Circulation Of The Blood
Sources:
Papers On Health
Nothing is more important for the health or
healing of any organ or part of the body than a good supply of arterial
blood. Venous blood, collected by the veins after it has done its work
all over the body, or blood stagnating in congested organs, is useless
for growth and healing. To promote a vigorous circulation of blood in
any part we wish to cure is, then, of great importance; this may be
done by helping the heart
n various ways, especially if that be weak.
Lying down, and lying comfortably on the face, greatly assists
circulation. Placing a fainting person in this position will often
suffice to restore him. In congestion of any part, if possible keep
that part,--head, hand, or foot, as the case may be--above the level,
so that the escape of blood from it may be easy. Raising an inflamed
finger or toe thus, and keeping it up, will often relieve severe pain.
In inflamed kidneys, make the sufferer lie on his face as much as
possible. Other positions in other cases will be suggested by common
sense.
Again, heat expands the vessels of the body, and cold contracts them.
Cooling a congested part assists to drive excess of blood out of it,
and heating some other part opens accommodation for the blood so
expelled. This explains our hot poultice and fomentation as used with
cold cloths. Common sense will show us how to apply it as a principle
of treatment in many cases.
Again, a congested limb may often be very greatly relieved by proper
rubbing along the soft parts, the strokes being firm and steady, and
directed from the extremity of the limb towards the body. This rubbing
along the thigh relieves very much all swellings in the foot, ankle,
leg and knee. This principle may be widely applied by a little
common-sense thought.