Cliff's Weekly Papers Archives

Cliff's holistic health papers -- week 2 posted here

Hi,
Dr. Stoll has suggested I post each week 2 of my holistic health papers. This week (posted
below): Paper 3D, The pancreas; hypoglycemia; diabetes; Paper 4D, Self-correction of some
structural problems.

Cliff

HEALTH MUSINGS (Paper 3D, The pancreas; hypoglycemia; diabetes)

by Clifford S. Garner, Ph.D.

It is difficult to be spiritually active, emotionally stable, and effective in our daily work if our
physical bodies are not reasonably healthy.
We consider here some better ways than used by orthodox medicine for dealing with low
blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and diabetes. The latter affects more than 11 million Americans,
rivaling heart disease and cancer as the most degenerative diseases of modern times. The number
of people with low blood sugar problems is even greater. First, let us consider the pancreas and
what it does.
The pancreas is typically a 6-inch long, 3-ounce gland situated transversely about 1-2 inches
above the bottom of the front rib cage and behind the stomach, touching the left kidney, left
adrenal and spleen. The pancreas has several types of cells.
One, the acini cells, secrete digestive enzymes such as trypsin and chymotrypsin (for digesting
proteins), amylase (for digesting carbohydrates), and lipase (for digesting fats), as well as
secreting water and bicarbonate ions to make the pancreatic juices alkaline for food digestion in
the small intestine. Common symptoms of a lack of these enzymes include gas and lower bowel
discomfort, foul smelling stools, and duodenal ulcers. Some common causes of dysfunction of
these aspects of the pancreas include eating too much refined foods (especially sugar, wheat flour
products and white rice), too many different foods at a meal, regular heavy snacking between
meals, B-vitamin deficiencies, too little hydrochloric acid in the stomach (often from use of
antacids), etc. Most of my clients lack pancreatic enzyme production and/or are deficient in
stomach acid.
The other types of pancreatic cells are the glycogon-producing alpha cells and the insulin-
producing beta cells. When blood glucose levels drop below 700 milligrams per quart of blood,
glucogon is normally secreted to convert glycogen into glucose and prevent blood sugar levels
from going too low, and to assure the brain gets enough of glucose, its main nutrient. Insulin has
several functions, of which we consider here only insulin's ability to convert glucose that is not
needed immediately into glycogen and fat for storage in the liver and skin. Excess glucose in the
blood is toxic, reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin and the effectiveness of
various proteins in the body. The pancreas, adrenals, thyroid, pituitary and liver all cooperate in
maintaining stable blood sugar levels. Some symptoms of low blood sugar include fatigue, feeling
faint, weak, dizzy, shaky, irritable, light headed, depressed, poor memory, craving sweets, rapid
heartbeat, difficulty getting asleep again after awakening at night, learning "problems", emotional
rages, and a tendency to asthma and/or allergies. High blood sugar symptoms include weakness,
diarrhea, dehydration, increased urination, thirst, nausea, mood swings, headaches, shortness of
breath. Some of these symptoms, as always, can have other causes. A major cause of low or high
blood sugar is consumption of man-made sweet foods in place of natural foods with their much
lower natural sugar concentrations. E.g., a banana may be 20% sugar and a watermelon only 5%,
whereas typical breakfast cereals and salad dressings can be 50% sugar or more, and cakes, pies,
doughnuts, etc, even greater. Such foods digest quickly, pass right into the bloodstream with a
consequent rapid rise in blood sugar levels which cause the pancreas to produce too much insulin,
resulting in a rapid drop in blood sugar levels, tempting us to eat sweets, and the cycle repeats
itself. Complex carbohydrates, vegetables and most fruits digest slowly and do not cause these
problems. Initially this leads to hypoglycemia, but after years of such overindulgence diabetes can
result. Incidentally, such overindulgence includes caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, smoking and many
"recreational" drugs such as marijuana, and all adversely impact also on the adrenals, pituitary,
thyroid, liver, and immune system. Snacking and overeating tend likewise. Space limitations
prevents our going into other causation factors.
There are two main types of diabetes (and three secondary forms). One type, diabetes
insipidus, is a rare metabolic disorder associated with a deficiency of pituitary hormones. The
other main type is diabetes mellitus, which exists in two forms: Type 1, "insulin-dependent,”
“juvenile diabetes", or "congenital diabetes", occurring mostly in children and young adults,
requiring insulin injections, and type 2, "adult-onset", "non-insulin-dependent" diabetes. We focus
here on the latter, although the former can be helped to reduce insulin dosages by proper
alternative care. About 60-90% of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight (a causative
factor), and in which the pancreas may be secreting insulin, but 90% have "insulin resistance", in
which cell receptors are resistant to insulin uptake.
Complications of diabetes can include vision loss, kidney damage, damage to the peripheral
nervous system (often pain or numbness in legs and feet), foot and leg ulcers, and coma from
dehydration.
An excellent report was published in June 1998 by Thomas Smith, “Insulin: Our Silent Killer,”
in which he presents convincing evidence that hyperinsulinemia (oversecretion of insulin by the
