Inclined Bed Therapy (I.B.T.) Experiment Proposal

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Thanks for taking the time to read the information, and for considering our experiment.

The most important thing to remember if we are to help others decide to test this is to take pictures of affected ares before and during the experiment and add them to the forums gallery so we can all see what if any changes are occurring as a result of tilting the bed.

I suspect that significant changes will generally become apparent within two - four weeks of inclined bedrest, although some additional aches and pains and possibly a temporary stiffening in the neck may occur and generally vanishes after a few more days on the incline.
The larger text size is for those less fortunate than ourselves who may have failing sight as a result of psoriasis and / or general age related sight problems, not to hypnotise anyone.

[WheelieC]

I may well give this a go, even though it sounds completely bonkers to me.  But won't blood just be more likely to pool in the legs/ feet?   (where my p is worst)

[Andrew K Fletcher]

I met Helen for the first time today:  12th of June 07, noticing that she had lesions on her arms, particularly elbows. I recognised the condition as an acute form of psoriasis. 
Helen , aged 40, listened to my explanation of psoriasis being a circulatory problem under the skin, rather than an infection of any kind, she has lived with this problem from the age of fifteen years. I explained to Helen that Psoriasis has responded very well to Inclined Bed Therapy, where the head end of the bed is elevated by 15 centimetres, or 6 inches to form an even tilted sleeping surface, allowing the head end of the bed to be sloping down to the feet, with a level surface of no less than 5 degrees to the horizontal.

The reason for tilting the bed, stems from a very important discovery in circulation, relating to the effects upon dissolved mineral salts, and carbon sugars, which are denser than water, and are therefore influenced by gravity. Concentrations of said salts and sugars take place as a result of evaporation of water (h2o) from the skin, eyes, hair and respiratory tract. Evidence for these said concentrations taking place within the bodily fluids as a result of evaporation is self evident with the raised salinity of tears, saliva, sweat, saliva and surfactant in the lungs and respiratory tract. Recent analysis in sudden infant death syndrome indicates raised levels of bile salts in lung surfactant are evident under post-mortem examination. Having argued since 1994 that SIDS is related to horizontal sleeping posture, rather than whether a child sleeps prone or supine or on side, it is worth mentioning some recent developments in bile salt analysis in SIDS, at this point to cement in place the importance of clearing concentrations of said salts from areas of the body where accumulation is highest by using simple posture changes in our daily regimen.

Arch Dis Child 1997;77:120-123 ( August ) Raised bile acid concentrations in SIDS lungs at necropsy :Brian A Hills, Yi Chen, I Brent Masters, Yvette C Hills. Paediatric Respiratory Research Centre, Mater Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia. Correspondence to: Professor Hills. Accepted 6 May 1997.

Salt and carbon accumulation occurs within the body fluids and has long been established, Analysis of psoriasis You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to find that Psoriasis and salts have a long acquaintance, yet the effects upon the salts by gravity and posture has been ignored. But the article does touch upon seasonal changes and relapsing remitting psoriasis in relation to changes in weather. It must follow that anything that interferes with evaporation, I.E. High humidity, damp environment, or dry warm conditions will undoubtedly have a marked effect on the levels of salt concentrations in the whole body, particularly the skin. It must also follow that movements of denser fluids from an area of concentration to an area of lower concentration will undoubtedly be influenced by gravity. Influence by gravity on said accumulations of denser fluids depends upon posture. For example, if gravity is directed horizontally across the body, then salts will be pulled towards the lowest part of the body.   

[Andrew K Fletcher]

For example, if the arm is bent into a v shape with hands raised the lowest part of the arm would be the elbow; incidentally, the knee and elbow are often affected by psoriasis more aggressively and is often the site of sustained occurrence of psoriasis. But there may also be a direct correlation with flat sleeping posture and the areas of skin affected, for example, if a person sleeps on their back or tummy, or right or left side, which side of the body does the psoriasis worsen?

