Treatment of Parkinson's Disease with Energy Healing

Treatment of Parkinson's Disease with Energy Healing
Parkinson's
Nov. 15, 2005
This article is a new look at Parkinson's disease, can effectively be treated with energy healing?
By Aimee W. De Barbieri Lic. Ac
617-335-8693

According to the Parkinson's disease Foundation 1 to 1.5 million Americans suffer from Parkinson’s disease, and each year approximately 40,000 more Americans are diagnosed with this illness. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder most commonly affecting people over the age of 50 and is characterized by hypokinesia, the slowing down of movements. When we consult our neuroscience textbooks we find that most patients with Parkinson's have lost more than 80% of the dopamine-utilizing neurons in their substantia nigra. Anatomically locating this influential part of the brain becomes important as we look to clinically treat and restore function in this area.

The characteristics of Parkinson's are related to an increased inhibition of the thalamus by the basal ganglia causing a paucity of movement, whereas decreased basal ganglia output leads to the opposite, an excess of movement. According to the neuroscience and anatomy textbooks Parkinson's disease is considered a basal ganglia disorder due to the degeneration of neurons that extend from the substantia nigra to the basal ganglia. Our treatment focuses on this degenerated area.

The symptoms of this disorder include slowness of movement (bradykinesia), difficulty in initiating willed movements (akinesia), increased muscle tone (rigidity), and tremors of the hands and jaw that are most prominent at rest. The basis of this degenerative disease takes place in the substantia nigra where there is a breakdown in this part of the brain's ability to input to the striatum. These inputs use the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) to facilitate the direct motor loop by activating cells in the putamen. The depletion of dopamine closes the funnel that feeds activity to SMA via the basal ganglia. However, what do we do when there is a sufficient amount of dopamine, yet the Parkinson's symptoms do not resolve? In many cases, dopamine is supplied to the patient but their symptoms remain. We must consider that the biochemical function is doing well, but that neurologically the signals are still not passing sufficiently.

When we look at the body we can consider two things: Biochemical function and Bioelectrical function. These two processes work together in the body and cannot be separated. However, if medication or biochemical supplementation is not working for the patient, perhaps we need to treat the bioelectrical function? If we know that the degenerating neurons extend to the basal ganglia, why not focus our healing in this area?

When we consider the importance of the function of the basal ganglia with respect to Parkinson's and other similar disorders, we need to think about anatomy and physiology. If an area of the brain is degenerating, we must think about what feeds the brain? Proper blood supply is very important to keeping a healthy brain. The blood supply flows mainly via blood vessels that branch from the cerebral arterial circle called the circle of Willis located at the base of the brain. These arterial branches are further supplied by the vertebral artery going up.

In the Tam system of healing, finding the blockage is important when we are working with any kind of illness. In the case of Parkinson's disease we need to consider the blockages which obstruct the blood flow through the vertebral artery. In this case we check C1, C2, SI 16, TW 16, the medullar area, also in acupuncture terms called BL9 in acupuncture terms. We check the motor cortex area of the brain, also known as GV 20 in terms of TCM. We can also check a point called Tian Dong, an extra point located midway on the line between LI 17 and LI 16. Through stimulation to these points on the body we find that we are able to open the blockages and increase blood flow through the vertebral artery going up to nourish the basal ganglia area of the brain. In essence this is the area where we need to focus on healing. We find the listed blockages through a palpatory method of checking with the body. This technique in Chinese is called An Zhen and it is an important part of traditional methods of diagnosis and treatment. When these points are pressed and the patient feels discomfort we can find, as in comparison with other points, that the body tells us something is wrong here. The nerves are reacting to the stimulation of the point. If a point is unblocked it should not be uncomfortable to the touch because the tissue in this area is free, relaxed and nourished by a proper blood supply. If a patient is feeling no discomfort at the point, the practitioner may feel muscle tightness and tension at these points or in the indicated areas. This method of testing based on pressure pain is often used by acupuncturists. It is a skill developed and termed palpatory diagnosis. This is a simple easy way to find the blockages that need to be opened.

