Massage By Jane, LLC

11/28/2025

🧠💡 For decades, the appendix was dismissed as a pointless evolutionary leftover, often removed without hesitation. But new research from Duke University reveals it’s anything but useless. The appendix contains more than 200 million neurons, exceeding those in the spinal cord, and plays a crucial role in the gut-brain connection. Acting as a reservoir for beneficial bacteria, it helps restore the microbiome after illness while also regulating immune responses. Scientists now suspect it functions like a “second brain” in the gut, directly communicating with the nervous system. With this growing evidence, some hospitals are reconsidering routine removal in mild cases, recognizing the appendix as a vital guardian of digestive and immune health.

Did you know the appendix had this potential function? What are your thoughts on this 'second brain' in the gut?

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only.

11/26/2025

Changes in gut bacteria communities were associated with a decrease in riboflavin and biotin in people with Parkinson's disease.
https://www.sciencealert.com/parkinsons-link-to-gut-bacteria-suggests-unexpectedly-simple-treatment

11/20/2025

The simple act of sprinkling salt into your morning glass of water can make a big impact.

Cortisol is highest at 8:00 AM, and sodium is excellent for lowering cortisol, so salt is a great tool for a stress-free day.

Himalayan sea salt is a great option, or try Baja Gold salt if you’re prone to high blood pressure.

And for an extra health boost, try adding fresh-squeezed organic lemon juice to your glass!

11/15/2025

🕊️ The Vagus Nerve & Lymph Flow: The Silent Conversation Between Calm and Healing

Deep beneath the surface of your thoughts and emotions runs a river of communication — one that connects your brain, organs, and immune system through rhythm and flow. That river is guided by your vagus nerve, the body’s longest cranial nerve and one of the most powerful conductors of peace.

When calm reigns in the nervous system, the lymphatic system begins to flow. But when stress, trauma, or fear take over, that same flow tightens, slows, and stagnates. Understanding this silent dialogue between the vagus nerve and lymph opens a doorway to true healing — not just physical, but emotional and spiritual too.

🧠 The Vagus Nerve: Your Inner Healing Switch

The vagus nerve runs from your brainstem through your neck, chest, and abdomen, branching into the heart, lungs, digestive tract, and even your liver. It acts like a divine communication line between your body and brain, constantly sending messages about safety, digestion, and repair.

When the vagus nerve is activated (the parasympathetic state), your body enters what’s called rest, digest, and heal mode.
✨ Heart rate slows.
✨ Digestion improves.
✨ Lymphatic vessels contract rhythmically.
✨ Inflammation decreases.

This nerve doesn’t just calm your mind — it physically pumps your lymph.

💧 The Lymphatic System’s Rhythm

The lymphatic system has no heart of its own. It depends on breath, movement, and pressure changes within the chest to keep lymph flowing.
When you breathe deeply — especially through your diaphragm — the thoracic duct (the largest lymphatic vessel) expands and contracts like a soft internal wave.

That movement is partly controlled by the vagus nerve.
Every calm exhale is a signal that says, “You are safe — release and drain.”
Every anxious breath says, “Hold tight — protect and freeze.”

This is why chronic stress often leads to swollen lymph nodes, bloating, puffiness, or fatigue — the flow has paused under emotional strain.

🌬️ The Vagus–Lymph Link in Science

Research has shown that vagal stimulation reduces inflammation by controlling cytokine production and immune cell movement within lymphatic vessels.
When vagal tone improves, lymphatic flow increases, and toxins are cleared faster from tissues — especially around the gut and liver.

🩺 Clinical studies on vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) have even shown reduced autoimmune flare-ups, improved gut permeability, and normalized inflammatory markers — confirming what ancient healing traditions already knew: peace heals.

“Be still and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

Stillness is not weakness — it’s physiology.

🌿 How to Activate Your Vagus Nerve Naturally

You don’t need a machine to calm your nervous system — you already carry one inside you.
Here are gentle, daily ways to reawaken your vagus nerve and restore lymphatic harmony:

💨 Diaphragmatic breathing – Deep belly breathing moves lymph and calms the vagus simultaneously.
🎶 Humming or singing – Vibrations near the throat stimulate vagal pathways.
🙏 Prayer and gratitude – Spiritual stillness activates parasympathetic dominance.
🖐️ Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) – Gentle touch increases vagal tone through mechanoreceptor feedback.
🛁 Warm baths or castor oil packs – Heat triggers calm, relaxation, and lymph release.
💦 Hydration and electrolytes – Support both nerve signaling and fluid flow.
🌿 Cold exposure – Brief cool face rinses or showers enhance vagal resilience.

