Manipulative
Treatment
Massage
Massage
has very much the same effects upon the system as the cold-water
treatment. It accelerates the circulation, draws the blood into
the surface, relaxes and opens the pores of the skin, promotes
the elimination of morbid matter and increases and stimulates
the electromagnetic energies in the body.
We have learned that one of the primary causes of chronic disease
is the accumulation of waste matter and systemic poisons in
the tissues of the body. These morbid encumbrances clog the
capillaries, thus obstructing the circulation and interfering
with or preventing the normal activity of the organs of elimination,
especially the skin.
The deep-going massage, the squeezing, kneading, rolling and
stroking, actually squeezes the stagnant blood and the
morbid accumulations out of the tissues into the venous
circulation, speeds the venous blood, charged with waste products
and poisons, on its way to the lungs and enables the arterial
blood with its freight of oxygen and nourishing elements to
flow more freely into the less-obstructed tissues and organs.
Through manipulation of the fleshy tissues, the blood is drawn
to the surface of the body and in that way the elimination of
morbid matter through the relaxed and opened pores of the skin
is greatly facilitated.
Very important are the electromagnetic effects of good massage
upon the system. The positive magnetism of the operator will
stir up and intensify the latent electromagnetic energies in
the body of the patient, very much like a piece of iron or steel
is magnetized by rubbing it with a horseshoe magnet. The more
normal and positive, morally and mentally as well as physically,
the operator, the more marked will be the good effects of the
treatment upon the weak and negative patient.
Magnetic
Treatment
The beneficial effect of magnetic treatment is not so much due
to the actual transmission of vital force from operator to patient
as to the arousing and stimulating of the latent, inactive electromagnetic
energies of the latter, the polarizing of his magnetic forces.
The horseshoe magnet does not impart its own magnetism to the
piece of iron which is rubbed with it, but the electromagnetic
energies in the magnet arouse to vibratory activity the latent
electromagnetic energies in the iron. This is proved by the
fact that both magnet and iron will remain magnetic as long
as they are used for magnetizing other substances, but through
disuse both will lose their magnetic qualities.
I
am often asked by my operators and others: "How can I best
develop my magnetism?" and "Is there danger of losing
my vitality and becoming 'negative' by treating the sick in
this way?" It is true that manipulative work, like everything
else, can be overdone and produce harmful effects upon the operator.
But within reasonable limits, massage and magnetic treatments
will not deplete the person giving them, providing he keeps
his system in good condition. His own vibrations must be harmonious
on all planes of being, the physical, mental, moral and spiritual.
He must be inspired and actuated by the faith that he
CAN heal, by the positive will to heal,
and by sympathy for the one he is trying to benefit.
Such an operator makes himself the instrument for the transmission
of life force, which is healing force, from the Source of all
life. "As he gives, so he receives"; for this is the
basic law of the universe, the Law of Compensation. If he gives
the treatments in the right spirit, he will gain vital
force instead of losing it. He will actually feel his
own intensified life vibrations and after treating he will experience
a feeling of buoyancy and elation which nothing else can impart
to him. "He who loses his life shall find it."
Like a musician who tunes up (puts in harmonious vibration)
the relaxed strings of his instrument, so the magnetic healer
tunes up and harmonizes the weakened and discordant vibrations
of his patient.
Good
massage will produce electromagnetic effects even though the
operator is not aware of it and does not understand the underlying
laws; but his work will gain in power and effectiveness in direct
proportion to the conscious efforts he makes to benefit his
patients by the influence of these higher and finer forces.
I have frequently noticed in my own manipulative work how much
the conscious and concentrated effort of the will has to do
with its effectiveness. Often, when I had given the usual massage
or osteopathic treatment and the patient still complained of
pain in a certain locality of the body, I would lay my hands
on the affected area and concentrate my will upon dissolving
the congestion in that particular part or organ and upon harmonizing
its discordant vibrations. Very shortly, usually within a few
minutes, the congestion would be relieved and the pain would
subside.
The
electromagnetic energies of the organism can be controlled by
the will and either concentrated to or sent away from
any part of the body, just as the circulation of the blood can
be controlled. The latter I saw done by a hypnotist who made
the blood flow into and out of the arms and hands of one of
his subjects simply by the power of his will.
While this was accomplished by means of a destructive process,
it taught me a most valuable lesson regarding the power of the
will to control physical conditions.
Try it yourself. Next time when you have one of your annoying
headaches, recline comfortably in a chair or on a couch, relax
completely and then Will the blood to flow away from
the brain in order to relieve the congestion and the
attendant pain. Many of my patients have learned to treat themselves
successfully in this way.
It is obvious that magnetic treatment will not remove pain permanently
if the latter is due to irritation caused by a subluxated bone
or by some foreign body or by local accumulation of morbid matter
and poisons in any part or organ. In all such cases the local
cause of the irritation must be removed before the pain can
subside or disappear.
Chapter
XXII, continued
Spinal Manipulation and Adjustment
History
In many European countries "bonesetters" have, in
a crude way, been treating strains and sprains of the spinal
column since time immemorial. These bonesetters usually belong
to the peasantry and the art has been transmitted in the same
families from father to son for many generations.
Incidentally, these simple people observed that their treatment
relieved not only sprained, tired and painful backs--the result
primarily aimed at--but frequently exerted a favorable influence
upon disease processes in remote organs and parts. This empirical
discovery has gradually led to a wider application of this method
of treatment.
The various modern systems of spinal manipulation, namely, osteopathy,
chiropractic, naprapathy, neuropathy, spondylotherapy and our
own neurotherapy, are all of distinctly American origin.
During the last quarter century millions of Americans through
personal experience have become staunch adherents to one or
more of these systems of treatment. This fact has been instrumental
in directing the attention of numerous sincere and scientific
investigators to the spinal column with its associated structures
as a mechanism through which to apply therapeutic measures.
It therefore behooves every health seeker to acquaint himself
with the theories and claims of these various systems of manipulative
treatment.
Osteopathy
The autobiography of Dr. A. T. Still contains the following
interesting statement:
"In
the year 1874 I proclaimed that a disturbed artery marked the
beginning to an hour and a minute when disease began to sow
its seeds of destruction in the human body. That in no case
could it be done without a broken or suspended current of arterial
blood, which by Nature was intended to supply and nourish all
nerves, ligaments, muscles, skin, bones and the artery itself.
… The rule of the artery must be absolute, universal and
unobstructed or disease will be the result. I proclaimed then
and there that all nerves depend wholly on the arterial system
for their qualities such as sensation, nutrition and motion,
even though by the law of reciprocity they furnish force, nutrition
and motion to the artery itself."
It may be argued that as early as 1805 the Ling System of Swedish
Movement was founded on the same principle, namely, "permanent
health through perfect circulation." The evidence at hand,
however, strongly suggests that the founder of osteopathy arrived
at his conclusions independently.
The further claims of Dr. Still as to the cause and cure of
disease are briefly as follows: Partial displacements of any
of the various bones of the body exert pressure on neighboring
blood vessels, thereby interfering with the
circulation to the corresponding organs. These displacements,
called "bony lesions," are best "reduced"
by manipulations called osteopathic "moves."
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