The lymphatic system is one of the two largest circulatory systems in the body.
What does the Lymphatic System Consist of?
According to innerbody.com the lymphatic system consists of:
- Lymph
- Lymph Capillaries
- Lymph Nodes
- Lymphatic Vessels
- Lymphatic Ducts
- Lymphatic Nodules
- Tonsils
- Peyer’s Patches
- Spleen
- Thymus
What Does the Lymphatic System do?
According to an article written by Kim Ann Zimmermann “The Primary Function of the lymphatic system is to transport lymph, a clear, colorless fluid containing white blood cells that helps rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials.” (livescience.com)
What Exactly is Lymph?
We learned from the article by Zimmermann that lymph is a clear and colorless fluid that contains white blood cells. An artcle on innerbody.com continues to explain that the lymph is a mixture of aproxamitly 90% water and 10% solutes (proteins, cellular waste products, dissolved gases and hormones.)
Lymphatic Diseases:
Lymphedema:
According to an article by Inho Choi, Sunju Lee and Young-Kwon Hong published on www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
“Lymphedema” refers to chronic tissue swelling in the face, arms, legs, or abdominal walls caused by accumulation of interstitial fluids mainly due to lymphatic dysfunction caused by lymphatic dysplasia, malformation, misconnection, and obstruction, as well as absence of functional lymphatic valves. Lymphedema is classified as primary (genetic) or secondary (acquired) lymphedema.
Congenital lymphedema includes all forms of lymphedema that are clinically evident at birth and accounts for 10%–25% of all primary lymphedema. Congenital lymphedema manifests more often with females than males, in lower than upper extremities, and in single than both legs.
Secondary or acquired lymphedema is caused by functionally compromised lymphatics owing to infection, surgery, radiation, or compression. In the advanced countries, the majority of secondary lymphedema is observed among cancer patients who undergo various radiation therapies following lymphadenectomy. Lymphadenectomy is a surgical lymph node dissection and a common procedure for assessing the stages of tumors. Although it is an essential practice, it inevitably destroys and obstructs lymphatic flows and thus renders patients at a high increased risk of lymphedema. Studies report that 25%–56% of breast cancer patients develop mild-to-severe lymphedema after cancer treatment
Ways to Support the Lymphatic System:
- Essential Oils
- Footbaths
- Dry Brushing
- Deep Breathing
- Drinking Water
- Exercise