Vol. 17

No. 05

When Symptoms are Far Removed From the Cause

 

This anonymous article describes an important missing link in the healing arts: Viscero-Somatic Reflexes or internal organs to body surface disturbances. This connection can provide both pain relief and healing to many people suffering from persistent pain.

Ruth had suffered from an “irritable colon” syndrome for more than five years. During that period, she had consulted and was treated·by three chiropractors, two physicians, an accupuncturist, a dietician and a clinical psychologist. She had submitted to x-rays, blood tests, allergy tests, stool analyses and hypnosis but, in spite of all, she still had her irritable colon until she went to the third chiropractor on the insistence of a friend. In describing her visit to the doctor, she said he first carefully examined her spine and then began palpating her abdomen using the tip of just one finger while explaining that he was searching for small nodules that may have formed deep within the skin or in the muscles of the abdominal wall. Leaving the abdomen, he then began a similar search along the sides of her thighs “and it is here that he hit pay pay dirt.” she said. “He found a dozen or more spots on each thigh that were really painful when he massaged them. I had no idea that I had all those tender spots.” She continued, “Although the doctor treated only a few of the spots on that first visit, I felt so much more relaxed in my abdomen that evening and in the morning, I had the most normal, easy bowel movement I’ve had for five years.” She said that she had a total of six treatments and considers herself completely cured.

In the 1930’s a practitioner in France gained world-wide fame as the doctor who could “cure the incurable,” and patients came to him from all over the world. His treatment consisted solely of a form of rotary massage over sites where he found “subdermal fibrositic nodules.” For these, he searched especially on the scalp, the peristernal regions, the abdominal wall, the lateral aspects of the thighs and the feet.

Another case known to this writer involves a woman, age 40, who had suffered with an intractable diarrhea for six months. She tried a number of therapeutic approaches but none were successful. Finally, on the urging of a friend, she contacted a physician who had been trained in the Voll method of electro-accupuncture. (Dr. Voll is a medical physician in Germany) After hearing the woman’s history and inasmuch as she had not responded to the customary procedures, he immediately inspected her mouth giving special attention to the teeth which Voll had found to have an “energetic relationship” with the colon via the meridian system. On one of the teeth, he found a crack in the enamel though she had never experienced any discomfort in the tooth. The doctor explained that this is likely the cause of her diarrhea and suggested that she see her dentist for appropriate repair. Though she thought this was the silliest thing she had ever heard, she did see her dentist and the repair was completed and by the following day, the diarrhea had ceased. Another example of the body’s “interconnectiveness.”

Even the universally recognized laws of viscero-somatic reflexes and referred pain often place the site of the most troublesome symptoms at considerable distance from the real problem, the point of origination of the reflex. A good example is the familiar, obstinate case of torticollis involving the sternocleidomastoideus and/or the upper portion of the trapezius on the left side due to an irritation in the colon in the area of the splenic flexure. This reflex occurs often enough to justify a rule to palpate deeply in the splenic area to elicit possible pain as an indicator of an irritation within the colon. This writer has seen many cases of left sided “torticollis” relieved only after a colon irrigation or an enema.

 

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Newsletter Archives

The following previous issues can be accessed by clicking on the title:

Vol. 17, No.4: ”The Hub of Healing

The present era has led to a rise in chronic diseases that includes cancer, diabetes, asthma, neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, depression and cardiac disorders. The medical system worldwide is overwhelmed with shortages of medical staff and supplies to meet the demand for help.

Vol. 17, No.3: ”Nature's Hidden Remedy

What if there was a healing method so simple that it could have a strong positive impact on human health? There is such a method and yet few people know about its existence, because it lies hidden within the gut. It is the Parasympathetic Reflex, and there are two body therapies that work with this little-recognized healing mechanism in a unique way---NVD Bennett Reflex and Boyesen Psychoperistalsis.

Vol. 17, No.2: ”How to Stay Alive - Part 2

In Part I of this series we discussed our tiniest blood vessels, the capillaries, which are the small delivery vehicles for essential life-sustaining nutrients. Adequate microcirculation from capillaries to the tissues is also dependent on the integrity of the endothelium, the cells that line the inside of the capillary tube.

Vol. 17, No.1: ”How to Stay Alive

What damages our health and shortens our lives? What is the “River of Life” and how does it keep us alive and vital? The River is the blood stream, and the full flow of this river and its tributaries nourishes the soil, which in our case is the human body. Over years the flow of the river (blood) can decline due to dietary, mental, and environmental stresses.

Vol. 16, No.1: "Secrets of the Body"

Health in its broadest sense is dependent upon two fundamental factors: the integrity of the blood supply and the balance of the nervous system. The blood supplies the nourishment and the nerves control the distribution process. Any disturbance of these two factors is the beginning of illness.

