Skin Brushing
Idea Man
interested in alternative treatment modalities. Some say light brushing of
the skin is supposed to stimulate the circulation of the blood and the lymph
system. The theory is that by stimlating those two systems, they will
function more optimally. For example it could increase the flow of lymph, so
that it doesn't stagnate, thus providing a stronger immune system for those
that are sick. Here's an interesting article culled from another group. If
you have a spouse/girlfriend it could be fun, if nothing else.....hehe
Reference book: "Natural healing" by Dr. Jack Soltanoff.
Skin Brushing To Improve Your Health
& Speed-Up Injury Recoveries
Dry & Wet
By Dr. Jack Soltanoff & Dr. D. Medsker
The next crucial prong of my three-pronged Biochemical Reprogramming
system are dry and/or wet brushing. Skin brushing paves the way to a
better quality of healing and health. It',s what makes natural
Biochemical Reprogramming different from any other program you might
have heard about or tried. Skin brushing is generally used over the
entire body to stimulate the body's normal regulatory healing
inflammatory response. Skin brushing can also be used every
effectively over areas, following injury, before and following the
body's cueing symptom of "Itching". Itching is the body's way of
telling you that it's time to start and activate its own natural
healing inflammatory response. This amazing healing mechanism is
incredible to watch and be a part of as it accelerated the body back
to health. For the body to achieve optimal health, most body systems
must be working on all eight cylinders. The skin provides the easiest
access to certain of these systems, most importantly the nervous and
the endocrine systems.
The key to a healthy immune system is the endocrine system. If the
endocrine system functions properly, you need never grow sick, never
grow "old." You see, the endocrine system, together with the central
nervous system, was designed to keep the body healthy and vigorous
to an advanced age. It is improper nutritional habits, sedentary
living, and the world's pollution that swells and toxifies the
glands. And the collection of these three causes, cause the glands to
become dis-eased. In fact, most illnesses are directly related to
malfunctioning glands. Dry brushing stimulates the glands, promoting
their return to proper function. In my opinion, it may well be the
emphasis on brushing that gives such extraordinary results with my
patients. When I get patients to dry and wet brush regularity they
feel as if they're on "Cloud-Nine". I tell them no matter what they
do (unless they are very sick indeed), even if they lapse in their
diet and exercise, if they keep on brushing they are going to get
results. In other words, if they do brushing alone, their health is
going to improve considerably. How is this possible? Because the skin
is one way of reaching the endocrine system very quickly. Let's
consider the skin.
The Skin Is a Vital Complex Organ
How many of us know much about the skin or take it into consideration
when we think about our health? Usually people think of skin in a
purely cosmetic sense. Skin is not supposed to get wrinkled or look
old. Skin looks good suntanned, though the dangers of too much sun on
skin are now generally recognized. It's something that holds us
together. If we didn't have it, we would leak.
In fact, the skin is an organ - the largest eliminative organ of the
body, so much so that it is sometimes called the third kidney. In the
course of a day the skin eliminates more than a pound of waste
products in the form of sweat. Hundreds of thousands of tiny sweat
glands all over the body throws out metabolic wastes, but if the skin
is inactive, stuffed into tight clothes, and swathed in synthetics,
it cannot do its job. The skin needs to breathe (it's also called the
third lung). It needs fresh air and stimulation. Very few of us get
to expose our bodies to fresh air on a routine basis. For optimum
health, your entire body should be exposed to fresh air for a minimum
of ten to fifteen minutes a day. Tight clothes prevent the skin from
breathing, and the use of synthetic fabrics drastically compounds the
problem. It's like walking around with your body coated with Saran
Wrap.
