Did you know your body has an inbuilt sewerage system?It's called the lymphatic system, and it is a crucial part of how your body fights infection and disease.Lately, the lymphatic system is causing a stir online, with some social media personalities promoting "lymphatic drainage" for beauty and skin health.So what is lymphatic drainage? And is it backed by science?The lymphatic system is a network of tiny vessels that, like your blood vessels, branch out to most tissues in the human body.These vessels carry lymph, a colorless fluid that contains specialized white blood cells known as lymphocytes. Lymphocytes help the body fight infection.Unlike blood, which circulates around your body in a loop, lymph moves in one direction. It starts off as extra fluid in the tissues in your body, which is then picked up by lymphatic capillaries.From there it travels through to larger lymph vessels and nodes, before draining back into the bloodstream.The lymphatic system has three main jobs:
draining excess fluid, mainly to prevent swelling
supporting immunity, by helping the immune system detect and respond to unwanted substances such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and cancer cells
absorbing fats, mainly from food, to transport them back into the body.
