Origins of Alternative Medicine
An Interview about the Emergence of Alternative Med. with a Practitioner of:
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Applied kinesiology can determine health imbalances in the body's organs and glands by identifying weaknesses in specific muscles. Stimulating and relaxing key muscles help in the diagnosis of variety of health problems. |
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| Description:
Applied kinesiology is the study of muscles and the relationship of muscle strength to health. This alternative medicine technique relies on the idea that muscles can be stuck (turned) "on" or stuck (turned) "off." A stuck 'on' muscle acts like a tense muscle spasm ('charlie horse'), whereas a stuck 'off' muscle appears flaccid. Applied kinesiology is a relatively new alternative medicine field of study, diagnosis, and treatment. George Goodheart, D.C., of Detroit, Michigan, a chiropractic physician and the founder of applied kinesiology, first observed in 1964 that the absence of skeletal deformity and postural distortion is often associated with muscular dysfunction. The field has gained recognition, credibility, and a general following ever since his findings were revealed. Applied kinesiology recognizes the existence of "strong" and "weak" muscles. Weak muscles exhibit as much actual force as normal muscles. According to Dr. Blaich, weak muscles often have delayed reactions to stimuli. Studies suggest the difference between weak and strong muscles lies in the timing of electrical activity in the muscle. Muscles become weak due to immobility (i.e. cast), lack of exercise, poor posture, gland or organ dysfunction, or injury. A weak muscle can lead to misaligned or inflamed bones, signs of premature wear and tear, as well as symptoms of osteoarthritis. Applied kinesiology also treats and diagnoses athletic ailments and injuries in sports. It improves muscle interaction and stabilization. |
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| Goals of Applied Kinesiology | ||
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| Common Internal Causes of Muscle Weakness | ||
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| Method: | ||
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It is very easy to explore the technique of applied kinesiology when a comparison is made between the way conventional (western) medicine would treat asthma and the way in which applied kinesiology (a branch of eastern/alternative medicine) treats asthma. Conventional medicine uses adrenal hormones or their derivatives to treat asthma, and it considers asthma strictly a problem related to the lungs. An applied kinesiologist, on the other hand, looks for weaknesses in specific low back and leg muscles which share a connection with the adrenal glands. A kinesiologist strengthens these muscles and helps the adrenal glands produce bronchodilators (chemicals that relax or open air passages in the lungs). In diagnosis, an applied kinesiologist determines whether muscles are 'on' or 'off' as they should be during normal activity. Muscle dysfunction is corrected through the use of various reflexes or by performing manual procedure on the muscle-deep massage, goading pressure on attachment points, or realignment. An applied kinesiologist needs to stimulate nerve and blood supply, as well as lymphatic drainage and acupuncture energy to lungs for them to clear. One way to identify nutritional substances of value to this specific ailment is to test a patient's weak deltoid muscle while putting a substance on his tongue to stimulate nerve endings, which, in turn, trigger certain areas in the brain to make changes in the body. If the correct nutrient is applied, there should be immediate strengthening of the deltoid muscle. |
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| Common cures: | ||
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Massage therapists rave about the results of massage combined with some of the principles of kinesiology, namely muscular manipulation. Sometimes kinesiologists find that subluxations of the spinal column can cause muscles to be misaligned as well. Therefore, kinesiologists often rely on some of the methods and concepts expressed in chiropractic, including spinal manipulation so that "turned off" muscles can be "turned on." Applied kinesiologists may also utilize the galvanic skin response (GSR) to test for muscle tension. |
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Modern medicine's perspective: Recent research has demonstrated a neurological difference between "strong" and "weak" muscles, as identified through applied kinesiology testing. Applied kinesiology is very popular with the Chiropractic profession. Because the deltoid muscle (in the shoulder) shares a relationship to the lungs, a muscle test can be an indicator of the state of the lungs and can serve as a monitor of their condition. Applied kinesiology is utilized in modern sports rehabilitation programs to prevent injury and to improve athletic perfomance. The muscle-organ link can be helpful in identifying "rate limiting factors," or "weak links" in the performance of top athletes. |
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| Case Studies: | ||
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#1: A music conductor had severe pains in his shoulder inhibiting his ability to conduct. Dr. Blaich evaluated the patient's shoulder area and determined the problem to be a specific muscle, the pectoralis major. He reset the muscle by correcting a cranial fault (minute manipulation of bones in the head). The problem recurred and Blaich determined that the problem was caused by none other than eating wheat! The patient was found to have a gluten allergy, so he avoided eating wheat and no longer suffered from shoulder pain. |
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| #2:
In 1983 and 1984, Dr. Blaich identified
an adrenal weakness accompanying other structural and chemical imbalances
in a bicyclist, Alexi Grewal. Alexi is a talented young athlete with
a history of asthma. Dr. Blaich improved Alexi's adrenal gland
and diaphragm muscle function and structural performance. Alexi's
health and performance improved enough to win the gold medal in the
1984 Olympics.
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| Links & Resources: | ||
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International
College of Applied Kinesiology |
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| Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide | ||
| jCompiled by the Burton Goldberg Group Future Medicine Publishers, Inc. Puyallup, Washington copyright 1994 | ||
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| http://www.kinesiology.net:80/ Kinesiology Net The web site for kinesiologic medicine, applied kinesiology, specialized kinesiology and manual muscle testing. | ||
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