|
 The
Lymphatic System
As many
patients know, cancer diagnosis often includes an evaluation based on what is
found in the lymph nodes. In general, allopathic medicine views the presence of
cancer in the nodes as evidence of metastasis. This opinion is often attended by
recommendations for more radical surgical procedures and usually a worse
prognosis. As all patients who have had lymph nodes removed know, circulation is
generally worse after the loss of nodes: swelling, serious edema, and the need
for medical procedures to remove fluids are all part of the aftermath of these
procedures.
I am not in a
position to evaluate the merits of the surgical measures. I merely sympathize
with the suffering of the patients. They often have reddish swelling, intense
itching, rashes, and loss of motion.
There are
specialists in manual lymphatic drainage, a very delicate massage technique
taught in Austria (called the Vodder method) who are trained to help reroute
lymph flow so as to by-pass the normal channels, the ones that have been
removed.
Though people
who are specialists in this method are reluctant to state opinions, many have
theorized that when malignancy is found in the lymph that the lymph nodes are
doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing. In other words, it is not 100%
clear to them that the cancer has metastasized, merely that it has accumulated
in the lymph.
Given that we
do not understand these fine points well enough to be certain, it would seem
appropriate that patients who have not yet had surgery try to move as much lymph
through the body as possible to see if the swelling subsides.
For
those who feel they are at risk for cancer, periodic lymphatic stimulation
and/or drainage may be a healthy preventative measure. Once, however, the nodes
are gone, it is more uphill. One very simple but probably only minimally helpful
exercise is to hold the affected (swollen) area upwards to see if gravity will
permit some of the lymph to descend into areas that still have adequate
drainage.
What very few
patients seem to realize is that the immune system does not fight cancer so long
as there is infection in the body. Isn't this one of Nature's ironies? People
are more afraid of cancer than infection, but the body tries to eliminate
infection before turning its resources towards cancer control. The lymphatic
system in many people is overwhelmed by infection, often stemming from dental
problems, as well as toxic substances (mercury, aluminum, chemicals from
antiperspirants, dry cleaning, and so forth.) Lending a hand to the lymphatic
system will usually relieve
some of the pressure on other parts of the body.
Lymphatic Cleansing & Stimulation
Lymphatic
congestion is a big problem with most cancer patients. Undigested food,
infectious material, dead cells, and other debris have to be carried off by the
lymphatic system. Thickened and sluggish lymph results in swelling and
discomfort.
Very few
people understand the humble working of the lymphatic system. Many patients
suffered from congestion or conditions such as mastitis before developing
cancer. Dietary improvement and lymphatic stimulation combined with herbs that
aid lymphatic purification enable the lymph to carry off debris.
As a general
rule, there will be only minimal improvement in places such as the axilla or
groin until the abdominal region is freed of stagnation.
Lymph
Nodes
Fresh blood
travels through the arteries to all parts of the body—including your
breasts—bringing oxygen and other nutrients. Used blood leaves the breasts
through the veins and is pumped back to the heart and lungs to be refreshed.
Then the cycle starts over again.
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Click image to enlarge |
Lymph node areas
adjacent to breast area
A pectoralis major
muscle
B axillary lymph nodes: levels I
C axillary lymph nodes: levels II
D axillary lymph nodes: levels III
E supraclavicular lymph nodes
F internal mammary lymph nodes |
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Clear fluid
called lymph also arrives via the arteries, but it leaves the blood to circulate
through your tissues to cleanse the tissues and keep them firm. Lymph must also
be "refreshed" and recycled. It drains back into the body's central drainage
system through the lymphatic channels, like pipes.
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"The arteries are like a two-lane highway
bringing nutrients, oxygen and fluid to the breast. The vein is a
one-lane highway taking away the used blood, and the lymphatic
channels are the other one-lane highway draining away the lymph fluid.
Two lanes in together, but two separate lanes out."
—Marisa Weiss, M.D. |
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Lymph nodes
are the filters along the lymphatic system. Their job is to filter out and trap
bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, and other unwanted substances, and to make sure
they are safely eliminated from the body.
Read about
Lymph Detox
Detox Foot Bath is an all natural
way to detox the inside of your body through your feet in a relaxing bath.
Detoxification begins the moment you place your foot into the foot bath.
Detoxification benefits your health and can help the aging process.
Ionic cleansing through the
feet has been shown to be very effective in reducing menopause symptoms,
menstrual cramps, skin problems, sleep disorders, stress, wrinkles, yeast
infections, joint problems and any other number of chronic symptoms. Most people
first experience a boost of energy and mental clarity after their first session.
Sessions usually last about 45 minutes.
Significant Pain Relief - Improve Memory and
Sleep - Liver, Kidneys and Parasite Cleanse - Wrinkles, Acne & other Skin
Problems - Enhance Immune System - Liver Detoxification - Purge Heavy Metals
- Increase Energy and Reduce Stress - Internal Cleansing with Full Body Purge
- Improve Sexual Health - and more...
LymphiX ™
works to further stimulate the lymph system to help
increase the body’s metabolism and overall immune system functionality. The LymphiX ™ helps to deliver oxygen to the lymph system, which is essential to
healthy cells.
|
More on the The Lymphatic System |
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Functions of the lymphatic system:
1) to maintain the pressure and volume of the extracellular fluid by
returning excess water and dissolved substances from the interstitial fluid
to the circulation.
2) lymph nodes and other lymphoid tissues are the site of clonal
production of immunocompetent lymphocytes and macrophages in the specific
immune response.
