The Importance of Gravity to our Health and Wellbeing, and its Relation to Rest

[Guest guest]

This was posted by a member of the Electroherbalism group and is

included in the eRegimens " Inclined Bed Therapy "

(

http://www.eregimens.com/therapies/MiscTherapies/Inclined%20bed%20therapy.html

); plus subsequently discussed and tried by other members with similar

results as in these articles.

I would appreciate any thoughts, opinions about this please?

blessings

Shan

The Importance of Gravity to our Health and Wellbeing, and

its Relation to Rest & Sleep.

http://www.the-tree.org.uk/TreeTalk/3Spring2003/Gravity/gravity & health.htm

by Andrew K. Fletcher

 

 

The most powerful force known to man is gravity. A force, that cements all

planets to an invisible grid. A force which, here on earth, raised mountains,

carved out valleys, hurls molten rock into the air and drives the world's

weather and ocean currents. In fact, the very force that shapes everything we

are or

will ever see. From the time we stand up to take our first steps as children,

we sense our correct posture and align ourselves for optimum performance. By

standing on our own two feet, we are not struggling to overcome gravity as is

currently accepted. In fact we stood up as a species in order to harness and

bathe in the earth’s gravitational force.

 

Once this simple and hitherto overlooked concept is accepted, it becomes

enlightening to understand how we, the most intelligent of all the species here

on

earth stand warm blooded and vertical, as opposed to cold blooded reptiles

which do not! Yet, in our wisdom we have chosen to ignore the very force that

powers all our vital functions when we sleep.

 

In the last two hundred years or so we have made many advances in science and

medicine, We have poured countless £ billions into research and yet answers

to debilitating medical conditions which cause untold suffering and premature

deaths continue to remain life's unsolved mysteries. Children continue to slip

quietly away before they have managed to take a single step. The average life

expectancy has remained relatively the same: Three score years and ten or

seventy years. Why has this figure failed to change significantly along with the

advances in science and medicine? What common denominator does each and every

one of us share as we sleep safely tucked up in bed?

 

Ever since the human race began, people have striven to make life more

comfortable and nowhere is this more apparent than in the sleeping quarters of

people around the world. Yet, in our endeavours for comfort we have never

questioned the angle at which we lay down to sleep? Until now! The rhythms of

nature,

like the ocean tides, are irrefutably linked to the influences of the Sun, Moon

and Earth’s gravitational force. It is no coincidence that animals and

plants' synchronies the birth of their offspring. Yet, each of us chooses to

ignore

the power of gravity every night as we lay in our flat bed. How safe is sleep

in this position? How can it affect our health and wellbeing?

 

Baboons and other primate’s sleep in anything but a horizontal position in

the branches of trees in order to avoid predators. Cattle and sheep, when given

a choice all sleep facing uphill. Birds sleep standing in an upright position,

Emperor penguins, for instance, are able to withstand the harsh conditions of

Antarctica's winter as they huddle together in an upright posture for several

months without food, while awaiting the return of their spouse’s. The eggs,

which they incubate, are maintained at a temperature near to that of our own

body temperature. Clearly then the metabolic rate that maintains our own and

every other creatures body temperature is linked, in some way, to the force of

gravity, but how?

 

How my work began

 

In 1991 I picked up a GCSE Biology book from a Boot-sale. At this time I had

no idea where this simple act of interest was going to lead me. I acquired the

book to try to find an answer to a question, which was bugging me. That

question was simply to understand how trees made use of mineral salts from the

soil.

 

The reason for arriving at this question is very complicated. Brief

explanation; I was involved in a plan to irrigate deserts with wastewater or

sewage.

" OASIS IRRIGATION PROJECT " . In desert climates, high evaporation of

irrigation water causes a build up of salts at the soil surface. Except where

trees are

present. Obviously trees are utilising the salts and storing them within the

main structure of the tree. This was an intriguing little puzzle, because not

only are trees able to lift water to the leaves, they are able to lift

minerals from the soil water. But search as I may in my GCSE biology book to

find a

reasonable answer I found only an incredibly inadequate explanation of fluid

transport, which made about as much sense as war and famine. I still find it

hard to believe that medicine and science exists on such shaky foundations as

Osmosis? Capillary action? Root Pressure?

 

The Birth of A New Theory.

