The Cloud Lounge

19/12/2025

While we’re all busy wrapping, dont forget to wrap up your health fund rebates before 31st December - Book a Brazilian and bloom from the inside out!!

That’s a wrap 😆- love Kate 🎁 🌼

17/11/2025

❤️

🌿 Food & the Lymphatic System: What Helps… and What Hurts?

A Fun, Science-Backed Guide to Eating for Better Lymph Flow 🍏✨

Your lymphatic system is like the quiet hero of your body — moving waste, inflammation, hormones, toxins, and immune cells all day long.
But here’s the secret: your lymph LOVES certain foods… and absolutely hates others.

Let’s break it down in a fun, Lymphie-approved way! 💚

🍃 Top Lymph-Loving Foods

These foods support drainage, reduce inflammation, and keep your lymph flowing like a river instead of a traffic jam.

🥒 1. Hydrating Foods (Your lymph is 96% water!)
• Cucumber
• Celery
• Lettuce
• Citrus fruits
• Watermelon
• Bone broth
Hydration = thinner fluid. Thinner fluid = better flow.

🍋 2. Citrus & Vitamin C–Rich Fruits

They break down sticky proteins that clog lymph fluid.
• Lemons
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Kiwi
• Pineapple (bromelain reduces swelling!)

🌿 3. Bitter & Liver-Supporting Foods

Because the liver filters lymph!
• Rocket / Arugula
• Dandelion greens
• Bitter melon
• Kale
• Broccoli sprouts

🔥 4. Anti-Inflammatory Herbs & Spices

These reduce the inflammatory load that overwhelms the lymphatic system.
• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Fenugreek
• Oregano
• Cinnamon
• Garlic

🫐 5. Antioxidant-Rich Berries

They fight oxidative stress that thickens lymph fluid.
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries

🥑 6. Healthy Fats for Hormone Balance

Remember: lymph carries hormones, so the cleaner they are, the better.
• Avocado
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salmon
• Walnuts
• Chia seeds

🫘 7. High-Fiber Foods (crucial!)

Fiber removes toxins through the gut so they don’t get dumped back into the lymph.
• Oats
• Lentils
• Beans
• Quinoa
• Apples
• Flaxseed

🛑 Foods That Clog, Slow, or Overload Your Lymphatic System

These foods thicken lymph, increase inflammation, and create extra waste your body struggles to clear.

🍞 1. Highly Processed Carbohydrates

They spike insulin, increase inflammation, and cause fluid retention.
• White bread
• Pastries
• Chips
• Crackers
• Processed cereals

🧂 2. High-Sodium Foods

Salt pulls fluid into the tissue → swelling → lymph overload.
• Fast foods
• Processed meats
• Packet soups
• Takeaways

🧀 3. Dairy (major lymph thickener)

Dairy increases mucus formation and is inflammatory for many people.

🍗 4. Processed Meats

Increase inflammatory cytokines that directly thicken lymph.
• Bacon
• Sausages
• Ham
• Salami

🍰 5. Sugar (the lymphatic enemy)

It causes:
✔ Inflammation
✔ Immune suppression
✔ Lymph stagnation
✔ Hormonal imbalance

🥫 6. Seed/Vegetable Oils

These create a high omega-6 environment that worsens swelling.
• Sunflower oil
• Canola oil
• Corn oil
• Soybean oil

🍤 7. Deep-Fried Foods

Heat-damaged oils + poor circulation = lymph traffic jam.

💚 Fun Lymphatic Plate Formula (Lymphatica Style!)

Build every meal like this:

🥬 40% Veggies (raw + cooked for enzymes and fiber)
🍗 30% Lean Protein (fish, eggs, chicken, beans)
🥑 20% Healthy Fats
🍓 10% Fruit or Low-GI Carbs

And drink 1.5–2L of water daily + herbal teas like ginger, dandelion, or green tea.

If your lymph could talk it would say:
“Feed me clean foods I can move through easily… and don’t dump garbage into my river.”

