If you have swollen lymph nodes, this episode will teach you how your mighty glymphatic system drains toxins from your brain to what in Chinese Medicine is called your stomach 12 point. In this episode, Doctor Chris Motley explains the ins and outs of caring for your lymphatic system and how to promote lymphatic drainage through the activation of your triple warmer in Chinese Medicine. He also shares how to look after your body's lymph flow while taking a GLP-1, and the right way to do lymphatic massage on yourself.
Key Points from this episode:
The recently discovered glymphatic system drains toxins from your brain into your stomach 12 point in Chinese Medicine. This system is powered by sleep: good sleep is essential (wear a sleep monitor to ensure you're getting the deep level of sleep needed for your glymphatic system!).
How to know when you're not reaching the cleansing layer of sleep needed for your glymphatic system to operate fully: The tell is when your brain fog won't clear until 2 in the afternoon!
Dr. Motley's Best Lymphatic Recommendations: 1) Lymphatic massage or ELT (electrolymphatic therapy) or self-massage and dry brushing (work your way UP, not down).
2) Herbs: Hemoguard helps support blood flow, which is an essential link to lymph flow: https://tinyurl.com/yvzbs8au
Manjistha Supreme promotes good lymph flow: https://tinyurl.com/mu9u5yx7
How caring for your liver and spleen are important to the lymphatic system. Doctor Motley explains that in Chinese Medicine the spleen is in charge of moving your fluids from your food and drink through your body.
How to know if your spleen is weak through a Chinese Medicine lens: Doctor Motley recalls a patient who suffered from spleen fatigue, and the tell-tale sign was a ring around the lips (chapped lips is a sign as well!).
How to strengthen the spleen and liver to promote lymphatic health:
Grass-fed sheep thymus: https://tinyurl.com/3kduh2n6, Grass-fed beef spleen https://amzn.to/3QS265f or a PMG supplement from standard process are Doctor Motley's recommendations for optimizing the spleen. Flush the liver with Dandelion root and Schisandra: https://tinyurl.com/a24kyuzz
How to be mindful of proper lymph flow when taking a GLP-1. This is not an anti-GLP-1 episode (in fact Doctor Motley's own patients use them now and then), but it's advice for helping the medication work properly. If you're losing muscle, be on the lookout for fluid buildup. Take proteins that work for you, flush your liver, strengthen your spleen and get some moderate exercise to help protect your lymph flow while on GLP-1s.
The emotions connected to your spleen in Chinese Medicine that could be affecting lymphatic drainage: worry, overthinking (or, in Chinese Medicine terms "too much mind."), obsessing over outcomes. If you're a chronic worrier, this could affect your immune function. To tend to these emotions well, Doctor Motley recommends emotion work like EMDR.
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