Recipe by Kate Tietje
If you aren’t familiar with it, the lymphatic system collects cellular waste. It doesn’t have a pump to get that fluid out, so you have to move to help it (walk, rebound, etc.). A lot of soreness and fluid retention is driven by lymphatic stagnation. Especially if you’re trying to detox or improve some aspect of your health, you need to take care of your lymphatic system!
Unfortunately, in today’s world, everything from processed foods in stores to environmental pollution can cause our lymphatic system to get overrun and congested.
Signs of a sluggish lymphatic system:
-
- Swollen lymph nodes or puffiness, especially in the arms, feet, ankles, calves, face, and neck
- Brain fog
- Stiff joints or achiness that is unexplained
- Heavy feeling in your legs
- Difficult to fit into your size of clothes (calves or thighs much larger on one side, etc.)
- Bloated frequently
- Frequent sinus congestion
- Cold hands or feet due to poor circulation
- Low metabolism
- It takes more than 1 -2 seconds for the regular color to return to the skin after it has been gently pressed for a few seconds
Thankfully, there are many supportive ways to get the lymphatic system moving again.
-
- Exercise – especially rebounding
- Vibration plate
- Dry Brushing
- Drinking plenty of water and electrolytes
- Lymphatic drainage massage (either with a chiropractor, massage therapist, or self-massage)
- Diuretic and cleansing herbs
You can even make your own lymphatic support tincture or a lotion to use while you massage.
Earthley makes a lotion for this called Lymphatic Cream. It is made with burdock, ginger, calendula, yarrow, and cleavers infused in castor oil and apricot oil then mixed with kokum butter.
About the Herbs
Some of the ingredients will need to be wildcrafted for this recipe, so if you have a surplus of violets or dandelions in your yard, this recipe is for you!
Burdock
Burdock root has been used in Western folk herbalism and traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, primarily for its cleansing and skin-smoothing properties.
Benefits of Burdock:
-
- Antioxidant properties
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Supports skin health
- May remove toxins from the blood
- Supports healthy lymphatic function
Cleavers
Cleavers are thin plants that may have clung to your pants as you walked. They have tiny hairs that cling to and hook into whatever walks by.
Benefits of Cleavers:
-
- Supports healthy lymphatic function
- Supports immune system
- Mild diuretic effect
Dandelion
Dandelions are the yellow flowered plants that turn into the white balls of fluff you made wishes with as a kid. But they are so much more than just a wish or a natural paintbrush!
Benefits of Dandelion:
-
- Supports healthy circulation
- Supports healthy blood sugar levels already within normal limits
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Supports the immune system
- Supports liver health
- Supports healthy digestion
Violets
Those beautiful little purple flowers with 5 petals that pop up in the Sping time. Two petals go up and 3 petals go down. Traditionally, violets have been added to salads and turned into smoothies, jelly, and even tinctures.
Benefits of Violets:
-
- Antioxidant properties
- Antimicrobial properties
- Anti-inflammatory
- Supports healthy lymphatic function
- May promote sleep
- Supports healthy blood sugar levels
Lymphatic Support Tincture
As with any tincture, the amounts are customizable, but this is how Kate has made her tincture.
Ingredients:
- 10 oz. of a vegetable-based glycerin (you can use alcohol if you prefer)
- 6 oz. hot water
- ¼ cup cleavers
- ¼ cup dandelion flower
- 2 tbsp. dandelion leaves
- 1 tsp. violets
- 1 burdock leaf
Directions:
Step 1: Add all of these herbs to a mason jar.
Step 2: Add the glycerin and hot water in a separate jar and shake to mix until fully combined and clear.
Step 3: Pour the glycerin and water mixture over the herbs.
Step 4: Shake the mixture, cover it, and set it in a cool, dark place for about six weeks (or use the crockpot method).
Step 5: Strain it out and keep it in a glass bottle. In a perfect world, brown glass.
Check out Kate making this tincture below!
