Pure Bodywork Therapies

08/11/2025

COPs are a great adjunctive therapy to the Arvigo Abdominal Therapy that Pure Bodywork Therapies offers. Castor oil use was long touted by the highly gifted prophet, clairvoyant, seer and healer Edgar Cayce as wonderful tool to stoke the immune system and dredge toxins from deep in our bodies, tissues and cells.

Castor Oil Packs: Ancient Remedy, Modern Wonder

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.

What is a Castor Oil Pack? 🛁🌿
A Castor Oil Pack is a therapeutic cloth soaked in cold-pressed castor oil (from the seeds of Ricinus communis) placed on the skin—typically over the liver, abdomen, or lymph nodes. Covered with a barrier (like plastic or wool) and warmed with a hot water bottle or heat pack, this ancient remedy has stood the test of time—from Cleopatra’s beauty rituals to 21st-century detox protocols ✨.

Let’s Talk Science 🔬🧠
Why is castor oil more than just an old wives’ tale? Science is catching up:

1. Ricinoleic Acid – The Star Ingredient ⭐
About 90% of castor oil is made up of ricinoleic acid, a rare unsaturated fatty acid with powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects 💥.

Research Highlight:
A 2009 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that ricinoleic acid activates EP3 prostanoid receptors—which are involved in immune function modulation, pain regulation, and smooth muscle contraction. That means castor oil can calm inflammation, ease pain, and stimulate flow—especially in the lymphatic and digestive systems 🌿💪.

Benefits of Castor Oil Packs
Here’s what the research and clinical practice suggest these gooey little wonders can do:

1. Lymphatic Drainage Booster 🌀💧
The lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump like the heart—it relies on movement and flow. Castor oil packs may stimulate lymphocyte production (white blood cells), encouraging better lymph drainage and detoxification 🚿.

Clinical Insight:
A study from The Townsend Letter for Doctors reported increased lymphocyte counts within hours of castor oil pack application—suggesting improved immune and lymphatic activity 🧬.

2. Liver Love & Detox Support 🌿🫀
Placed over the liver, castor oil packs may improve liver enzyme function and bile flow—essential for detoxification, hormone balance, and digestion 🌱.

3. Gut Health & Constipation Relief 🚽💨
One of the oldest uses of castor oil is for constipation relief. Packs applied to the abdomen may support peristalsis (bowel movement) and reduce bloating and cramping 🫃.

Bonus: A study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice (2011) showed that elderly participants with constipation experienced significant improvement using abdominal castor oil packs ✅.

4. Hormone Harmony & Menstrual Relief 🌸🕊️
Castor oil’s anti-inflammatory nature may help relieve menstrual cramps, support ovarian and uterine health, and even help with fibroids and cysts (when used consistently with professional guidance) 💗.

How To Use a Castor Oil Pack
It’s as simple as 1-2-3: ✨

You’ll Need:
• Cold-pressed, hexane-free castor oil 🧴
• A piece of flannel or wool (about the size of your hand) 🧵
• A protective cloth or plastic sheet 🧼
• Hot water bottle or heating pad ♨️
• Old clothes or towels (because it will get messy!) 🧺

Step-by-Step:
1. Soak the flannel with castor oil until it’s saturated but not dripping 🌊.
2. Place it over your target area (liver, abdomen, joints, lymph nodes) 🎯.
3. Cover with your protective layer 🧻.
4. Add heat and relax for 30–60 minutes ⏳.
5. Repeat 3–5x per week for best results 📆.

Pro Tip: Do not use during menstruation or pregnancy unless cleared by a professional 🚫🤰.

Who Should Avoid Castor Oil Packs?
• Pregnant women (castor oil can stimulate uterine contractions) ⚠️
• Active infections or open wounds at application site 🛑
• Allergy to castor oil (always patch test!) 🧪

In a Nutshell… 🥥💚
Castor oil packs are like nature’s version of a warm hug: soothing, detoxifying, and deeply nurturing to your organs and lymphatic flow 🫶. With modern research backing what ancient cultures knew, they’re a safe, accessible tool for anyone on a healing or wellness journey 🌍✨.

