YOUR BODY’S ABILITY TO EFFICIENTLY DETOXIFY IS VITAL FOR MAINTAINING A HEALTHY INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT. WITHOUT IT, YOU CAN WIND UP ACCUMULATING HEAVY METALS, AND DEVELOPING HORMONE IMBALANCES AND UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT GAIN.

THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM is part of your immune system, and it includes a network of organs, lymph vessels and lymph nodes which make and move fluid throughout the body. It’s responsible for making and circulating white blood cells to fight off infection, and it also helps to filter out waste material. It’s essentially a super highway for waste to travel from the cells to your detox organs, like the liver and kidneys.

Lymph fluid travels through the lymph vessels to the lymph nodes, which filter the fluid and remove foreign material, like bacteria and cancer cells. When the nodes detect bacteria, they produce white blood cells to help fight off the invaders. This white blood cell production can cause the lymph nodes to swell and you may then be able to feel them in the neck, armpit, or groin. There are also main lymph nodes in the center of the chest and abdomen, but these are deep enough in the body that you won’t be able to feel them.

The lymphatic system circulates lymph fluid similarly to how your circulatory system circulates blood, but with one major difference; while blood is pumped through the body via the heart, lymph fluid has no way of moving on its own. The movement of lymph fluid relies on gravity and the movement of your body. This is one reason regular movement is so vital for overall health. If your body is sedentary, your lymph fluid is stagnant and waste material can’t effectively be shuttled out of the body. Some of the most effective movements for encouraging lymph flow include bouncing, like jump roping or bounding on a trampoline. Walking and even stretching and twisting are also effective. Deep breathing that fully expands and contracts the diaphragm massages the organs and encourages lymph movement deep within the body, as well.

Even with regular physical movement, lymph flow can become blocked within the vessels. If the fluid can’t make it to the nodes and eventually to the detox organs, it backs up. It’s like a traffic jam on your internal highway. Lymph vessels lie just below the skin’s surface, so this can be seen and felt as fluid retention, or swelling. I frequently have clients asking me how they can lose the excess lower abdominal fat that’s accumulated in their 40’s and 50’s, but often, this is actually not excess fat, but fluid under the skin. The intestines are a very common site of inflammation because of microbiome imbalances, leaky gut, food sensitivities, and hidden gut infections, which are all very prevalent today. This leads to immune activation and inflammation in this area and if the lymphatic system isn’t able to continually clear the waste here, it will accumulate under the skin. Eventually, the bumpy appearance of cellulite can appear on the abdomen, hips, and thighs as well, due to the build up of fluid. This back up in the system interferes with immune system function and traps inflammation in the tissue.

If you’re exercising daily but you’re still noticing swelling or fluid retention in any area of your body, or the appearance of cellulite, there are some other practices that can help encourage better lymph movement. Manual lymphatic drainage massage done by a massage therapist trained specifically in lymph drainage can be really helpful. This is a very light touch massage in which the therapist manually pushes the lymph fluid toward the lymph nodes. Remember that the lymph vessels sit directly below the skin, above the muscles, so it requires a very light touch.

There are also several ways you can manually encourage lymph movement yourself. Dry brushing, gua sha, and cupping techniques are options you can try at home. With dry brushing, a stiff bristled brush is used to gently “sweep” the skin from the outer extremities toward the heart in short movements. It’s usually recommended to do this right before you bathe or shower because it also exfoliates dead skin cells. Fiesta Nutrition Center carries both large dry brushes for your body and smaller ones designed for your face.

Gua sha is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and it loosely translates to “scraping, rubbing or pushing.” It involves the use of a smooth, flat stone, usually made from jade or rose quartz, to gently push fluid from puffy areas toward the lymph nodes. Again, very light pressure is used to target the lymph vessels, as opposed to firm pressure used to target muscles. Gua sha is often effectively used to decrease puffiness in the face and jaw, which also provides a more youthful appearance.

Lastly, cupping is another technique you can do at home. The cups used for lymph movement are much softer and gentler than what you may have seen or experienced in a physical therapy office. Unlike cupping that targets the muscles and can leave bruises, cupping massage for lymph drainage uses soft silicone cups that gently suction to and can slide across oiled skin to pull fluid toward the lymph nodes. Cups are inexpensive and available in a variety of sizes to cover different areas of the body, from large cups to cover the hips and thighs, to tiny ones that can be used on the face. I purchased a silicone cupping therapy set that included 7 various sizes for about $15 on Amazon.

