The Lymphatic System

As many patients know, cancer diagnosis often includes an evaluation based on what is found in the lymph nodes. In general, allopathic medicine views the presence of cancer in the nodes as evidence of metastasis. This opinion is often attended by recommendations for more radical surgical procedures and usually a worse prognosis. As all patients who have had lymph nodes removed know, circulation is generally worse after the loss of nodes: swelling, serious edema, and the need for medical procedures to remove fluids are all part of the aftermath of these procedures.

I am not in a position to evaluate the merits of the surgical measures. I merely sympathize with the suffering of the patients. They often have reddish swelling, intense itching, rashes, and loss of motion.

There are specialists in manual lymphatic drainage, a very delicate massage technique taught in Austria (called the Vodder method) who are trained to help reroute lymph flow so as to by-pass the normal channels, the ones that have been removed.

Though people who are specialists in this method are reluctant to state opinions, many have theorized that when malignancy is found in the lymph that the lymph nodes are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing. In other words, it is not 100% clear to them that the cancer has metastasized, merely that it has accumulated in the lymph.

Given that we do not understand these fine points well enough to be certain, it would seem appropriate that patients who have not yet had surgery try to move as much lymph through the body as possible to see if the swelling subsides. For those who feel they are at risk for cancer, periodic lymphatic stimulation and/or drainage may be a healthy preventative measure. Once, however, the nodes are gone, it is more uphill. One very simple but probably only minimally helpful exercise is to hold the affected (swollen) area upwards to see if gravity will permit some of the lymph to descend into areas that still have adequate drainage.

What very few patients seem to realize is that the immune system does not fight cancer so long as there is infection in the body. Isn't this one of Nature's ironies? People are more afraid of cancer than infection, but the body tries to eliminate infection before turning its resources towards cancer control. The lymphatic system in many people is overwhelmed by infection, often stemming from dental problems, as well as toxic substances (mercury, aluminum, chemicals from antiperspirants, dry cleaning, and so forth.) Lending a hand to the lymphatic system will usually

relieve some of the pressure on other parts of the body.

Lymphatic congestion is a big problem with most cancer patients. Undigested food, infectious material, dead cells, and other debris have to be carried off by the lymphatic system. Thickened and sluggish lymph results in swelling and discomfort.

Very few people understand the humble working of the lymphatic system. Many patients suffered from congestion or conditions such as mastitis before developing cancer. Dietary improvement and lymphatic stimulation combined with herbs that aid lymphatic purification enable the lymph to carry off debris.

As a general rule, there will be only minimal improvement in places such as the axilla or groin until the abdominal region is freed of stagnation.

Fresh blood travels through the arteries to all parts of the body—including your breasts—bringing oxygen and other nutrients. Used blood leaves the breasts through the veins and is pumped back to the heart and lungs to be refreshed. Then the cycle starts over again.

Clear fluid called lymph also arrives via the arteries, but it leaves the blood to circulate through your tissues to cleanse the tissues and keep them firm. Lymph must also be "refreshed" and recycled. It drains back into the body's central drainage system through the lymphatic channels, like pipes.

"The arteries are like a two-lane highway bringing nutrients, oxygen and fluid to the breast. The vein is a one-lane highway taking away the used blood, and the lymphatic channels are the other one-lane highway draining away the lymph fluid. Two lanes in together, but two separate lanes out." —Marisa Weiss, M.D.

Lymph nodes are the filters along the lymphatic system. Their job is to filter out and trap bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, and other unwanted substances, and to make sure they are safely eliminated from the body.

Lymph Detox
from Detoxification by Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D.
Copyright 2000 Healthy Healing Publications All Rights Reserved

I've made this easy for you by breaking up the Lymph Cleanse into two pages. On this page you will find information, questions to ask yourself about lymphatic health and some suggestions. On the Lymph Cleanse Program page you will find a detailed cleanse program.