Filtration forces water and dissolved substances from the capillaries
into the interstitial fluid. Not all of this water is returned to the blood
by osmosis, and excess fluid is picked up by lymph capillaries to become
lymph. From lymph capillaries fluid flows into lymph veins (lymphatic
vessels) which virtually parallel the circulatory veins and are structurally
very similar to them, including the presence of semilunar valves. |
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The lymphatic veins flow into one of two lymph
ducts. The right lymph duct drains the right arm, shoulder area, and the
right side of the head and neck. The left lymph duct, or thoracic duct,
drains everything else, including the legs, GI tract and other abdominal
organs, thoracic organs, and the left side of the head and neck and left arm
and shoulder.
These ducts then drain into the subclavian veins on each side where they
join the internal jugular veins to form the brachiocephalic veins.
Lymph nodes lie along the lymph veins successively filtering lymph.
Afferent lymph veins enter each node, efferent veins lead to the next node
becoming afferent veins upon reaching it. |
| Lymphokinetic motion (flow of the
lymph) due to:
1) Lymph flows down the pressure gradient.
2) Muscular and respiratory pumps push lymph forward due to function of
the semilunar valves. |
 Other
lymphoid tissue:
1. Lymph nodes: Lymph nodes are small encapsulated
organs located along the pathway of lymphatic vessels. They vary from about
1 mm to 1 to 2 cm in diameter and are widely distributed throughout the
body, with large concentrations occurring in the areas of convergence of
lymph vessels. They serve as filters through which lymph percolates on its
way to the blood. Antigen-activated lymphocytes differentiate and
proliferate by cloning in the lymph nodes.
2. Diffuse Lymphatic Tissue and Lymphatic nodules: The
alimentary canal, respiratory passages, and genitourinary tract are guarded
by accumulations of lymphatic tissue that are not enclosed by a capsule
(i.e. they are diffuse) and are found in connective tissue beneath
the epithelial mucosa. These cells intercept foreign antigens and then
travel to lymph nodes to undergo differentiation and proliferation. Local
concentrations of lymphocytes in these systems and other areas are called
lymphatic nodules. In general these are single and random but are more
concentrated in the GI tract in the ileum, appendix, cecum, and tonsils.
These are collectively called the Gut Associated Lymphatic Tissue (GALT).
MALT (Mucosa Associated Lymphatic Tissue) includes these plus the
diffuse lymph tissue in the respiratory tract.
3. The thymus: The thymus is where immature lymphocytes
differentiate into T-lymphocytes. The thymus is fully formed and functional
at birth. Characteristic features of thymic structure persist until about
puberty, when lymphocyte processing and proliferation are dramatically
reduced and eventually eliminated and the thymic tissue is largely replaced
by adipose tissue. The lymphocytes released by the thymus are carried to
lymph nodes, spleen, and other lymphatic tissue where they form colonies.
These colonies form the basis of T-lymphocyte proliferation in the specific
immune response. T-lymphocytes survive for long periods and recirculate
through lymphatic tissues.
The transformation of primitive or immature lymphocytes into
T-lymphocytes and their proliferation in the lymph nodes is promoted by a
thymic hormone called thymosin. Ocassionally the thymus persists and
may become cancerous after puberty and and the continued secretion of
thymosin and the production of abnormal T-cells may contribute to some
autoimmune disorders. Conversely, lack of thymosin may also allow
inadequate immunologic surveillance and thymosin has been used
experimentally to stimulate T-lymphocyte proliferation to fight lymphoma and
other cancers.
4. The spleen: The spleen filters the blood and reacts
immunologically to blood-borne antigens. This is both a morphologic
(physical) and physiologic process. In addition to large numbers of
lymphocytes the spleen contains specialized vascular spaces, a meshwork of
reticular cells and fibers, and a rich supply of macrophages which monitor
the blood. Connective tissue forms a capsule and trabeculae which contain
myofibroblasts, which are contractile. The human spleen holds relatively
little blood compared to other mammals, but it has the capacity for
contraction to release this blood into the circulation during anoxic stress.
White pulp in the spleen contains lymphocytes and is equivalent to other
lymph tissue, while red pulp contains large numbers of red blood cells that
it filters and degrades.
The spleen functions in both immune and hematopoietic systems. Immune
functions include: proliferation of lymphocytes, production of antibodies,
removal of antigens from the blood. Hematopoietic functions include:
formation of blood cells during fetal life, removal and destruction of aged,
damaged and abnormal red cells and platelets, retrieval of iron from
hemoglobin degradation, storage of red blood cells. |
Read about
Lymph Detox
Detox Foot Bath is an all natural
way to detox the inside of your body through your feet in a relaxing bath.
Detoxification begins the moment you place your foot into the foot bath.
Detoxification benefits your health and can help the aging process.
Ionic cleansing through the
feet has been shown to be very effective in reducing menopause symptoms,
menstrual cramps, skin problems, sleep disorders, stress, wrinkles, yeast
infections, joint problems and any other number of chronic symptoms. Most people
first experience a boost of energy and mental clarity after their first session.
Sessions usually last about 45 minutes.
Significant Pain Relief - Improve Memory and
Sleep - Liver, Kidneys and Parasite Cleanse - Wrinkles, Acne & other Skin
Problems - Enhance Immune System - Liver Detoxification - Purge Heavy Metals
- Increase Energy and Reduce Stress - Internal Cleansing with Full Body Purge
- Improve Sexual Health - and more...
LymphiX ™
works to further stimulate the lymph system to help
increase the body’s metabolism and overall immune system functionality. The LymphiX ™ helps to deliver oxygen to the lymph system, which is essential to
healthy cells.
Back to: Body Detoxification
Page
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