Tigrada Holistic Family & Animal Care

17/12/2025

🌿 The Silent Weight: How Emotional Trauma Impacts the Lymphatic System

By Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS

Trauma is often spoken about as something held in the mind or heart — a memory, a scar, a wound that shapes how we see the world. But modern science is revealing something truly profound: emotional trauma is not just psychological. It is physiological. It settles into the body, into the fascia, into the nervous system, and more quietly than we realise… into the lymphatic system.

Your body remembers.
Even when your mind tries to forget.

And one of the most sensitive systems to emotional distress, prolonged stress, and trauma is your lymphatic system — the very system designed to keep you healthy, detoxified, and resilient.

💧 The Lymphatic System: Your Silent Protector

The lymphatic system is your body’s waste-removal and immune defense network. It moves lymph — a clear fluid filled with immune cells — through vessels and nodes, clearing:
• toxins
• pathogens
• excess fluid
• inflammatory molecules
• metabolic waste

It has no pump like the heart.
It relies on:
• breathing
• muscle movement
• hydration
• sleep
• parasympathetic tone

Anything that disrupts these — especially emotional trauma — can disrupt lymph flow.

💔 How Emotional Trauma Affects Lymphatic Flow

1. Fight-or-Flight Physiology Slows Lymph Drainage

Trauma activates the sympathetic nervous system. This “fight or flight” state causes:
• shallow breathing
• tight chest and diaphragm
• muscle tension
• reduced gut motility
• vasoconstriction

The lymphatic system depends heavily on relaxed, deep breathing, abdominal movement, and muscular rhythm. When trauma locks the body into a stress state, lymph flow becomes sluggish.

This can lead to:
• facial puffiness
• neck swelling
• abdominal bloating
• chronic fatigue
• tightness around the ribcage
• headaches
• weakened immunity

Studies now show that chronic stress suppresses lymphatic function and alters immune responses.

2. Trauma Stores Itself in Fascia — and Fascia Houses Lymph

The lymphatic system is embedded within fascia — the connective tissue web that wraps every organ, muscle, and nerve.

Fascia is highly innervated and responds intensely to emotional states. Under traumatic stress, fascia can:
• tighten
• thicken
• lose elasticity
• become dehydrated
• restrict lymph flow

This is why people with unresolved trauma often feel:
• tight necks
• rigid shoulders
• abdominal pressure
• heaviness in the chest
• a “blocked” throat
• unexplained swelling

Your fascia holds what the mind cannot process.

3. Trauma Increases Inflammation — and That Overloads the Lymph

Trauma increases systemic inflammation through cortisol dysregulation and immune activation.

Higher inflammation means:
• more waste for the lymph to clear
• more burden on lymph nodes
• increased risk of stagnation
• higher fluid retention

For many people, this shows up as chronic swelling, unexplained weight gain, or persistent puffiness — even when diet is perfect.

4. Trauma Alters Breathing — and Breath Moves Lymph

Deep diaphragmatic breathing is the single strongest lymphatic pump in the body. But trauma often creates:
• shallow breaths
• upper-chest breathing
• restricted ribs
• tight diaphragm

Without the “pump,” lymph slows, stagnates, and accumulates.

This is why so many clients describe:
“I feel stuck,”
“My body feels heavy,”
“No matter what I do, I feel swollen.”

Their lymph is simply reflecting their trauma-impacted breath.

5. Emotional Suppression Creates Physiological Congestion

The lymphatic system is highly reactive to emotions. Tears, grief, fear, adrenaline — all shift hormonal signalling that impacts lymph flow.

When emotions are suppressed instead of released, the body often shows:
• throat tightness
• chest pressure
• digestive bloating
• water retention
• immune fluctuations
• sluggish circulation

Your lymph mirrors what you carry emotionally.

🌸 Signs Your Lymphatic System Is Responding to Emotional Trauma

You may see:
✓ Puffiness in the face, under eyes, or neck
✓ Bloated abdomen
✓ Fluid retention in legs
✓ Chronic fatigue
✓ Brain fog
✓ Muscle tightness
✓ Constant infections
✓ Slow healing
✓ Hormonal imbalance symptoms
✓ Difficulty losing weight

These symptoms are not “in your head.”
Your lymphatic system is telling a story.

🌿 What Helps? Gentle Support for a Trauma-Sensitive Lymphatic System

These gentle approaches can help restore flow:
• diaphragmatic breathing
• lymphatic drainage therapy
• walking
• hydration in small, frequent sips
• fascia stretching
• vagus nerve stimulation
• grounding
• emotional release work
• trauma-informed therapy
• warm compresses
• anti-inflammatory foods

Healing the lymph requires healing the nervous system.
Healing the nervous system requires acknowledging the emotional body.

Your lymphatic system is not weak — it is responding to your life.