The skin is also an absorptive organ. It absorbs oxygen, vitamins,
minerals, and even protein. By the same token, this also means that
if you routinely apply toxic substances to your skin, they are going
to find their way into your internal organs. Antiperspirants, by the
way, amount to skin sabotage. They prevent your skin from exercising
its proper eliminative function. With proper diet, brushing, and
clothes made of 100 percent cotton next to your skin, you'll never
need antiperspirants again (More on skin sabotage when we talk about
cosmetics.). In more natural surroundings where people lived natural
lives tied to nature and natural processes, the skin probably would
take care of itself and perform its function. But in our highly
unnatural environment, the skin needs special attention.
As with other organs, if the skin seriously malfunctions, it will
bring down the whole system. Yet, it's amazing how, even among health
and fitness conscious people, the skin is taken for granted and left
to its own devices.
Good nutrition and exercise are absolutely essential for putting us
back on the road to health and keeping us there. But if our skin
isn't doing the job it was designed to do, we will not reap the ful
benefit of good nutrition and exercise. Dry brushing is 100%
pleasurable. A diet, any diet, involves a certain amount of
sacrifice, let,s face it. No matter how much good you know it's going
to do you, it's going to involve giving up some favorite sins. The
same goes for exercise. Working up a sweat means just what it says
working. But dry brushing the prescription for getting your skin back
in shape is fun. All my patients, without exception, love to brush.
And some of the most incorrigible exercise haters and junk food
junkies find time to brush on a daily basis.
What Dry & Wet Brushing Does? And Why It Does It
Dry and wet brushing are based upon the ancient Chinese concepts of
acupuncture and acupressure (concepts, incidentally, that have
recently been acknowledged as sound by Western medicine after decades
of derision and neglect). The Chinese recognize three million nerve
points spread over the surface of the skin, seven hundred of, which
are nodal. In plain language, when these nodal points are stimulated,
currents flow through channels called meridians and stimulate (or
suppress) the activity of specific organs to which they are
connected. For example, the tip of your big toe is connected to the
pituitary gland just below the brain. A point in the web between the
thumb and forefinger of the right hand connects to the liver.
Although medical researchers still do not exactly understand the
mechanisms at work in acupuncture and acupressure, it is now
generally acknowledged that they do work.
Dry brushing is systematically designed to take advantage of these
myriad connections. By applying friction to the acupuncture points,
your entire nervous system is stimulated and invigorated and the
beneficial effects are directly conveyed to every organ, gland,
muscle, and ligament in your body. Indirectly even the production of
red and white blood cells is affected.
The immediate result of a brushing session is a feeling of intense
physical well being. The quality and texture of your skin improve
instantly. The skin has a warm rosy glow, and you can feel your
circulation revving up. In my practice I get a lot of people in from
IBM and the local newspapers that must sit in front of computer
screens all day long. They come to me with their neck and shoulders
rigid, tied in knots. Brushing instantly releases stress and
tightness in neck and shoulders. Posture is improved, and any
muscular constrictions in those areas are released, thus increasing
the flow of blood from body to brain and back again. Brushing
relieves chronic tension headaches far more efficiently than do
painkillers. By stimulating the lungs (when the muscles relax, the
chest opens up, freeing the lungs to expand more) and increasing the
flow of oxygen to the brain, brushing leads to clearer thinking. It
also improves digestion, as you burn up a good portion of the food
you consume through the way you breathe. If your lungs and breathing
are restricted, an additional burden is placed on the heart, which
prevents it from functioning normally. The quality of your blood is
also upgraded through brushing. Brushing enhances both the quantity
and quality of the red blood cells, which in turn benefit your
overall circulation.
