by Kim Tenham, CLT, RMT
The lymphatic system was identified in the 17th century, yet the medical world is still in the beginning stages of fully understanding what roles the lymph plays a in the human body. The lymph system is a part of the circulatory system. Working together with the arterial and venous systems, they provide a one-way route for blood to leave the heart, via the arteries, and two routes to return, via the lymphatic and venous vessels.
How is lymph formed?
Interstitial (IN-ter-STIH-shul) fluid is found in the space surrounding the cells and all the organs in our body. It comes from substances that naturally leak out of blood capillaries (the smallest type of blood vessel). It helps bring oxygen and nutrients to cells and to remove waste products from them. The interstitial fluid becomes the lymph the moment it enters the lymph in the initial lymph capillaries.
Why do we need the lymph system?
One of the biggest roles of the lymph system is collecting the protein-rich solution that often gets filtered out of the blood capillaries into the interstitial fluid. If it fails to do this, we could see a huge systemic oedema (massive swelling), which the body cannot manage long past 24-48 hours. It is highly important to have this system present and functioning well as it collects a multitude of other components: toxins, germs, lipids, carbs, minerals, hormones, cell debris, body waste, etc.
The collected fluids are filtered through the lymph nodes which act like water treatment plants. Our body has hundreds of lymphh nodes, used to clean and disregard these particles so that eventually they can exit the body through the elimination systems (urinary, respiratory, digestive, and skin).
How does the lymphatic fluid move?
The promotion of lymph circulation is often separated into two categories: superficial and deep circulation.
- Superficial runs just under the skin, accounts for about 70% of lymph load and is not directly stimulated by exercise.
- Deep circulation can be found in the muscles, viscera, and below the fascia, and is stimulated by exercise.
When we are sleeping, or moving less, the lymph still get stimulated autonomically (without us thinking about it) by muscular units called lymph angions. The pulse rate of these muscular units is about 5-8 pulses per minute whereas the heart typically beats at 60-80 beats per minute. Exercise helps to drain the lymph in skeletal muscles 5-15 times faster, however, the superficial lymph is not stimulated by exercise. This is where lymphatic drainage can be of assistance.
How can a certified lymph therapist (CLT) help?
Lymph Drainage Thttps://dashboard.godaddy.com/venture?ventureId=280f7608-4f7c-4a2d-be7b-3942e5ba6d3c&ua_placement=shared_headerherapy is the gentle application of skin stretch or mobilization based on scientific, physiological principles that promote lymph flow and drainage to both the superficial and deep systems.
From: Chikly, B. (2017) Silent Waves: lymph, interstital fluid & primo-vascular system. Theory and practice of lymph drainage therapy (3rd edition). The Chikly Health Institute