Assessment First Massage and Lymphatics

11/18/2025

Oh my!!! As I work through my own rehab, anxious to get back to my full scope of practise, I know whenever I push too hard, my nervous system and body says WHOA and pushes me two steps backward. It is so important to find that line — BEFORE pain. I am telling my clients this all the time! This post and this body worker’s style resonates with my practice! I hope you find it beneficial as well! Marie

11/03/2025

10/28/2025

Marie may not be able to help you use up your health benefits before the end of the year, but she might be able to help you tackle your stress or chronic pain. Marie has an interesting set of tools that consider your skin, your nerves, your lymphatics, as well as your muscles, etc. Put it all together and sometimes there's relief you haven't enjoyed for a while! Appointments are available; book online at www.assessmentfirstmassage.com

10/27/2025

This article is very well written and worth the read! Marie is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist and a massage specialist. Combining the two modalities with pain science, myofascial cupping and DNM may be very beneficial if you’re battling chronic pain, or swelling, or injury. Appointments available. Book online at
www.assessmentfirstmassage.com

🌀 What Happens Inside Your Body During Lymphatic Drainage? 💧
Gentle therapy. Deep science. Real release.

✨Many of our clients ask us why they feel so emotional, sleepy, or light after a lymphatic drainage session. Some even say they feel like crying — but in a good way. Here’s exactly what’s happening inside your body when we do lymphatic therapy, backed by real science 🧬👇

🔬 1. Waste & Toxin Removal Begins
Your lymphatic system is your body’s “rubbish removal” network — and MLD (Manual Lymphatic Drainage) is like switching on the drain. It helps flush out:
✔️ Metabolic waste
✔️ Excess fluid
✔️ Toxins and inflammation

📚 Research: A clinical review found that MLD improves lymph circulation and supports fluid balance.
🔗 Read the study

🧘‍♀️ 2. Your Nervous System Switches Gears
MLD activates your parasympathetic nervous system — the rest, digest, and repair mode. That’s why you feel sleepy, calm, and sometimes teary. It’s your body saying: “I finally feel safe to relax.”

📚 Study: MLD was shown to reduce stress and promote parasympathetic activity.
🔗 Read the study

🧠 3. Your Brain Responds Too
The technique stimulates the vagus nerve, which can increase the release of oxytocin (the “connection hormone”). This brings a sense of peace, trust, and emotional openness. 🕊️

📚 Study: Gentle therapies like MLD can raise oxytocin and reduce anxiety.
🔗 Read the study

🌊 4. Your Brain’s Detox System Kicks In
MLD supports interstitial flow, even helping your glymphatic system — the brain’s cleaning crew. This can improve:
✔️ Mental clarity
✔️ Mood balance
✔️ Brain fog

📚 Study: Brain fluid drainage improves emotional and neurological function.
🔗 Read the study

💓 5. Emotions Stored in the Body May Release
The body remembers pain and stress. Lymphatic therapy gently touches areas that store trauma (like the gut, chest, or jaw). So don’t be surprised if tears come — it’s your body’s way of letting go.

💬 “I felt like a heavy weight lifted off me.”
💬 “I didn’t realize I was holding so much in.”

You’re not alone — it’s normal, it’s healing, and it’s beautiful. 🫶

📚 Resource: Tissue memory and emotional release are being explored in fascial research.
🔗 Read the article

💡 Things to Keep in Mind:
⛔ Always consult your doctor if you have chronic illness, heart issues, or infections.
✔️ Drink lots of water after your session.
✔️ Emotional release is healing. Let your body speak.

📚 Referenced Research Articles:
1. Manual Lymph Drainage and Edema Management
• “Manual Lymph Drainage Efficacy” – National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
🔗 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2755111
2. Parasympathetic Activation via Manual Therapy
• “Effects of Manual Therapies on Autonomic Nervous System Activity”
🔗 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859221000693
3. Oxytocin, Touch, and Emotional Balance
• “The Oxytocin System and Emotion Regulation” – PMC
🔗 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7852687
4. Glymphatic System and Brain Detoxification
• “A Paravascular Pathway Facilitates CSF Flow Through the Brain” – Science Translational Medicine
🔗 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3551275
5. Emotional Release through Lymphatic Work
• “The Emotional Release of Lymphatic Drainage” – Austin Lymphatic
🔗 https://austinlymph.com/the-emotional-release-of-lymphatic-drainage

📖 Disclaimer:
This post 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 health routine.