Beauty Benefits Through Brushing
In women, dry brushing done regularly and in conjunction with the
proper diet and moderate exercise will tone and tighten the skin and
will get rid of troublesome cellulite! In ninety-nine cases out of
one hundred, my women patients have reduced their accumulations of
cellulite in dramatic fashion, even though they came to me with
unrelated problems. Cellulite is toxic material stored in the body's
fat cells that does not get eliminated, as it should. Cellulite
builds up through a number of factors: pollution, stress, alcohol,
dairy products, coffee, and general adherence to SAD. Brushing in
combination with proper diet and exercise breaks down these fatty
deposits, which are gradually released and passed out as waste. (If
you're so desperate to get rid of cellulite that you contemplate
liposuction surgery, try brushing before you submit to this expensive
and potentially dangerous operation.) Because dry brushing also
stimulates hormone- and oil-producing glands, your skin will be rosy,
resilient, and youthful without recourse to dangerous and expensive
hormonal creams, oils, and cosmetics. The routine destruction of
millions of helpless animals by cosmetic firms should be enough to
make sensitive human beings stop using their products without further
inducement. Regular brushing makes their products not only immoral
but also unnecessary. I'm aware, of course, that there are a number
of small cosmetics firms with a conscience. These do not use animals
in their tests and employ only natural ingredients in their products,
and I do not mean to condemn them.
During the transition, if your skin is dry, a quick oil massage will
work wonders. As a moisturizer, use cold-pressed natural oil. Sesame,
avocado, almond or extra virgin olive oil works fine. Astonishingly,
for a permanently velvet-smooth skin, the best moisturizer is the
cheapest by far. There is absolutely nothing better for your skin
than plain 100 percent cocoa butter or coconut oil. The best skin
care in the world should not cost you more than five dollars a year.
Dry Skin Health and Beauty Dry Brushing Technique
What you need is a brush about the size of your hand with a
moderately soft natural vegetable fiber bristle. Nylon or synthetic
fibers are too sharp and may hurt the skin.
Skin sensitivity varies, of course, from person to person. Maybe you
can stand harder brushing than I can. Also, some parts of the body
are more sensitive than others: the inner thighs, abdomen, and chest
particularly. Brush gently at first. When your skin has become used
to brush therapy, you may, if you like, use a coarser (even
synthetic) bristle. Test for comfort by rubbing the bristles of the
brush over the back of your hand. The sensation should not be
unpleasant. Within a few days, your initially tender skin becomes
conditioned. Use the brush as directed on your body. The whole
process should take no more than nine minutes.
Every two weeks or so, wash your brush with soap and water and dry it
in the sun or in a warm place. Your brush will rapidly fill with
impurities and should be washed regularly. For hygienic reasons, each
member of the family should have a separate brush.
HOW TO BRUSH
Dry brushing is best taken nude in front of a mirror when you wake up
in the morning before you shower. Remember you and the brush must be
dry to create the correct friction. You'll soon find out it has the
shot-in-the-arm effect of caffeine and jogging. After a couple of
weeks brushing will be second nature. You'll brush your body as
automatically as you brush your teeth. In fact, it will be
unthinkable to start your day without brushing. Follow the
instructions exactly and in the proper sequence for best results.
Note. Do not brush if you have poison ivy, skin rashes, infections,
or other skin problems, or inflammatory circulatory problems such as
phlebitis. Always begin by brushing gently. Do not over brush to the
extent of irritating your skin.
Hands and Fingers
1. Holding your right hand with your fingers extended, brush each
finger back and forth 7 times.
2. Brush the entire surface of the palm side of the hand from the
wrist to the fingertips back and forth 7 times; then do the same for
the top of the hand.
3. With palm down, brush the web between the thumb and forefinger
back and forth 14 times.
4. With palm up, brush the web between the thumb and forefinger back
and forth 14 times.
5. Now do the left hand in exactly the same way.
Arms
6. Brush the entire surface of the right arm from the wrist to the
elbow UP towards the heart 7 times; gradually work around the entire
surface of the arm doing each area 7 times. Continue from the elbow
to the shoulder always UP towards the heart, again brushing each area
7 times. Repeat on left arm.
7. Brush the entire surface of the bottom of the right foot back and
forth 7 times. It'll tickle at first
8. A. Brush across the tops of the toes back and forth 7 times. Then
do the bottom of the toes.
B. Work upward from the toes, bringing the brush back and forth
across the top of the foot 7 times in each area up to the point at
which the ankle begins.
