The Semmelweis Syndrome… How washing your hands became a thing…

Google thing for today 03/21/2020

Dr. Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis was a physician.  A gynecologist by trade and was fired as a doctor and had his license taken away for malpractice.  This was, of all things for washing his hands… In the 1840’s-70’s doctors were mostly interested in surgeries, sound familiar to now???  They did not, as a practice wash their hands, but wiped their hands on a dirty towel or their apron or coat.  Imagine, this is the time of many great wars and surgeons were responsible for most of the care of the wounded.  That care consisted of amputation.  A good saw, a couple assistants to hold the poor fellow down while you go at it.  Then cauterized the wound, cover it in hot wax to seal it and hope for the best.  No wonder so many in the American Civil war died of infection.

This doctor, Semmelweis was trying to improve the survive-ability of his patients that had just given birth.  He had tried to go after the lowest hanging fruit, the most obvious and easy things to change.  He changed the way that women gave birth, on their backs instead of on their sides…  He changed the environment, sounds, lighting etc.  With no success.

Then he started to wash his hands.

Some accounts say water and hot sand, some say chlorine bleach solution.  Either way… it worked.  His patient’s mortality dropped significantly.  He was ridiculed for doing something not ‘approved’, or even studied… (Sounds like chiropractic and acupuncture today).  and was send away.  He set up a clinic and mandated that everyone wash their hands.  The mortality rate dropped and people flocked to the clinic where your survival was more likely.

Other doctors took notice.  They came to see what the big deal was and what he was doing that was so ‘revolutionary’ .  Dr. Semmelweis was fired for using non proven and non scientific procedures.  This was just around the time of the germ theory was developing.  No such thing as Penicillin was even thought of yet.  All of that, only 175 years or so back.  Remember, even ‘modern’  Western medicine is barely out of the dark ages.

The next time your medical doctor (or any health care provider) tells you something you are doing for your health is a bunch of ‘hooey’, just remember Dr. Semmelweis.

He died in an asylum at the age of 47… from sepsis (infection) after being beaten there… yay Allopaths!

Do your own homework, get good info, use your common sense, ask around.  There are LOTS of ways to treat things.  In chiropractic history, we had a motto…

‘Anything can cause anything and anything can cure anything…’  (in other words, sometimes you just don’t know…)

With health and healing for you…
Dr. Sean

 Dr. Sean at Natural BodyWorks in Parker Colorado is a holistic healer, chiropractor, acupuncturist and dry needle practitioner.    He produces these videos to help patients and friends live better more comfortable lives.  A little levity and education go a long way in his opinion.  All information is original, and opinion of Dr. Sean Thompson for educational purposes only.  Any background music or visuals are incidental and not copyrighted.  Comments and questions are welcomed, and will be responded to as soon as possible.  Dr. Sean runs The Natural BodyWorks in Parker Colorado, has been practicing for over 20 years and is available daily at his office.  Thanks!

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Here is the text for the Gall Bladder cleanse, you can also see it on my blog https://drseanthompson.wordpress.com/…

Twenty.. things make the difference between the Covid-19 (Corona Virus) and the Spanish flu of 1918

Today marks a day of insanity, people, regular people are starting to panic and over buy, over react, over simplify the information. This can be a very slippery slope.


Here's ten facts to calm you down about this stupid Corona (Covid-19) thing... Here is the difference between this and the Spanish Flu of 1918 that killed more than 60 million.

in fact, a large part of my family died because of this flu. Their tombstones can be seen in our family cemetery outside of Ardmore Oklahoma...

1. Washing your hands is the easy way to keep from spreading and getting it. People did not know that then. In fact, washing your hands effectively was only popular among medical doctors for around 30 years... LOL (Look up Ignaz Semmelweis)

2. There were no antiviral drugs (effective or not)

3. There were no antihistamines available.

4. Antibiotics (even though not appropriate for flu, but are useful when secondary infections hit) were not invented for another 25 years

5. There was not any oxygen therapy widely available like today.

6. It was common to prescribe opium/morphine but that is a respiratory depressant and kills you faster.

7. Viruses were still largely studied in academics and not for the general population to even have a remedial understanding of, so few knew how it was transmitted, its longevity outside the body etc...

8. Spanish flu was a novel H1N1 virus, not that that helps us but the Human Corona Virus has been known and studied for years. We are way ahead on this one...

