Do It Yourself Lymphatic Massage

Disclaimer: If you have a medical condition, please first consult with your doctor before doing this do it yourself lymphatic massage. Read my full disclaimer HERE.

 

Did you know that you can give yourself a quick, do it yourself lymphatic massage that will help your body eliminate toxins and also supports good hormone function?

 

It’s true!

 

I learned this self lymphatic massage technique while attending a holistic healing workshop a few months ago, based on the work of Donna Eden and Dr. David Feinstein. Ever since then, I’ve been giving myself a quick daily lymphatic massage. It only takes a few minutes and it’s such a simple habit that really does make a big difference in your health! 

 

Why is it important to give yourself a self lymphatic massage?

We now live in a world crowded with chemicals that didn’t exist less than a century ago. Much of the food we eat, the medicines we take, the products we put on our skin and use in our homes contain synthetic chemicals the human body has a difficult time processing. Not only that, but electromagnetic fields and industrial pollutants are around us daily. Over 4 billion pounds (!!!) of toxic chemicals are released into the nation’s environment each year, including 72 million pounds of recognized carcinogens. (source)

 

The truth is, we have amazing detoxification systems in our body (kidneys, liver, skin, lymphatic system, etc) and it was never designed to handle the chemicals of today’s world. For a lot of us, our bodies can’t keep up with all these toxins. Studies show that 100 percent of human fat cell biopsies contain elevated levels of harmful toxins. And when toxins accumulate in the body, physical health suffers. 

 

Digestion problems, allergies, asthma, headaches and/or skin issues are often the first sign that we have excess toxins in our system and that our detox pathways can’t keep up with the load. Over time, these excess toxins can lead to even more devastating health issues like cancer, neurological diseases, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, obesity and more. Cancer and heart disease barely existed less than a century ago and now they are the two leading causes of death!  

 

The necessity for moving toxins out of the body is a key principle in holistic medicine.

And it’s one of the major keys for getting and staying healthy in today’s toxic world! If we want to be healthy in today’s world we’ve got to keep our body’s detox pathways running properly so our body can get rid of these toxins that can make us sick.

 

One of the body’s detoxification pathways is the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is the body’s built-in sanitation center. It’s responsible for carrying away and filtering out toxins and waste from every cell, tissue and organ. The accumulation of toxins cause blockages and congestion in the flow of lymph so it becomes less and less effective at doing it’s job properly. When the lymphatic points become clogged, every system in the body is compromised! Can you see why it’s so important to keep this system running smoothly and properly?

 

And guess what helps move toxins out of the body and keeps the lymphatic system running smoothly?

 

An easy do it yourself lymphatic massage!

 

 

Massaging your lymphatic points, also called neurolymphatic reflex points (although they are not necessarily situated directly over the lymph nodes or lymph tissue) releases toxins into the lymphatic vessels and then into the bloodstream where they can be eliminated by the body.

 

There are over 90 lymphatic points on the body. You can easily find congested lymphatic points because if you massage them, they will feel tender. If you find that you have a lot of sore points, this self lymphatic massage is an especially good daily habit for you to do so you can help your lymphatic system run smoothly again! 

 

Lymphatic Points:

* For printable lymphatic massage points diagram, click here: https://www.primallyinspired.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Lymphatic-Massage-Points.pdf

 

Do It Yourself Lymphatic Massage Instructions:

1. With your fingers, press firmly into the skin where a lymphatic point is located using my diagram above.
2. Using firm pressure, massage in a circular motion for about 5-10 seconds.
3. Work tender points for several extra seconds.  
4. Move onto the next point and repeat until all the lymphatic points are massaged. If you have a lot of tender points, please see note below.

It seems like a lot of points, but it really only takes 2 or 3 minutes to get them all done! And you can give yourself this self lymphatic massage while you’re watching TV, while you’re on your lunch break….heck, even while your at a red light.

 

Important Note: Do not massage a bruise or an injury. If you find that you have a lot of tender points, your body may be overwhelmed with toxins, so don’t massage them all at one time. If your body has too many accumulated toxins, massaging all the tender points may make you feel flu-like as the toxins are being unclogged and released. If that’s the case, just proceed slowly and massage a few points at a time. 

 

The soreness may not go away immediately, but you are indeed helping clear the congestion (and you’ll probably notice a difference in how you feel!). Over time if you keep massaging these points daily, you’ll notice that the tenderness will go away, which is just what we want! That means you’ve successfully cleared the blockage and made a huge step at helping your lymphatic system run more smoothly! Woohoo! 🙂 

 

Other ways to strengthen the lymphatic system:

Infrared Sauna 

Sweating in an infrared sauna is the very best way to help eliminate harmful toxins and heavy metals from the body and moving the flow of congested lymph. An infrared sauna session raises the body’s core temperature, activates circulation and excretes toxins from the lymph and blood through the skin. The heat also increases the heart rate and encourages deeper breathing, which boosts the drainage process even further. 

 

Daily stretching and/or Yoga

Stretching and yoga are especially helpful at moving lymph flow.  HERE are 5 simple stretches I think everyone should do each day that help activate the lymphatic system.

 

Deep Diaphragm Breathing

Shallow breathing leads to lymphatic congestion. Take a few moments to breathe deeply. Slowly take a deep breath in through the nose, pushing your belly out. Exhale slowly through the mouth. Repeat at least 3 times.  Not only does deep diaphragm breathing activate your lymphatic system and oxygenate blood, but it lessens stress, too! I try to remember to deep breathe as often as I can – it’s so good for the body!

 

Are you going to try this simple daily DIY lymphatic massage? It will make a big positive step forward in your health!  I hope you give it a try for at least 10 days so you can feel what a difference it can make 🙂

 

Pin Do It Yourself Lymphatic Massage HERE: