A question for any other women-do you experience painful ovulation?

So here's the rundown-

Some women experience painful ovulation, which is referred to as "Mittelschmerz", a German word basically means "middle pain". Not a lot is known about mittelschmerz, but it's thought to be benign.

I experience this every month when I ovulate ( ) and I'm wondering if this is common among women who suffer from acne as a sign of imbalanced hormones.

I'm taking Niacin to see if it will help balance my hormones. I'm getting good results with my general regimen, but I feel like I can be doing more internally to help speed the healing. I just took my first pill today though, so we'll see

Poll: Which side of your face generally has more acne?

Please answer. If you are clear, think back to when you had acne and which side was more severe. if you only have acne in the center of your face, or the severity is equal on both sides, choose neither.

What do you imagine it being like when you're finally clear?

I think I will probably cry-big tears of joy, and finally being free of the burden of having acne. Of course, it's a process. Baby steps, you know? But I know there will be a time when I can find my freedom. Watching acne fade away, that's one thing. But waking up one day, and realizing that finally, after all the waiting, all the trials, all the treatments, all the tears, that you are finally clear? It almost seems too good to be possible. And I hope that I have scars, so that when I'm clear and people ask me what happened to my skin, I can say that I used to have acne. And they can think whatever they want to, but for me...

It will always be a reminder that, with faith, I am strong and anything is possible.

What will you do when you're clear?

Big Discovery: The Lymphatic Drainage System

*Disclaimer* I WILL NOT SAY THIS IS A CURE, or that it has helped my acne. My acne's gotten a little better in the past few days, but that could be because of many other things. Th point of this post is to just put the information out there, and not to advertise a cure. This if for people to consider and discuss. And that is all


Doing some research about Castor Oil, I ran across something about the lymphatic drainage system. Apparently Castor oil helps stimulate it. This is worth reading through, because I'm almost positive this is a big part on my own acne, and I will explain why later.



Functions of the Lymphatic System

The lymphatic works in close cooperation with other body systems to perform this important functions:

* It works with the circulatory system to deliver nutrients, oxygen, and hormones to the cells that make up the tissues of the body.
* It removes excess fluid, waste, debris, dead blood cells, pathogens, cancer cells, and toxins from these cells and the spaces between them.
* It collects protein molecules created within the cells and return these proteins must be returned to the bloodstream. Because the molecules are too large to through the capillaries of the circulatory system, they must be transported through the lymphatic system until they return to the bloodstream.
* When lymphedema affects an area the lymph cannot drain properly and it becomes stagnant within this protein-rich fluid. For this reason, lymphedema affected tissues are prone to infections.
* It aids the immune system in destroying pathogens and filtering waste so that the lymph can be safely returned to the circulatory system.

The Origin of Lymph

Lymph originates as plasma, which is the fluid portion of blood. The aterial blood flows slows as it moves through through a capillary bed (see figure above). This slowing allows some plasma to leave the arterioles, flow into the tissues and become tissue fluid.

* Also known as intercellular fluid or interstitial fluid it delivers to the cells the nutrients, oxygen, and hormones that were transported by this fluid.
* When this fluid leaves the cells, it collects cellular waste products.
* Approximately 90 percent of this tissue fluid flows into the venules. Here it enters the venous circulation as plasma.
* The remaining 10 percent of the fluid is now known as lymph.

Lymphatic Flow

The lymphatic system does not have a pump to help it flow through out the body. Therefore this system is designed so that lymph can only flow upward through the body from the extremities (feet and hands) toward the neck where the lymph enters the subclavian veins and once again becomes plasma in the bloodstream.

Lymphatic Capillaries

In order to leave the tissues, the lymph must enter the lymphatic system through specialized lymphatic capillaries which are located just under the skin. These begin as blind-ended tubes that are only a single cell in thickness. These cells are arranged in a slightly overlapping pattern, much like the shingles on a roof. As shown in this animation below, pressure from the fluid surrounding the capillary forces these cells to separate for a moment to allow lymph to enter the capillary. Then the cells of the wall close together. This does not allow the lymph to leave the capillary but forces it to move forward. (This animation was provided courtesy of John Ross, Senior Teaching Fellow, University of Luton, UK.)

Lymphatic Vessels

The lymphatic capillaries gradually join together to form a mesh-like network of tubes that are located deeper in the body. As they become larger, these structures are known as lymphatic vessels.

