30/01/2026
Feeling perpetually swollen, puffy, or like your body is "stuck"? Your lymphatic system might be speaking.
Unlike blood, lymph has no pump. It relies on muscle movement and diaphragmatic breathing to flow. Its drainage happens through key checkpoints; clusters of lymph nodes that filter fluid and immune cells.
When these nodes become congested, waste and inflammatory debris back up into the tissue. This isn't just "water retention"; it's a sign of a burdened filtration system.
The 12 Key Checkpoints:
1. Behind the Ears: Drains scalp, ears.
2. Under the Jaw: Drains mouth, nose, face.
3. Neck (Cervical): Clears head, upper chest.
4. Above Collarbone: Connects chest/abdominal flow.
5. Armpits: Filters arms, chest tissue.
6. Inner Elbows: Drains hands, forearms.
7. Chest (Mediastinal): Deep drainage for lungs, heart.
8. Abdomen (Mesenteric): Filters digestive organs.
9. Pelvis: Drains reproductive, lower digestive organs.
10. Groin (Inguinal): Filters legs, lower torso.
11. Behind Knees: Clears lower legs, feet.
12. Tonsils: First immune gate for the mouth.
The Terrain Connection:
Chronic congestion here is rarely random. It signals that the liver is overloaded and the gut is inflamed, producing more metabolic waste than the lymphatic system can easily clear. It's a backup system overwhelmed at the source.
You cannot supplement or medicate your way out of lymphatic stagnation. The solution is terrain-based:
· Movement (not intense exercise, but walking) to create flow.
· Deep, rhythmic breathing to activate the diaphragmatic pump.
· Reducing inflammatory inputs (seed oils, processed foods) to lower the waste load.
· Prioritizing sleep, when the brain's glymphatic system cleanses.
This is how you support sanitation from the inside: by reducing the burden and activating the flow.
Mike Ndegwa | Natural Health Guide