I. Physiological Considerations

The physiology of the development of hydrocephalus in the human being is considerably different in the Cayce readings from that concept held rather consistently today in the field of medicine. In the readings, there is seen an incoordination between the patches of emunctory or lymphatic tissue which act as the centers of coordination between the cerebrospinal and the autonomic nervous systems. The patches are located in the sympathetic ganglia, the dorsal root ganglia, or the spinal cord. The larger patches, which have the most significant roles in this function, are found in the coccygeal area; in the sixth, seventh and ninth dorsal areas; and in the cervical first, second and third.

Lack of coordination of this particular type apparently produces an excess of lymph fluid from impulses in the coccygeal area of the spinal cord. Cayce saw a congenital type of defect which might be described as a lack of a closure of certain parts of the nervous system in the coccygeal area, where he said the trouble with hydrocephalus arises. Then through these openings there are tendencies for the nerve impulse to seep in at the end of the spine. This then stimulates the incoordination in the lymphatic flow which brings about the excesses.

While this certainly is not entirely clear, this same picture is repeated in reading after reading and is perhaps best exemplified by the following extract:

Q-1. What caused her present condition originally?
A-1. Lack of closing of those ends when, in and through the period of gestation, that termed a tail drops off….. the body. (3562-1)

This reading was given for a five-year-old girl who, at the time of the reading, was able to talk and was intelligent but was unable to walk because of the size of her head.

Cayce does not mention anywhere obstruction as being an etiologic factor. He does mention in 3208-1 a karmic factor. This boy – 17 years old – had cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus. Here it was implied that the illness would be more difficult to correct because of its karmic nature.

Assimilation of certain substances must be proper; and we would assume that the assimilation through the Peyer’s patches principally has in some manner have a relationship with the health and welfare of the lymphatic patches found in the nervous system itself. In the readings reviewed for this commentary, only one, 727-1, specified therapy which would be aimed specifically at the areas of assimilation.

There apparently is a relationship between the amount of lymphatic fluid produced through the incoordination described and the recommended use of atropine in the area near the coccyx, which Cayce described as often being “open” to the aberrant and trouble-making nerve impulses. There are apparently certain stages at which the atropine effect restores a balance in the production of lymph fluid.

Also interesting is the nature of change that comes about in this condition as therapy progresses. Apparently Cayce saw lack of actual nerve filaments in certain areas, which produce an inability for proper communication between the two major nervous systems already mentioned. As therapy progressed, then, he saw a gradual production of new nerve tissue where none existed before. If such a concept is tenable, then it is understandable why therapy designed to bring about the changes he suggests are needed must be continued over a long period of time. Nerve tissue does not grow rapidly. The following is a quotation which suggests just this particular concept.

While there is not outwardly a great deal of change, there is, in those centers indicated, the causing of better coordination between the sympathetic and cerebrospinal system and much better reaction. There are “feelers out” in the emunctory activity and the patches in the lymph activity which causes and will produce the connections causing the action through the sensory system to be improved. (3208-2)

II. Rationale of Therapy

In approaching therapy, we should remember that the body has a capability of normal function:

Thus, we would administer those activities which would bring a normal reaction through these portions, stimulating them to an activity from the body itself, rather than the body becoming dependent upon supplies that are robbing portions of the system to produce activity in other portions, or the system receiving elements or chemical reactions being supplied without arousing the activity of the system itself for a more normal condition. (1968-3)

From the physiology already discussed, it becomes apparent that therapy should be aimed primarily at reestablishing a balance between the various emunctory patches in the spinal or autonomic areas which provide a relationship between the cerebrospinal and the autonomic nervous systems. When this coordination and the nerve tissue to carry proper impulses are reestablished, then the cerebrospinal fluid will be manufactured in the proper amounts and tissue will begin to establish a normal pattern.

It is questionable whether a head that has already enlarged will return to normal size, but this would probably be dependent upon the degree of calcification and the amount of enlargement that has already occurred.

One child, [3555], was given very little chance to continue his life in this experience, because of a karmic affliction, which would seemingly require very specific care that the parents perhaps were not mentally or emotionally adjusted to pursue and complete.

