Are You Neglecting Your Body’s Natural Detox System?

Are You Neglecting Your Body’s Natural Detox System? The lymphatic system is an intricate network of nodes, vessels and valves that lie just under the skin and transport a clear fluid containing white blood cells and waste product called lymph throughout the body.

The lymphatic system is an intricate network of nodes, vessels and valves that lie just under the skin and transport a clear fluid containing white blood cells and waste product called lymph throughout the body. This clear liquid is an important method of body detoxification.

What is the lymphatic system?

Think of it like a garbage truck that pulls waste away from your organs and the spaces between your cells into a draining system so that you cells are not overloaded by waste.

I always encourage my clients to find ways to stimulate their lymphatic systems, because this system is not pumped by the heart or the digestive tract and because of this, your lymph can easily become sluggish and backed up.

When this happens, the lymph can’t relieve the digestive system of its toxic load that can otherwise cause digestion to back up, especially as your body becomes less and less able to remove waste from your GI tract. Sluggish lymph also builds up fluid accumulation throughout your body, making you look puffy or chubby.

The reason why lymph needs so much help is because it has to move upward – against gravity – and it does this without any dedicated internal mechanism assisting it.

The lymph has to make it to the lymph nodes so that the toxins can be filtered by the immune cells and when this doesn’t take place, the lymph gets stuck and pools in the lower body. This is why some people have swollen feet and ankles, especially when they are sedentary.

Here are 4 tips to help stimulate your lymph and detox your body more efficiently.

1. Get Moving

This is one of the easiest ways to get your lymph moving. You can do this by exercising or moving around vigorously. The motion puts pressure on the lymphatic system and helps it flow. The best exercises to help get the lymph moving are jumping rope, jumping on a trampoline or just jumping up and down on the ground.

2. Give Yourself A Lymphatic Massage Or Dry Brush

I really love dry brushing; it is one of my favorite ways to self-care. When I have extra money, I will also get a lymphatic massage from a massage therapist. You can also give yourself a lymphatic massage and do it daily.

Dry brushing and lymphatic massages remove dead layers of your skin, which helps the body efficiently excrete toxic material. By doing this – especially in the direction of the lymph nodes – really helps the lymph move more vigorously and increases the body’s detoxification process.

Here are a few easy steps for dry brushing:

• I begin with my feet, brushing over the bottom of my feet and up over my legs in a circular motion. I normally do this about 8-10 times to help the lymph flow. The key is to brush upward towards the chest area where the lymph system drains.

 

• I follow the same process again on my arms, beginning with my palms and brushing in a circular motion towards the heart.

 

• I do the same on my abdomen and back, in circular motions.

 

• I brush my face with a softer brush.

 

**Note: Remember not to brush too hard – your skin should not be red or stinging after this process.

I love to dry brush in the evening as part of my relaxation after a long day. Normally I do this right before my bath. After bathing, I use olive oil to help keep my skin smooth and well taken care of. I encourage you to find what routine works best for you.

3. Add Manjistha Powder To Your Detox Tea

You can make a simple tea that really stimulates your lymphatic system.Add ½ teaspoon of manjistha powder to a tea if you have lymphatic backup. You can find this powder on Amazon.com.

 

4. Add Guggul To Your Diet

Guggul is a powerful detoxifier, as it is increases the expression of the liver enzymes responsible for detoxification, increasing the efficiency of the liver detoxification pathways. Guggul is always good at breaking down fat and helping your body release fat-soluble toxins. You can also reverse the natural tendency to bloat and swell by changing how efficiently your lymphatic system is working.

The lymphatic system needs your attention and help so that it can perform at its peak. You can simply begin by moving; jumping rope is my favorite ways of moving to support my lymphatic system.

Do you have any of your own favorite ways of supporting your lymphatic system? Share with us in the comments below!