Healing time with Lisa

02/16/2026

Science now confirms what many have long suspected, women typically need more sleep than men, and the reason lies in how their brains work throughout the day. According to sleep researchers, women tend to engage in more complex multitasking and decision-making, requiring deeper mental recovery overnight.

On average, women use more brain regions simultaneously than men, juggling emotional regulation, problem-solving, memory processing, and planning—often all at once. Whether managing work, home, relationships, or caregiving, this increased cognitive load takes a toll on the brain’s energy systems.

Sleep is when the brain restores itself. During deep sleep, it clears out metabolic waste, consolidates memory, and resets emotional circuits. For women, who may spend more hours in high-stimulation or emotionally layered activities, this overnight repair is even more crucial.

Studies show that even 20 extra minutes of sleep can improve mood, reduce stress, and sharpen focus in women. In contrast, sleep deprivation tends to affect women more negatively, triggering irritability, anxiety, and even immune changes faster than in men.

This doesn’t mean one gender is better or worse, it highlights how biological and neurological differences shape health needs. Prioritizing rest isn’t a luxury. For many women, it’s essential maintenance.

Your mind works hard. Let it rest fully. You’ve earned it, night after night.

02/16/2026

🧠❤️ Artery vs Vein vs Lymph vs Nerve

Understanding Flow & Communication in the Body

When we talk about “circulation,” most people only think about blood.

But the body actually has four major flow systems working together every second:

🔴 Arteries
🔵 Veins
🟢 Lymphatic vessels
🟣 Nerves

Each one has a completely different job — and when you understand the difference, inflammation, swelling, stress and healing start to make much more sense.

Let’s break it down simply 👇

🔴 Arteries – The Delivery Highways

Arteries carry blood away from the heart.

They are:
• Thick
• Muscular
• High-pressure
• Built for force

With every heartbeat, arteries push oxygen-rich blood to your brain, organs, muscles and skin.

They are designed to withstand pressure and pulsation.
They do not collapse easily.
They are powerful.

Think of arteries as the body’s express delivery system 🚚

🔵 Veins – The Return Roads

Veins carry blood back to the heart.

Unlike arteries, veins:
• Have thinner walls
• Operate under lower pressure
• Contain one-way valves
• Rely heavily on muscle movement

Veins return blood that is now carrying metabolic waste and carbon dioxide.

Because they work against gravity — especially in the legs — they need assistance. When muscles contract, they gently squeeze the veins and help move blood upward.

That’s why sitting still for long periods can contribute to heaviness or pooling.

Think of veins as the recycling return route ♻️

🟢 Lymphatic Vessels – The Drainage & Immune System

This is where things get fascinating 🌿

The lymphatic system carries:
• Excess interstitial fluid
• Cellular waste
• Proteins
• Immune cells
• Inflammatory by-products

Unlike the blood system, the lymphatic system has:

• Extremely thin, delicate walls
• Very low pressure
• Many one-way valves
• No central pump

It depends on:
✨ Breathing (especially the diaphragm)
✨ Movement
✨ Muscle contractions
✨ Nervous system regulation
✨ Hydration

Lymph vessels collect fluid that leaks from capillaries and return it to circulation. Along the way, lymph passes through lymph nodes where immune surveillance occurs.

It is not built for force.

It is built for rhythm.

When rhythm is disrupted — through stress, inactivity, inflammation or nervous system dysregulation — lymph can slow.

Think of lymph as the body’s gentle cleaning river 🧹

🟣 Nerves – The Communication Network

Now here’s the powerful connection ⚡

Nerves do not carry fluid.

They carry electrical impulses.

The nervous system:
• Transmits signals from brain to body
• Controls muscle contraction
• Influences blood vessel tone
• Influences lymphatic rhythm
• Regulates heart rate and breathing
• Forms the autonomic nervous system

When the nervous system is in chronic stress (sympathetic dominance):

• Blood vessels constrict
• Muscles tighten
• Breathing becomes shallow
• Digestive function slows
• Lymphatic rhythm may reduce

When the nervous system feels safe (parasympathetic activation):

• Breathing deepens
• Circulation improves
• Muscles relax
• Lymph flows more rhythmically

Flow is not only mechanical.

