About The Lymphatic System- And Why Is Crucial For Brain & Gut Health
dr.vanta
This article is all about the lymph, lymphatic system and lymphoid organs. If you understand how it works, you will see how important it is and will work on improving it. This blog also cover some basic info on stem cell therapy (including ms stem cell therapy), in case you consider this option.
Do you want to improve your brain function and your overall health? If yes, these next few articles are for you.
Next articles are about the brain lymphatic system (aka the glymphatic system) and natural ways to improve brain’s lymph flow as well.
Everyone talks about the gut-brain axis right now, but this link will soon expand to the gut-lymph-brain axis.
Lymphatic System Disease List (Including Signs and Symptoms of Congested Lymphatic Flow)
About The Lymphatic System
Lymphatic Tissues : Tonsils, Spleen, Thymus gland, Bone marrow, Liver (in fetus) and Appendix (Including Some Info About Stem Cell Therapy)
The Brain’s Lymphatic System (The Glymphatic System)- In The Next Article
1.Lymphatic System Disease List (Including Signs and Symptoms of Congested Lymphatic Flow)
Lymphatic system is more important than previously thought, and had been neglected for a long time. Conventional medicine does not look into it, unless there is a case of obstruction, an infection or cancer spreading via lymphatic system. Here is the lymphatic system disease list you would find in the classical textbooks:
Obstruction of the lymphatic system leads to an accumulation of lymph and is called lymphedema. This obstruction can be caused by scars (after surgery, radiation therapy or injuries) or by infections (ie filariasis) that block the lymphatic vessels.
Infections that affect the lymph nodes. Also known as lymphadenitis.
Cancer. Cancer cells can block the lymphatic ducts are may spread via lymphatic vessels. Rarely, there are tumors that develop in the lymphatic system (ie lymphangiosarcoma) [1].
The truth is, lymphatic system supports every other system in the body, including the immune, digestive, detoxification and nervous systems. Therefore many other conditions can be a sign of impaired lymphatic system
For example, some scientists suggest that the lymphatic system could be the missing link between the brain and the immune system, and a key player involved in inflammation, metabolic syndrome and autoimmunity (all having a huge impact on brain health)[2].
Let’s look at the signs/symptoms of a congested lymph flow.
Do you have some following signs and symptoms?
stubborn weight gain or big weight fluctuation (ie few pounds in 24 hrs or during menses)
joint pain and stiffness (especially in the morning)
excess cellulites, itchy dry skin
little sweating even during exercise
fatigue
bloating
brain fog
colds hands and feet
chronic sinusitis, sore throats, colds, ear infections and other signs of weak immune system
anxiety and/or depression
All these health concerns can be linked to poor waste removal in the lymphatic system. You can call them lymphatic system disorders symptoms if you wish.
2. About The Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system runs in parallel with the blood vascular system and has the following functions:
Maintains normal body fluid balance (homeostasis), by recycling interstitial fluid
Detoxifies the body and modulates the immune system — the lymphatic system recognizes unhealthy cells (ie microbes and foreign substances, old/damaged cells, cancer cells) and helps to eliminate them from the body.
Absorbs fatty substances and fat soluble vitamins from the GI tract and transports them in the veins (therefore is essential in proper digestion in general, and fat metabolism in particular)
Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, described lymph as the “white blood” four hundred years ago, and understood its importance [3]. If we go even further back in time, the ancient forms of medicine such as Ayurveda and Chinese medicine also acknowledge the importance of lymph in human health. If fact their treatments are focused on improving lymphatic flow.
The lymphatic system is made up of lymph vessels, lymph nodes, ducts and other tissues.
These tissues and organs (called lymphoid tissue, ie tonsils and spleen) also monitor the lymph for microbes, foreign substances and abnormal cells and remove them from the lymph. Besides removing waste products from the body, the lymphatic system also helps maintain healthy blood pressure and transports some hormones, nutrients and neurotransmitters. (therefore involved in cardiovascular and brain health)
The lymphatic system works very hard, 24/7. Several liters of fluid leak from the cardiovascular circulation into the tissues every day. The lymphatic vessels collect these fluids (which make up the lymph, which is basically filtered blood plasma) and bring it back into the circulation.
The lymph vessels create a network, similar with the cardiovascular system. Unlike the cardiovascular system, which has a pump (the heart) that pushes the blood in the vessels, lymphatic system doesn’t have it.
How is the lymph going to move through the vessels? First of all, the lymphatic vessels have within their walls some tiny, smooth muscles that just by squeezing, will help the lymph move forward. Then, there are skeletal muscles of the body, which are even more important. Muscle contractions make the lymph move efficiently. The lymph is also carried away using the contractions from the heart, breathing movements and contraction of the small muscles from the gut wall) [4].
Lymph vessels have valves, which prevent the lymph to move backwards, and therefore will move in one direction only: forwards.
The lymph is collected this way: it starts from tiny vessels and is progressively drains in to the larger vessels, then the lymphatic ducts, which further drain in the veins.
Along these lymph vessels there are lymphatic nodes (about 600 of them throughout the body). All the lymph will go through at least one lymph node before getting back in the cardiovascular circulation. Why is that? Because a key job of the lymph node is to filter the fluid (the lymph).
