02/15/2026
💯 We tell our clients all the time, a Lymphatic Drainage Massage is different from a "normal" massage. It's lighter, with specific strokes designed to move fluid through the delicate lymph structures. It's critical that it's done properly to get the Lymphatic system moving again.
If you haven't tried a Lymphatic Drainage before, then we highly recommend it, especially as the change in the seasons hits.
Call our office or book online at our website.
Www.elementalcompass.com
🩸 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.
