18/11/2025
🌿 Hormones, Lymph & Flow: Understanding How Estrogen Moves Through the Body
👩🎓 By Alisha O’Sullivan – Complementary Healthcare Practitioner
Most people think of hormones only as chemicals controlled by the endocrine system.
But in reality, hormones depend on healthy circulation, lymphatic movement, and tissue mobility to travel, communicate, and leave the body effectively.
When the lymphatic system becomes sluggish, hormonal by-products can collect in the tissues. This creates a type of internal congestion that affects mood, energy, inflammation, menstrual comfort, and even weight regulation.
💧 When Estrogen Isn’t Clearing Properly
Estrogen doesn’t simply disappear once the body is finished using it.
It must be:
1. Processed by the liver
2. Bound and neutralised in the gut
3. Carried away via lymph, bile and stool
If any system becomes slow — due to dehydration, inflammation, stress, restricted fascia, or reduced movement — estrogen metabolites can “sit” in the tissues longer than they should.
This is often described as estrogen overload, where the body is producing normal hormone levels but is unable to clear them efficiently.
The result may look like:
• Mood fluctuations
• Fluid retention or bloating
• Breast swelling or tenderness
• Weight stored around the thighs and hips
• Headaches or fatigue
• Heavier or more uncomfortable periods
These symptoms are not always caused by high estrogen —
sometimes, the body simply can’t move it out.
🩸 Hormones & the Lymphatic System: A Two-Way Relationship
The lymphatic system surrounds every hormone-producing organ:
the breasts, ovaries, uterus, thyroid gland, digestive organs and more.
When lymph flow stagnates, hormonal waste can remain in local tissues, leading to:
• Heaviness or discomfort in the pelvic area
• Swelling or sensitivity in the breasts
• Water retention
• Worsened PMS
• A sense of “fullness” or pressure before menstruation
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), gentle movement, breathwork and fascial release are powerful ways to reopen these pathways and support your body’s natural hormonal rhythm.
⚖️ Your Liver & Gut: The Final Step of Hormone Clearance
The liver transforms estrogen into forms that can be removed from the body.
But those metabolites still need to exit through:
✔ bile
✔ lymph
✔ stool
If gut bacteria are unbalanced, estrogen can be reabsorbed back into circulation — restarting the cycle.
This can make hormonal symptoms feel persistent or cyclical.
Supporting the liver–gut–lymph system as a whole is essential for balanced hormones.
🌺 Practical Ways to Support Hormonal Flow
Simple daily habits can make a profound difference:
💧 Encourage lymph movement
MLD, walking, gentle stretching, dry brushing, hydration, diaphragmatic breathing.
🥦 Support liver function
Leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, and herbs such as milk thistle, turmeric, and dandelion root.
🦠 Look after your gut
Fiber, probiotic-rich foods, and reducing inflammatory triggers help keep estrogen metabolites moving out.
🚶♀️ Keep your fascia mobile
Movement doesn’t need to be intense — consistency helps the lymphatic system pump naturally.
🛁 Castor oil therapy or warm compresses
Promotes circulation, softens tension, and encourages drainage.
✨ The Bigger Picture
When the body’s pathways are open, hormones can move.
When they become restricted, hormones remain in tissues longer than intended — creating the symptoms many women struggle with.
Balancing hormones isn’t only about adjusting levels.
It’s about improving flow, movement, drainage and tissue health.
Your body isn’t working against you.
It simply needs support to release what it no longer needs.
Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your wellness routine.
