While attending a medical conference in Baden-Baden, I heard a colleague present a fascinating talk on lymphedema. She shared how daily massage on breast cancer patients’ arms who had multiple lymph nodes removed can encourage the lymphatic system to reconnect.

Without massage, she explained the lymph glands can become distorted and struggle to manage lymph buildup. This can lead to the swelling often seen in the arms of breast cancer survivors and legs after lymph node removal. I was stunned this information wasn’t more widely shared, perhaps through videos in every oncologist’s office.

The massage technique is simple: gently squeeze the arm from wrist to shoulder multiple times a day, which the patients can do easily. According to my colleague, consistent daily massages make all the difference.

For long-standing lymph swelling, certain herbs have also proven effective. I treated a prostate cancer patient whose legs were severely swollen and made walking painful. After just two weeks on the herbs, he lost 20 pounds of fluid and found relief from the heaviness in his legs.

Here are some helpful herbs for lymphedema:

Goldenseal

Echinacea

Astragalus

Calendula

Dandelion

Burdock Root

Red Clover

Ceanothus

Parsley

Cleavers

Of these herbs, goldenseal, echinacea, calendula, ceanothus and cleavers seem to be the most effective. These herbs not only reduce inflammation but also help the lymphatic system function more smoothly by clearing toxins.

Adding regular exercise when possible further aids recovery. Nature truly offers an incredible wealth of remedies for every ailment—it’s amazing how much we overlook!

Go, Nature! 🌿