from headaches, acidic stomach, and poor eliminations. Following a domino effect, her nervous condition produced “an irritation throughout the system,” forming sacs in the abdominal area which disturbed the mucous membranes in the throat and head as well as the stomach and intestines, causing “a disturbance in the lymph circulation.” (1288-1) She was advised to use the Wet-Cell Appliance, get osteopathic adjustments, take enemas, and follow a well-balanced diet, eating 80 percent alkaline-reacting foods. Unfortunately, no follow-up reports exist on her results.
In another reading, for a forty-one-year-old salesman who suffered from frequent headaches, this information regarding the pervasiveness of a catarrhal condition was submitted:
There have been, as indicated, the effects upon the mucous membranes, upon the lymph circulation, from those infectious forces that arise from what is called a catarrhal condition—or the lymph and emunctory reaction that produces a force of infection in the system. It affects the body in much the same way as a rheumatic reaction, or a nervous reaction. For these conditions naturally in their very nature affect the nervous system, and especially in its relationships to muscular reaction . . .
As to its development and eventual effects, the reading added:
. . . by exercise, by even small amount of draft that would be practically unnoticed by the body in its activities, by getting too warm in one way and manner or by cooling off too quickly, there is the reverberating—as it were—to the conditions that are existent. This makes for not only the repressions that produce headaches at times, hurt and burning of the eyes, but through cold or congestion a form of neuralgia that affects the head, the shoulders, and even the torso at times. All of these are but effects, as we find.
531-6
Because this was a follow-up check reading, slight corrections were made to his previous instructions, largely involving cleansing his system and increasing organ functioning. “Though requiring a little longer period, to eliminate the cause rather than the effects in the present will make for more permanent reaction in the body.” (531-6) The man was advised to keep up the use of the Radio-Active Appliance (a device the readings stated several times was “good for everybody”), get a series of colonics (“to prevent or keep from causing a great deal of irritation from the infectious forces”) and osteopathic adjustments (“that would make a stimulation to the drainages of the body”), and “Be mindful of the diets . . .” After some initial difficulty with the Radio-Active Appliance, he did follow the instructions and “was getting very good reactions with your treatment . . . while some days . . . I am not up to standard, I have come to realize that there is something good in what you are doing . . .” (531-6, R-6)
The next example is one probably many can relate to: “I have constant catarrh back of nose which runs down throat.” (557-1) This fifty-two-year-old woman wondered if this condition were due to sinus trouble. The reading replied: “This is a natural condition from poor circulation in the lymph and emunctory activities of throat and head.” In order “that the superficial circulation may be clarified by the cleansing and revivifying of the conditions,” the Violet Ray hand machine was recommended as well as a nasal spray using water and Atomidine.
As a side note, the information in the Cayce health readings, as mentioned earlier, is very consistent in its holistic approach. In light of this quality Dr. Harold J. Reilly, a renowned physiotherapist who worked closely with a number of recipients of Cayce’s readings, coined the acronym CARE and referred to the “Cayce CARE” therapy as a way of maintaining balance and health. The initials C A R E stand for Circulation, Assimilation, Relaxation, and Elimination, bodily processes that help to normalize the physical system and assist it in functioning more optimally. Some aspect of these four processes, implied either directly or indirectly, make up the bulk of the content of the health readings. Even in the short extracts or snippets from the readings included in this book, the reader needs to understand that the holistic concept of CARE is, nevertheless, included in the larger picture of health.
Sinusitis. In the course of a year, an estimated thirty-seven million Americans experience sinusitis. It is the fifth most common diagnosis for which antibiotics are prescribed in outpatient settings. Sinusitis, an inflammation of the lining of the sinus cavities, is generally caused by an infection, allergies, irritants, or some obstruction. Four pairs of sinus cavities are connected by a passage to the nose. These cavities, which help to warm, moisten, and filter the air we breathe, are lined by membranes moistened by a thin mucus. Most cases of sinus infections are caused by viruses—so antibiotics would likely be ineffective.
In several instances in the readings, a sinus condition was attributed to “poor lymph circulation” (3187-1); another reading stated, “It is part of the lymph in the soft tissue . . . the slowing of the circulation makes for mucous accumulations in the sinus, see?” (2280-2) A sinus disorder was described in another reading as “the lymph flow through soft tissue” and resulted “from the slowed and disturbed circulation.” (1023-1)
One woman asked this question: “What connection is there between either or both my hay fever and sinuses, with my asthma . . . ?” The answer was, “Well, all of these are associations with the lymph circulation, and with this engorgement these naturally cause—from the sinus—a general disturbance; as also does the hay fever.” (3127-1)
What happens in the lymph system during an infection? It is as though a battle or a war were taking place within our bodies, which react to the invasion by assembling troops. The security forces are called upon. Our mucous membranes swell, while lymph vessels and nodes enlarge. The white blood cells destroy the invaders and remove them, taking them away like prisoners. However, if we have a poorly functioning lymph circulation, our defense system may be compromised. This circumstance, then, opens the door to an exacerbated condition, such as catarrh, sinusitis, chronic colds, sore throats, and so on. The resultant congestion, in other words, can be traced to a worsening and stagnation of lymph. (Chapter 6 will describe various methods to get the lymph circulation flowing more efficiently.)
Swelling. Any abnormal enlargement of a body part is described as a swelling. When an abnormally large amount of fluid accumulates in connective tissue or intercellular spaces of the body or in body cavities, it is known as edema (also called dropsy). If the fluid accumulates in the tissue spaces and organs in the cavity of the abdomen, it is known as ascites.
A number of people occasionally experience puffiness in certain areas of their bodies, such as fingers, ankles, face, wrists, feet, or legs. For many, the condition is not serious, only symptomatic. While several causes exist for fluid retention, or swelling, by one’s body, a few instances in the readings pointed to improper or poor lymph circulation. Here are some extracts as examples:
(Q) What is cause and cure for swelling on face?
(A) As indicated, there is the tendency for the emunctory [excretory] and lymph circulation to be so increased—by the humor created by subjugation in other portions of the body—as to create this activity.
Drainages set up by the stimulation of those centers as indicated, from the mechanical way and manner, will relieve these conditions.
275-41
This twenty-one-year-old woman harpist, who received this reading on May 17, 1934, was also experiencing erosion of the head of her femur (thighbone), which had first become apparent in February 1925. The recommendation of “Drainages . . . from the mechanical way and manner” referred to osteopathic adjustments, leading to successful relief of the swelling. In her later years, however, she wound up in a wheelchair, having to wear a brace, and eventually passed away on Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 1992, at the age of eighty.
On