So grab your oil, wrap yourself up, and let the healing begin 🌙.
Because sometimes, the simplest remedies are the most profound 🌿💫.

©️

07/06/2025

Another reason to keep your vagus nerve regulated . 🙏❤️

🌬️✨ Meet Your Vagus Nerve: The Wanderer That Talks to Your Lymph!

Did you know there’s a superhighway of communication between your gut, your brain, and your immune system? It’s called the vagus nerve — and this magical nerve does way more than most people realise.

The vagus nerve (Latin for “wandering”) is the longest cranial nerve in your body. It starts at your brainstem and wanders all the way down to your chest and abdomen. Along the way, it stops to chat with your heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, digestive organs… and yes, your lymphatic system!

🧠 What Makes the Vagus Nerve So Special?

This powerful nerve is the main highway of the parasympathetic nervous system — the “rest and digest” part of your nervous system. When your vagus nerve is happy, it promotes calmness, slows your heart rate, helps you digest food, and reduces inflammation.

But when it’s underactive or overwhelmed, your body gets stuck in fight or flight mode. That’s bad news for healing, detoxing, and lymphatic flow. 😮‍💨

💧 So, How Does the Vagus Nerve Help the Lymphatic System?

Great question! Here’s where it gets juicy:

1️⃣ It Regulates Lymphatic Flow Through Movement and Rhythm

The vagus nerve influences the smooth muscle tone of your intestines (peristalsis). These gentle contractions actually help to pump lymph, especially through the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), one of the biggest immune hubs in your body.

➡️ When the vagus nerve is stimulated, it keeps this rhythm going — supporting lymphatic drainage through the abdomen.

2️⃣ It Reduces Systemic Inflammation

The vagus nerve activates something called the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. This directly reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines — a massive help for anyone with autoimmune disease, chronic inflammation, or sluggish lymph.

➡️ Less inflammation = less lymphatic congestion.

3️⃣ It Enhances Immune Surveillance

A well-toned vagus nerve improves communication between the brain and immune system. This helps the lymphatic system filter invaders more efficiently and coordinate better with the spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes.

➡️ This means quicker detection and clearance of toxins and pathogens.

4️⃣ It Works With the Glymphatic System While You Sleep 🧼🧠

Yep, your brain has its own lymph system — called the glymphatic system. The vagus nerve supports deeper sleep, during which cerebrospinal fluid washes over your brain to clear waste. This reduces the burden on your body’s detox and immune systems.

➡️ Vagus + Glymphatics = Dream detox duo!

🌀 How to Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve (And Support Your Lymph)

The best part? You don’t need expensive tools to activate this healing connection. Try these daily habits:

🌬️ Deep belly breathing
🎶 Humming, chanting, or singing
💧 Gargling water for 30 seconds
🧊 Splashing cold water on your face
🧘‍♀️ Meditation or prayer
🌿 Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy
💚 Castor oil packs (calm + drainage = yes please!)
🐾 Lying down with a pup (bonus points for your 5 dachshunds!)

🧠💧 In Summary

The vagus nerve is the calm conductor of your inner healing orchestra. When it’s functioning well, it works hand-in-hand with the lymphatic system to reduce inflammation, support detoxification, enhance immunity, and promote true rest.

So if you’re working on healing your lymphatic system, don’t forget the nerve that’s quietly running the show behind the scenes.

📚 Research & Resources
• Tracey, K. J. (2002). The inflammatory reflex. Nature, 420(6917), 853–859. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01321
• Breit, S., Kupferberg, A., Rogler, G., & Hasler, G. (2018). Vagus nerve as modulator of the brain–gut axis in psychiatric and inflammatory disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, 44. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00044
• Meneses, G., Bautista, M., Florentino, A., et al. (2016). Electric stimulation of the vagus nerve reduced the mortality and serum TNF in a murine sepsis model. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 47, 191–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2015.03.012
• Jessen, N. A., et al. (2015). The glymphatic system: A beginner’s guide. Neurochemical Research, 40, 2583–2599. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-015-1581-6

©️

06/26/2025

💚 The Lymphatic System: Your Body’s Hidden Hero

✨ It doesn’t make a sound — but it saves your life every day.