pancreas in the body’s effort to compensate for the loss of insulin’s effectiveness) is the direct
precipitating cause of type 2 diabetes, strokes, atherosclerosis, heart failure, neuropathy, diabetic
gangrene, kidney failure, liver damage, male impotence, and many other diseases of impaired
blood circulation. The report (available from Valley Tech, 1-(970) 669-9176, for $20 including
shipping) gives very complete non-medical dietary and other ways of overcoming these problems.
With the exception of a few holistic MDs, the medical approach to treating diabetes, as for
other chronic, degenerative, functional diseases, has been poor at best. Many medical drugs used
for diabetes have been unnecessary and dangerous. Among them are the thiazide diuretics, and
such drugs as DiaBeta, Micronase, Glucatrol, and Rezulin used for Type 2 diabetes have been
reported to actually increase the death rate from diabetes and heart disease.
Weight reduction (if overweight) and physical exercise is helpful. Sometimes structure is
important; for example, up-to-date Contact Reflex Analysis (CRA) practitioners know that if the
left ring finger is subluxated it is harder to get the pancreas functioning well, in which case that
finger needs a chiropractic or osteopathic release (or a self-release if you know how–see our
paper 4D).
Diet control is of major importance, and the same diet is usually beneficial for both
hypoglycemia and diabetes. We have already mentioned the necessity of great reduction in the
amount of sugar and wheat flour products in general, a high-fiber near-vegetarian diet works best,
with at least 75% from fresh raw veggies (especially cabbage, brussels sprouts, green beans and
other legumes, sweet potatoes, onions and garlic), along with nuts and seeds, and perhaps some
fruits. A few people will do better on a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet. Incidentally, research
has shown that cow's milk contains two or more proteins that can trigger destruction of the
insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells (cheeses appear to be okay in this regard). A 1994 paper
reported that a group of children who did not receive cow's milk in the first three months after
birth developed 40% fewer cases of Type 1 diabetes than those who got cow's milk in place of
mother's milk. Actually, pasteurized cow’s milk is a very common allergen and a poor food for
children and adults.
There are many nutritional supplements and herbs which help greatly, of which we give some
below, with dosages suggested by the literature. But, be aware that persons on diabetic
medication should not make any major dietary changes or take nutritional supplements or herbs
without supervision by a holistic MD, ND, or other competent practitioner, because medication
dosages could change and a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels might occur. Unfortunately, few
MDs in the USA are nutritionally trained or even believe in nutrition. Also, be aware that self-
medication with supplements and herbs for any purpose can sometimes cause troubles because of
possible sensitivities to fillers, binders, coloring agents, lectins, as well as the active ingredients;
the services of a trained kinesiologist can be very helpful here, as well as for helping you find the
proper dosages for your individual chemistry. The two major brands of supplements I use with
clients have been researched by others, and to a limited extent by me, and are outstanding: Thorne
Research, which are truly hypo-allergenic and pure, and Standard Process Labs, which are based
on whole food extracts from plants, with some protomorphogens in some cases. Normally these
are available only through professional health practitioners. Herbs vary tremendously in their
potency with some being worthless. I find Gaia herbs and Eclectic Institute herbs the best in
general. Dosages for herbs are of little value unless the brand source is known. In order to
convert sugar into glycogen, diabetics need chromium, manganese, zinc and vitamin B2. Some
potentially helpful nutritional supplements for pancreatic and related support include (dosages are
per day):
● Alpha Lipoic Acid [150-200 milligrams, among the most powerful liver detoxifiers known]
● Chromium Picolinate [400-1000 micrograms]
● Vanadyl Sulfate [100-150 milligrams]
● Biotin [10-15 milligrams]
● Gamma Linolenic Acid [GLA, 400-600 milligrams, from borage, evening primrose oil, or
black current oil]
● Inositol Hexanicotinate [a non-flushing form of vitamin B3, 400-700 milligrams]
● Vitamin C [500-1500 milligrams] or better, Standard Process Cataplex A-C-P [2-6]
● Vitamin E [400-1200 i.u. as d-alpha tocopherol] or better, Standard Process Cataplex E2 [2-
6]
Vitamin B2 [preferably as riboflavin-5-phosphate, 150-450 milligrams]
● Vitamin B6 [preferably as pyridoxyl-5-phosphate, 25-50 milligrams]
● Vitamin B12 [preferably as adenosyl cobalamine, 50-100 micrograms]
● Taurine [500-1500 milligrams]
● Vitamine A [not beta-carotene, which diabetics do not convert well, 25,000-50,000 i.u.]
● L-Carnitine [500-1000 milligrams, on an empty stomach]
● L-Glutamine [1-3 grams]
● Manganese Picolinate [50-150 milligrams]
● Zinc Picolinate or Zinc Citrate or Zinc Carbonate [30-90 milligrams of zinc]
● Copper Picolinate [2-4 milligrams of copper]
● Selenium Picolinate [200-400 micrograms]
● Calcium Citrate [150-450 milligrams of calcium]
● Magnesium Citrate [400-800 milligrams of magnesium]
● Potassium Citrate [100-300 milligrams of potassium]
● Pancreatic Enzymes, and Hydrochloric Acid [as betaine hydrochloride or glutamic acid
hydrochloride]; Standard Process Labs Zypan has both pancreatic enzymes, betaine
hydrochloride, as well as pepsin and pancreatic protomorphogen, and is excellent.
Avoid large doses of B and C vitamins and cysteine.