C. Brush around the ankles back and forth 7 times.
D. Brush from the ankle to the knee UP towards the heart 7 times,
gradually work around the entire surface of the leg. Don’t neglect
the knee area. Brushing will firm up saggy knee caps and free up
congested circulation in the back of the knee.
E. Stand and brush from the top of the knee to the hip, always UP
towards the heart, 7 times. Gradually work around the leg so that
every square inch of skin is brushed.
F. Now repeat the entire procedure for the left foot and leg.
NOTE: If you have a cellulite problem here or elsewhere, double or
treble the amount of brushing in those areas.
Neck/Base of Head
9. Lock brush at the base of head. The brush should remain in place.
With two hands on the brush, rock it 14 times up and down and 14
times side to side. (This helps stimulate the pituitary gland, your
master gland.)
10.
A. Hold the brush with your right hand, placing it under your ear on
your jaw on the right side of your head. Slide it GENTLY along the
jawbone, ending by pulling through under the chin. Do this 7 times.
B. Hold the brush in your right hand at the nape of neck, then slide
it GENTLY around to the right side and forward to the larynx. Do this
7 times. This helps activate the thyroid and parathyroid glands to
utilize calcium.
C. Hold the brush in your right hand at the dowager's hump on the
top of the spine and bring the brush GENTLY around to the right and
slide through the hollow of sternal notch on top of breast bone, just
below the Adam's Apple. (Women: Do not brush breasts.). Do this 7
times. This stimulates the thymus gland, and will help strengthen
your immune system. Holding the brush with your left hand, do the
left side of the head and neck in the same way.
Lymphatic System (Drainage or sewage system)
11. Hold the brush firmly in the left armpit with the right hand.
With the brush locked firmly in place, rotate it 7 times to the left
and 7 times to the right. Then do the right armpit, using your left
hand to hold the brush.
NOTE: Once you start No. 11, you stand and remain standing.
12. Hold the brush firmly in the right groin with both hands. With
the brush remaining in place, rotate it 7 times to the left and 7
times to the right. Then do the left groin.
Front and Sides of Body
13. Holding the brush in the right hand, brush the right side up and
down 14 times from the upper thigh all the way to under the arm.
Women should hold their breast clear with the left hand out of the
way of the brush. Then do the left side, using your left hand to hold
the brush.
14. Brush back and forth across and around the waistline 14 times
15. Brush in a circular motion at center between rib hollow (solar
plexis) 14 times to the left and 14 times to the right. Starting at
the top and working all the way down, finish up the front of the body
in any direction (7 times), but be sure to exclude the breasts (in
women) and face since this tissue is very sensitive.
Back
16. Holding the brush with two hands, brush up and down 14 times
along the spine starting at the coccyx (tailbone) and reaching as
high as you can.
17. Holding the brush with one hand, brush up and down 14 times along
the spine, starting at the base of neck or dowager's hump and
reaching down as far as you can. Finish the back in any direction.
18. Brush the buttocks in any direction covering the entire area 7
times. Give special attention to the buttocks and upper thighs. This
will help rid the body of cellulite. After brushing, take a shower to
wash away dead skin particles.
In a surprisingly short time, a few weeks at most, you will notice
that brushing contributes to healthier muscle tone, a better
distribution of fat deposits, and a feeling of vigorous well being.
The Clothing Connection
To maintain the benefits of dry skin brushing, be sure that your skin
only comes into contact with natural fibers that will allow it to
breathe. That means cotton underwear, cotton shirts, and especially
cotton socks. For natural drainage purposes, the pores on the bottom
of the feet are twelve to fourteen times larger than any other place
on the body. Synthetic socks block the process. Cotton is
comfortable, absorbent, entirely beneficial, and in many cases, as
cheap as or cheaper than clammy polyester. I must say I can never
understand how people can be so insensitive or fashion crazy that
they would wear this revolting stuff next to their bodies. Nylon ski
parkas, okay. But polyester blouses, no thanks! Your bed sheets
should also be cotton. The poly blends do not absorb the way cotton
does. In other words, the sweat stays on you. For the well-heeled and
luxury-loving, pure silk sheets and undergarments also do the job.