10/25/2025

This is a brilliant explanation of how lyph drainage therapy or manual lymph drainage can be a big help for so many people.
Marie is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist & massage specialist in downtown Salmon Arm. Appointments are available. Book online at
www.assessmentfirstmassage.com

🧠 “What If Your Brain Fog Isn’t in Your Head—But in Your Neck?”

How Lymphatic Blockages Around the Neck and Clavicle Can Choke Your Cognitive Function

Introduction

Brain fog. That hazy, disconnected feeling like you’re wading through cotton wool. It’s one of the most frustrating and misunderstood symptoms people experience. Often dismissed as stress, hormonal, or “just in your head”—many don’t realize the real problem might lie in your neck.

Specifically: your lymphatic drainage system.

Let’s connect the dots between neck congestion, clavicular lymphatic bottlenecks, and your brain’s ability to detox and think clearly.

🔬 1. Your Brain Has a Lymphatic System—The Glymphatic System

For decades, scientists believed the brain was an “immune-privileged” organ with no lymphatic drainage. That changed with the discovery of the glymphatic system (Iliff et al., 2012), a network of channels that clears:
• Cellular waste
• Neurotoxins (like beta-amyloid)
• Inflammatory byproducts

This cleansing system is most active during deep sleep, relying on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and healthy venous + lymphatic outflow—which exits primarily via the neck.

🦠 2. The Neck: The Drainpipe for Your Brain

Lymphatic drainage from the brain moves through:
• Perivascular glymphatic pathways
• The meningeal lymphatics
• The deep cervical lymph nodes
• The thoracic duct and right lymphatic duct, which both drain into the subclavian veins beneath your collarbones

If these regions are stagnant, compressed, or congested, the brain’s waste cannot exit efficiently.

The result?
• Brain fog
• Head pressure
• Sleep disturbances
• Visual processing issues
• Emotional flatness or mood swings

⛔ 3. What Blocks the Brain’s Drainage Pathways?

Several physical and emotional factors can choke your neck’s lymphatic outflow:

🧍 Poor Posture:
• Forward head posture (“tech neck”)
• Rounded shoulders compressing the thoracic outlet
• Clavicular pressure reducing flow through the subclavian vein and lymphatic duct

🧘‍♀️ Shallow Breathing:
• Diaphragmatic stagnation = less thoracic duct movement
• Less “pumping” pressure on the deep cervical and thoracic lymphatics

😔 Unprocessed Emotional Trauma:
• Somatic memory and fascial tension held in the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and scalenes
• Protective “hunch” posture following emotional injury
• Vagus nerve restriction, which impacts brain-gut-lymph communication

🧬 Chronic Illness or Autoimmunity:
• Inflammatory debris buildup in brain and lymph
• Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s slowing detox
• Sinus congestion backing up drainage from the cribriform plate and facial lymph

🧠 4. Why Lymphatic Drainage Clears Brain Fog

When you manually or pneumatically stimulate:
• Deep cervical nodes
• The thoracic inlet (under the collarbone)
• The jugular chain
• The diaphragm + cisterna chyli

You open the gates for glymphatic clearance to occur.
Clients often report:
• Clearer thoughts
• Brighter vision
• Deeper sleep
• Emotional breakthroughs

Sometimes, they cry unexpectedly—not because they’re sad, but because their nervous system is finally exhaling.

📉 5. Signs That Your Brain Fog Is Neck-Related
• You feel “cloudy” despite eating clean or balancing hormones
• You have sinus pressure, ear fullness, or tightness under your jaw
• Your collarbone or neck feels puffy, tight, or sore to touch
• You clench your jaw or carry stress in your upper shoulders
• You experience relief after neck massage or cranial work

✅ What You Can Do
• 🖐️ Lymphatic drainage therapy focusing on the clavicle, SCM, jawline, and thoracic inlet
• 🌬️ Vagus nerve exercises + diaphragmatic breathing
• 💧 Stay hydrated to support CSF and lymph flow
• 🧂 Use trace minerals to maintain osmotic balance in the brain
• 🧘‍♀️ Gua sha or lymphatic facial massage 2–3x per week
• 🚫 Avoid prolonged neck compression (phones, tight bras, poor pillows)

🔄 The Bottom Line

Your brain fog might not be in your mind—it might be in your neck.