Flow is neurological.

Think of nerves as the body’s control center 📡

🌿 Why This Matters for Healing

When someone says:
“I feel puffy.”
“My legs feel heavy.”
“I feel inflamed.”
“I feel wired and swollen.”

It is rarely just one system.

It is often the interaction between:
• Circulation
• Drainage
• Immune load
• Nervous system tone

Arteries push.
Veins return.
Lymph drains.
Nerves regulate.

True healing supports all four.

This is why we focus on:
💚 Breath
💚 Gentle movement
💚 Nervous system calm
💚 Inflammation reduction
💚 Hydration
💚 Rhythm, not force

Your body is not broken.

It is interconnected.

✨ If this helped you understand your body better, comment “FLOW” below and tell me which system you never learned about in school.

With love and flow,
Bianca 🌿

02/16/2026

11:15 am appointment available today. 💆‍♀️🤍
Call, text or FB msg.
to schedule

02/16/2026

💦🤍education time 🩵

💧 The 3 Types of Fluid in Your Body

(And Why Understanding Them Changes Everything)

Most people think there is only one “circulation” system.

There isn’t.

Your body manages three different fluid environments at all times:

🩸 Blood
💦 Interstitial Fluid
🌿 Lymph

They work together — but they are not the same.

When you understand the difference, swelling suddenly makes sense.

🩸 1. BLOOD — The Delivery System

Blood travels inside:

• Arteries
• Veins
• Capillaries

It is pumped by the heart.

Blood carries:
• Oxygen
• Glucose
• Hormones
• Nutrients
• Immune cells

It is a closed system.
Meaning it stays inside blood vessels.

If blood leaks excessively outside vessels, that’s injury — not normal swelling.

Blood is about delivery and return.

💦 2. INTERSTITIAL FLUID — The Exchange Space

Now this is where it gets interesting…

Between your cells is a space called the interstitium.

It is filled with fluid.

This fluid:

• Bathes your cells
• Delivers nutrients from blood
• Collects waste from cells
• Contains proteins and electrolytes

It is NOT inside blood vessels.

It is outside them.

This is where most swelling begins.

When:
• Inflammation rises
• Proteins accumulate
• Capillaries leak
• Liver is overloaded
• Nervous system is stressed

Interstitial fluid increases.

That heavy, tight, puffy feeling?
That’s usually here.

🌿 3. LYMPH — The Drainage & Immune Highway

Lymph is simply interstitial fluid that has entered lymphatic vessels.

It carries:

• Immune waste
• Inflammatory by-products
• Proteins
• Dead cells
• Bacteria

Unlike blood:

🚫 It has NO pump.
🚫 It is NOT high pressure.

It depends on:

• Breathing
• Movement
• Hydration
• Warmth
• A regulated nervous system

Lymph is your body’s clean-up crew.

If lymph slows, interstitial fluid builds.

If interstitial fluid builds, tissues feel:

• Puffy
• Heavy
• Tight
• Dense
• Inflamed

🔄 How They Work Together

Here’s the flow simplified:

🩸 Blood delivers nutrients →
💦 Interstitial fluid exchanges with cells →
🌿 Lymph removes waste →
Back to bloodstream →
Filtered by liver →
Eliminated

If one slows down, the others are affected.

This is why:

• You can have normal blood tests but still feel swollen.
• You can exercise but still feel heavy.
• You can drink water but still retain fluid.

Because the issue may not be blood.

It may be interstitial congestion or lymphatic slowdown.

💡 Why This Matters for You

When someone says:

“My circulation is bad.”

We must ask:

Which system?

Because:

🩸 Blood problems feel different from
🌿 Lymph problems.

