Breathing and Lymphatic Flow
Along with the blood system, The lymphatic system is a major circulatory systems within our body, and it has been reported that the lymphatic system is no less essential than the blood circulatory system for human health and well-being (1).
The lymphatic system is a blunt-ended linear system, in which tissue fluids, cells, and large extracellular molecules, collectively know as lymph, are drained into the initial lymphatic capillary vessels and are transported to thicker collecting lymphatics, which are embedded with multiple lymph nodes. Eventually this lymph is returned to the blood circulation through the thoracic or lymphatic ducts that join to the subclavian veins (1). Lymph nodes are located throughout the body with some found in clustered groups in a few major places, including your neck, under your arms, in your chest, stomach, and groin region (2).
There are two functions that support the flow of the lymphatic system: skeletal muscle motion or movement and deep breathing. While skeletal muscle motion is considered a major pump for the lymphatic system, the deep breathing is equally important. Deep breathing and the Lymphatic System are closely connected as the lymphatic system does not have a pump such as the heart to move lymph so relies on muscles used in breathing mechanics such as the diaphragm to move and circulate Lymph (3).
According to researchers deep diaphragmatic breathing stimulates the cleansing of the lymph system by creating a vacuum effect which pulls the lymph through the bloodstream (4).
Activating the diaphragm through breathing can be done by slow controlled breathing which focuses on the biomechanics and biochemistry of breathing.
Choi I, Lee S, Hong YK. The new era of the lymphatic system: no longer secondary to the blood vascular system. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012;2(4):a006445. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a006445
Folid’s Textbook of Lymphology for Physicians and Lymphedema Therapists” – 2nd edition, p 551
Dr. Jack W. Shields, M.D., Lymph, lymph glands, and homeostasis. Lymphology, v25, n4, Dec. 1992, p. 147