Holistic hands by Lizzie, AOR

17/07/2025

Taking one step at a time and one day at a time with myself healing ❤️‍🩹
Lizzie Hands

Endometriosis: It’s Not Just a Bad Period

For too long, women with endometriosis have been told that their pain is “just a bad period” or something they should learn to tolerate. But here’s the truth: endometriosis is not just painful—it’s a chronic, life-altering disease that affects millions of women worldwide.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, unheard, or exhausted by your struggle with endometriosis, this article is for you. Let’s dive into the medical facts, the pain, the surgeries, and the reality that so many women face every single day.

💛 What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows outside the uterus. These growths—called endometrial implants—can be found on:

🔹 The ovaries
🔹 The fallopian tubes
🔹 The bowels
🔹 The bladder
🔹 Even the lungs, diaphragm, and other organs in severe cases

Unlike the normal uterine lining, this misplaced tissue has no way to exit the body. So every month, when hormones trigger menstruation, these implants swell, bleed, and cause inflammation—leading to excruciating pain, scarring, and even organ damage.

🔥 The Pain is More Than Just Cramps

One of the biggest misconceptions about endometriosis is that it’s just about bad periods. In reality, it can cause daily, life-altering pain that goes far beyond menstruation.

🩸 Debilitating menstrual cramps that don’t respond to painkillers
🩸 Chronic pelvic pain that persists even between periods
🩸 Painful in*******se (dyspareunia) that makes intimacy unbearable
🩸 Severe lower back and abdominal pain
🩸 Pain during bowel movements or urination (especially during menstruation)
🩸 Sharp, stabbing pain from ovarian cysts (endometriomas)

For many women, the pain is so severe that they miss work, cancel social plans, and struggle with daily tasks. It’s not just discomfort—it’s a pain that can feel like barbed wire twisting through your insides.

🤰 Infertility: The Heartbreaking Struggle

Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of infertility. Studies show that 30-50% of women with endometriosis struggle to conceive. Why?

💔 Scarring and adhesions can block the fallopian tubes
💔 Inflammation can create a toxic environment for egg and s***m
💔 Hormonal imbalances disrupt ovulation
💔 Endometriomas (ovarian cysts) can damage ovarian tissue

For many women, infertility isn’t just a medical condition—it’s an emotional wound. The constant hope, the repeated disappointment, and the heartbreaking question of “Will I ever have a child?” take a devastating toll.

🩺 Why Do Women Need Surgery for Endometriosis?

While painkillers and hormonal treatments (like birth control or GnRH agonists) can help manage symptoms, they don’t remove the disease.

For many women, the only way to get real relief is through surgery—specifically, excision surgery, which is the gold standard for treating endometriosis.

Types of Surgery for Endometriosis:

🔪 Laparoscopy (Minimally Invasive Surgery) – Surgeons use tiny incisions and a camera to identify and remove endometrial implants.
🔪 Excision Surgery – The most effective method that cuts out endometrial tissue from the root, reducing recurrence.
🔪 Hysterectomy (Uterus Removal) – Sometimes, a last resort for women whose endometriosis has become unbearable.

🚨 The problem? Many doctors only “burn off” the endo tissue (ablation), which doesn’t fully remove it. This is why so many women have to undergo multiple surgeries before finding real relief.

💬 The Emotional Toll: Feeling Dismissed & Unheard

One of the hardest parts of living with endometriosis isn’t just the pain—it’s the fight to be taken seriously.

👩‍⚕️ “It’s just bad cramps.”
👩‍⚕️ “You’re overreacting.”
👩‍⚕️ “Just take birth control and you’ll be fine.”
👩‍⚕️ “It’s in your head.”

Women with endometriosis often wait 7 to 10 years for a proper diagnosis. Many are misdiagnosed with IBS, anxiety, or stress, leaving them feeling unheard, frustrated, and isolated.

By the time they get help, their bodies may already be covered in scar tissue, organ adhesions, and deep infiltrating endometriosis—something that could have been prevented with early intervention.

💛 Endometriosis Awareness: What Needs to Change?

The conversation around endometriosis is finally growing, but there’s still so much work to do.

🔹 Better education for doctors – Too many gynecologists lack training in excision surgery.
🔹 Faster diagnoses – No woman should have to wait a decade to be heard.
🔹 More research funding – Despite affecting 1 in 10 women, endometriosis is one of the least funded diseases.
🔹 Ending medical gaslighting – Women deserve to be believed and treated with respect.

If you have endometriosis, please know: You are not alone. Your pain is real. You deserve answers.

💙 Final Thoughts: Endometriosis Warriors Deserve Better

Endometriosis is not just a bad period. It’s a chronic disease that affects every aspect of a woman’s life—her body, her relationships, her career, her dreams.

If you’re struggling, please keep advocating for yourself. Seek out specialists in excision surgery. Connect with support groups. Educate others.

And above all—never let anyone tell you your pain isn’t real. 💙

⚠️ 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 for any concerns about your health.