Clear the pathways.
Open the drain.
Let your brain breathe again.

📚 References
• Iliff, J. J., et al. (2012). A paravascular pathway facilitates CSF flow through the brain parenchyma and the clearance of interstitial solutes. Science Translational Medicine, 4(147), 147ra111. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3003748
• Louveau, A., et al. (2015). Structural and functional features of central nervous system lymphatic vessels. Nature, 523(7560), 337–341. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14432
• Nedergaard, M., & Goldman, S. A. (2020). Glymphatic failure as a final common pathway to dementia. Science, 370(6512), 50–56. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb8739
• Plog, B. A., & Nedergaard, M. (2018). The glymphatic system in central nervous system health and disease: past, present, and future. Annual Review of Pathology, 13, 379–394.

©️

10/22/2025

This is fantastic information! Marie is a CLT & a massage specialist located along the TCH in downtown Salmon Arm appointments available. Book online at
www.assessmentfirstmassage.com

🔥 Your Back is Burning!

Let’s Talk Inflamed Back Muscles, What’s Really Going On — and How to Fix It 💆‍♀️💧

That ache in your back? It’s not just stress or “bad posture” — it’s your body talking to you. Whether you’re lifting heavy, sitting all day, or waking up like a robot every morning… your paraspinal muscles, trapezius, rhomboids, and latissimus dorsi might be in full-blown inflammatory protest.

But here’s the good news — with the right touch and the right therapy, you can calm that internal fire and get your body flowing again 💪💧

🧠 What’s Really Happening — Myositis Explained

When your back muscles are overworked or chronically tense, the fibres go through microtrauma.
This causes:
🧵 Microtears in the muscle
🌡️ Local heat and swelling
🧪 Buildup of inflammatory cytokines and metabolic waste
❌ Reduced oxygen and nutrient delivery

The result? Pain, stiffness, fatigue — and that “burning” sensation that makes you want to crawl into a ball.

🤕 Signs Your Back Muscles Are Inflamed
• Persistent burning or aching pain
• Tenderness when touched
• Limited range of motion
• Morning stiffness or “locked” feeling after sitting
• Pain radiating into shoulders, ribs, or lower back

💧 Where the Lymphatic System Comes In

Inflammation = waste buildup.
Your lymphatic system’s job is to clear it.

It drains away:
🧫 Cellular debris
💧 Excess fluid
🦠 Inflammatory byproducts

But when your muscles are inflamed, your lymph flow slows down — and you end up with:
⚡ Swelling
😣 Longer recovery
🥵 More pain and fatigue

💆‍♀️ The Healing Duo: Lymphatic Drainage + Remedial Massage

💧 1. Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)

MLD gently stimulates lymph vessel contractions, helping to:
✔️ Move fluid out of inflamed tissues
✔️ Decrease pressure and pain
✔️ Enhance immune modulation
✔️ Speed up recovery

It’s like taking out the trash so your cells can breathe again 🏡

💪 2. Remedial & Sports Massage

Once the swelling is down, it’s time to work deeper:
✔️ Releasing tight fascia and trigger points
✔️ Improving oxygen delivery
✔️ Restoring mobility through the back chain
✔️ Relieving chronic tension patterns

This is where “burning” turns into “breathing.”

