The Lymphatic System

Most people know little about the importance of the lymphatic system. In fact the lymphatic system is as extensive as the

blood circulatory system and just as valuable in its own unique way to maintaining overall life force. The lymphatic system allows each cell to have unimpeded access to nutrients. When discussed, it is usually equated to the lymph nodes.

The body has between 500 and 600 lymph nodes with the heaviest concentration existing in the neck, groin, chest, abdomen and underarms. About the size and shape of a bean and having a honeycomb structure, lymph nodes play an extremely important role in maintaining health by filtering bodily fluids and trapping foreign particles as well as fighting disease. Lymph nodes also house lymphocytes (B, NK and T Cells) which are critical at fighting off disease. Naïve lymphocytes pass through these nodes and when the presence of pathogens are detected, antigens from the pathogen are bound to lymphocytes, producing antibodies. These newly activated lymphocytes, like an antigen-antibody lock and key, have the information needed to identify and neutralize invaders. Other types of lymphocytes contain a toxic compound destroying the invading pathogen. Another critical pathogen component housed in lymph nodes are macrophages, which trap or engulf the problem intruder. When detecting pathogens or fighting infections, lymph nodes can swell up due to an increase of lymphocytes, antibodies and macrophages.

One of the lymphatic system’s functions is removing impurities or toxins from the body. Carbon dioxide, sodium and other substances are by-products of cellular feeding on oxygen, minerals and nutrients. The lymphatic system removes these impurities and the body disposes them as perspiration, bowel movements, urine and the breath. Without a lymphatic system, the body’s cells would perpetually float in a stew of toxins. Other types of toxins not readily removed by the lymph include environmental air pollutants like vapors from ammonia, bleach and gasoline, chlorine or fluoride from municipal drinking water and pesticides from agriculture and landscaping. These and other toxic chemicals are detrimental to overall cellular health. Being foreign in nature to the body and since they are not cellular food, cells do not know how to process these substances. Like a clogged filter in an air conditioning system, the toxic build up in the surrounding porous membranes prevent the cells from adequately nourishing themselves, and the health and vibrancy of the entire bodily organism decays. Over time,   the lymphatic system – the body’s primary cellular waste disposal system – operates more inefficiently and provides less life-giving nourishment at the cellular level. The decreasing amount of life-giving food a cell receives will cause it to not only age faster, but to become weak and vulnerable to disease.

Over the course of many years of living with altered environmental conditions, the lymphatic system becomes quite clogged. Fortunately a good lymphologist understands how to safely restore this system to a pristine state and how to mobilize it after years of inappropriate use and treatment using the correct type of rebounder. A rebounder is very efficient and properly works the lymphatic system by massaging the millions of one way lymphatic check valves. If there is toxic build up in the body or if a disease has already developed, the rebounder will only scratch the surface of your problem  a lymphologist is critical to quickly restore health.

Vol 29 Issue 4 Page 39