💫 The Takeaway

Your nervous system and lymphatic system speak the same language — flow.
When the vagus nerve feels peace, lymph begins to move.
When you exhale with intention, pray in stillness, or allow yourself to soften, you are not “doing nothing.” You are telling your body to heal.

🌸 The vagus nerve is not just a nerve — it is your inner reminder that safety creates flow, and flow creates life.

Written by:
Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT, CDS
Founder – 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.

11/15/2025

In a stunning breakthrough, scientists have reactivated the brain’s natural cleaning system, causing toxic Alzheimer’s plaques to disappear in laboratory models. The brain’s glymphatic system, responsible for clearing waste and harmful proteins, was stimulated, allowing it to effectively remove the build-up linked to memory loss and cognitive decline.

This discovery suggests that the body already holds the tools to combat Alzheimer’s naturally. By understanding how to enhance this internal cleaning mechanism, researchers hope to develop therapies that could prevent or even reverse the disease without relying solely on drugs.

The findings highlight the incredible potential of leveraging the brain’s own systems to fight neurodegenerative disorders. While further research and human trials are needed, this opens the door to a future where Alzheimer’s may no longer be inevitable.

It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes the most effective cures may already exist within our own biology.

11/14/2025

Study finds Magnesium increases certain gut bacteria that synthesize vitamin D and inhibit the development of colorectal cancer. Magnesium works by acting as a crucial cofactor for enzymes in specific gut bacteria, such as Carnobacterium maltaromaticum and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, thereby enhancing their ability to synthesize vitamin D locally within the intestines. This site-specific production of vitamin D, rather than systemic (blood) vitamin D, is thought to provide targeted protection against colorectal cancer (CRC).

▶️Role of Magnesium and Gut Bacteria:

📑Cofactor for Enzymes: Magnesium is an essential mineral that serves as a cofactor for over 600 enzymes in the body. In this context, it is believed to enable the enzymatic machinery within specific gut bacteria (C. maltaromaticum and F. prausnitzii) to produce vitamin D from a precursor.
📑Increased Abundance: In individuals with adequate function of the TRPM7 gene (which regulates magnesium uptake), magnesium supplementation was found to significantly increase the abundance of these beneficial bacteria in the gut.
📑Site-Specific Synthesis: This microbially produced vitamin D acts locally in the gut, providing direct benefits to the colonic epithelial cells without significantly raising systemic (circulating) vitamin D levels in the blood.

▶️Mechanism of Cancer Inhibition

The locally synthesized vitamin D inhibits colorectal cancer development through several mechanisms:

📑Regulating Cell Growth: It helps regulate the growth, differentiation, and programmed death (apoptosis) of colon cells, preventing uncontrolled proliferation that leads to cancer.
📑Modulating Inflammation: Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the chronic inflammation in the gut that is a known risk factor for CRC.
📑Interfering with Cancer Pathways: It interferes with key cancer-promoting signaling pathways, such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which is often aberrantly activated in CRC.
📑Maintaining Gut Barrier Integrity: It helps maintain the integrity of the intestinal lining, which prevents harmful substances and bacteria from contributing to inflammation and cancer progression.

PMID: 40946805

11/14/2025

11/13/2025

🪑 How Posture Alters Detox: The Hidden Lymphatic Link

When we think of detox, most of us imagine green juices, supplements, or sweating it out in a sauna. But very few realize that the way you sit and stand every single day might be one of the biggest factors that determines how well your body clears waste.

Your lymphatic system—the “drainage system” of the body—relies on movement, breathing, and subtle pressure changes to transport toxins, excess fluid, and immune cells. Unlike your blood, it has no heart to pump it. That means posture plays a huge role in whether your lymph flows freely… or becomes stagnant.

📉 Poor Posture = Blocked Drainage

When you slouch or hunch:
• The Thoracic Duct Gets Compressed
The thoracic duct is the main “superhighway” of your lymph system, emptying into the veins near your collarbone. A forward head or rounded shoulders squeeze this delicate pathway, slowing detox from your lower body.
• Abdominal Pressure Builds
Sitting collapsed (think laptop hunch) compresses the diaphragm and abdomen. This stops the “lymph pump” action of deep breathing, trapping fluid around the gut, liver, and pelvis.
• Neck & Brain Congestion
Looking down at a phone for hours creates tension in the neck that blocks cervical lymph nodes. This contributes to brain fog, puffiness, and even sinus issues.

