Our lymphatic (sewer) system is the bathroom of the body and is 3-4 times larger than the circulatory (blood) system. Virtually all illnesses are the result of stagnant, congested lymph.

“In chemical characteristics, the lymph resembles blood plasma. In fact, it has been described as blood without its red corpuscles. Lymph is necessary as an intermediary substance between blood and tissue. It bathes every active tissue of the body and is believed to have its origin partly in the blood and partly in the tissues.

Lymph may be considered the middleman in the transactions between blood and tissues. The lymphatic system, in contrast to the blood circulatory system, follows a one-way network of vessels and arteries that empty eventually into ducts into the internal jugular and subclavian veins. Lymph fluid and lymphocytes are constantly being moved into the bloodstream to carry out their functions. The lymph returns fluid and proteins to the blood, while lymphocytes take part in the formation of antibodies and play an important role in the body’s natural immune system. In particular, lymph nodes, ranging from the size of a ball point pen tip to the size of a bean, filter pathogenic microorganisms and foreign particles from the lymph and eject them as waste matter from the body.

The lymph system has no pumping mechanism. Movement of lymph fluids that filter liquid and waste from the blood, is carried out in the following ways:

1)Respiratory movement, which creates pressure differences in the body’s cavities, moves the lymph.
2) Muscle movement in the body, which squeezes the lymph along the vessels. Each vessel contains valves that allow the flow to go in one direction only.
3) The lymph vessels themselves have thin muscle fibers in their composition that move in peristaltic movements.
4) Intestinal movement.
5) Continuous production of lymph and the pressure behind it forces movement of lymph fluids in the system.
6) Difference in pressure in the lymph vessels and the tissue end, and at the emptying end of the blood vessels in the thoracic area.

The lymph glands have eight functions:
1) neutralizing toxins and poisons
2) returning water from tissues to the blood
3) returning leaked proteins to the blood
4) transporting fats in the body
5) transporting hormones by the lymph system
6) destroying foreign bacteria
7) producing antibodies
8) making up the largest content of fluid in the body that carries more waste than the blood.” (H. Lindlahr)

Astringent chemistry from fruits and herbs is necessary to restore the lymphatic system because it helps to mobilize lymph by breaking up the congestion. It’s also important to avoid dietary fats because studies have shown that fat in the intestines slows lymphatic motility and reduces the contractility of lymphatic vessels.

Adequate kidney function is imperative in the removal of lymphatic waste from the body. When kidneys are filtering well, lymphatic drainage massage can further assist with detoxification. However, the manual shifting of fluids always has to be toward the kidneys and not the heart. This particular treatment may not be appropriate for those with parathyroid weakness(check for varicose and/or spider veins), due to the potential risk of aneurisms.