We often talk about the heart that beats, the lungs that breathe, and the brain that thinks.
But have you ever heard about the system that works in silence — removing toxins, fighting infections, balancing fluids, and supporting immunity?

Meet your lymphatic system — the most overlooked yet essential part of your body’s wellness network.

🌿 What Is the Lymphatic System?
The lymphatic system is like your body’s drainage and defense network.
It’s made up of:

Lymph vessels – highways that transport lymph
Lymph nodes – filtering stations packed with immune cells
Lymphoid organs – including the spleen, thymus, tonsils, and bone marrow
MALT & GALT – immune tissue lining your gut and mucous membranes
It’s a one-way system, meaning fluid only flows in one direction — away from your tissues and toward the heart, eventually emptying back into the blood via the subclavian veins.

And here’s the catch:
🫀 It has no pump. It relies entirely on your movement, breath, hydration, and nervous system to flow.

💧 What Is Lymph Fluid?
Lymph is a clear, protein-rich fluid that originates from the 20 liters of plasma filtered out of your capillaries each day.
Most of that fluid is reabsorbed — but around 3 liters remain behind in the tissues and must be collected by the lymphatics.

This fluid carries:

Cellular waste
Dead cells
Pathogens
Environmental toxins
Excess interstitial fluid
Fats (from the gut)
Immune messengers
If this waste doesn’t drain… it stagnates.
And stagnation = inflammation, swelling, fatigue, and immune burnout.

🦠 What Do Lymph Nodes Actually Do?
Lymph nodes are biological security scanners.

As lymph fluid flows through a node, T-cells, B-cells, and macrophages check for invaders (like viruses, bacteria, or even cancer cells).
If something is detected, the node mounts an immune response — often swelling as white blood cells multiply.

Fun fact:
👂 You have around 600 lymph nodes in your body — mostly clustered in the neck, armpits, chest, abdomen, and groin.

🧠 Did You Know Your Brain Has Lymph, Too?
Until recently, doctors believed the brain had no lymphatic system.

But in 2015, researchers discovered the glymphatic system — a brain-based drainage pathway that clears toxins and metabolic waste during deep sleep.
It helps remove substances like:

Beta-amyloid (linked to Alzheimer’s)
Tau proteins
Excess fluid and inflammatory debris
💤 This is why deep, uninterrupted sleep is critical for brain detox and mental clarity.

🤒 How Do You Know If Your Lymph Is Sluggish?
Your lymphatic system will send you signals when it's overloaded.
Watch out for these signs:

Puffy eyes or facial swelling
Persistent fatigue
Brain fog or low mental clarity
Swollen ankles or hands
Cellulite or skin breakouts
Hormonal imbalances (especially estrogen dominance)
Frequent infections, allergies, or immune flares
Digestive bloating and food sensitivities
When lymph flow slows, toxins back up, and the immune system becomes reactive and inflamed.

🌱 How Can You Support Your Lymphatic System?
Fortunately, your lymph LOVES gentle support — no fancy tools required!

💧 1. Hydrate generously – Aim for 30–40 ml per kg of body weight
🚶 2. Move your body – Walking, rebounding, stretching, dancing
🫁 3. Breathe deeply – Your diaphragm is a lymphatic pump
🖐 4. Lymph drainage therapy – Especially in areas of swelling or fatigue
🧴 5. Castor oil packs – Especially over the liver or abdomen
🥗 6. Anti-inflammatory diet – Limit dairy, sugar, and processed food
🛌 7. Prioritize sleep – For glymphatic (brain lymph) detox
🌿 8. Support gut health – 70% of immune tissue is in your gut lymph (GALT)

🔬 BONUS: Why Lymphatic Support Helps with Hormones
Your lymph system clears estrogen metabolites and inflammatory messengers.
If lymph is congested, these compounds recirculate, which can worsen:

PMS
Endometriosis
Acne
Weight gain
Anxiety
Supporting lymph flow helps restore hormonal balance — naturally.

