American FlagOpening The Lymphatic System-Brain Connection Can Help Veterans With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Over the years many names have been given for the emotional trauma that scars veterans of war; shell shock, battle fatigue, traumatic war neurosis and now post-traumatic stress disorder. Studies as far back as World War II and continuing today with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars show that large numbers of veterans return home to nightmares, sleeplessness, flashbacks, negative imagery, long term fear, depression, suicidal thoughts, aggressiveness, problems with concentration, weeping and generalized anxiety.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after an occurrence of extreme psychological stress, such as that found in war or from a violent attack, childhood abuse, sexual abuse, or serious life threatening accident. Many of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans not only had to go to war, they were often deployed 3-4 times. Repeated stress has a profound negative effect on the body and brain.

Lymphatic System Cleans The Brain

Ongoing relentless stress constricts the lymphatic system negatively affecting the organs and central nervous system and can create depression, PTSD or negative thoughts like suicide. Many of these veterans are on multiple antidepressant medications which can make the body more acidic and toxic. Medications are not the answer. Never stop a medication before consulting with your physician, it is best to ween off a little at a time, sometimes over months.

The rate of suicide attempts among veterans is escalating quickly. It is hard to get an accurate number, but it has been reported that an average of 950 veterans per month are trying to take their own life. 18-22 veterans a day are losing their personal battle. This is a catastrophic problem! Understanding how the lymphatic system must clean the brain and how to maintain the lymphatic system is key to helping veterans with PTSD.

New research published in June 2015 by the University of Virginia, School of Medicine links the lymphatic system and brain. Researchers found lymphatic vessels in the brain. That means there is a direct relationship between the brain and lymphatic system that helps to clean it. If the lymphatic system becomes toxic and congested cellular waste can build in the brain. The lymphatic system-brain connection is key to understanding PTSD and how to help it.

When you have experienced a severe emotional trauma or stress (especially repeated stress), the body becomes overly acidic. The lymphatic system congests allowing acidic cellular waste to build in the body, cerebrospinal fluid and brain. The resulting toxicity in the body and brain leads to many of the symptoms associated with PTSD.

CranioSacral Therapy Improves Circulation and Lymph Flow

To show you how therapies that improve lymph flow can help veterans here is information from a study with Vietnam veterans and PTSD, using CranioSacral Therapy. In 1999 Dr. John Upledger, developer of CranioSacral Therapy and a team of therapists led 22 Vietnam veterans in a groundbreaking study which was co-designed with the West Palm Beach Veterans Administration Medical Center. In the study the Veterans received sessions of CranioSacral Therapy.

An independent licensed psychologist confirmed in a post-program report that the veterans experienced fewer symptoms by the end of the program, most notably related to depression, lack of motivation, obsessive/compulsive behaviors, feelings of alienation, and total number and severity of general symptoms. More than a 95% correlation was noted between the CranioSacral Therapy sessions and the improvements the veterans saw.

In CranioSacral Therapy, Lymph Drainage Therapy or LymphPractic we manually increase lymph flow and blood circulation in the body and brain. The increase in cerebrospinal fluid absorption helps to remove acid waste and excess proteins to calm the body and mind.

Copyright © 2015 by John Ossipinsky

John Ossipinsky