Many people don’t understand the importance and work of the lymphatic system. In this article, we will dive into the ins and outs of the lymphatic system and why keeping it moving is vital to proper immune function and overall health.
What is the Lymphatic System?
Our lymphatic system is a subsystem of the circulatory system and immune system, and it’s absolutely critical to the immune system. It protects you from illness and harmful diseases that cause inflammation by supplying disease-fighting cells called lymphocytes. The lymphatic system is part of your vascular system, a network of intertwined vessels, ducts, nodes, and other tissues that work together to deliver lymph and blood throughout your body. The major components of the lymph system are located in the bone marrow, spleen, thymus gland, lymph nodes, and tonsils. In addition, the heart, lungs, intestines, liver, and skin also contain lymphatic tissue. It is this intricate system that processes toxins and excess fats, delivering them to the liver and kidneys for filtration before expulsion.
What are Lymph Nodes?
The lymph nodes in our lymphatic system are amazing little filtration systems that function much like a kidney. Most of our lymph nodes are clustered in the neck, armpits, and groin. They’re also found along the lymphatic pathways in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, where they filter the blood. They are the residence of the vast majority of our immune cells (T cells and neutrophils). They can serve as sites for sequestering cancer cells, allowing our white blood cells to destroy them in a healthy, functioning immune system. However, when the environment inside the body is toxic and the pH is off, cancer will take up residence inside the nodes instead of being destroyed. When the primary drain, the colon, is plugged up, the lymphatic system can’t drain, toxins get stuck, and the immune system suffers.
What’s the purpose of the Lymphatic System?
The lymphatic system is often called the body’s garbage route. It removes unwanted irritants from our tissues through the drainage system and our elimination pathways. It’s responsible for draining waste and toxins from our organs and tissues throughout our body, including the brain. Unfortunately, though, when it comes to detoxification, it’s common for most doctors not even to mention the lymphatic system, which is a tragic oversight.
The lymphatic vessels are open-ended and extend into your tissues to collect the lymphatic fluid that washes through them, cleaning up toxins and cellular debris. The nodes are filtering centers where bacteria and other infections can be addressed before the lymph fluid continues to the liver and recirculates to clean more tissues. You have about 2 liters of this fluid circulating through your tissues to keep you healthy and eliminate toxins, and there are about 600 lymph nodes throughout your body that help fight infections of all kinds.
Anyone struggling with inflamed lymph glands is dealing with toxicity, chronic inflammation, and an absence of lymphatic drainage.”
The lymphatic system helps maintain fluid balance in the body by collecting excess fluid and particulate matter from tissues and depositing them in the bloodstream. Lymph is 95% water and is a gel-like fluid that thickens when cooled or when stagnant. It is made up of a clear, watery fluid that contains proteins, salts, white blood cells, but mostly lymphocytes. The MTHFR gene mutation is often caused by an inability to detox these fluids, leading to toxin buildup in cells and failure to utilize or process nutrients taken into the body. Lymphatic stimulation/circulation are critical for optimal health because they are essentially our body’s inner drainage system.
So… How do we keep the Lymphatic system moving?
Unlike the circulatory system, in which the heart acts as a pump, this system has no pump and is neither self-stimulating nor self-regulating. The lymphatic system is unique in that it requires manual stimulation and relies entirely on our conscious movement for lymphatic drainage. This is why we recommend daily exercises like dry brushing, self-massage, saunas, red light therapy, exercise, rebounding, and other forms of lymphatic stimulation (which we will discuss further in this article). Without these practices, the lymphatic system cannot flow and function properly, and you may experience swollen nodes, sore muscles, skin rashes, or other health problems.
The lymphatic system also serves as the sewer system for our bodies, and when we begin to detoxify our digestive system, it all goes through our colon. It not only absorbs fat-soluble nutrients and carries them to cells in our bodies but also gathers excess fluid and waste (much like the water and sewer system in your home) from cells. This fluid is transported upward to the neck, where it meets the subclavian vein (a large paired, deep vein that runs along each side of the neck), and the fluid is returned to the circulatory system.
A Congested Lymph System and How It Happens
A congested lymphatic system can affect your entire body and is caused by many different factors. Knowing the signs of a congested lymphatic system is key to feeling better. For example, chronic stress is one of the leading causes of chronic health issues and lymph congestion. This is because when you’re under stress, your body produces stress-fighting hormones, which can cause free radical waste products to circulate throughout the body, opening the door to health issues and reducing lymphatic drainage.
What happens when your Lymphatic system gets congested?
This list encompasses the majority of common symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Headaches
- Bloating/swelling
- Stiffness
- Cold hands and feet
- Water retention
- Brain fog
- Skin problems
- Swollen glands
- Itchy and dry skin
- Muscle and joint pain
- Cellulite
- Colds, sore throats, ear issues, and chronic sinusitis
There are approximately 100 to 150 lymph nodes surrounding the colon, and emptying your colon stimulates lymphatic drainage by creating a void. By creating a “vacuum” of sorts, the lymphatic system will begin to drain and flow properly. Drainage is essential for the healing of any chronic illness.
