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Shortcutting the Inflammatory Process to Expedite
Acute and Chronic Injury Recovery
© By Courtland Reeves, MS, RMT, ND, Research Director, Bio-Telemetric Signaling Inc., USA

"On February 23, 2004, the cover of Time magazine read, "THE SECRET KILLER - the surprising link between inflammation, heart attacks, cancer, Alzheimer's and other diseases - what you can do to fight it!"

The article goes on to say "inflammation is the body's first defense against infection, but when it goes awry, it can lead to heart attacks, colon cancer, Alzheimer's and a host of other diseases….it destabilizes cholesterol deposits in the arteries leading to heart attacks and potentially even strokes; it chews up nerve cells in the brain of Alzheimer's victims; it may even foster the proliferation of abnormal cells and facilitate the transformation into cancer; and it may be the engine that drives many of the most feared illnesses of middle and old age." It suggests that the medical profession may now start to look at and address the inflammatory process rather than thinking of an illness as strictly cell or gene oriented.

When the body responds to an injury, its immunological defense system springs into action with innate immunity and cytokine signaling to histamines, macrophages and other immune system responses. Sometimes this process does not shut down leading to chronic inflammation. And, the reason this occurs is unknown!

Most of us have known for a long time that detoxification is a must to initiate and sustain illness or injury recovery. So, we put our patients on 'detoxifying' remedies hoping to release some of the contaminants which impact our immune system and range from additives in our food and environmental pollution due to contaminants in the air we breath; the water we drink; the chemicals we use in our home; and the many stress inducing events (work and childrearing stresses) not to mention electromagnetic pollution from computers, injuries suffered from athletic and accidental trauma to the body, and surgical disruption of natural fluid flow-patterns in the body.

We use standard detoxification processes to try and counteract the inflammatory process, including use of anti-histamines, anti-inflammatories such as herbs, teas, homeopathies, and anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and celebrex, hoping to arrest the inflammatory process and not truly knowing if there will be any long-term adverse side effects. But the one system we tend to speak of and try to address systemically while ignoring the mechanical side is the lymphatic system. This system works in tandem with the circulatory system in maintaining fluid balance within the extra-cellular area (i.e., space between the cells).

When the lymphatic system becomes dysfunctional, due to contaminants or physical injury, the extra-cellular spaces flood with discarded material (i.e., injured cells and toxins) and the lymphatic system (i.e., the drain system of the body) becomes overwhelmed and unable to drain off excess fluid. This results in flooding of the extra-cellular space with a reduction in oxygen to the cell and disruption of inter-cellular signaling - the beginning of necrosis! And, when the fluid pools and is unable to escape, due to obstruction along the lymphatic pathway, the condition is acute and becomes chronic if not resolved quickly.

Therefore, it is imperative, in any therapeutic protocol to halt the inflammatory process by quickly reestablishing the mechanical functioning of the lymphatic system. Taking fluids, pills, homeopathies, aspirin, etc., may not be sufficiently strong or have the 'energy' or 'power' to physically unblock the lymph obstruction and restore the mechanical functioning of the lymphatic pathway. And, to underscore the importance the lymphatic system plays in creating a disease state, we find in basic medical textbooks that a blockage in the lymphatic system can result in a breeding ground for disease. And, when we look at athletic injuries an important key to a 'quick' recovery is to remove the physical material (i.e., lymph stasis and pooling of fluid) from the extra-cellular spaces which impede tissue-rebuilding processes.

There are several manual procedures for restoring lymphatic pathways, but they have been targeted to a condition called 'Lymphodema' and not to acute or chronic inflammation. These methods work very well on appendages or extremities because one is able to physically manipulate the material along a pathway backed by a bone. The bone provides a firm background for the therapist to 'swim' the fluid up the appendage. But, we do not have a 'bone' or 'firm background' to use within the thoracic area where vital organs are located. The question becomes "How to penetrate the thoracic cavity to help disengage the blockage?"

One internationally recognized practitioner uses a technology which does just that - 'it helps disassociate disorganized protein locked within the lymphatic system'. His name is Dr. Jeff Spencer, DC, Chiropractor to high performance athletes such as Chad Reed, Motor Cross champion; Lance Armstrong and US Postal Pro Cycling Team (Tour de France winners); and Troy Glauss, 2002 World Series MVP. Dr. Spencer's job is to expedite recovery of any injury his athlete sustains and to keep them in both a competitive form and in competition. So, in the 2003 Tour de France, he expedited removal of cytokine initiated immunological processes using the Light Beam Generator by ELF Laboratories. By immediately commencing lymphatic fluid flow (i.e., slowing the inflammatory process) and combining his protocols for acute injury recovery, he quickly (in less than 8 hours) returned his athletes to compete and win the 2003 Tour de France. Dr. Spencer learned that when the affected lymphatic pathway is cleared and combined with good medicine, the repair process is accelerated by quickening the entrance of tissue growth factors and expediting tissue rebuilding processes.

And, on June 19, 2003, at the 2003 Tour de France, with 2003 Olympic Champion, Viactheslav Ekimov facing bronchitis and upper respiratory infection with massive congestion, Dr. Spencer used his magic with the Light Beam Generator (see photo) and cleared this race-eliminating potential issue from one of his star athletes overnight!

In a more conventional but an extremely inflammatory condition, known as elephantiasis, that, when combining physical reestablishment of lymphatic system flow (using the Light Beam Generator) coupled with responsible medicine, patients can recover within a relatively short period of time from generally accepted non-recoverable illness issues. In a case, assisted by both a Medical Doctor and Dr. Helga Nehl, N.D., a patient (see photo) was treated with eleven two-hour Light Beam Generator sessions, herbs, enzymes, vitamins plus colon therapy which resulted in the patient losing a combined total weight of 80 lbs in 270 days of which 41 lbs was lost in the first 90 days. These results are typical when a good practitioner combines both the Light Beam Generator lymphatic therapy with a well thought out supportive therapy.

The need to understand the role the lymphatic system plays in maintaining homeostasis within the extra-cellular space and the need to understand the pathways the lymphatic system generally takes in moving fluid is imperative to addressing and resolving many inflammatory issues impeding injury and illness recovery. Because we are working with the major 'elimination system' of the body, we must understand that not all blockages are superficial and there is a very specific pathway lymph follows on its journey of reabsorbing, filtering and returning lost plasma to the circulatory system.

While the Light Beam Generator is a valuable tool in reestablishing flow of lymphatic fluid and helping expedite tissue recovery, one must not forget the all important role the practitioner plays in diagnosing the problem, formulating and executing the remedy and the role of the patient in compliance. All these factors combine to create an environment necessary for a successful recovery from an extreme inflammatory condition. As Jill Freed, CDP, LANA, of Bradenton, Florida says, "With over 14,000 hours of hands-on experience, I find the Light Beam Generator (LBG) decongests 5-times faster than normal lymph drainage techniques".

The motto at ELF Laboratories is "Move Lymph - See Results Faster". For clinics and practitioners using Light Beam Generator Lymphatic Therapy (FDA Compliance Number 21CFR862.2485) they see patient results expedited; patients move to health faster; patient satisfaction is higher; and the staff sees quicker results; is more motivated; less physical wear and tear on the massage or lymph therapist; with all of these benefits resulting in patient retention and increased referrals. For more information on the Light Beam Generator, please contact Mr. Neil Freese, ELF Laboratories, State Route 1, Number 21, St. Francisville, IL 62460. Phone: 618.948.2393. Web Site: www.lightbeamgenerator.com

Explore! Volume 13, Noumber 3, 2004.