The Hygiene of Circulation

Many scientific truths have been pre­sented in the Spirit of prophecy writ­ings. At the time of their writing these were quite largely not in accord with prevailing scientific views. From time to time, however, the truths presented have been con­firmed by scientific research, thus definitely strengthening our belief in the Spirit of prophecy. The principles that have been advo­cated by the Spirit of prophecy for years are sometimes practiced and taught by those not of our belief, while we as a people have often been slow in putting them into practice.

Much has been said in the writings of Mrs. Ellen G. White about the physiology of the circulatory system. Some of the counsels published in 1865 are just being confirmed at the present time by the large mass of experi­mental work being done in physiology. It is thus becoming clearer and clearer that all the principles of health reform are on a firm scien­tific basis.

The blood is the current of life, for by it nutrition is carried to the tissue cells, and waste products are carried away from them. The blood stream is also needed for the regula­tion of body temperature. Perfect circulation is therefore necessary for perfect function of all the organs of the body. If the circulation of the blood is hindered by poor health habits, as inactivity, mental depression, overeating, tight or insufficient clothing, especially of the extremities, we cannot but expect that the body will not function normally, and will become more susceptible to disease.

Chilling of the body, due to improper cloth­ing and exposure, or mental anxiety and de­pression, may cause either congestion of the internal organs or prolonged constriction of the blood vessels of certain organs. Mental work, unaccompanied by adequate physical exercise, may decrease the healthy tone of the blood vessels and thus make the body unable to properly react to cold. If, on the other hand, clothing is evenly distributed, exercise is regularly taken, the mental outlook on life is optimistic, and the temperature of the room is correct, then the circulation of the body be­comes properly balanced.

Under ordinary conditions the blood is dis­tributed throughout the body without con­gestion in any one area. Activity in any organ will call for increased flow of blood in that part. This extra blood, however, cannot be drained to any extent from the active tissue of other organs. To supply this temporary need of blood, there are areas in the circulatory system which act as reservoirs for blood. These reservoirs are especially called upon when there is a need for increased loss of heat from the body, as during muscular exercise and digestion. Physiological studies show that the amount of blood thus drawn from the reser­voirs of the body may increase the total volume of circulating blood as much as thirty per cent. These blood reservoirs are found in the spleen, liver, lungs, and in the large blood vessels of the trunk.

Conditions which cause constriction of the blood vessels of the skin also cause congestion of blood in the large blood vessels of the trunk. When this condition is prolonged, the body is rendered more susceptible to some diseased condition.' This is especially true when the changes in temperature are sudden, and the body does not have time for acclimatization. It takes several days before the body becomes accustomed to great changes in the weather. As the body becomes accustomed to climatic changes, there is a shifting in the total volume of circulating blood. In hot weather more blood is needed for the dilated blood vessels of the skin. Before the adjustment is com­plete the circulatory system is under a strain, and internal congestion, spasm of the vessels to certain organs, and other undesirable reac­tions are more likely to occur.' During the acclimatization to hot weather, the blood vol­ume increases more rapidly than the total hemoglobin and total red-cell volume. Conse­quently, the percentage relation of these con­stituents is decreased during the period of adjustment. The temporary decrease in per­centage of the blood constituents may explain in part the discomfort experienced early in acclimatization.

These findings concerning the produclion of internal congestion by changes of external temperature are in definite accord with the teachings of the Spirit of prophecy which point out that the balance of the circulation n.ay be improved by proper dress, room temperature, exercise, thought, eating, and bathing. A study of the following references will indicate a clear accord between the recent findings of the circulation and the health reform truths pre­sented: "Testimonies," Vol. II, p. a6; Vol. III, pp. 138, 139, 69, 70; "Ministry of Healing," pp. 238, 237, 293, 307.

Circulation is largely controlled by nervous reflexes. For example, the heart may be slowed by an ice bag applied to the area over the heart, and the circulation in the nose may be impaired by a cold draft at the back of the neck. When the circulation is imperfect in a part of the body, the nutrition of the organs may be insufficient, and the protection afforded against germs may be low. During_. the last few years several scientists have studied the effect of disturbed circulatory control upon disease.