🌿 Combine Them — and Watch the Magic Happen

When you pair lymphatic drainage with remedial massage, you create synergy:
🔥 Inflammation down
💧 Drainage up
🧠 Nervous system calm
🧬 Cellular repair on
💪 Freedom of movement restored

✅ Bianca’s Back-Care Tips

💧 Hydrate — lymph is 96% water
🧂 Add magnesium (spray or Epsom soak)
🧘 Gentle movement: cat-cow, spinal rotations, deep breathing
🪑 Don’t sit longer than 45 minutes
🔥 Warm compress before bed to soothe circulation

💙 Final Thoughts

Your back isn’t being dramatic — it’s inflamed, overworked, and begging for flow.
Support it. Listen to it. Move it.
With targeted lymphatic drainage and therapeutic bodywork, you’re not just easing pain — you’re rewiring your body’s healing rhythm. 🌿

Let’s get you flowing again. 💆‍♂️✨

Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS

10/22/2025

Is it time for a massage? Maybe you want to explore lymphatic drainage! Appointments are available with Marie in downtown Salmon Arm. She is a certified lymphedema therapist through the Academy of Lymphatic Studies. No direct billing is available. Book online at www.assessmrntfirstmassage.com

10/18/2025

Another good one. Your lymphatic system truly IS amazing. Appointments available with Marie, CLT and massage specialist, next week. Book online at www.assessmentfirstmassage.com

🕊️ The Vagus Nerve & Lymph Flow: The Silent Conversation Between Calm and Healing

Deep beneath the surface of your thoughts and emotions runs a river of communication — one that connects your brain, organs, and immune system through rhythm and flow. That river is guided by your vagus nerve, the body’s longest cranial nerve and one of the most powerful conductors of peace.

When calm reigns in the nervous system, the lymphatic system begins to flow. But when stress, trauma, or fear take over, that same flow tightens, slows, and stagnates. Understanding this silent dialogue between the vagus nerve and lymph opens a doorway to true healing — not just physical, but emotional and spiritual too.

🧠 The Vagus Nerve: Your Inner Healing Switch

The vagus nerve runs from your brainstem through your neck, chest, and abdomen, branching into the heart, lungs, digestive tract, and even your liver. It acts like a divine communication line between your body and brain, constantly sending messages about safety, digestion, and repair.

When the vagus nerve is activated (the parasympathetic state), your body enters what’s called rest, digest, and heal mode.
✨ Heart rate slows.
✨ Digestion improves.
✨ Lymphatic vessels contract rhythmically.
✨ Inflammation decreases.

This nerve doesn’t just calm your mind — it physically pumps your lymph.

💧 The Lymphatic System’s Rhythm

The lymphatic system has no heart of its own. It depends on breath, movement, and pressure changes within the chest to keep lymph flowing.
When you breathe deeply — especially through your diaphragm — the thoracic duct (the largest lymphatic vessel) expands and contracts like a soft internal wave.

That movement is partly controlled by the vagus nerve.
Every calm exhale is a signal that says, “You are safe — release and drain.”
Every anxious breath says, “Hold tight — protect and freeze.”

This is why chronic stress often leads to swollen lymph nodes, bloating, puffiness, or fatigue — the flow has paused under emotional strain.

🌬️ The Vagus–Lymph Link in Science

Research has shown that vagal stimulation reduces inflammation by controlling cytokine production and immune cell movement within lymphatic vessels.
When vagal tone improves, lymphatic flow increases, and toxins are cleared faster from tissues — especially around the gut and liver.

🩺 Clinical studies on vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) have even shown reduced autoimmune flare-ups, improved gut permeability, and normalized inflammatory markers — confirming what ancient healing traditions already knew: peace heals.

“Be still and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

Stillness is not weakness — it’s physiology.

🌿 How to Activate Your Vagus Nerve Naturally

You don’t need a machine to calm your nervous system — you already carry one inside you.
Here are gentle, daily ways to reawaken your vagus nerve and restore lymphatic harmony:

💨 Diaphragmatic breathing – Deep belly breathing moves lymph and calms the vagus simultaneously.
🎶 Humming or singing – Vibrations near the throat stimulate vagal pathways.
🙏 Prayer and gratitude – Spiritual stillness activates parasympathetic dominance.
🖐️ Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) – Gentle touch increases vagal tone through mechanoreceptor feedback.
🛁 Warm baths or castor oil packs – Heat triggers calm, relaxation, and lymph release.
💦 Hydration and electrolytes – Support both nerve signaling and fluid flow.
🌿 Cold exposure – Brief cool face rinses or showers enhance vagal resilience.

