The lymphatic system is technically a part of the immune system.  It has the job of working to keep foreign invaders at bay, to encapsulate these invaders and to remove them and other waste products from the cells on a 24/7 basis.

LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

TONSILS, APPENDIX, LYMPH NODES, LYMPH TISSUES, AND LYMPH VESSELS

The lymphatic system is an important part of immunity from disease. I have chosen to discuss it separately here, followed by information about the immune system.

Lymph fluid goes deep into the body tissues, surrounding and bathing each cell, going where even blood does not penetrate. The movement of the lymph fluid provides continuous cleansing on a deep cellular level. If the lymph gets overburdened, waste gets stored in the connective tissue of organs and joints. The lymph system is a very important part of the immune system. Lymph fluid also carries nutrients to the cells.

DISEASES

Cancer, tonsillitis, allergies, sinusitis, arthritis, colitis, lupus, skin disorders

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms include fluid retention, loss of energy, constipation, low back pain, sluggish thinking, enlarged tonsils. Most conditions that itch are lymph related.

Babies: damage to the lymph system can occur before birth due to infections in the mother and drugs, both prescription and illegal street varieties, that were taken by the mother prenatally. These children suffer throughout childhood with constant colds, runny noses, and earaches.

STRESSORS

Environmental poisons, drug residues, subclinical malnutrition

VITAMINS / MINERALS / HERBS

Unlike the heart, the lymphatic system does not have a pumping system. Exercise is vital to the movement of lymph fluid.

Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, B-Complex vitamins, lemons, cabbage, cloves, echinacea, elder berry, parsley, carrots, honey, mustard, onions, watercress

HERBS / SUPPLEMENTS

Enzymes, thyme, ginger, myrrh, sage, echinacea, garlic, rosemary, calendula, elecampane

EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS

The lymph system has a two-fold role to play. The first is the removal of waste products from the body. The second is the isolation and destruction of foreign invaders. These rolls are reflected in the emotional patterns behind lymphatic stagnation.

The first function is reflected in the inability to distinguish between what is good for oneself emotionally and what is not. Poor decision making skills and a tendency to make the wrong friends or marry the wrong people, over and over, are seen here. The second pattern manifests as constantly feeling like one is being attacked and must fight to be able to maintain independence and a sense of self.

GENERAL COMMENTS

The liver is responsible for the production of about one third of the lymph fluid in the body. The rest is produced in tissues spaces throughout the body. The lymph nodes and vessels contain colonies of immune cells whose responsibility is destroying foreign invaders, including cancer cells. When a virus or cancer has been encapsulated, there will be no pain in the lymph nodes.

The appendix breaks down bacteria coming from the colon and disperses the “trash” into the lymph system for removal from the body. Diarrhea can be an appendix/lymph system issue.

Oils which have an affinity for the lymphatic system include:
^LeAcknowledge,^Le AgeLess, ^LeAngel, ^LeCherish, ^LeCinnamonBear, ^LeDeeper, ^LeDeliverance, ^LeEndoRelief, ^LeEZTraveler, Housewarming, ^LeKey to my Heart, ^LeLettingGo, ^LeLiteN, ^LeLivN, ^LeReflections, ^LeRevitalize, ^LeSafeGuard, ^LeSunburst, ^LeSynopsis, ^LeUnDone, ^LeVitality, angelica, birch, carrot seed, celery seed, goldenrod, grapefruit, helichrysum, ledum, lemon, lime, orange-sweet, ravensara, rosemary

Herbs which have an affinity for the lymphatic system include:
calendula, cloves, echinacea, elecampane, elder berry, garlic, ginger, myrrh, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme

Probably the most important aspect of the lymphatic system is the fact that there is no pump to circulate the lymphatic fluid. The only thing that moves lymphatic fluid is movement. The up and down motion, created by movements such as jumping on a mini trampoline or horseback riding, is vital. It "squeezes" the valves within the lymphatic vessels closed creating a siphon effect. Waste material is removed and fresh lymphatic fluid is replaced, bathing the cells with fresh material.

Emotionally, the lymphatic system deal with issues connected with fighting an "invasion" from someone else. There is also an aspect of being able to maintain your sense of self and identity without being overtaken by foreign "invaders".