Vol. 10

No. 1

REFLEX HEALING

Chiropractic methods may seem, at times, to be mysterious and have little obvious connection with the object of a patientÕs complaint. While the "light touch" used at Friedman Chiropractic may possibly appear superficial, it is actually a critical tool for helping the body to regain health. Understanding the origins of this method begins with the knowledge that health is dependent upon two things: the integrity of the bodyÕs blood supply and the equilibrium of the nervous system. The blood supplies the body with the nourishment it needs and the nervous system controls the processes by which the nutrition is delivered. To the degree a disturbance of either of these tissues arises, disease begins. Practically every deviation from normal in the bodyÕs functioning is caused or influenced by circulatory blockage or congestion. Dr. A.T. Still, founder of osteopathy, remarked similarly in 1874: "The rule of the artery must be absolute, universal and unobstructed or disease will be the result." Subsequently, congestion (or stoppage) in the circulatory system has a direct effect on the Autonomic Nervous System (the involuntary system controlling all automatic body functions). ItÕs no exaggeration to say that the protectors of the bodyÕs welfare are, therefore, the circulatory (vascular) and nervous tissues. In Chinese medicine, blood and "Chi" (as the nervous system is known in the East) are so intimately related, they are spoken of as "mother and son." When the Autonomic Nervous System has been disturbed by emotions, diet or injury, it sends a signal to the rest of the body. This warning signal is known as a "reflex." A reflex operates like the fuse box of oneÕs house in which, if too many appliances are turned on, a fuse blows to prevent the house from burning down. Reflexes are normally painless and regulate physiology automatically. However, if the imbalance inside the body is too great, the reflex gets overstimulated and the body cannot reset its own fuse box. The end result is pain and disturbance of blood circulation to the bodyÕs tissues, leading to disease. It follows that re-setting the bodyÕs fuse box (nerve reflexes) is essential for healing. How do we locate which body fuses have blown and how do we then re-set them? Nature provides us with an important clue. Disturbances inside of the body will be reflected on the skin surface, evidenced by sore spots in key areas of the body such as the hands, feet, abdomen, spine or face. By locating painful or " tight" areas on the skin, we are able to know which fuses (or reflexes) have been activated in organs, muscles or joints. Stimulating these reflexes either by hand, needle or electricity sends a signal back to the central command centers in the spine and brain for the body to recalibrate itself. Clinical investigation has demonstrated that stimulation of the nervous system is equal to stimulation of the circulatory system. Two of the most important areas of reflex control are the abdomen and the spine. Chiropractic philosophy addresses the nervous aspect of this paradigm and osteopathic philosophy addresses the circulatory perspective, but in reality both arts treat both aspects. Addressing these two systems constitutes the Òopen sesameÓ of healing. The ability to control body circulation promotes self-healing and achieves what Plato observed in ancient times: "There is one mode of treatment for everything in every illness, and that is to supply the body on each occasion with proper nutrition and proper functions [of nerve and blood]."

For more information about the ways that Body-Mind issues can affect health, see the following articles in this website: "A Philosophy of Health" and "The Wellness Program"

For for information about the Pythagorean Center, see the Directory of Information, send us an email at: pythagorean110@gmail.com, or call the office at (415) 459-4646.

