THE UPLINK
Merging Contemporary Chiropractic Neurology and Nutritional Biochemistry in the Tradition of Applied Kinesiology
Issue
No. 20
Issue
No. 20
LITTLE
GUYS GET NO RESPECT
In Issue #19 we discussed low back pain (and other pains) resulting from excess calcium intake and parathyroid relationships. In this issue of THE UPLINK we will revisit the parathyroid glands and several very common, very important, but often overlooked clinical relationships with these little, but essential glands.
AK assessment of parathyroid activity has been by testing
the levator scapulae. A better assessment procedure is to challenge the
parathyroid visceral referred pain areas (VRP) by pinching and rubbing
(nociceptor vs. mechanoreceptor) stimulation in the manner discussed in THE
UPLINK Issue #10
Traditional references to VRPs do not include the
parathyroid glands. By investigating to
see if there are any areas that react to pinching and rubbing in a fashion
similar to other VRPs, we have identified the following location which appears
to reflect parathyroid activity:
The parathyroid “VRP” location is over the lower half of
the throat (above the locations of the related glands.) The parathyroid VRP has
a right half and a left half, each relating to the ipsilateral levator scapula.
However, weak and strong indicator muscles are usually used for VRP evaluation
for two reasons: 1) the systemic impact which is created by parathyroid
dysfunction (see below), and 2) the difficulty of repeated testing of the
levator scapula.
Typically, pinching the VRP will strengthen and
rubbing the VRP will weaken - either a Type 3 inhibition (G-2 submax)
or an AI induced repetitive weakness (see THE UPLINK Issue #14) in a
strong indicator muscle. This occurs in many patients.
GLUTATHIONE AND THE PARATHYROIDS
Years ago, Dr. Goodheart showed me an obscure reference
about the role of parathyroid activity in the synthesis of glutathione (GSH). Selected
Papers on Metabolic Faults includes a paper entitled “Glutathione – The
Most Important Molecule in the Body.” In
addition to concepts discussed in that paper, glutathione is a major player in
liver detoxification pathways and regulates redox reactions in virtually every
cell in the body playing an essential role in the body’s antioxidant system.
Difficult patients will often test positive for GSH and it
is OK to supplement GSH. However, it is
better to aid the body in GSH synthesis. GSH synthesis requires 3 precursor
amino acids (CYS, GLU, and GLY), adequate magnesium and potassium, and normal
parathyroid activity. The latter is frequently absent when GSH strengthens.
PARATHYROID
STRESSORS
Clinical observations have identified the common substances which stress the parathyroid glands. At the top of the list are bad fats: trans fats and arachidonic acid (typically challenged with oral shortening and lard, respectively.) Other challenges which are often positive are: excess calcium (see Issue #19), excess magnesium, other excess minerals including heavy metals, cortisol (or rubbing the adrenal Chapman’s reflexes) in chronic stress, and food allergens.
Placing the
offender in the mouth will cause a positive TL to the Chapman’s NL reflex for
the parathyroid (in the belly of each teres minor muscle.) Correction is by injury recall
technique to the NL reflex with the offender in the mouth.
CONSEQUENCES OF
CORRECTION
Correction of parathyroid imbalances in this fashion will immediately diminish or eliminate many other problems. Neck pain (and other pains as discussed in Issue #19) will immediately improve. Certain headaches, especially those associated with bad fats, will begin to fade away. Factors related to glutathione will change including liver problems.
The little parathyroid glands deserve our respect, and our attention.
€ LOTS OF “NINES” – NEW PHONE AND FAX: After 21 years in
Phone: (919) 419-9099
Fax: (919) 419-9049
€ PATIENT LECTURE - STOP YOUR PAIN
NOW!
The Stop Your Pain Now! book and audio tape have become very popular
with patients and doctors alike. My good
friend, Jerry Morantz, DC had the idea to use the book as a patient education –
practice building tool. Jerry wanted to see how I teach the material to my own
patients, since I have taught several non-doctor seminars based on the
book. So he invited me to his office
last December to teach a Stop Your Pain Now! seminar designed for
patients as well as for doctors who wanted to observe how I teach such a
seminar. The result was a fun seminar
with lots of good pain relief responses and a video tape of the seminar which
we have decided to make available. See “This Issue’s Special Offer” below for
information on the videotape of this 2 hour seminar.
