(NaturalNews – Paul Fassa) Everyone knows a sedentary life style, whether as a couch potato, office worker or vehicle operator, is not conducive to good health. If one is ambitious, with enough time he or she will exercise andfocus on the heart, lungs, and/or muscles.
The lymph system needs to be worked also. It is the sewage system for cellular metabolic toxins. Lymph nodes provide antigens for purifying fluids containing anything from allergens to cancer cells. That fluid is called lymph. There is more lymph in your body than blood, but there is no pump for lymph.
If lymph doesn’t move out of small lymph nodes through their ducts into the kidneys and liver, it backs up like a clogged sewer line. Lymph nodes can become infected and you wind up with “swollen glands,” a misnomer. Lymph nodes are not glands.
Anyone who eats and drinks processed food and sodas or alcohol while leading a sedentary lifestyle is stuck with a compromised immune system from lymph that needs to be drained.
Moving your lymph
Surprisingly, in this era of hyper-exercising, many health experts are realizing the importance of walking to move that lymph around. This is not leisurely strolling, but brisk walking. Walking should be done outdoors in as natural a setting as possible with trees, grass, and open fresh air.
The walk should take 20 minutes or more. Four times a week is good enough. Start out as briskly as you can, then move into power walking if possible. Since there are so many lymph nodes in the upper body, armpits, neck and shoulders, arm movement should be more extreme than usual.
This is especially important for women who wear bras and use underarm deodorants containing toxins. Those toxins leech into abundant lymph node areas nearby and just beneath the skin.
Another aspect of walking is that it is a weight bearing activity. Gravity helps move lymph each time one steps briskly with a slight bound to the ground. The sudden stops of each step with your full weight create additional gravitational pulls, which helps pull the lymph downward.
That’s why rebounding works very well for moving lymph. A rebounder can be purchased for as little as $25 US dollars. A rebounder is like a mini-trampoline, around four feet in diameter. It’s close to the ground, so all you do is step up and bounce up and down for 10 to 15 minutes, indoors or outdoors.
Each time you bounce you increase the gravitational pull on your lymph. You’re getting low level “Gs”or increased gravitational pulls similar to what you feel from sudden changes of vehicular speed or carnival rides. With intense walking or rebounding, the “G’s” are in vertical alignment with your body and its lymph system.
Massage that focuses on the upper shoulders, arms, and neck is useful as well. There are massage techniques that focus on lymph drainage. Polarity therapy has specific techniques for moving lymph also.
Dry brushing vigorously on the arms, torso, and legs is also recommended for moving lymph. The brush stroke directions should go from neck and calves to torso.
Herbs to help purify lymph
Herbs and teas can be used to purify the lymph. Cleavers herb is used in many lymph formulas. It can be purchased as an extract or tincture, or as loose herbs to make teas or tinctures. Indigo is another herb suited for detoxifying the lymph system. Some recommend goldenseal and Echinacea as well.
Drinking plenty of pure water is essential with all these recommendations. Read the Guide to Drinking Water to ensure you get the best source.
Last but not least, find out all the signs of a clogged lymphatic system and a complete list of things you can do to cleanse it properly, by reading Signs of a Clogged Lymphatic System and 10 Ways to Cleanse It.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.naturalnews.com/026500_lymphatic_system_health_massage.html
http://greenmedinfo.com
http://owen.curezone.com/healing/lymphrebounding.html
http://articles.herballegacy.com/the-dry-brushing-technique/
http://www.optimumhealthclinic.info
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/swollen_lymph_glands/article_em.htm
http://www.cancersalves.com/checklist/lymphatic_stimulation.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/035439_lymph_nodes_detox_immune_system.html