Before starting your own lymph drainage massage at home, find a lymphatic drainage map to refer to. These are easily found online, and they illustrate the direction of lymphatic flow in every area of your body. It’s important to work in the direction of this flow, rather than against it. You can also find an abundance of online tutorials to guide you. Some of my favorite lymph educators to follow on social media are Wildling Beauty for gua sha techniques, and Lymph Love Club for manual self drainage massage. When in doubt, search for a certified manual lymph drainage massage therapist and leave it to the professionals! But don’t forget to move your body daily to encourage that flow.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA Monroe Homecoming Week Activities committee, Alumni Association, Athletics, dedicated student organizations and the community come together every year to put on one of the biggest celebrations on campus: Homecoming! ULM has celebrated homecoming since 1931, starting from a small informal reception to tailgating, campus decorations and family-friendly events typically hosted today.

From ULM Alumni Association’s 31 Ambassadors annual Hawktoberfest to the traditional tailgate and football game, join the Warhawks and come home to ULM for a weekend of fun activities for the whole family. We can’t wait to see you! Check out alumni. ulm.edu for more details.

Homecoming Parade | Time: 6:00 pm Location: Brown Stadium Route: Begin & End at Brown Stadium

Retirees Luncheon | Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Location: The Terrace, ULM Library 7th Floor Join us to honor all ULM Retirees! Hosted by the ULM Foundation.

Hawktoberfest - Hosted by the 31 Ambassadors Time: 6:00 - 9:00 pm | Location: Laird Weems Center

Hawktoberfest is an opportunity for ULM students, faculty and staff, alumni, and community members to come together to enjoy an evening of food, beer, and live music along Bayou DeSiard. Join the Alumni Association and the 31 Ambassadors for a fun evening while enjoying different types of craft beer in a commemorative souvenir Hawktoberfest beer stein.

University Mile | Time: 5:30 pm Location: Activity Center

Please join us for our 38th annual University Mile 2022 on October 5th at 5:30 pm! Sponsored by ULM Intramurals! Participation is $20 and includes a shirt while supplies last. For additional info, please contact Robert Reed at reed@ulm.edu.

Downtown Pep Rally & Marketplace Time: 5:30pm - 7:00pm | Location: Downtown Monroe

Put on your maroon and gold, and make your way downtown! The football team, Head Coach Terry Bowden and the ULM spirit groups are sure to get you excited.

Greek Alumni Happy Hour & Greek Step Show Happy Hour | Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm Location: Laird Weems Center

Step Show | Time: 9:00 pm Location: Fant-Ewing Coliseum

Homecoming Day! Good Morning Gala Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Location: Bayou Pointe Event Center

Join us for the Good Morning Gala: A Homecoming Celebration. Celebrate the day with a DJ, photo booth, brunch, grits bar, and a bloody mary and mimosa bar! We will honor our recipients of the Golden Arrow Award and the Rising Young Alumni Awards, introduce the 2022 Homecoming Court, and recognize all other alumni returning back to the bayou.

Alumni Tailgating Time: 3:00 - 6:00 pm | Location: Pecan Grove Tailgating is FREE for all Alumni Association members! Guests only $10. Jump house, kids zone, all you can eat and drink.

Homecoming Game Kickoff: 7:00 pm | ULM vs Coastal Carolina

Presented by the Northeast Louisiana Art Council

already has a decade of performing under his belt! A 22-year-old Simsboro native, this local singer songwriter brings us a taste of old and new country, blues, rock, and even a few of his own originals to keep it fresh and uniquely his own. Zach has opened for class act artists such as Doug Stone, and Daryl Singletary – stop by for a treat today as the Series starts into the home stretch!

COME ENJOY REFRESHING BREEZES while you soak up the sunshine and song in the park! Join us every Wednesday in October for the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council’s noontime outdoor Brown Bag Concerts Series. Come on down to the lush green Palace Park at 220 DeSiard Street (beside the old Palace Dept. Store location), our venue for the Fall Brown Bag Series (public parking at 4th and DeSiard). In case of rain, we’ll move indoors to the old Palace Dept. store, next door to the park.

Bring a picnic lunch or just grab a $5 sack lunch on site from Newk’s Eatery including their famous tea. Mulhearn’s will again provide free cookies to make the concerts extra sweet! Water and lemonade will also be available. Picnic blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged! Performances are FREE, thanks to our sponsors Mulhearn’s, Newk’s Eatery, The Palace, Paramount Healthcare Consultants, Jim Taylor Buick GMC, and the City of Monroe. Here’s who’s on stage:

Kick off the Series with two of the best! Lisa Spann is known for her powerhouse voice and engaging stage presence. Today she’s joined by Josh Love, an award-winning bluesman who covers R&B, rock and more. Together, the duo promises a showcase of their talents blended to make an effortlessly cool hour of magic. Come enjoy the fresh air, fall breezes, and cool tunes as we kick off the Series.

