What is the lymphatic system and lymph?

Most of us have probably heard of the lymphatic system and that it is important for the body to get rid of impurities. But how many of us actually know what it is and actually does for the body?

In this text you will find everything you want and need to know about the lymphatic system!

The lymphatic system extends throughout the body and includes several different organs and systems, many of which are normally associated with something like discomfort. The tonsils, lymph nodes and kidneys are the three most well-known parts of the lymphatic system.

The tonsils are for many associated with throat problems, infections and ailments. But it is one of the body’s first defenses against oral infections. The tonsils are filled with lymphatic cells that contain white blood cells, this transparent liquid is an expert in capturing slag products and toxins and then getting rid of them. The lymph fluid pulses throughout the body and collects harmful substances and damaged cells and then transports them away. In connection with sorting out slag products, the lymph promotes t-cells and b-cells as well as the production of antibodies.

The lymph is starting to sound pretty important, right?

What you can do to maintain a healthy lymphatic system

There are various ways to promote a healthy lymphatic system without much effort. Since the lymphatic system is connected to the body’s blood circulation, it is important to maintain good circulation so that the lymph is exercised. Curam’s tips on how to maintain a good lymph flow are:

Maintain a healthy diet

It may sound repetitive but a good diet is the first step to good health overall. Since the lymph is directly connected to the blood circulation and mainly consists of water, it is important not to let the body dry out. Drink plenty of water, preferably lemon water as it helps the body absorb both fluid and break down food. Make sure the food you eat contains plenty of vitamins and minerals as well as good fats.

Deep breathing

Deep and calm breathing, good for the lymph?
The blood needs oxygen, the oxygen stimulates more than just the mind. By inhaling deeply with your chest for 4 seconds, holding your breath for 4 seconds and then exhaling for 8 quiet seconds, you increase the amount of oxygen in your blood. This is a good exercise to do if you feel nervous, want to calm your body to fall asleep easier or to promote blood circulation and lymph well-being. Remember to stop and breathe even when you have a stressful day!

Lymphatic massage

What could be better to directly affect the lymph than massage?

Lymphatic massage is a type of massage that activates the connective tissue in depth and thus also activates the lymph. One of the easiest ways to do a deep massage is to cup yourself. Here you can read more about our cupping techniques for activating the lymph. The cups create a negative pressure by using a vacuum, conversely from traditional massage which creates a pressure inwards, cupping thus sucks in the opposite direction. Cupping works as a reverse massage.

HEAT by Sophia Lie on Birger Jarlsgatan offers LPG massage, which is a form of deep massage that directly affects the lymphatic system. Why not indulge in it for your lymph and visit them for a treatment? Here you can read more about their treatments. Don’t forget to supplement with cupping as self-treatment! ; )

Exercise and regular movement

In addition to a good diet, regular exercise is the best way to keep the body going and promote long-term health. Exercise regularly and stretch properly, this way you maintain not only a good lymphatic system but also a young and healthy body. If you experience problems with stagnation in the legs, this may be due to the lymph not feeling well. To counteract this, light exercise for the legs such as running is recommended. If you have long-term problems, you can read our post about RLS here.

Now we know what the lymphatic system does and what can be done to maintain a healthy lymphatic system. As with all good things, there is also a downside to the lymph, when the lymph for various reasons is unable to do its job of emptying the body of harmful slag products.

We already know that if the tonsils, which are one of the primary lymphatic organs, stop working properly, they must be removed. The result is often that it is easier to get a sore throat because that defense no longer exists. Today, it is much more unusual to have problems with the tonsils than before thanks to modern medicine.

Lymphedema and swellings

A common and serious problem that occurs in connection with a malfunctioning lymphatic system is lymphedema. Lymphedema is caused by the lymph not being able to transport away excess fluid and slag products. When the slag products and the liquid are not disposed of properly, they instead get stuck, which causes liquid-filled swelling. The swelling can range from mild to extremely severe and can cause a lot of pain. Lymphedema is most commonly treated with various forms of compression tools such as compression stockings and the like. Through strong compression, the lymph is activated and given a free ride to start transporting slag products.

As with any treatment for chronic conditions, it is important for a person with lymphedema to maintain treatment to avoid problems. For people who are overweight and / or sit or stand still most of the day, the risk of lymphedema is greater. If you have a job that requires a lot of standing still, it is recommended that you take regular breaks and activate your body.

Lowered immune system

As we already know, the lymph is an important component for the immune system to function optimally. If this does not work, the immune system also deteriorates, which in turn leads to an increased risk of infections and other ailments.

Now you have a real dose of information about the lymph! Hope you were motivated to give one of the body’s important purification systems a little extra love. It is important to keep the lymph going in order to maintain a good immune system and promote long-term health.

If you experience health problems, we recommend that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. At Vårdguiden 1177 you can read more.

WED (Willis-Ekbom’s disease) – Restless legs syndrome

Willis-Ekbom’s disease, more commonly known as Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), mainly affects the legs in the form of tingling, feeling like it is crawling under the skin, feeling static, etc. The disease can also affect larger parts of the body but is according to studies less common.

Restless legs syndrome or Willis-Ekbom’s disease will be referred to as RLS or WED in the following text.

RLS usually appears in the 30s to 40s and is primarily a problem in women but also affects men. RLS is usually congenital and in these cases appears around the age of 30. In cases where the disease is not hereditary but secondary, it usually appears later in life.

Around 30% of pregnant women have problems with RLS at some point during pregnancy. The reason why pregnant women get affected is often due to a lack of, for example, iron or impaired blood circulation.

People with RLS mainly experience discomfort during the night or longer periods of stagnation. The disease affects the fibers in the muscles, these worsen when the blood circulation deteriorates or decreases, something that happens naturally during, for example, sleep. Longer journeys are often difficult for people with RLS because they stay sedentary for longer periods.

Symptoms of RLS

Common problems in people with RLS are:

Difficulty sleeping (due to pain)

Waking up during sleep

Pain

Fatigue

Deteriorated recovery

Preventative measure for RLS

To alleviate the problems, you can try different methods and hopefully find one that is right for you.
Below are ways to alleviate the problems based on studies of people living with RLS.

Regular exercise and stretching.

Cold / Heat on the affected area

Exercises that increase blood circulation

Cupping

Acupuncture

Temperature treatment

According to studies, most people say that cold showers of the affected areas before sleep, help to inhibit the onset of RLS. A few people in comparison say that a hot shower helps instead. Here, too, you have to choose which works best for you. The primary thing is to treat the affected area with a high or low temperature before sleep.

Regular exercise

Regular exercise and stretching of the whole body and especially the affected areas helps to keep the body and blood circulation going. RLS occurs mainly in connection with a lack of motion which results in stagnation, therefore it is important for affected people to include as much movement as possible in everyday life to promote the blood’s circulation.

Cupping

Cupping activates the connective tissue in-depth and promotes blood circulation. Many people find that cupping on the affected areas helps with the pain and is preventive against RLS.

Read more here about how our cups work and the different cupping methods we recommend. For RLS in particular, we would recommend starting with dynamic cupping together with a beneficial oil and then letting the static cups remain for a while on the exposed area.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is mainly used in Asia to relieve the symptoms of RLS. Studies have been conducted in the west on whether acupuncture is an effective way to relieve RLS.

According to a study from 2015 in which 38 people participated, all individuals received treatment for 6 weeks. The problems caused by RLS decreased sharply as a result. Like all methods we suggest, acupuncture is also one that requires continuous practice.

Sources and additional reading (in Swedish):
1177
Internetmedicin
Healthline