Internal Cleansing

by | Oct 6, 2024

INTERNAL CLEANSING

The inside of your body has to be kept clean to be healthy. Debris, waste, and most importantly, viruses and bacteria must be eliminated. Nature has designed the lymph system to be a super effective cleaning crew that works tirelessly to wash the organs and fluids of your internal world.

The primary function of the lymph system is to fight pathogens. It accomplishes this by several means, including removing viruses and other foreign cells from the body, creating anti-bodies, producing lymphocytes and gathering cleaning cells known as macrophages. It has other important actions too.

Our lymph system plays an important role in the immune response. Lymph is a whitish fluid that flows through all our tissues. It contains white blood cells that capture pathogens and other damaged cells then carries them to lymph nodes where they are processed to fight infections and remove waste. The lymph also carries beneficial factors that help with lipid metabolism and other aspects of immune function. The cleansed fluid then flows into the heart where it enters the bloodstream.

Lymphatic fluid flows throughout the body in vessels much like the cardiovascular system. But unlike the vascular system which is pumped by the action of the heart, the lymphatic system does not have a single organ to move the fluid. Instead, the circulation of lymph is dependent on breathing and body movement.

According to the medical author of Foldi’s Textbook of Lymphology for Physicians and Lymphedema Therapists – 2nd edition, p 551, the motion of lymphatic fluid within the large lymph vessels is not constant, it is “clearly dependent upon respiration

The largest structure in the lymphatic vessels is the Cisterna Chyli. This dilated reservoir, about the size of your thumb, is located in the thoracic duct which is a vessel that carries lymph upwards to the heart. It sits just below the diaphragm. Much of the fluid that has been cleansed though the system of 600 lymph nodes is collected in the Cisterna Chili. This lymphatic fluid is then pumped by the action of the diaphragm.

Deep diaphragmatic breathing stimulates the cleansing of the lymph system by creating a vacuum effect which pulls the lymph through the bloodstream” ~ according to Dr. Jack W. Shields, M.D., (“Lymph, lymph glands, and homeostasis”. Lymphology, v25, n4, Dec. 1992, p. 147).

The aortic opening in the diaphragm allows the aorta and thoracic duct of the lymph system to pass through the diaphragm. When we inhale, the diaphragm is pulled downward expanding the aortic opening and sliding below the Cisterna Chyli. When we exhale, the diaphragm moves upward and literally squeezes the clean fluid out of the Cisterna Chyli and pushes it up to the heart.

Dr. Jack W. Shields, M.D., conducted a study at the 7th International Congress of Lymphology (Florence, Italy/1979) that settled the debate about the main propulsion of lymph flow: is it deep diaphragmatic breathing or exercise? He had the largest lymph vessel – the thoracic duct – photographed while a person was walking and jogging on a treadmill and also while taking a deep breath off the treadmill. The deep breathing by itself, off the treadmill, caused the thoracic duct toshoot like a geyser”; the lymphatic flow only slightly increased while the person was on the treadmill.

THE CLEANSING BREATH
Taking a full breath deep in the belly is one of the best things you can do for your health.
We finish many qigong exercises by doing the “Cleansing Breath”: standing quietly with hands at sides, we inhale slowly through the nose down to the belly, then exhale audibly through the mouth with a slight contraction of the abdomen. This mindful action of deep diaphragmatic breathing will send the cleaned contents of the Cisterna Chyli up to the heart.

The cleansing breath is a natural physiological event. You may have noticed that every once in a while, especially when you are quietly relaxed, your body will spontaneously take a deep breath. This is like “a sigh of relief” when your body purposefully moves the fluid through the lymphatic system for cleansing and eventual return to the heart.

Gentle rhythmic movement is another way the keep the lymph flowing. This fluid is pumped when we do muscular contractions and massage. Those exercises that use leg and arm movements will target the large collection of lymph nodes in the pelvis and chest. Likewise, massaging your abdomen – what we do in the “Awakening The Qi” exercise – will stimulate another large concentration of lymph tissue around the intestines.

QIGONG – THE PERFECT EXERCISE
The qigong exercises I teach in Autumn Qigong have the effect of moving the lymph, blood, and qi throughout your body and mind. These smooth movements are combined with deep purposeful breathing and the mental intention to focus on the lungs. Also, the unique Humming Meditation uses diaphragmatic breathing and the cleansing breath to increase oxygen uptake in the lungs.

The lungs need special care at this season – dry, toxic air can affect each one of us. This is a serious health hazard. But the lungs are also most open to interventions at this time of year. We must do everything we can to protect our respiratory system. Qigong practice is a great way to nurture the health of your lungs. Do it.