In the case of elevated Bile Salts in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) I suspect that elevating the upper body as suggested to Dr Chantler, former research advisor to The Foundation For SIDS, who, incidentally said; I believe you have solved Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and then ignored all further correspondence and failed to act upon the information she received in person at her home in London, would have undoubtedly assisted the removal of salts from the lungs into the artery and out through the kidneys and therefore excreted in the urine.

This argument for beneficial posture while sleeping or even resting in a seated position has been ignored by far too many people for far too long now, despite my many attempts to have this very important discovery in circulation investigated further. Failure to investigate these claims has undoubtedly contributed to the loss of lives of many thousands of people, including every single case of SIDS!

When the body is tilted correctly in relation to gravity, I.E. 5 degree to the horizontal with the head end of the mattress elevated as implicated above, the same concentrations of salts are beneficially moved from the lungs, eyes, skin, saliva and hair follicles back into the tubes that incidentally run predominantly in a vertical direction from head to toe, which IMO is no coincidence. Allowing circulation to be increased as a direct result of movement of said concentrations from the surface fluids back into the main circulation, down the arteries and into the filtration of the renal system, whereby the salts are excreted safely in the urine and discarded. Again evidence for raised levels of salts in the urine output can easily be tested against horizontal / head down tilt. And indeed has already been tested with conclusive proof that posture is of paramount importance in relation to the removal of toxins from the blood supply and body fluids. The Late Professor H.T.Hammel confirmed this in a telephone conversation, having observed intermittent pulses of salts exerting pressure on the inside of the artery as they travelled through the vessels of the body. He has published a huge amount of literature on the subject of fluid movement in both plant and human physiology, even identifying the current thinking on osmosis as completely incorrect.

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Which brings me back to Helen. When Helen arrived at my home, I was immediately drawn to the severe skin condition she has thru ought her entire body, more evident on the lower limbs, to which I have photographic evidence. Helen agreed to take part in an experiment to incline her bed and adopt Inclined Bed Therapy. I.B.T. based on several case histories, where psoriasis has been vastly improved and in some cases completely resolved

Logically, anything that interferes with either the accumulation of salt and carbon concentrations, or the movement of them from one area of the body to another, will have an impact upon circulation. This is because when salts are moved under the influence of gravity, a dragging effect on the rest of the bodily fluids must occur. In the case of the artery, the downward flow of denser fluids will exert a positive pushing force on the internal arterial surface, along with a positive force on the fluids in front of the falling denser fluids. But more importantly, behind the downward flowing denser fluids, a negative tension is exerted upon the fluids behind the downwardly flowing denser fluids. In the case of the artery, the positive pressure found within fits, and in the case of the venous return flow, the negative tension induced by the gravity induced flow will be apparent by the lack of positive pressure in the veins. You might be forgiven at this point for thinking that there is no massive shift of salts from one part of the body to another, and you would be correct. Because 1 grain of salt dissolved in water and coloured for a visual effect, can be observed to induce a very efficient circulation when added to a clear water filled tube. In fact, it brings about the same speed and force inside a tube as it does in a beaker of clear water. For example, take a pipette and add one drop of milk to the surface of a tall glass of water and observe not only the rapidly downward flowing milk, but also the self evidently induced return flow. Now picture, or indeed experiment with the same efficient flow inside a clear plastic inverted water filled tube with both open ends immersed in bottles of water, and a tiny amount of milk or salt solution coloured and you will see water transported rapidly from one vessel to another, giving an important understanding to gravity assisted venous return and arterial function.

It is worth remembering at this point that in early embryo development there is no heart pumping fluids, yet a pulsatile flow has been observed and well documented, long before the heart develops.


No theoretical work can be complete without making a prediction, and more importantly going on to either prove or disprove that prediction.

[Andrew K Fletcher]

In Helen’s case, the prediction is that the circulation of fluids in her skin, and indeed the main circulatory systems is compromised by a previously poor understanding of the importance of posture. Helen’s bed was tilted and she slept inclined for the first time on the 23rd of June 07, to see if I.B.T. can induce a beneficial effect on her skin, by addressing the direction of gravity acting upon dissolved solutes throughout her body. And indeed to confirm the 3 other reports from a pilot study of vastly improved psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, returning them to having normalised skin.
   
