Parameters and their use in monitoring blood flow and evaluating waste clearance at home

Blood flow patterns in the body change in response to activity.
The ability to monitor changes in blood flow pattern
at home during the day is useful in optimizing neurovascular benefits via activity.
Previous studies have established
direct relationships between blood flow and temperature
in peripheral tissues and in the brain.
In this study, I measured palm and forehead temperature
to understand how blood flow patterns change in response to qigong and other activities.
I found that the relaxation response elicited by qigong
leads to an increase in hand blood flow
but a decrease in brain blood flow slightly below resting levels.
This finding is in disagreement with the current
understanding that the relaxation response
increases blood flow to the brain above resting levels.
I describe the unexpected effect of increased blood flow on the health of my fingers
over the years.
This study also presents a case to illustrate
that passing gas out of the body is an important part
of waste clearance. Thus I propose
that the number of times the body passes gas
during the day be used as a measure of
the effectiveness of diet and behavior in waste clearance.