Hot and Cold Showers - Lymphatic Cleansing

The Lymphatic System - How It Works to Reduce Inflammation, Illness and Pain

One of the critical parts of the body affected by hot and cold shower therapy is the lymphatic system. This comprises a vast network of lymph vessels, nodes and organs, like the tonsils, adenoids, spleen and thymus which are part of the immune system.

Lymph nodes are found in the armpits, neck, groin, and deep in the chest around the lungs and heart. The lymph tissue helps white blood cells recognize and destroy bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. Lymph vessels carry clear fluid full of infection-fighters with antibodies, playing a key role in defending your body. Once its mission is done and pathogens destroyed, the lymph fluid is filtered in the nodes and returned to the system.

Another function of the lymph is to bathe all the cells in nourishing liquid and to carry away debris and wastes. It carries on exchanges between the cells and the blood, especially carrying the fat-soluble nutrients. Lymph makes up a part of the clear component of the blood in the cardiovascular system.

Unlike the blood, the lymph is pumped by the movement of the muscles, so no exercise equals stagnant lymph and a sluggish immune response and poorly nourished cells.

Hot and cold shower therapy benefits the lymphatic system with circulation because lymph vessels contract when exposed to cold, and relax in response to heatand move lymph fluid through. When you alternate your body's exposure to hot and cold water, your lymph vessels dilate and contract to "pump" fluid through the body.

Stimulating circulation in the lymphatic system through hot and cold showers helps to reduce buildup of fluids and which may show as swelling. Excess fluid is funneled by the lymph system to lymph nodes in the area, flushing debris and toxins out of the area. This also triggers the immune system when needed.

Back to Directions: How to Take Therapeutic Hot and Cold Showers ...and Tips for Success

Dry skin brushing is another great way to get your circulation going and help cleanse your lymphatic system, since many lymph vessels lie just under the skin.

Dry skin brushing may be done before showering. Learn more about this in our Skin Brush Shower Kit. Non-toxic soaps for showering are highly recommended so that more chemicals are not added and absorbed into the body through the skin!

Try our Skin Brush & Shower Kit: Natural Bristle Skin Brush & non-toxic Miracle II Soap.

One of the main actions of hot and cold water therapy is that it encourages your body to release wastes and toxins. To kick detoxification up to the next level, you can increase the pathways used to detoxify.

You can make sure additional elimination pathways are open by doing an herbal cleanse for the whole body in phases, addressing the intestines/colon, liver, kidneys, skin, as well as lymph and blood. Doing this can help ensure that toxic wastes are not allowed to recirculate through the lymph and blood, but are actually removed.

This can be a great follow up to hot and cold shower therapy. Cleansing with herbs allows you to easily clear your body systems as needed, usually once or twice a year. Herbal cleansing has the advantage that it is done at home at your pace and on your schedule.

About Our Cleansing Programs

We offer a variety of herbal cleanses that can be done one at a time or in sequence, intended for people who want to feel and function better in life. Recommended once a year, or repeat any of them a few times a year, as desired.

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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither the writer nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.