Do you need a lymph cleanse? The lymphatic system includes lymph vessels and nodes, thymus gland, tonsils and spleen. It's really a network of tubing that drains waste products from tissues, produces disease-fighting white blood cells (lymphocytes) and antibodies, and carries the bulk of the body's waste from the cells to the final elimination organs. Experts call the lymphatic system a secondary circulatory system, because it assists the bloodstream with millions of tiny ducts that collect tissue fluid not needed by the capillaries or skin and returns it to the heart for recirculation. Special filtering lymph nodes remove infective organisms, so your lymph system is also a key to your body's immune defenses.

Liver health is a key to lymphatic health. The liver produces the majority of lymph, and lymph a major route for nutrients from the liver. The integrity of the lymph system is dependent on immune cells in the liver that filter out harmful bacteria and destructive yeasts.

The spleen is the largest mass of lymphatic tissue. It destroys worn-out red blood cells, and serves as a healthy blood reservoir for fresh red blood. During times of high demand, such as hemorrhage, the spleen can release its stored blood and prevent shock from occurring.

Here's an amazing fact: The valves of the lymph system move the waste-filled fluids to be flushed and filtered. But since there is no pump as there is with the heart, lymph circulation depends solely upon your breathing and muscle movement. Physical exercise and diaphragmatic deep breathing are critical to lymph cleansing and to healthy immune response.

Is your body showing signs that it needs a lymph cleanse?
If you are under chronic stress; if you are constantly tired (indicating liver exhaustion); if your skin is very pale; if you are extremely thin; if your memory is noticeably failing; if you have low immune response with frequent colds, a revitalizing lymph cleanse can make a difference. If your body looks uncharacteristically soft and pudgy or has newly noticeable cellulite (indicating too many saturated fats and sugary foods), you probably need a lymph-draining cleanse.

Pointers for best results from your lymph cleanse:
-Drink 8 glasses of bottled water each day of your cleanse. Add potassium-rich foods - sea greens, broccoli, bananas and seafood.
-Avoid caffeine, sugar, dairy foods and alcoholic drinks for the duration of your cleanse. They contribute to lymphatic stagnation.
-Spicy foods like natural salsas, cayenne pepper, horseradish and ginger boost a sluggish lymph system and cut mucous congestion.

Improvement signs show that your body is responding to the cleanse:
-Most people notice an energy increase in their daily activity, with far fewer stress reactions as body chemistry normalizes.
-Most people notice they no longer catch every cold that comes their way, and the illnesses they do get don't last as long.
-Most people notice better weight control (especially if they were overweight) and less cellulite formation as congestion lessens.

Continuing Diet Notes: Poor nutrition profoundly impairs the immune system. Excessive dietary sugars and alcohol over consumption especially inhibit white blood cell activity. Be sure to eliminate or limit their use. Adequate protein intake is critical to immune health and the ability to heal. The best sources for immune response are those with plenty of EFAs: salmon and fresh tuna, sea vegetables, green superfoods like spirulina and barley grass and sprouts.

If you are looking for a good system cleansing diet that you can use over the week-end, this 3 day lymph cleansing diet is perfect. Most people find by following this program they not only cleanse their lymphatic system, but tend to lose a few pounds in the process.

Begin day one by gathering fresh (organic if possible) green vegetables. Green onions, zucchini, celery, parsley, mustard greens, turnip greens, cabbage, green peppers, spinach, lettuce, broccoli and carrots. Although carrots are not a green vegetable, vitamins and minerals found in carrots are a very important in the cleansing factor. Wash all vegetables thoroughly, cleaning away any wilted or dead parts. Do not cut or scrape the vegetables. You will want to use all parts including roots and stems. In a large canning pot put four gallons of bottled water. This can be distilled water or spring water. Add all the vegetables to the pot and cook on low heat for 2 hours. Be sure to keep a lid on the pot during cooking so that vitamins and minerals can recycle with condensation. Remove pot from heat and allow liquid to cool. Drink three 8 ounce glasses of the vegetable broth once before lunch and a second time before dinner. It is suggested that if you are going to eat during this diet, eat fresh vegetables only.

Day two of the diet, drink three 8 ounce glasses of the broth before breakfast, lunch and dinner. If the broth is getting low you can add more bottled or distilled water at this time.

On day three, repeat the three 8 ounce glasses of broth before each meal, but eat the vegetables from the broth for your meals.