SCALE 2
COLD HEPATIC CIRCULATION
 

CONTENTS

• EXPLANATION
• THE HEPATIC SYSTEM AND ITS CIRCULATION
• THERAPEUTIC OPTIONS
• DOCUMENTATION

    Approximately 125 Cayce readings discuss cold hepatic circulation.  The hepatic circulation is the flow of blood and lymph through the liver and organs of the digestive, urinary, pulmonary and cardiovascular system.  The Edgar Cayce readings describe a primary hepatic circulation between the liver and kidneys which are important organs of elimination.  The hepatic circulation also includes other vital organs such as the intestines (hepatic portal), pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, lungs, and heart.

    When the circulation through these organs is slowed or low in volume, it is said to be "cold."  Reading 3721-1 contains an excellent description and definition of cold hepatic circulation.

    From Edgar Cayce's perspective, cold hepatic circulation causes or contributes to:

• Poor digestion and assimilation,
• Poor eliminations as poorly digested food is passed into the intestinal system,
• Disturbed circulation,
• Abnormal acid/alkaline balance,
• Abdominal symptoms including stomach pain, feelings of heaviness after eating, etc.
• Unbalancing of hepatic system functioning, primarily the liver, resulting in systemic toxicity and related problems.

    Cold hepatic circulation may result from poor eliminations (especially the colon).  The system becoming extremely toxic overloads the liver and kidneys (two primary organs of elimination).  In an exhausted or overwhelmed state, the hepatic circulation becomes slow or sluggish.  Decreased secretions from the liver contribute to intestinal problems (such as constipation) which further exacerbates the deficient hepatic functioning.  Internal cleansing through hydrotherapy and diet are common therapeutic interventions for this pathological pattern.

    Nerve pressures on the centers governing the hepatic circulation is another primary etiological factor in cold hepatic circulation.  Manual therapy to relieve the nerve pressure is a common treatment for cold hepatic circulation resulting from somatic dysfunction.

    To better understand problems with the hepatic circulation, it may be helpful to consider a brief overview of the "hepatic system" and its patterns of circulation.  The organs of the hepatic system are:

• Liver
• Positive pole of body's battery,
• Excretory functioning - emunctory/cleansing through hepatic circulation,
• Secretive functioning - through gallbladder/bile/intestines,
• Gallbladder,
• Kidneys,
• Negative pole of body's battery,
• Excretory  functioning (although the readings mention both excretion and secretion from this organ),
• Pancreas,
• Spleen.

• The hepatic circulation is the "deep circulation" and corresponds to cerebrospinal nervous system as distinguished from superficial circulation (surface of body - sympathetic nervous system).
• The hepatic circulation can also be more narrowly defined as circulation between liver and kidneys.
• The upper hepatic circulation refers to the circulation between liver, heart and lungs - the upper body.
• The lower hepatic circulation refers to the circulation between the kidneys and urinary system - the lower body.
• The hepatic portal system refers to the circulation from the intestinal tract to the liver.
• Edgar Cayce also sometimes spoke of a day/night cycle in which the patterns of circulation alternated between the lower and upper hepatic circulation and the deep and superficial circulation.

    The Cayce readings recognize several pathophysiological patters associated with hepatic dysfunction, including:

• Torpid (sluggish) liver,
• Cold (low) hepatic circulation,
• High (hot) hepatic circulation,
• Incoordination between deep and superficial circulation,
• Day/night or upper/lower circulation (e.g., nightsweats).

MANUAL THERAPY

    Spinal adjustments, manipulations, and massage were suggested to stimulate blood flow to the hepatic organs.
 

HYDROTHERAPY

    Since accumulation of toxins in the colon was a common etiological factor in cases of cold hepatic circulation, colonic irrigations were the most frequent form of hydrotherapy recommended to increase hepatic circulation.  Fume baths with witchhazel as a fume ingredient may be helpful in cleansing the system through the skin, taking some of the load off of the overtaxed hepatic organs.
 

EXERCISE

    Regular moderate exercise to improve circulation is encouraged. Walking was commonly recommended.  As a specific exercise to increase hepatic circulation, reading 2124-1 suggested each morning for two or three minutes,  a general work-out of the limbs, upper and lower, with a circular motion of the torso and the trunk portions of the body below the waist line.
 

DIET

    A diet consisting primarily of fruits and vegetables (Basic Cayce Diet) was typically recommended to improve assimilations and eliminations.
 

ELECTROTHERAPY

    The violet ray appliance was the most frequently recommended form of electrotherapy for cold hepatic circulation.  Reading 369-11 contains a good description of a violet ray treatment for cold hepatic circulation.  This reading prescribed the use of the violet ray every second or third day for several minutes over the 8th, 9th and 10 thoracic area especially.  The whole spine should naturally be included in the session.  After each session there should be a rest period for 15 to 20 minutes.