9. In 1918 when soldiers came down with the flu they were sent home, not put in quarantine. We don't do that now... well, Iran did let prisoners go to stop spread, let's see what happens there.

10. Profits will be huge for whom ever finds the first vaccine. Remember the germ theory was only 'proposed' in 1877... we have again, come a long long way from that.

11 - There were at least three major famines in the world just as this 1918 flu started (Russia, Iran, India), that killed off many and weakened many so they had poor immune responses...

12 This was JUST after WWI there was plenty of problems then all over Europe (crops were delayed, rebuilding had to be done, famine was close, disease was common). A huge problem we luckily do not have.

13... We are jumping the gun with stats, most if not all flu problems burn out within a year (see 1918 flu) we cannot count our chickens before they hatch. Comparing how this is going compared to other disease is not a good idea. The stats are all in on many (Swine flu, Bird flu etc) So be mindful but do not panic.

14. Chiropractic has shown that it can help the body remain resilient during this type of epidemic. Chiropractic helped many during the 1918 flu... They gave no medicines but made sure that people had fluids, and were comfortable and adjusted the spine. This increased the release of phlegm and opened the chest and loosened tight muscles around the chest as well. It also helped the sympathetic system and parasympathetic system to come into balance.
15. One of the biggest treatments of medicine was Aspirin, this made it a near panacea but had side effects that basically caused as much harm as good in some people.
16. A vaccine, when and if developed is not a cure. Once you have the virus you will have it. You will go through the symptoms. However a vaccine delivered well enough before you contract the virus will help you fight it off with fewer or no symptoms. There is no vaccine YET.
17. The Spanish flu had to run its course, just like all the ones since. If you are healthy, try and stay that way. Stressing out will not help you.
18. Cinnamon and milk was one of medicines best bets at the time. See how we have progressed?
19. Remember, 'The same people who sell the panic sell the pill'
20. GO wash your hands, cover your mouth if you cough, take Zinc. It actually helps against respiratory viruses.. take the rest of your supplements too, they cannot hurt. Avoid thinking in that fearful FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) when it comes to buying stupid stuff like spam and toilet paper. Simple...

(note: if I get this and die, I retract everything... LOL)

Post surgical acupuncture

Post surgical acupuncture

Many patients that have had surgeries for orthopedic issues; breaks, discs, ACL, Rotator cuff, among others.  Some are great, the patient feels almost immediate improvement, quick recovery and no further problems.  A significant number have complications.  Some complications are simple and easy to remedy.

Some people get numbness at the surgical site as well as further down stream (distally) to  the area of surgery.  In this example I was presented with a 45 year old male with a history of falling from a ladder which caused a crush or impacted fracture as well as a complex (compound or open) fracture of the ankle itself on the lateral side. He had surgery almost one year previously having installed metal plates and multiple screws.

Since the surgery his foot was constantly hot and swollen.  He had been checked numerous times for infection and all tests were negative.  He also experienced numbness in the top and sides of the foot on the same side of the surgical scar.  The scar on the lateral side of the ankle was in a zig zag pattern because the bone had pierced the skin and had be surgically repaired.

Evaluation revealed neruopathy (a nerve problem) with paraesthesia (non normal sensation of the nerve) of the lateral Plantar nerve on the inside (medial part) of the ankle and the sural nerve on the lateral (outside) side.  This also caused the bottoms of his feet to be occasionally tingly.  He had been on medications to reduce his sensation as well as had a number of injections in the past.  All without success.
We decided on a trial of acupuncture as as well as some 'dry needle' technique for any spasmed muscles in the area.  The points used for the acupuncture were;  Laterally: BL62, just inferior  (below) the lateral maleolus, (that is the outer ankle bone), BL 61 which is at the point where the achilles tendon meets the heel. (at the calcaneal bone)

Knee Pain and the Meridian Acupuncture Pen

Here is the text for the Knee pain and the acupuncture pen video on YouTube. (see link)

Here is the link for the YouTube channel (thenaturalbodyworks). Don't forget to subscribe and like, it helps me keep track of how many people see this and get some benefit from it.

Also, here is a link for you to buy your own pen from Amazon. https://amzn.to/2XoiLin

The Knee Joint: The knee is a hinge type joint that consists of the Femur and the Tibia (mainly) with the Fibula on the outside (laterally) and the patella as a sesamoid bone in the tendon of the rectus femoris.