Image created by: Art By Kerdisha

14/07/2025

13/07/2025

This chap is amazing to listen to, Sounds of Pangea on tik tok and YouTube.
Pop some headphones on and listen to the frequencies.

Different frequencies can help heal different parts of the body.
Ground yourself, close your eyes and gently breath into a calming relaxation, listening to the soothing sounds 🙌🏻 ❤️ ❤️‍🩹

SOUND HEALING MUSIC THERAPY. | Check out SOUND HEALING 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 LIVE streams on TikTok! Watch, follow, and discover the latest content from SOUND HEALING 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿.

09/07/2025

📘 LYMPH CLASS #6: The Gut & Lymph Connection

Hi Lymphies! 👋🌿
Welcome back to class — and today we’re taking a trip down into the belly of the lymphatic system, literally!
Let’s talk about how the gut and lymphatic system work together, and how imbalances here can trigger bloating, inflammation, food sensitivity, and even autoimmunity.

🧠 Did you know?

Over 70% of your immune system lives in and around your digestive tract — specifically within what’s called the GALT (Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue).

And guess what?
That GALT is part of your lymphatic system.

🌱 Key Gut-Lymph Connections:

1️⃣ GALT (Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue)
• Found in your small intestine — especially in areas called Peyer’s Patches
• Acts like an immune scanner for everything passing through your gut (food, bacteria, viruses)
• When overactive, it can trigger food intolerances, inflammation, and immune confusion

2️⃣ Lacteals – The Gut’s Lymph Vessels
• These are tiny lymphatic capillaries in your intestinal lining
• Their job: absorb fats, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), and immune molecules
• They drain into the thoracic duct, which empties into the bloodstream

🚨 If your lacteals are clogged or overloaded, fats and toxins can’t be cleared → bloating, poor nutrient absorption, and systemic inflammation

⚠️ Signs Your Gut Lymph is Struggling:
• Persistent bloating, especially after fatty meals
• Foggy head or fatigue after eating
• Histamine sensitivity
• Food intolerances
• Fluid retention in abdomen or lower body
• Frequent infections or skin flare-ups
• Feeling full or inflamed even with small meals

💡 Why the Gut Matters for Autoimmune & Chronic Illness:

When gut lining is inflamed (aka leaky gut), undigested food particles, bacteria, and toxins leak into surrounding lymph.
Your lymphatic system gets overwhelmed trying to clean up the mess, leading to:
• Constant immune activation
• Lymph node swelling
• Sluggish detox pathways
• Flare-ups of autoimmune symptoms

✅ Gentle Gut-Lymph Support Strategies:
1. Support Digestion
• Eat slowly, chew thoroughly
• Consider digestive bitters, enzymes, or lemon water
• Avoid inflammatory foods (gluten, dairy, sugar, seed oils)
2. Nourish with Lymph-Loving Foods
• Steamed greens, beetroot, ginger, papaya, fenugreek
• Healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, wild salmon)
• Prebiotic and fermented foods (unless sensitive)
3. Movement + Belly Breathing
• Walking after meals
• Diaphragmatic breathing supports gut lymph flow
• Gentle core work like yoga or rebounding
4. Liver & Bowel Support
• Daily bowel movement is essential for drainage
• Use herbs or castor oil packs if safe
• Filtered water, magnesium, and fiber can assist
5. MLD or Abdominal Massage
• Focused on gut, liver, and groin drainage
• Helps reduce bloating, regulate immune function, and clear fluid

🧠 Class Summary:

✨ A healthy gut = a healthy lymph system
✨ A congested gut = an overwhelmed immune response
✨ Support digestion, reduce inflammation, and move daily for gut-lymph harmony

📌 Coming up next in Lymph Class #7:
“The Left-Side Drainage Mystery: Why Everything Ends at the Collarbone” 💧👈

Let’s keep building that Lymphatic Toolbox 🧰 one beautiful system at a time!



©️

23/06/2025

✨ 🙌🏻 Soft Pause Note & Disclaimer ✨ 🙌🏻

Welcome, kind soul
Thank you for visiting Holistic Hands by Lizzie. At this time, I have chosen to pause public bookings and remove direct contact information as a personal safety precaution.

My healing work continues in quiet, sacred spaces—guided by spirit, protected by light, and grounded in trust.

I walk beside Archangel Michael, under his shield of divine protection, allowing only love and truth to enter my space. If you are reading this, may his sword of light also cut away all that no longer serves you.

If you’ve found yourself here, trust that it’s no accident. I am still walking this path, still working with energy behind the scenes, and honouring where the Universe is guiding me next.

🌟 For soulful updates and gentle connection, you’re welcome to visit me on [Instagram & Facebook].

With love, protection, and deep gratitude,

Lizzie
✨🕊️🪬
Wrapped in light. Guarded by angels.

