Introduction

 

The cells of our body are in constant demand of oxygen and nutrients, provided by the constant pumping of blood through a complex network of arteries and capillaries. Blood that has passed through is then “recycled” to the heart where it can be sent to the lungs to pick up oxygen, and is then pumped back to the active tissues of the body.

This complex circulatory system is well-studied and some of the most common diseases we encounter- heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension- result from its disorders.

However, there is another intricate network of vessels in our body, intimately linked to the circulatory system, cells and our immune system. This is the lymphatic system and given its complex structure and ubiquity, it is closely related to your patient’s health and imbalances in the lymphatic system may be contributing to symptoms of poor health. 

What is lymph?

Our body regulates fluid very tightly and it can be shifted between different compartments. In the circulatory system, the fluid is blood and changes to blood volume can affect blood pressure and organ function. In the lymphatic system, the fluid is simply referred to as “lymph fluid” or “lymph”, which circulates in a similar manner in a separate network of vessels.

At the level of the capillary, we see the formation of lymph. Capillaries are so small that red blood cells flow in a single file, squashed up against the capillary wall, so that oxygen is as close to the surrounding body cells as possible. As well as oxygen and nutrients, fluid is also in balance at the capillary level.

Lymph fluid can be thought of as the excess fluid that is drained away from cells. At the capillary level there is a balance between two forces: the outward force of blood flowing through the capillary (called hydrostatic pressure) and the inward force attracting fluid back into the capillary (called osmotic pressure). The balance between these two pressures determines how much fluid leaves the capillary and enters the lymphatic system (1).

This balance can be affected by the health and function of the surrounding organs, as well as the total health of the body. For example, high blood pressure will increase the hydrostatic pressure, whereas liver disease will affect blood protein content, reducing the osmotic pressure. In addition, given lymph fluid is made from blood plasma, markers of infection or micro-organisms can be found in it which gives it important immunological functions that we will explore later.

Lymphatic circulation

Lymph fluid made from excess capillary fluid circulates in small lymphatic vessels which, like the circulatory system, increase in size to form larger vessels. The relative low pressure means these vessels can have valves, preventing fluid from flowing backwards.

These vessels ultimately drain lymph fluid back to the heart, but there are specialised structures called lymph nodes which can be found within the complex network of vessels. Lymph nodes are specialised lymphoid structures that contain immune cells (such as lymphocytes). Given lymph fluid is made from blood plasma, any microorganisms that are in the blood are filtered into the lymphatic system which then drains lymph fluid to these lymph nodes. When immune cells come into contact with these microorganisms, it can start an immune system response against the invader. It is this reason why we can have enlarged lymph nodes (sometimes incorrectly referred to as “glands”) when we are ill. Lymphatic vessels then drain lymph from lymph nodes into bigger lymphatic vessels, and then into specialised large vessels such as the thoracic duct (2). From here, lymphatic fluid is drained back into large veins (such as the subclavian veins), where it joins blood to flow back to the heart.

The immune system and the circulatory system are therefore intimately linked to the lymphatic system, but they are not the only major system to do this. The gastrointestinal tract is also connected with a dense network of lymphatic vessels draining from the tract. Interestingly, this seems to be part of regular fat metabolism as dietary fat is packaged and drained into the lymphatic circulation. Disruption to this normal relationship has been shown to cause disease and disordered metabolism (2). Given the large range of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, this link also makes sense from the point of view of immune system surveillance. 

Disruption and disease?

The lymphatic system is a vital part of overall health and wellbeing. It is necessary to transport excess fluid and waste products from cells of the body and is a key part of the immune system. Given its links to the heart, blood, the gastrointestinal tract and tissues around the body, ill health can be caused by disorders of the lymphatic system.

However, the lymphatic system can also be a vital ally, given its natural role in removing waste products from tissue. Using our Med matrix device, you can apply three individual treatments (that cumulatively have a stronger effect) to detoxify the cellular matrix of your patients.The first treatment, the rhythmic direct current treatment, utilises external electrodes to neutralise acid build up and promote proper metabolic function. The second treatment, system-information-therapy, converts pathological energy frequencies into therapeutic signals that use the natural self-healing powers of your patient’s bodies. The third treatment is the petechial suction massage which uses low pressure suction to bring toxins and inflammatory products to the surface, enabling the lymphatic system to remove them

 

Author: Hardeep Lotay (Final Year Medical Student at Cambridge University, blogger, writer)

Bibliography

1.   Santambrogio L. The Lymphatic Fluid. Int Rev Cell Mol Biol. 2018;337:111–33.

2.   Breslin JW, Yang Y, Scallan JP, Sweat RS, Adderley SP, Murfee WL. Lymphatic Vessel Network Structure and Physiology. Compr Physiol. 2018 Dec 13;9(1):207–99.

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