Health and Beauty Benefits of Dry Brushing
· Stimulates and increases blood circulation in all organs and
Tissues, especially capillaries near the skin. Especially valuable to
the over-fifties, who commonly experience cold hands and feet
resulting from clogged capillaries.
· Stimulates the eliminative capacity of the skin, helping it to rid
the system of toxins, placing less of a burden on the kidneys, lungs,
and colon.
· By stimulating nerve endings in the skin, rejuvenates the entire
nervous system.
· Drastically reduces cellulite deposits-notoriously unresponsive to
other forms of treatment.
· Tones and tightens skin.
· Improves your general overall health. Helps prevent premature aging
and increases resistance to colds.
· Improves clarity of thought. By stimulating the lungs and
increasing oxygen to the brain, brushing actually improves thinking.
· Often relieves chronic headaches without recourse to painkillers.
How the Connections Work
As I mentioned earlier, the dry brushing program stimulates the
endocrine and other systems. When you understand the technical formal
relationships between the three prongs of the program and your
various glands and organs, you'll be much more inclined to practice
the program because you'll see that it's rooted in science
rather than personal opinion.
The Endocrine System
The endocrine system is made up of glands. The glands secrete or
generate hormones that go directly into the blood. The distinction
between glands and organs is not generally understood. The organs
function directly, actively; for example, the heart pumps, the
kidneys filter, the liver stores, the lungs breathe, the stomach
digests. The endocrine glands, on the other hand, regulate. The
hormones are like traffic cops, instantly dispatched to various parts
of the system to control and direct innumerable bodily activities.
The manner in which tiny amounts of these specific substances target
in on their destination and performs their delicate and complex tasks
are one of the great mysteries and miracles of creation. The
endocrine system includes the pineal gland, pituitary gland, thyroid
and parathyroid glands, thymus, adrenals, pancreas and islets of
Langerhans, testes (male), and ovaries (female).
The Pineal Gland
The pineal gland is a tiny cone-shaped gland buried between the lobes
of the brain. Its precise function is not well understood, but it is
known to control or regulate the pituitary and adrenal glands. In
ancient esoteric and spiritual systems, the pineal gland played a
particularly important role: the seat of spiritual experience. In the
Hindu understanding, the pineal gland represents the "third eye."
Not enough is known about the pineal gland, however, to be specific
about what it does when functioning properly and what it does not do
when functioning improperly.
The Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland is situated behind the bridge of your nose and
beneath the floor of the brain. This tiny gland (the size of a pea)
is the master gland controlling the rest of the endocrine system.
Among its many functions is the control of those systems in the body
that determine such things as height and rate of body development. An
under active pituitary produces dwarfism and retarded mental and
sexual development in children. An overactive pituitary produces
giantism. In women dysfunction of the pituitary disrupts the
menstrual cycle. That's how the Pill works. It confuses the
pituitary, fooling it into sending the wrong signals. The steroids
that athletes take to produce extra muscle affect the pituitary. They
decrease the flow of the hormone that triggers male testosterone.
This in turn reduces the amount of sperm produced and also shrinks
the testicles. The pituitary is particularly sensitive to sugar. Too
much sugar disturbs the delicate balance of the pituitary, which in
turn sends improper signals to all the other glands under its
control. The result is a general rather than a specific malaise,
affecting your energy level, sense of well being, physical
appearance, and overall identity.
The Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands
The thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped organ in your throat, stores
iodine and regulates weight, energy, and endurance. The four
parathyroids (which are part of the thyroid) control the calcium and
phosphorus metabolism of the body. If the thyroid secretes too much
of the hormone thyroxine, the body's organs work at an accelerated
pace, and this results in a condition called hyperthyroidism. If too
little thyroxine is secreted, often due to a lack of iodine in the
diet, hypothyroidism (weight gain and loss of energy) is a result.