Potentially helpful herbs include alfalfa, bilberry, buchu, burdock, dandelion root, fenugreek,
ginseng, goldenrod, huckleberry, milk thistle, red clover, uva ursi, and yellow dock. Two Indian
Ayurveda herbs, gymnema sylvestre, (called Shardunikha in Ayurvedic medicine) and pterocarpus
marsupium, have a long history of regenerating pancreatic cells in Type 2 diabetes. The East
Indian herb coleus forskohlii (available in some health food stores under the name Forskolin) can
stimulate the acid-secreting parietal cells of the stomach to produce more hydrochloric acid to aid
in digestion of nutritional supplements and foods.
Potentially helpful homeopathics include acetic acid, alfalfa, arsenicum bromatum,
chionanthus, crataegus, coca, syzygium, uranium nitricum, and urea, in relevant potencies.
Energy flow for the pancreas may be safely stimulated by daily rubbing for one minute a
neurolymphatic reflex (NL) two finger widths up from the bottom of the front rib cage, in vertical
alignment with the nipple of the left breast, and by gently holding for 1-2 minutes with the
fingerpads the neurovascular reflexes (NVs) one inch directly above the top of the ears.
Louise Hay states that diabetes is often associated with "a longing for what might have been,
a great need to control, deep sorrow, no sweetness left." She suggests persistent use of the
affirmation, "This moment is filled with joy, I now choose to experience the sweetness of today."
Thorwald Dethlefsen and Ruediger Dahlke in their fascinating book, "The Healing Power of
Illness," state that "behind the desire of diabetics to enjoy sweet things and their simultaneous
inability to assimilate sugar and absorb it into their own body cells, stands an unsatisfied desire for
love, along with an inability to accept love and absorb it unreservedly."
The Chinese Law of Five Elements associates pancreas problems with the Spleen-Pancreas
Meridian of the Earth Element, for which some key emotions include rejection, indifference,
alienation, cynicism, and envy.

