A MICROSCOPIC SUBMARINE RIDE
Imagine that you have become nanosized and that you have been injected into a human vascular circuit. You are entering a capillary vessel directly behind a red blood cell, where it releases its load of oxygen. You watch in amazement as you observe oxygen atoms diffusing across the capillary membrane into an incredibly vast sea of interstitial fluids. Not only oxygen, but other substances, including at least of half of all plasma proteins, sugars, fats, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, water, etc., cross this barrier into the life-giving sea, the habitat in which trillions of human cells live. Suddenly, you are drawn, as if into a vacuum, through a portal that has magically opened before you. You have left the close-looped, pressurized vascular system with its stormy circuits, and have entered an ocean, much calmer by comparison.

THE INTERSTITIAL SEA OF LIFE
Interstitial, that’s an interesting word. It means spaces in between. Interstitial fluid has two compartments. The largest compartment, representing 80% of this the fluid, exists in between the cells of our body. The remaining 20% represents the blood plasma. As we navigate this vast inner sea, we notice that all nutritive requirements for life can be found within it, including powerful elements of our immune – the lymphocytes, reticular cells and macrophages. These cellular soldiers constantly patrol the human ocean of life, looking for potentially infectious microorganisms. As we navigate this sea, we must remember that it is mostly water, water that must be replenished on a daily basis. Another important thing we must consider is the process of elimination, or waste removal from the trillions of cells that represent our body. Not only do our cells transport nutrients from this sea to their interiors for ongoing metabolic functions, but they excrete wastes into this sea as well. These wastes must be efficiently eliminated twenty-four hours a day. In order to carry out elimination of metabolic waste, the human organism has been equipped with a fantastic disposal system. It is called the lymphatic system and involves a network of organs, tissues, vessels, and nodes.

LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
Let us focus on the eliminative or cleansing aspect of the lymphatic system at this point. Cellular wastes excreted into the interstitial sea are absorbed into a system of microtubules, which serve as waste disposal conduits. Inside the microtubules there exists a network of one-way valves that allow lymph fluid to move in one direction only – upward. These tubules empty into larger vessels, which empty into ducts, which eventually empty into the vascular system where they are finally eliminated from the body. Most lymphatic movement works against gravity, and requires the help of other structures in order to move waste-laden lymph upwards to the subclavian vein. Of supreme importance are the skeletal muscles and the diaphragm.

EXERCISE, BREATHING, AND WATER
We must exercise or we will indeed become toxic. Contraction of skeletal muscles, especially the legs, compresses millions of lymph vessels, moving toxin laden wastes upward where they will be eliminated into the vascular system. All forms of exercise are of supreme importance for nutritive and waste removal processes. EXERCISE! Most of us breathe only in a shallow manner. This is unfortunate, because deep, full breathes result in the compression of the larger lymphatic ducts. BREATHE DEEP BREATHS as often as you can Remember, the interstitial sea is lymph fluid. It is mostly water. Drink plenty of water every day, at least eight 8-ounce glasses. It is water that carries our wastes away. Do these three things. It’s not so difficult. You will be handsomely rewarded.

-Dr. Herbert D. Fleschner, Chiropractor

DISCLAIMER
The information herein is not intended for diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or cure of illness. Please see your physician.

Copyright 2006 Tucker Productions Inc.