Mary Niker Oncology Massage

09/11/2025

Lymph & Your Ears 👂 🌿

What’s All the Buzz About?

Hey there, Lymphies!
Did you know your ears have their very own lymphatic traffic jam—or flow, rather? Yep, your ears aren’t just for hearing gossip and good music—they’re also hubs for immune defense, drainage, and detox!

Let’s take a journey around your ears and explore how the lymphatic system keeps them clear, balanced, and humming along smoothly.

Ears + Lymph = BFFs for Life

Around your ears lives a beautiful network of lymphatic vessels and nodes. These tiny guardians do some BIG things:
• Drain excess fluid from your scalp, face, and neck
• Filter out toxins, bacteria, and viruses
• Balance pressure and inflammation
• Support your immune system during colds, flus, and allergies

The Major Players Behind Your Ears

Let’s name-drop a few VIPs in your ear’s lymphatic crew:

1. Preauricular nodes – Found in front of your ear, they drain the face and outer eye area.
2. Postauricular nodes – Located just behind your ears, they drain your scalp and outer ear.
3. Cervical nodes – These are in your neck and help filter lymph from around the ears, jaw, and throat.

These nodes team up to clear toxins, fight off infections, and maintain healthy fluid flow—especially when you’re dealing with earaches, congestion, or that “popping” feeling.

Ever Had Swollen Ears or Tender Spots Behind Your Ears?

That’s your lymph system working overtime to fight something off!
Maybe you’ve had:
• An ear infection
• A tooth issue
• A sinus cold
• Or even just stress and poor sleep

These things can slow lymph flow and cause swelling or tenderness near those nodes.

Lymphatic Drainage for Ear Health

Let’s get those ears flowing! Here’s how to help:

1. Gentle massage
Use your fingers to do slow, circular movements around and behind the ears. Always massage towards your neck—that’s where the lymph drains!

2. Deep breathing
Helps pump lymph through the thoracic duct and drains the head & neck!

3. Stay hydrated
Lymph needs water to move. No water = sluggish ears!

4. Facial yoga or stretches
Relieves tension and improves lymphatic circulation around the ears and jaw.

Let’s Play! Fun Ear Check-In

Do this quick scan:
• Feel just in front of your ear. Is it tender or puffy?
• Now check behind your ear. Any tightness or swelling?
• Take 3 deep breaths and gently tap around the area. You’re waking up your lymph!

Ear Facts You Didn’t Know You Needed
• There’s lymph fluid inside your inner ear that helps balance your movement—so if you’re dizzy or wobbly, your lymph may need love!
• Tinnitus (ringing) is sometimes related to lymphatic congestion or pressure buildup!
• Your ear canals and sinuses connect, so sinus infections can cause ear pain—and vice versa.

Keep It Flowing, Keep It Glowing

Your ears aren’t just cute—they’re lymph superstars!
So next time you do your lymphatic routine, give your ears a little love. Because when your ears are clear and your nodes are happy, your whole head feels better!

Let’s flow, lymph fam!


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 health routine.

©️

04/09/2025

18/08/2025

The Forgotten Lymphatics of the Pelvis

How pelvic congestion affects reproductive health, digestion, and lower limb swelling
By Bianca Botha, CLT | RLD | MLDT

💡 Why the Pelvic Lymphatics Are Often Overlooked

When we talk about the lymphatic system, most people picture swelling in the arms, legs, or face — but one of the most complex and vital lymphatic hubs lies deep within the pelvis.
These pelvic lymph nodes and vessels quietly manage fluid balance, immune defense, and waste removal for some of your body’s most important organs — yet they’re rarely discussed outside specialist circles.

📍 Where They Are & What They Do

The pelvis is home to several interconnected lymph node groups:
• Iliac Nodes – drain lymph from the bladder, uterus, prostate, re**um, and pelvic walls.
• Inguinal Nodes – filter lymph from the external genitalia, lower abdominal wall, buttocks, and lower limbs.
• Sacral Nodes – manage drainage from the back of the pelvis and lower digestive tract.

These nodes act like customs checkpoints, inspecting fluid for pathogens, cellular waste, and toxins before sending it upward toward the abdominal and thoracic ducts.

⚠️ How Pelvic Congestion Develops

Pelvic lymphatic congestion happens when the volume of fluid arriving outpaces the drainage capacity — often caused by:
• Sedentary lifestyle – long periods sitting compress lymphatic channels.
• Chronic inflammation – from digestive disorders, endometriosis, or pelvic infections.
• Post-surgical scar tissue – which can disrupt lymph flow pathways.
• Hormonal changes – oestrogen dominance or fluctuations that affect vessel tone.
• Venous congestion – as seen in pelvic congestion syndrome, increasing lymphatic workload.

🔄 The Chain Reaction of Pelvic Lymph Stagnation

When pelvic lymphatics slow down, the effects can ripple through multiple systems:

1. Reproductive Health
• Women: pelvic congestion can aggravate menstrual pain, contribute to endometriosis flare-ups, and impair fertility by disrupting optimal tissue environment.
• Men: lymph stagnation around the prostate can worsen swelling, discomfort, and urinary issues.

2. Digestive Function
• Lymph from the colon and re**um passes through pelvic nodes. Congestion can lead to bloating, constipation, or worsening of inflammatory bowel symptoms.

3. Lower Limb Swelling
• Pelvic nodes are the gateway for lymph leaving the legs. When they’re backed up, fluid pools in the calves, ankles, and feet — especially after long days standing or sitting.

🌿 Supporting Pelvic Lymphatic Flow

1. Targeted Movement
• Gentle hip circles, walking, and yoga poses like bridge or pigeon can mobilise deep pelvic lymph.

2. Manual Techniques
• Professional lymphatic drainage focusing on inguinal and lower abdominal pathways helps “unlock” pelvic nodes.

3. Breathwork
• Deep diaphragmatic breathing creates internal pressure changes that pull lymph upward from the pelvis.

4. Reduce Inflammatory Load
• Anti-inflammatory diet, addressing gut health, and treating pelvic infections promptly.

💬 Key Takeaway

Your pelvic lymphatics are not just plumbing for the lower body — they are critical for reproductive wellness, digestive balance, and keeping your legs light and fluid-free.
By understanding and supporting this hidden network, you improve circulation from your core to your toes.

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.