Nourish your lymph → reduce swelling → boost immunity → better hormones → better YOU. 💚

31/10/2025

When all you do is lymphatic drainage, you become very VERY good at it 😉

Keep blooming from the inside out 🌼

08/10/2025

Spring is all about new beginnings🪴

Trust the process, go with the flow and glow 🌼🌼

21/09/2025

Street Cred ✅ . Awesome weekend hanging with THE Michelle Vassallo - Rhythm Massage VIC 🥰

16/07/2025

Thank you to The Osteophi Team at Birtinya, they’re beautiful.

If you’re looking for superior, next level Osteopathic treatment, I implore you to reach out to them!

Results driven therapists who “actually want” to see you heal 🌼🌼🌼

11/07/2025

An amazing example of the internal/extetnal beauty of of abdominal Brazilian Massage.

Big thanks to my client for permission to post her results 🌼❤️🌼

19/06/2025

Lymphatics, a life game changer!

Special thanks to this gorgeous client for permission to post her images.

Keep blooming from within 🌼🌼

10/06/2025

Lymphatic Drainage is the most vital of all massage modalities.

Love yourself from the inside out 🌼

💡 The Lymphatic System: The Silent Powerhouse of Health

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 health regimen.

🧠 What Is the Lymphatic System?

The lymphatic system is a vital circulatory and immune support network that helps maintain fluid balance, filter toxins, transport immune cells, and support detoxification.

It is composed of:
• Lymph (a clear fluid rich in white blood cells)
• Lymphatic vessels
• Lymph nodes
• Lymphoid organs: thymus, spleen, tonsils, adenoids
• Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
• Peyer’s patches (intestinal immune tissue)

💧 Main Functions of the Lymphatic System

1. Fluid Balance
• Roughly 20 liters of plasma filter out of the bloodstream into the tissues daily.
• About 17 liters return to the blood, while 3 liters become lymph.
• The lymphatic system returns this fluid to the bloodstream, preventing edema (swelling).

2. Immune Surveillance
• Lymph nodes filter out pathogens, antigens, and cancer cells.
• B and T lymphocytes in the nodes initiate immune responses.
• The lymphatic system alerts the immune system to invaders before symptoms even start.

3. Nutrient Absorption
• Specialized lymphatic vessels in the intestines, called lacteals, absorb dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).
• These fats enter the lymph as chyle, a milky fluid, and are transported to the bloodstream.

4. Waste Removal and Detoxification
• The lymph system carries away metabolic waste, toxins, dead cells, and excess proteins.
• It acts as the drainage system for every tissue, especially important in healing and inflammation.

📍 Key Structures in the Lymphatic System

🔹 Lymphatic Vessels
• Thin-walled channels running alongside veins and arteries.
• They contain one-way valves to ensure lymph flows toward the heart.

🔹 Lymph Nodes
• Bean-shaped filters located in clusters in the neck, armpits, groin, abdomen, and chest.
• Swollen lymph nodes are often a sign of infection or inflammation.

🔹 Thoracic Duct & Right Lymphatic Duct
• The thoracic duct drains lymph from most of the body into the left subclavian vein.
• The right lymphatic duct drains the right upper body into the right subclavian vein.

🔹 Spleen
• Filters blood, removes old red blood cells, and houses immune cells.

🔹 Thymus
• Where T-cells mature—critical for adaptive immunity.

🧬 How the Lymphatic System Impacts Health

🔸 Lymphatic Congestion

When the system becomes overwhelmed or stagnant, symptoms may include:
• Chronic fatigue
• Brain fog
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Sinus congestion
• Cellulite and puffiness
• Poor wound healing

🔸 Lymphedema

Chronic swelling due to lymphatic obstruction, often following surgery (e.g., breast cancer lymph node removal), trauma, or congenital defects.

🔸 Immune Dysfunction

If lymph flow is impaired, immune surveillance weakens, making the body more susceptible to infections and autoimmunity.

🔸 Detoxification Overload

Without proper lymph drainage, toxins and waste build up in tissues, contributing to:
• Inflammatory disorders
• Hormonal imbalances
• Skin breakouts and acne
• Poor recovery from illness or exercise

🔬 Lymphatic Flow Facts
• The lymphatic system has no central pump like the heart.
• It relies on:
• Skeletal muscle contraction
• Deep breathing (thoracic pressure)
• Movement and posture
• Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)

🩺 Medical Relevance in Chronic Illness

🦠 Autoimmunity:
• Lymphatic dysfunction may exacerbate immune dysregulation, increasing inflammatory load.