🌊 Good Posture = Better Detox
• Standing Tall
Aligning your spine creates space for the thoracic duct to stay open, allowing lymph from the legs and gut to drain upward.
• Shoulders Back, Chest Open
Expands the ribcage so your diaphragm can move fully, pulling lymph fluid through your system like a pump.
• Neck in Neutral
Keeps lymph channels in the head and neck open, improving drainage from the brain (the glymphatic system).

✅ Simple Fixes You Can Try Today
1. 90–90 Sitting: Sit with hips and knees at 90°, feet flat on the ground. Avoid slumping into chairs.
2. Posture Breaks: Every 30 minutes, roll your shoulders back and take 3 deep belly breaths.
3. Wall Angels: Stand with your back against a wall, arms bent at 90°, and slowly slide them up and down like making a snow angel. This opens the chest and supports lymph flow.
4. Diaphragm Stretch: Lie on your back, place hands on your belly, and take slow breaths in through the nose, letting your belly rise. This resets the lymph pump.

🌿 The Takeaway

Detox isn’t only about what you take in — it’s also about how your body moves it out. Your posture is a daily choice that can either choke your lymphatic system or give it the space it needs to do its job.

So the next time you sit at your desk or scroll on your phone, remember: opening your chest, lifting your head, and breathing deeply is more than good posture… it’s active detox.

👩‍⚕️ Written by Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS

⚠️ 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.

11/13/2025

🌊 What Is the Glymphatic System?

The glymphatic system is the brain’s unique waste clearance network, functioning similarly to the lymphatic system in the body—but with a twist. It was only discovered in 2012 by Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, and it has since changed how we understand neurodegeneration and brain inflammation.
This system relies on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to flush out waste products from brain tissue through perivascular pathways, facilitated by a type of glial cell called astrocytes. These cells regulate the flow of interstitial fluid and act as a conduit for metabolic clearance during deep sleep, especially in slow-wave sleep cycles.

🔥 When the Glymphatic System Is Inhibited: The Inflammatory Storm

When the glymphatic system is impaired, neurotoxic proteins—like beta-amyloid, tau proteins, and inflammatory cytokines—begin to accumulate in the brain's interstitial spaces. This accumulation triggers:
* Microglial activation, leading to chronic low-grade neuroinflammation
* Increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β
* Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction within neurons
* Blood-brain barrier permeability ("leaky brain") and further immune dysregulation

Over time, this chronic inflammatory state can manifest as:
* Brain fog, memory issues, and cognitive decline
* Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression
* Increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
* Worsened systemic inflammation due to vagus nerve signaling disruption

🛌 Sleep, the Glymphatic Switch, and Circadian Health

The glymphatic system is most active during deep sleep, particularly during non-REM slow-wave phases. When sleep is disrupted—whether due to stress, screen exposure, sleep apnea, or erratic sleep cycles—the brain cannot engage in glymphatic flushing.
Sleep deprivation has been shown to:
* Increase extracellular beta-amyloid by up to 43% in a single night
* Decrease the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels in astrocytes, impairing fluid transport
* Heighten markers of neuroinflammation, including NF-κB signaling and glial activation

🧬 Systemic Inflammation and Glymphatic Dysfunction: A Two-Way Street

Interestingly, inflammation itself suppresses glymphatic flow. Research shows that systemic infections, autoimmune flares, and even gut dysbiosis can produce pro-inflammatory cytokines that reduce CSF dynamics and glymphatic activity.
Conversely, poor glymphatic clearance can worsen systemic inflammation by:
* Disrupting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis signaling
* Altering vagal tone and the gut-brain-liver immune axis
* Impairing clearance of immune-modulating neurotransmitters like glutamate

🌿 How to Support Glymphatic Health

1. Prioritize Deep Sleep
* Aim for 7–9 hours of uninterrupted sleep in total darkness
* Use magnesium, L-theanine, or glycine to support non-REM sleep
* Avoid screens and caffeine 3+ hours before bedtime
2. Rebound, Stretch, and Move Your Spine
* Movement of the spine and neck enhances CSF circulation
* Manual lymphatic drainage may also indirectly stimulate glymphatic function
3. Hydration & Electrolyte Balance
* CSF production is heavily dependent on fluid status
* Add trace minerals or electrolytes to water to support fluid dynamics
4. Nutraceutical Support
* Resveratrol, turmeric (curcumin), omega-3s, and NAC reduce neuroinflammation
* Melatonin not only promotes deep sleep but enhances glymphatic activity
5. Cranial and Cervical Lymphatic Drainage
* Facial and neck MLD can relieve interstitial congestion
* Techniques like craniosacral therapy or vagal nerve stimulation may further support this network

🧠 Final Thought

The glymphatic system is a vital yet vulnerable detox engine for the brain. When impaired, it doesn’t just affect cognition—it can unleash a cascade of inflammatory dysfunction that spreads throughout the entire body.

