TOPIC:

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but couldn't find any info on that. Wondering why the elevation should be six inches. I would think even a little higher was be more beneficial for circulation?
I've tried it now for 2 nights and facial swelling is down tremendously, although that could be because I've been more active that usual the last couple days also. Hoping and waiting to see if migraines disappear!

It's not the six inches that's important it's the angle...so if your bed is longer than standard then maybe seven inches will give the five degree angle. It's at this angle that circulation benefits the most....more than this may be a bit strenuous on the body..but might work for some, you want to be comfortable enough to rest as well. It IS the incline benefitting...to say " although it could be something else" is a counterproductive mindset. I noticed on Timpones interviews with Fletcher...he kept saying he felt good on incline BUT does many things so cannot be sure. This is a big problem for us humans...as soon as something moves our chi we become slightly afraid...trust me you will benefit a lot. It's the inclined bed. Good luck.

Thanks Ozone for your reply and answer. I am at almost 5 degree angle with 6 inch risers. I was going to raise up another inch, but I will keep it where it is.
The inclined position theory makes a lot of sense, I have no doubt it can correct many ailments. But I also know that increasing physical activity can help too with certain things, and as I had increased physical activity probably more than 50% of normal for me for the last few days, thought that might have added to the reduction in facial swelling. Just wish I would have started when on my usual routine, just to be sure. Not counterproductive mindset at all because I will continue with it. And looking forward to more improvements. I’ll be sure experientially if edema continues to be reduced on a normal routine and if migraines become ‘a thing of the past’ for me, because no physical or dietary changes have significantly corrected migraines.

Don't you think the increased activity could also be due to sleeping inclined? I would wager it is. So you are right....the activity is also good. Best of luck.

I used a closed loop of tubing filled with water with a little coloured solution added to where the tube was joined. The joined part of the tube containing the coloured salt solution was placed at the head end of the bed to observe how circulation occurred. Up to a 4 inch raise on a standard double UK bed the downward flowing salt solution ran along the bottom of the tube in one side of the loop. The fresh water ran above it in the same side. In other words, two directional flow in one tube. When the bed was raised a further inch, the complete loop of tubing circulated. The coloured salt solution flowed down one side representing arterial blood flow and the clean water flowed up the other side representing the venous return.
Another inch was added to the bed, which did not appear to accelerate the flow and return circulation. The higher you raise your bed, the more discomfort and slipping you will experience.
After varicose veins went flat in 4 weeks using the six inch raise which produced a 5 degree angle, I knew we had achieved a positive change in circulation.
I then asked the curator of a Boston Museum to measure an Ancient Egyptian Inclined Bed and it too was elevated six inches higher at the head end.

Thank you Andrew for your explanation. Very much appreciated!

Andrew, how long exactly is a UK double bed long? I am finding beds of all sorts of lengths here in Africa.

Have added a FAQ article for UK Bed Sizes: www.inclinedbedtherapy.com/faq/113-what-size-is-my-bed

Thanks. From my calculations then it means basically one gets full benefit passing 4degree incline.... If I target 4.5 I am in the clear. 5 guaranteed. Just put my daughter to 4.8 degree on my inclinometer....doubling bed risers. Whole family is now almost 5 degree inclined.

I just recently watched another interview with Andrew on a Clive de Carle show, and he mentions for some beds like kingsize ones, they may need to be raised 7.5 inches. I didn't understand this until I did some reading and it seems my inclined bed therapy for the last 5 months has only been done at 4.57 degree angle, instead of the recommended 5 degrees.

I am from the UK and my double bed is 75 inches long, so for the past 5 months I have had my bed raised by 6 inches only, and this means I only had an elevation of 4.57 degrees. I didn't realize that when Andrew said to raise the bed 6 inches that he was referring to a smaller length bed of 68 inches only, and in fact didn't understand until now just how important the length of a bed is when setting the height.

I have just finished re-adjusting things and its now been raised 8.25 inches at the end, but doing the maths this now equates to 6.28 degrees at the very end. I sleep with my head about 12 inches below the top of the mattress but this still is a 7 inch rise, and 6.05 degrees angle.

I know its a little over the recommended 5 degrees so will this be an issue? Also, does it matter much where I rest my head on the mattress?

Thanks.
Paul.

4.5 degrees is good enough actually. Andrews initial study revealed even 5 inches was enough..he put the last inch just for good measure. Spinal cord injury people sometimes go 8 inches to increase the traction....by my calculations Andrew started seeing circulation in the pipes by 3.8 degrees actually. To get to 5 degrees was just to make sure. Best is test it out yourself and see what seems to work for you.

Aim for 5 degrees for comfort and effect. Going higher you trade off comfort and introduce sheer forces, You may also find your bottom rib aches when sleeping on your side because of the increased angle. However, I have seen beds raised much higher than five degrees and those using then are comfortable.

You can download an inclinometer app for your phone which when placed on the bed frame will read the angle of your bed.

Ozone is correct, I originally tested a 5 inch raise on a standard bed and added an inch, which coincidentally matched the Ancient Egyptian Inclined Beds.


How are you finding IBT ?

Andrew

*** Removed large part of this post which is in my testimonial ***

As I said in a previous post, a couple of days ago I have decided to raise my bed again now by just over 8 inches, which gives me just over a 6 degree angle at my head. I know you suggest I go for the 5 degree mark, but I am going to try out my new setting for a week or so first, because its actually made my pains disappear completely when I now lay on my side - being completely pain free on sleeping is something I have never experienced over these past few years, so I am going to go with the flow for now.

Paul.

Hi Paul, thank you so much for sharing your experience and thoughts, very interesting reading through your post.
RE: psoriasis. We had a lady stay with us for 8 days using an inclined bed. By the time she went home her psoriasis on scalp and elbows had completely gone. Her usually dry paper like skin on body arms and legs indicated a lack of potassium, backed up by her usually getting cramps at night. The cramps continued while she was here but got less. No potassium was given as a supplement. She also said she felt stronger fitter and had more energy and indeed managed some long walks. 5 miles one day, something she could not have done before. She also reported sight improvements and for someone who has very poor sight and almost blind in one eye, this was very exciting to witness.

By day 5 she came into our kitchen and said look at this. She sat down and rotated her ankle, moved her toes and moved her ankle forwards and backwards. For 28 years she had not been able to do this because of a broken ankle and metal plates, which were eventually removed. 2 months prior to coming here, she was told by her physio that she would never be able to move the ankle and foot again.

In your post, you said it took several months before the bed began to work. What happened there was the bed began working from day 1 and it took you all that time to realise the changes that were taking place. This is normal for people using IBT

Your back problem should also become far less troublesome.

Andrew

PS could you also add your post to the testimonials section?

Hi Andrew, I have just added it to the testimonials page after copying it from my desktop. I made a slight change in the latter part of it as it was not relevant. No need to put up my last post at all here.

Paul.