Kanawha Valley Lymphatic

TikTok · Kanawha Valley Lymphatic

scientific evidence supporting lymphatic drainage for specific medical conditions, but little proof for trendy wellness claims.

UCLA Health
The lymphatic system is a network of tissues, vessels, and nodes that removes waste, fights infections, and balances fluid levels in the body. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a gentle massage technique designed to stimulate this fluid movement just beneath the skin.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)
Where the Science is Proven

Lymphedema Management: MLD is a proven, core component of complete decongestive therapy for lymphedema. This chronic swelling happens when damaged or removed lymph nodes (such as during cancer surgery) block normal fluid drainage. Clinical studies and meta-analyses show that MLD successfully reduces limb volume and relieves related pain or tightness.

Post-Surgical Recovery: Clinical research indicates that MLD can help reduce postoperative swelling and aid tissue recovery after certain surgeries, including cosmetic procedures.

Nervous System Relaxation: Studies show that gentle neck and abdominal MLD can temporarily lower heart rate and reduce blood pressure, signaling a calming effect on the nervous system

Medical conditions that may cause fluid retention

Fluid retention may be a symptom of serious underlying conditions, including:

kidney disease – such as nephrotic syndrome and acute glomerulonephritis

heart failure – if the heart does not pump effectively, the body compensates in various ways. It starts to retain fluid and increase the volume of blood. This results in congestion of the veins, enlargement of the liver, and the accumulation of fluid in body cavities like the abdominal cavity (ascites) and in subcutaneous tissues, causing swelling (oedema) of the legs

chronic lung diseases – such as severe emphysema, which put excessive pressure on the heart’s right ventricle, leading to its failure

liver disease – such as severe cirrhosis that triggers liver failure

malignant lymphoedema – cancerous tumours that block structures of the lymphatic system, such as the lymph nodes

thyroid disease – such as hypothyroidism

arthritis – joints affected by some types of arthritis tend to swell with fluid

allergic reaction – in susceptible people, the body tends to swell in response to particular allergens, such as an insect bite. In some cases, the reaction is severe (anaphylaxis) and requires urgent medical attention. This swelling is short-lived rather than ongoing
autoimmune diseases – such as lupus

hereditary angioedema (HAE) – a rare condition occurring in approximately one in 50,000 people who have low levels or reduced effectiveness of a C1-inhibitor enzyme. The face, tongue, throat and gut can be involved, and upper airway attacks can be life threatening.

Self-care options for fluid retention

Mild fluid retention can be helped in the following ways:

Reduce the amount of salt in your diet. Don’t add salt during the cooking process and stop salting your meals at the table. Avoid foods like potato chips and salted peanuts. Be wary of processed foods such as manufactured meats, which tend to contain ‘hidden’ salt.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is thought to help in cases of mild fluid retention. Good sources of vitamin B6 include brown rice and red meat.

Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), calcium and vitamin D help the body to excrete excess fluids. Include fresh fruits and low-fat dairy foods in your daily diet.

Supplements may help in the case of fluid retention caused by the menstrual cycle: for example calcium, magnesium, manganese, evening primrose oil and chaste tree.

Herbal diuretics including dandelion leaf, corn silk and horsetail.

Make sure to discuss the use of supplements with your doctor or health care professional, particularly if you are on any type of medication.

Drink plenty of water. It may sound contradictory, but a well-hydrated body is less likely to retain fluid.
Cut back on dehydrating drinks such as tea, coffee and alcohol.

Cranberry juice has a mild diuretic action.

Lie down with your legs higher than your head, when possible.

Exercise regularly.

Wear support stockings.

MLD treatments!

When should you worry about your lymph nodes?

If your lymph nodes are swollen due to an infection, the swelling will likely go away as your body rids itself of the infection and you start feeling better.

See your doctor if you have swollen lymph nodes for an unexplained reason, if they continue to get bigger or if they don’t get better after two weeks.

Where Are Your Lymph Nodes?

Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that work within your immune system to help your body fight off infection, disease and potentially harmful foreign substances.
You have the most lymph nodes in your axilla (armpit), along your neck, and in your chest (on either side of the lungs) and your groin.
Infection is the most common cause of swollen lymph nodes.
Sometimes, swollen lymph nodes can be the first sign of illness.

Your Lymphatic System & Your Immune System

Your lymph nodes are like a security checkpoint. They’re home to immune cells, whose job inside your lymph nodes includes:

Looking for foreign invaders — like viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi — and destroying them or marking them for other immune cells to destroy
Removing damaged, abnormal or cancerous cells
Your immune cells do this by filtering lymph — fluid that leaks from your blood vessels and contains proteins, minerals, nutrients, damaged or diseased cells, and foreign substances.

Lymph drains from your lymph vessels into your lymph nodes. As lymph moves through the node, immune cells work on marking, destroying and removing pathogens (germs) and damaged cells. The “cleaned” lymph then moves out of the node and on through the lymphatic system, until it makes its way back to your bloodstream.

What is the Lymphatic system?

As a vital part of your immune system, your lymphatic system protects you from infection and destroys old or abnormal cells your body doesn’t need. Lymphatic system functions also include maintaining normal fluid levels in your body and absorbing fats and fat-soluble vitamins so they can make their way into your bloodstream.

Every day, about 20 liters of plasma (the liquid part of your blood) flow out of tiny pores in the thin walls of your capillaries. Imagine water seeping out of a sponge. Where does this liquid go? It delivers oxygen and nutrients to the tissues surrounding each capillary. The tissues hungrily soak up all the nutrients while leaving behind waste (like a kid who finishes their food but leaves behind a pile of sticky napkins).

The plasma doesn’t mind cleaning up the mess — it picks up the waste and then returns to your bloodstream the same way it came, by flowing back through the pores in your capillary walls. Each day, about 17 liters of plasma return to your bloodstream in this way. Since 20 liters initially flowed out of your capillary walls, that means 3 liters are still roaming around in your body’s tissues.

That’s where your lymphatic system steps in. Tiny lymphatic capillaries pick up this remaining fluid from your tissues. The fluid changed its name during its journey: now instead of plasma, it’s called lymph. Your lymphatic capillaries move the lymph into larger tubes called lymphatic vessels.

These vessels keep the lymph moving until it ultimately reaches one of two major ducts in your upper chest. These are called your right lymphatic duct and thoracic duct, and they’re a bit like highway on-ramps. They merge into large veins called your subclavian veins and empty the lymph into them. From there, your lymph reenters your bloodstream and can flow through your body again.