HOW DOES THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM WORK?

Written By Max Chamings

Despite not being talked about often, there is on average 12-15L of extracellular and lymphatic fluid in a standard adult (almost three times more volume than our blood!).

I want to share what the lymphatic system is; how it works within our bodies; and how we can promote lymph circulation for optimal health and well being.

The lymphatic system is our body's own filtration and drainage system. This system of the body moves around lymph, which is a clear liquid that surrounds the cells of our body.

The lymphatic system circulates lymph around the body and performs the following functions:

  • Removing waste products, damaged cells and foreign particles from the tissues of our body.

  • Carrying immune cells (white blood cells) used to fight infection.

  • Carrying proteins, minerals and other nutrients to aid combatting infection.

 Lymph circulates throughout our body in the following path.

The best way to improve our lymphatic circulation is through movement. Unlike the cardiovascular system which has a heart to pump blood around the body, the lymphatic system has no such pump. 

The lymphatic system requires the contraction of muscles, which squeezes surrounding lymph vessels and forces lymph to move throughout the body in a similar way to how we would squeeze toothpaste out of the tube. 

While movement is great for our musculoskeletal health it also benefits our body by increasing lymphatic drainage.

It’s the equivalent of cleaning the fish tank. Movement and lymphatic drainage are our body’s way of creating a healthy internal environment.

Other ways to move lymph circulation include:

  • Breathwork (LSD pattern techniques - Light, slow, deep)

  • Contrast therapy (heat and cold exposure)

  • Manual therapy

  • Vibration/jumping

  • Adequate hydration

To summarise, the lymphatic system is essential for our health and wellbeing. By moving our bodies and improving our lymph circulation, we can strongly improve health as well as support our immune and cardiovascular systems.

References

Ozdowski L, Gupta V. Physiology, Lymphatic System. [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557833/

Max Chamings
Previous

MANUAL THERAPY HOW DOES IT WORK?
Next

DO WE NEED TO ACHIEVE BODY SYMMERTY?