Mae's Serene Therapy, LLC

11/23/2025

😉

11/23/2025

11/21/2025

I'm in the process of not booking any more deep tissue. Because I want to focus on lymphatic drainage.

11/20/2025

🌿 10 of the WORST Things You Can Do for Your Lymph

A fun, interactive, science-backed guide from your Lymphatic Bestie

Your lymphatic system is your body’s drainage, detox, and immune superhighway…
But oh boy — there are a few habits that turn that beautiful flowing river into a clogged-up, muddy swamp.
Let’s have a little fun while we learn today! 😅💚

👇 Drop a 💚 if you’re guilty of at least ONE of these… I promise you, we ALL are!

1. Sitting too long 🪑

Your lymph has no pump — it relies on your movement.
Sitting for hours slows EVERYTHING, from drainage to detox to inflammation pathways.
✨ Fix it: Shoulder rolls, calf pumps, 3 deep breaths → every hour.

2. Not drinking enough water 💧

Your lymph is 96% water.
Low hydration = thick, sticky lymph = sluggish flow = swelling.
✨ Fix it: Sip all day, especially first thing in the morning.

3. Living on ultra-processed foods 🍟

Salt-heavy, sugar-heavy, inflammatory foods congest your liver and your lymph.
Inflammation = more fluid for your lymph to deal with = overwhelm.
✨ Fix it: Add one anti-inflammatory meal per day (greens, lemon, turmeric, fish, berries).

4. Wearing tight bras, leggings & shapewear that cut you off 🫣

Compression in the wrong places blocks lymph nodes in the groin, axilla, abdomen and chest.
✨ Fix it: Softer waistbands, wireless bras, looser leggings.

5. Ignoring chronic constipation 🚫🚽

If the colon is blocked, everything upstream becomes congested:
• liver strain
• abdominal swelling
• sluggish lymph
✨ Fix it: Hydrate, magnesium, fibre, gentle belly massage.

6. Staying in survival mode 😩

High cortisol = inflammation + water retention + lymph stagnation.
Stress literally changes lymph flow through the sympathetic nervous system.
✨ Fix it: 6 deep breaths → exhale twice as long as inhale.

7. Not supporting your liver 💛

Liver overload = lymph overload.
They are a detox pair — when one is blocked, the other drowns.
✨ Fix it: Lemons, beets, bitters, dandelion tea, early nights.

8. Sleeping with your phone 😴📱

Blue light disrupts melatonin → melatonin controls immune regulation → immune regulation controls lymph.
And… poor sleep = swollen mornings.
✨ Fix it: Phone away 60 minutes before bed.

9. Doing aggressive exercise when inflamed 🏋️‍♀️🔥

Hard training while your lymph is sluggish can increase inflammation.
This is why many “push harder” people end up puffy.
✨ Fix it: Walk, bounce lightly, breathe, stretch.
Then train harder once your lymph is clear.

10. Holding in emotions instead of processing them 💔

Emotional suppression increases muscular tension → fascia tightens → lymphatic vessels get compressed.
Grief, shock, trauma, stress — all congest the lymphatic highway.
✨ Fix it: Move, cry, pray, write, or speak it out. Your lymph listens.

💚 Final Reminder

Your lymphatic system LOVES:
Movement
Hydration
Breath
Joy
Rest
Gentleness
Flow

And it hates:
Stagnation
Inflammation
Tightness
Stress
Suppression

11/18/2025

🌿 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. 💚

11/15/2025

11/14/2025

Why your lymphatic system should be priority

🌿💖 Why Your Lymphatic System Should Be Your First Priority

- Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT

In a world rushing after heart rates, sugar levels, and body fat percentages,
there lies a silent river inside you...
whispering, flowing, healing — always at work. 🌊✨

It’s called your lymphatic system,
and it deserves to be seen, cherished, and protected. 🌸

🌼 A Soft Poem to Your Silent Healer:

Beneath your skin, a river runs,
🌊 A quiet stream kissed by the sun.
It carries hope, it sweeps away,
The broken pieces of your day. 🌞

It bathes each cell, it guards each door,
It cleans the wounds you never saw. 🌿🩹
It fights for you when you are weak,
It whispers strength you do not seek. 🌟

Without its flow, the fields grow dry,
The heart grows tired, the bones ask why. 🥀
But when it dances, pure and bright,
The body sings, the soul feels light. 🎶

So honor it — this silver thread,
This healing song beneath the bed. 💖
Drink deep, breathe slow, move free, stay kind —
And let your rivers clear your mind. 🦋

✨ Why Your Lymphatic System Matters:

🌿 It removes waste:
Every cell in your body creates waste — your lymphatic system takes out the trash.

🌿 It supports your immunity:
Your lymph nodes are battle stations, sending out armies of immune cells to protect you.

🌿 It balances your fluids:
It prevents swelling, puffiness, and fluid retention, keeping your tissues light and vibrant.

🌿 It detoxifies naturally:
Forget harsh cleanses — your lymph is the original, daily detox system.

🌿 It nurtures healing:
Every wound you heal, every infection you fight, every toxin you clear — your lymph is behind it.

🌿 It lifts inflammation:
By clearing stagnant fluid, it reduces chronic inflammation, the root of so many modern illnesses.

