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Detox Your Way to Optimum Health

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Published 02/04/09

The Heart of the Matter

According to Dr. Lemole, the more lymphatic flow coursing through your epicardial arteries—blood vessels on the surface of the heart—the more “bad” cholesterol is filtered out and the less potential damage to coronary arteries. Allowed to stagnate, oxidized LDL (very harmful cholesterol) can cause inflammation in blood vessel walls, making them susceptible to penetration by plaque formations. Meanwhile, this same lymph flow carries HDL and accompanying toxins back to your liver to be filtered out.

All of which brings us back to the need for pressure variation in the thoracic cavity. Lymph flow is highly dependent on the opening and closing of “gates” in the thoracic duct. And unlike blood, which has the heart to pump it, lymph has nothing forcing it to flow. Exercise and deep breathing are two methods of varying the pressure. A third, very pleasurable way is massage.

 
Massaging Your Way to Health
One highly pleasurable way to improve your lymphatic flow is through a relatively simple massage technique known as Manual Lymphatic Drainage. Gentle stroking with light pressure is all that's needed, but you must know how and where to apply your efforts—toward specific lymph nodes—if you want to promote drainage.

To be effective, Manual Lymphatic Drainage should be done at least three times a week. It's best when done with a partner. And any activity that enhances contact with a loved one provides "double bonus points" for your heart. I'll use the terms “giver” and “receiver/recipient” for those of you lucky enough to have a partner with whom you can swap roles.

Basic Back Massage for Enhanced Lymph Flow

Receiver: Just lie there (for some of you, this is the hardest part).
Giver: Place your hands just above the waist, one hand on each side of the receiver's spine, with your fingers pointed toward his or her head. Your thumbs should be at right angles to the fingers.
Giver: Move recipient's skin upward, then out, toward the sides. Maintain contact long enough to allow the receiver's skin to pull your hands back to position. Work your way up the recipient's back in this manner, toward the heart. This is very healing.
Giver: Work the top of the shoulders by moving the skin forward and then releasing it in a circular motion.
Receiver: Say “Ahhh, feels good to me.” Repeat several times.
Gentle strokes may also be extended to the back of the neck, scalp, and face, as well as to the limbs. The same technique may be used for the chest and abdomen.      

You Can't Go Wrong with Massage

Not only does massage make your lymph flow easily, it's also an excellent stress reliever. Massage deepens your breathing, puts you in touch with your body and soul—whether you're giving or receiving—and increases your feelings of well-being. Massage may even improve relations with your partner, especially if you take turns. Not a bad return for a small investment of time!

One note of caution: If you want to do lymphatic massage to help with treatment for heart disease or cancer, it can be very therapeutic, but you need to make sure you're doing it just right. I recommend that you invest in a consultation with a qualified massage therapist who knows Manual Lymphatic Drainage. This way you will learn specific techniques, as well as which areas are best for you to focus on.

I sincerely hope you'll start incorporating deep breathing and massage into your weekly regimen. Promoting drainage from your lymphatic system not only helps stabilize your HDL and increases clearance of oxidized LDL, it also clears toxins and other metabolic byproducts from the body. As your lymph flows more freely, you can feel good knowing that you're helping to cleanse your body and shutting down specific processes that enhance inflammation, a key source of heart disease and cancer.

References:

• Lemole, G.M. "The Role of Lymphostasis in Atherogenesis." Annals of Thoracic Surg. 31 (1981):290-293.
• Lemole, G.M. The Healing Diet. William Morrow & Co. 2000.

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