Understanding the Lymphatic System
The fluid that circulates within the system is called lymph. It is derived from blood plasma, although clearer and more watery, and lymph seeps through capillary walls to fill tissue spaces. Besides lymph, the lymphatic system includes lymphatic capillaries, larger vessel lymph nodes, glands, spleen, tonsils, and thymus.
The lymphatic system is a major part of the body’s immune system. It is made up of organs and lymph nodes, ducts and vessels that transport lymph throughout the body. Many of these lymph vessels run just below the skin and proponents of dry brushing claim that brushing the skin regularly helps to stimulate the normal lymph flow within the body so that it can detoxify itself naturally. Benefits include:
Lymph and lymphatic vessels come into much more intimate relationships with metabolic tissues than blood. However, unlike the blood system which utilizes the heart as a pump, the lymph system, like veins, relies on skeletal muscle contractions to pump its components.