🎗️ Cancer:
• Lymph nodes are often first-line indicators of metastasis.
• Oncologic surgeries may disrupt lymph flow, increasing the risk of secondary lymphedema.

🧠 Neurology:
• The glymphatic system clears waste from the brain during sleep via glial and lymphatic pathways.
• Impaired glymphatic drainage has been linked to Alzheimer’s, MS, and intracranial hypertension.

📊 Did You Know?
• The lymphatic system carries 10 times more fluid than the bloodstream in the interstitial space.
• There are 600–700 lymph nodes in the human body.
• Stress and trauma can cause stagnation in lymph flow through the sympathetic nervous system.

🧭 Conclusion

The lymphatic system is the body’s unsung detox and immune powerhouse. Often overlooked in conventional medicine, its health is critical for energy, immunity, detoxification, and recovery. Supporting your lymph system is not just about reducing swelling—it’s about creating a flow-based foundation for vibrant health.

©️

14/05/2025

There’s a correlation

🌊 What Is the Glymphatic System?

The glymphatic system is the brain’s unique waste clearance network, functioning similarly to the lymphatic system in the body—but with a twist. It was only discovered in 2012 by Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, and it has since changed how we understand neurodegeneration and brain inflammation.
This system relies on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to flush out waste products from brain tissue through perivascular pathways, facilitated by a type of glial cell called astrocytes. These cells regulate the flow of interstitial fluid and act as a conduit for metabolic clearance during deep sleep, especially in slow-wave sleep cycles.

🔥 When the Glymphatic System Is Inhibited: The Inflammatory Storm

When the glymphatic system is impaired, neurotoxic proteins—like beta-amyloid, tau proteins, and inflammatory cytokines—begin to accumulate in the brain's interstitial spaces. This accumulation triggers:
* Microglial activation, leading to chronic low-grade neuroinflammation
* Increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β
* Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction within neurons
* Blood-brain barrier permeability ("leaky brain") and further immune dysregulation

Over time, this chronic inflammatory state can manifest as:
* Brain fog, memory issues, and cognitive decline
* Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression
* Increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
* Worsened systemic inflammation due to vagus nerve signaling disruption

🛌 Sleep, the Glymphatic Switch, and Circadian Health

The glymphatic system is most active during deep sleep, particularly during non-REM slow-wave phases. When sleep is disrupted—whether due to stress, screen exposure, sleep apnea, or erratic sleep cycles—the brain cannot engage in glymphatic flushing.
Sleep deprivation has been shown to:
* Increase extracellular beta-amyloid by up to 43% in a single night
* Decrease the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels in astrocytes, impairing fluid transport
* Heighten markers of neuroinflammation, including NF-κB signaling and glial activation

🧬 Systemic Inflammation and Glymphatic Dysfunction: A Two-Way Street

Interestingly, inflammation itself suppresses glymphatic flow. Research shows that systemic infections, autoimmune flares, and even gut dysbiosis can produce pro-inflammatory cytokines that reduce CSF dynamics and glymphatic activity.
Conversely, poor glymphatic clearance can worsen systemic inflammation by:
* Disrupting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis signaling
* Altering vagal tone and the gut-brain-liver immune axis
* Impairing clearance of immune-modulating neurotransmitters like glutamate

🌿 How to Support Glymphatic Health

1. Prioritize Deep Sleep
* Aim for 7–9 hours of uninterrupted sleep in total darkness
* Use magnesium, L-theanine, or glycine to support non-REM sleep
* Avoid screens and caffeine 3+ hours before bedtime
2. Rebound, Stretch, and Move Your Spine
* Movement of the spine and neck enhances CSF circulation
* Manual lymphatic drainage may also indirectly stimulate glymphatic function
3. Hydration & Electrolyte Balance
* CSF production is heavily dependent on fluid status
* Add trace minerals or electrolytes to water to support fluid dynamics
4. Nutraceutical Support
* Resveratrol, turmeric (curcumin), omega-3s, and NAC reduce neuroinflammation
* Melatonin not only promotes deep sleep but enhances glymphatic activity
5. Cranial and Cervical Lymphatic Drainage
* Facial and neck MLD can relieve interstitial congestion
* Techniques like craniosacral therapy or vagal nerve stimulation may further support this network

