Standing on my head... Good for me or not? PLease?

I heard somewhere, years ago, that it can cure a bad back & all sorts of other ailments if you spend time standing on your head, I.E Doing a headstand rather than a handstand I mean..

Im trying to find out if this is an old wives tale or perhaps if people with a knowledge for alternative type medicine etc could perhaps throw some light on it for me.
Is it a possible cure for back problems and other digestive stuff perhaps.
I know in hospital they virtually hang you upside down in a bed to drain water from your lungs, so its not a completely outrageous question...
I also know that standing on my head for more than three quaters of an hour is indeed enough to kill me, so I am sensible enough not to TTP (extract the urine)

Anyone knowledgeable on this please
Thanks in advance!

lol@tall paul!!
Thnx for the answers so far...only thing is its hard to choose a best amswer seeing as they are also helpful. so thanx anyway and i will see what else comes up

There is an experimental traction procedure called vertebral axial decompression. It is not an accepted form of treatment as of this time. Also remember this is traction not compression.

I would say that the answer to you question is that what you are suggesting is bad for you. This would actually compress your vertebral bodies exacerbating any pain or deformity that you do have.

You risk all sorts of blood pressure related problems by doing this. If you are hypertensive it will increase your blood pressure. If you have Peripheral Vascular Disease you will starve your extremeties of needed oxygen.

I don't advise this practice.

Sorry, no idea.

Just wanted to say how well your question and your avatar go together :-)

if u are a gymnast its okayy.
if your not u could break ur back if you are careful!

OH yes quite good. Look at the guy in the Adams family TV show, he was standing on his head all the time and I never saw him with any problems with his family life. Yep, head standing is usually good if you do it right. If not properly trained you could easily hurt or strain yourself when going "up" and when going "down". I personally can't do it, but everybody I know that does it, swears by the benefits. Plus when the world turns upside down on you, your are ready to face it straight on.

hmmm difficult one......i know that hanging upside down elongates the spine and can alieviate a bad back because it stops the vertabrae from presing on the discs but whether or not it's any good for your whole system in the long run i don't know. the digestive system is the way it is for a reason and quite how tipping it upside down would help it in any way is beyond me to be honest. your eosophagus has a flap designed specifically to stop reflux which should really tell you that the body is not into being tipped upside down. putting your feet up is good to alieviate pain if you've been on your feet all day but whole body????? can't help much i'm afraid. sorry.

Tobermory is thinking of spending some Argos vouchers he has been given on an Inversion Table, for tipping self upside down. I don't know how good for you it is: - The text says, "Helps reduce back pain, increases flexibility and improved circulation... used by chiropractors and athletes."
Mostly though, it just seems like such fun!!! Anyone wanting one, its p1261 of the Argos catalogue!!