Mae's Serene Therapy, LLC

11/08/2025

Understanding what sugar does to the lymphatic system

🍬 What Sugar Does to Your Lymphatic System

Most people know sugar affects weight, energy, and teeth… but did you know it also impacts your lymphatic system – the body’s waste-removal and immune highway? Let’s break it down.

1. 🚰 Sugar Thickens Your Lymph Fluid

Your lymph fluid is about 95% water. High sugar intake pulls water into your bloodstream (to dilute the excess glucose), leaving your lymph thicker and sluggish.
👉 This makes it harder for your lymph to flow, leading to puffiness, swelling, and fluid retention.

2. 🔥 Sugar Fuels Inflammation

Excess sugar spikes insulin and triggers pro-inflammatory molecules (like cytokines).
👉 This increases pressure on your lymph nodes, which have to filter more inflammatory waste. Chronic inflammation makes nodes tender, sore, and less efficient at doing their job.

3. 🛡️ Sugar Weakens Immune Response

Your lymphatic system is a big part of immunity (housing ~70% of your immune cells). When blood sugar is high, white blood cell activity can be suppressed for hours.
👉 That means your lymph nodes aren’t as strong at fighting infections.

4. 🍭 Sugar Overloads the Gut–Lymph Axis

Refined sugar disrupts gut flora, feeding yeast and harmful bacteria. Because the gut drains into lymphatic vessels (lacteals and Peyer’s patches), toxins from an imbalanced gut leak into the lymph stream.
👉 This is linked to systemic inflammation, autoimmune flare-ups, and lymphatic congestion.

5. 💔 Sugar Strains the Liver & Lymph

The liver and lymph work as detox partners. Excess sugar (especially fructose) overloads the liver, leading to fatty liver changes and reduced toxin clearance. The lymphatic system then has to carry more waste products, which worsens swelling and fatigue.

✅ Lymphie Tip:
• Swap refined sugar for fruit, raw honey, or dates (in moderation).
• Hydrate to keep lymph fluid thin.
• Move daily (walking, stretching, rebounding, dry brushing) to flush out the sugar-induced congestion.

✨ Your lymph thrives on clarity and flow. Less sugar = smoother lymph highways, stronger immunity, and less inflammation.

Healing regards,
Bianca Botha
CLT, RLD, MLDT, CDS

11/07/2025

My next available day is Dec 5th
10am, 11:30am,1pm and 2:30pm
Call or text

11/07/2025

Disclaimer:
I share information pertinent to my scope of practice and things I believe to be of value.

11/07/2025

11/07/2025

💧 Why Lymphatic Drainage Therapy Helps in Rheumatoid Arthritis 🤲

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own joints 🦴, leading to inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
It most commonly affects the hands, wrists, and knees but can involve multiple joints and even other organs.

While conventional RA management focuses on reducing immune overactivity and controlling inflammation, complementary therapies like Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) can play an important supportive role in improving quality of life and easing flare symptoms. 🌿

1️⃣ Understanding the Link Between RA and the Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is your body’s waste-removal & immune regulation network.
It:
• Collects excess fluid 💦 and proteins from tissues.
• Filters this fluid through lymph nodes 🛡️ to remove waste, debris, and immune complexes.
• Returns clean fluid back to the bloodstream ❤️.

In RA, chronic inflammation increases cellular waste and inflammatory molecules (cytokines, immune complexes) in the joint spaces.
If these aren’t cleared efficiently, swelling, pain, and damage can worsen.

2️⃣ How Lymphatic Drainage Therapy Works in RA

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a gentle, rhythmic massage technique 🤲 that stimulates the natural contraction of lymph vessels.
This process:
• Opens lymphatic pathways — allowing stagnant fluid to move out of inflamed tissues.
• Increases lymph flow — helping remove inflammatory cytokines and immune waste faster.
• Reduces joint swelling — lowering tissue fluid and pressure.
• Supports immune balance — calming overactive immune responses.