Newsletter Archives The following previous issues can be accessed by clicking on the title:   Vol. 9, No. 1: "Hara and Healing" There is an old Taoist saying which advises: "When you are sick, do not seek a cure. Find your center and you will be healed." "What is this Òcenter" of which the ancients spoke and what is its importance to natural healing? Vol. 8, No. 3: "Water: The Overlooked Nutrient" We can live weeks without food, but no more than a week without water. For health, we need a balance of fluids for all of our cells to function properly.Our bodies consists of from 50% to 80% water. These fluids are what carry nutrients, waste products, and minerals to our cells. The fluid in our bodies can be divided into two main groups: There is fluid inside our cells (intracellular fluid) and fluid outside our cells (extracellular fluid). Vol. 8, No. 2: "Fibromyalgia" Fibromyalgia is a condition that affects over 8 million Americans, 80% of them female. People with this chronic condition have symptoms of severe fatigue and multiple sites of aches and pain in their muscles, ligaments and tendons. Years ago, people with this condition were told they had fibrositis, myalgia, rheumatism or were just plain hypochondriacs. Vol. 8, No. 1: "Food Allergies" Many medical experts predict that between 50%-60% of all Americans have negative reactions to some foods. These reactions are not restricted to the intestinal tract but can also cause brain, immune system, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, respiratory and skin symptoms... Vol. 7, No. 2: "The Law of Polarity" Since ancient times there have been many seekers of Nature's secret laws of healing. One such doctor was Randolph Stone, DO., DC., who explored the world in hopes of determining the common denominator of all healing systems. He concluded that there is an unseen field of electro-magnetic energy that both runs and heals the body. Dr. Stone organized his discoveries into a method he called Polarity Therapy ... Vol. 7, No. 1: "Toxic or Tired?" Fatigue is epidemic is our society. Common causes of this malady can vary from life-style choices to dietary indiscretions. Many people are aware that their exhaustion may come from poor food and emotional pressures, but an often overlooked factor is "auto-intoxication." Autotoxemia is poisoning with toxic substances formed within the body. Vol. 6, No. 1: "The Importance of Posture" There is an old adage that states: "The shape you are in determines the shape you are in." The implication is that the way one's body looks reflects one's general health. This idea goes back to the ancient Greeks who appreciated an erect and poised body in athletics and the arts, particularly statuary. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, exhorted: "In all diseases, look to the spine." Vol. 5, No. 1: "The Four Stages of Healing" An understanding of how the body-mind becomes ill can be helpful in guiding us through the healing process. The body becomes ill and gets well in an orderly manner whether the stressor is nutritional, mechanical, or emotional. The stages of disease in the order of progression are Acute, Sub-acute, Chronic, and Degenerative. All stages are various degrees of a condition called "inflammation." ... Vol. 4, No. 1: "The Healing Field" Many people wonder what is the mechanism in the human body that co-ordinates our daily physiology and also heals illnesses and injuries. A simple finger cut, for example, goes through many stages of tissue healing. How does the body know what type of connective tissue to lay down and when the scar is ready to fall off? ... Vol. 3, No. 6: "Understanding Your Gut Feelings" Most of us believe that important decisions are made via the intellect or the reasoning part of the mind. Current scientific research reveals this to be only partially true. It appears that we think with our minds but experience our emotions from another locale within the body: the stomach area. ... Vol. 3, No. 5: "Retracing: The Untold Story" There is a belief among many health practitioners working with natural therapies that a person who is in the process of getting well may undergo some sort of a "healing reaction" in order to fully heal. The "healing crisis," as it is known, occurs at a point when the body's self-healing mechanism has begun to "retrace" its own history of illness in order to completely heal and rid itself of the accumulated residues of disease... Vol. 3, No. 4: "May the Force Be With You" The physicians of the ancient world believed that health comes from a power within the human body which they called "Vis Medicatrix Naturae" or the healing power of nature. The Greek physician-philosopher Plato observed that every living thing is activated by an "inherent vital principle" which both runs and heals the body-mind complex... Vol. 3, No. 3: "Change Your Thinking...Change Your Life" The philosopher-psychologist Henry James observed almost a century ago: "The most profound discovery of my generation is that, by changing one's thinking, one can change one's life." Increasingly, science is finding that, by engendering positive and uplifting thoughts, we can not only improve the quality of our emotional and spiritual lives, but we may be also able to influence the quality of our physical health. .. Vol. 3, No. 2: "Is It Mind? Is It Body? Is It Body-Mind?" Except for a small number of physical complaints such as injuries or acute infections, there is an increasing array of health complaints being labeled as having a "stress-related" or emotional component. By current estimate, almost 90% of present health issues have emotional stress as a partial cause of disease. How can we, as health consumers, know if a disease derives from emotional or physical causes or from a combination of both? To find the answer to this question, it is helpful to look to the past. ... Vol. 3, No. 1: "Fatigue and Its Remedies" At various times throughout our lives, all of us will experience a sense of tiredness or fatigue. Sometimes this feeling will last a day or two but, for some people, it can persist for months, years, or even a life-time. It is important to understand that serious fatigue, that is, fatigue that is not attributable to temporary over-exertion, is actually a symptom of some other process going on within the body-mind unit. Prolonged fatigue is not an illness in itself, but a manifestation of a health imbalance. ...

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