Helen has agreed to share before, during and after photographs, and she has agreed to join the forum and share her own experiences using I.B.T. with everyone by maintaining an online journal, noting all changes she might experience.

But one case will be anecdotal, but 10 cases while still anecdoatal can be more difficult to ignore, and 20 people reporting changes with supporting photogrphic evidence will prove impossible for anyone to ignore!

I need your help to show whether this simple modification to the way we sleep can have an impact on skin conditions.

In Helen’s case, the prediction is that the circulation of fluids in her skin, and indeed the main circulatory systems is compromised by a previously poor understanding of the importance of posture. Helen’s bed was tilted and she slept inclined for the first time on the 23rd of June 07, to see if I.B.T. can induce a beneficial effect on her skin, by addressing the direction of gravity acting upon dissolved solutes throughout her body. And indeed to confirm the 3 other reports from a pilot study of vastly improved psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, returning them to having normalised skin.
   
Andrew K Fletcher

+44 1803524117   thinklateral*hotmail.com

[WheelieC]

the same concentrations of salts are beneficially moved from the lungs, eyes, skin, saliva and hair follicles

So will I stop losing my hair as well!?!?   Sounds like a miracle cure to me.  When is 'Helen' going to post photos then so we can start to assess this for ourselves?


Sorry for seeming cynical Andrew but...

I recognised the condition as an acute form of psoriasis.  Helen , aged 40, listened to my explanation of psoriasis being a circulatory problem under the skin, rather than an infection of any kind

I would think everyone with p knows full well that it is not an infection;  your theory that it is a circulatory problem is a new one to me, and I have to say one that makes little sense given my own experience.    If it really is nothing to do with the immune system, why do such a hige percentage of sufferers experience flare (often the first flare) after a streptococcal infection?

Also, if there was a link between sleep position and p, why is so much of my p on my legs, and face?  My cardiovascular fitness is (modesty aside for a minute) very good by most people's standards, I have a resting heartrate of around 50.

[Andrew K Fletcher]

I may well give this a go, even though it sounds completely bonkers to me.  But won't blood just be more likely to pool in the legs/ feet?   (where my p is worst)

Maybe it is the salts in the fluids that causes pooling in legs, hands and feet? ever thought that density of fluids might have something to do with the location of the fluids?

Tilting the bed increases the density of urine output markedly over flat bed rest or normal daily activity. Fact! Now if more salts are excreted in the urine as a result of tilting the bed, maybe the oedema problem will resolve itself also.

With regard to my mentioning an infection, I was relating to the suspected primary cause of psoriasis, psoriasis being the secondary condition, which you touched upon in your reply as strep infection causing relapses.

Now, this is where the twist becomes interesting. Maybe, impeded circulation due to atmospheric changes leaves the body more susceptible to infection and therefore more susceptible to P. There is a definite link between weather and P, and none can deny there is a definite link to the onset of infectious diseases and germs when the air become humid or cold and damp as in the winter.

But remember this. The flat bed you are defending has never been verified as being the safest way to sleep! It has merely been adopted possibly because it looks tidier than a sloping bed. But an inclined bed was used by ancient Egyptians and sitting up in bed in the Tudor Period was found to stop people from dying of the sweating sickies, in fact some beds from the Tudor period were around 4 feet 6 inches long, leaving one to suspect that sleeping flat was anything but fashionable. And given that the huge majority of people pass away in their sleep might add the question how safe is sleeping flat?

But I don't expect everyone who reads this information to agree with it, and anticipate that one in fifty people reading it might actually decide to take part in the experiment.

Andrew

[bobmarch1]

This is great, if i can convince the better half to tilt the bed and let me take photo's without her thinking i've...gone mad, i'm in.

Does anybody else keep thinking of Wallace falling out the bottom of his bed when you read this?

[bobmarch1]

Joking aside Andrew this research is great and i appreciate the time and effort you have put in to share it with us.

Much Thanks