White refined sugar has an adverse effect on the thyroid gland. In
fact, it's my opinion that too much sugar is one of the causes of
osteoporosis today, since one of the important functions of the
parathyroid, and also of the adrenal glands, is to break down and
assimilate calcium. You can take large amounts of calcium and you
won't get much benefit from it without reducing your intake of sugar.=
If your thyroid gland is sluggish, you may experience physical and
mental sluggishness, problems losing weight, decreased body
temperature, puffiness in the hands and face, and (rarely) goiter, an
enlarged thyroid gland. When your thyroid is overactive, you may
experience extreme nervousness, weight loss and/or difficulty gaining
weight, rapid pulse, bulging eyes and eventually heart failure as the
body's systems overwork trying to handle all the accelerated organic
functions.
Both hyperactivity and under activity of the thyroid often stem from
a deficiency of iodine and zinc. In my experience, emotional stress
can have a powerful adverse effect on the thyroid. But both
conditions respond to biochemical reprogramming. On my diet program
you would concentrate on those foods rich in iodine and zinc.
especially in the mineral-rich products of the sea-dulse. Kelp, even
canned sardines. Six to ten shelled pumpkin seeds daily provide
enough zinc to maintain normal thyroid function.
An under active, parathyroid gland does not process calcium and
phosphorus efficiently, and mineral deposits build up in the
arteries, setting you up for a heart attack or stroke. The solution
is not increasing intake of calcium (either as dairy products or
calcium supplements), since the gland will not process it. The causes
of the disfunctioning parathyroid are complex: lack of exercise, lack
of sunshine (vitamin D), generally bad digestion, and emotional
tension. All of these problems must be addressed to get the
parathyroid working properly, plus a dietary emphasis on mineral-rich
sea-derived foods. There is no quick fix.
The overactive parathyroid burns calcium up before it can be absorbed
and even takes it away from the bones. This is osteoporosis, (brittle
bones, bone deformities, bone cavities, and spontaneous fractures may
occur). The overactive parathyroid responds to the same kind of
treatment as the underactive parathyroid.
The Thymus Gland
The thymus is a cylindrical-shaped gland at the upper part of the
breastbone, or sternum. The thymus masterminds the immune system.
Under its control are the spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, tonsils,
adenoids, appendix, and portions of the intestine. Until recently the
thymus was regarded as an evolutionary leftover useless,
unproductive, and possibly even a source of trouble. Times change,
however, and the thymus gland is now a hot item in medical research,
the possible key to many health problems ranging from allergies and
arthritis to cancer and aging. The thymus instructs certain white
blood cells, called T-cells, what to attack and when. These T-cells
in turn control other white blood cells that make antibodies. When
the thymus gland no longer works efficiently, bacteria, viruses, and
cancer cells are not attacked but are left free to attack the body
themselves.
The Thymus Thumper
The thymus is the mastermind of the immune system, which today is
under attack on all fronts. The thymus thumper should be integrated
into your exercise routine, right after skin brushing in the morning
and whenever you can fit it in later in the day.
Make a fist. With the flat of your fist, give yourself a firm double
thump on the top of the chest, about an inch below the hollow of the
throat. Don't hit so hard that it hurts. Repeat 30 times to the
rhythm of a heartbeat.
The Adrenal Glands
Two little cap-shaped glands on top of each kidney are the crucial
adrenals. They secrete a substance called adrenaline, which
determines your level of energy and endurance. The adrenals also
regulate blood pressure; salt, protein, carbohydrate, mineral, and
pigment metabolism and, with the parathyroids. calcium metabolism.
The adrenal glands are extremely sensitive to sugar. Foods such as
chocolate, cola, and coffee have an adverse effect on these sensitive
glands. Why? The caffeine and the obromine over stimulate and
gradually weaken the adrenals, ending in malfunction. The adrenals
manufacture cortisone, which regulates calcium metabolism the way you
assimilate and absorb calcium.
