The normal function of the circulation system can be altered by many factors. Here’s a list of those factors, starting with the most predominant, in both the circulation of blood and in the circulation of lymph:
Blood
      1.    Abnormal heart function
      2.    Insufficient cardiovascular exercise
      3.    Abnormal tissue/blood osmotic balance
      4.    Abnormal vessel opening elasticity
      5.    Abnormal RBC production
      6.    Abnormal WBC production
      7.    High fat diet
Lymph
Same list as above, plus:
      8.    Shallow breathing
      9.    Lack of rebounding cellular exercise
    10.    Lack of cardiovascular exercise
 
Let’s take a closer look at each:
1. Abnormal heart function is by far the worst cause of less-than-optimal movement of blood nutrients, RBCs, WBCs and lymph. These things just don’t get around the body well enough if the heart loses some of its ability to pump blood with significant pressure. This can result from genetically inherited heart defects or birth defects, or acquired defects—like an enlarged heart, and its decreased ability to pump blood properly. Post-heart-attack patients also suffer from abnormal heart function.
2. Insufficient cardiovascular exercise is a problem for many of us. The heart and blood vessels are made of muscle, and muscle must be exercised to stay strong and efficient. The minimal amount of cardiovascular exercise needed for good health is 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (elevated, sustained heart rate), three times per week; daily is preferable for good health. Also, exercise moves blood faster, causing your body’s cells to get the oxygen and nutrients they need faster—and to get rid of waste products faster. And since blood is detoxified and filtered through the liver and kidneys, it makes sense to keep your blood moving.
3. Abnormal tissue/blood osmotic balance. A normal balance of sodium-to-potassium affects the amounts of fluid in the blood stream, in tissue outside of the blood vessels, and in the cells themselves. This balance can be negatively affected by high sodium (salt) intake, low potassium intake, and the leaking of blood protein into tissues without enough lymphatic drainage back into the bloodstream. High sodium intake causes tissue spaces around cells to fill with fluid, when they should normally have no fluid. This fluid increase causes more blood proteins to enter the tissue spaces, forcing still more fluid there because fluids follow blood protein. If the lymphatic system doesn’t move blood proteins and fluid out quickly, tissues remain swollen and cells start to die because the oxygen and nutrients cannot get to the cells. (See Chart)
4. Abnormal vessel opening elasticity. As blood vessels are constantly filled with fat (predominantly bad saturated animal fat), they get coated with cholesterol plaque, a glue-like substance that can kill blood vessels. This is seen in plaque of the abdominal aorta, one of the body’s largest blood vessels, which if it is great enough, causes it to explode as an aneurysm, usually resulting in death. Plaque also decreases smooth flow through blood vessels, narrows blood vessels, and causes the normal elasticity of arteries (which move the blood) to greatly decrease. This results in poor circulation and high blood pressure. High blood pressure forces more fluids into tissue spaces, which remain swollen, and cells continue to die.
5. Abnormal red blood cell production. Disease processes that cause abnormal red-blood cell production (like sickle cell anemia) result in poor oxygen circulation. Iron-deficiency anemia or pernicious anemia (lack of organic Vitamin B12) reduces the amount of red blood cells. Anemia reduces circulation, impairing total health = wholeness.
6. Abnormal white blood cell production. If the bone marrow, thymus gland, lymph nodes or other lymphoid tissue responsible for WBC production is diseased or damaged, our body’s immune system will be impaired. Poor WBC production is caused by deficiencies, such as folic acid (a B vitamin) deficiency. WBC production can also be impaired when a person is highly toxic.
7. High fat diets as discussed earlier cause a sludging of the blood (red and white blood cells) which results in a 20% decrease in circulation.
Circulation of lymph is decreased by:
1. Shallow breathing, or incomplete lung expansion. Deep breathing moves lymphatic fluid more effectively than any other means, even intense exercise. But few people breathe correctly, mostly using less than 1⁄3 of their lung capacity. According to lymphologist Dr. Jack Shields, deep breathing drains lymph fluid 10 to 15 times better than any other method. Most people are “chest breathers,” never using the lower part of their lungs, which are supposed to supply 80 percent of our body’s oxygen.1 Incomplete lung expansion also causes retention of acid and other waste products that should be expelled in carbon dioxide, when we exhale.
2. Lack of rebounding cellular exercise. Lymph also circulates better during a rebounding activity, like walking or bouncing on a rebounder. Rebounding combined with deep breathing exercise is the greatest lymph circulator of all.
3. Lack of cardiovascular exercise. A person who gets no exercise drains 1-2 milliliters of lymph fluid per minute from tissues. Exercise brings the rate up to 20 mls per minute. More intense, aerobic cardiovascular exercise brings the rate even higher, because of the combination of the deep breathing necessary to sustain the exercise and the increased heart rate.
Now I want to discuss the importance of all lymphoid tissue in maintaining total health = wholeness. I wouldn’t remove the tonsils or appendix unless absolutely necessary, because they’re lymphoid tissues. Losing such tissues causes a reduction of the body’s ability to fight off pathogenic bacteria, virus, fungi and parasites. So a tonsillectomy, even in the wake of recurring sore throats, may not be the wisest decision. A better approach would be to naturally boost the immune system with food source vitamin C, plant based organic minerals, echinacea and garlic, and to avoid WBC inhibitors like sugar and food allergens like dairy products. Removing the tonsils removes the first line of defense again pathogens (disease causing agent), because you’re removing a filter that prevents these germs from spreading throughout your body. The same is true of the appendix, although it’s not removed as freely as tonsils are. Still, using God’s medicine of herbs, bowel cleansing, detoxification and proper food choices could save the appendix more frequently. This would minimize the pressure that forces fecal material into diverticuli and into the appendix, causing it to inflame and eventually rupture. I believe everything God gave us has a purpose, and we shouldn’t have to remove any parts if we walk in total health = wholeness.
 

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