21/06/2025

Absolutely beautiful day in beautiful settings with some amazing people.
Making new friends and bumping into old ones .
I will definitely be back next year ! 
❤️ 🙏🏻 🙌🏻

16/06/2025

🌿 10 Fascinating & Little-Known Facts About the Lymphatic System

Because what you don’t know about your lymph can change everything.

The lymphatic system is often the forgotten sibling of the circulatory and immune systems. It’s silent, invisible, and yet absolutely vital to life. It moves three liters of lymph daily, clears cellular waste, helps regulate immunity, and even plays a role in emotions and cognition. But beyond the basics, the lymphatic system holds some remarkable secrets.

Here are 10 lesser-known, research-backed facts about this incredible system:

1️⃣ You Have Two Circulatory Systems—Not One

The blood vascular system and the lymphatic system are both networks of vessels, but while the heart pumps blood, lymph has no central pump. It relies on:
• Muscle movement
• Breath
• Gravity
• Pulsation from arteries

🧠 Without this flow, toxins, waste, and immune cells accumulate—leading to fatigue, swelling, and systemic inflammation.

2️⃣ The Brain Has a Lymphatic System (Glymphatic)

Until 2015, scientists believed the brain had no lymphatic drainage. We now know that the glymphatic system (glial + lymphatic) is a cerebral waste clearance pathway that:
• Cleans toxins like beta-amyloid (linked to Alzheimer’s)
• Operates best during deep sleep
• Uses cerebrospinal fluid to “wash” the brain

🧬 Nedergaard et al., 2015 – Glymphatic flow increases 60% during non-REM sleep.
Reference: Science Translational Medicine

3️⃣ Lymph Is Part of Your Fat Absorption System

The lacteals (tiny lymphatic vessels in your small intestine) absorb fats from your food and transport them into your bloodstream. Without a healthy lymphatic system, fat metabolism and nutrient transport are impaired.

🍳 This is why gut healing and lymphatic drainage often go hand-in-hand.

4️⃣ 80% of Your Immune System Lives in Lymph

Your lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen, Peyer’s patches, and gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) are rich with immune cells. This is where:
• T cells mature
• B cells activate
• Pathogens are captured

Your lymphatic system is not just drainage—it’s defense.

5️⃣ Emotions Can Stagnate Your Lymph

Chronic stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, which constricts lymph vessels. Trauma, fear, and unresolved emotional patterns may:
• Restrict diaphragmatic breathing
• Freeze fascia and fluid mobility
• Reduce parasympathetic (rest/digest) activity

🌀 Fascial therapists and trauma-informed bodyworkers frequently observe emotional releases during lymphatic stimulation.

6️⃣ Lymphatic Flow Affects Skin Health

Stagnant lymph can manifest as:
• Puffy face and eyes
• Acne or skin congestion
• Slow wound healing
• Dull or uneven skin tone

When the lymph flows freely, it clears waste and inflammatory molecules—leaving your skin radiant.

7️⃣ The Thoracic Duct Handles 75% of Lymph Drainage

Your entire left side, both legs, and abdominal lymph all drain through one duct—the thoracic duct—into the left subclavian vein. Blockage or stagnation here causes:
• Bloating
• Left-sided swelling
• Hormonal imbalance
• Toxic backup

8️⃣ The Lymph System Talks to Hormones

Lymph nodes and vessels are sensitive to hormonal changes, especially:
• Estrogen
• Cortisol
• Thyroid hormones

This is why premenstrual fluid retention, cortisol belly, or post-thyroidectomy swelling may all have a lymphatic component.

9️⃣ The Lymph System Has Its Own Microbiome

Recent research has identified that lymphatic tissues house microbial colonies that may influence:
• Immune function
• Inflammation
• Autoimmune risk

🦠 Lymphatic microbiome studies are in early stages, but could reshape our understanding of chronic immune dysregulation.
Source: Frontiers in Immunology, 2022

🔟 Lymph Stimulation Can Improve Mental Health

Supporting lymph flow with MLD, dry brushing, or movement has been shown to:
• Reduce brain fog
• Alleviate anxiety
• Improve sleep
• Enhance clarity

This is partly due to the glymphatic system, but also the impact of detox and reduced inflammation on neurotransmitter balance.

🌟 Final Thoughts: The Silent River of Life

The lymphatic system may be silent, but it’s never still. It’s the body’s internal purification river, its immune messenger highway, and its emotional drainage canal.

The more we understand it, the more we see that many health struggles—chronic illness, fatigue, hormone imbalance, even trauma—are rooted in lymphatic stagnation.

When the lymph flows, you glow. 🌿

📚 Selected References:
• Nedergaard M. et al. (2015). Glymphatic System and the Brain. Science Translational Medicine.
• Aspelund A. et al. (2015). A dural lymphatic vascular system in the brain. Nature.
• Oliver G. et al. (2021). Lymphatic Vasculature in Health and Disease. Journal of Clinical Investigation.
• Wang Y. et al. (2022). Lymphatic Microbiome and Immunomodulation. Frontiers in Immunology.

🩺 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 health regimen.

©️