THE UPLINK
Merging Contemporary Chiropractic Neurology and Nutritional Biochemistry in the Tradition of Applied Kinesiology
Issue
No. 19
Issue
No. 19
EXCESS NUTRIENTS CAUSE BACK PAIN: CALCIUM
The good news is that more and more people are taking nutritional supplements. The bad news is that many people are unwittingly overdosing themselves into problems, which many times include seemingly unrelated musculoskeletal symptoms! In Issue #18 of THE UPLINK, we discussed vitamin E excess. In Issue #19 we will discuss low back pain (and other pains) from too much calcium intake.
Recurrent or non-responsive low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and other musculoskeletal pain occurs in a significant number of people (especially women) who supplement with excess calcium.
MOTHER, APPLE PIE, AND CALCIUM
To question the wisdom that all women after a certain age need supplementary calcium rings like heresy in many circles. Yet it is clear that there are very few substances which are good for everyone. Our awareness of biochemical individuality and genetic uniqueness makes it clear that not everyone should do everything the same as everyone else.
CALCIUM AND THE
PARATHYROIDS
Calcium levels in the blood are maintained via several important physiological mechanisms including the parathyroid glands (which also regulate phosphorus levels.) Since parathyroid hormone increases blood calcium levels, parathyroid activity increases when serum calcium levels are low and decreases when serum calcium is high. Hence, when a person over-consumes calcium (especially when it is out of balance with phosphorus, magnesium, and possibly other minerals) there is a tendency towards increased serum calcium levels which inhibits parathyroid activity.
NECK AND
SHOULDER PAIN
As was demonstrated by Dr. Goodheart in 1980, the parathyroids are related to the levator scapula muscle which attaches to the upper four cervical transverse processes and to the superior angle of the scapula. Dr. Goodheart also taught us that the parathyroid and levator scapula are associated with the lung meridian. Excess calcium will often result
in parathyroid inhibition and hence, inhibition of the levator scapula. This results in neck problems (including a tight upper trapezius), pain around the superior angle of the scapula or other scapular and shoulder areas. These problems are often chronic in light of continuing excess calcium intake.
If inhibited, treat the levator scapula by origin-insertion technique, Chapman’s NL reflex (located in the belly of each teres minor) or other procedure. Then perform an oral challenge with the patient’s calcium product and retest the levator scapula. It will usually become inhibited and TL will be positive to one or both Chapman’s NL reflex areas with the calcium in the mouth. TL to these NLs with oral calcium will also result in a weakening of any other indicator muscle. Treat the NL by injury recall technique while the calcium is held in the mouth.
CALCIUM AND THE
LOW BACK
The lung meridian is a yin meridian and is paired with the yang large intestine meridian. Imbalances in one of these meridians may be compensated for in the other. Frequently, excess calcium intake results in a compensation to the parathyroid / levator scap / lung meridian stress which creates problems (recurrent subluxations) at the large intestine associated areas of the spine which are located at L-4 and L-5. This causes low back pain and may also contribute to chronic lower extremity (knee, ankle) pain.
In these patients, lumbar subluxation challenge will be negated by TL to the levator scapula/PTH Chapman’s NL reflex(es). Oral challenge with the patient’s calcium will cause positive TL to these reflexes which must be corrected by IRT.
Careful monitoring of the patient’s calcium intake must take place. Levels and types of calcium must be titrated to the optimum dosages. Many patients require a combination of raw bone derived calcium and ionizable calcium (such as calcium citrate or calcium lactate.) It usually requires several weeks or months to find this optimum balance. Magnesium levels must be considered as well as phosphorus.
€ FIRST COME – FIRST SERVED: Dr. Schmitt is presenting a
series of MASTER
CLASSES on “The LINKS Between the Nervous System and the Body Chemistry”
in Chapel Hill. The title of each
session is below. It is expected that
anyone attending a Master Class is familiar with Dr. Schmitt’s work including
the topics in all of his books (See “This Issue’s Special) as well as those
presented in his audio-video-notes presentations. Additional details about classes and topics
or information on group hotel rates may be received by calling or faxing our
office. (See next page.)
These
Master Classes are taught in the training room of The Center for Innovative
Care (Dr. Schmitt’s office.) Space is
limited and attendance at Master Classes is limited to 20 doctors per session
on a first come- first served basis. See
Seminar Schedule.
•“Beginning Examination & Treatment Procedures –
Blowing Away the Smokescreen”
• Visceral Assessment and Treatment Techniques
•
Nutritional Chem 1 – There Is a System to Body Chemistry
•
Nutritional Chem 2 – “The System of Body Chemistry–Pt. 2
•
No-Stuff Stuff (What to do When You Forget Your Test Kit)
€ ONE OF THE DANGERS of relying on clinical studies alone is that research
is the starting place for practice, not the end point. The research about
nutritional substances, for example, gives us no understanding of how a
nutrient fits into a patient's overall health pattern. It is also interesting to consider that
clinical studies of patients apply to the overall group, and the next patient
that comes into your office may well be the one who falls at the outer limits
or even outside the bell shaped curve of responses. That is often the case as is described
relative to calcium supplementation in this issue and vitamin E in Issue #18.
For these reasons and others, it is
important to treat each patient as an individual, and to have an open mind
about the range of therapeutic possibilities which may be required in each
case. The individual interactive approach provided by functional neurological
assessment and neuro metabolic assessment addresses these issues and is by far
the most valuable tool we have in clinical practice today. Once again, research studies should be the
starting place for our approach, not the end point.
€ NEW BASIC 100 HOUR AK SYLLABUS IN NC! Dr. Schmitt has personally designed this SPECIAL 100
hour basic AK course (
1: S:
Hands-On Pain Relief / Introduction, History of AK
C: Controlling Inflammation -
Essential Fatty Acids
2: S:
Hip and Low Back
C: Relieving Fatigue – Part 1
3: S:
Neck (and Cranium)
C: Relieving Fatigue – Part 2
4: S:
Shoulder
C: Digestive System
5: S:
Knee
C: Adrenal Stress Disorder /
Emotional Stress Overload
6: S:
Foot and Ankle
C: Food Hypersensitivities / Liver
Detoxication
7: S:
Elbow
C: Carbohydrate Intolerance /
Stopping Degeneration
8: S:
Wrist and Hand / TMJ
C: Common Glandular Dysfunctions
Contact the NC Chiropractic Association (See Seminar Schedule) for additional information regarding this unique opportunity to learn basic AK from Dr. Schmitt’s forward looking perspective.
€ p SKI WITH WALLY o
IN 2001:
1. Lech and Zurs, Austria, January 21-26 (US
Departure on Jan. 20th) Topic: “You Know It’s There But You Can’t
Find It (Simple Procedures for Hidden Problems)”
2.
Dr.
Call contact person to confirm details of
seminars. Schedule subject to change.
Dates Locations Titles Contact
2001:
Jan
21-26
Feb
17-18
Mar
8-10 Steamboat Springs, CO "Ski With Wally"#7 Dr. Schmitt
April
7-8
Apr
21-22
June
9-10
Jun 28-30
Jul
28-29
Aug
25-26
Oct 27-28
Sep-Dec
For Information Contact:
Dr.
Walter Schmitt,
Nutri
West Blue Ridge (800) 334-3793
Dr.
Joe Mulvihill,
Body
Therapy Institute,