Detox Your Lymphatic System with These 20 Tricks

14. Turning Yourself Upside Down When you spend a lot of time on your feet, the pull of gravity causes blood, water, and toxins to accumulate… Samantha Davis - April 14, 2022

Turning your body upside down helps because lymphs are located in the upper body like the head, neck, and groin. It gives the lymphatic system a chance to filter excess water and toxins in the legs and feet.
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14. Turning Yourself Upside Down

When you spend a lot of time on your feet, the pull of gravity causes blood, water, and toxins to accumulate in the legs and feet. There are no lymphatic drains around these areas. Instead, these toxins need pushed back toward the organs so they can be filtered through the liver, spleen, or kidneys. You can make it easier for your lymphatic system to push these toxins back where they need to go by turning yourself upside down. With your legs being inverted, the lymph fluids travel toward the lymph nodes found in the groin.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to turn yourself upside down without doing a headstand. Some people use an inversion table, but even laying on the floor with your legs flat against the wall in front of you helps the lymphatic system flow. Any way you invert your body is beneficial, so headstands, handstands, and even shoulderstands help cleanse the lymphatic system. There are also several inverted yoga positions you can do, such as the downward-facing dog.

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Deep breathing opens the lymphatic vessels and promotes relaxation. Shutterstock.

15. Breathe Deeply

Deep breathing engages your stomach, chest, and diaphragm. As you inhale and exhale, it helps move the muscles around and squeeze the lymph system. By stimulating the lymphatic system, lymph fluids are pushed where they need to go and it helps detoxify the body. Plus, deep breathing benefits the lymphatic system because of its relaxation benefits. Often, balancing a social life, our home lives, work, and family cause people to lead fast-paced lifestyles and they don’t make time to relax. High levels of stress is something that stops the lymphatic system from working as efficiently.

To get the most benefit from deep breaths, you should try to do breathing exercises at least once or twice a day. It only takes a few minutes, but there are great benefits from relaxation. As you breathe, close your mouth and keep the tip of your tongue on the uppermost ridge of your teeth. Inhale for a count of four, hold it for a count of seven, then exhale for a count of eight. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, being sure to keep your tongue in position for the most benefit.

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Rebounding causes the lymphs to open and close. It also boosts the flow of oxygen and the lymphatic system.
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16. Rebounding

Rebounding is an exercise done using a mini trampoline. Unlike running, jumping offers cardiovascular benefits without putting excess strain on joints. As an added benefit, rebounding involves an up-and-down movement rather than a horizontal movement. Since you are working out in a vertical manner, it becomes easier for the lymphatic system to drain. Some additional benefits of rebounding for the lymphatic system include reducing water retention, better detoxification of the body, and improved skin. Rebounding also has fitness benefits regarding strength, blood pressure, and overall health.

To get the most benefit, you only need to bounce on a mini trampoline for 10-15 minutes each day. As you bounce, the upward and downward motions cause the lymphs to open and close. This helps excess fluid and toxins drain and move through the lymph system. Since the motions cause the valves to open and close, you don’t have to do these exercises all at once. Breaking them up into 3-5 minute sessions offers the same benefits and won’t be as stressful for people that are new to the activity.

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17. Enzyme Supplement

Research has shown that gut and digestive health play a greater role in overall health than we once thought. It’s no surprise, therefore, that the enzymes that digest food play a big role in lymphatic system health. Enzymes break down food and aid in many metabolic processes. In between meals when they aren’t breaking down foods, these digestive enzymes also break down organic matter, complex fats, and proteins found in the blood. By breaking these things down, the lymphatic system removes them more efficiently.

While the body produces some digestive enzymes, taking an enzyme supplement gives the digestive system a boost. It increases how well your body processes food, giving the enzymes more time to support the lymphatic system between meals. There has also been research that good gut health decreases inflammation, which helps keep the lymph system running smooth. In addition to adding an enzyme supplement to your diet, you can support digestive health by avoiding processed carbohydrates and sugars, choosing healthy sources of fats, and eating lots of fiber and raw fruits and vegetables.

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Certain essential oils encourage purification of the bloodstream and tissues, while others help open the lymphatic system.

18. Essential Oils

Essential oils are commonly used in aromatherapy or applied to the skin. They are extracts from various herbs and botanicals, often those that have been used in traditional medicine systems. Mastic opens the lymphatic and respiratory systems, having anti-microbial and decongestant properties, while guaiacwood is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Citrus essential oils like lemon and grapefruit fight inflammation and help purify the lymphatic system, too. Some other beneficial oils include juniper berry, peppermint, and rosemary.

While modern medicine hasn’t fully researched the many benefits of essential oils, many of them have been used in Native American medicine, Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and even since the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Essential oils can be used in aromatherapy by adding them to a diffuser, or even adding them to a pot of boiling water. When applying essential oils to skin or massaging the lymph nodes with them, many need to be diluted with a carrier oil like coconut oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil to avoid damage to the skin.

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Chiropractic care helps remove inflammation and abnormalities that prevent the lymph system from flowing freely.
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19. Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is recommended for people who have problems or abnormalities in the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of the spine, bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and joints. Keeping this system working as it should is also important to the health and flow of the lymphatic system, since it exists alongside it in the body. Misalignments or inflammation in the musculoskeletal system block the lymphatic system and stop it from flowing freely.

Chiropractors identify problem areas and then help with treatment, often by adjusting the spine and muscle groups using manipulation and other types of therapy. As obstructions and areas of tension are removed during a chiropractic session, lymph fluid flows freely to detox your lymphatic system. Research shows removing this tension improves the flow of the lymphatic system and improves immunity. Additionally, chiropractic offices offer other services that benefit the lymphatic system, including inversion tables and electro-lymphatic drainage. They may also be certified to perform manual lymphatic drainage.

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An inversion table uses gravity to encourage lymphatic flow. Forbes Health.

20. Inversion Table

Inversion tables offer a number of benefits for the body, as well as the lymphatic system. An inversion table is a padded table that has straps for your feet on the bottom. You are secured to the table and then turned up side down. While in this position, the lymphatic and circulatory systems are stimulated. Gravity works with the body, bring blood and oxygen to the tissues and pushing out toxins. Then, they move through the lymphatic system so they can be filtered and transported out of the body.

In addition to its benefits for the lymphatic system, an inversion table benefits the joints and the spine. As mentioned above, keeping these areas free of inflammation helps the lymphatic system keep moving smoothly. This is especially true since the muscles of the body are the most effective “pump” for the lymphatic system. Inversion therapy can be done with a professional, or you can buy an inversion table for home. Chiropractic offices and other hollistic medicine practioners may offer inversion therapy.

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