🧠 Final Thought

The glymphatic system is a vital yet vulnerable detox engine for the brain. When impaired, it doesn’t just affect cognition—it can unleash a cascade of inflammatory dysfunction that spreads throughout the entire body.

By supporting this system through sleep hygiene, lymphatic stimulation, and anti-inflammatory practices, we lay the foundation for resilient mental, neurological, and immune health.

©️

04/05/2025

Let’s Talk About Armpit Lymph Nodes!
The Mighty Axillary Warriors of Your Immune System 🌿🦠🩷

Your armpits aren’t just for deodorant and razors — they’re home to some of your body’s most powerful immune protectors: the axillary lymph nodes!

What Are Axillary Lymph Nodes?

Axillary lymph nodes are bean-shaped structures located in the armpit (axilla) that form a key part of the lymphatic system — your body’s drainage, detox, and defense network. These nodes filter lymph (a fluid rich in white blood cells) and trap harmful substances like bacteria, viruses, toxins, and even cancer cells.

There are typically 20 to 40 lymph nodes in each armpit. These nodes are grouped into five anatomical levels, each with distinct drainage responsibilities.

The Five Groups of Axillary Lymph Nodes:
1. Pectoral (Anterior) Group
• Location: Along the lower border of the pectoralis major muscle
• Drainage Area: Breast, anterior thoracic wall
• Fun Fact: These nodes are key in breast cancer monitoring!
2. Subscapular (Posterior) Group
• Location: Along the lower margin of the scapula (shoulder blade)
• Drainage Area: Upper back, posterior shoulder, and neck
3. Humeral (Lateral) Group
• Location: Along the humerus (upper arm bone)
• Drainage Area: Upper limb
• Fun Fact: These are the ones that may swell when your arm is injured or infected!
4. Central Group
• Location: Near the base of the axilla (deep in the center)
• Drainage Area: Collects lymph from pectoral, subscapular, and humeral groups
5. Apical Group
• Location: At the top of the axilla near the clavicle (collarbone)
• Drainage Area: Receives lymph from all the other axillary groups and drains into the subclavian lymphatic trunk

Where Does the Lymph Flow?
• After filtration through the axillary groups, lymph travels to the apical nodes, then drains into the subclavian trunk, and finally enters the venous circulation near the heart (via the right lymphatic duct or thoracic duct on the left side).
• This allows your body to return filtered lymph to the bloodstream while neutralizing any harmful intruders.

Why Are Axillary Lymph Nodes Important?
• Immune Defense: Full of lymphocytes (B and T cells), they identify and destroy pathogens.
• Cancer Monitoring: Oncologists often biopsy or remove axillary nodes to check for cancer spread, especially in breast cancer staging.
• Detox Drainage: They assist in the drainage of waste products, inflammatory debris, and excess interstitial fluid.

Signs of Swollen Axillary Nodes:
• Tenderness
• Swelling or a lump in the armpit
• Fever or signs of infection
Swollen nodes often indicate your immune system is actively fighting something!

Fun Lymph Facts:
• Lymph has no pump! It relies on movement (like walking, deep breathing, and rebounding) to flow — which is why dry brushing and lymphatic massage can help!
• You have more lymph than blood! Your lymphatic system contains about 1.5 times more fluid than your circulatory system.
• The word “lymph” comes from the Latin lympha, meaning water — a perfect name for a fluid that brings life-giving immunity!

Takeaway:
Your armpit lymph nodes are immune superheroes — silently working day and night to filter, defend, and drain. Keeping them moving and healthy is a big step in supporting overall wellness. So next time you move your arm, remember the little green defenders in your underarm working hard for you! 💪🌿✨

Disclaimer:
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.

08/04/2025

True 🥰