Spring Thaw Time To Support Healthy Lymph

Take action to support healthy lymph this spring. Why is this important when you have Lyme disease? Lyme burdens and interferes with lymph flow and function. 

Healthy Lymph Plays A Big Role In Lyme Recovery

Lymph moves throughout your body bringing nutrients to feed tissues, and defensive cells to fight disease. On the way by, it also collects trash for processing and removal. Lyme creates a lot of waste in the body as well as an increased need for nutrients, so healthy lymph is a necessary component for healing.  

Three ways Lyme stresses the lymphatic system are chronic inflammation with increased endotoxins from infectious die off, and Lyme hiding in Lymph nodes and interfering with normal function. Toxins build up and problems result when the lymphatic system is impaired. Peripheral edema where lymph pools and stagnates is a common side effect of chronic Lyme disease.

Given these consequences from Lyme disease, what do you want to do?  Because of the specific extra stress from tick-borne infection, it makes all the sense in the world to me to understand what lymph is doing to support health and help it do its best for you.

The Lymph System In The Body

The lymphatic system consists of fluid, porous tubes, nodes, and organs. Osmotic pressure differences, muscle contraction and a network of vessels with one-way valves work in combination to move lymph. Interstitial fluid (between the cells) flows into the lymphatic system where it becomes lymph. The lymphatic system runs around and next to the venus and atrial circulatory system throughout the body.

Three Jobs of Healthy Lymph

Fluid Balance

We are a big leaky bag of water with lots of stuff in it. Blood flows through our arteries to deliver oxygen water leaks out.  The lymph system collects and recycles water to keep our fluid system in balance.  If we didn’t have this built-in recycling system, the stagnant liquid would bog down our tissues.

Delivery of nutrients to the cells

We think of lymph primarily as a drainage system.  But Lymph moves the complex compounds to tissues that are too big to go through the capillaries.  Lymph carries specialized fats and hormones throughout the body.

Immune System Transport

Lymph delivers infectious agents to detection centers in the lymphatic nodes and organs.  The immune system foot soldiers take care of infection on our behalf.  White blood cells, macrophages, B cells, and antigen-specific antibodies are among the defensive components that hitch a ride on the lymph loop to get where they are needed. Dead bugs or dead or damaged immune system members go back into lymph for reprocessing or disposal in the lymph nodes or organs like the spleen.

Okay, lymph has to do its job, and Lyme can hurt the lymphatic system.  How can you help to keep your lymph healthy and free-flowing?

Four Habits For Healthy Lymph Function

Hydration

If you are dehydrated, less liquid gets squeezed out of blood to form lymph.  Lymph can get congested sludgy, and your body has to work much harder to keep things working. Hydration supports lymph that flows with ease to do its job.

Movement

Muscle action is one of the mechanisms to move the lymph in the body.  Lymph, unlike blood, does not have an independent pumping system.  Smooth muscle action and skeletal muscle movement push lymph along its route.  Rebounding and other forms of aerobic movement push lymph, increase oxygenation, and perspiration all of which are good for the lymphatic system.  Alternatively, get regular Lymphatic drainage massage or X-tract treatment and have someone else’s hands promote lymph movement in your body. 

Herbs

Try herbal tea and get a twofer hydration and herbal help.  There is a whole class of herbs called lymph movers. All these herbs support healthy lymph. Red clover, fenugreek, ginger, sarsaparilla are on this list.  Check in with your health care team to be sure you don’t won’t have any harmful interactions between your tea and any other herbs or medications you may be on.

Show a little love and self-care to your lymphatic system; it will go a long way towards healthy lymph helping you heal.

The purpose of this blog is to share and educate on  Lyme disease recovery strategies. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment or advice. All the material here is for information purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.