 

Within twenty minutes I had discovered what is undoubtedly the most

far-reaching single scientific breakthrough of all time. My first reaction to

this

discovery was " surely It could not possibly be this simple " . However following a

considerable amount of study I began to realise the significance of what I had

discovered and could not find any reference to this phenomenon in any science

or medical book.

 

Einstein, when asked, shortly before he died, if there was anything he had

left undone? Replied " All my life I have strove to gain but a glimpse of the

order of Nature " .

 

A tree loses over ninety five per cent of the water that it draws from the

soil into the atmosphere via its leaves. In doing so the water is processed by

evaporation at the leaf where dissolved salts from the soil and sugars produced

at the leaf are retained and concentrated, while pure water escapes as

vapour. This retained liquid, once exposed to the atmosphere during

transpiration,

absorbs dissolved oxygen, which the tree needs in order to produce further

growth. (A similar process is evident in the lungs of mammals.) Any

concentration

of minerals suspended in water results in the production of heavier water.

Heavy liquids produced in the uppermost parts of the tree must fall towards the

roots because of the affect of gravity. But, for every action there must also

be a reaction, and the reaction is that any downward flowing pulses of heavy

mineral laden sap, will cause a far greater volume of a lighter, dilute

solution, in adjoining tubes, to be lifted. Visualise the downward flowing sap

as a

liquid plunger. (Similar processes are evident in mammals)

 

Furthermore, the internal pressures in the tree are altered by the downward

flowing sap, which generates the positive pressure in front of the concentrated

flow (phloem). While the negative pressure follows the flow in the return

tubes or the (xylem), Which explains how water is sucked into the tree under a

negative pressure and how roots are driven into the ground under positive

pressures. Consider the roots and trunk as a continually extending sump and

disposal

site for the heavy downward flowing solutions. Some of which are used in the

continuous cycle of growth, while any remaining heavy liquids which reach the

roots are re-diluted by incoming water and flow back to the leaves having

become lighter, drawn up by downward flowing concentrated solutions in a

continual

cycle. (Positive and negative pressures are also evident in mammals.)

 

The Brixham Cliff Experiments

 

In order to demonstrate and to prove this theory. I caused water to flow

vertically, up to 24 meters, or, seventy-eight feet, in an experiment at the

cliffs of Brixham’s Overgang car park, near the Zeneca Laboratory, before

Forestry

Commission Scientists and the local press. According to the established laws

of physics, water while inside a tube is unable to be drawn by suction, higher

than 10 metres or 33 feet. I achieved this using a single length of stiff

nylon tube with both ends open and submerged in two glass demijohns, which

remained at ground level. The whole apparatus was filled with degassed water.

25ml of

concentrated coloured salt water was added to the centre of the tube, before

the centre of the tube was raised up the cliff and formed a giant loop. Which

resulted in the salt water in one side of the loop of tubing flowing down,

under the influence of gravity into one demijohn, which overflowed, causing the

salt free water to be drawn up from the other demijohn in which the water level

went down.

 

All animals, including humans, as do the trees and plants, release water into

the surrounding environment. We, for instance, breath out moisture with every

breath and shed water vapour in a continual, invisible stream from our skin.

However, unlike the trees, we have to eject the salts and minerals when they

have completed the circuit, the heavy liquids collect in the bladder via the

kidneys, where they are excreted in the urine. Several experiments were

performed with urine to see if sufficient weight was present to activate three

working

models; the tests all proved positive.

 

Further tests on the specific gravity of urine in relation to posture also

back up this research. For example, while resting on a five-degree head down

tilt to the horizontal, the specific gravity of urine decreased to a zero

reading

overnight, while a five degree head up tilt stabilised the specific gravity

overnight. Which, at the very least, shows that salts and minerals do arrive in

the bladder, via the kidney, due to the affect of gravity on concentrated

solutions. During these experiments I monitored the heart and respiration rate

of

my wife, our two teenage sons, and our three bull terriers, randomly, over

several weeks. Measurements were taken while they slept both horizontally and in

the inclined position. Over several weeks, it was constantly observed that in

all cases the heart rate decreased by around ten beats per minute during

inclined sleep, and the respiration rate decreased by four to five breaths per

minute when compared to horizontal sleep. These measurements were later repeated

and electronically confirmed by a nurse working in the Operation Recovery Room

of Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. Yet the circulation and metabolism in all

cases was higher in the " inclined " sleep than the horizontal or traditional

sleep.