3️⃣ Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage in RA

✨ Reduced Swelling — Less pressure on pain-sensitive nerves.
✨ Pain Relief — By easing inflammation, joint pain and stiffness are reduced.
✨ Better Mobility — Joints move more freely, making daily tasks easier.
✨ Faster Recovery — After flares, waste is cleared more efficiently.
✨ Stress Reduction — Activates the relaxation response 🧘‍♀️, calming the nervous system.

4️⃣ What the Research Says 📚
• Enhanced lymphatic drainage lowers local inflammation in joints.
• In RA animal models, stimulating lymph flow reduced disease severity.
• MLD has been shown to lower inflammatory markers in the blood.

5️⃣ How It Fits into an RA Care Plan

LDT works best alongside:
• 💊 Medical treatment from your rheumatologist.
• 🐟 Anti-inflammatory diet (rich in omega-3s, low in processed sugars).
• 🏊 Gentle movement (yoga, stretching, swimming).
• 🌸 Stress management (breathing, mindfulness, prayer).

⚠️ Precautions
• Avoid direct massage over hot, inflamed joints during severe flares — work from surrounding areas instead.
• Always get clearance from your healthcare provider.
• Not suitable for people with active infections, untreated heart failure, or certain kidney conditions.

✅ Bottom Line:
Lymphatic Drainage Therapy helps people with Rheumatoid Arthritis by reducing swelling, clearing inflammatory waste, easing pain, and improving joint mobility.
By improving lymph flow, it tackles one of the root aggravators of RA — the build-up of inflammatory debris in and around joints.

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 treatment plan.

11/07/2025

What does your lymph flow and honey have in common?

11/07/2025

🔥 There Are Tiny Flames Inside You — And Your Lymphatic System Puts Them Out

Most people think of inflammation as something you can see: a red rash, a swollen joint, or a puffy face. But beneath the surface, your immune system starts microscopic “fires” — and your lymphatic system is the silent hero that puts them out.

🧬 What Are These Fires?

Every time your immune system responds to injury, toxins, pathogens, or stress, it initiates an inflammatory cascade:
• Cytokines fire off
• Histamine surges
• White blood cells flood in
• Heat rises in tissues
• Fluid leaks from capillaries

It’s a brilliantly protective response — but if the fire isn’t cleaned up, it smolders.
Enter your lymphatic system: the built-in firefighter of your body.

💧 Your Lymphatic System: The Clean-Up Crew

Once the immune response has done its job, debris remains:
• Dead cells
• Inflammatory proteins
• Excess fluid
• Toxins and oxidants

Your lymph vessels collect this waste and transport it to lymph nodes, where it’s filtered and expelled from the system. But when your lymph is sluggish or blocked, toxins linger — and inflammation becomes chronic.

⚠️ What Happens When the Fire Isn’t Doused?
• 🔥 Autoimmune flare-ups – inflammation on repeat
• 🔥 Chronic fatigue & brain fog – unresolved systemic burden
• 🔥 Fibromyalgia & chronic pain – inflammatory interstitial stasis
• 🔥 Digestive issues & bloating – gut lymph overload
• 🔥 Cellulite & puffiness – inflammation trapped in fascia

You don’t just feel inflamed. You feel heavy, puffy, foggy, sore, and tired — because the fire hasn’t been cleared.

🌿 How to Support Your Lymphatic “Firefighters”

✅ Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) – opens lymph pathways
✅ Castor Oil Packs – draw out internal heat
✅ Anti-inflammatory Nutrition – removes the fuel
✅ Deep breathing & movement – activates thoracic duct flow
✅ Hydration with electrolytes – keeps lymph fluid thin
✅ Dry brushing & Gua Sha – stimulate surface drainage

💡 WOW Insight

“The lymphatic system doesn’t just move fluid —
it determines how long inflammation stays in your body.”