Parkinson’s disease in Chinese medicine is categorized under the symptom of “Convulsions” related to Liver-Wind. The “Principles of Medicine” 1565 says: “Wind tremors are caused by Wind entering the Liver and the Qi of the channels rebelling upwards, this causes tics of the face and tremors of the limbs”.

It is important to state that the Tom Tam Healing System differs greatly from any other form of traditional acupuncture. Therefore our rational for choosing the points we are using in our treatments is completely different. This system of healing is based on modern scientific information about the body. This said we are not focusing on meridian therapy or a TCM model for our healing system. TCM is experience based medicine which utilizes eastern philosophies of Yin and Yang, five elements, and the system of meridians. We can not deny that it works well, but we need to distinguish our system because our method of diagnosis is different. We are considering the body's functions based on basic anatomy and physiology. Traditional Chinese Medical practitioners and or acupuncturists have been trained to understand and approach the body differently because they are not considering the function of the basal ganglia in their diagnosis or treatment approach. In ancient China there was no knowledge of the brain let alone various parts of the brain and of their functions. Since we have this information today, why not use it to the best of our ability? This also means that from a traditional Chinese medical stand point, a treatment is not replicable because their approach to each case is unique and based on an evaluation of the individual patient. In our studying, we approach our cases similarly to address and replicate our treatment for anyone with this same diagnosis. Thus it is important to determine what system is involved in the said problem and what philological components in the body must be involved in a healthy function of this system.

How should we stimulate these points? In opening blockages any kind of stimulation can be helpful. Acupuncture is one form of stimulation to the nervous system, and massage is another. However, we commonly use the Tong Ren method of stimulation, which can be done at a distance. Tong Ren is a form of hands-off energy healing and it is a major component to our healing system. Tong Ren allows the introduction of healing energy into a patient through one or more of the control centers of the brain. Thus Tong Ren is not limited to the skin surface effects and the specific access points that characterize acupuncture and massage. By using Tong Ren therapy to transfer healing energy through our collective unconsciousness, we have achieved benefits in the treatment of Parkinson's patients.

Our thinking is that when we are checking out a Parkinson’s patient, we should pay attention to check that the brain is receiving proper blood flow. This is why we look at the neck to see if there is anything impinging the blood supply from flowing upwards. Mostly, when we check these patients we find that the neck is very tight. We believe that by releasing these blocked areas on the neck we can directly affect the blood supply to make it more possible to for the blood supply to pass through the cervical area on its way to the brain. Traditionally acupuncturists are not trained to commonly use the points found on the neck. There is much caution placed upon this area because of the arteries located deep to the overlaying muscle tissues. However, it is the very location of these important arteries that we find so very important to the overall function of the brain. This means that it is especially important to keep this area of the body blockage free. Thus, Tong Ren provides the advantage of being able to apply energy healing to what are normally considered difficult cases.

The vertebral artery stems from the right subclavian artery. Thus, it can also be helpful with Parkinson's patients to check the clavicular area to make sure that it is not blocked and that blood can freely pass through this area. Then, as the blood passes through the right vertebral artery the blood passes through the transverse processes of the sixth through the first cervical vertebrae. Then entering the skull it reaches the inferior surface of the brain. Here it unites with the left vertebral artery to form the basilar artery. The basilar artery passes along the midline of the brain stem to supply blood to the cerebellum and pons area of the brain. This area houses the important basal ganglia portion of our brain which has an important function with respect to the prevention and healing of Parkinson’s disease.

This kind of information about the body can commonly be found in western scientific books about the body. This modern information can be used in combination with the Tom Tam Healing System and Tong Ren therapy to provide new and revolutionary approaches to treating conditions, such as Parkinson’s, which are euphemistically labeled “chronic” and “degenerative”.