Zone therapy; or, Relieving pain at homeFitzgerald, Wm. H. (William Henry Hope)
Science
Zone therapy; or, Relieving pain at home
Fitzgerald, Wm. H. (William Henry Hope)
Therapeutics, Physiological
It was subsequently found that this man also had an osteopathic lesion,
which was reduced by Dr. Reid Kellogg, and after a few weeks’ “home
treatment”--consisting of five minute applications of moderately tight
rubber bands around the ends of the fingers--he reported himself as
well--and has remained so for more than ten months.
For sciatic neuritis it is found that deep pressures with the teeth of
an aluminum or steel comb made upon the toes are much more effective
than when made upon the fingers. When pain is most severe on the back
of the leg pressures should be made upon the ball (sole) of the foot.
(See Fig. 18.) When the front of the leg pains also, the top of the
foot should also be pressed.
While we are on the subject of sciatica, I might emphasize the
importance of a careful examination of the condition of the wisdom
teeth. For very frequently we have found this to be the origin of the
sciatic nerve trouble.
Another interesting case, successfully treated with clothespins, was
that of a young man suffering from hand tremors, insomnia, and nervous
exhaustion.
He had his finger tips clamped daily for a week. Then three times
more, at intervals of three days. After the eighth treatment he had
no further trouble with tremor, slept like a baby, and was apparently
relieved of all nervous symptoms.
[Illustration: FIG. 18.--Showing a method of treating rheumatism or
sciatica by treating all five zones on the back of the leg and body.]
We have found it helpful, if the patient has a good set of teeth, to
have him clinch the teeth, and also the hands, for several minutes at a
time, three or four times daily. This produces an exaggerated degree of
relaxation, which is most helpful in overcoming nervous conditions.
Most of our patients are also instructed to “yawn prodigiously,” and
stretch. This stimulates a healthy action of the sympathetic nerves
in all the zones, and cannot fail but be most beneficial. Sometimes
the insomnia of neurasthenia may be effectively overcome by tightly
clasping the hands--interlocking the fingers as shown in Fig. 19, or
pressing the finger tips firmly together, and holding this position for
ten or fifteen minutes--unless sleep should come before this and relax
the clasp.
Also, the clinching or wriggling of the toes is of benefit to a
neurasthenic. In fact, I am convinced that the method of relieving
fatigue in marching troops, discovered by Drs. DeFleury and Jacques--of
the French army, is largely an application of the principles of zone
therapy.
The French surgeon’s idea is temporarily to expel the blood from the
legs by raising them. The soldiers remove their shoes and lie prone on
the ground, close to a tree or wall, with heads slightly elevated. They
then raise their legs against the wall, stretching upwards as far as
limb limitations permit.
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