Lymph Drainage Flow & Chronic Illness
“Flow” is a natural phenomenon that is a characteristic of nearly every living system that utilizes fluid movement. It’s actually a basic principle in physics and fluid dynamics, whereby fluid movement is largely influenced by space and gravity.
Lymph is a naturally occurring extracellular fluid that is very important for the body’s waste drainage, detoxification, and the maintenance of a healthy immune system. Lymph is moved throughout the body largely by muscle contractions during movement. The walls of the lymphatic vessels also engage in peristalsis (rhythmic contractions), similar to the gastrointestinal tract, to remove fluid and extracellular debris from the extracellular space.
In chronic illness, and especially in Lyme Disease and bio-toxin illness, fluid dynamics that govern cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, neurologic, and lymphatic health, become compromised. Thus is largely due to the build up of bio-toxins in the extracellular space causing stagnation. As these bio-toxins accumulate in the tissues, proper cellular functioning becomes impaired.
Bio-therapeutic drainage and lymphatic massage may be necessary to return the body to a natural state of flow so that healing from multiple infections, inflammation, elevated toxic burden, and heavy metal poisoning can occur more quickly.
Feel free to speak with Dr. Marra during your office visit about this piece of the chronic illness puzzle, and she will be more than happy to make recommendations as to what may help you help.