Golden Egg Holistic

17/11/2025

FHT Hosted Course:
Reflexology is a safe, gentle (and enjoyable) natural option for calming and nurturing babies and children, boosting their immune system and supporting the growing body. Babies and children can benefit hugely from a touch therapy such as reflexology. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn about the intricacies of reflexology for babies and children with Golden Egg Holistic Catriona Plunkett

Book your place here:
https://www.fht.org.uk/education/reflexology-for-babies-and-children

16/11/2025

A fantastic group of Reflexology students .. learning their routine , one step at a time 👣 learningisfun #

14/11/2025

Peter Mackereth and Ann Carter demonstrate choosing an aromastick. Here the emphasis is on the 'nose knows best' principle. Offering 3 blends provides an op...

13/11/2025

So excited to bring Sound Reflexology to Canada next year for Reflexology Association of Canada/Association canadienne de Réflexologie Reflexology conference 🙏👣🔔

🌍 Meet the Holistic Power Duo from Ireland! 🇮🇪✨
🎓 Catriona & Ollie Plunkett — Golden Egg Holistic.
This inspiring pair brings decades of experience, innovation, and heart to holistic wellness — and they’re joining us at the 2026 International Reflexology Conference! 🌿
💆‍♀️ Catriona is a Reflexology Therapist, Trainer, and Founder of Golden Egg Holistic, one of Ireland’s top holistic schools. She champions excellence in reflexology education worldwide. 💚
🎶 Ollie is a Sound Therapist, Trainer, and Psychotherapist who blends science, sound, and healing to create transformative experiences. Creator of Ireland’s only ITEC-certified Sound Therapy Training Programme, he’s also a gifted musician bringing peace through vibration and frequency. 🎵
🌺 Together, they embody the harmony of sound and touch.
💫 Don't miss your change to hear them live and in-person in 2026. Learn more: reflexologyconference.com

13/11/2025

🌊 What Is the Glymphatic System?

The glymphatic system is the brain’s unique waste clearance network, functioning similarly to the lymphatic system in the body—but with a twist. It was only discovered in 2012 by Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, and it has since changed how we understand neurodegeneration and brain inflammation.
This system relies on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to flush out waste products from brain tissue through perivascular pathways, facilitated by a type of glial cell called astrocytes. These cells regulate the flow of interstitial fluid and act as a conduit for metabolic clearance during deep sleep, especially in slow-wave sleep cycles.

🔥 When the Glymphatic System Is Inhibited: The Inflammatory Storm

When the glymphatic system is impaired, neurotoxic proteins—like beta-amyloid, tau proteins, and inflammatory cytokines—begin to accumulate in the brain's interstitial spaces. This accumulation triggers:
* Microglial activation, leading to chronic low-grade neuroinflammation
* Increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β
* Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction within neurons
* Blood-brain barrier permeability ("leaky brain") and further immune dysregulation

Over time, this chronic inflammatory state can manifest as:
* Brain fog, memory issues, and cognitive decline
* Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression
* Increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
* Worsened systemic inflammation due to vagus nerve signaling disruption

🛌 Sleep, the Glymphatic Switch, and Circadian Health

The glymphatic system is most active during deep sleep, particularly during non-REM slow-wave phases. When sleep is disrupted—whether due to stress, screen exposure, sleep apnea, or erratic sleep cycles—the brain cannot engage in glymphatic flushing.
Sleep deprivation has been shown to:
* Increase extracellular beta-amyloid by up to 43% in a single night
* Decrease the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels in astrocytes, impairing fluid transport
* Heighten markers of neuroinflammation, including NF-κB signaling and glial activation

🧬 Systemic Inflammation and Glymphatic Dysfunction: A Two-Way Street

Interestingly, inflammation itself suppresses glymphatic flow. Research shows that systemic infections, autoimmune flares, and even gut dysbiosis can produce pro-inflammatory cytokines that reduce CSF dynamics and glymphatic activity.
Conversely, poor glymphatic clearance can worsen systemic inflammation by:
* Disrupting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis signaling
* Altering vagal tone and the gut-brain-liver immune axis
* Impairing clearance of immune-modulating neurotransmitters like glutamate

🌿 How to Support Glymphatic Health

1. Prioritize Deep Sleep
* Aim for 7–9 hours of uninterrupted sleep in total darkness
* Use magnesium, L-theanine, or glycine to support non-REM sleep
* Avoid screens and caffeine 3+ hours before bedtime
2. Rebound, Stretch, and Move Your Spine
* Movement of the spine and neck enhances CSF circulation
* Manual lymphatic drainage may also indirectly stimulate glymphatic function
3. Hydration & Electrolyte Balance
* CSF production is heavily dependent on fluid status
* Add trace minerals or electrolytes to water to support fluid dynamics
4. Nutraceutical Support
* Resveratrol, turmeric (curcumin), omega-3s, and NAC reduce neuroinflammation
* Melatonin not only promotes deep sleep but enhances glymphatic activity
5. Cranial and Cervical Lymphatic Drainage
* Facial and neck MLD can relieve interstitial congestion
* Techniques like craniosacral therapy or vagal nerve stimulation may further support this network

🧠 Final Thought

The glymphatic system is a vital yet vulnerable detox engine for the brain. When impaired, it doesn’t just affect cognition—it can unleash a cascade of inflammatory dysfunction that spreads throughout the entire body.

By supporting this system through sleep hygiene, lymphatic stimulation, and anti-inflammatory practices, we lay the foundation for resilient mental, neurological, and immune health.

©️

12/11/2025

🌿 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.

12/11/2025

🌿 Next up on our CPD schedule is Reflexology for Children with Digestive Ailments with the wonderful Catriona Plunkett. Catriona is a Reflexologist and Trainer at Golden Egg Holistic (IRI & ITEC Approved Training centre).

In this course, she will be discussing common digestive ailments in Babies and Children, how to recognise them, how to treat with reflexology and also some research studies showing how successful reflexology can in treating such ailments.

A must-attend for anyone working with younger clients or interested in expanding their knowledge in this specialist area👣

Tuesday 18th November: 7-8pm