OMR Massage

21/11/2025

😔 The Sad Reality of High Cortisol: When Your Stress Hormone Becomes Your Silent Saboteur 🔥💧

Cortisol — your built-in alarm system, your “get up and go,” your life-saving stress hormone.
But what happens when this short-term hero becomes a long-term villain?

Let’s uncover the hidden toll of chronically high cortisol — and why it may be silently sabotaging your lymphatic flow, immune resilience, and overall health.

⚠️ Cortisol: A Blessing in Balance, a Curse in Chaos

Cortisol is released by your adrenal glands during stress. It’s designed to:
• Increase alertness
• Raise blood sugar for energy
• Suppress non-essential functions (like digestion & detox)
• Help you survive a crisis

But here’s the reality most don’t talk about…

In today’s world, most people aren’t fighting lions.
They’re fighting inboxes, deadlines, trauma, grief, financial strain, chronic illness… every day.

And that means cortisol never switches off.

😞 The Hidden Damage of High Cortisol

When cortisol remains elevated for weeks, months, or years, it becomes toxic to your system.

Here’s what it does:

🧠 Brain Fog & Mood Swings

Cortisol shrinks the hippocampus (memory center) and disrupts serotonin and dopamine production.
Result: depression, anxiety, emotional numbness.

🛏️ Sleep Disruption

High nighttime cortisol means you feel “tired but wired.”
You fall asleep late, wake up early, and never feel restored.

🍽️ Weight Gain & Belly Fat

Cortisol tells your body to store fat, especially around your abdomen — to “survive” the perceived stress.
It also causes insulin resistance, bloating, and inflammation.

💧 Lymphatic Stagnation

This is where it gets scary:
• Cortisol stiffens fascia, compressing lymph vessels.
• It raises fluid retention by triggering aldosterone imbalances.
• It shuts down detox priorities — because survival doesn’t care about drainage.

Result? Puffy face, swollen limbs, brain fog, sluggish detox, recurring infections, and autoimmune flare-ups.

💔 Heart & Hormone Havoc

Chronically high cortisol:
• Increases blood pressure
• Throws off progesterone and estrogen
• Suppresses thyroid function
• Elevates inflammatory cytokines

This leaves you tired, inflamed, irritable, and disconnected — often without knowing why.

🧬 Is This You? Common Signs of Cortisol Overload:
• Wired but tired
• Puffiness that won’t go away
• Frequent colds or infections
• Midsection weight gain
• Poor sleep and vivid dreams
• Low libido
• Anxiety or “shut down” feelings
• Brain fog and memory lapses
• Sluggish digestion and bloating

🌿 How to Lower Cortisol & Reclaim Balance:
1. Nasal Breathing + Grounding – activates the parasympathetic (healing) state.
2. Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) – gently resets the nervous system and reduces inflammation.
3. Adaptogenic Herbs – ashwagandha, rhodiola, and holy basil can support adrenal recovery.
4. Gentle Movement – like walking, yoga, or rebounding to move lymph without spiking stress.
5. Left Side Sleeping – improves drainage from the heart and calms vagal tone.
6. Screen & Noise Detox – especially before bed.
7. Safe Emotional Release – breathwork, therapy, journaling, crying — your body needs to let go.

💔 Final Thought:

Cortisol was never meant to be your constant companion.
It was meant to protect you — not imprison you.

If you feel like your body is breaking down, your mind is tired, and your soul is flat…
You may not need “more willpower.”
You may need less cortisol.

Let’s not normalize burnout.
Let’s normalize nervous system safety, lymphatic flow, and emotional healing.

Your peace isn’t a luxury — it’s a biological necessity.

📚 References:
• McEwen BS. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: central role of the brain. Physiological Reviews.
• Tsigos C, Chrousos GP. (2002). Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, neuroendocrine factors and stress. Journal of Psychosomatic Research.
• van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score.
• Fasano A. (2012). Intestinal permeability and systemic inflammation.

©️

21/11/2025

🌿 What High Oestrogen Does to Your Lymphatic System

By Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS – Lymphatica

Hormones and the lymphatic system are profoundly connected — especially oestrogen, which influences how your body regulates water balance, detoxification, and inflammation. When oestrogen becomes chronically elevated — a condition known as oestrogen dominance — it can overload the lymphatic system, slow detoxification, and create that “puffy, inflamed” feeling many women experience without realising why.

🔬 The Science Behind It

Oestrogen is metabolised by the liver and cleared through the lymphatic and digestive systems. When these pathways become sluggish due to stress, poor diet, or toxin exposure, used hormones aren’t efficiently broken down or excreted. This leads to recirculation of “spent” oestrogen — increasing its overall load and impact on tissues.