The muscles of the knee are primarily focused on flexion and extension and are grouped into 'The Quadriceps' and 'The Hamstrings'. The Quadriceps muscles (or Quads) is four muscles; the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and the vastus intermedius which is deep to the other three. The Hamstrings or main flexors of the knee are three muscles; the bicep femoris, semimembranosus and semitendinosus.

Knee pain-, St 34=vastus lateralis , ST 36 lateral shin, 4”below patella, muscle pops. , Sp 9 and 10,  Lower back pain, L#3  Also special points (Heding=top of patella and XiYan = calves nose/AKA medial and lateral ‘eye’ of the knee)  GB 33,34 lateral knee behind fib head and above knee in cross of ms. These points are almost identical to those used for periarticular injection of either prolotherapy (the injection of dextrose into the muscle) or steroids (Cortizone shots). 

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Points-of-periarticular-injection-around-the-knee-blue-dots-and-articular-nerves-of-the_fig6_317046613

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/knee-arthritis-got-you-down-acupuncture-can-bring-relief/

Dr. Sean at Natural BodyWorks in Parker Colorado is a chiropractor, acupuncturist and dry needle practitioner. He produces these videos to help patients and friends live better more comfortable lives. A little levity and education go a long way in his opinion. All information is original, and opinion of Dr. Sean Thompson for educational purposes only. Any background music or visuals are incidental and not copyrighted. Comments and questions are welcomed, and will be responded to as soon as possible. Dr. Sean runs The Natural BodyWorks in Parker Colorado, has been practicing for over 20 years and is available daily at his office. Thanks! Website: https://www.thenaturalbodyworks.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/thenaturalb... Facebook: https://facebook.com/Naturalbodyworks... Google+: https://www.plus.google.com/+seanthom... LinkedIn: Https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsesanthompson Pinterest; https://www.pinterest.com/thenaturalb... Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/naturalbodyworks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenaturalb... Discus: https://discus.com/by/rev_sean Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/thenatura... Email: thenaturalbodywork@gmail.com Address: 12539 N. Highway 83, Unit B Parker Colorado 80134 Here is the text for the Gall Bladder cleanse, you can also see it on my blog https://drseanthompson.wordpress.com/... The information in these videos are for education only, there is no intent to diagnose, treat or render an opinion. Any incidental diagrams, drawings, music, video, or other recording are used under the copyright fair use for education and or satire. Use your own brain, go see a qualified provider if there is any question… Not responsible for you, you are. Support us? Share, subscribe, like, comment!

Electrical Acupuncture pen and the Kidney Meridian

I have been making little videos on how to use the meridian acupuncture pen.  This is the script I use for the Kidney meridian.  I am only doing points from the knee down for the lower extremity so that people can get used to what the pen feels like on the different points. 

Here is a link to the video I did.  Please check it out and feel free to like, share, and comment.  Don't forget to subscribe! 

Here is a link to get one:

Here is the link for the pen on Amazon. https://amzn.to/2XoiLin

KIDNEY Meridian (Electric Acupuncture Pen)  Filmed 12/17/2019

There are 27 points in this one, Kidney starts on the bottom of the foot and ends on the upper chest.  (right around where a nerve called the vagus comes close to the surface). , it is a YIN meridian and can be related to all things adrenal and to do with energy.  Emotionally it is the seat of fear. It is a water element so there can be lots of movement with it. It nourishes the bone marrow so can have lots to do with anemias (the marrow is where blood cells are made by the release  of the hormone erythropoietin from the Kidney itself. Funny how this is 3500 year old info… whereas erythropoietin was discovered in France about 100 years ago. .  

K1- On the sole of the foot, where the forefoot meets the arch.  It is commonly used for patients that have headaches, blurry vision, dizziness, loss of voice, sore throat, as well as hot sensation of the sole of the foot and constipation. 

K2- anterior and inferior to the medial malleolus in the depression of the lower border of the tuberosity of the navicular bone.  It is used for prolapse of the uterus, pruritus of the vulva and groin, irregular menstruation, There is even mention of treatment of TRISMUS or lockjaw from tetanus infection. 

K3- IN the depression between the medial malleolus and the calcaneus, At level with the tip of the medial malleolus.  It has been used for people suffering from sore throat, toothache, deafness, ringing in the ears, dizziness, asthma, impotence frequency of urination, good for fear and lower back pain.  