To summarize briefly : When the blood vessels of organs contract as a result of reflex action from a cold draft to the skin, or as a result of mental anxiety, or for other reasons, there is a temporary lack of nutrition and oxygen in these organs. If this is not too prolonged, there will soon follow a reaction in which the blood flow is increased. However, if the contraction lasts over a long period of time, the tissues are damaged and more passive dilation occurs as a result of the presence of waste toxins. Undue cooling of the body by exposure to cold is prone to cause these pro­longed reactions.

The tissues thus affected are more likely to collect bacteria which may be circulating in the blood stream, for the same conditions which cause damage to the tissues also cause an increase in the bacteria in the blood stream. This results from an increased absorption from infected areas, such as the mouth or the intes­tines. Disease of the kidneys, heart, nose, throat, or lungs, or even of the brain and ner­vous system, may arise from this absorption associated with a shifting in the total volume of circulating blood. Here again we see the scientific confirmation of the statements found in the Spirit of prophecy writings in regard to the cause of disease.

Because of the very strong statements that are found in the Testimonies in regard to the use of proper clothing which will not interfere with the circulation, and because of scientific findings, special attention should be directed toward the present practice of inadequate clothing of the extremities. According to our present-day fashions, small children, girls, and women are clothed with very little or no cover­ing on the legs and arms. It is the usual practice to wear this type of attire during the chilly mornings and as the weather is cooling, just when the body is already under strain.

During the cold weather warm coats are placed on the trunk of the body, further aggra­vating the condition. This extra clothing does not help in warming the body as much as one would expect, for the main areas of heat loss are in the limbs. It should be noted that the skin surface of the legs and arms amounts to about one half of the total body surface. Also, the increased difference in the skin tempera­ture of the legs and arms as compared to that of the trunk would tend to cause more conges­tion in certain organs. Thus, there may be harmful and prolonged congestion of the storage areas of the blood, and constriction of vessels in areas such as the nose, lungs, throat, kidneys, and pelvic organs.

The reflex actions of cold on the limbs are constriction of the blood vessels of the skin, and a driving of the blood to the internal areas or reservoirs, causing internal congestion. At the same time there may be reflex constriction of certain internal organs, such as the nose, lungs, throat, kidneys, and pelvic organs. Both the congestion and the constriction may be present in the body at the same time, with detri­ment to the tissues, and may be the cause of disease. These facts have been brought out very emphatically by quotations from the Testimonies. We cite the following:

"In some countries the custom of leaving bare the shoulders and limbs of little children still pre­vails. This custom cannot be too severely con­demned. The limbs, being remote from the center of circulation, demand greater protection than the other parts of the body. The arteries that convey the blood to the extremities are large, providing for a sufficient quantity of blood to afford warmth and nutrition. But when the limbs are left unprotected or are insufficiently clad, the arteries and veins be­come contracted, the sensitive portions of the body are chilled, and the circulation of the blood hin­dered.

"In growing children all the forces of nature need every advantage to enable them to perfect the phys­ical frame. If the limbs are insufficiently protected, children, and especially girls, cannot be out of doors unless the weather is mild. So they are kept in, for fear of the cold. If children are well clothed, it will benefit them to exercise freely in the open air, summer or winter."—"Ministry of Healing," p. 382.

"Perfect health depends upon perfect circulation. Special attention should be given to the extremities, that they may be as thoroughly clothed as the chest and the region over the heart, where is the greatest amount of heat. Parents who dress their children with the extremities naked, or nearly so, are sacri­ficing the health and lives of their children to fash­ion. If these parts are not so warm as the body, the circulation is not equalized. When the extrem­ities, which are remote from the vital organs, are not properly clad, the blood is driven to the head, causing headache or nosebleed; or there is a sense of fullness about the chest, producing cough or pal­pitation of the heart, on account of too much blood in that locality ; or the stomach has too much blood, causing indigestion.