Vol. 2 No. 1 January,
1998
Included in this issue:
Parkinson's Disease Reports Completed Doug Richards, Meridian Institute's research director, has completed two research reports on the group of individuals who participated in a research project on the Cayce approach to treating Parkinson's Disease. The first report is a comprehensive analysis of all data collected; the second is a case study summary documenting the uniqueness of each subject's healing process. Ten individuals participated in a 10-day live-in instructional/treatment program in November, 1996, in which they were taught the elements of the Edgar Cayce therapies for Parkinson's disease. The Cayce perspective is that Parkinson's disease is both a glandular and neurological incoordination. The therapeutic approach was a complementary one, based on the information in the Edgar Cayce readings. The project explicitly did not require participants to change their current therapies or medications. The principle therapies included the Cayce wet cell battery with gold and silver, massage, and dietary changes, as well as working with meditation and attitudes and emotions. The participants then returned home to continue these therapies for 4 months, submitting daily logs of compliance with the protocol. Parkinson's symptoms were evaluated at the beginning of the program and after four months. Nine of the 10 people returned for the follow-up weekend in April, 1997. All obtained at least slight improvement of their Parkinson's symptoms; one person reported major improvement and one moderate improvement. In several individuals, the improvements were subtle but very interesting, e.g., regaining the sense of smell. Improvement was clearly related to compliance with the protocol. Most important for many of the individuals was the role of social support in helping with their attitudes and emotions, as well as inspiring them to continue with the physical aspects of the therapies. At the four-month stage of
the project, the most interesting results were not from the questionnaires
or statistical analysis, but from the written comments and personal interviews
with the participants. They were all very positive about the project
itself, but some had to grapple with major personal issues.
"This experience I feel has enabled a turning point in my relationship with Parkinson's disease for which I am deeply appreciative... I find I am slowly yet persistently regaining function from this 'incurable' disease. I watch amazed as strength, vitality and coordination gradually return to my body. Little tasks to anyone else like chop a head of broccoli, untie a twist tie, write a legible note (which I'm showing off with my newly returned ability to write!) and most of all the coordination to return to driving a car after a hiatus of 9 months, are such a delight." "I found through this whole thing a spiritual awakening. I thought I was spiritual before, but I just feel closer to God, that he's listening. Parkinson's was a major fear, that Parkinson's was getting the best of me. But now it's no big deal any more. I know that with God there I'm going to get through it, however I get through it. I look forward to the wet cell when I get home from work. It's a comfort to hook myself up and use it as meditation." "They bake chocolate chip cookies in the school. For a long time I didn't know why everybody was raving about them. Then about 2 or 3 weeks ago I smelled them. I said, what's that smell? And they said, that's the cookies. Oh my God, I can smell! It was very tough to not eat them. That was a big breakthrough. I didn't know I had lost that much of the sense of smell until it's back. It was wonderful. That's a miracle for me." "This program... has, along with true guidance from the holy spirit, worked a miracle in my recovery. I am much healthier since my participation began and although I have made great strides in my recovery, there is still much to accomplish. Now I have a clear pathway to follow." "My smell is working better, too. It's a real impressive thing to me." "Those of us who are involved in the project believe we have benefitted from the experience and have made an improvement in terms of greater energy, stronger sensory perception, and less dependence on drugs. I feel an improvement in my own quality of life, and am hopeful that a long-term continuation of the program will bring even greater benefit." "I do see some change physically, but the demon is still there. I feel more of an attitude change, more optimistic. It took several years to get to this condition, and I feel it will take some time to reverse it." "Speaking of miracles, when you discover that you can smell something again, there are miracles of sight as well. I can now put on a navy blue pair of trousers and a navy blue pair of socks, instead of wearing black socks with blue and blue socks with black. I can do it in inside light in a house, and I didn't realize how long ago that ability had gone away." "Through the program, I have made connections with some of the most beautiful I know people with strength of spirit, patience and dignity." "Unlike several others in our group, I do not yet see clear improvements like easier walking or speech, or more strength for walking or using one's hands. However, a new kind of heat has begun to rise through my spine. I suspect this development is a part of the great mystery called healing." The group of Parkinson's participants have maintained a close supportive relationship to each other, even returning for a one year reunion (see the November, 1997 Meridian Institute News for details.) Most of the people continue to use some or all of the therapies in the protocol and send in the monthly data collection sheets as we continue to follow their progress.
