Keeping the lymphatic system moving…
Hello all. I woke up today thinking about how much I miss my rebounder. I had it for many years, but it finally ripped and had to go to the recycling bin. I bought it back in 2007, after being bed ridden for two years with what I was just finding out was Lyme Disease. I knew how terrible it was for my bones and overall health to not be able to move around much. I had been a runner and always into fitness and here I was barely able to lift my feet off the floor to shuffle into my own kitchen! I started doing some research on the lymphatic system and read about the benefits of using a rebounder. I ordered one immediately.
When I first got the rebounder, I could not jump up in the air, but I found that I could stand on it, while holding the bar and sort of jiggle my body gently so that I was ‘bouncing’ up and down. My feet never left the rebounder, but that didn’t matter, the rebounding motion was, well, in motion and therefore helping wake up my very sluggish lymphatic system, getting it moving a little better. When I first started, it was just about 5 minutes per day with the ‘jiggle’. I had days when I just couldn’t do it at all, but over the years, I used it more and more rigorously. I noticed changes early on. It lifted my spirits a bit and we all now how important that is! My brain cleared a little, as in I experienced more hours, with more clarity. I could feel it waking my muscles up which was painful at first, but also very exciting. Over the years it became a fun part of my fitness routine.
But let me go back to why keeping the lymphatic system moving is so important. I’m going to use a quote from livescience.com that came up on my google search. “The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials. The primary function of the lymphatic system is to transport lymph, a fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, throughout the body.”
It of course is very complex, but really this is the most important thing for us to know and will hopefully get anyone who hasn’t thought about it, looking into it further! As Lyme Disease sufferers, we struggle with both killing off and clearing the lyme bacteria/infection (and other co-infections) from our bodies and we also struggle with Jarisch Herxheimer reactions, due to the toxic load that makes us feel even worse, from the bacteria die-off. So believe me, we WANT that lymphatic system moving and working as well as it can. Being so sick overwhelms it and slows it down. Being sedentary slows it down, so what can we do? Aren’t we stuck? NO! There are things we can do, even when we are barely able to move.
I started out talking about the rebounder, because it is a great way to get this system moving and it also can, if we start VERY slowly, help us build strength. If you can stand at all, you can stand on a rebounder for a few minutes and get a tiny, beneficial bounce going.
Another great way to help the lymphatic system, that costs close to nothing? Sip hot water all day. This is a traditional Ayurvedic recommendation. There are various sites on line that suggest adding an assortment of herbs and such to the water, but the most important thing is to sip hot water all day. It keeps the lymphatic system moving, strengthens digestive power and keeps us hydrated. This is very different than chugging down a glass of ice water, something so popular here in the west. The warm water works with our bodies instead of shocking them. It is the frequency rather than the quantity that is most important in this practice. You can add a little lemon to the water or ginger or look up some other options. I always encourage people to keep it simple so that you can stick with it! I fill my tea pot every morning and boil the water for five minutes and then fill two thermos’s and sip them throughout the day. I always have them with me and this makes a difference. My brain stays clearer and my energy is better.
Some other things that I will just touch on here as ways to help the lymphatic system:
Infrared Saunas. I was blessed in that a friend stepped forward and helped me buy my own IR Sauna. There are more and more options out there at various price points, but they all cost money which we all know can be an area of great struggle and stress when we are sick for years! Brain fog clears, headaches go away. Sweating it out is a great thing! While IR saunas have some specific benefits, simply taking a hot bath with epsom salts and/or baking soda and getting a sweat going is also helpful.
Massage, especially manual lymphatic drainage, can be very beneficial. But even self massage or any tissue manipulation can make a real difference!
The last thing that I will mention for today, is diet. And I mean ‘mention’, as this is a huge topic unto itself! Following a diet strong in anti-inflammatory foods can make a huge difference in terms of keeping the lymphatic system functioning well and in aiding our body’s ability to heal.
In closing, I encourage you to do your own searches on how to support the Lymphatic System. It can make a real difference in daily functioning and in supporting your body’s ability to heal.
Take good care!
Judy