Northeast Louisiana native Clara McBroom is a fresh face and voice to grace our Series today! This 20-year-old is already making a name for herself in the local music scene with her indie folk and country-centered shows. Come listen for yourself and see why she’s already in demand on stage and at events far and wide as we keep the Series rolling in the park!

New to the Series, young talent Zach O’Neil

A true child of the Delta with roots from Texas to Mississippi, Brian Sivils is all about the Blues. He cut his teeth musically singing in family gospel groups then studied music in school and on the road as a lead singer and backstage production guru. A veteran of the Red River Revel, Delta Fest, New Orleans PoBoy Preservation Festival, Catfish Festival, the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival in Helena, Arkansas, come enjoy this popular blues performer, and raconteur, a Road Trips’ Entertainer of the Year (2009), as he rounds out the Series and launches us into the fun times and even faster pace of Fall.

For more information or to confirm the show will go on in case of rain, call the Arts Council office at 397.6717 or 397.6754. Visit the Arts Council online at www.nelaarts.com, find us on Facebook or Instagram @region8arts!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING IS UPON US and there’s no better place to experience the best in Northeast Louisiana boutiques, specialty shops, antiques and eateries than Antique Alley in West Monroe. Our vast selection of shops allows you to find items from past and present, from Europe to America, children’s clothing to wedding dresses, ladies and mens apparel, housewares to gourmet spices, and handmade crafts to custom jewelry. Stroll down Antique Alley and you’ll be ready to spend the day shopping, dining, exploring or walking through history. And, if you’re looking to make a great staycation out of it, we have a bed and breakfast right here on the Alley. With the holidays at our doorstep, it’s time to mark your calendars for all our upcoming events:

Annual Holiday Open House on The Alley

Enjoy refreshments from local retailers while you shop for this season’s best gift. Stores open 1:00-5:00

Annual Champagne Stroll on The Alley

Enjoy and evening of shopping and sips of champagne while strolling the Christmas lights. Shop store specials and kick off the holiday season.

Shop Small Saturday

Support local businesses by shopping small. Shops will stay open late. See the calendar for more detailed information as the date approaches.

Christmas on the River Festival Day Sponsored by Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group

Kick off the morning with the Christmas on the River 5k. Enjoy the holiday market, local shopping on Antique Alley, food trucks and live music. Finish your evening with fireworks on the river.

Christmas on the River

Bring the family to stroll the Christmas light displays, enjoy wagon rides and more. Shops open late Friday and Saturday evenings. Visit ChristmasOnTheRiver.org for more information.

The merchants at Antique Alley are ready to assist shoppers with all their holiday needs. Stay tuned to the Facebook pages for updated information about events and specials going on throughout the months of November and December. Antique Alley is Northeast Louisiana’s premier outdoor shopping destination. Visit antiquealleyshops.org or facebook.com/antiquealley-westmonroe/ events for updated information on holiday events.

THIS IS A COMMON QUESTION FOR patients using Latisse to get those spooky long lashes that make others jealous. Long lashes feel glamorous and open the eye to give us the rested youthful appearance we all desire.

There are so many options on the market for those wishing to have longer, darker lashes. How do we know what is best for us? When in doubt, we ask Claire, the aesthetics nurse at The Woman’s Clinic.

A: It is Bimatoprost ophthalmic solution that is only available through your medical provider. It is an FDA-approved treatment to grow eyelashes for people with inadequate or not enough lashes.

A: Yes. Over time, lash extensions can cause some to lose their lashes. It may be from pulling or irritation from the glue that is used. Some patients use Latisse alone, or in addition to lash lift and tint or lash extensions to keep their lashes from becoming sparse.

A: Absolutely! As opposed to procedures that require maintenance every 2 weeks, Latisse is a product you brush on the top lid of your eye each evening at home. It is quick and easy to apply. The brushes come with the vial.

A: Because this is a prescription product, a consultation is required to determine if Latisse is right for you. We welcome new patients, and we do not charge for aesthetic consultations.

A: Clinical studies show that 78% of participants experience a significant increase in overall length, fullness, and darkness at week 16 of use.

A: A 5ml vial costs $175 at The Woman’s Clinic. This should last 4-6 months. Some patients use it every other day as maintenance once they’ve achieved the length and fullness desired.

A: Call Claire at (318) 388-4030 option 3 or message her through our website or patient portal.

For the month of October, patients who purchase Latisse will get 25% off any ZO Skin Health Eye product.