Understanding Your Lymphatic System (& How It Can Work For You)

Are you downing ginger shots in hopes of dodging a winter cold? While a good night’s sleep and a nutritious diet certainly play their part, there are additional steps we can take to stay well this winter. ‘­The lymphatic system, often overshadowed, is a silent hero in immune health,’ says Dr Vijay Murthy, functional medicine and ayurvedic doctor. Below, the experts tells us everything we need to know about the latest wellness movement.

What Is The Lymphatic System?

‘Think of the lymphatic system as an essential waste management system,’ explains Dr Murthy. ‘Every day, we’re exposed to environmental toxins, pathogens and cellular waste that need to be efficiently removed to maintain our health. ­The lymphatic system filters out these unwanted materials, transporting them to lymph nodes where immune cells, like white blood cells, neutralise them.’

What Are The Benefits Of A Lymphatic Massage?

Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system doesn’t have its own pump, so it depends on our daily habits to keep it moving. While lymphatic drainage is often marketed as a beauty treatment for body sculpting, its benefits go well beyond appearance; it helps unblock pathways, allowing toxins to drain.

Since the lymph system runs just beneath the skin, a massage targeting the lymph nodes around the neck, armpits, and groin can be a great way to stimulate flow. ‘Practicing self-massage for five minutes daily can make a noticeable difference in energy and immunity,’ Dr Murthy suggests.

A treatment room at Lime Wood Hotel

Are There Treatments That Target The Lymphatic System?

More and more wellness spaces are incorporating treatments (more specifically, massages) that help target the lymphatic system. One example is Lime Wood Hotel, which recently welcomed Ayurvedic therapist and Reiki healer Sheena Chandran to its Herb House Spa.

‘Ayurveda considers the lymphatic system the most essential system in the body,’ explains Sheena. ‘Longstroke massage, like our abhyanga treatment, can improve lymphatic flow.’ This technique involves pouring warm oil over the entire body and using continuous, flowing strokes to create a gentle, consistent wave-like massage.

How To Do It At Home

Anita Kaushal, founder of Mauli Rituals, offers some advice if you’re looking to try this at home: ‘Contrary to what one may expect, you want to massage with gentle to mid-pressure. Hard pressure bypasses the lymphatic system, so it is of no use and could do more harm than good,’ she explains.

‘Another way to boost lymphatic drainage is by using a traditional massage tool called a Kansa wand. Ayurveda has long prescribed the copper alloy in the wand for its ability to work like a magnet between the surface of the skin and deeper layers. It helps to gently release blocked pathways, allowing toxins to drain and nutrients to be better absorbed.’

For more tips, see our guide to lymphatic drainage here.

Featured image: Getty Images