🤍 You Are Not Broken

Trauma may have shaped your physiology, but it does not define your future. The lymphatic system is incredibly resilient and responds beautifully to gentle, compassionate care.

Your body remembers, yes —
but your body can also release,
reset,
rewire,
and heal.

You are not behind.
You are not stuck.
You are not alone.
Your lymph simply needs permission to flow again.

📚 Scientific References

These reputable sources support the physiological links between trauma, stress, fascia, immunity, and lymphatic health:
1. Peters, E. et al. (2021). “Stress and the Lymphatic System.” International Review of Neurobiology.
2. Bremner, J.D. (2006). “Traumatic stress: Effects on brain and body.” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience.
3. Schleip, R. et al. (2012). “Fascia as a sensory organ.” Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.
4. McEwen, B.S. (1998). “Stress, adaptation, and disease: Allostasis and allostatic load.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
5. Porges, S. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory.
6. Zhang, Y. et al. (2015). “Stress-induced lymphatic dysfunction.” Nature Immunology.
7. Walker, J. (2020). “Breathing and lymphatic circulation.” Journal of Applied Physiology.

📝 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.

17/12/2025

Guinness World Records has quietly retired one of its most infamous categories, and it’s a win for animal welfare 🐾. For years, the record book featured the “fattest” pets in the world, turning overweight cats and dogs into viral sensations. One notable example was Himmy, an Australian cat weighing over 21 kilograms, so heavy that he reportedly had to be transported in a wheelbarrow. While amusing to some, these records highlighted serious health risks, including heart disease, diabetes, joint pain, and dramatically shortened lifespans.

Veterinarians now classify obesity in pets as a disease, recommending that average house cats weigh between 8 to 12 pounds for optimal health. In 1998, Guinness officially retired the “heaviest pets” category after discovering that some owners deliberately overfed their animals to secure a place in the record book. The organization emphasized that animal welfare should come first and that rewarding dangerous practices was unacceptable.

Today, Guinness still tracks size-related records, but only by breed or type, celebrating remarkable animals without compromising their health. This change reflects a broader effort to eliminate risky or harmful records, from extreme stunts to unsafe eating contests, proving that the well-being of living creatures now takes priority over internet fame 🐕.

16/12/2025

Found on Google from cranbournevet.com.au

16/12/2025

Look at this beautiful nerves. Looks a bit like a
Spider Webb

16/12/2025

I found this explanation of the thoracic sling very easy to understand

13/12/2025

11/12/2025

Did you know the EMMETT Technique was born from decades of hands-on experience?

Created by Ross Emmett, an experienced massage and remedial therapist, this gentle approach emerged from his extensive background in various body therapies and deep insights into how the body responds to touch.

What makes it revolutionary? The technique uses light finger pressure on specific points - different from traditional trigger points - allowing for instant muscle release and improved movement without the need for pain.

A simple yet powerful approach to body therapy that continues to grow worldwide.

🌐 https://www.emmett-technique-hq.com/

09/12/2025

What an amazing weekend in Adelaide. Level 5 Emmett for dogs is done and dusted. We had some amazing moments both during
The class and after

Poor Neil lost his glasses.

Thankyou Neil and
ladies for your valued insite and input. As an instructor i couldnt be more proud of you all

08/12/2025

I learn somthing new every day

A 'summer sore' that we picked up during a routine dental and treated at the same appointment.

These lesions are actually caused by Habronema parasites with the adult worms normally living in the stomach of the horse and their eggs passing out into the environment with manure. Flies then ingest these eggs with the larvae developing inside of them, ready to be deposited into wounds or moist areas such as eyes, around the lips/mouth and even onto sheaths. As the larvae cannot complete their life cycles in the skin, a large inflammatory reaction and non-healing wound results (as seen here).

- Dr Tory

08/12/2025

Something to be aware of with the summer heat

AussieTailz

08/12/2025

Everyone is starting to realize how important fascia is when it comes to training the body, but most people still underestimate how deeply it influences movement.

Hydrated fascia behaves very differently, down to the cellular level. Not only does it participate in bioelectric signaling, it also plays a major role in how much range of motion your body can access during exercise. When this tissue is loaded correctly, it becomes elastic and responsive. Your muscles coordinate better, your posture improves, and energy becomes more stable because your body isn’t fighting itself to move.

When this tissue loses its elasticity and structural organization, your body begins moving in ways that increase tension, stiffness, and joint stress in the wrong areas. This is when people start experiencing the movement degradation that eventually leads to pain. Hydration in the body isn’t just about drinking more water. It depends on restoring the mechanical conditions that allow fluid to move through your tissue with minimal friction.

The visual on the left is exactly what we help you overcome through our training. This is what you see in the transformations we help people achieve, where their bodies begin to look more viscoelastic and full.

If you want to improve your movement, you not only need to strengthen the muscles that are weak, you also need to build the mechanics that distribute tension efficiently throughout your fascial system. The quality of your movement determines the quality of your tissue.