Vol. 15, No.10: "Choosing Healing Over Fixing"

All of us when in pain and discomfort want it quickly gone yesterday. However, we all know from experience it is not always that easy as millions have chronic health challenges.

Vol. 15, No.9: "Our Hidden Support System"

The human body possesses an innate barrier than protects it from invasions of bacteria, viruses, extreme weather conditions and a host of other existential threats.

Vol. 15, No.8: "Be Well Stay Well"

As directed by the Department of Homeland Security, chiropractors are essential health care workers and we continue to serve patients throughout the pandemic.

Vol. 15, No.7: "Strengthening the Immune Function"

At a time when the coronavirus is causing unprecedented fear and disruptions worldwide, this update is to assure all current patients that we are meeting this challenge on both a safety level and on a natural therapy preventive level..

Vol. 15, No.6: "Viva La Vagus"

Understanding how the vagus nerve plays a key role in protecting our health is similar to winning the jackpot in Las Vegas. The 10th cranial nerve, also called the "wandering nerve," starts in the brain and travels through the chest to the lower abdomen. It is the main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system which controls relaxation and digestion.

Vol. 15, No.5: "Bi-Directional Healing"

The human body contains two brains - the one brain inside the skull and another inside the stomach called the abdominal brain. The abdominal brain is home to the microbiome, compromised of the 500 to 1000 bacterial species, of which the average ratio is 85% health-promoting and 15% disease-promoting organisms.

Vol. 15, No.4: "Healing the Body Electric"

One cannot overstate the importance of good liver function in the ability of the patient to resist disease. Weighing approximately 3.3 pounds, the liver is the largest body gland and houses millions of cells that filter and protect the body from toxins. It discards all unwanted substances before they enter the bloodstream and do damage.

Vol. 15, No.3: "Nature”s Safety Valve"

Many people periodically suffer from mysterious health complaints from which no clear diagnosis can be made. The hidden cause of one such condition is a functional health challenge called the Ileocecal Valve Syndrome. The IC Valve, which looks like two lips, is located at the junction of the small and large intestine near the appendix.

Vol. 15, No.2: "Leg Cramp Solutions"

One of the most common symptoms people have are leg cramps or spasms. There are three major classifications of leg cramps: waking at night, post exercise, and those which occur while walking. This last instance may be a symptom of a potentially serious problem called Intermittent Claudication. Luckily, this is the least common cause of leg cramps.

Vol. 15, No.1: "Healing Mysteries of Bile"

Chiropractic Neurovascular Dynamics (NVD) places great emphasis on digestion. The gut is the place where the vital force resides, and the great processes of life – nutrition and elimination – take place in the abdomen. NVD focuses on the 2nd Unit of Digestion in the right upper abdomen, the most metabolically active area in the body, which houses the liver, gall bladder and head of the pancreas.

Vol. 14, No.12: "Food Energetics PART I "

Nutritional science is an increasingly important field as our society ages and baby boomers seek healing modalities to enhance their quality of life. Science knows the importance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for health as well as the vital role of vitamins and minerals. However, all the nutrients essential for health are still not known.

Vol. 14, No.11: "NVD"

In previous newsletters we have outlined the neurological basis of Neurovascular Dynamics. The human organism operates by reflexes or relays, meaning that our organs are networked and support each other in a holistic way. In fact, Gray”s Anatomy, 29th edition, states that "the nervous system controls and co-ordinates all organs and structures of the human body."

Vol. 14, No.10: "Early Warning Signs"

Most of us visit our dentist on a regular basis or make an annual medical visit to have a checkup, but we are not aware that there is an innate body system that can also provide clues long before a health challenge manifests. That system is the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), previously described in the"Awakening the Healing Response" newsletter (Vol 14, No. 8). It is the automatic and unconscious organ system that remains silent in health and produces many alarm signals such as headaches, or back and joint pain, when something is awry internally.

Vol. 14, No.9: "The Gut-Bone Connection"

A decade ago few would believe that the human gastrointestinal (GI tract) system would have anything to do with the strength of our bones. Scientific knowledge has now demonstrated that there is indeed an important connection.

Vol. 14, No.8: "Awakening the Healing Response"

The ability to fight disease and maintain health is a natural power within all beings. It is so automatic and instinctive that it is called the Self Healing Response.

Vol. 14, No.7: "Pythagorean Healing"

The Pythagorean Academy began approximately 2500 years ago in greater Greece. It was a school dedicated to the development of the full human potential.