DISCLAIMER:
Information and procedures described in this and other “ Health Musings" are reported solely
for educational purposes. The author is not directly or indirectly dispensing medical advice.
Although the author believes this information and these procedures to be valuable, persons using
them do so entirely at their own risk.

Cliff Garner, Ph.D., is a holistic health facilitator and professional kinesiology practitioner. He
may he reached by telephone or fax at (505)525-1089, or by e-mail at .

HEALTH MUSINGS (Paper 4D, Self-correction of some structural problems)

by Clifford S. Garner, Ph.D.

In this paper we focus on some structural factors relating to health. Some of you are familiar
with several techniques used by chiropractic and osteopathic doctors (most osteopaths have
become pill pushers, unfortunately) to correct spinal vertebrae "subluxations,” cranial and pelvic
"faults," TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problems, etc. Outages in any of these systems
adversely affect nerve energy flow to various parts of the physical body, sometimes with severe
results. Because I am not a DC or DO, yet want to address such problems with my clients, I have
had to learn other techniques to accomplish corrections of such structural problems. I present
here some of those methods which you can easily learn and do yourself, or show someone how to
use..
Marsh Morrison, DC, has created several simple things you can do to correct spinal vertebrae
misalignment and to maintain good alignment.
One of these he calls the "head lift," for the 7 cervical vertebrae of the neck (especially
important for neurological functions are the atlas or first cervical vertebra Cl immediately below
the base of the skull and the seventh cervical vertebra C7). While standing or sitting, place your
open palms around your neck so the little-finger side of each hand is firmly against the lower jaw,
with the fingers extending backward to just under the mastoid bones behind the bottom of the
ears. Now lift the head straight upward, turning the head to one side to the full limit of motion as
you lift. Then gently give the head and neck a slight additional twist as you continue lifting. Do
this in both directions several times, always turning and lifting the head off the neck as far as you
can. The best time to do the head lift is just before bedtime at night, for the extra neck stretch will
help you throughout the night.
To self-adjust the thoracic (Tl-T12) and upper lumbar (L1-L2) vertebrae you can use Dr.
Morrison's "sway and arch" (which I call the "sag and arch"). Get on your hands and knees. Now
let your back sag downward as far as you can, then arch the back upwards as high as possible (if
you have a history of back problems, etc., do it gently for the first few times). Do this
rhythmically with some force until you tire.
To self-adjust the lower lumbars (L3-L5) and the pelvis, lie on your back on a carpeted floor
or bed having a hard mattress. With a cupped hand on the left knee, press-pull the knee as far as
you can toward the left shoulder, then straighten that leg horizontally. Do the same with the right
knee. Then with one hand on each knee, press-pull both knees at the same time toward the
shoulders. Repeat several times, press-pulling hard, but not jerking. Dr. Morrison calls this the
"pelvic back-tip." Incidentally, some years ago my lower back and ileosacral joint went "out"
while I was traveling. I would have been in deep trouble, except that I remembered to do the
pelvic back-tip morning and night, and by the next day I was alright again.
Dr. Morrison has many other exercises for structural improvements. Perhaps the 2 most
important are the “ primordial walk” and “diaphragmatic breathing.” The primordial walk is
walking on hands and feet (not hand and knees), with left hand and right foot moving in unison,
then right hand and left foot. This strengthens many muscles, ligaments and tendons. At first you
may find this tiring, so don't overdo, but simply do it longer each day.
Diaphragmatic breathing is done with your arms lifted high enough to open the chest cage.
With mouth wide open, pant like a dog, moving the midriff as you pant. This separates the front
