Can Essential Oils Support Lymphatic Drainage After Explant Surgery?
(Based on a recent interview with Jodi Cohen, founder of Vibrant Blue Oils and bestselling author of Essential Oils to Boost the Brain and Heal the Body, discussing lymphatic support and recovery - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxWOKYzMQ-o)
Recovery from explant surgery is not just about the procedure itself. What a patient does in the weeks before and after surgery, from supporting lymphatic flow to keeping the nervous system calm, plays a real role in how the body handles the process. In a recent conversation with functional practitioner Jodi Cohen, we walked through several of these supporting pieces, including where essential oils and lymphatic drainage support fit into a broader recovery plan.
Why Lymphatic Flow Matters After Explant Surgery
The lymphatic system is responsible for clearing fluid and cellular waste from tissue throughout the body. After any surgery, including explant procedures, this system has more work to do than usual. Cohen described a helpful way to think about this: picture a road with too many cars on it. When there are too many cars, traffic backs up. When lymphatic flow slows down in a similar way, fluid can build up in surrounding tissue rather than draining normally.
One detail that surprises many patients is that all lymphatic fluid eventually passes through the clavicles at some point. That makes the neck and clavicle area a meaningful focus for lymphatic support, whether through gentle manual massage or a topical product formulated to support glide and movement in that area.
Where Essential Oils Fit Into Lymphatic Support
According to Cohen, many lymphatic drainage practitioners already use essential oils in their work, in part because oils support glide during manual massage and in part because certain plant-derived oils may help support healthy circulation in the area where they are applied. She compared the effect to the difference between biking with the wind at your back versus riding uphill into the wind: the oil does not do the work for you, but it may make the process feel easier.
This is one reason our pre- and post-surgery essentials collection (https://www.drrobssolutions.com/products/pre-post-surgery-essentials) includes options built around lymphatic and recovery support, so patients have accessible tools to use both before and after their procedure.
Preparing Before Surgery, Not Just Recovering After
One theme that stood out in this conversation was the value of preparing the lymphatic system before surgery rather than waiting until after. Cohen used the analogy of training for a marathon. A patient who spends time supporting lymphatic flow and nervous system regulation before their procedure may respond differently to the added fluid and inflammation that come with surgery than a patient encountering that process for the first time, unprepared.
This preparation window is also a good time to look at broader markers of inflammation and immune balance. Our inflammation test (https://www.drrobssolutions.com/products/inflammation-test) gives patients and their care team a clearer picture of where things stand before surgery, which can help inform a more personalized preparation plan.
The Role of the Nervous System in Recovery
Lymphatic flow does not happen in isolation. Cohen explained that the lymphatic system has no pump of its own and relies partly on movement and breathing to keep fluid circulating. A nervous system that is stuck in a stressed, sympathetic state, which is common before and after surgery, may not support this process as well as a nervous system that has shifted into a calmer, parasympathetic state.
One accessible tool she described is using scent to help signal safety to the brain. Because smell has a fast, direct pathway to brain regions involved in safety perception, a calming scent, including certain essential oils applied topically, may support this shift. She also shared a specific technique: gently plugging the right nostril and breathing a scent in through the left nostril, which is thought to help balance activity between the two sides of the brain and ease anxiety in the moment. This costs nothing beyond a few seconds of attention and can be practiced with a favorite oil, a piece of citrus peel, or even a cup of coffee.
Protein, Hydration, and Swelling After Surgery
A detail that often gets overlooked in recovery planning is the connection between protein intake and swelling. After surgery, the brain's thirst center activates, which naturally increases the drive to drink fluids. Without enough protein in the bloodstream, however, that extra fluid does not necessarily help. It can instead leak into surrounding tissue, making a patient feel more swollen rather than less.
This is governed by a principle called oncotic pressure. When protein levels in the blood are adequate, the body can draw fluid back into circulation, where it is filtered and released through normal channels. When protein levels are too low, fluid tends to pool in tissue instead. This is why we recommend patients add a protein or amino acid source to the fluids they drink during recovery, rather than relying on water alone. Our inflammation support bundle (https://drrobssolutions.com/products/inflammation-support-bundle) includes options that support this part of the recovery process alongside broader inflammation management.
Skin Sensitivity and Product Selection
For patients with heightened sensitivities, including those managing mast cell activation, histamine reactivity, or neuropathic symptoms, product choice matters. Cohen recommended applying any new topical product to the bottom of the feet first, since the skin there is thicker and contains a wide network of reflex points, making an adverse reaction there less likely than on more sensitive skin elsewhere on the body.
