The Lymphatic System is made up of approximately 600 Lymph nodes. Some of them are large enough to feel with your fingers, such as the pair that sit on either side of your throat and just inside the area where your jaw meets your neck. While others are a mere 1mm wide. These nodes are located all throughout the body. As blood passes through your blood vessels, fluid is squeezed out to bring vital nutrients to the cells in your body. The Lymphatic system also has cells and vessels which soak up the remaining fluid squeezed out by the blood vessels in order to prevent waste. The fluid soaked up is called Lymph. This Lymph is cleaned by the nodes and then returned to the circulatory system.
If bacteria enter the body through a cut in the skin, they may start to attack the cells and tissue in the local area. Bacterial infections have the ability to enter the blood stream and can become quite serious; however, the majority of bacterial infections will stay localized. When bacteria enter the body, the Immune System sends in immune cells to fight the invaders. The cells first on the scene are call macrophages. There are much stronger immune cells located inside the lymph nodes, these are known as B and T cells. These more powerful immune cells are able to adapt and multiply in a way that allows them to attack specific types of bacteria with just the right amount of force. The macrophages continue to fight while both they and the bacteria are sucked into the lymphatic cell. They are then both carried to the nearest node via the lymphatic vessel; there the macrophages are joined by the B and T cells which help to destroy the trespassers. After removing the infection from the lymph, the fluid is sent out through another vessel, where it makes its way back to the blood stream. This process prevents the spread of infection. Unlike your circulatory system which has the heart to pump blood around the body, the lymphatic system relies on muscle movements to move lymph through the lymphatic vessels. While rest can be an important component to fighting illness, getting up and moving around can help to drain the cleaned lymph fluid from the nodes and back to the circulatory system where it can help to restore one’s vitality. Even the simple act of deep breathing can help to keep the fluid moving.
There are a number of other things which can also help you to make better use of the lymphatic system. Going for a walk is a simple way to engage multiple areas of the body. The movement of your legs combined with the swinging of your arms is a very natural yet powerful way to provide the lymphatic system with the action it needs in order to function properly. One could also perform a lymphatic massage. There are many small lymph nodes all along the inside of the arms. There are also large concentrations of nodes in the neck, armpit, upper chest, and groin. By gently rubbing towards the heart, one can help to encourage the flow of lymph. (lymphatic massage brush https://amzn.to/2yriFwI ) Lemons are another valuable tool. Lemons are astringent. This astringent property means that it can force tissues to contract, forcing the nodes to act like a pump, thereby assisting lymph to travel through the system. Simply squeeze the juice into a glass with a little bit of water and drink it. Another great quality of lemons is their ability to alkalize the body. Though lemons themselves are acidic, they contain balanced ratios of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. When consumed, lemon juice actually helps to make the body less acidic. It also provides a decent amount of vitamin C and can help to detoxify the gallbladder and liver. High levels of acid in the body can lead to a number of complications. Uric acid for example is responsible for conditions such as gout and other forms of inflammation. Generally speaking, when we ingest proteins, the body becomes more acidic. When we ingest vegetables the body becomes more alkaline. This is another reason why it is so important to have a balanced diet. An individual that produces higher levels of uric acid is also more likely to have kidney stones. Over time a build up of acid in the kidneys can lead to more serious problems such as kidney disease. Some forms of acid in the body can be diluted and flushed by consuming ample amounts of water. Uric acid is unique in that it is not water soluble. Humans do not posses the enzyme necessary to convert it into a soluble compound. Therefore, the only way to combat excess forms of the acid is to balance your diet.
