Is the cause of these
symptoms structural dysfunction or is there an underlying visceral cause
exhausting the body's ability to maintain normal structure and function? You
can quickly find the answer by palpating for viscero‑somatic stress points
before and after correcting any spinal involvement. All of the symptoms
listed in table 1 suggest inadequate intake or inadequate digestion of
protein, lipids, complex or simple carbohydrates. And the most common cause
of all of these symptoms is diet. Any patient suffering frequently with
these symptoms requires some dietary modification. I am not talking about
vitamin and mineral supplements, nor am I referring to any body‑type system.
Would you consider
adding a symptom‑based screening procedure that would allow accurate
recognition of the cause of these common symptoms quickly and easily? This
diagnostic procedure is scientifically sound, legally defensible, and will
lead to greater patient confidence in your abilities. Before you answer,
think about whether you are prepared for:
*** More patients
*** Better results and
better compliance
*** More referrals
*** More respect in
the community
*** Increased income
Chiropractors are
uniquely suited to establish themselves as internal health specialists who
can quickly recognize the cause of and specific treatment for headaches,
digestive disorders, and other related symptoms, thereby bringing patients,
recognition, and financial security.
If you adopt my
suggestion, you will be competing directly with the pharmacies. They
dispense information and sell products that give symptomatic relief for
pain, allergies, constipation, and heartburn without benefit of case history
or examination to determine the cause. I always made it a point to tell my
patients that drugs cannot restore normal function and they should be
reserved for the treatment of disease. I would add that you cannot maintain
health using drugs, regardless of their use as recreational,
over‑the‑counter, or prescription remedies.
According to trade
magazines, the three biggest sellers in a pharmacy are digestive inhibitors
(antacids and proton‑pump inhibitors), laxatives, and
anti‑inflammatory/anti‑histamine preparations. Obviously, if you retard or
block digestion in the stomach, you will create dietary deficiencies and
alter bowel function. Hence, the need for laxatives. The only backup system
the body has to compensate for inadequate digestion is the immune system,
and that creates the need for anti‑inflammatory and anti‑histamine
preparations.
You cannot only compete
in that market, you can gain the recognition and respect you seek because
you have a huge advantage: you can also identify the source of the symptoms.
You just need to lay your hands on the patient, find the painful stress
points, and get that patient's attention. No hard sell is required. Just
offer drug‑free symptom relief and explain the cause of the problem. Once
the cause is known, the treatment becomes obvious.
Imagine what you could
do if your patients knew you specialized in identifying the underlying
problem and eliminating those annoying symptoms without the use of drugs. It
would come down to identifying how much dietary modification was required in
each individual patient. You would need to know how to advise a change in
the patient's intake of proteins, fat, complex carbohydrates, and sugars.
In prior columns, I
have highlighted palpation of the abdomen and Pottenger's Saucer as a
diagnostic test that chiropractors can readily use in their offices. This
simple palpatory examination, combining spinal and visceral stress points,
can quickly identify the symptomatic cause that has probably eluded both the
patient and other clinicians. The procedure is quite revealing and very
accurate when done about 30‑to‑60 minutes following a meal or during the
appearance of any of the symptoms I've listed. Such a procedure requires
only a minute or two and is combined with a few specific inquiries.
There are no laboratory
tests that can give you the same information, but you are familiar with the
most common and earliest symptoms of a protein, lipid, or carbohydrate
deficiency. This gives you a clear edge because inadequate digestion of any
of these substrates can result in the appearance of indigestion, heartburn,
gas or bloating, even constipation and diarrhea. (See table 2)