The painful joints of arthritics are often the result of massive
deposits of calcium. Recognizing the role of cortisone in calcium
assimilation, the medical profession often prescribes an animal
derived course of cortisone. Though this relieves the pain
temporarily, the long-term effects are often catastrophic. The secret
is not to have calcium build up in the first place, but if it occurs,
to treat it nutritionally, gradually decreasing dependency on
painkillers and palliatives.
What happens when your adrenals are underactive or overactive?
Underactive adrenal glands tend to produce low blood pressure,
particularly in women. They also are now generally acknowledged as a
prime factor in skin, respiratory (asthma), and digestive allergies.
If not too far deteriorated, the adrenals respond swiftly to proper
nutrition. Overactive adrenals tend to produce high blood pressure,
more so in men. Doctors often prescribe a diuretic, but this
overworks the delicate kidneys, eventually ending up in dysfunction.
Moreover, the patient becomes totally dependent upon the drug, which
as in so many instances addresses only the symptom, not the cause.
Proper nutrition brings the adrenals swiftly back into line.
The Pancreas and Islets of Langerhans
The pancreas is about six inches long, weighs about three ounces, and
is located in front of the spine, below the stomach. The pancreas
produces enzymes that digest food and convert it into assimilable
nutrients. The islets of Langerhans (which are part of the pancreas)
produce insulin, which controls the balance of sugar in the body.
What happens when the pancreas and islets of Langerhans work
improperly? When the pancreas cannot do its job, food is not properly
digested and, in effect, you suffer from malnutrition no matter how
much food you're eating. Like most of the other glands, the pancreas
is extremely sensitive to sugars and over-rich and over-refined foods
of all sorts. A diseased pancreas and sluggish liver amount to a kind
of malnutrition of the over-privileged. Given half a chance and
depending upon age, the pancreas responds swiftly to good treatment.
If the pancreas produces too much insulin, the result is low blood
sugar, or hypoglycemia. The insulin is burning the glucose out of the
blood, not leaving enough in the blood for metabolic purposes. How
would you know? You may experience dizziness, nausea, anxiety, a
feeling of faintness, and in extreme cases, convulsions and coma.
Since glucose is the primary food for the brain, as well as for all
the other cells in the body, the nervous systems are particularly
vulnerable once hypoglycemia sets in.
If the pancreas secretes too little insulin, the body cannot process
carbohydrates into a usable form, resulting in diabetes. Symptoms are
insatiable thirst, fatigue, weakness, and emaciation. If diabetic
patients have not been taking large insulin doses over a long period
of time, they will respond to nutrition therapy; otherwise, the
damage is largely irreversible.
The Ovaries and the Testes
The ovaries and the testes are the reproductive glands. The ovaries
produce the seed (ovum) in women; the testes produce the sperm cells
in men. The male hormone testosterone is responsible for the male sex-
drive, and the continued efficient production of testosterone is
effectively the male fountain of youth. In women, the reproductive
glands not only control the physical reproductive system but also are
intimately connected to emotional and psychological states. As with
all other glands, the ovaries and testes are highly sensitive and
react adversely to improper diet: In men the sperm count can drop
dramatically. and in both sexes the sex drive is seriously slowed
down.
A diet rich in vitamin E, best attained from whole grains, especially
millet and brown rice, and also avocados, often gradually regenerates
the reproductive system.
The Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is sometimes called the sewage system of the
body. Its principal role is the removal of waste in the form of
undigested protein and dead tissue. The lymphatic system consists of
a complex network of vessels that follow the vascular system, rather
in the way that sewers and drainage ditches run along streets and
highways. Through these vessels flows the lymph, a colorless,
odorless liquid similar in composition to seawater. The lymphatic
system is also a major food transporter, receiving nutrients from the
blood and carrying them to areas the blood does not reach directly.
The lymphatic system is home to the white blood cells and, therefore,
instrumental in all bodily functions related to immunity and defense
against disease or infection.
