Lymphatic Drainage: The Morning Habit Almost Nobody Knows About

I give myself a lymphatic massage every morning. Not because I have to, but because once I understood what the lymphatic system really is, I understood why all of us should be doing this every morning.

Especially those of us who don't work out daily.

We live in a world where we're constantly exposed to toxins: in our food, in the air, in medications, in household chemicals, in the creams we rub on our skin. And the lymphatic system is what helps us get rid of all of it.

The lymphatic system protects us from inflammation and disease.

It filters out various toxins and balances the fluids in the body, which means when we fall out of balance, it's the first to react.

It's a critical part of the immune system, because it shields us from inflammation and illness. If your lymphatic system is clogged and congested, it can't protect you efficiently, and you become more vulnerable to infections and disease. That's why keeping the flow smooth and the lymph free of congestion is absolutely critical to your health and overall well-being.

The main job of the lymphatic system is to keep our fluid levels balanced while defending us against infections, bacteria, cancer, and other potential threats.

It's a network of vessels and nodes working together to move fluid from our tissues into the bloodstream and back again, which makes it the body's internal drainage system.

When we come into contact with bacteria or toxins, they make their way into the body and into the lymph fluid. Once that fluid reaches our lymph nodes, these organisms are trapped, and the immune system can attack and destroy them. Inside the nodes, these harmful organisms are filtered out and white blood cells are produced to defend the body.

How does lymphatic congestion happen?

Chronic stress is one of the leading causes of most chronic health problems. It can also lead to lymphatic congestion. When we're under stress, the body produces hormones to fight that stress, and they create waste products in the form of free radicals that can lead to a whole range of health issues.

Chronic illness can lead to lymphatic congestion as well. When the body is fighting chronic inflammation and bacteria, it produces more white blood cells to battle them, and those cells can eventually fill up the lymph nodes as a kind of backup, which creates swelling. (This is why you might feel some pain the first few times you do the massage.)

Another cause of lymphatic congestion is an imbalance in the digestive system: a load of toxins, bacteria, an imbalance in the good gut bacteria, and damage to the gut lining (leaky gut).

Most of the lymphatic system surrounds our gut with lymphatic tissue, which means gut health is essential for lymph flow, detoxification, and immune function.

Not drinking enough water and a lack of physical activity can also slow down the lymph fluid.

Our lymphatic system relies on pressure from muscle movement and breathing to move fluid.

A lack of that pressure, due to a sedentary lifestyle or chronic dehydration, can slow the lymphatic system down and cause congestion. Finally, nutrient deficiencies can also lead to lymphatic congestion. Iodine, magnesium, and vitamin C are especially important for blunting the harmful effects of environmental toxins and supporting the lymphatic system in protecting the body.

So let's sum up the causes of a sluggish, congested lymphatic system:

• Chronic stress
• Acute or chronic infections of bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites in the digestive system
• Gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in the good bacteria
• Toxin buildup
• Dehydration
• A sedentary lifestyle, lack of movement
• Nutrient deficiencies

Lymphatic congestion can affect the entire body. Symptoms may include:

• Fatigue, chronic fatigue, weakness
• Muscle stiffness
• Muscle and joint pain, fibromyalgia
• Swelling and fluid retention, weight gain, cellulite
• Breast swelling during the menstrual cycle
• Dry, itchy skin, skin problems, skin inflammation
• Brain fog, memory issues
• Headaches
• Swollen glands
• Chronic sinusitis, colds, chronic runny nose, sore throat, or ear problems

I want to focus on one method I personally find really comfortable for improving how the system functions, and that's massaging and draining the nodes, what's called lymphatic drainage. A lymphatic drainage massage helps the cells release toxic buildup and flush excess fluid out of the tissues.

How do I do it? There are all kinds of ways and styles to massage the nodes. Some people use gentle motions, others drum on the body and massage it firmly.

Choose whatever feels right to you.

Which areas do we work on?

The area around the ear, behind and below it toward the neck

The collarbone, above and below it

The armpits

The inside of the elbow

The abdomen

The back of the knee

The groin

There are plenty of videos online showing the main lymph points. I'd encourage you to try this consistently every morning and see whether anything improves. And if you want to go deeper and heal your digestive system through nutrition, which in turn improves lymphatic function, I invite you to my nutrition course.