📚 Scientific Sources & Research Articles:
1. www.frontiersin.org/journals/pain-research/articles/10.3389/fpain.2021.691740/full
2. www.verywellmind.com/lymphatic-drainage-massage-8601938
3. www.my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21768-lymphatic-drainage-massage
4. www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/7/3907
5. www.physio-pedia.com/Manual_Lymphatic_Drainage
6. www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-journal/research-update-lymph-drainage
7. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513247
8. www.glamour.com/story/how-to-diy-lymphatic-drainage-according-to-experts
9. www.researchgate.net/publication/331355404_Inflammation_and_Lymphatic_Function
10. www.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17394405
11. www.inflammregen.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41232-021-00175-6
12. www.allure.com/story/what-is-lymphatic-drainage-massage
13. www.ft.com/content/d1c3f9c2-15f1-443c-9a2c-b3e7f8d8ef3f

11/04/2025

💧 Boils & The Lymphatic System: When Detox Pathways Overflow

By Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS

When a boil appears, most people see it as just a painful skin infection. But in lymphatic therapy, we view it differently — as a signal.
A boil often reveals that your lymphatic and detox pathways are congested, and the body is trying to push toxins, pathogens, or cellular waste to the surface when deeper channels are blocked.

🌿 The Deeper Mechanism

The skin is not just a covering — it’s your largest lymphatic organ. When the internal terrain (gut, liver, and lymph) becomes sluggish, the body reroutes waste through the skin’s lymph capillaries.
If those capillaries are overwhelmed, bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus can colonize trapped waste pockets — creating inflammation, pus, and the hallmark swelling of a boil.

In essence, a boil is the body’s emergency drainage valve. It’s shouting:

“My internal pathways are full — I’m using the skin to detox!”

💫 The Lymph Connection

When the liver or gut struggles to filter toxins effectively, lymphatic congestion builds in the axillary (armpit), inguinal (groin), or cervical (neck) nodes. These are the same drainage basins that serve the skin areas where boils commonly appear.

This means:
• Boils under the arms → Liver, axillary, and breast lymph stagnation
• Boils on the buttocks or thighs → Colon and pelvic lymph overload
• Boils on the face → Digestive and sinus lymph imbalance

⚖️ Why Some People Get Recurrent Boils

Recurrent boils often indicate a systemic lymphatic imbalance, not just a skin issue.
Contributors include:
• Chronic inflammation and poor liver detox
• Gut dysbiosis (especially Candida or SIBO)
• Insulin resistance or high sugar intake
• Low-grade immune suppression or high stress
• Dehydration and poor lymph flow

When the lymph stagnates, the immune cells can’t circulate efficiently — infections linger, inflammation heightens, and the skin becomes a secondary detox organ.

💎 Therapeutic Approach

The solution isn’t just antibiotics or creams — it’s to unblock the deeper flow.
A holistic lymphatic protocol includes:
1️⃣ Lymphatic Drainage Therapy – to clear congested nodes and restore immune flow.
2️⃣ Liver Support – lemon water, dandelion, or prescribed hepatic support to improve filtration.
3️⃣ Gut Healing – remove inflammatory foods and restore the microbiome.
4️⃣ Hydration & Minerals – to maintain interstitial fluid balance.
5️⃣ Nervous System Balance – vagus nerve support reduces chronic immune stress.

As internal pathways clear, the skin no longer needs to “push out” the overload — boils heal faster and stop recurring.

✨ In Summary

A boil isn’t your enemy — it’s a messenger.
It reveals where your lymphatic system is fighting to keep you safe when deeper detox routes are overwhelmed.
When you treat the cause — lymph stagnation, liver overload, and immune fatigue — the body no longer has to use the skin as an outlet.

Credentials:
Bianca Botha CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS

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.

11/04/2025

IT's 4th Nov ☀️ Happy Tuesday ! Sending you sunshine and success your way! ☕

10/31/2025

Remember, you can be grateful for the little things as well.

Tiny happy things 🧡☕️

10/30/2025

So neat. Showing you where all the lymph nodes are

10/28/2025

I have an availability:
Thursday Nov 6th at 1pm for 90 min.
812-630-2765