What happens when the lymphatic system doesn't drain properly? When
the body is overloaded with waste, the system reacts like an
overflowing sewer. The waste material cannot pass through the lymph
nodes, which may be thought of as the connections or joints of the
lymphatic system. The nodes become overloaded with toxins and form
soft painful swellings, usually at the armpits, ankles, groin, and
throat. Skin brushing along with diet is a very effective way of
regenerating an ailing lymphatic system. Brushing breaks the viscous
material into more fluid form, allowing the lymphatic system to
process it, as it should. This is one of the chief ways in which
brushing defeats cellulite.
Directly or indirectly, brushing connects all the body's systems.
Since each organ and the glandular system have anywhere from six to
eight acupuncture points scattered over your body, you are certain to
activate them when brushing even if you should accidentally miss a
meridian or nerve connection. Many of my patients remark that
brushing feels almost like having a chiropractic adjustment. This is
no surprise, given all those connections. By stimulating all the
body's systems and helping them work together, brushing leads
directly to better health and helps prepare the way to the next
important prong in my program: exercise.
Copyright 1999 Dr. Medsker Racing College For more information,
feel free to contact us at dlme...@aol.com
.....................
Note: The poster makes no claims or recommendations as to the effects of
anything contained in the above article, which is posted for
informational purposes only.
Oldbie
>I thought this to be a bit odd, but thought I would post it for those of you
>interested in alternative treatment modalities. Some say light brushing of
>the skin is supposed to stimulate the circulation of the blood and the lymph
>system. The theory is that by stimlating those two systems, they will
>function more optimally. For example it could increase the flow of lymph, so
>that it doesn't stagnate, thus providing a stronger immune system for those
>that are sick. Here's an interesting article culled from another group. If
>you have a spouse/girlfriend it could be fun, if nothing else.....hehe
I've always reached for the hair brush when I have a headache. The brushing relaxes tense muscles,
and the increased blood flow around the scalp helps the headache go away. I never take aspirin or
any other pills for this, just the brush and maybe a little neck massage.
Idea Man
"Oldbie" wrote..
> I've always reached for the hair brush when I have a headache. The
brushing relaxes tense muscles,
> and the increased blood flow around the scalp helps the headache go away.
I never take aspirin or
> any other pills for this, just the brush and maybe a little neck massage.
Kewl!
So it helps your headaches, huh? It does? That's great! What's that? Yes! I
do get headaches when the pain flares up. I'm actually thinking about giving
this brushing a try. It couldn't hurt. I'll just do it while watching
television. Pardon me? Oh.....hehe....you can say that again! This pelvic
crap is a pain is the arse, ( chuckle ). Could you speak up a bit please?
Oh....uh-huh....they say brushing the neck, face and jaw may stimulate the
pituitary and thyroid gland as well as improve blood flow and that's why it
helps. Well, I can't really say if that happens, but if you say brushing
relaxes tense muscles when you have a headache, I'll take your word for it.
Thanks for the tip! Ok...well, I gotta run. I'm late for an appointment.
Thanks for the chat. Alright....byeeeeee....oh....huh? Your thinking about
purchasing another brush because the one you have is a bit worn away and
tattered along the edges? I see....hmm....check out Walmart. They might have
some cheap ones. Alright then...have a great day! Byee....er....you say
what? Yes....yes....they do have great deals. Well, talk later, OK? You say
you have another question before I leave? Alright, but please make it quick!
Sorry. I don't know if the line-ups at Walmart are really long? I think it
depends on what day it is I suppose, but I really do have to get going.
**sigh** Nice speaking with you. What? No! I'm not going to go buy a brush
right now at Walmart! I'm late!? If I can ever get out of this conversation
I have an appointment to go to! No! No! No!@!! I have no idea if Walmart is
closed on Sundays in my area, and I don't know their toll-free number!!!!!!
I can't believe this.......somebody get this guy the phone number to
Walmart!!!! Ahhhhhh.........TAXI!!! TAXI!!!