Research shows that oestrogen receptors (ERα) are present in lymphatic endothelial cells. These receptors help regulate vessel integrity, drainage, and immune signalling. When oestrogen signalling becomes unbalanced — whether too low, too high, or poorly metabolised — lymphatic flow and vessel tone are directly affected.

🧪 Studies show that loss of oestrogen receptor-α in lymphatic vessels impairs drainage and increases vessel diameter, confirming that hormonal balance is vital for healthy lymph flow (Morfoisse et al., 2018; Fontaine et al., 2020).

💧 1. Fluid Retention and Swelling

High oestrogen increases capillary permeability — meaning fluid leaks more easily into surrounding tissues. This excess fluid relies on the lymphatic system to be drained. When the lymph becomes overwhelmed, local swelling and heaviness occur, particularly in oestrogen-sensitive areas:
• Breasts – tenderness or fullness before menstruation
• Hips and thighs – fluid retention and stubborn fat storage (“lipoedema-like” pattern)
• Face and ankles – morning puffiness and water retention

Environmental oestrogens (plastics, fragrances, pesticides) can further mimic hormone activity, keeping the lymph in a constant state of overload.

🧬 Research confirms that oestrogen modulates endothelial permeability and fluid dynamics (Caldwell et al., 1999). When regulation falters, lymphatic uptake slows, causing visible puffiness and congestion.

🩷 2. Oestrogen-Sensitive Lymph Nodes

Your axillary (underarm), groin, and breast lymph nodes are rich in hormone receptors. During phases of high oestrogen (PMS, perimenopause, or hormone therapy), these nodes can become tender or swollen due to:
• Increased interstitial fluid
• Macrophage activation from hormone metabolites
• Build-up of cellular waste in the node regions

That’s why women often feel underarm tightness or breast heaviness during hormonal shifts — it’s lymphatic congestion driven by hormonal imbalance.

Oestrogen supports lymph vessel growth, but excess or disrupted signalling contributes to lymphatic dysfunction and lymphedema risk (Morfoisse et al., 2018; Gantumur et al., 2023).

🩸 3. The Liver–Lymph Connection

Your liver clears oestrogen, and your lymph carries away the by-products. When the liver is sluggish from toxins, alcohol, or processed food, oestrogen builds up, creating a cycle of overload:

More circulating oestrogen → more metabolic waste → more lymph congestion → slower clearance → even higher oestrogen.

Clinical studies show that altering oestrogen metabolism through hormone therapy can affect lymph drainage and lymphedema development, confirming this powerful liver–lymph link (D**g et al., 2022; Morfoisse et al., 2021).

🌿 Supporting Healthy Oestrogen & Lymph Flow

To restore harmony and prevent lymph stagnation, focus on supporting the three detox organs that regulate oestrogen — the liver, gut, and lymph.

1️⃣ Move your lymph daily: Dry brushing, MLD therapy, walking, and diaphragmatic breathing all stimulate flow.
2️⃣ Support your liver: Eat cruciferous veggies, bitter greens, and use castor oil packs to assist bile and hormone detox.
3️⃣ Feed your gut: Fibre and probiotics help your estrobolome metabolise and excrete used oestrogen.
4️⃣ Reduce xeno-oestrogens: Avoid plastics, chemical perfumes, and processed meats.
5️⃣ Replenish nutrients: Magnesium, B-vitamins, and omega-3s aid oestrogen metabolism and lymphatic tone.

🕊️ Final Thoughts

Your lymphatic system is your body’s silent communicator — it instantly reflects what your hormones are saying.
When oestrogen is balanced, lymph moves freely, inflammation subsides, and your body feels lighter.
When oestrogen dominates, lymph flow slows, and your body whispers through puffiness, fatigue, and fluid retention — all signs that detox and balance are needed.

🧾 References
1. Morfoisse F et al. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2018.
2. Fontaine C et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2020; 21(9):3244.
3. Caldwell R B et al. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 1999; 276(2):C337-C345.
4. Morfoisse F et al. Cancers. 2021; 13(3):530.
5. D**g D et al. Front Pharmacol. 2022; 13:853859.
6. Gantumur E et al. J Invest Dermatol. 2023.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health regimen.

18/11/2025

13/11/2025

12/11/2025

Hello 😃All, we have two 1hr relaxation massage appointments left this Friday 14/11/25 11am and 12.30 pm. First to inbox gets served first. Or call 0417497377. ✅OMR Massage

14/10/2025

😃Hello OMR Massage Clientele, I have a new therapist starting this Friday 17/10 and have an appointment available for relaxation massage at 12.30pm please inbox me if you would like an hour treatment ✅✅✅✅😀.

