Vol. 2 No. 6 November, 1998
MERIDIAN INSTITUTE NEWS
Health Professionals Symposium
The 3rd annual Cayce Health Professionals Symposium was held at the A.R.E. Conference Center October 3 and 4. The conference was co-sponsored by the A.R.E. and Meridian Institute and featured presentations by Meridian Institute personnel, Cayce oriented health professionals and researchers of the Cayce health information.
The Saturday session began with a presentation by Eric Mein, M. D. on “Diagnosis Without Cayce: Where Do We Go From Here?” Dr. Mein addressed the process of patient/practitioner interactions from the perspective of the Cayce health information. The talk featured specific assessment tools and the conceptual basis for utilizing a “person-centered” approach which recognizes the uniqueness of each individual.
Douglas Richards, Ph.D. Meridian Research Director, provided an update on the latest “Nervous System Coordination Research.” Dr. Richards focused on physiological measurement of the autonomic nervous system in various categories of illness. The presentation also included examples of nervous system effects produced by manual therapy techniques (such as traditional osteopathy).
Jeanette Thomas, an expert in the Cayce pharmacopeia, reported on an extensive research project that the Edgar Cayce Foundation (ECF) is doing on the medications and appliances recommended in the readings. Jeanette requested that anyone having copies of old formularies or pharmaceutical manuals should contact the ECF. Such resources will greatly facilitate the research program. ECF volunteer Paul Mazza supplemented Jeanette’s presentation by bringing in a recently donated energy medicine appliance recommended by Edgar Cayce. The “Radioclast” is a radionics device used for diagnosis and treatment. Paul promised to provide a demonstration of the Radioclast for next year’s symposium.
Bruce Baar, a manufacturer of Cayce health products, discussed the use of various energy medicine modalities with special emphasis on carbon and animated ash. Baar explained the theory for these remedies and provided case reports of people who have benefitted from using them.
Robert McNary, M. D. shared his research into the “trophic” (nutritive) function of the lymphatic system. The talk, titled “The Lowly Lymphocyte,” focused on the growth and healing aspects of the lymphatic system which are often overlooked when only the defensive (immune) functions are considered. Just as Edgar Cayce suggested, the lymphocytes serve many roles in addition to being the warriors which protect the body.
Saturday’s session concluded with a question and answer period directed to a panel consisting of the Meridian Institute researchers.
The Sunday morning session was launched with a presentation on “Holistic Case Management.” Beginning with Gladys Davis, Edgar Cayce’s personal secretary, case management has played an important role in the application of the Cayce health information. David McMillin, M. A., a professional case manager, gave examples of how modern case managers can use a holistic framework for providing support services.
Deborah Thompson, R. N. manager/coordinator or the A.R.E. Health and Rejuvenation Research Center (HRRC), gave a presentation on the support resources that are available through HRRC. She focused on two of the primary initiatives at HRRC: Individual research protocols and the residential research program.
Chiropractors Scott Hollifield and Carl Nelson concluded the symposium by discussing manual therapy concepts from the Cayce readings and the early manual therapy literature. Dr. Nelson gave a brief demonstration of some manual therapy techniques included in the general treatment format so often recommended in the Cayce readings.
The Cayce Health Professionals Symposium for 1999 will be held at the A.R.E. Conference Center at Virginia Beach during the weekend of September 25 – 26. This gathering of practitioners and researchers will feature reports on Cayce oriented health research, demonstrations of therapeutic techniques recommended in the readings, and interdisciplinary presentations on the integration of spirituality and healing.
We are seeking presentations from health professionals knowledgeable in healing modalities recommended by Edgar Cayce. If you are interested in presenting at the symposium, please write a brief summary of your topic and submit it to us at our address on the last page of this newsletter.
Austism and the Gut Brain
One of the fascinating themes which runs through the Cayce health information is the role of the abdominal nervous system (the so-called “abdominal brain,”1 “gut brain,”2 “enteric nervous system,”2,3) with regard to a diversity of conditions, especially neurological diseases. For example, Meridian research programs have investigated the intestinal connection in epilepsy and migraine, two neurological illnesses which the Cayce readings say are often caused by problems in the abdomen which irritate the “gut” brain. The irritation is then referred to the cerebral brain culminating in the distinctive symptoms of these illnesses. The medical literature attests to these interactions with numerous articles on “abdominal migraine” and “abdominal epilepsy.” However, most neurologists would regard gastro-intestinal features as merely a side effect of the cerebral pathology.