 

Having very carefully examined the established views on human physiology, my

theory has consistently fitted with direction of flow in all of our bodily

fluids. It gives us a clear understanding of Starlings Law of the Heart.

(Increased venous return, or more blood flowing back under increased force).

 

Humidity

 

Humidity was found to be a very important factor in determining the speed at

which the inclined sleep therapy works, as any increase in humidity impairs

our ability to shed water as vapour. Those people living in a low lying coastal

or river valley area, found a dehumidifier very helpful, needing to use it for

only two or three hours in the bedroom prior to retiring. A simple solution

In order to prove that this simple flow system is in fact a vital part of us.

Several volunteers took part in a primary trial and slept with their heads

higher than their feet by raising the head end of their beds six inches or

fifteen

centimetres. With a six foot long bed this produced an angle of five degrees

to the horizontal. © Feb1998

 

All who took part, experienced benefits, some being almost beyond belief.

Several people have shown that it is possible to reverse damage to the central

and peripheral nervous system, including complete spinal cord injuries and nerve

damage caused in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis, including damage to

the optic nerve. Varicose veins, leg ulcers, oedema, arthritic conditions,

lethargy, muscle wastage (atrophy) and osteoporosis have all responded well to

this therapy. However time scales in each case are different. Some respond in

four weeks while others may take four months or more. An improved resistance to

infection has been observed and I am hoping that this will enable people

suffering from immune deficiency disorders to achieve a stronger resistance to

seasonal viruses and bacteriological infectious organisms.

 

Results from Experience

 

Since the primary trial, many positive benefits have been achieved using this

simple modification to the way that we sleep and sit. It is interesting to

note that, during the first few weeks, the body has to adapt to the new sleeping

position.

 

We found that the first week or so feels a little strange and some people

experience a slight ache in the spine, that appears to move upwards into the

neck, causing a slight stiffening; however, this soon disappears and seems to be

a

threshold that needs to be passed before the full benefits of this therapy

are experienced.

 

Several participants, including myself, have reported a slight increase in

height, suggesting the spine is adopting a more upright posture and is probably

due to a gentle easing or stretching in the spine. Muscular aches have been

reported and are attributed to an apparent increase in muscular growth and

firmness.

 

Some of the people on the trial, who had previously experienced restlessness

during the night, found, during the first few weeks of sleeping on a 5 degree

incline, they had a tendency to move down the bed. To give support they put

the foot end of the bed against the wall. Many mattresses were found to cause

problems due to slippery nylon materials used in their construction and where

nylon sheets were placed on the mattress. Another way support was achieved was

by placing a duvet under the bottom sheet, until a more relaxed sleep pattern

was experienced.

(Graph)

 

Why do I feel so cold in bed?

 

Metabolism and Circulation

 

Many who have taken part in this study so far have noticed that they feel

warmer in bed. People who have had cold feet in bed no longer complain of this

problem, and many find that they produce less urine during the night, resulting

with less frequent visits to the bathroom. This suggests that both metabolism

and circulation has increased and, along with it, evaporation from the skin

and breath. In order to test this, my wife and I measured our mouth temperature

every hour throughout the night.

 

Birth of a New Bed

 

The inclined sleep therapy concept is now incorporated in a top quality bed,

with a foot board built in, which is available under the name of Naturesway

Sleep System, and is under application for a patent. The incline is built into

the bed and takes away the risks that are inherent in raising a flat bed, which

are:

 

1.The difficulty of cleaning.

2. The lack of built in stability.

3. The stress put on beds designed for a horizontal position can break.

4. Mattresses can slip off the base of the bed.

5. Mattresses are covered with a slippery material (The Naturesway mattress

is covered in a slip resistant fabric to address this problem).

 

Andrew K Fletcher, Summer Haze, 26 Berry drive, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 3QW UK ©

Feb1998

 

LINKS

 

Inclined Bed Therapy

http://www.eregimens.com/therapies/MiscTherapies/Inclined%20bed%20therapy.html

 

From article

Dispelling the Night-Time Frequent Urination

by Andrew K Fletcher reprinted at Chris Gupta's New Media Explorer

 

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2003/09/26/re_dispelling_the_nighttime_fre\

quent_urination.htm

 

Life And Gravity: Sleeping In A Horizontal Position May Be Bad For You

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2005/08/07/life_and_gravity_sleeping_in_a_h\

orizo

ntal_position_may_be_bad_for_you.htm