A Healthy Immune System: How Rhythmic Movement Can Improve Lymph System Flow

By HelloLife

The Lymphatic System

Fluid called lymph flows through the cellular pathway of the lymphatic system into the blood. The lymphatic system is comprised of:

Lymph
Lymphocytes
Lymph vessels
Lymph nodules
Lymph nodes
Spleen
Tonsils
Thymus gland

The lymphatic system functions to preserve the balance of fluids in the tissues.It also completes the vital task of removing proteins and large particles that cannot be absorbed by capillaries.The lymphatic system and its flow are crucial to healthy immune response.

Lymph Flow

The heart serves to pump blood in the blood vessels, but the lymph vessels have no such mechanism.So how is lymph set into motion? Naturally by intrinsic lymphatic pumping.When the lymph vessels are filled with lymph, they contract, which pumps the lymph into the next section.The several other factors that influence lymph flow are related to motion and activity.These include:

activity that contracts surrounding muscles
body movement
thorax pressure changes due to respiration
compression of tissues by objects of the body
arterial pulsations

When the body is resting, lymph is slow moving.During exercise, the lymph motion becomes very active and can increase by 10 to 30 times.

Lymphatic System Impairment

The healthy functioning of the lymphatic system and in turn immune system can be impaired by several factors.These include:

Fatigue
Stress
Sedentary lifestyle
Emotional shock
Cold temperatures
Infections
Swelling
Age
Chemicals
Food additives

When lymph circulation is slow or stagnant, fluids, proteins, cells and toxins build up at a cellular level and prevent the body from functioning optimally.

Rhythmic Movement to Improve Lymph Flow

There are several techniques you can employ to increase your lymph flow.

Skin Brushing

A proven method of stimulating lymph flow (and the skin). Many people use a brush with natural, stiff bristles in the shower for five to ten minutes every morning, in these steps:

Starting with your left foot, brush up and down the bottom and top, finishing with upwards strokes around the front, sides, and back of your calf. Brush around the knee and then up the outer and inner thigh.Brush around the hip and lower abdomen.Now repeat starting with your right foot up to your right hip.
Next, scrub thoroughly around the hips, abdomen, sides of the abdomen, buttocks, and lower back.
Now start with your left hand and brush up and down your hand and arm.End with a stroke toward your chest. Then brush your shoulder thoroughly. Move to the neck, brushing down your back and chest. Repeat starting with the right hand.
Get someone to brush your back for you, or do the best you can with it on your own.Don't forget the under arm area and down the rib cage. Be sure to also get the sternum well as this is a lymphatic hot spot.

It may help to start out with light strokes for only a couple minutes, and then work your way up.This can be very invigorating, and may even help with cellulite too.

Exercise

An extremely effective method to increase lymph flow is to exercise.This will also aid liver circulation which in turn boosts blood and lymph circulation.Some exercises you can try to improve lymph flow include:

Walking
Jumping on a trampoline 5-20 minutes every day
Running or other aerobic exercises
Yoga or special breathing exercises
Swimming

Naturopathic Exercises

There is a simple exercise you can try that may stimulate lymph flow:

Stand with your feet close together.Raise your arms sideways until they are parallel to the floor, with your palms facing down. Now rotate them in small circles forward ten times, and then repeat in backward circles.Do another set in medium circles, and again in large circles.Do this two or three times every day.

Lymph Drainage Therapy

Developed by French physician Bruno Chikly, the technique of Lymph Drainage Therapy claims to be a highly efficient attainment of specific rhythm, pressure, quality and direction of the lymph flow.The lymphatic pathways are mapped and manipulated by trained technicians.They use their hands and fingers to simulate gentle, wave-like movements.Lymph Drainage Therapy has been shown to result in myriad health benefits.

Sources:

http://www.upledger.com/therapies/ldt.htm

http://www.success-in-motion-therapy.com/Therapeutic%20Massage.htm

http://www.ashlandacu.com/LymphaticSystemHealing.htm