Vol. 14, No.6: "Healing From The Center"

Yoga therapy, now well-known in the West, is commonly associated with postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama), but there is another independent branch of yoga called Hand or Mudra Yoga. This unique branch sees the human body as a miniature of the larger universe.

Vol. 14, No.5: "Hand Yoga"

Yoga therapy, now well-known in the West, is commonly associated with postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama), but there is another independent branch of yoga called Hand or Mudra Yoga. This unique branch sees the human body as a miniature of the larger universe.

Vol. 14, No.4: "Hidden Causes of GERD"

GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is a common health condition affecting 25% of the U.S. population. Highly acidic stomach juices should stay in the stomach in order to properly break down food but instead the hydrochloric acid and food moves backwards into the esophagus where they do not belong. The highly acidic irritation causes chest burning, choking, swallowing difficulties, hoarse throat and coughing. These acids can even erode the dental enamel and cause gum disease.

Vol. 14, No.3: "THE Microbiome Mania"

Hippocrates, father of medicine, taught some 2500 years ago that "all diseases begin in the gut." The worlds of medicine, immunology, microbiology and nutrition are confirming this finding concerning the popular topic of the microbiome.

Vol. 14, No.2: "The Magic of Sleep"

Sleep is an activity that all humans do automatically and is often underestimated in regards to its healing potential. In fact, restorative sleep is the foundation of physical and mental health. Lack of adequate nighttime rest has been associated with dementia, high blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels, depression, increased cancer risk and obesity.

Vol. 14, No.1: "Mystery of Persistent Back Pain"

Lower back pain has been a challenge for all professions. In fact, many years ago, the Wall Street Journal reported that lower back pain is more prevalent than the common cold. Medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy and many allied professions have tackled this epidemic malady with varying results. Of these, the chiropractic profession has had the best success record in dealing with this painful condition, although results can depend upon the pain’s cause and point of origin.

Vol. 13, No.1: "Emotional Healing & Psycho-Peristalsis"

Stress, whether physical, mental or nutritional, is now recognized as the cause of most illness, and its reaction takes place throughout the nervous system including the abdomen, as many people can attest.

Vol. 12, No.7: "The Great Mimic"

Approximately 50 million Americans suffer from periodic gastrointestinal complaints such as hiatal hernia, esophageal reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, hemorrhoids, or constipation. In this brief article we will explain what we think is the common denominator for all these digestive maladies and why we call this factor "The Great Mimic."

Vol. 12, No.6: "Exhausted? It Might Be Adrenal Stress Disorder"

In nature, when an animal is attacked, it can respond with extraordinary feats of strength and endurance. This is accomplished with the mobilization of hormones – specifically, adrenalin. The same response also occurs in humans, but with a very significant difference. Once an emergency has ended, the animal will recover quickly from the galvanizing effects of adrenalin. Humans, however, live with such persistent stress that, all too frequently, we do not have adequate time to rest and re-set the nervous-hormonal system.

Vol. 12, No. 5: "Oh, My Aching Head!"

All of us experience feelings of sadness, unhappiness or frustration at times, and this is a normal part of human existence. However, when these feelings persist and start to interfere with our normal functioning, we begin to suffer from depression.

Vol. 12, No. 4: "Hidden Factors in Depression"

All of us experience feelings of sadness, unhappiness or frustration at times, and this is a normal part of human existence. However, when these feelings persist and start to interfere with our normal functioning, we begin to suffer from depression.

Vol. 12, No. 3: "Your Aching Sinuses"

There is a simple – yet unseen – mechanism in the human body that regulates and restores our health. This “Great Harmonizer” is actually wired in to the human nervous system and needs only to be properly stimulated in order to maintain health.

Vol. 12, No. 2: "From Stressed Out to Chilled Out"

There is a simple – yet unseen – mechanism in the human body that regulates and restores our health. This “Great Harmonizer” is actually wired in to the human nervous system and needs only to be properly stimulated in order to maintain health.

Vol. 12, No. 1: "Surprising Eyes"

Heredity can be either blessed or blamed for many of our physical characteristics...  from the inheritance of Mom’s curly hair to Dad’s bald head to, unfortunately, Grandpa’s diabetes. In fact, just knowing about or having observed a beloved relative suffer from a hereditary illness can create an aura of ticking time bomb in our own lives.

Vol. 11, No. 1: "Natural Immunity"

Human beings have always searched for methods to preserve health in the face of aging, infection and disease. One such route to health has increasingly been the promotion of the body’s own self-protective and self-healing mechanisms. These mechanisms, in turn, are dependent upon the  strength of the body’s “natural immunity,” its inherent ability to defend itself against infection and degenerative disease.

Vol. 10, No. 1: "Reflex Healing"