Blood issues often look like:
• Cold hands
• Blue discoloration
• Varicose veins
• Cardiovascular symptoms

Lymph congestion looks like:
• Soft swelling
• Afternoon heaviness
• Puffiness without redness
• Tissue density
• Slow recovery

Different systems.
Different solutions.

🌸 The Big Takeaway

Swelling is not always a heart problem.
It is not always a kidney problem.
It is not always “just water retention.”

Often, it is:

💦 Interstitial overload
🌿 Slowed lymph
🔥 Inflammation

And lymph does not respond to force.

It responds to safety.

That’s why:

• Calm nervous system
• Liver support
• Proper hydration
• Gentle movement

Work better than extreme detoxes or aggressive workouts.

Your body is intelligent.

And when you understand its fluid systems…
You stop fighting it.

You start supporting it.

02/16/2026

🩸 Artery vs Vein vs Lymph

Understanding Flow in the Body 🌿

Most people talk about “circulation”…

But very few understand that your body actually has three separate fluid highways working together:

🟥 Arteries
🟦 Veins
🟢 Lymphatic vessels

They look similar — but they behave very differently.

Let’s break it down clearly and simply.

🟥 ARTERIES — Built for Pressure

Arteries carry blood AWAY from the heart.

They are:

• Thick and muscular
• Designed for high pressure
• Elastic and strong
• Pulse with every heartbeat
• Oxygen-rich (most of the time)

The heart is a powerful pump.
Every beat pushes blood through arteries with force.

That’s why artery walls are thick — they must withstand pressure.

Arteries are built for power and propulsion.

🟦 VEINS — Built for Return

Veins carry blood BACK to the heart.

They are:

• Thinner than arteries
• Lower pressure
• Contain one-way valves
• Dependent on movement

Unlike arteries, veins do not have a strong pump pushing blood through them.

Instead, they rely on:

• Muscle contraction
• Breathing
• Body movement

Those little valves inside veins prevent blood from falling backward (especially in the legs).

Veins are built for assistance and support.

🟢 LYMPHATIC VESSELS — Built for Rhythm

Now here’s where most people misunderstand things…

The lymphatic system is NOT part of the blood system.

It carries:

• Lymph fluid
• Immune cells
• Inflammatory by-products
• Proteins
• Cellular waste

And here’s the critical difference:

🚫 It has NO central pump.

Lymph vessels are:

• Very thin
• Extremely low pressure
• Highly sensitive
• Dependent on nervous system regulation
• Filled with many one-way valves

Lymph moves because of:

• Breathing (especially diaphragm movement)
• Gentle muscle activity
• Hydration
• Warmth
• A calm nervous system

Not force.
Not pressure.
Not intensity.

Lymph is built for rhythm, not force 🌿

Why This Matters for Swelling & Inflammation

When someone says:
“I’m exercising and still swollen.”
“I’m drinking water but still puffy.”
“I’m doing everything but nothing is draining.”

We must ask:

Are you treating lymph like an artery?

Because lymph does NOT respond to force the way arteries do.

If the nervous system is stressed…
If the liver is overloaded…
If inflammation is high…

The lymphatic system will slow down on purpose.

Not because it’s broken.
But because it’s protective.

Quick Comparison Summary

🟥 Artery
High pressure
Thick walls
Strong pump
Built for propulsion

🟦 Vein
Low pressure
Has valves
Needs movement
Built for return

🟢 Lymph
Very low pressure
No pump
Many valves
Needs safety + rhythm
Built for immune balance

The Big Takeaway 💚

You cannot bully lymph into draining.

You cannot force it like blood flow.

You must:
• Calm the nervous system
• Support the liver
• Hydrate properly
• Move gently
• Reduce inflammation

A calm system drains better than a forced one.

And this is why lymph healing always starts with safety.

02/16/2026

Gout & the Lymphatic System

Why Gout Is Not Just a Uric Acid Problem

By Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS
Founder – Lymphatica | Lymphatic Therapy & Body Detox

As a lymphatic therapist, I see many clients who are doing everything right — eating clean, avoiding trigger foods, drinking water, and following medical advice — yet they continue to suffer from painful, recurring gout attacks.