What Happens in the Body in the Days After Surgery
Surgery itself triggers a measurable rise in cortisol, which can contribute to fluid retention on top of the normal inflammatory response to the procedure. This is part of why post-operative protocols matter so much. At our Austin practice, patients typically begin lymphatic massage the day after surgery, paired with additional recovery-focused tools like hyperbaric treatment, red light therapy, and technology designed to support parasympathetic activity. The goal across all of these tools is the same: help the body settle into a calmer, more regulated state as quickly as it safely can, since many patients are also managing the added stress of travel on top of the procedure itself.
Gut Health, Diet, and Protein Sources During Recovery
Diet plays a supporting role throughout this process as well. Cohen's general recommendations, avoiding gluten, dairy, and seed oils, are common among practitioners working with inflammation-sensitive patients, though she was clear that the specific protein source matters less than getting enough of it. Animal protein, fish, eggs, or a vegan protein source can all work, as long as intake is consistent and adequate. Patients following a vegan pattern of eating in particular may need to be more intentional about hitting their protein targets, since plant-based protein sources are often less concentrated than animal-based ones.
A Note on Post-Pandemic Recovery Patterns
Cohen also mentioned a pattern she has observed in patients since the pandemic: more reports of long-COVID-type symptoms, more reactivity, and in some cases, underlying methylation or genetic detoxification differences that may make inflammation and recovery more variable from patient to patient. This is an area of ongoing research rather than a settled finding, but it reinforces why a personalized, whole-body approach to preparation and recovery, rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol, tends to serve patients better.
Everyday Habits That Support the Process
Several of the most useful tools from this conversation cost nothing at all. Walking is one of the gentlest ways to support lymphatic movement, since it does not raise cortisol the way more intense exercise can. Simple breathing practices, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth, support the same nervous system shift discussed earlier. Even time spent outdoors, when weather allows, can be part of a supportive recovery routine.
Cohen also pointed out that the nervous system benefit of scent is not limited to specialty products. A garden herb, a piece of citrus peel, or a cup of coffee can produce a similar grounding effect when a patient needs a quick reset. The larger idea is that recovery support does not have to be complicated or expensive to be useful. Small, consistent habits, practiced in the weeks before surgery and continued afterward, tend to add up more than any single product or protocol on its own.
How the SHARP Framework Applies to This Discussion
The SHARP method, Strategic Holistic Accelerated Recovery Program, is built around the idea that meaningful recovery starts well before the day of surgery and continues well beyond it. This conversation reflects several SHARP pillars directly: preparing the body's lymphatic and nervous system function ahead of surgery, supporting immune balance and reducing inflammatory load, paying attention to gut health and protein intake, and using accessible daily habits, like walking and breathing techniques, to support accelerated recovery.
To see how these pieces fit together as a complete framework, visit our SHARP page at https://drrobertwhitfield.com/sharp.
Buy Dr. Robert Whitfield's book about SHARP:
https://drrobssolutions.com/products/sharp-by-dr-robert-whitfield
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does lymphatic drainage matter so much after explant surgery?
The lymphatic system clears fluid and cellular waste from tissue. Supporting its flow after surgery may help address swelling and congestion that can otherwise build up, particularly around the chest and clavicle area.
Can I start supporting my lymphatic system before surgery?
Many patients begin supporting lymphatic flow and nervous system regulation in the weeks before their procedure. This kind of preparation is one part of a broader recovery plan and should be discussed with your care team.
Why would drinking more water make swelling worse?
Without enough protein in the bloodstream, extra fluid can leak into surrounding tissue instead of staying in circulation. Adding a protein or amino acid source to fluids during recovery is one way to help address this.
Are essential oils safe to use if I have skin sensitivities?
Testing any new topical product on the bottom of the feet first is one approach some practitioners recommend, since the skin there is thicker and less prone to reaction. Patients with known sensitivities should check with their care team before trying a new product.
Is walking a safe activity during recovery?
Walking is generally considered one of the gentlest activities available during recovery, since it supports lymphatic movement without significantly raising cortisol. Always follow your surgeon's specific activity guidance.
Does diet really make a difference in how I recover from explant surgery?
Diet is one part of a broader recovery picture. Many practitioners working with inflammation-sensitive patients recommend limiting gluten, dairy, and seed oils while prioritizing consistent, adequate protein intake, since protein plays a direct role in fluid balance and tissue repair during recovery.
Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen, supplements, or treatment plan. Results discussed are not guaranteed and individual outcomes will vary.
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