The Perrin Technique
The Science
A physical disorder, not a psychological condition with physical symptoms.
This section aims to explain the science underpinning The Perrin Technique by examining various body parts, systems, and their functions. When these systems malfunction, they can contribute to conditions like ME/CFS, FMS, and long-Covid.
Since the 1980s, Dr. Perrin has proposed that ME/CFS and FMS are biophysical disorders, challenging the then-prevailing view that these conditions were psychosomatic.
Dr. Perrin suggests that a malfunction in the autonomic nervous system disrupts the lymphatic system, resulting in toxin accumulation within the body and central nervous system. These toxins neurologically impair daily brain functions, causing a range of physical symptoms.
Today, the medical community widely recognizes these conditions as biophysical disorders, supported by extensive research that aligns with Dr. Perrin's hypothesis, although conducted independently.
For more in-depth information, please refer to Dr Perrin’s published works.
Blood Brain Barrier
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial defence mechanism, blocking potentially harmful substances (toxins) from entering the brain through the bloodstream. It plays a vital role in delivering essential nutrients to brain tissues and maintaining a stable and healthy microenvironment within the brain.
Traditionally, the concept of the BBB posed challenges to the understanding of the glymphatic system. Recent studies, however, have identified seven specific regions where the brain lacks this protective barrier. Under certain conditions the BBB can be compromised, leading to increased permeability and heightened exposure to toxic substances.
CVOs
Circumventricular organs (CVOs) are highly permeable structures that allow hormones and other substances to bypass the blood-brain barrier, facilitating their entry into the brain and influencing brain function.
Due to their larger molecular size, hormones often cannot cross the blood-brain barrier on their own. CVOs provide a pathway for these larger molecules to move in and out of specific brain regions, such as the hypothalamus, ensuring proper brain function and hormonal regulation.
Biofeedback
The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions, including the release of hormones. For instance, when blood glucose levels rise, the hypothalamus signals the pancreas to release more insulin. This mechanism, known as biofeedback, is facilitated by circumventricular organs that allow larger molecules, such as hormones, to cross the blood-brain barrier. However, this process also permits larger toxin molecules to enter the brain.
Glymphatic System
Dr. Perrin first proposed this idea in 1989, but it was initially dismissed because of the blood-brain barrier. Today, it is widely recognized that the brain has its own toxin drainage system.
Identified in 2013, the glymphatic system derives its name from its reliance on glial cells and its functional similarities to the lymphatic system. This system is responsible for removing waste from the central nervous system.
Central Nervous System
The central nervous system, comprising the brain and spinal cord, regulates all your activities, including muscle movements, organ functions, complex thought processes, and planning.
Cerebrospinal fluid plays a crucial role in safeguarding the central nervous system. It also eliminates waste products from the brain by channelling toxins through paravascular and perivascular spaces, ultimately depositing them in the lymphatic system.
Drainage Channels
Paravascular spaces are openings adjacent to blood vessels, while perivascular spaces are located within the walls of arteries. These pathways facilitate the movement of toxins, allowing them to enter the lymphatic system through small openings in the skull.
The skull features drainage channels around the cribriform plate and along various cranial nerves, including the olfactory nerve (associated with the nose), optic nerve (connected to the eyes), auditory nerve (linked to the ears), and trigeminal nerve (related to the cheeks). Additionally, these drainage pathways extend down the spinal cord.
Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system, an integral component of the immune system, includes tissues, lymph vessels, and organs, all interconnected by lymph nodes. This system functions as a one-way drainage network, circulating lymph throughout the body.
Lymph, containing white blood cells, plays a crucial role in fighting infections. It transports bacteria and toxins to lymph nodes, where lymphocytes work to break down harmful bacteria, viruses, as well as damaged and cancerous cells.
Lymphatic Pump
Lymphatic vessels, resembling fish gills in their structure, play a crucial role in transporting lymph. They effectively capture and expel waste products and destroyed bacteria, sending them back into the bloodstream for delivery to the liver, where they are processed.
The thoracic duct, situated within the thoracic spine, is pivotal in managing the lymphatic system's pumping action. This duct's function is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system, ensuring efficient lymphatic circulation.
SNS
The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) starts in the spinal cord and extends through the thoracic and upper lumbar regions. It regulates involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate, and the fight-or-flight response during stressful or dangerous situations.
Prolonged stress can overwhelm the SNS, impairing its ability to function properly. This disruption can cause a buildup of toxins and may even reverse the flow of lymph within the lymphatic system.
