Vol. 7
No. 6 |
November 2003
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Meridian Institute News
RESEARCHING THE SPIRIT-MIND-BODY CONNECTION |
In this issue:
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Thermography Update
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We have made substantial progress in our thermography
program during the past several months. In particular, the purchase of
an infrared camera and software (thanks to the generosity of a private
donor) was a terrific boost to our studies.
For our purposes, thermography involves the measurement
and analysis of variations in skin temperatures. We are investigating the
concept that understanding patterns of thermal variations on the surface
of the body may provide insights into the deeper physiology of the system,
with regard to both illness and treatment. Here is an update of the current
status of our thermography program as it pertains to three specific areas
of research.
Epilepsy
The hypothesis for our epilepsy research project
is based on several of the Edgar Cayce readings that discuss the presence
of an abdominal "cold spot" in cases of a "true epileptic" nature (i.e.,
idiopathic epilepsy). To test this hypothesis, we have used our infrared
camera to take thermal images of over sixty individuals who do not have
epilepsy. This data set will serve as our control population for comparison
with the epilepsy group. This phase of the project was relatively easy
as we were able to recruit most of the participants during the annual A.R.E.
Congress last summer.
Recruitment of epilepsy patients is more challenging.
We are still in the early stages of this phase of the study. If you have
a diagnosis of epilepsy and would like to be considered for our project,
please contact us for further information. We expect to be running this
program continuously for at least the next year.
Somatic Dysfunction
The infrared camera has also contributed to another
thermography project that focuses on the opposite side of the body. Traditional
osteopathic and chiropractic theory emphasizes the importance of the musculo-skeletal
system and associated nerves, especially of the spine.
Somatic dysfunction is the technical term for abnormalities
of the musculo-skeletal system and related tissues that produce pain, limited
motion, and aberrant nerve reflexes. You may also have heard somatic dysfunction
referred to as spinal subluxations or lesions.
Understanding the role of somatic dysfunction has
been a priority for our research program for several years. Traditional
osteopathy and chiropractic focus primarily on somatic dysfunction as the
source of many diseases beyond back pain. Edgar Cayce also endorsed this
view consistently in his psychic readings, making many referrals to osteopathic
and chiropractic physicians for a wide range of disorders.
One of our studies presented at the annual meeting
of the American Academy of Osteopathy documented a relationship between
health status (as measured by a the SF-36, a well-respected instrument
for evaluating general health status and quality of life) and abnormalities
along the spine (as measured by an infrared neurocalometer). In simple
language, a person with abnormal thermal patterns along the spine is more
likely to experience poor health than a person with normal thermal patterns
along the spine.
The neurocalometer is a hand-held device that rolls
along the spinal on wheels while two infrared sensors record thermal data
along each side of the spine. The device was invented by a chiropractor
and is widely used by that profession. Edgar Cayce recommended this form
of assessment in a couple of his readings.
With our new infrared camera mounted in an overhead
frame (see picture), we have been able to confirm the accuracy of the infrared
neurocalometer and extend our understanding of how the relatively narrow
bands measured by that instrument relate to the broader thermal patterns
of the back (dermatomes). Using the powerful software of the infrared camera
we have found a very high correlation between the two systems, which supports
the reliability of the neurocalometer. We are will continue to collect
data using the two infrared instruments to expand the range of our data
and knowledge of thermal factors in somatic dysfunction.
Treatment Implications
Understanding pathology is certainly important, but
we are also interested in the use of thermography to help us understand
how various treatments affect the body and whether the effectiveness of
certain therapies can be improved using thermal data and analysis.
The infrared camera has helped us ferret out the
unique physiological influences of some treatments including hot packs,
electric vibrator, the Fulford percussion hammer, and massage.
So far we have learned that hot packs appear to transmit
heat to the body by direct conduction. When a hot pack is removed from
the body, the heated area tends to quickly and steadily lose the heat that
has been transferred to it. Not surprising at all!
The thermal patterns produced by the electric vibrator
and Fulford percussion hammer are fundamentally different - they seem to
be affecting the underlying nervous system that controls the diameter of
blood vessels (vasomotor) which in turn regulate blood flow volumn and
surface temperature. We can tell this because the temperature of the skin
tends to increase for a period of time after treatment, in contrast to
the steady decline of the hot pack. These two mechanical devices even demonstrated
distinctly different patterns. The electric vibrator which moves in a rotary,
side-to-side motion, produces heat by friction. We know this because we
have measured the effect on inanimate objects such as books. As a practical
matter, Edgar Cayce recommended the use of the electric vibrator for persons
who were not able to receive osteopathic manipulations.