This is where I often explain that gout is not just a uric acid issue. It is an inflammatory overload condition, deeply connected to how well the body can move, drain, and clear waste.

When we bring the lymphatic system into the conversation, gout begins to make sense in a far more compassionate and effective way.

What Is Gout Really?

Gout is an inflammatory condition caused by the accumulation of monosodium urate crystals in the joints and surrounding tissues. These crystals form when uric acid levels become excessive or when the body struggles to clear uric acid efficiently.

Common areas affected include:
• The big toe
• Ankles
• Knees
• Wrists
• Elbows

Once these crystals lodge in the joint, the immune system recognises them as a threat and initiates a powerful inflammatory response, resulting in:
• Sudden, severe pain
• Swelling
• Heat
• Redness
• Restricted movement

What is often overlooked is why these inflammatory substances remain trapped in the tissues instead of being cleared away.

The Role of the Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system plays a central role in resolving inflammation. It is responsible for:
• Draining excess interstitial fluid
• Removing metabolic waste
• Transporting immune cells
• Clearing inflammatory by-products

Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system has no central pump. It relies on:
• Gentle movement
• Muscle contraction
• Diaphragmatic breathing
• Fascia mobility
• A regulated nervous system

When lymph flow is compromised, inflammation cannot resolve efficiently.

How Lymphatic Congestion Contributes to Gout

1. Impaired Clearance of Uric Acid By-Products

Uric acid is processed through the liver, kidneys, gut, and lymphatic pathways. When lymph flow is sluggish, metabolic waste lingers in the tissues, increasing the likelihood of crystal formation within joints.

This explains why gout attacks can occur even when blood uric acid levels appear “normal.”

2. Increased Joint Swelling and Pressure

Joints are surrounded by dense lymphatic networks. When drainage is reduced:
• Fluid accumulates
• Pressure increases
• Pain intensifies
• Heat and redness become more pronounced

This is why gout pain can feel extreme, even in very small joints.

3. Ongoing Inflammatory Signalling

In a healthy system, inflammation rises, waste is cleared, and the body returns to balance.

When lymphatic drainage is compromised:
• Inflammatory mediators remain trapped
• Immune activation continues
• The joint never fully resets

Over time, this contributes to recurrent flares and chronic joint stress.

The Liver–Kidney–Lymph Connection

Gout is a whole-body condition, not a single-joint issue.
• The liver converts purines into uric acid
• The kidneys excrete uric acid through urine
• The lymphatic system transports and buffers waste between systems

When one of these pathways is overloaded, the others compensate — until inflammation spills into the joints.

Stress, dehydration, insulin resistance, gut dysfunction, medication load, and chronic inflammation all place additional strain on this axis.

Why Diet Alone Often Falls Short

Dietary changes are important and necessary, but they do not address:
• Lymphatic stagnation
• Tissue congestion
• Nervous system overload
• Poor fluid movement

Without restoring lymph flow, inflammation remains trapped — regardless of how clean the diet may be.

Supporting Gout Through Lymphatic Health

From a lymphatic perspective, supporting gout means focusing on flow, drainage, and resolution.

This may include:
• Gentle lymphatic drainage therapy
• Diaphragmatic breathing to stimulate lymph movement
• Adequate hydration with mineral support
• Nervous system regulation
• Reducing systemic inflammatory load
• Gentle joint and fascia mobility outside acute flare-ups

During an acute gout attack, aggressive massage should be avoided. Proximal, gentle lymphatic support is always preferred.

A Lymphatic Reframe of Gout

Gout is not:
• A personal failure
• A dietary punishment
• “Just arthritis”

It is a sign that the body’s waste-clearance systems are overwhelmed and need support.

When lymphatic health is addressed alongside liver, kidney, gut, and nervous system care, the body is better able to restore balance and reduce flare frequency.

