Saturday, August 28, 2010

Face Pop Results


I went to get my nasal specific and an incredibly unexpected thing happened. I was cured of my epilepsy? No, not yet, although it probably helped.

I showed up to be the second demo subject for a lesson on technique. One of my favorite instructors/doctors who I trust, (this is big, since having a nasal specific requires such foreign invasion), did the first middle concha. (you'll remember from the previous anatomy explanation). This is the easiest and less invasive... perhaps the one that most grade school boys use as pencil holders to horrify adults.

Anyway, it was as traumatizing as I thought it would be - just get up the guts to have your face moved, that's all. I did hear it crunching around and there was a spastic "Get this thing out of my head" moment each time.

Then to the superior concha (upper). The right side was too small for the balloon to fit into, which was uncommon. If he'd had a smaller balloon, he may have been able to get into the space, but not that day. The left was larger and he was able to get the device inserted.

One, two pumps and a quick release - just as before. But it wasn't the same this time.

I think there was a short pause before my mind and being was filled with sadness. A deep sadness that was so unexpected. I felt sudden tears well up and my face contorted with agony.

"She's not feeling pain..." my doctor said to the group, "This isn't physical pain."

There were about 12 other medical students in the room, but my friend Emily, who was holding my hand said, "It's o.k., let it out. Just let it go."

I love Emily.

So I did. I cried and cried there on the table with all sorts of people, most who I didn't know all that well, hiding my face in my hand. After a few minutes, which must have been a really long time for those awkwardly watching. My doctor talked quietly to the group about points to hold on a patient's head when they have some kind of PTSD to make them feel more grounded.

I said, "Wow..." At least I hadn't peed all over myself - that would have been another option.

"Wow what?" The doctor asked.

I fumbled for words, "Uhhh... that was... a strong reaction." I blotted my running mascara and red eyes as my colleagues softly chuckled a little.

"When you're ready, we'll do the lower ones."

I was shocked. Hadn't I been through enough? Good God man, you're a maniac! I wanted it done though, so after getting my breathing under control and coming back into the classroom, he did the inferior conchas. These made me cry out a little because they're so close to the back of your throat it's a reaction. I tongued the inside of my mouth where the bone had just moved - it was pretty sore.

After that, although I had wanted to learn the technique, I couldn't concentrate. My doc said that I should try to stick around so he could teach me, but I was in emotional shock. Totally bewildered and needing some reflection. Where did THAT come from?? He said it was a good spot to move.

We went into another room as the students practiced because he offered a "clearing technique" using EFT. In this technique he asked what I remembered; why was I crying? Since I didn't know he said, "If you could finish this sentence, what would you say right now, feeling how you feel:

'I really want to let go of the feeling of __________"

Everyone has their own answer to this. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) concentrates on stimulating Chinese acupuncture points as you think about an issue. So, we took my feeling and worked with it. I don't know if it works - I was just befuddled at why I just lost total control over my emotions with no current reason in front of everyone. I cried off and on all day! That's a lot when you're not sure what you're crying about.

Big experience. I still have to go back for that asymmetrical right side. I'm highly suspicious of a reaction to it... emotionally. But hey, if that emotional issue is stuck in between my bone, get it out of there!

I've fallen off the wagon with my diet again though, so I feel a little too inflammatory to do it right now.

Oh yeah, I've been doing a research study at the hospital that I finished... hopefully. There were about 10 epilepsy patients who let us poke and prod for an entire day hooked up to the EEG and equipment. I worked hard to get the last of the data input today!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Nasal Specific Therapy


This Friday I go in for a "nasal specific".

This is a procedure in which a balloon is inserted far up into the nose into the conchae of the nasal cavity. If you've ever seen a kid stick a pencil wa-a-a-a-ay up his nose and wondered where in the world it was going, that's where.

You can see in the picture that the bone in the back, the sphenoid bone, is right next to the brain. The skull is made up of many bones, each with a little bit of motion. If you get hit with a baseball bat or come out of the birth canal awkwardly, these bones can move into abnormal positions like any other bones can.

So the nasal specific technique gets more involved, so read on.

At the annual convention in 2009, a naturopathic physician presented a case of a young girl with uncontrolled epilepsy that he had successfully done two nasal specifics for, resolving her seizures entirely. She came up on stage and everyone applauded. A malformation or an irritation on the brain can cause seizures and it seems that it what she had, for one reason or another.

Back to the technique.

The deflated balloon is inserted up into the nose far into one of the 6 cavities (3 on each side). It's attached to a pump, like the ones you see on a blood pressure cuff. The practitioner holds your forhead and squeezes your nostrils closed. Then, there's a sudden burst of air (usually 2 when I have seen it) and a quick deflation.

It's quite violent, actually, because the body can't help but react to this pressure that feels so inconducive to life. I mean, really, when does your inner cranium feel that unless you've just had major trauma to your face? The patient's legs bounce on the table and they sometimes make a small cry. They might hear cracking as the bones of their skull shift back into place and it can be painful. Definitley weird. Then they tear up reflexively, stunned and assessing the situation. In a matter of minutes, a large bolus of mucous that's been stuck up in one of the sinuses will commonly slide down and they'll have to spit it up.

Then 5 more times.

I am not looking forward to it, but, hey, if it helps people, I should try it on myself and then see if my hands develop the authority to do it on someone else.

I'm taking some major nervine herbs before that, I'll tell you.