Rochelle Bolt - Natural Therapies

12/10/2025

06/10/2025

Great massage therapy available with Bods Massage Hawera

Bods Massage Hāwera - Therapeutic, deep tissue, sports, relaxation and wellness massage service in Hawera, Taranaki. Contact us today to book.

06/10/2025

Massage therapist in Normanby ☺️

Massage Normanby | Book with Qi Harmony Massage at 22 Hobson Street.

06/10/2025

✂️ C-Section Scars & Your Lymphatic System: What Really Happens Beneath the Surface

By Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS

Many mothers are told that once a C-section scar heals on the outside, the body is “all fine” again. But the truth is, deep beneath the skin, your lymphatic system is often still affected. This silent disruption can explain why some women notice puffiness above their scar, heaviness in the legs, or a lingering sense of tightness in the lower abdomen.

🔄 How Lymph Normally Flows in the Abdomen

Your lymphatic system is a vast network of vessels that collect fluid, toxins, and immune cells and transport them through lymph nodes for cleansing. The lower abdomen and pelvis are major drainage hubs:
• Lymph from the legs, pelvic organs, and lower digestive system all passes upward through these channels.
• Smooth flow is essential to prevent swelling, bloating, or toxin buildup.

🚫 What Happens After a C-Section

During a C-section, both lymphatic and blood vessels are cut. While blood vessels repair themselves quite quickly, lymphatic vessels don’t always reconnect neatly. This can cause:
• Lymphatic congestion: Fluid can pool above the scar, leading to puffiness or a “ledge” of tissue.
• Impaired drainage from the legs: Swelling in the thighs, calves, or ankles can be more noticeable after long days of standing.
• Pelvic congestion: Lymph from the uterus, ovaries, and intestines may slow down, contributing to bloating or heaviness.

🧩 The Role of Scar Tissue

Scar tissue and adhesions act like roadblocks for lymph flow:
• Fibrous tissue can “trap” lymphatic fluid, preventing free circulation.
• Tissues and fascia may stick together, creating tightness or pulling sensations.
• Nerves in the area may also be affected, causing numbness or hypersensitivity.

🌐 Systemic Ripple Effects

Because lymph is interconnected, disruption in one area can affect the whole body. Common signs include:
• Swelling in the legs, feet, or lower abdomen
• Bloating and digestive changes
• Feeling of heaviness or fatigue in the lower body
• Persistent tightness or tenderness around the scar

🌱 Supporting Lymph Flow After a C-Section

The good news is that there are safe and effective ways to restore flow:
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD): A gentle therapy that helps re-route lymph around blocked areas.
• Scar Mobilisation: Light massage or fascial release can soften adhesions and improve circulation.
• Castor Oil Packs: Applied to the abdomen, they can reduce tension and promote flow.
• Movement & Breathing: Gentle stretching, walking, and diaphragmatic breathing help the abdominal “lymph pump.”

✨ Final Thoughts

A healed scar on the outside doesn’t always mean healed lymphatics on the inside. Understanding how your C-section scar impacts your lymphatic system is the first step to reclaiming lightness, reducing swelling, and restoring balance to your body. With the right care, your lymph can flow freely again, supporting your health and vitality long after birth.

📌 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.

06/10/2025

So happy with all the colours this spring… lots of planting last year has paid off! ❤️🌸❤️🌸

06/10/2025

Just a quick list of massage therapists that i know of in Hawera, I’ll be working up until December with massage.

If you are a massage therapist in the Hawera please feel free to add your details in the comment section below too.

Reflexology appointments will continue to be available. 🙌🌸

06/10/2025

❤️❤️❤️

Our ultra-nourishing lip balm, coming soon!

06/10/2025

Can’t wait 🙌😎

05/10/2025

Breathe Deep, Drain Deep: Why Your Diaphragm is the Unsung Hero of the Lymphatic System 🌿

Did you know that your diaphragm — that dome-shaped muscle under your lungs — is not just for breathing, but is also one of your lymphatic system’s best friends?

Yes, your breath can do more than keep you alive. It can drain your lymph 💧, detox your body 🧽, and boost your immunity 🛡️… all while you’re just chilling and breathing.

Let’s dive into the magic of diaphragmatic breathing and its superpower status in lymphatic health.

Why is the Diaphragm Important for the Lymphatic System?

Your lymphatic system doesn’t have a heart to pump it — so it relies on movement, muscle contractions, and pressure changes to keep things flowing. 🚶‍♀️🌀

Enter: the diaphragm.

Every time you take a deep breath in and your diaphragm contracts downward, it creates a negative pressure in your thoracic cavity 🫁. This acts like a pump, pulling lymph upward from the abdominal area (where a LOT of lymph collects) into the thoracic duct — the body’s main lymph drainage highway 🛣️.

Think of it like squeezing toothpaste from the bottom of the tube. Every deep breath gives the lymph a little push to keep it moving out of the body 🧴➡️🚽.

What Happens if You Don’t Breathe Deeply?

When we stay stuck in shallow breathing (hello stress and desk jobs) 😩💻, the diaphragm barely moves, and lymph flow becomes sluggish 🐌. This can lead to:
• Fluid retention 💦
• Slower detox ♻️
• Weakened immunity 🛑
• Fatigue 💤
• Bloating and digestive issues 🫃

So yes — not breathing right can literally clog your system.

How to Do Diaphragmatic Breathing (Lymphatic Style)
1. Find your position: Lie on your back or sit comfortably with one hand on your chest and the other on your belly 🛋️✋.
2. Inhale through your nose: Feel your belly expand — like a balloon 🎈— while your chest stays still.
3. Exhale slowly through your mouth: Gently contract your belly to push the air out 🌬️.
4. Repeat for 5–10 minutes, at least twice a day ⏰.