Final Thought

Pain is not the enemy — it is the messenger.
In gout, the message is not only “lower uric acid,” but “support the body’s ability to drain and clear.”

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.

02/16/2026

💧 What Is Lymph Really?

Let’s talk about it properly.

We hear it all the time…

“I need to detox my lymph.”
“My lymph is blocked.”
“I have swollen lymph nodes.”

But what is lymph actually? 🤔

It’s not just fluid.
It’s not just swelling.
And it’s definitely not a wellness trend.

Your lymphatic system is one of the most intelligent, protective, and under-appreciated systems in your body.

Let’s break it down in a way that finally makes sense 👇

💧 So… What Is Lymph?

Lymph is a clear to slightly milky fluid that circulates through your lymphatic system.

It starts as interstitial fluid — the fluid that surrounds every single cell in your body.

Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ Your heart pumps blood out through arteries.
2️⃣ Fluid leaks out of tiny capillaries to nourish tissues.
3️⃣ Most of that fluid returns to the bloodstream.
4️⃣ The remaining fluid becomes lymph — and must be collected and drained.

If that drainage slows down?

• Fluid stagnates
• Inflammation lingers
• Swelling develops
• Healing slows

Your lymphatic system is your body’s drainage network 💧

🩸 Blood vs 💧 Lymph — Not the Same Thing

This is where many people get confused.

🩸 Blood:
• Pumped by the heart
• Closed-loop system
• High pressure
• Delivers oxygen & nutrients

💧 Lymph:
• No pump
• One-directional drainage system
• Low pressure
• Collects waste & immune debris

Blood delivers.
Lymph cleans up.

If cleanup slows down… inflammation stays behind.

🌿 What Is Inside Lymph?

Lymph is not “dirty water.”

It carries:

• White blood cells (especially lymphocytes) 🛡️
• Proteins
• Fats from digestion
• Cellular debris
• Bacteria & viruses
• Inflammatory byproducts

It is literally your immune surveillance fluid.

Your body uses lymph to:

✔️ Detect threats
✔️ Neutralize pathogens
✔️ Clear metabolic waste
✔️ Regulate inflammation

This system is not optional.
It is central to survival.

🫀 The Organs Involved in the Lymphatic System

Let’s talk anatomy properly 👩‍⚕️

🟢 Primary Lymphoid Organs

These produce and train immune cells:

• Bone marrow – produces lymphocytes
• Thymus – trains T-cells (especially active in childhood)

The thymus sits behind your breastbone and plays a critical role in immune development 🧬

🟢 Secondary Lymphoid Organs

These are filtering and activation centers:

• Lymph nodes
• Spleen
• Tonsils & adenoids
• Peyer’s patches in the gut

You have 600–700 lymph nodes throughout your body.

Major clusters are in the:

• Neck
• Underarms
• Groin
• Abdomen
• Chest

Inside these nodes, immune cells scan for threats and coordinate responses.

Swollen nodes?
Often that’s immune activity doing its job.

🌿 The Gut & Lymph (Very Important)

Nearly 70% of your immune system is associated with the gut.

The gut contains:

• GALT (Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue)
• Peyer’s patches
• Lacteals (fat-absorbing lymph vessels)

This is why gut inflammation directly affects lymph function.

Gut health = lymph health.

🧬 The Liver & Lymph Connection

This is where things get interesting.

Your liver processes toxins.
Your lymph transports them.

The lymph is not the detox organ — it is the transport highway to the detox organs.

If:

• The liver is overloaded
• The gut is inflamed
• The lymph is stagnant

Detoxification slows down.

This is why liver health and lymph flow are deeply connected.

🧠 The Glymphatic System (Your Brain Has Lymph Too)

Your brain has a lymph-like drainage system called the glymphatic system.

It:

• Clears metabolic waste
• Is most active during deep sleep 😴
• Depends on healthy cerebrospinal fluid movement

Poor sleep = poor brain drainage.