💫 The Takeaway

Your nervous system and lymphatic system speak the same language — flow.
When the vagus nerve feels peace, lymph begins to move.
When you exhale with intention, pray in stillness, or allow yourself to soften, you are not “doing nothing.” You are telling your body to heal.

🌸 The vagus nerve is not just a nerve — it is your inner reminder that safety creates flow, and flow creates life.

Written by:
Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT, CDS
Founder – Lymphatica: Lymphatic Therapy & Body Detox Facility



Disclaimer:
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.

10/17/2025

Why reinvent the wheel? This is so well written I don’t want to try my own version! Enjoy!
Marie is a CLT & Massage Specialist. Book online at
www.assessmentfirstmassage.com

🍃 Fun and Fascinating Facts About the Lymphatic System
By Bianca Botha CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS

The lymphatic system is one of the body’s most essential networks, yet it often operates behind the scenes, keeping us healthy and balanced. Here are some fun and surprising facts about this unsung hero of the human body:

1. The Lymphatic System Has a One-Way Flow

Unlike the circulatory system, which loops blood throughout the body, the lymphatic system flows in only one direction—upward, toward the heart. This ensures that toxins and waste are effectively transported out of tissues for elimination.

2. You Have Twice as Many Lymphatic Vessels as Blood Vessels

The lymphatic system spans a vast network, with more vessels than the circulatory system. This extensive reach ensures it can collect and transport fluid from every corner of the body.

3. Your Body Produces Up to 4 Liters of Lymph Fluid Daily

Every day, the lymphatic system handles about 2-4 liters of lymph fluid, transporting immune cells, fats, and toxins. It’s like a busy highway for your body’s defense and detox.

4. The Largest Lymphatic Vessel Is the Thoracic Duct

The thoracic duct is the main highway of the lymphatic system, collecting lymph from most of the body and emptying it into the bloodstream near the heart.

5. The Spleen Is the Body’s Largest Lymphatic Organ

The spleen acts as a massive filter, cleaning blood, recycling old red blood cells, and producing immune cells to fight infections.

6. Lymph Nodes Are Like Security Checkpoints

Your body has about 600-700 lymph nodes, strategically placed to filter lymph and trap harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses. Think of them as your body’s immune “command centers.”

7. The Lymphatic System Loves Movement

The lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump like the heart to move fluid. Instead, it relies on muscle contractions, breathing, and physical activity. Even simple activities like walking or bouncing on a trampoline can boost lymph flow.

8. It’s Closely Linked to Your Gut

A significant portion of your lymphatic system is located in the gut, in an area known as the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). This helps the body manage immune responses to food and gut bacteria.

9. Lymph Means “Clear Water”

The word “lymph” comes from the Latin word lympha, meaning “clear water,” describing the appearance of the lymph fluid that circulates through the body.

10. It’s a Key Player in Fat Absorption

The lymphatic system absorbs and transports fats and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) from the digestive system into the bloodstream, a process that wouldn’t happen without it!

11. Swollen Lymph Nodes Are a Sign of Immune Activity

When you’re sick, your lymph nodes may swell because they’re working overtime to fight off infections. It’s like a temporary “immune traffic jam.”

12. Your Skin Helps Move Lymph Fluid

The lymphatic system is just beneath the surface of your skin. Gentle techniques like dry brushing or lymphatic massage can help stimulate lymph flow.

13. It Protects You From Cancer Spread

Lymph nodes are often the first line of defense in catching and trapping cancer cells, preventing them from spreading through the body.

14. It Works While You Sleep

While you’re catching Z’s, your lymphatic system is hard at work, removing toxins and waste from tissues, especially in the brain via the glymphatic system.

15. Lymphatic Fluid Can Regrow

If lymphatic vessels are damaged or removed (such as during surgery), other vessels can sometimes adapt and take over the workload, a process known as lymphangiogenesis.

🍃 The Bottom Line

The lymphatic system might work quietly in the background, but its impact on your health is profound. From immune defense to detoxification and fat absorption, it’s a network worth celebrating!

10/14/2025

Great opportunity for community building!