The suggestions below are generally safe for most clients. Some clients may have issues with detoxification and may need to proceed more slowly. Please contact your medical practitioner with any questions or if you have had lymph node removal or a history radiation therapy.
Something as simple as laughing, simple movements, and deep breathing can get our lymph moving.
There is no pump for our lymphatic fluid, so we need to do a little work to get a sluggish lymphatic system moving. For some, these techniques are only needed to get it started, while many of us need to make these steps a daily habit. Try one technique for 2 or 3 days, then add another for 2 or 3 days. Stop at any time you feel that you’re not feeling well, as these may cause a detox reaction that is too intense for you.
Simple arm movements are a good start. These can be done while sitting in a chair.
Hold the arms out parallel to the floor, palms down, and rotate the arms in small circles, forward 10 times and then backwards 10 times. Repeat this, rotating in medium circles, forward 10 times and backwards 10 times. Repeat this again, now rotating in large circles, forward 10 times and backwards 10 times. Try this movement several times during the day. Deep breaths will increase the movement of lymph even more.
If sitting is difficult, these movements can be done while lying in bed, moving one arm at a time. If 10 circles are too much, begin with one. If moving the arms is too much, rotate the wrists and ankles, along with deep breathing.
Dry brushing is a good way to move lymph.
Using a natural bristle brush on dry skin, light rub little circles on the skin, beginning at the ends of the extremities and moving towards the heart. Then scrub the neck down to the collar bones. Scrub the back, chest, and abdomen in an upward direction.
Contrasting temperature in your shower or bath is another good way to move lymph.
Turn the water temperature of your shower in the last minute or so a little warmer than usual. Then in the last 30 seconds, turn the water to a lukewarm temperature, not cool enough to leave the shower cold but instead refreshed. If you’re bathing, at the end of the bath, shower off in refreshing (not cold) lukewarm water.
Deep-breathing exercises are a wonderful way to move lymph.
Sit up in a comfortable position, preferably outside in the open, in fresh air. Relax and allow yourself to breathe naturally, admiring the view and letting go of all thoughts or emotions right now. Bring your attention to your lower abdomen, below your navel. Rest the palm of your hand there, with your thumb resting on your navel. Allow your attention to rest on your abdomen, observing the rise and fall of your abdomen with each breath, simply observing.
After a few minutes, slowly take a deep breath, breathing right into the palm of your hand resting on your abdomen. Feel your abdomen fill with air, then slowly exhale. As you inhale again, feel the expansion in your diaphragm (the lower part of the rib cage) as that gently expands with each breath. As you exhale, notice again how the diaphragm feels. Do this gently and rhythmically for a few minutes (this rhythmic expansion and contraction of the diaphragm helps pump blood and lymph through the liver).