Brain fog, headaches, neuro-inflammation?
Lymph matters there too.

🌬️ How Lymph Moves

Here’s the most important thing to understand:

The lymphatic system has no pump.

Movement depends on:

• Diaphragmatic breathing 🌬️
• Muscle contractions 🚶‍♀️
• Walking
• Gentle pressure changes
• Fascia mobility
• Hydration 💧

If you are:

• Sedentary
• Chronically stressed
• Inflamed
• Scarred
• Dehydrated

Your lymph can slow down.

😮‍💨 Stress & Lymph Flow

When you live in fight-or-flight:

• Breathing becomes shallow
• Muscles tighten
• Fascia stiffens
• Diaphragm movement decreases

And lymph slows.

Safety restores flow.
Calm restores drainage.

Your body moves lymph best when it feels safe 💚

🌿 What Happens When Lymph Becomes Congested?

You may notice:

• Puffy face
• Swollen underarms
• Fluid retention
• Brain fog
• Recurring infections
• Slow healing
• Hormonal congestion
• Skin flare-ups
• Heat intolerance

Not because your body is broken.

But because your drainage system needs support.

❌ Myth vs Truth

❌ Myth: Lymph stores toxins.
✅ Truth: Lymph transports waste — organs eliminate it.

❌ Myth: Lemon water “flushes” lymph.
✅ Truth: Movement and breathing move lymph.

❌ Myth: Swollen lymph nodes always mean something dangerous.
✅ Truth: Often it’s immune activity doing its job.

💚 Clinical Insight

In practice, lymph congestion often shows up as:

• Neck tightness
• Puffy underarms
• Summer swelling
• Hormonal sensitivity
• Fluid that worsens in heat
• Tender nodes during stress

When we support lymph gently — not aggressively — the body responds beautifully.

Because lymph is not force-driven.
It is rhythm-driven.

✨ Why Understanding Lymph Changes Everything

When you understand lymph:

You stop fighting your body.
You stop over-detoxing.
You stop forcing.

You start supporting:

• Gentle movement
• Deep breathing
• Anti-inflammatory nutrition
• Proper sleep
• Fascia care
• Liver support
• Hydration

Your lymph is your body’s quiet protector.
Your internal river.
Your immune intelligence.
Your inflammation regulator.

When lymph flows…
Healing feels lighter 💧✨

⚠️ 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.

02/16/2026

✨ Manual Therapy & the Autonomic Nervous System ✨

Manual cranial therapy does more than promote relaxation—it can help improve heart rate variability (HRV), a key marker of autonomic balance and self-regulation 💆‍♂️💙

Research shows that manual cranial therapy supports parasympathetic (vagal) activity, with effects lasting up to three weeks—highlighting its potential role in stress regulation and mental health support 🌿🔬

For manual therapists, this reinforces the powerful neurophysiological impact of skilled touch.
👉 Read more:https://www.iahe.com/storage/docs/articles/Cranial_Therapy_and_heart_rate_variability_article_1_1.pdf or visit the Upledger.com article database

02/16/2026

One of the greatest gifts we can offer our children is a healthy start in life. 💙

From the very first breath, a baby’s body is adapting to gravity, touch, light, sound, and the new rhythms of the world. Even the most beautiful birth experience can place subtle stresses on a newborn’s delicate system — especially on the craniosacral system, which surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord.

Upledger CranioSacral Therapy (CST) uses a gentle, light-touch approach to support the healthy function of this system. For babies, CST may help:

✨ Ease tension from birth
✨ Support feeding and latching challenges
✨ Promote more restful sleep
✨ Calm fussiness and irritability
✨ Encourage healthy nervous system development

Because a baby’s body is still growing and adapting, it often responds quickly to gentle, precise support. Many parents report their babies appear more relaxed, comfortable, and settled following sessions.

At Upledger, we’ve been teaching this work for over 40 years — helping healthcare professionals around the world support families with compassionate, evidence-informed care.