Thus the prognosis to be considered in any therapeutic program would depend upon many factors, even assuming that nerve tissue can and is being restored and rebuilt, and coordinations are brought back to normal.

In the younger individuals, manipulative therapy such as osteopathy and chiropractic was not advised in those cases reviewed. Osteopathy was suggested for a 17-year-old boy, [3208]. However, in the case of the five-year-old girl already mentioned, it was specifically suggested that osteopathy and chiropractic should not be used but that treatments should be neuropathic (apparently meaning a massage which is designed to affect the nerve endings of the cerebrospinal system and the autonomic – this through massage of those areas lying close to the spine and between the vertebral bodies where the connections would be made with the sympathetic ganglia). The massage thus should be concentrated in certain specific areas or “axes.” This would mean probably the lumbo-sacral/coccygeal axis for the parasympathetic outflow; the seventh to ninth dorsal for the areas affecting the adrenals; and the first, second, and third cervicals which apparently have the greatest effect on the cranial parasympathetic outflow. Through the use of these massages or treatments, the nerves or the lymphatic patches are gradually restored so that coordination is improved between the areas which control the nerve relationships.

Atropine should probably be used in a hypodermic injection at the spine where L-5 joins the sacro-coccygeal segments. This should not be injected into the bone or into the spinal canal, but rather hypodermically. The rationale of this is rather difficult to postulate unless it is assumed that most of the activity of the drug occurred in this particular area where Cayce said it would cause a closing of those “ends” and a drying of the lymph which is being produced mainly from impulses in this area.

In summary, treatment should be directed at drying the lymph, bringing the cerebrospinal and autonomic nervous systems into better relationship, and bringing about a coordination of the various axes of the nervous system. Attention should also be given to proper assimilation.

III. Suggested Therapeutic Regimen

For the young hydrocephalic, who is still in the developmental stage, a small dose of atropine injected hypodermically at the junction of L-5 and S-1 should be the first therapy given. In a two-year-old boy who was karmically afflicted and probably did not survive for long, a large 1/60th grain dosage was given. However, in the five-year-old girl the dosage was 1/ 180th grain. She was larger but apparently the dose should be very small. For a young infant or one much smaller than a five-year-old, the dose should be significantly less than the 1/ 180th grain.

If the child is too young or restless to stand a long period of massage each day, massage should be centered on one axis one day, then another the next. Or else the entire massage three or four times a week might be a better procedure. The neuropathic adjustments or massages do not need to move the segments themselves, but there needs to be the coordinating of those patches of the emunctory now between the lymphatic, or sympathetic-lymphatic and cerebrospinal system. The adjustments or massages in the last lumbar and in the coccyx segments should be also upon the brush end of the cerebro-spinal nerves themselves. “To interpret this perfectly, x-ray the end of the spine – not the head, but where the source is – the last lumbar and the coccyx center.” (3562-1)

In case [3208], osteopathic treatments were suggested as the only therapy. Also, diathermy to the lacteal duct area and the solar plexus area was suggested for an eight-year-old boy whose assimilation was improper; the diathermy was needed to break up the troubles in the Peyer’s patches.

Thus it is seen that a course of therapy should be adopted which would fit the particular case and would center around an attempt to balance the incoordinations, close up the areas where abnormal impulses may arise, and bring about a regeneration of nerve tissue in the spinal cord or the sympathetic nerve system itself.

It must be reemphasized that patience, persistence, and consistency should be used when applying this therapy. Nerve tissue cannot regenerate quickly and a period of therapy aimed at perhaps two to three years should be anticipated when this is begun.

Do these, as we have indicated… Not as rote, but knowing that within self must be found that which may be awakened to the building of that necessary for the body, mentally and physically, and spiritually, to carry its part in this experience. For the application of any influence must have that which is of the divine awakening of the activative forces in every atom, every cell of a living body. (726-1)

Note: The preceding overview was written by William A. McGarey, M.D. and is excerpted from the Physician’s Reference Notebook, Copyright © 1968 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation, Virginia Beach, VA.