Like a sink that gets clogged with waste, our lymphatic system can become overloaded with toxins – from eating too much processed food, having insufficient sleep, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

The therapy is a scientifically recognised solution for some medical issues
Ardyce Yik, a naturopathic doctor

This creates blockages in our lymph nodes, causing our body to retain water because it is unable to flush the toxins out.

Eventually, the lymphatic system experiences a build-up of toxic fluid.

Rebecca Faria is the owner of the A-list-favoured Detox by Rebecca in Los Angeles, in the US. Photo: LinkedIn/Rebecca Faria

Lymphatic drainage massage, Faria told WWD, is “a preventive medicine”.

“[After their massage, my clients] look skinnier, but they are not. They just have less water.

“Usually when they come here for the first time, they are looking for a better body shape. But after a while … they come because of the health benefits.”

The side effect of breast cancer surgery and radiation that no one talks about

Lymphatic drainage is more than just a marketing term, says Ardyce Yik, a naturopathic doctor at the Integrated Medicine Institute in Hong Kong.

“The therapy is a scientifically recognised solution for some medical issues, most notably lymphoedema caused by breast cancer,” she says. Lymphoedema is the term for the build-up of fluid in soft tissues that occurs when the lymphatic system is damaged or blocked.

If your lymphatic system is healthy – that is, not sluggish or congested – and you do not have a serious medical issue, lymphatic drainage therapies such as massage and dry brushing are probably not necessary. But it is important to safeguard your lymphatic health.

Ardyce Yik is a naturopathic doctor in Hong Kong. Photo: Ardyce Yik

“The lymphatic system is a network of vessels that circulate and drain lymph, a watery fluid, throughout the body,” Yik says.

Part of the immune system that complements the circulatory system, one of its many functions is keeping fluid levels in balance by draining extra fluid from body tissues and returning it to the circulatory system, she adds. It also defends the body against infections.

The lymph nodes – small, bean-shaped structures found along the network of vessels – contain lymphocytes, white blood cells that help fight off infection and act as filters by trapping bacteria, viruses and other infection-causing agents.

“When we have an infection, the lymphocytes multiply in the lymph nodes to help fight the infection – this is why we often have swollen lymph nodes when we have an infection,” she says.

A lymphatic massage of the stomach may help reduce bloating. Photo: Shutterstock
“The lymphatic system also plays a role in eliminating toxins and waste products from our body, destroying old or abnormal cells, such as cancer cells, and transporting fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the small intestine to the bloodstream.”

How well your lymphatic system functions can affect your body’s ability to balance fluid levels, eliminate toxins and fight infection, Yik adds.

If it is not working properly, fluid can build up, causing lymphoedema, which can lead to infections such as cellulitis or lymphangitis. An unhealthy lymphatic system has also been linked to recurrent infections, autoimmune conditions and cancer.
Mia Samtani is a co-founder of skin and self-care product company GlowGear, and a fan of facial lymphatic drainage. Photo: Mia Samtani
Mia Samtani is a co-founder of GlowGear, a skin and self-care brand based in Hong Kong. She is a fan of facial lymphatic drainage, which she claims reduces facial puffiness, dullness and breakouts. She uses a Y-shaped roller, together with squalane oil, to gently stimulate the lymph nodes in her face.Besides clearing up her skin, Samtani feels that facial lymphatic drainage has resulted in other benefits, from improved sleep and an increase in energy, to reduced bloating, fewer bouts of the common cold, and relief from pain in her jaw and the surrounding muscles – known as TMJ or temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

She even experienced a face “lift” soon after starting this DIY therapy.

Lymphoma: symptoms and treatments, and who’s most at risk from this cancer?

“When fluid accumulates in a specific area of the face, it can give the appearance of saggy skin, but once the fluid is gone the sagginess disappears, too,” she says.

Samtani also raves about the Vodder method of manual lymph drainage (MLD). This involves gently tapping the areas where your lymph nodes and vessels are located. She claims that this treatment is effective in reducing water retention and eliminating toxins from her body.

There are other ways to keep your lymphatic system healthy.

Eating a nutritious diet can safeguard the lymphatic system. Photo: Instagram/detoxbyrebecca

  • Staying hydrated throughout the day to facilitate the flow of lymph through your body.

  • Exercise helps lymph move more freely through the lymphatic system.

  • Eating a nutritious diet also helps. Load up on green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, antioxidant-rich fruits with a high water content like berries and melons, and foods packed with omega-3 fats such as salmon, nuts and seeds.

  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Tight clothing can restrict lymphatic circulation and put pressure on your lymph nodes.

The lymphatic system of the head and neck. Photo: Shutterstock

Samtani works out regularly and says that any combination of therapies and activities can assist in keeping your lymphatic system healthy.

“I do Pilates and yoga, which are not high-impact workouts, but the constant movement stimulates my lymphatic system. As my muscles contract, they push lymph through the vessels to keep them flowing.”

“Whatever way you choose to look after your lymphatic system, it should be right for your body,” she says. “If you want results you have to be consistent.”