The Fulford percussion hammer (invented by an osteopathic
physician named Robert Fulford to make his work less tiring) utilizes an
up and down motion that produces very little direct heat. Yet, the device
produces some of the strongest delayed thermal patterns that we have measured.
Since the heat is not conducted (as with the hot pack), and is not being
produced by friction (as with the vibrator), we assume that we are seeing
an underlying sympathetic vasomotor response. This is significant because
the sympathetic nervous system not only controls blood flow to the various
organs of the system (vaso-motor) but also regulates visceral impulses
(viscero-motor) to the deep organs of the system. The obvious question
is whether the surface thermal effects that we are measuring correlate
with impulses to the deep organs. This takes us back to the concept of
somatic dysfunction - if aberrant nerve impulses from spinal centers can
cause disease, can interventions such as the Fulford percussion hammer
normalize these impulses and restore health? Many modern osteopathic physicians
who use this device believe that it does indeed produce powerful therapeutic
effects.
We have also used our infrared camera to measure
the effects of hands-on massage therapy. This phase is still very preliminary
because of the complexity of physiological effects. Naturally there is
the effect of direct thermal conduction (as with the hot pack). For example,
just placing a hand on the bare skin for a few seconds will usually leave
a clear but decreasing thermal outline. Circular or rotary massage along
the spine (as recommended by Edgar Cayce) increases the thermal effect,
presumably by friction and possibly by sympathetic vasomotor response.
Of course this is all dependent upon the vigor of the massage, warmth of
the hands, etc. With so many possible factors, you can see why we have
chosen to start with mechanical devices to understand the basic science
of manual therapy. As our knowledge increases, we hope to continue with
the thermal imaging of various manual therapy techniques including deep
manipulation, which presumably (according to osteopathic and chiropractic
theory) is similar to the Fulford percussion hammer.
HORMESIS
A fascinating article appearing in the journal Science
(Oct 17, 2003, Vol 302) touts the therapeutic potential of hormesis.
"Sipping from a Poisoned Chalice" explores the controversial concept that
poisons can heal when given in low doses.
For ages people have known that small doses of poisons
can produce beneficial effects. Hormesis is the scientific theory
that explains how chemicals can have opposite effects at high and low doses.
One explanation for hormesis is that small doses
of some harmful substances stimulate a beneficial overreaction, causing
the organism to function better under stress. Likely mechanisms for
this healing effect include stimulated immune response, enzymes that repair
damaged DNA, and apoptosis (which eliminates damaged cells that could become
cancerous).
Hormesis flies in the face of conventional wisdom
that toxicants are poison even at low levels. Homeopathic practitioners
are certainly aware that low doses of many substances can have such a paradoxical
effect. Many of the Cayce remedies also fit well into the hormesis
paradigm. Wild ginger is a likely candidate for a hormesis effect
(see our report on wild ginger in the July, 2003 issue). The radium
pad (low dosage radiation) is another example of hormesis in the Cayce
readings.
CAN OLIVE OIL HELP ACID REFLUX?
The Cayce readings often extolled the healing properties
of olive oil. The following story illustrates an unusual application
involving very small amounts taken orally for acid reflux:
"Seven years ago I had my gallbladder removed because
of gallstones, and within a few months I began to have acid reflux or heartburn.
TUMS relieved it, but within a couple years I was up to four of the largest
size TUMS a day. Preferring to interfere with my digestive physiology as
little as possible, I didn't want to take any of the acid blocker medicines
that are now available. Instead, I recalled that the Cayce readings had
said that olive oil taken in very small doses would be soothing and healing
to the digestive system, along its entire length. For example, reading
5422-2, given for ulcers, said to take a half teaspoonful every few hours.
Another reading, 760-7, for impacted colon, explained that, "This character
of oil, as seen, is food value for tissue that is deadened by inactivity
through the form of conditions existent in system." The readings were clear
that small doses would be the most effective, no more than a half a teaspoonful
taken every few hours.
"I began to take very small doses of extra virgin
olive oil (no more than a quarter or half of a teaspoon about 4 or 5 times
a day), based on the most common recommendation in the readings. Within
a couple weeks I noticed that I had less need of TUMS. After a few months,
I was down to needing at most one TUMS a day, and most days no medicine
at all. My overall digestion felt a lot better, too.
"My condition occurred following gallbladder surgery,
so I don't know how well this process would apply to other causes of acid
reflux."
This individual would be interested in hearing from
anyone else who experiences relief from small doses of olive oil.
Meridian Institute is happy to forward any email correspondence to this
person. The Meridian Institute email address is listed below.
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