Let’s dive deep into the lymph’s main functions and how it works.
1. Protection: The lymphatic system helps fight diseases and infections by producing and releasing white blood cells and other immune cells to fight against foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi.
2. Regulation: Drains the lymph (extra fluid) from the body tissues and returns it to the blood system. When not functioning properly, swelling may occur.
3. Filtration: Transports waste products and abnormal cells from the lymph and into the blood, where the liver and kidneys remove them from the body. The slower this process, the more toxins and inflammation can build up.
4. Fat absorption: Absorbs fats, fat-soluble vitamins, and proteins from your intestines and transports them back to the bloodstream.
The venous angles (subclavian vein) is located just beneath the collar bones, and it’s where lymphatic fluid returns to the bloodstream after being filtered by the lymphatic system.
Our body contains more lymph than blood and about 3 liters of plasma (the end result of the lymphatics). The lymph completely circulates once a day. Most is recycled back into the bloodstream, while a portion is carried away (toxins/cellular waste) to exit the body via the elimination organs.
Watersheds (aka zip codes) are the 5 main areas that lymph gravitates towards. These “zip codes” are located in areas where we move the MOST. Because there’s no pump, like the cardiovascular system, we’re designed to move it ourselves.
In this podcast episode, we are joined by lymph expert @lymphloveclub to discuss the importance of manual lymphatic drainage and why it’s imperative to administer MLD in a specific order that corresponds with the anatomy of the lymphatic system.
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