ribs, increases lung capacity, strengthens the diaphragm (reducing any tendency toward a hiatal
hemia), oxygenates the blood and helps burn up toxins.
A useful exercise for self-adjustment of the pelvis comes from Educational Kinesio1ogy (in
which I am certified) where it is called the "rocker." Sit down on a carpeted floor, lean back onto
your hands (with fingers pointing toward your buttocks) and bring up your knees so your feet are
just off the floor. Now rock back and forth and in small circles. In Educational Kinesiology the
rocker, along with some other "brain-gym” exercises, is used to improve expressive oral reading
with emotion and interpretation, creative thinking, and whole body coordination for sports and
play.
With clients I help them to accomplish vertebral alignment by using two strong ceramic flat
magnets with the north (south-seeking) poles facing the body and held on each side of the spinal
vertebrae for a half minute or so.
Subluxated or over-tight fingers can impede energy flow to organs and glands. The thumbs of
both hands relate to the uterus, prostate, heart, and bladder. The forefinger of the right hand
relates to the lungs and to an overactive liver; on the left hand to lungs and spleen. The middle
fingers of both hands relate to the heart, thyroid, and adrenals. The ring finger of the right hand is
a main breaker switch for the liver (especially useful for fevers and toxin release), and of the left
hand a main breaker switch for the pancreas. The little fingers of both hands, when released,
slows down a racing heart. All these fingers can be released by “cracking” them by grasping
between the forefinger and middle finger (thumb on top of forefinger) the member firmly where it
joins the rest of the hand and giving a sharp jerk (try it gently first several times).
The two halves of the pubic bone often may stick together instead of moving separately and
freely. Releasing them recharges the immune system, the lymphatics, the sinuses, and organs with
fluid in them. To do the self-release, lie on your back, draw up both knees with feet flat on the
surface, bring them together and put your hands between the knees with palms facing the knees;
keeping the knees together, rhythmically press outwardly with both hands to try to separate the
knees, continuing this until the knees spontaneously separate. One may need to do this daily for
1-2 weeks.
If certain vertebrae consistently go out of alignment they may need specific nutrition. Nicolai
Lennox, DC, gives such information in his book, “ Chiropractic Nutrition.” E.g., the eighth
thoracic vertebra, T8, relates to the liver, and he specifies Standard Process Livaplex for this, at 8
per day for 12 weeks or so.
Louise Hay in her book, “Heal Your Body,” has an entire sect ion on emotional aspects of
specific vertebrae in spinal misalignment. She also covers TMJ and pelvic problems from an
emotional viewpoint.
Elizabeth Barhydt, BS, MT, and Hamilton Barhydt, Ph.D., in their excellent book, “Self Help
for Stress and Pain” give many structural balancing techniques. Among them are what they call
the "reactive muscle basic balance,"the frozen muscle basic balance", the "structural energy basic
balance" and the "neck release.”
Reactive muscles often contribute greatly to muscular aches and pains. A muscle that is
otherwise strong may suddenly go weak when another muscle is used (the first muscle is said to
be "reactive" to the second muscle, the “reactor"). The muscles involved overwork in attempting
to compensate for the imbalance. The reactive muscle basic balance is done by first activating
muscles by moving arms, legs, neck, torso, etc., through their range of motion (especially those
muscles involved in painful or restricted motion), then five fingers of one hand are placed around
the navel with the thumb directly above the navel and used to massage deeply while softly holding
the frontal eminences (FEs or ESR points are discussed in my paper 1D); as a reminder these are
directly above the eyes and halfway up the forehead). This deep massage is best done on the skin,
rather than through clothing.