Lymph nodes filter your lymph along the way, removing bacteria, cancer cells, viruses, and other harmful substances. If the lymphatic system cannot remove excess fluid from the bloodstream, it can result in swelling, known as edema. Edema is most common in feet, hands, legs, arms, and ankles. In addition, a congested lymphatic system and edema are also brought on by poor nutrition, imbalanced electrolytes, and even injury.
Detoxing Your Lymphatic System
Detoxification and some simple lifestyle strategies can help remove many toxins that contribute to lymphatic congestion. Here are some techniques to unclog your lymphatic system naturally:
Deep breathing: This is beneficial because your rib cage is an essential pump for healthy lymphatic movement. This is because a major cluster of your lymphatic system is in the upper chest/neck area, and deep breathing will stimulate these clusters, reducing lymphatic congestion.
Staying fully hydrated: When the Lymphatic system is well hydrated, it can move freely and do its job of keeping body fluids in balance, removing toxins, fighting off illness, and, most importantly, destroying abnormal cells.
Infrared light therapy: deep heat penetration releases toxins from the fat layers beneath the skin through sweat. It also helps your body eliminate toxins from your internal organs. Once the first round of toxins has been eliminated, toxins from the organs move into a layer of tissue under the skin and are then eliminated through sweat.
There are other ways to help your lymphatic system work at its best, and detoxification is one critical element. You will notice constant lymphatic changes as you move through the healing process, from stabilization to detoxification to fortification. Lymphatic drainage will improve as you go.
When it comes to lymphatic drainage, initially, the primary remedies for healing are as follows:
- Physical movement (walking, exercise, dancing, jumping on mini-trampoline)
- Using digestive enzymes
- Herbal colon cleansers
- Fulvic acid
- Lymphatic-friendly foods (Water, Cranberry, Leafy greens, Nuts and seeds (like Chia Seeds), Adaptogens like Ashwagandha, Garlic, Ginger, Turmeric, Seaweed, Citrus)
- Sauna
- Lymphatic massage therapy
- Detoxification
- Proper sleep
- Avoid restrictive clothing
- Alternating shower temperatures
Here are some more in-depth explanations to help with your Lymphatic Detox:
Alternating shower temperatures: You can easily cleanse your lymphatic system by shocking it with varying temperatures in the shower. For example, while taking a hot shower, suddenly switch the hot water off and let the cold water wash over you. Your blood vessels will dilate in warmth and then constrict in cold, creating a “pump” to help flush this system.
Jumping on a mini-trampoline: Rebound exercise is wonderful for cleansing the lymphatic system and can have many other benefits. Movement jump-starts your system and helps it drain. Without forcing the lymphatic fluid to drain, toxins collect stagnantly in the lymph instead of leaving the body, causing all the issues we covered earlier. You can also use other types of exercise, such as walking, weightlifting, or swimming, to help flush toxins from the lymph. But rebounding (jumping) is the most effective movement therapy for increasing lymph flow and draining toxins from the body. Many natural health practitioners recommend daily rebounding as a gentle detox technique. Due to the up-and-down movement, lymphatic fluid is forced to flow and flush toxins. Therefore, your detox pathways must be open so toxins can be eliminated.
Choosing lymphatic-friendly foods as often as possible will also help keep your lymphatic system in tip-top shape. Examples are cranberries, deep leafy green veggies, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, nuts, seeds, and citrus (lemon, lime, oranges).
As the lymphatic system drains and clears toxins, your vital organs and tissues can eliminate the toxic buildup within their cells. When the lymphatic system drains, as a result of the bowels becoming more active, we will need to support the body’s primary filtration systems – the liver and kidneys. Once the lymphatic system begins draining into the circulatory system, the amount of waste in the bloodstream increases, making more work for the liver and kidneys. As the liver and kidneys drain and cleanse themselves, our bloodstream becomes cleaner and less inflamed. Being mindful of the issues and having the tools are the first steps to optimal health.
In conclusion, the lymphatic system, often overlooked in discussions about health and wellness, plays an indispensable role in our overall well-being. It is a vital part of our immune system, cleansing our bodies of toxins and waste, and maintaining fluid balance. The importance of the lymphatic system cannot be overstated, as it influences everything from immune function to organ health. A congested lymphatic system can lead to a myriad of health issues, from fatigue to swollen glands and chronic illnesses.
To ensure that this system functions optimally, we must take an active role in its care. The lymphatic system, unlike the circulatory system, relies on our conscious effort to stimulate it. Daily practices like exercise and other forms of lymphatic stimulation are essential. Additionally, adopting a healthier lifestyle, staying hydrated, and making mindful dietary choices can support proper lymphatic system function.
If your body’s natural detoxification system is not working properly or you have other health issues, we recommend starting with a detox program. However, sometimes just moving more daily can set you on a path to much better health.
If you have any questions and seek support, please email us at info@drnuzum.com; we’re here to help!
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care provider before using these products.
Editor’s Note: This article was initially published in 2016 and has been updated in 2026.
DOCTORS DID NOT TELL ME TO DETOX In fact he took out my Thyroid! Now blood test show that I have elevated Lymphocytes, and I recently had a biopsy done on my right ear that is cancerous Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma!! Life expectancy 65 % to survive 5 years!! Another doctor wants to do chemo and another wants to do more cutting on my ear!!
I want to try to detox my Lymphatic system. I’ve had elevated Lymphocytes for a number of years now and I want to try something different before it is to late!