21/11/2025
🌿 What High Oestrogen Does to Your Lymphatic System
By Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS – Lymphatica
Hormones and the lymphatic system are profoundly connected — especially oestrogen, which influences how your body regulates water balance, detoxification, and inflammation. When oestrogen becomes chronically elevated — a condition known as oestrogen dominance — it can overload the lymphatic system, slow detoxification, and create that “puffy, inflamed” feeling many women experience without realising why.
🔬 The Science Behind It
Oestrogen is metabolised by the liver and cleared through the lymphatic and digestive systems. When these pathways become sluggish due to stress, poor diet, or toxin exposure, used hormones aren’t efficiently broken down or excreted. This leads to recirculation of “spent” oestrogen — increasing its overall load and impact on tissues.
Research shows that oestrogen receptors (ERα) are present in lymphatic endothelial cells. These receptors help regulate vessel integrity, drainage, and immune signalling. When oestrogen signalling becomes unbalanced — whether too low, too high, or poorly metabolised — lymphatic flow and vessel tone are directly affected.
🧪 Studies show that loss of oestrogen receptor-α in lymphatic vessels impairs drainage and increases vessel diameter, confirming that hormonal balance is vital for healthy lymph flow (Morfoisse et al., 2018; Fontaine et al., 2020).
💧 1. Fluid Retention and Swelling
High oestrogen increases capillary permeability — meaning fluid leaks more easily into surrounding tissues. This excess fluid relies on the lymphatic system to be drained. When the lymph becomes overwhelmed, local swelling and heaviness occur, particularly in oestrogen-sensitive areas:
• Breasts – tenderness or fullness before menstruation
• Hips and thighs – fluid retention and stubborn fat storage (“lipoedema-like” pattern)
• Face and ankles – morning puffiness and water retention
Environmental oestrogens (plastics, fragrances, pesticides) can further mimic hormone activity, keeping the lymph in a constant state of overload.
🧬 Research confirms that oestrogen modulates endothelial permeability and fluid dynamics (Caldwell et al., 1999). When regulation falters, lymphatic uptake slows, causing visible puffiness and congestion.
🩷 2. Oestrogen-Sensitive Lymph Nodes
Your axillary (underarm), groin, and breast lymph nodes are rich in hormone receptors. During phases of high oestrogen (PMS, perimenopause, or hormone therapy), these nodes can become tender or swollen due to:
• Increased interstitial fluid
• Macrophage activation from hormone metabolites
• Build-up of cellular waste in the node regions
That’s why women often feel underarm tightness or breast heaviness during hormonal shifts — it’s lymphatic congestion driven by hormonal imbalance.
Oestrogen supports lymph vessel growth, but excess or disrupted signalling contributes to lymphatic dysfunction and lymphedema risk (Morfoisse et al., 2018; Gantumur et al., 2023).
🩸 3. The Liver–Lymph Connection
Your liver clears oestrogen, and your lymph carries away the by-products. When the liver is sluggish from toxins, alcohol, or processed food, oestrogen builds up, creating a cycle of overload:
More circulating oestrogen → more metabolic waste → more lymph congestion → slower clearance → even higher oestrogen.
Clinical studies show that altering oestrogen metabolism through hormone therapy can affect lymph drainage and lymphedema development, confirming this powerful liver–lymph link (D**g et al., 2022; Morfoisse et al., 2021).
🌿 Supporting Healthy Oestrogen & Lymph Flow
To restore harmony and prevent lymph stagnation, focus on supporting the three detox organs that regulate oestrogen — the liver, gut, and lymph.
1️⃣ Move your lymph daily: Dry brushing, MLD therapy, walking, and diaphragmatic breathing all stimulate flow.
2️⃣ Support your liver: Eat cruciferous veggies, bitter greens, and use castor oil packs to assist bile and hormone detox.
3️⃣ Feed your gut: Fibre and probiotics help your estrobolome metabolise and excrete used oestrogen.
4️⃣ Reduce xeno-oestrogens: Avoid plastics, chemical perfumes, and processed meats.
5️⃣ Replenish nutrients: Magnesium, B-vitamins, and omega-3s aid oestrogen metabolism and lymphatic tone.
🕊️ Final Thoughts
Your lymphatic system is your body’s silent communicator — it instantly reflects what your hormones are saying.
When oestrogen is balanced, lymph moves freely, inflammation subsides, and your body feels lighter.
When oestrogen dominates, lymph flow slows, and your body whispers through puffiness, fatigue, and fluid retention — all signs that detox and balance are needed.
🧾 References
1. Morfoisse F et al. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2018.
2. Fontaine C et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2020; 21(9):3244.
3. Caldwell R B et al. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 1999; 276(2):C337-C345.
4. Morfoisse F et al. Cancers. 2021; 13(3):530.
5. D**g D et al. Front Pharmacol. 2022; 13:853859.
6. Gantumur E et al. J Invest Dermatol. 2023.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health regimen.