The frozen muscle basic balance is done by placing the thumbpad on the forefingernail of each
hand and softly holding the FEs with middle and ring fingerpads of both hands for perhaps a
minute. It helps to visualize overtight muscles relaxing.
The structural energy basic balance is done like the frozen muscle basic balance, except that
the thumbpads are placed on the forefingerpads and the middle fingerpads on the forefingernails
of both hands, with these groups of fingers contacting the FEs.
The neck release is wonderful for releasing neck muscle tension and correcting neck reactive
muscles. It also improves brain integration for speaking and listening skills. Gently pinch the
neck muscles together in an up and down direction, using thumb and forefinger with the head
slightly tilted toward the side you are pinching. Work from front of neck to the back, avoiding
the adam's apple and wind pipe. It helps to first move the neck, arms, legs, shoulders, etc., to
facilitate reactive muscle correction. Sometimes it helps the client to think of little Pac-Men
nibbling the muscles.
People with myofascial or TMJ problems and carpal tunnel syndrome are often helped by
what I call the “elbow flick” described by Harley Beery, DDS, in his book “The Syndrome.”
Position the forearm vertically at right angles to the upper arm, palm facing your head. Cup the
elbow with the other hand. Practice forcefully "throwing" your forearm in a straight line toward
the room wall you face; you are trying to create enough force with the weight of the forearm to
open the elbow joint momentarily. There is a natural tendency to brace the arm muscles as the
arm comes to its full extension, and you need to avoid this by consciously relaxing the arm
muscles at that point. When you can do this you are ready for the elbow flick. Just as the
forearm reaches full extension (i.e., forearm and upper arm are in a straight line), push up
suddenly on the elbow with the hand cupping it, so as to slightly overextend the joint. Do this
several times a day for at least three weeks until the ligaments and tendons of the joint are normal
once again.
The skull has 8 cranial bones that should be free to “breathe" (at about 14 per minute). This
micromotion pumps cerebrospinal fluid up and down the spinal column, bringing in nutrition and
taking out waste products from the ventricles of the brain. Without this motion the brain sends
wrong signals to muscles, organs, glands, etc. A non-invasive way of correcting cranial
restrictions is to hold a No.4 paper bag with thumbs and forefingers tightly around the chin and
nose, such that breathing into the bag causes it to inflate and deflate without air leakage. After
about 15 breaths, the air in the bag becomes richer in carbon dioxide and depleted in oxygen, and
the brain recognizes this "oxygen starvation" by suddenly dilating the carotid arteries, allowing a
sudden burst of blood into the brain to move the cranial bones if they are not stuck together too
tightly. This can be done daily as long as you wish.
Kinesiology tests exist for whether each procedure above is needed or not. However, each
can be safely done whether needed or not, so long as a little common sense is used. Obviously if
you have experienced a substantial injury to the area of the body involved you will want to be
extra gentle or perhaps delay use of the technique until some healing has occurred. Faithful use of
these simple self-help procedures can pay great dividends in health improvement.

DISCLAIMER:
Information and procedures described in this and other "Health Musings" are reported solely
for educational purposes. The author is not directly or indirectly dispensing medical advice. Although
the author believes this information and these procedures to be valuable, persons using them do so
entirely at their own risk.

Cliff Garner, PhD, is a holistic health facilitator and a professional kinesiology practitioner. He may
be reached by telephone or fax at (505) 525-1089 or by e-mail at .

Follow Ups:

• Re: Thanks again, Cliff! Wealth of info! (nmi) Kyra 12:25:36 5/15/00 (0)

In Reply to: Cliff's holistic health papers -- week 2 posted here posted by Cliff Garner on May 15, 2000 at 09:50:09:

nmi