Bonus points if you do this after a lymphatic massage, dry brushing, or during rebounding — because it enhances all those techniques! 🌿

Fun Medical Facts You’ll Love
• The cisterna chyli, your largest lymph reservoir, sits right under the diaphragm. Every deep breath helps “milk” it upward 🥛⬆️.
• Studies show diaphragmatic breathing lowers cortisol (stress hormone) 🧠, which reduces systemic inflammation 🔥.
• Breathwork can increase vagus nerve activation ⚡, which enhances parasympathetic healing and digestive flow 🧘‍♀️.
• Deep breathing helps stimulate peristalsis — the wave-like motion in your intestines — which further assists lymph movement through gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) 🌊🌿.

When and How Often Should You Do It?

Daily! Start with 5–10 minutes morning and night, and add a few breaths throughout the day — especially when stressed, inflamed, or feeling “puffy” 🌬️🌅🌃.

In our clinic, we suggest pairing it with:
• Dry brushing 🧽
• Infrared sauna ♨️
• Manual Lymph Drainage Therapy 🤲
• Gentle yoga or stretching 🧘

Inhale Healing, Exhale Stagnation

So next time someone says “just breathe,” know that it’s not just a calming tip — it’s a scientific way to detox your body and power up your immune system ⚡🧬.

And best of all?
It’s free. It’s easy. It’s within you — literally 💗.

Now take a deep breath, Lymphie — and let your healing begin. ✨

Written by:
Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD & MLDT
Lymphatica – Lymphatic Therapy & Body Detox Facility

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.

©️

04/10/2025

03/10/2025

🦠 Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS):

The Silent Storm Behind Histamine, Swelling & Sensitivity

Have you ever felt like your body is overreacting to everything?
One day it’s your skin. The next it’s your stomach. Then your heart races for no reason, or your face flushes and swells without warning.
Blood tests? “Normal.”
Allergies? “Nothing specific.”

You’re not imagining it.
Your mast cells might be the messengers behind the chaos.

🌬️ What is MCAS?

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic, misunderstood condition where your immune system’s mast cells become hypersensitive — releasing inflammatory chemicals like:
• Histamine
• Leukotrienes
• Cytokines
• Prostaglandins

These chemical signals are helpful during infections or injury — but in MCAS, they’re released too often, too easily, and without a true trigger.

This creates a storm of symptoms across the entire body — often dismissed, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood.

📍 What Are Mast Cells?

Mast cells are immune sentries. They’re found wherever your body interfaces with the outside world:
• Skin
• Lungs
• Gut lining
• Blood vessels
• Brain barriers
• Lymphatic vessels and nodes

When they detect a threat, they release chemicals to fight it — but in MCAS, they act like overprotective guards, sounding the alarm all the time.

🧬 MCAS Symptoms: The Body on High Alert

Because mast cells are everywhere, symptoms can affect every system:

🩷 Skin & Face:
• Flushing
• Hives, itching, eczema
• Swelling (especially under eyes, around lips, throat, underarms)

🧠 Brain & Mood:
• Brain fog
• Anxiety or panic
• Dizziness, light sensitivity
• Migraine-type headaches

🫁 Heart & Lungs:
• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness (without cardiac cause)

🌿 Gut & Digestion:
• Bloating
• Cramping or loose stools
• Acid reflux
• Food sensitivities or “mystery reactions”

🌡️ Whole Body:
• Fatigue
• Joint or muscle pain
• Temperature regulation issues
• “Allergic” symptoms without actual allergy

🔄 How MCAS Connects to the Lymphatic System

This is where it gets fascinating.
1. Mast cells live in and around lymphatic vessels and nodes.
When they’re overactive, they irritate the lymph system — leading to:
• Swelling
• Puffiness
• Congested drainage
• Delayed detox
2. Histamine thickens lymphatic fluid.
Too much histamine = lymph moves slower = more inflammation builds.
3. Chronic inflammation = overwhelmed drainage.
If your liver, gut, and lymphatic system can’t keep up, your symptoms flare harder and longer.
4. Lymphatic drainage helps reduce mast cell buildup.
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), castor oil, and hydration clear inflammatory chemicals that mast cells release.

💥 What Triggers MCAS?

• Stress (emotional or physical)
• Infections (viral, bacterial, fungal)
• Mold or chemical exposure
• Hormonal changes (menstruation, perimenopause)
• Heat, cold, exercise
• Certain medications or supplements
• High-histamine foods (fermented foods, aged cheese, wine, citrus, etc.)

🌿 How to Calm the Storm: Natural Support for MCAS

🔹 Stabilize Mast Cells
• Quercetin
• Luteolin
• Stinging nettle
• Vitamin C
• DAO enzyme support

🔹 Support Detox + Drainage
• MLD (Manual Lymphatic Drainage)
• Castor oil packs
• Hydration with electrolytes
• Infrared saunas (if tolerated)

🔹 Soothe the Nervous System
• Breathwork
• Gentle vagus nerve activation
• Magnesium
• Low-stimulation environments during flares

🔹 Reduce High-Histamine Foods Temporarily
• Avoid fermented, aged, or leftover foods
• Eat fresh, clean proteins and cooked vegetables

📍 Conditions Often Linked to MCAS:

• Long COVID
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME)
• Fibromyalgia
• POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
• Mold illness
• Autoimmunity (e.g. Hashimoto’s)

💚 In Summary:

MCAS is not “in your head.”
It’s in your mast cells — your immune messengers who’ve become too reactive, too protective, and too loud.

But healing is possible.
Start by calming your nervous system, clearing your lymphatic system, and listening gently to the whispers of your body before they become screams.

✨ You are not broken — your body is just trying to protect you, even if it’s a little confused.

📌 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 routine.

©️