of long duration.
I gladly send this testimonial . . . I might add that three reputable medical diagnosticians and several practicing physicians have given me physical examinations prior to the reading by Mr. Cayce. Said examinations failed to reveal the causes of [my] disability, found in the reading.
Needless to say it is with much gratitude I express my appreciation to your organization, to Mr. Cayce, or I might say [to] the power which operates through Mr. Cayce.
642-1, R-3
Gladys Davis Turner, Cayce’s longtime secretary, noted that the physical information contained in this letter was not known to Cayce consciously at the time of the reading. In August 1935 Mr. [642] obtained a check reading for his frequent headaches. In a follow-up letter, he wrote that he was very satisfied with this check reading, that it “meant more to me than to another, for it related to conditions and symptoms with which I labor.” An additional notation in 1951 stated that he had remained active and interested in A.R.E. work.
Another satisfied customer, one might say. Following the advice given him in his reading paid off for him in better health and more vitality.
Similar to the domino effect, in which a lack or imbalance (the fall of a domino) in one area may precipitate a crisis or problem in another, the health readings oftentimes make reference to the importance of a cause-and-effect reaction. The cause, of course, would represent the seat of the problem, the main culprit, or perhaps the beginning point of the eventual disease process. It is most helpful to determine the cause or to pinpoint the initial stage of the illness, since addressing this area will often lead to a healing result more quickly and efficiently, as it is close to the origin of the imbalance.
Descriptions as to how this cause-and-effect scenario is played out may involve what sounds like battle or war terminology as the physical attempts to balance or aright itself after some type of attack or onslaught. The infection-fighting cells—the white blood corpuscles, or leucocytes—are referred to as “warriors”; they attack the enemy, the invaders of the body, and their action alerts the body to the potential danger. How the physical responds is succinctly summarized in this statement from the readings:
One should consider that the system is builded to resist whatever may arise, and it takes that direction in carrying out for what it was constructed, and when it meets obstructions; then it attempts to build around, or overcome, by using other portions or functionings to carry out its function.
943-17
It seems, then, that our physical bodies have a built-in mechanism that not only alerts the system to a potential danger but can even direct the influences needed to handle the situation, correct the imbalance, and relieve the “warlike” tension. The initial onslaught would be considered “the cause” of the illness or ailment or distress. As for a reversal of the unhealthy condition, one reading states: “. . . the causes will not be relieved unless that which causes the conditions is relieved.” (880-1)
Again, the importance of dealing with the cause is emphasized. The origin of a health concern can be a bit puzzling to uncover, much like locating the proverbial needle in a haystack. Many of Cayce’s health readings pinpointed the cause; some informed the recipient of the reading that what was being addressed was an effect of imbalance, and not a cause. Often the seeker would simply ask for the cause of a particular ailment. One young man, twenty years old, asked: “What causes the eruptions on the skin, and can they be prevented by special diet or otherwise?” The answer came: “These are from poor eliminations and are a part of the system’s attempt to adjust itself to changes that naturally come about.” The reading suggested taking Eno Salts occasionally before breakfast, which would “assist in aiding the system to create a greater flow in the lymph and emunctory circulation . . .” (830-4) The circulatory system, the reading added, would eventually come into better balance.
Eno Salts is a laxative powder that was introduced in 1898 in Newcastle, London, as “Fruit Salt.” Cayce seemed to prefer the fruit salts variety of eliminants. It was mentioned in more than 125 readings and also provides relief from indigestion, heartburn, upset stomach, and any discomfort after meals resulting from excess acidity.
The word emunctory, often mentioned in conjunction with lymph activity, refers to any organ or body part that gives off waste products, such as the skin, kidneys, or lungs. These are considered excretory organs, having to do with cleansing the body and ridding it of toxic substances.
For Mr. [830] the eruptions on his skin were caused from poor eliminations. For Mr. [829], who was suffering from cold, congestion, a tipped stomach, hernia, and noises in his ear, these conditions resulted from “disturbance in the circulation and the accumulations of an acidity in the system . . . [I]t is rather an effect and a result of disturbances than the nervous system being the cause of the conditions.” (829-1) So for [829] the effect of his ailments was acidity and an imbalance in the circulatory system, the nervous system being the cause. The results of these disturbances brought a number of uncomfortable conditions. Suggestions for treatment included the use of an electric vibrator along the spine, wearing a support belt across the abdomen, applying hot salt and vinegar packs to his lower back, and adopting a largely alkaline diet. Although [829] was a participant in Study Group No. 11 of Washington, D.C., there is no follow-up or reports on his case.
Being aware of the domino effect and the cause-and-effect reaction in our body’s attempts to maintain a homeostatic quality may help us in dealing with health concerns that we may be experiencing.
SOME INDICATIONS RELATED TO LYMPH FUNCTION
If the lymphatic system is doing its job properly—that is, the unhindered flow of fluid is transporting waste products, dead cells, proteins, and fats as well as vitamins and hormones back to the bloodstream—then our bodies would be in a balanced, well-defended state. “A healthy lymph system promotes healthy body tissues and body functions . . . It represents the omnipresent living environment of the body . . .” (Wittlinger, p. 14) But viruses and bacteria do exist, as they have for eons. Harmful substances, toxins, and injuries do provide external stimuli that may destabilize our system, causing damage, pain, and illness. So how do some of these effects manifest, especially in the health concerns and physical circumstances as presented to the sleeping Cayce? Catarrh. Probably the most obvious disturbances are those relating to catarrhal conditions. According to The American Illustrated Medical Dictionary by Dorland (1951), the word catarrh “has been practically eliminated from the scientific vocabulary” (p. 271); however, in its noun and adjective forms it appears quite regularly in Cayce’s readings. Catarrh is an inflammation in the nasal and throat areas of the mucous membranes. These membranes line our body’s inner cavities with a slick fluid so that substances can easily slip through and out of these inner tubes. Because of the preponderance of allergies or allergy-like symptoms, many people suffer from runny noses, itchy eyes, or sneezing fits as the body attempts to rid itself of the irritating allergen, the cause of the allergic reaction. For example:
(Q) What is reason for excessive catarrhal discharge from head?
(A) The system attempting to eliminate the excess conditions through the lymph circulation.
1266-4
Hydrotherapy treatments consisting of hot and cold baths plus massage were recommended to alleviate this condition for [1266].
Catarrhal conditions, however, while recognized primarily in the nasal passages, can also affect the entire system. Mucous membranes, as stated earlier, line interior body passages, so that a catarrhal condition can also exist in the
