Re: Rebounding: A superior exercise for the lymph system

Hi Poisidon,

Yes. The lymphatic system looks just like your cardiovascular system, only without a heart to pump it. And it is three times the size of your cardio system. Three times the fluid as in the blood stream. And in the lymph vessesl there are little check valves that keep the lymphatic fluid from draining down into your feet and hands. And when you bounce, those check valves open and the rebound pushes the fluid up through the valves.

That is why rebounding (with the acompanying deep breathing) moves lymph from feet upward, whereas shallow breathing lethargic walking or standing makes edema worse. The fluid keeps coming out of the blood stream, but doesn't get moved up the system, and so more and more fluid collects. Rebounding opens those check valves, which open upwards and close with down pressure, and the fluid is able to slowly move up through the locks. Kind of like the panama canal, only vertical.

Learning about the lymphatic system can be challenging. It has been awhile since I did some on line searches for info, but when I did the info was pretty limited. A medical textbook Anatomy and Physiology by Arthur C Guyton (it is older) is excellent.

If you can get a copy of Scientific American June 1963 there is a great article by a lymphatic pioneer, HS Meyerson, entitled The Lymphatic System

The bottom line is that every toxins and dead cell and debris in the body that leaves the body has to leave through the lymphatic system. It moves to the lymph nodes where it is dealt with by various kinds of immune cells and by the time it reaches the blood stream it is clean water again.

If the lymphatic system shut down you would die withing 24 hrs. A sluggish lymphatic system won't kill you in 24 hrs, but it will keep you from optimum health.

The reason they give you iv fluids when you are in shock is because your cappilaries become so porous that you lose blood fluid into the tissues and lymphatic system so fast that your cardio vascular system can collapse from lack of fluid. So until you stabilize and your cappilaries reduce porosity they keep pumping fluid into your veins.

I am thinking about starting a yahoo groups just on the lymphatic system. It is so important and if you know how to work the system you can experience speed healing where burns stop in hours and broken bones set them selves and heal in hours instead of weeks. Really remarkable stuff.

Blessings
Donna

http://www.excellentthings.com

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