* Deeper within the body the lymphatic vessels become progressively larger and are located near major veins.
* Like veins, the lymphatic vessels have valves to prevent any backward flow.
* Angions are the segments created by the space between two sets of valves.
* Smooth muscles in the walls of the lymphatic vessels cause the angions to contract sequentially to aid the flow of lymph toward the thoracic region.

Lymph Nodes

Lymph must be filtered before it returns to the circulatory system and this is the function of the lymph nodes. There are between 600-700 lymph nodes present in the average human. Although these nodes can increase or decrease in size thoughout life,any nodes that have been damaged or destroyed, do not regenerate.


Why This Information is so Important

* Damage disturbs the flow. When lymphatic tissues or lymph nodes have been damaged, destroyed or removed, lymph cannot drain normally from the affected area. When this happens excess lymph accumulates and results in the swelling that is characteristic of lymphedema
* Drainage areas. The treatment of lymphedema is based on the natural structures and the flow of lymph. The affected drainage area determines the pattern of the manual lymph drainage (MLD) and for self-massage. Although lymph does not normally cross from one area to another, MLD stimulates the flow from one area to another. It also encourages the formation of new lymph drainage pathways.
* MLD treatment and self-massage begin by stimulating the area near the terminus and the larger lymphatic vessels. This stimulates the flow of lymph that is already in the system and frees space for the flow of the lymph that is going to enter the capillaries during the treatment. See How Lymphedema is Treated.
* MLD treatment continues as a gentle massage technique to stimulate the movement of the excess lymph in affected tissues. The rhythmic, light strokes of MLD provide just the right pressure to encourage this excess lymph to flow into the lymph capillaries.
* The compression garments, aids, and/or bandages that are worn between treatments help control swelling by providing pressure that is needed to encourage the flow of lymph into the capillaries. See Compression Treatment of Lymphedema.
* Exercise is important in the treatment of lymphedema because the movements of the muscles stimulate the flow of the lymph into the capillaries. Wearing a compression garment during exercise also provides resistance to further stimulate this flow.
* Self-massage, as prescribed by your therapist, is another way in which lymph is encouraged to flow into the capillaries. Each self-massage session begins at the terminus with strokes to stimulate the flow of lymph that is already in the system. This is followed by specialized strokes that encourage the flow of lymph into the capillaries and then upward to the terminus.


The above information came from and belongs to www.Lymphnotes.com

Here is a picture of the lymphatic drainage system: http://www.gorhams.dk/assets/images/lymfesystemet.gif



The reason I assume that my acne is contributed to by possible lack of flow in my lymphatic system, is because the worst of my acne is directly along where the system lies under the facial skin: down the sides of my face and down each both corners of my lips in a line.

I share this because I doubt I'm the only one probably affected by these same problems.


As you have read (or skimmed ) lymphatic blockage or stagnancy can be fixed through gentle massage. Exercise is also supposed to be good. Here are three massage related things that might be helpful.

-Facial Castor oil massage-Basically, when I apply my Castor oil at night, I apply it in a gentle, massage like way. This is done in gentle strokes along the lines of the LDS as can be seen in the above picture, in a downward motion. Do little strokes and work down, not one big swipe.

-Neck LDS massage-This is also done very gently, and I did not produce this process. this can be done with dry hands, but a little Castor is good if you have it handy. Take both hands and place them under your ears. Very gently stroke the skin so it pulls back toward the base of the back of your neck. Continue in small strokes down your neck. Where your shoulders begin, gently pull the skin toward the collarbone,and continue to the ends of your shoulders.

-Body Brush Massage-I also didn't create this. Basically, while naked, and with a natural bristle brush, gently stroke up your legs in short strokes. Once you get past your hips, brush in a circular motion over the rest of your body. This is very good for the LDS/circulation, and is very relaxing.


Hopefully this information has been helpful to some. Please ask questions and discuss this theory!

Can't view other pages on forums?

I noticed this first yesterdayish. Basically, I can view the first page of a thread, but when I click to go to other pages (page 2, page 3, and so on) it just shows a repeat of the first page, every single time.

This is very frustrating, and it keeps happening on every thread I go to.

Anyone else experiencing this problem as well? Can somebody fix it?