If you’re a parent looking for support, or a healthcare provider wanting to expand your pediatric skills, learn more about Upledger CranioSacral Therapy at upledger.com.

Healthy beginnings matter. 💫

02/16/2026

02/16/2026

💜 The Spleen: Your Silent Immune Guardian

Let’s talk about the organ nobody talks about.

Most people don’t even know where their spleen is…
Until something goes wrong.

But your spleen is one of the most important immune organs in your body 🛡️

Let’s break it down simply and beautifully.

📍 Where Is the Spleen?

Your spleen sits:

• Under your left rib cage
• Next to your stomach
• Above your left kidney

It’s about the size of a clenched fist 👊
Soft. Spongy. Deep purple in colour.

Protected quietly under your ribs.

💜 What Does the Spleen Actually Do?

Many people think the spleen filters lymph.

It doesn’t.

👉 The spleen filters blood — not lymph.

But it works closely with the lymphatic and immune systems.

Let’s look at its major roles 👇

🩸 1️⃣ Blood Filtration

Your spleen:

• Removes old or damaged red blood cells
• Recycles iron
• Filters out bacteria from the bloodstream

It is like a quality control centre for your blood.

🛡️ 2️⃣ Immune Surveillance

Inside your spleen are two important areas:

• White pulp – immune activity
• Red pulp – blood filtration

White pulp contains lymphocytes that detect and respond to infections.

If bacteria enter your bloodstream?
Your spleen is one of the first responders.

🧬 3️⃣ Immune Cell Storage

The spleen stores:

• Lymphocytes
• Monocytes
• Platelets

In times of infection or trauma, it can release immune cells into circulation.

It is a reserve army.

🩹 4️⃣ Emergency Blood Reservoir

In some animals this function is stronger, but in humans the spleen can still act as a small blood reservoir during certain stress conditions.

💧 How Is the Spleen Connected to Lymph?

This is where people get confused.

The spleen is technically a lymphoid organ — but:

• It filters blood
• It does not filter lymph fluid directly

However, it supports immune cell production and activation — which affects lymphatic function.

If the immune system is overactive or chronically inflamed…

The spleen can become enlarged (splenomegaly).

⚠️ What Happens When the Spleen Is Stressed?

Signs of spleen strain may include:

• Fullness under the left ribs
• Left shoulder discomfort (referred pain)
• Frequent infections
• Fatigue
• Easy bruising

Enlargement can occur during:

• Viral infections
• Autoimmune conditions
• Liver disease
• Chronic inflammation

This is why liver health and spleen health are often linked.

💚 The Liver–Spleen Relationship

The spleen drains into the portal circulation of the liver.

If:

• Liver congestion increases
• Portal pressure rises
• Chronic inflammation persists

The spleen can become affected.

Everything in the body is connected.

Nothing works alone.

😮‍💨 Stress & the Spleen

Chronic stress:

• Suppresses immune regulation
• Increases inflammatory signalling
• Alters white blood cell behaviour

While the spleen itself doesn’t “hold emotions,” prolonged stress absolutely affects immune organ function.

Calm supports immune balance.

✨ Can You Live Without a Spleen?

Yes — but with precautions.

People who have had their spleen removed (splenectomy):

• Have increased infection risk
• May require specific vaccinations
• Must monitor fevers more carefully

The spleen plays a protective immune role — especially against certain bacteria.

💜 Clinical Insight

In practice, I often see spleen sensitivity alongside:

• Liver congestion
• Chronic inflammation
• Post-viral fatigue
• Autoimmune flare-ups

Supporting:

• Gentle lymph flow
• Liver function
• Anti-inflammatory nutrition
• Proper sleep
• Nervous system regulation

Often helps restore balance.

✨ Final Thought

Your spleen is not loud.

It doesn’t demand attention.

It works quietly in the background —
Filtering.
Protecting.
Monitoring.
Responding.

It is part of your immune intelligence.

And like the lymphatic system…
It thrives on rhythm, balance, and safety 💜

⚠️ 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.