The Healing Journey One of the major themes that we have noted in the various projects is how the healing journey is a series of small steps. We have called this incremental progress "little healings." Naturally, the healing journey is different for each individual as well as for the various types of illness. Here is another example of the healing journey in multiple sclerosis (MS) as reported by a person who had been applying the Cayce approach (which relies heavily on daily use of the wet cell battery and massage). She had been following the treatment protocol for about 15 months when she informed us: "I have good news. I can see things that I have not seen in years. I put it off to age. With the improvement I think that my MS affected my sight and I was unaware of it." The improvement in sensory functioning is interesting but not necessarily unusual, as we have documented sensory improvement in some of the Parkinson's participants who have regularly used the wet cell battery. Three days later this person further elaborated on her progress when she e-mailed us stating: "More good news. This week I could see better. Now I started to run. Only one step but it is a beginning. When I realized what I was doing I stopped so that I didn't fall. Then I was telling my daughter about it and I jumped. Just a little. I looked like a little child. I didn't care, I just kept doing it. I know that it sounds silly to most people. For me it is the first time in 6 years that I have been able to do these things. Now I need to stay running. Wish me luck. Thanks to all of you for helping me to get here. Thank you for supplying the wet cell that is helping me to do it, and teaching me how to use it. I'm tickled." A week later another "little healing" was noted in quality of life: "A new update. I hope that I can continue
to drive you crazy with them. I can now lift a 24 pack of soda.
I even carried it into the house. I got it for other people for Christmas.
I have never been able to lift one. I always had to have someone
in the store put it into my cart for me. Eureka!! More progress."
Liver Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis The Edgar Cayce readings contain many remarkable insights into the causes of diseases for which medical science has no explanation. Often the source of illness is traced back to the organs of the abdomen. For example, the readings insist that in most cases of psoriasis the cause is "leaky gut syndrome," migraine is often produced by an allergic reaction in the intestines, "true" (idiopathic) epilepsy is linked to adhesions in the lacteal ducts located in the right side of the abdomen. Interestingly, the medical literature contains numerous articles supportive of these theories. One of the more remarkable claims made by Edgar Cayce is that most cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) are produced by a problem with the liver. According to Cayce, the liver's inability to assimilate and produce certain chemicals compromises the nervous system's ability to maintain itself. Lesions in the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers is one of the major effects of the liver dysfunction. Although the support in the medical literature is not as strong for the liver-MS hypothesis as for the diseases listed above, there are some articles supportive of Cayce's position. Recently, a team of researchers at the University of Michigan made a significant contribution to the liver-MS connection. The scientists reported that an insulin-like growth hormone called IGF-I has been found to regrow the myelin sheathing which is destroyed in MS. This hormone, which is produced by the liver and is present in the blood serum, is one of several growth factors currently being studied. According to Michigan researcher Hsin-Lin Cheng, IGF-I appears to be the most effective factor thus far studied at inducing growth of the myelin sheath and preventing neural death. Currently, tests with IGF-I are being conducted with neuropathy patients at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Here are some citations for readers who wish to learn more about this fascinating area of research: Growth factors and myelin regeneration in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis. April, 1997, 3(2), p113-20. Insulin-like growth factor-I treatment reduces immune cell responses in acute non-demyelinative experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Journal of Neuroscience Research. March 1, 1997, 47(5) p531-8. Regulation of oligodendrocyte development and CNS myelination by growth factors: prospects for therapy of demyelinating disease. Brain Pathology. July 1996, 6(3) p313-29. Insulin-like growth factor-I
given subcutaneously reduces clinical deficits,
decreases lesion severity and upregulates synthesis of
myelin proteins in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Life
Science. 1996, 58(16) p1301-6.
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