05/12/2025

Fibrotic Myopathy: A Comprehensive Guide Plus Tips for Prevention and Recovery

Takeaways

Fibrotic myopathy is a mechanical lameness that occurs when scar tissue forms in the muscle.

• It most commonly affects the hamstring muscles in the upper part of the hind limb.

• Involves thickening and scarring of connective tissue that can progressively worsen.

• Scar tissue does not behave the same way as normal muscle fibers. It is inelastic and can restrict normal function

• Affected horses display a characteristic gait abnormality.

• Fibrotic myopathy can be caused by trauma, hyperextension, repetitive strain, infection, or repeated IM injections.

• The prognosis for affected horses is generally good, with many returning to full work in about a month.

What is fibrotic myopathy?
Fibrotic myopathy is a type of mechanical lameness that occurs when abnormal scar (fibrotic) tissue forms in the muscle. Unlike normal muscle fibers, scar tissue is inelastic and can restrict the muscle’s natural elasticity, altering its function. This condition can result from various causes, including trauma (such as getting kicked, slipping and falling, catching a foot in a fence, or leaning on the butt bar of a trailer or stocks), hyperextension, repetitive strain (commonly seen in reining, cutting, roping horses and horses involved in activities that require abrupt turns and sliding stops), infection, or repeated intramuscular injections. There is also a congenital form of the disease present at birth.

Fibrotic myopathy most commonly affects the hamstring muscles in the upper part of the hind limb, particularly the semitendinosus,
semimembranosus and biceps femoris muscles.
Typically, it affects one leg at a time and involves the thickening and scarring of connective tissue, which can progressively worsen over time. The muscle fibers bond together and eventually harden. Once healed this condition is not usually associated with pain, although it can limit or prohibit performance.

How is fibrotic myopathy diagnosed?

Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and patient history. Affected horses exhibit a distinctive gait characterized by a jerky forward stride, with the foot pulled back slightly before being placed on the ground. In some cases, the hardening of the muscles can be felt. X-rays and ultrasound imaging can help determine the location and extent of muscle damage.

Signs of fibrotic myopathy include these
commonly observed signs:

Sudden onset of warm, painful muscles.
Hind hoof slapping down at the front of the stride

Short-strided movement in one or both hind limbs.

Chronic hind limb lameness

Choppy or short gait

Visible dents or changes in the rear muscles.
Resistance to raising, lifting, or bending a limb
Hesitancy to walk on hard surfaces.

Chronic cases exhibit hardened areas of muscle
less commonly observed

Not Engaging or Collecting, Lacks Impulsion

High-Stepping Gait of One or Both Hind Limbs

How should fibrotic myopathy be addressed?

The initial tearing of the hamstring causes lameness, reluctance to move the limb, and pain and swelling in the rear of the limb. Rest is crucial during the early stages to alleviate pain and limit damage. In milder cases, massage and movement therapy soon after injury may be beneficial.

Fibrotic myopathy can be managed with a combination of treatments,

including rest,
cold therapy,
therapeutic ultrasound,
massage therapy,
stretching,
shockwave therapy,
laser therapy,
red light therapy,
water treadmill therapy,
cavaletti exercises,
and passive range-of-motion exercises.

Within 30-60 days post-injury, enough scarring typically develops to cause the characteristic gait abnormality.

By 90 days, the scar is usually fully mature.
For severe symptoms, surgery may be necessary to remove the scar tissue, cut the ligament attached at the stifle or remove ossified tissue. However, scarring can also occur at the surgery site, so this approach does not always restore full range of motion in the affected limb(s). While most horses show improvement after surgery, only about half achieve a full recovery. The procedure is often performed on a standing horse.

Questions to Ask Your Vet

Is my horse lame due to pain or is this a mechanical problem?

Is this a short-term issue or a chronic condition?

Will this condition affect my horse’s ability to do his job?

Would surgery help this condition?

How can I best manage his condition going forward?

How can fibrotic myopathy be prevented?

To reduce the likelihood of fibrotic myopathy (and other injuries),

ensure good footing,

proper warm-ups,

and careful conditioning.

Avoid sudden hard stops and turns,

limit intramuscular injections,

and minimize trauma to the hamstring muscles.

Regular massage therapy can help maintain muscle and connective tissue health, and improve exercise recovery, reducing the risk of injury. Think of it as proactive soft tissue care and maintenance.

For a horse with a mild case of fibrotic myopathy, massage can help maintain muscle condition, allowing him to continue an active and functional lifestyle.

For a horse with a more severe case, massage can help minimize the impact of compensation patterns caused by the goose-stepping gait, reducing additional wear and tear and alleviating muscle tension.

Prognosis and Relevant Factors - https://koperequine.com/fibrotic-myopathy-a-comprehensive-guide-plus-tips-for-prevention-and-recovery/