The immune cells inside the lymph node fight microbes and other harmful substances, send signals to the immune system about potential threats, and try to remove them before lymph moves forward. Can you guess what happens when these lymph nodes are surgically removed ?
Here is a good example: a throat infection. You feel swollen “glands” in the neck area, below your jaw. Those are not glands, but enlarged lymph nodes that are fighting the bacteria. A quick video on lymph nodes and what happens during an infection can be watched here.
Lymph composition: lymph contains fluid similar with the blood, but without red blood cells. It contains nutrients, oxygen, hormones, proteins and fats. Once the lymph passes through a lymph node, white blood cells will enter the lymph. In the digestive tract, lymph has a milky consistency because here is rich fats. Lacteals are lymph vessels localized in the GI tract and their role is to transport intestinal fat.
Lymph also contains toxins and cellular waste products, which are transported to and from tissues, and filtered in the lymph nodes.
Lymphatic vessels transport lymph from peripheral tissues to the veins of the cardiovascular system.
The key role of lymph nodes is to monitor the composition of lymph. They filter (and try to eradicate) microbes and other foreign or toxic substances. Lymph nodes play an important role in the immune system function as they host T and B cells.
3. Lymphatic tissues : tonsils, spleen, thymus gland, bone marrow, liver (in fetus) and appendix.
Tonsils. Tonsils are super important to your health. They produce immune cells ( ie lymphocytes) and antibodies. They are the first line of defense, helping to recognize microbes then send signals to the immune system to eliminate those microbes from the body. Sadly, even nowadays more than half of a million American children under 15 years old have their tonsils removed. Did you know that those who have tonsils removed are more likely to develop allergic, respiratory (ie asthma, COPD) and infectious diseases (like pneumonia, influenza) later in life [5]? Do you know that having tonsils and appendix removed before the age of 20 also increases the risk for developing MS [6]? If you have no choice but have to remove the tonsils, choose tonsillotomy (a bit safer, as it removes only a part of the tonsils).
The spleen: Another organ that was considered “not essential” and therefore ignored for a long time. Believe it or not, we are just starting to understand now how important it is. It is key component of the immune system, as it is involved in hematopoiesis (the formation of the white blood cells and other blood cells) and helps prevent/limit infections. It is also the body’s largest filter of the blood. The red pulp of the spleen helps filter and remove microbes, old and damaged red blood cells. Spleen acts as a storage organ, too. Did you know that it stores about one third of the whole body’s platelets, as well ? Spleen also serves as a reservoir for white blood cells. It recycles iron by sending it to the liver. Many immune system responses (reactions) start in the spleen. Like thymus, spleen contains T and B cells. Technical: here is a review of the key functions of the spleen.Spleen can become enlarged (this condition is known as splenomegaly) during viral infections such as mononucleosis. Various autoimmune conditions, including MS can develop after splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen). Of course, splenectomy is also linked with an increased risk of life threatening infections, including sepsis [8]. Spleen is closely connected with liver (through the spleen-liver axis), thus playing a significant role in metabolism and hormone balance [10]. This is again, a relatively new finding in conventional medicine [11]. Yet, the connection between spleen and liver had been known for thousands of years in Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine. Totally worth exploring these ancient forms of medicine.
Thymus & Bone marrow (and liver in the fetus). Thymus is essential in the development of immunity in childhood, and degenerates as we age.T cells of the immune system mature in the thymus and are responsible for so called “ cellular” immune response. B cells mature in the liver (in fetus) and in the bone marrow (in adults); B cells are responsible for so called “humoral” immune response.Both the thymus and bone marrow naturally shrink as we age. In MS, it looks that the aging process is accelerated, as noted by reduced number of cells of the bone marrow (compared with healthy individuals) [11].
Is MS a T cell or B cell mediated autoimmune condition ? There are pros and cons for both theories. Current drugs are targeting the B cells of the immune system, while T cells are underestimated. To me, both T and B cells are affected, as they work together. Both are also essential to your health. Suppressing them can not lead to a true reversal of the disease, but rather worsening of the problem- and accelerating the aging process.
Here is an old, yet still popular idea: the belief that thymus does not have any importance in adults, as it degenerates and transforms into fat tissue. Yet, if we look into scientific studies, we find evidence that the thymus is still important and contributes to maintaining healthy T cells in adults as well, despite the fact that the gland degenerates [12]. Thymus is indeed an important component of the immune system health. The T cells go through intense “training” in the thymus, where only the best (just 5%)are selected to remain alive, so they can support a healthy immune system. Can you guess what makes thymus shrink really quick? Stress does that. However, it has the ability to return to its normal size [13].
The bone marrow (BM) BM is considered to be part of the lymphatic system because this is the place where the B cells of the immune system mature. I will get into a few details, as I know some of you are interested in stem cell therapy. BM is the spongy tissue inside some bones in the body (ie hip and thigh bones). It contains immature cells, known as stem cells. Bone marrow also produces about 200 billion new red blood cells daily, as well as white blood cells and platelets. BM contains two type of stem cells called mesenchymal and hematopoietic. Stem cells can differentiate into different, specialized types of cells. Stem cells are also capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods.
