How to detox a clogged lymphatic system: 11 easy tricks

Having a clogged lymphatic system can make you seriously sick! And while with our modern lifestyle it’s easy to create blockages in your lymph, there are quite a few ways in which you can help yourself.

Let’s look at the 11 things you can do for your very own lymphatic system cleanse!

Related: How to get rid of water retention

Disclosure: Some of the links below are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

1. Check your bra

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Did you know that underwire and tight-fitting bras can seriously impede healthy lymphatic flow?

To help your lymph flow freely, make sure you are only wearing well-fitting bras, ideally without wires. Or just don’t wear a bra at all!

For all situations when you really need one, consider getting a cute sports bra like this one*. Sports bras are made to not constrict movement or breathing and still give you the support you need.

Mini Camisole Bra Wireless Padded Bra with Adjustable Straps for Women Girls (Black White Grey, Large)

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2. Wear natural fibers

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The skin is one huge detoxing machine!

But wearing all kinds of artificial fibers and putting loads of chemicals on your skin can make detoxing difficult and contribute to a clogged lymphatic system.

So go check your closet, throw out all that polyester and opt for some soft cotton instead!

3. Dry brushing

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Dry brushing is popular because of its many amazing skin benefits. It gives you soft skin and makes cellulite appear less prominent. But it is also a very good way to get your lazy, clogged lymph system moving again!

So if you’re wondering how to unclog your lymphatic system, give this a try! Through dry brushing regularly, you create that friction that your lymph fluid needs to move through your body.

Find out how exactly you should dry brush for your lymph system here!

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4. Sleep in loose clothes

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During your sleep, your body is super busy throwing out all those toxins. And guess what tight-fitting pajamas can do? That’s right, they constrict blood and lymph flow, limiting your body’s detoxing abilities.

So no matter if you already have a blocked lymph system or if you are trying to prevent it: Get some comfy, loose sleepwear*!

5. Turn things around

Turning yourself upside down is a great way to stimulate lymphatic flow! But don’t worry if you are not crazy athletic. Easy Yoga poses like the “legs up the wall pose” (above) also reverse the effect of gravity, helping you to unclog your blocked lymphatic system.

More advanced posses for this are the downward-facing dog, handstands, headstands, and shoulder stands. Or, if you are really serious about this lymph detox, you could always get yourself an inversion table*!

6. Drink, drink, drink

Did you know that dehydration is one of the most common causes of lymphatic congestion? Even though everyone and their mom keep telling people to drink more water, it still happens that we simply don’t get enough.

But if your lymphatic system is already clogged, there are no more excuses to be made. Drink as if you meant it!

No more asking how to flush your lymphatic system: do it with water!

In case you are struggling with that, I made you this handy water tracker printable. You can download it, print it, put it in your bullet journal or stick it to your fridge. However you plan on using it, make sure you can cross off at least 8 glasses every day!

Just click on the image below and your PDF will open in a new tab.

7. Raw foods

Raw foods keep your whole body healthy. And they are also mandatory for a well-functioning lymphatic system. If you are struggling with this, I recommend trying Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozen checklist.

Or, if this is still too granular for you, hop over to here* and get your Capsule Pantry Blueprint*. Putting in the work once, eating healthy for months!

8. Deep breathing

Deep breathing helps your clogged lymphatic system in two ways.

First of all, when you breathe really deeply, your belly muscles get stretched, then contract. That is exactly what your lymph fluid needs to get moving.

Second of all, breathing exercises help a great deal to reduce stress. And guess what is a big contributing factor to a clogged lymphatic system? That’s right, stress is!

Luckily, it’s super easy to incorporate deep breathing into your daily routine. After all, you can do it anywhere, anytime.

Related: 13 super effective stress relief activities (no gadgets)
Related: 10 practical things to put in a Stress Relief Goodie Bag

9. Exercise

You can’t talk about how to cleanse a clogged lymphatic system without mentioning movement. Exercising is a great way to stimulate lymphatic flow!

Running, squats, and Yoga really help in forcing the lymph out of the tissues.

If you decide to go for Yoga, make sure to get some twists in. Twisting does to your body what wringing does to a towel. Eeeeverything gets squeezed out!

10. Get a massage

Sometimes exercise is not possible, or you really just need a rest. In that case, you could treat yourself to a lymphatic massage. This is a special form of massage also known as lymphatic manual drainage.

As the name hints, this is a pressure technique designed to help move all the waste fluid in your body.

You can find an example of self lymph drainage below in the video and try it out for yourself or read more about how to perform a lymphatic drainage massage here!

11. Rebounding

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Last but not least, the honorary mention: Rebounding is an amazing way to clear your clogged lymphatic system.

While this could be filed under exercise, it deserves its own spot in this list because vertical motions are much more efficient than horizontal ones like running.

Also, how amazing to actually have a HEALTH reason to do some more rebounding? Unclogging your lymphatic system became a lot more fun all of a sudden, didn’t it?

I had a rebounder when I was a kid, similar to this one* and I loved it! Guess it’s time to get another one…

How to unclog lymphatic system – Cheat Sheet

Now that we went through all of these tips your head might be swirling a little. But don’t worry, I got a handy cheat sheet for you to summarise all the tips you just read.

Simply save it to your Pinterest boards or save the image wherever you collect this type of information. I hope it helps!

Do you have more tips for a clogged lymphatic system?

Anything I missed? How do you unclog your lymphatic system?

If you have more tips on how to detox your lymph system I’d love to read about them in the comments! And remember to pin this for later!

*These links are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.