🌿 It connects your body and soul:
When your lymph flows, you feel it — lighter, clearer, calmer... more you. 🌸🦋

🌟 How to Honor Your Rivers:

💧 Drink pure water.
🚶‍♀️ Move your body with love — walking, stretching, bouncing.
🧘‍♀️ Breathe deep into your belly.
💆‍♀️ Enjoy gentle lymphatic massage or dry brushing.
🌸 Rest in gratitude for the silent work happening within you.

Because when your lymph flows,
life flows. 🌿✨

💖 In Closing:

🌸 Your lymphatic system isn’t just a “nice-to-have” —
It’s the very foundation of your healing, your vitality, and your freedom.

To honor your lymph is to honor the hidden miracles inside you.
Today, choose to flow. Choose to heal. Choose to glow. 🌿💫

Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new health practices.

©️

11/14/2025

Happy Grateful Friday

┏┳┓🍀🌿🍀❤️🌺🐆
┊┃hanks to you 🍁🍂
┊┻

11/13/2025

🌿 Healing Facts Everyone Forgets

By Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS
Lymphatica – Lymphatic Therapy & Body Healing Facility

🧬 1️⃣ Healing Is a Physiological Process — Not a Timeline

Every tissue in the body follows a biological rhythm of inflammation, repair, and regeneration.
• Inflammation (Phase 1): The immune system releases cytokines and histamines to remove damaged cells.
• Proliferation (Phase 2): Fibroblasts, macrophages, and lymphatic endothelial cells begin to rebuild structure.
• Remodelling (Phase 3): Collagen alignment, lymphangiogenesis, and mitochondrial repair take place.

When healing feels “slow,” it’s often because cellular energy (ATP) is being redirected from symptoms to repair. You are not regressing — you are rebuilding.

Healing isn’t linear because biology isn’t linear — it’s cyclical and adaptive.

💧 2️⃣ The Lymphatic System Is the Interface Between Inflammation and Immunity

Over 80% of immune cells reside in lymphatic tissue. When lymph flow stagnates, cytokines accumulate, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue edema.

Scientific findings show that:
• Impaired lymph transport delays the clearance of inflammatory mediators.
• Proper lymphatic drainage enhances macrophage activity and antigen presentation.
• Manual lymph drainage, diaphragmatic breathing, and movement stimulate lymphangiomotor activity — the rhythmic contractions that propel lymph fluid.

Lymphatic flow is not optional — it’s the prerequisite for recovery.

🧠 3️⃣ The Nervous System Dictates Healing Speed

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates blood flow, digestion, lymph propulsion, and cellular repair.
When the body is stuck in sympathetic dominance (fight-or-flight), peripheral vasoconstriction occurs, impairing nutrient delivery and lymphatic drainage.

Research confirms that activating the vagus nerve via slow exhalation, prayer, or meditation:
• Increases acetylcholine and nitric oxide release.
• Improves intestinal motility and lymph flow.
• Reduces C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels.

The body cannot repair while defending. Calm is biochemistry.

🌾 4️⃣ Gut Integrity Determines Systemic Inflammation

The intestinal epithelium forms a selective barrier controlling what enters systemic circulation.
When this lining becomes permeable (“leaky gut”), lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and undigested proteins enter the bloodstream, triggering an immune cascade that increases histamine, cytokines, and lymphatic congestion.

Rebuilding gut integrity involves:
• L-glutamine, zinc, and probiotics to restore tight-junction proteins.
• Omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols to regulate mucosal inflammation.
• Fermented foods to diversify the microbiota, enhancing short-chain fatty acid production for mucosal energy.

Heal the gut, and you reduce 70% of immune overactivation.

⚡ 5️⃣ Mitochondria Drive Every Repair

Cellular energy (ATP) powers detoxification, protein synthesis, and lymphatic pumping.
When mitochondria are impaired by chronic stress, poor sleep, or toxin load, the body simply lacks voltage for repair.

To restore mitochondrial efficiency:
• Prioritise sleep, oxygenation, and nutrient cofactors (B-vitamins, magnesium, CoQ10).
• Reduce oxidative stress through polyphenols and anti-inflammatory diets.
• Gentle exercise stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis, improving cellular resilience.

Healing is an energy transaction — not a supplement list.

💤 6️⃣ Rest Is a Neuroendocrine Requirement

During deep sleep, the glymphatic system (the brain’s lymphatic counterpart) clears metabolic waste such as beta-amyloid.
Growth hormone (GH), melatonin, and cortisol follow a circadian rhythm essential for tissue repair and immune modulation.
Skipping rest is therefore a form of cellular neglect — not productivity.

In rest, the brain drains, the liver regenerates, and the lymph resets.

🌿 7️⃣ Faith, Gratitude & Healing Chemistry

Psychoneuroimmunology research shows that prayer and gratitude elevate dopamine and oxytocin, decrease norepinephrine, and improve vagal tone.
This biochemical cascade lowers inflammatory gene expression (NF-κB pathway) and enhances parasympathetic repair signals.

Faith is not just spiritual — it’s physiological evidence of safety.

💚 The Takeaway

Healing is not about “doing more.” It’s about re-establishing flow — of lymph, breath, energy, and faith.
When the nervous system is calm, the gut is sealed, and the lymphatic system moves freely, every other system follows.

The body never forgets how to heal — it only needs flow, fuel, and faith to remember.

11/13/2025

Happy Thursday! Every sunrise is life’s way of saying: start again, keep going!