03/10/2025

Why our body needs Amino acid. ✅😀

28/09/2025

This is from evidenced based research.

28/09/2025

🧠✋ Help Us Complete Groundbreaking Reflexology Research!

We're in the final stretch of our Neural Pathways of Applied Reflexology research project, and we need your support to cross the finish line! This pioneering study is exploring the scientific foundation of reflexology through advanced brain imaging.

💰 TWO WAYS TO SUPPORT:

🔗 LINK 1: [SCANNING TIME FUND] https://www.unmfund.org/fund/npar-fund/
This tax-deductible donation goes directly to cover our scanning time at the University of Minnesota. Every dollar helps us gather the crucial data we need to complete this research.

🔗 LINK 2: [RESEARCHER SUPPORT FUND]
https://www.paypal.biz/KevinKunz837
This fund (not tax-deductible) goes directly to compensate our dedicated researchers, including Barbara and Kevin Kunz, along with our brilliant data analyst. These incredible individuals have volunteered their expertise for 5 YEARS without compensation – in fact, the Kunzes have contributed their own personal funds to keep this vital research moving forward.

This research has the potential to transform how we understand reflexology and its effects on the nervous system. Your support – whether $10 or $100 – brings us closer to scientific validation that could benefit millions.

Please share this post and help us spread the word! Science takes a village. 🙏

25/09/2025

Screening saves lives

17/09/2025

🚀 Help Us Cross the Finish Line!

Groundbreaking fMRI scans at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine are showing how reflexology lights up the brain in powerful and unexpected ways.

We’re proving that touch on the feet doesn’t just feel good—it activates deep brain networks linked to healing, recovery, and neuroplasticity. Stroke patients in our study even showed measurable improvements.

Now we need YOUR help to finish what we started:
✨ Buy more time on the fMRI scanner → UNM Fund Link. https://www.unmfund.org/fund/npar-fund/

✨ Support the data analysis team → PayPal Link https://www.paypal.biz/KevinKunz837

Every dollar, pound, euro, and peso counts. Let’s make reflexology history together. 🌍💡

19/08/2025

I regularly see people with a winged scapula. Here is some great info for you. 😃

🔥 Winged Scapula – “The Floating Shoulder Blade”

💥 A striking sign where the shoulder blade juts out like a wing — often unnoticed until weakness or injury affects your movement!

📜 Name Origin & History
The term “Winged Scapula” comes from the visual resemblance of the scapula (shoulder blade) sticking out from the back like a bird’s wing.
First described in medical literature in the 19th century, commonly linked to injury of the long thoracic nerve affecting the serratus anterior muscle.

⚠️ Causes
💧 Long thoracic nerve injury (most common)
💧 Serratus anterior muscle weakness or paralysis
💧 Brachial plexus injury
💧 Direct trauma to shoulder/back
💧 Neurological conditions (e.g., poliomyelitis, muscular dystrophy)
💧 Post-surgical complication (e.g., mastectomy, lymph node removal)

🗂️ Signs & Symptoms
🩸 Visible protrusion of the scapula from the thoracic wall
🩸 Shoulder instability
🩸 Weakness when pushing against resistance
🩸 Limited shoulder flexion and abduction
🩸 Pain or discomfort in shoulder/back area

🩺 Physical Assessment & Examination⤵️

1️⃣ Wall Push-Up Test – Increased winging when pushing against a wall
2️⃣ Scapular Observation – Compare both sides during shoulder movement
3️⃣ Manual Muscle Testing – Assess serratus anterior strength
4️⃣ Neurological Exam – To check nerve involvement

🩻 Radiologic Findings⤵️
📌 X-ray – Usually normal (used to rule out fractures or deformities)
📌 MRI – May reveal muscle atrophy or nerve injury
📌 EMG/Nerve Conduction Study – Confirms long thoracic nerve damage

⭕ Conservative Treatment ⤵️

✅ Pain management (NSAIDs if needed)
✅ Activity modification to avoid aggravating movements
✅ Orthotic bracing (scapular stabilizing braces)

🧘‍♀️ Physiotherapy Management⤵️

🏅 Strengthening of serratus anterior (e.g., wall slides, dynamic hugs)
🏅 Scapular stabilization drills
🏅 Postural correction exercises
🏅 Stretching of tight pectoralis minor & levator scapulae
🏅 Neuromuscular re-education
🏅 Taping for scapular positioning support

🏠 Home Advice⤵️

✅ Continue prescribed exercises daily
✅ Avoid heavy lifting overhead until strength returns
✅ Maintain good posture at desk/work
✅ Use a mirror to monitor scapular movement
✅ Apply warm compress for tightness relief

Doctor of physical therapy