There are also two types of BM:
Red bone marrow (aka myeloid tissue)- contains hematopoietic stem cells that will form blood cells (ie red blood, platelets and various white blood cells- including T and B cells or natural killer cells of the immune system). Once they are mature, they moved from the BM into the blood and will perform their specific functions.
Yellow bone marrow- contains mesenchymal stem cells that had been known to form fat, cartilage and bone. More recent studies found that these type of stem cells may also form muscle, skin, nerve, liver cells and play important roles in modulating the immune system and fighting inflammation [14]. Regenerative medicine is a new branch of medicine that uses various methods (stem cell therapy, tissue engineering and production of artificial organs) with a goal to regrow, repair and replace damaged cells and tissues.
Ms stem cell therapy (bone marrow transplant): both hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (stem cell therapy) is researched for treating MS as well. It is not FDA approved therapy for MS, but is considered “experimental”.The goal of the stem cell therapy is to reset the immune system and stop the inflammation that is involved in MS relapses. Stem cells are taken from the bone marrow or the blood of a person; these cells are collected and stored before using chemo drugs to deplete the immune system. Then these cells are reintroduced in the body, will migrate to the bone marrow and over time will rebuild the immune system [19],[20]. Stem cell therapy had been used for a few decades for treating blood cancers like lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma [21]. More recently, this therapy had been researched for other conditions, including MS. My thoughts on ms stem cell therapy (bone marrow transplant): will likely become the first-line therapy in the future. However, I see a lot more risks than benefits right now. Be aware that many people are dying from this therapy. Very few are aware of these deaths, as only those few success stories make the headlines. Using stem cell therapy is like playing Russian roulette- if you are lucky, you will survive. Many things can go wrong during the chemotherapy, which is used before stem cell transplant. Many things can go wrong after the treatment, too. These stem cells may not migrate in the right place or may not turn into the type of cells that were expected. The newly formed cells may also not work as they should, and there is also risk to develop tumors. FDA warns about safety issues with stem cell therapy, and the possibility of adverse reactions. More research is needed to find a safe treatment that manipulates stem cells [22].
Note: besides bone marrow transplant, there are other therapies like stem cell therapy which do not involve chemo drugs or radiation to suppress the immune system. They are done in a short period of time and you can go back home the same day. Stem cells are taken from one or two areas of your body (like bone marrow or fat tissue). Stem cells are placed in centrifuge machine that spins the fluid creating a concentrated mixture of stem cells (and growth factors) and natural growth factors. This liquid is then used to help build new cells. This therapy can also be used for sports injuries, wounds, and incisions from surgeries, heart diseases, eye diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease, brain trauma and more. The benefits of stem cell treatments include faster recovery time, help manage chronic pain, decrease the need for medications, boost mobility and range of motion, reduce nerve damage and boost collagen levels. Stem cell therapy can cause some side effects including irritation at the side of the injection, headaches, swelling, and allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Rare, but possibly serious side effects include spinal fluid leaks and permanent nerve damage.
The Appendix. The appendix was considered a simple evolutionary residue with no significance to our health (Darwin’s theory). In early 1900, scientists believe that both appendix and large intestine are completely useless, as their removal did not cause death [23]. As a result, the surgical removal of the appendix or parts of the intestine are very common procedures nowadays. They were wrong. More and more research supports the fact that appendix is part of the human body for a very good reason: it plays an important role in the health, particularly in the health of the immune system. It promotes the proper movement and removal of waste material formed during digestion and contains lymphatic vessels. It protects the body from external (harmful) factors. Supports the growth of friendly bacteria (gut flora), thus helping maintain a healthy gut microbiome [24],[25]. Simply put, the appendix is a powerful detox organ, keeps the immune system strong and the gut microbiome healthy. The appendix connects the gut health with the lymphatic system health (the gut-lymph axis).As I mentioned above, the removal of appendix or tonsils before the age of 20 had been linked with an increased risk of MS, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies [26].Other studies linked the removal of appendix with altered gut microbiome, with other autoimmune disease, infections (C. difficile) and cancer [27],[28].
GALT. Talking about gut-lymphatic system link : GALT is another great example. About 80% of the lymphocytes in the body are situated in the GALT (this is the short for “ gut-associated-lymphoid-tissue “. These white blood cells are found either in groups in lymph nodules of the gut called Peyer’s patches and as scattered lymphoid cells in the wall of the gut. The GALT is connected with the rest of the lymphatic system via lymphatic vessels and directed toward lymph nodules found in the lines of the small intestine.The immune response to bacteria (in the gut) are mainly induced in the Peyer’s patches, which contain B and T cell (lymphocytes). In relation to MS, animal studies found that GALT is impaired in MS and this impairment may play a role in the development of MS [29].
4. The brain lymphatic system. The brain lymphatic system was discovered only a few years ago, as previously was thought that the brain has no lymphatic vessels. This is where you really see how important is lymph to your brain health. More about the glymphatic system in the next article.
