Have you ever been guilty of thinking the only reason hospitals and doctors now want patients discharged as quickly as possible is because they just want the beds for more new patients?

There is obviously some truth in that, but I believe it's more a case of the doctors knowing a lot more than you do about the body's ability to heal itself without all the attention you receive in hospital.

Unfortunately, some doctors don't take the time to explain to patients how this recovery happens and leave them thinking they have been discharged too soon.

In the freedom of your own familiar home environment where you'll probably move around more than if confined to a hospital bed, the body's lymphatic system will play a major role in speeding your recovery.

The lymphatic system could be loosely described as the "healing centre" of the body. But it needs MOVEMENT to activate it.

That won't happen if you're lying still in a hospital bed for a week being pumped full of medications which often leave a toxic residue, creating even more work for the lymph system.

Some people obviously need to remain in hospital so their condition can be closely monitored but, generally speaking, doctors want them discharged ASAP.

It's really not just a case of the amazing developments in medical and surgical techniques, like keyhole surgery, that now allow patients to recover much faster.

It is also recognition by the medical fraternity - finally - of what natural therapists have known and espoused for years; that the body is a very powerful and rapid self-healer when it's allowed to be.

One type of massage I perform is known as "manual lymphatic drainage" which stimulates the lymphatic system and therefore enhances the body's ability to heal itself.

It's a very specialised and exceptionally gentle massage and the results never cease to amaze me.

As a qualified massage therapist, I need a fairly comprehensive knowledge of the body's anatomy (structure) and physiology (how it works) to achieve the best outcomes for patients. Lymphatic massage simply utilises this knowledge in a practical, natural, pain and drug-free way.

Here's a very simplistic overview (as much as space will allow) in layman's terms of how the lymphatic system works.

The body has two integrated systems for circulating fluid - the cardiovascular (blood) system with a pump (the heart) working 24/7, and the lymphatic system, a vast network of vessels, lymph nodes and specialised organs that transport and filter the clear lymph fluid.

In the lymph nodes and organs, disease-fighting antibodies and specialised blood cells are created; various viruses, bacteria, infections, other foreign matter and cellular waste products are destroyed or filtered; and some cells are rejuvenated as lymph fluid moves around the body.

It's a continuous process. Lymph fluid leaks out of the blood vessels into other body spaces (between cells in organs and elsewhere) where it collects many of the "nasties." It then seeps back into the lymph vessels where its filtration and cleansing journey begins again before re-entering the bloodstream.

As well as helping provide immunity from disease and infection and speeding up healing and self-repair of damaged tissues, the lymph system also is a vital stage of the body's waste disposal processes.

Think of the lymph system as being like you collecting and sorting the garbage and kitchen scraps.

Some scraps will be destroyed immediately in the "muncher" in the sink - like "killer cells" in the lymph system obliterating bad bacteria and infections.

After the lymph processes, body functions like urinating, defecating, sweating, coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, sighing and yawning act like the garbage truck coming to collect and dispose of other waste you've put in the wheelie bin.

And some of your garbage will be recycled, like various cells being cleansed and rejuvenated by the lymph processes to flow around the body again.

But here's the VITAL PART. Unlike the cardiovascular system with the heart, the lymphatic system does NOT have a "pump."

It relies mainly on the slight pressure differentials created by skeletal muscles contracting and relaxing, and even the pumping action of the pressure on the soles of the feet when walking... in other words, MOVEMENT ... to push the lymph fluid around the body.

That's one reason why doctors want to get you up and moving as soon as possible - to get your lymphatic system "pumping" and cleansing the body - which it can't do effectively while you're just lying still in bed.

Dwell on that for a minute and think of the consequences if you regularly spend hours every week sitting down playing video games, surfing the internet, going to the movies, watching TV, or otherwise being a "couch potato" rather than being active.

The less movement, the more congested and toxic the lymphatic system becomes and the more susceptible people are to any viruses, diseases or infections doing the rounds.

When people take drugs and medications, particularly to fight off common ailments like colds, flu and asthma, their lymphatic system may have to work even harder to offset toxic residue and lymph congestion. In some cases, these medications just prolong the problem.

Sometimes the lymph system just can't cope without some outside help, like lymphatic drainage massage.

Next time you think you need to take a week off work just to get over a cold, try moving around and be a bit active at times rather than lying in bed all day. See how much better you soon feel and how much quicker you recover!

Rest is important, but don't overdo the lying still and go easy on the cough medications.

Try a full body lymphatic or Swedish massage by a qualified therapist to get the lymph and blood flowing and you may notice a significant difference even within a few hours.

The very sequential and directional movements with gentle lymphatic drainage massage are designed to manually channel lymph fluid towards the concentrations of lymph nodes and organs.

This filtering process helps to improve healing of lesions, eliminate or reduce swelling from excess fluid, lessen pain, regulate inflammation (which most people don't realise is also a part of the body's healing processes), cleanse toxins, decrease scarring, and restore movement - among many other benefits.

If you suffer from lymphedema, bronchitis, asthma and allergies affecting breathing, rheumatism, headaches, dermatoid disorders, constipation, chronic fatigue syndrome, have sports injury bruising or fractured areas, or just feel totally run down, lymphatic massage may benefit you.

The lymphatic system and manual lymphatic drainage massage are complex subjects and I've only just scratched the surface in this article.

Drugs and medications are, of course, an essential part of many medical and surgical treatments and procedures and patients should follow the advice of their doctor.

But you might also want to consult a natural therapist like a naturopath about natural alternatives to ongoing use of drugs and medications.

If you'd like to know more about how massage - lymphatic, relaxation or remedial - may help you recover from illness, injury or surgery, or will just help you feel good, call me (David Hall) on (07) 4774 6973 or 4774 8190 (business hours) or 0438 774 819.