Articles & Information
Your Lymphatic System:
What Swollen Glands Tell You
by Arcturus Star Products
Your lymphatic system can be compared to a freeway. When congested, nothing moves. The same thing can happen in your body. Your lymphatic system affects every organ and cell in your body. When your lymphatic system's drainage becomes blocked, you cannot eliminate toxic material. When the lymph fails to function properly, it becomes sluggish or even stagnant. The clear lymph fluid becomes cloudy and thick, changing from a condition like water to milk to yogurt to cottage cheese. Thickened, gel-like stagnant lymph overloaded with toxic waste is the ideal environment for the onset of numerous illnesses, including cancer.
Your lymphatic system includes a vast network of capillaries that transport the lymph - a series of nodes throughout the body (primarily in the neck, groin, and armpits) that collect the lymph and 3 organs, namely the tonsils, spleen, and thymus gland, which produce white blood cells (called lymphocytes)
The space between cells occupies about 18% of the body. Fluid containing plasma proteins, foreign particles, and bacteria that accumulate in these spaces between cells, is called lymph. The primary purpose of the lymphatic system is to collect the lymph and to return its contents to the bloodstream. More specifically, the lymph system collects waste products and cellular debris from the tissues to eliminate toxins from the body.
The lymph flows upward through the body up to the chest (at the rate of 3 quarts per 24 hours) where it drains into the bloodstream through two large ducts. Lymph also flows down from the head and neck into these drainage sites. Unlike the blood supply, the lymphatic system does not have a pump (the heart} to move it along. Rather, its movement depends on such factors as muscle contraction or manual manipulation (why inactivity can lead to increased illness). The lymph circulation is also a one-way circulation - it only returns fluid to the bloodstream. The lymph system becomes particularly active during times of illness (such as the flu), when the nodes (particularly at the neck) visibly swell with collected waste products.
When the collecting terminals become blocked, it's like a bottleneck; lymph starts backing up in the system creating a toxic oxygen-deprived environment conducive to degeneration and disorder. Toxic lymph can be stored for a long time in the system. This is not a healthy condition. Moving stagnant lymph flow is a key to rejuvenation. Once you clear up the lymph flow, which is an essential component of the immune system, you can enhance the body's natural healing ability to clear up any illness.
There are many inter-linked conditions that can contribute to sluggish lymph circulation and may be improved by lymphatic treatment. These include but are not limited to: allergies, menstrual cramps, arthritis, prostate disorders, ulcers, breast lumps, parasites, eating disorders, cancer, respiratory infections, cellulite, emphysema, sinus headaches, intestinal blockages, muscle and tissue tension, structural misalignment in the neck and shoulders, and mental confusion and emotional disorder. Most physical and emotional challenges can be aggravated by blockage of the lymph flow. Factors that can contribute to lymphatic system blockages include chronic constipation, stress, lack of movement and regular exercise, inflammation, poor eating habits, and unexpressed emotions such as anger, fear, or resentment.
Other factors can also hamper the natural cleansing process. Artificial and restrictive clothing (such as polyester blouses and tight bras and jeans), air-conditioning, and even antiperspirant deodorants prevent excretion and natural cleansing of toxins. Your skin is the largest eliminative organ and about one third of your system's toxins are excreted through it, which comes to about a pound a day. Blocking this flow of natural design with antiperspirants works against both the lymphatic and immune systems A healthy lymphatic system can absorb and discharge unwanted body fat, carry away excess body fluids and toxic ascites, and aid in healing challenges associated with the muscular, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and nervous systems.
Again, your lymphatic system affects every organ and cell in your body. We do not know of a person who cannot benefit from lymph therapy. A clogged lymph system can benefit from outside help. A professional can use her/his hands manually to massage and stimulate your lymph nodes and/or can use new technology specifically designed for this purpose. END_____
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