| An exciting new study demonstrated the effect | | | | people with cancer. It doesn’t yet happen |
| of exercise seems to have the power to speed | | | | as often or as fast as it does with the cold or |
| wound healing and even heal cancer. From the | | | | with the flu, but it can. The main strategy to |
| desk of Dr Laurence Magne, author of Cancer | | | | improving the self-healing capacity of the body is |
| Free For Life Is it possible to control and influence | | | | obvious: increase the strength of the immune |
| rate at which injuries, wounds and even cancer | | | | system. Strengthening the immune system is |
| heal? That’s the question a group of | | | | probably the most significant thing you can do for |
| researchers from the Ohio State University asked | | | | yourself to heal cancer and wounds quicker, and |
| when they decided to observe wound healing | | | | as a happy side-effect, many other life |
| rates in a group of exercising older adults in | | | | improvements come along with an improved |
| comparison to that of a non-exercising control | | | | immune system. |
| group. This three-month study looked at the | | | | One very simple improvement is a modification in |
| effects of exercise on wound healing among | | | | breathing. Far too often, we take quick and |
| healthy older adults. All participants had not | | | | shallow breaths. This can lead to a higher blood |
| exercised regularly for six months, so the 28 | | | | pressure, as it constricts the blood vessels. That |
| participants who were encouraged to exercise | | | | constriction slows our circulation, which also reduce |
| were given one month to acclimatize to a new | | | | the speed with which our immune system can |
| exercise program that included 30 minutes of | | | | respond to a problem. Everything going on in your |
| pedaling on a stationary bike, 15 minutes jogging | | | | body is dependant upon a steady and regular |
| or brisk walking on a treadmill, and 15 minutes of | | | | circulation of blood. Anything that interferes with |
| strength training. Fifteen participants acted as | | | | that circulation is unhealthy and needs to be |
| controls by not changing their level of physical | | | | resolved immediately. It can slow down healing |
| activity. All then underwent a small puncture | | | | and promote cancer. |
| wound about half a centimeter across and deep | | | | The solution to this problem is really rather simple: |
| on the back of the upper arm. Individual wounds | | | | commit five minutes, three times a day, to |
| were measured three times a week until fully | | | | breathe deeply. You can do this while working, |
| healed. Regular exercisers took only 29 days to | | | | reading, driving, etc. You’ll probably find it |
| heal, while non-exercisers took up to 10 days | | | | most beneficial if you start your day and end |
| longer to recover. From these results, | | | | your day with one of these five minute breathing |
| researchers have speculated that exercise may | | | | exercises. To learn more ways to remain |
| speed wound healing by enhancing | | | | cancer-free, read Cancer Free For Life. Dr Magne |
| neuron-endocrine function, meaning that stronger | | | | has written in it the results of extensive studies |
| individuals have a higher body function that helps | | | | and research that demonstrate the cancer can be |
| the body heal wounds and cancer faster. The | | | | healed without chemotherapy or surgery. In close |
| point of this study is not that exercise is | | | | conjunction with the concept of deeper and more |
| important. It is now acknowledged as an | | | | thorough breathing is the practice of relaxation |
| important factor in maintaining health. The main | | | | with breathing exercises. This focuses solely on |
| point is that even moderate exercise can improve | | | | the action of breathing while you do it. Obviously, |
| the time to recover in wound and cancer healing. | | | | then, this requires that you not be driving or |
| In the case of a cancer diagnostic, the body and | | | | reading a book. Instead you simply find a |
| its recovery system: the immune system, are | | | | comfortable place to sit, put yourself into the |
| stressed by the attack of the disease on the | | | | most comfortable sitting posture, and focus on |
| body. Even a moderate level of exercise can | | | | your breathing. To really focus on breathing during |
| improve your condition. Your breathing rate | | | | this time, you should focus your attention on your |
| increases, bringing more oxygen to your cells. | | | | belly, as if you have a balloon in your stomach. |
| Your heart rate increases as well, pumping and | | | | Inhale, slowly, to fill the balloon and focus on the |
| circulating that oxygen to all parts of the body. | | | | expansion happening in your stomach area. Hold |
| The immune system contains some of the | | | | the breath for a comfortable amount of time and |
| fastest replicating cells in the human body. You | | | | exhale slowly, depleting the balloon in your |
| must remember that self healing does occur for | | | | stomach. |