LYMPHATICS

• "The lymphatic system helps to maintain the correct fluid balance in the tissues and blood, to defend the body against disease, conserve protein and to remove bacteria and other cellular waste products."
  (Book of massage, Lidell, Fireside Books, 1984)

This was probably the most simple explanation of a very complex system that could be found. Guyton's textbook of physiology punctuated this thought with the indication that if the lymphatic system was not doing its job we would die within about 24 hours. (pg. 361)

The lymphatic system could be described as an intelligent, proactive sewer system. The lymphatic system could literally be discussed over many days and many thousand words but to keep it simple it will simply be said that the lymph system MUST be encouraged to do its job for our bodies to be at peak health.

The structure of the lymph system is much like the veins of the body. The lymph vessels have one-way valves to encourage the one-way flow of lymph toward the heart. The lymph fluid is pumped, not by the heart but by other means. Some of the pumping occurs because the muscles in the vessels squeeze the tubes and move the lymph along. However, most of the flow of lymph is due to outside pressure on the vessels..much like squeezing a tube of toothpaste.

These main pressures are:

1. body muscles around the vessels contracting and moving the lymph along.
2. movement of the body encouraging flow.
3. compression of the vessels from outside the body. (massage for example)

As stated in Guyton's 7th edition,

• "Obviously, the lymphatic pump becomes very active during exercise, often increasing lymphatic flow as much as 10 to 30 times. On the other hand, during periods of rest lymph flow is very sluggish."

THE POINT:.. When you exercise you allow your body to be more efficient. The sedentary lifestyle leads to poor lymph circulation and therefore poor health due to accumulated toxins over time. This is another reason why it is a vital part of life to move and exercise!

Not only is exercise vital but so is [DEEP BREATHING]. Breathing also aids in lymph circulation of the intra-abdominal and thoracic lymph vessels. "The breathing muscles aid in the circulation of lymph (as they do that of venous blood) by creating a relatively low pressure in the thorax during inhalation. At the same time the pressure in the abdominal cavity is increased by the contracting diaphragm." (Human Anatomy and Physiology 3rd Edition, Hole, Brown publishers 1984)

2/3 of all the body lymph fluid is formed by the liver and intestines (Guyton's Textbook of Medical Physiology) so the respiratory lymph pump and breathing are VERY important.