THIS
ISSUE’S SPECIAL OFFER! VIDEOTAPE
OF PATIENT
LECTURE ON STOP YOUR PAIN NOW! 2
Hour Lecture & Demonstration for Doctors and Patients Presented
in the offices of Dr. Jerry Morantz $30.00
(Until
Dr. Schmitt Presenting His
€ BETTER THAN DAVID COPPERFIELD: The LINGUAL ASCORBIC ACID
TEST (LAAT) is a simple test which our staff performs on each patient on each
office visit. This valuable test has
been used for over 25 years to evaluate vitamin C status, but many are not
familiar with its value. Basically, it
is a “disappearing ink” type test. A drop of blue dye, which is neutralized by
active vitamin C, is placed on the patient’s tongue and the length of time it
takes to disappear is clocked. Producers
of the test report normal as less than 20 seconds. We consider a LAAT
disappearance time of less than 10 seconds as optimal and desirable.
Vitamin C
functions as an antioxidant in its ascorbate form. As an antioxidant, it sacrifices itself to
protect the body’s own tissues and important chemicals from oxidation. In this sacrificial process, the ascorbate
form of vitamin C is oxidized to dehydroascorbate which is inactive as an
antioxidant. This inactive form of
vitamin C is recycled back to its active antioxidant form by glutathione. (See
previous page.) If there are inadequate
levels of glutathione or other antioxidants, the antioxidant chain will be
compromised and the dehydroascorbate cannot be converted back to its active,
ascorbate form.
The LAAT
measures tissue levels of vitamin C in its active ascorbate form. The
dye takes longer to disappear in the presence of low tissue levels of vitamin C
or if the tissues contain adequate vitamin C, but it is in its
inactivated (dehydroascorbate) form. For this reason many patients who are
taking plenty of vitamin C will still show a prolonged LAAT disappearance time.
A
prolonged LAAT disappearance time represents an over-oxidized patient who has:
1) low intake of vitamin C, 2) low levels of other antioxidants necessary to recycle
vitamin C to its active form, or 3) a toxic state where the body is using up
(oxidizing) vitamin C faster than the body can recycle it.
A prolonged
LAAT disappearance time is often the clue to otherwise unsuspected antioxidant
deficiencies (of ANY antioxidant) or hidden toxic states. That is why we check
it on all of our patients. The LAAT time will change immediately after proper
treatment in many patients, without any addition of vitamin C to the system!
A full
discussion of this aspect of the LAAT is found in the paper “The
LAAT as a Screening Test for Oxidation-Reduction Imbalances” which is included
in Selected Papers on Metabolic Faults.
Available
from AKSP THE
LINGUAL ASCORBIC ACID TEST Each
kit includes about 1000 tests $57
includes shipping See
order form
€ MASTER CLASS SCHEDULE: Master Classes are publicized to only a small number
of doctors. If you wish to be included
in these special Master Class mailings, please contact us. The next Master
Class is:
•
€ NEW 100 HOUR COURSE KICKS OFF: This 100 hour basic AK course, personally
designed by Dr. Schmitt, has been approved by
€ PREVIOUS ISSUES OF THE
UPLINK are available on-line at
our web site: www.theuplink.com.
Dr.
Call contact person to confirm details of
seminars. Schedule subject to change.
Dates Locations Titles Contact
2001:
June
9-10
Jun 28-30
Jul
28-29
Aug
25-26
Sep 29-30
Oct 13-14
Oct 20-21
Oct 27-28
Nov 10-11
Dec
1-2
2002:
Mar
7-9 Snowmass-at-Aspen “Ski With Wally” #8 Dr. Walter Schmitt
For Information Contact:
Dr.
Walter Schmitt,
Nutri
West Blue Ridge (800) 334-3793
NC
Chiropractic Association, (919) 832-0611
: _________________________________________ Expiration Date: __________
Signature:_________________________