The kidneys are the largest filtration center of the lymphatic system. Often the kidneys are not able to function properly due to excessive amounts of acid, lymph which becomes stagnant, and even the build up of mucus. Mucus by the way is another way in which the body tries to isolate bacteria and can in fact be a sign that your immune system is functioning properly. However certain foods such as dairy products can exacerbate this by causing the body to overproduce mucus. Avoiding dairy when fighting a cold or chest congestion could therefore be of some benefit. At any rate, the things noted above can make it difficult for the kidneys to filter lymph. The lymph nodes are not only responsible for helping the immune system fight off bacterial and viral infections, but also serve to filter various toxins, many of which they were not designed to deal with, such as pesticides and herbicides. These toxins can build up in the system causing various forms of cancer. Other areas of the body that are also designed to filter toxins seem to also be more susceptible to cancer. The breasts, colon, and prostate also serve as filters. For example, the prostate simultaneously removes toxins and injects an alkaline based nutrient compound during male orgasm to ensure livelihood of the sperm. While the lymph nodes ensure that filtered lymph makes its way back into the blood, the kidneys are responsible for sending toxins out through the urine. The skin is also a filtration system and is in fact the largest organ of the body, weighing roughly 8 pounds for the average adult. When the internal filters become over taxed the skin is likely to show signs by way of acne and other skin eruptions. Breaking a sweat is extremely important in helping the skin to secrete said toxins. This is another reason why exercise is important. Humans tend to have greater amounts of sweat produced in areas of hair growth. The hair channels the sweat and toxins out away from the body where it holds it until it can be washed away. Another way to stimulate the lymphatic system is to shower with hot water, then switch to cold, back to hot, and so on. This forces blood to move to the surface when warm, then back to the organs when cold. Studies have shown, that it can even help to stimulate the immune system by causing a subtle amount of stress to the body.
Finally, make sure you are drinking plenty of clean water. Every function of the body is affected by your intake of h2o. Your lymphatic system is no exception. Drinking plenty of water is essential to your body’s production of the necessary lymph fluid, and to the flushing of various toxins and minerals from the kidneys. It is also important for ridding the body of mucus. if you have fluoride or other toxins in the water, here is a system I use and recommend https://amzn.to/2PSymUf Some functions of the body require small amounts of mucus for normal function, such as the lungs. The lungs produce a mucus type fluid that allows for the lungs to expand and make the oxygen carbon dioxide exchange. If the body is not well hydrated this fluid becomes too thick and does not allow for this exchange to take place properly. This can lead to asthma like symptoms including inflammation of the lungs, low oxygen levels, and phlegm production. In fact many people with asthma are able to find some relief simply by keeping hydrated. One of the best things you can do to get your day started of right, is to drink a full glass of water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. This will help to switch on your internal organs and jump start your body’s various systems.
Some ailments associated with the Lymphatic system.
Hodgkin’s disease- a type of lymphatic cancer, thought to be brought on by viral attack, causing dysfunction of the white blood cells, which leads to swelling of the lymph nodes. Some viruses with ties to the disease include HIV, and Epstein-Barr virus. Genetics have also been noted as a factor.
Tonsillitis- Inflammation of the tonsils which are located near the back of the throat on both sides. The tonsils and lymph-nodes in the throat become swollen, making it difficult to swallow. There are multiple viruses and some bacteria known to cause this inflammation.
Lymph-edema- This is a swelling that takes place in the arms or legs due to lymph-nodes becoming blocked and unable to drain. Fluid begins to build up causing increasingly large growths. Sometimes certain surgeries can damage the lymph-nodes triggering the reaction. Also, obesity can be a factor as it can impair proper flow of lymph. 35.7% of Americans are considered obese.
Glandular fever- (mono) Another illness related to the Epstein-Bar virus. Flu like symptoms, swollen glands, soar throat, and extreme tiredness are generally related to this ailment, although some may only develop one or two depending on age and other factors. Epstein-Bar by the way is a member of the herpes family and is passed through the saliva and other bodily fluids. It is probably the most common human virus; thousands of people carry it without showing any symptoms.
Some ailments associated with the Immune system.
The trips and triggers of the immune system are many. There are multiple viruses and bacteria which the immune system is well suited to deal with. That being said there are numerous things that can go wrong. HIV/AIDS for example, wreaks havoc on the body’s T cells, weakening the immune system and throwing open the door for more common illnesses to have a much more devastating impact on the carrier. These are known as opportunistic infections. HIV/AIDS is classified as an acquired immune deficiency.
Sometimes an individual can be born with an immune problem. This is known as primary immune deficiency. An example of this would be Type 1 diabetes. This is thought to be caused by a virus prior to birth. This manifests as an auto immune disease. The immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce the insulin. An auto immune disease is classified as a dysfunction which causes the immune system to attack the body. Other somewhat common auto immune diseases are
Lupus, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. People affected by these diseases carry a form of auto-antibody. Antibodies are produced by organisms that essentially become confused and perceive a need to attack another part of themselves. This becomes more common with the atrophy of the thymus glad, which I will expound on in the following post.
It is also possible to have an over active immune system.
Asthma, Eczema, and Allergic Rhinitis are all examples of this. Typically these are either caused or exacerbated by some type of allergic reaction. Allergies that one is either born with or develops can cause the immune system to over react to substances that would otherwise be harmless to most other people.