Some recent medical research may add yet another condition to this list of neurological diseases with abdominal features. Autism has been linked to intestinal problems and has been successfully treated with a substance called secretin, derived from the gut of hogs.
Wakefield et al investigated a consecutive series of children with chronic enterocolitis and regressive developmental disorder.4 The twelve children (mean age 6 years) had a history of normal development followed by loss of acquired skills, including language, together with diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Additionally, Murch et al (1998) report that 47 out of 50 autistic children they studied showed significant bowel pathology.5 When subjected to colon cleansing, these children showed notable improvement in their autism symptoms. The researchers conclude, “We re-emphasize the fact that there is a consistent pattern of gut inflammation in a high proportion of children within the broad autistic spectrum. Understanding the link between the bowel and the brain in autism may allow new insights into this devastating illness.”5
Further evidence of intestinal involvement in autism has surfaced when a substance called secretion has been surprisingly effective in the treatment of autism for some children. After Victoria and Gary Beck successfully treated their autistic child with secretin and triggered interest in this substance, Horvath et al studied the therapeutic effects of secretin on three autistic children and noted significant clinical improvement, both gastrointestinal and behavioral.6 Secretin is now being tested with more autistic children to determine its potential.
Secretin is a natural substance, produced in the intestinal tract by all mammals. While it is not a drug, and it is not harmful, the FDA nevertheless requires that it be sold only by prescription. Secretin is usually given by slow injection (infusion), but there are other methods of administration which are being considered. The only FDA-approved use for secretin is in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal problems, not as a treatment for any disorder.
Interestingly, secretin is similar to Ventriculin, a product recommended by Edgar Cayce for a child exhibiting mild autistic symptoms (case 1179). Ventriculin was manufactured by Parke-Davis until the mid or late 1950s. Ventriculin was derived from the gastric tissue of hogs. It was taken orally in powder form for general debilitation, anemia, poor assimilations, and a wide range of other conditions associated with the digestive system.
Meridian Institute is creating a research protocol on autism which will integrate a variety of therapies to address the intestinal and neurological features of this syndrome.
REFERENCES
1. Robinson, B. (1907). The abdominal and pelvic brain. Hammond, Indiana: Frank S. Betz.
2. Gershon, M. D., Kirchgessner, A. L., & Wade, P. R. (1994). Functional anatomy of the enteric nervous system. In L. R. Johnson, (Ed.), Physiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract (3rd ed.). (Vol.1). New York: Raven Press.
3. Wood, J. D. (1994). Physiology of the enteric nervous system. In L.R.Johnson, (Ed.), Physiology of the gastrointestinal tract (3rd ed.). (Vol.1). New York: Raven Press.
4. Wakefield, A. J., Murch, S. H., Anthony, A., Linnell, J., Casson, D. M., Malik, M., Berelowitz, M., Dhillon, A. P., Thomson, M. A., Harvey, P., Valentine, A., Davies, S. E. & Walker-Smith, J. A. (1998). Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Lancet, 351(9103), 637-641.
5. Murch, S. H., Thomson, M. A., & Walker-Smith, J. A. (1998). Author’s reply. Lancet, 351(9106), 908.
6. Horvath, K., Stefanatos, G., Sokolski, K. N., Wachtel, R., Nabors & L. Tildon, J. T. (1998). Improved social and language skills after secretin administration in patients with autistic spectrum disorders. Journal Assoc Acad Minor Phys, 9(1), 9-15.
Healing Parkinson’s Disease
As we continue to follow the progress of participants in our various research projects, we will keep you informed of this information. The following report was received recently from a participant in the Parkinson’s disease program:
“I am feeling and doing much better (physically) than I can recall for the last several years. It takes less effort to get things done. My smiley face is more natural and easier to accomplish! My thought processes have more continuity and fewer pauses while I get my ideas on the right track. The improvement in my golf game is amazing. I have very selfishly kept this to myself. Afraid that it would not last. It was kind of like hoarding it, jealously keeping it to myself. In retrospect, I was trying not to believe in the unbelievable. I am sure that we have taken the right track. I believe, I believe, I believe. Keep the faith, eat well, meditate, exercise, and love God!”