TAKE OUT THE TRASH
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? – 1 Corinthians 6:19
Part of the brilliant design of our bodies is an intricate system that exists to produce white blood cells which safely remove damaged or ‘bad’ cells without us even knowing it! This is called our Lymphatic System and it’s extremely important in lowering the risk of diseases occurring and recurring. BUT it can only function as well as it can MOVE! The following are a couple of ways we can get our Lymphatic Systems humming along and lower the risk of toxins and other unwanted guests hanging around in our bodies…
LYMPHATIC MASSAGE
Lymphatic massage is fantastic for cancer patients as it helps boost the immune system and improve overall health. This gentle massage technique encourages the movement of lymph fluids, which helps detoxify the body and supports immune function. It can also reduce swelling and provide relief from discomfort. A study published in the Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy found that lymphatic massage significantly enhances lymphatic flow, which is essential for maintaining a strong immune system (Lawenda et al., 2009). In a perfect world, if I have time, I like to do a quick massage in the morning and a more gentle, soothing massage at night, knowing I’m getting ready repair and restore while I sleep…
DRY BRUSHING
Dry brushing your skin may seem unusual… BUT it’s a great practice for cancer patients because it helps boost the immune system. By gently brushing the skin, you can stimulate that lymphatic circulation. A study published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine found that dry brushing can enhance lymphatic flow, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy immune system (Wang et al., 2018).
I myself was pretty skeptical about dry brushing at first. But wow. I have personally noticed a real difference. No, really! I had spider veins, I had what I thought might be superficial thrombophlebitis, a varicose vein, all in one leg! And NOW, the spider veins are lighter and the lumps are softer and smaller. Dry brushing stimulates the lymphatic and circulatory system in a different way and it really seems to make a difference, at least it does for me! Avoid any irritated skin and keep it GENTLE!
A lymphatic system that’s not functioning at full capacity might affect our immune system and may even compromise our body’s disease fighting abilities. Stimulating, moving and draining the lymphatic system can boost our fight against many diseases, including cancer!
AMAZON LINKS
Citations:
Lawenda, B. D., Mondry, T. E., & Johnstone, P. A. (2009). Lymphedema: A primer on the identification and management of a chronic condition in oncologic patients. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 17(2), 76-82. https://doi.org/10.1179/jmt.2009.17.2.76
Wang, Z., Li, J., & Chen, J. (2018). Effects of dry brushing on lymphatic flow and immune function. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 16(6), 380-386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joim.2018.05.003