lymphatic drainage…

The immune system is my favorite system (with my least favorite obviously being the nervous system. Stupid autonomic dysfunction).  I like the immune system because it’s like an army, fighting against pathogens found within the body, and each little lymph node is like a ninja.

You may remember that in my last post I mentioned that my lymph nodes were sore and swollen. After that post, I received an email from my  friend, Jen, with some great suggestions for lymphatic drainage that I thought I should share. Jen is a health and wellness coach and is very knowledgeable about how certain things, including food, stress and environment, affect our body. Check out her website for more information.

Tender or swollen lymph nodes can signal a cold, sore throat, infection or occasionally something more serious.  However, swollen lymph nodes are also common in dysautonomia and ME/CFS, as our bodies are constantly fighting an illness.

Lymph nodes are bean-shaped organs of the lymphatic system.  Your lymphatic system carries fluid, nutrients and waste between tissue and the bloodstream.  The lymph nodes filter the lymph fluid as it flows through and traps bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances.  Any pathogens that are filtered are then destroyed by a special white blood cell found in the lymph nodes called lymphocytes.  Interestingly (yes, I’m being fast and loose with that word), in every blood test I had done for a few years before and after being diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), my lymphocyte count was high.  I may still have an elevated lymphyocyte count, but have (fortunately) not had a blood test in a few years.

According to my friend Jen, sometimes all the maladies being cleaned out by the lymphatic system can cause a backup, or as one doctor describes it, clog your drains.  When this happens, you need to clear the drains.  Jen provided a few suggestions for practices that specifically aid in lymph drainage:

•  dry skin brushing ( brush toward your heart in the shower, before getting wet)
• eat some red beets with iodized salt or kelp granules
• drink a “cranberry flush” juice – 6-8 oz water, 2 Tbsp cranberry concentrate, raw honey or stevia to taste, and a few mint leaves
• rebounding (basically jumping on a trampoline)
• a hot bath with epsom salts to pull more toxins and supplement magnesium

Not all of the suggestions above may be beneficial for everyone. Unfortunately, I can’t do hot baths or even hot showers.  Hot water dilates blood vessels which causes the blood to pool in my legs and gives me tachycardia. Which, sadly, means I also can no longer do tubs or saunas. I do, however, do kiddie pools.

In researching lymphatic drainage, I also found that there are some lymphatic self-massage techniques that are suppose to help with drainage.  I tried a few of the techniques offered by MassagebyHeather.com in the video below and found them very helpful.

Particularly with the massage and cranberry flush, I get a tickle in my throat and even sometimes have a sore throat and a runny nose for a few hours afterward.  From what I understand, that means I’m actually draining, which is a good thing.  If you’ve been having inflamed or sore lymph nodes without any cause, you may need to clean out your lymph drains. So grab a plunger!

Disclaimer: Swollen lymph nodes can be a sign of a cold or flu or, in rare occasions, a serious illness. You should consult a licensed medical practitioner before trying any of the techniques mentioned here. This post is provided for information purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

“Because there is no glory in illness. There is no meaning to it. There is no honor in dying of.” – John Green

Smell ya later.
– Linds