Nearly every system in the body is impacted by the lymph system—toxin elimination being the biggest function. It’s an essential part of the immune system, aiding white blood immune cells with the power to destroy harmful pathogens. It acts as a garbage collector, filtering out bacteria and toxins that can cause disease. It aids the digestive system by absorbing fat and fatty acids from your gut and transporting them back to your bloodstream making them available as fuel to your cells. It runs through the respiratory system, aiding the endocrine and reproductive systems and also maintains the fluid balance in your body by collecting, purifying, and draining excess fluids so your tissues don’t swell. Lymph sweeps immune cells through your body to weed out anything that threatens your well-being, making lymph your first line of defense against illness. This is how your lymph system keeps inflammation an underlying factor in many diseases—at bay. Lymph flows in one direction towards your heart, which is why self-massage, breath work, and exercise are invaluable to good lymphatic health.

Not only is your lymphatic system what keeps you healthy, but it can help you get glowing skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines, puffy eyes and acne. It can also improve digestion, diminish bloating and help your pants fit better! Traditionally lymphatic drainage massage has been used for its immune-boosting benefits including speeding up healing and recovery from colds and flus, athletic recovery, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and side effects from cancer treatment. Now lymphatic massage is being touted in the beauty circles to reduce water retention and assist in weight loss.

People write to me weekly telling me how lymphatic self-massage has improved their mental and emotional well-being. Once you understand how the lymph system clears toxins, it makes perfect sense that it helps improve your state of mind.