recall Laura mentioning it.. I wonder if this is something we should be paying attention to.
Of course, this is only from what I understand.
Edited: Grammer