🌈 Final Thought:
Your lymphatic system is more than just a detox tool.
It’s a living, breathing communication network that links immunity, circulation, digestion, and hormonal health.

It doesn’t force. It doesn’t shout.
It whispers: “Flow with me, and I will protect you.”

©️

06/17/2025

🌿 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.

©️

05/29/2025

05/15/2025

We usually think of triggers as something to manage, avoid, or get past.

But what if your trigger is actually pointing to a part of you that still feels unsafe? Instead of pushing it away, what if you got curious and asked: what part of me is speaking right now? What is it afraid of? What does it need?

A trigger doesn’t mean you’re failing.

It means something inside you is asking to be seen.

Healing begins when we meet those moments - not with judgment, but with compassion and curiosity.

04/21/2025

My Biodynamic teacher , Dr. Kate Klemer , speaking about Biodynamic Craniosacral therapy .

Podcast Episode · Your Healing Era · 04/16/2025 · 39m

04/18/2025

The vagus nerve is a primary carrier of information describing the state of the body to the brain, and transmitting information from the brain back to the body. It’s a feedback mechanism which is responsible for maintaining homeostasis for many of our vital organs and brain/body functions. Research over the past few decades shows that the vagus plays a key role in managing our levels of stress as well as our body’s inflammation; in this age of stress- and inflammation-related disease, it is perhaps the most important nerve in the body for us to be paying attention to.

Come learn more on our website at polyvagal.org/vagusnerve and register for the 2025 PVI International Gathering, The Vagus Nerve: A Path to Wellness, happening this fall, Oct 31-Nov 2, live in-person and online.
Early Bird tickets available now at polyvagal.org/2025gathering

03/25/2025

Thank you Isa Herrera --- 3 Sneaky Habits That Hijack Your Hormones

If you’ve been feeling a little off lately, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken.

Ever feel like you’ve lost your spark—and you can’t quite explain why?

No matter how clean you eat or how much sleep you try to get...you still feel foggy, flat, heavy, or just not like yourself.

Let’s bust a myth real quick:

Hormone health isn’t just a “menopause thing.”

Your hormones matter in your 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s—and even after menopause.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed or told, “it’s just your age,” I’m here to say:

It’s not just age.

It’s imbalance.

And it’s fixable.

The truth?

Your hormones are likely being hijacked. I know mine were for years as I went through early menopause at 41 and I was doing everything WRONG.

And it’s not always from obvious causes—it’s often from sneaky, everyday habits that create havoc on your hormones.

When I discovered how these 3 everyday habits were sabotaging my hormones, I knew something had to change.

Choosing a natural path instead of relying on HRT was the game-changer I didn’t know I needed.

Here are 3 surprising things that could be messing with your hormones:

1. Skipping meals (or coffee for breakfast )
Intermittent fasting is all the rage, but for many women—especially in midlife—it can seriously backfire.

Skipping meals or starting your day with caffeine only spikes cortisol, crashes your blood sugar, and pulls your hormones into chaos.

Try: Eating a protein-rich breakfast within 90 minutes of waking up to stabilize your hormones and energy.

2. Over-exercising or pushing through fatigue

That “no pain, no gain” mindset? Not great for your hormones.

Too much intense exercise can raise cortisol and deplete progesterone, leaving you wired but tired.

Try: Fascia-based movement, strength training, or walking instead of daily HIIT and heavy cross fit!

3. Staying up late—even if you’re just watching Netflix in bed

Your hormones reset overnight.

And when you miss your natural sleep window, your rhythm gets thrown off—fast.

Try: A calming nighttime ritual and aiming to sleep before 10:30 PM.

Your hormones are speaking to you all the time—through your mood, your energy, your skin, your sleep.

When you learn to listen?

You reclaim your glow, your clarity, your joy—and your power.

You deserve to feel like yourself again—and it starts with one small shift at a time.

Send a message to learn more