By supporting this system through sleep hygiene, lymphatic stimulation, and anti-inflammatory practices, we lay the foundation for resilient mental, neurological, and immune health.

©️

11/12/2025

11/12/2025

💪✨ Muscles & The Lymphatic System – How Movement Heals

The human body is a living pump system. While the heart moves blood, the muscles are the engine that keeps your lymphatic system flowing — flushing away toxins, inflammatory waste, and excess fluid.

Each contraction, stretch, or deep breath you take becomes a message to your body: “flow, heal, release.”

Let’s explore how different muscle groups help your lymphatic system work optimally:

🫀 Neck & Shoulder Muscles (Trapezius, SCM, Scalenes)

Lymphatic Role:
These muscles surround the thoracic inlet — where lymph drains into the bloodstream. Tension here can restrict flow, leading to puffiness, headaches, and sinus congestion.

Support:
Gentle neck rolls, deep breathing, and chest opening stretches help “open the gates” for full-body drainage.

💨 Diaphragm (Respiratory Muscle)

Lymphatic Role:
The diaphragm is the primary pump for lymph. Each deep breath changes internal pressure, propelling lymph upward through the thoracic duct — the body’s largest lymph vessel.

Support:
Practice 10 slow, deep belly breaths daily. Deep breathing can increase lymph flow up to 10× more than shallow breathing.

🫁 Intercostal Muscles (Between the Ribs)

Lymphatic Role:
These expand and contract the chest cavity during breathing, supporting lymph drainage from the chest wall, breast tissue, and lungs.

Support:
Side stretches and rib-expansion breathing enhance upper-body detox.

🦵 Calf Muscles (Gastrocnemius & Soleus – “The Peripheral Heart”)

Lymphatic Role:
The calves push lymph and venous blood upward, countering gravity. Weak or inactive calf muscles cause pooling and swelling in the legs.

Support:
Daily walking, heel raises, or ankle pumps reawaken your natural lymph pumps.

🫶 Pectoral & Axillary Muscles (Chest & Underarms)

Lymphatic Role:
These muscles surround the axillary nodes, which drain the arms, chest, and breasts. Tension here can block lymph flow through the armpits.

Support:
Gentle doorway stretches, arm circles, and axillary drainage strokes help open the upper lymph pathways.

🧍‍♀️ Core & Abdominal Muscles (Transverse Abdominis, Obliques, Re**us Abdominis)

Lymphatic Role:
These muscles support detox through the liver, intestines, and gut lymphatics. A sluggish core often means sluggish lymph.

Support:
Light twisting movements, deep core breathing, or rebounding activate intestinal lymph flow.

🍑 Gluteal Muscles (Glute Max, Medius, Minimus)

Lymphatic Role:
The glutes influence pelvic and lower limb circulation. When weak, they contribute to pelvic congestion and leg swelling.

Support:
Bridges, squats, and hip stretches promote healthy lymph flow from the legs upward.

🦵 Thigh Muscles (Quadriceps & Hamstrings)

Lymphatic Role:
These large muscles pump lymph through the inguinal nodes in the groin — key gateways for lower-body detox.

Support:
Walking, leg lifts, and lymphatic drainage massage near the groin area improve flow.

✋ Arm & Forearm Muscles (Biceps, Triceps, Flexors, Extensors)

Lymphatic Role:
Arm movement assists lymph drainage toward the armpits and collarbones.

Support:
Arm swings, wall push-ups, and gentle self-massage from wrist to shoulder are simple yet powerful.

🧘‍♀️ Pelvic Floor Muscles

Lymphatic Role:
These muscles work with the diaphragm to move lymph through the pelvis, supporting reproductive and urinary detox.

Support:
Pelvic tilts, bridges, and breathing exercises enhance rhythmic motion between the diaphragm and pelvis.

⚡ Why Movement Heals
• Neck & Shoulders: Open the main drainage pathways → do gentle stretches and deep breathing.
• Diaphragm: Acts as the main lymph pump → practice slow, deep belly breathing daily.
• Calves: Work as the “peripheral heart” → walk, do heel raises or ankle pumps.
• Core & Abdomen: Support detox and digestion → try twisting movements or light rebounding.
• Thighs & Glutes: Drive pelvic lymph drainage → add squats and bridges.
• Arms: Support upper-body lymph flow → swing your arms or do gentle self-massage.

🌿 Final Thought

Your muscles don’t just move you — they cleanse you.
Every step, stretch, and deep breath becomes part of your body’s divine rhythm of flow, renewal, and healing.

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.