Lymph Movement for Detox, Immunity & Cellulite Reduction
Are you familiar with the lymphatic system? Often correlated with swollen lymph nodes upon infection, the health of this vital system goes far beyond immunity. Tied to the circulatory system, the lymphatic system plays a large role in weight control, blood purification, detoxification, and overall health and vitality.
Often referred to as your internal “drainage system”, the lymphatic system is a network of blood vessels and lymph nodes that carries fluids in and around the body. Essential for fluid distribution, the lymph also works hand-in-hand with the immune system to protect your body from illness and disease. How? By assisting in the removal of toxins, waste, bacteria, microbes and other unwanted materials from the body.
Unlike the blood, which has the heart pumping it tip to toe 24/7, your lymph fluids sit stagnant unless manually manipulated. When the lymph sits stagnant, you may experience symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, joint pain, body aches and stiffness, cellulite accumulation, brain fog, belly bloat, puffy eyes, swollen fingers, cold hands and feet, increased food sensitivities, allergies, and frequent colds, flu and infection.
Here are a few of the top techniques used to encourage lymph movement:
Dry brushing - lightly brushing dry skin with a long-handled, boar bristle body brush before a shower 2-3 times per week moves the lymph, encourages blood flow, energizes, helps reduce cellulite and sloughs off the top layer of skin to support detoxification. Click here for more information.
Rebounding - gently bouncing on a mini-trampoline is the most effective movement therapy for lymph flow stimulation and drainage. I recommend bouncing for 15 minutes a day at a gentle to moderate pace to reap the lymph and detox benefits. If you’re looking for a more complete (yet low impact) cardiovascular workout that’s great for weight loss, increase the intensity, perhaps incorporate weights, and aim for 20-30 minutes a day.
Hydrotherapy - hot and cold shower therapy is an easy, yet effective way to move the lymph fluids. By alternative 20 seconds of as hot of water as you can tolerate with 20 seconds of as cold of water as you can tolerate and cycle through 3 times at the end of your morning shower, you’ll increase energy while eliminating aches and pain and boosting immunity. Click here for more information.
Exercise - simply moving your body moves the lymph. Walking, running and rebounding are great activities to incorporate. If you’re a desk worker, I recommend getting up at least once per hour (preferably every 20-30 minutes) for a bathroom break, water refill or trip to the fridge for a blood sugar balancing snack. Avoid sitting for long periods of time to keep the blood circulating and prevent lymph stagnation.
Lymphatic enhancement therapy (LET) - this is a service that I personally use on a routine basis to help alleviate fluid retention, inflammation and pain while improving my mental clarity and energy levels. Typically 60-90 minutes, this non-invasive, gentle detoxification therapy uses the vibration of light and sound combined with light touch to decongest the lymphatic tissues. If LET is unavailable to you, I recommend seeking out lymphatic massage.
Essential oils - essential oils such as grapefruit and cypress can be used on your dry brush pre-shower or in combination with jojoba oil post-shower as a natural moisturizer that also boosts circulation and lymph movement. Both are GREAT for cellulite reduction and detoxification.
I recommend incorporating these practices on a daily basis to boost immunity, detoxify, assist weight loss, promote mental clarity, boost energy, and alleviate aches, pain, swelling, stiffness and congestion.
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