K4- This one is posterior and inferior to the medial malleolus in the depression medial to the calcaneus tendon.  It is good for bloody sputum (hemoptysis) asthma, stiffness of the lower back, depression, dementia also it can be used for strengthening the will, for people that are timid, and dispels fear. 

K5- one inch below K3, on the medial side of the tuberosity of the calcaneus.  (These ones make a kind of loop. This point is commonly used for amenorrhea, or irregular menstruation, painful periods. Prolapse of the uterus. 

K6- In the depression of the lower border of the medial malleolus, 1” below.  This one is used for uterine problems, itching in the groin, urinary bladder problems like frequency and retention, also good for insomnia, and good for the eyes, can also be used to dispel fear. 

K7- on the anterior border of the calcaneus tendon, 2” above K3, It is used for edema, abdominal distention,  diarrhea, belly rumbles, atrophy of the foot, night sweats, swelling of the foot toto. 

K8- ½ “ in front of K7, 2” above K3… on the posterior part of the fibula. This one is also good for irregular periods, problems of the uterus, painful periods,diarrhea, constipation, oddly enough for swelling and pain in the testes. 

K9- 5” above K3, at the lower end of the gastrocnemius.  This is an odd one, used for mental disorders, especially anxiety and fear based issues.  Good for pain in the foot and legs.  

K10- When the knee is flexed, the point is on the medial side of the popliteal fossa, between the tendons (semimembranosus, and semitendinosus)   This one helps people with , knee pains, as well as some areas of the groin, including painful urination, uterine bleeding that is NOT normal, and even impotence. . 

FIN

Spleen meridian and the electrical acupuncture pen.

So here is the text for the info on the video ( Linked here: https://youtu.be/yZr_Yd4oTzc )

If you would like to buy one for yourself, click on this link... https://amzn.to/2XoiLin

The spleen meridian has 21 points, it starts on the big toe, on the medial side.  It ends at the mid axillary line right between the 12th rib and the armpit.  The spleen is the seat of stress and worry, pensiveness. Unable to feel secure (insecurity) and therefor is like having diarrhea, you just don’t know… There are 9 points below the knee we will cover in this video.

The spleen is a Yin organ, it really is the pancreas if you think about it.  We know the spleen has immune function as well as recycling red blood cells. The pancreas helps to get nutrients from food with its enzyme reactions.  Also it controls the blood sugar levels with the production of insulin as well as glucagon. Spleen has no actual digestive function as discussed in many books.  It does deliver the recycled red blood cells parts to the liver for storage and redistribution. But that if for later.

SP1- On the medial corner of the big toe.  This is for abdominal swelling, blood in the stool, lower Jiao bleeding.  (menstrual and digestive.) It is also used for sleep problems like disturbing dreams, general mental health and convulsion.

SP2-Medial toe at the metatarsal-phalangeal joint (where the toe meets the foot) at the ‘fish’ skin mark…  This one is also for abdominal swelling, bloating, distention, gastric pains, indigestion. Diarrhea and constipation.  Helps to normalize functions of the lower abdomen.  

SP3- on the medial portion of the foot, at the proximal point of the joint of the 1st metatarsal.  (head or distal part of the metatarsal, before It widens on the fish line.  This one is good for not only the lower abdominal digestive issues, but the General heaviness of the body, ‘borborygmus’ (tummy grumbles) as well as just plain sluggish feeling.

SP4- distal and inferior to the base of first metatarsal, proximally.  This one can be good for plantar fasciitis but is commonly used for the lower abdominal issues like the ones previously mentioned.  You can feel the foot pulse with these.

SP5- In the depression distal and inf. To the medial malleolus (inner ankle bone) halfway between tuberosity of the navicular bone and the tip of the medial malleolus.   It is good for the same abdominal issues, generally. This is a great one for foot problems.

SP6- (IMPORTANT) San-Yin-Jiao.  3” directly above the top of the malleolus.  This one is a great one to calm irritability, heals and helps with fear and worry.  It is the cross over point of the Liver, Spleen, and the Kidney energy channels. This one is not only for the abdominal issues (bloating, diarrhea, constipation, borborygmus, distention…) but also can help with sterility, delayed labor, other sexual dysfunctions, as well as insomnia and pain in the lower limbs.  This one is a great point for stress care and relaxation. 

SP7- 3” above sp6 or 6” above ankle, medially.  This one also good for lower abdominal issues and coldness, numbness, and paralysis of the leg and knee and good for swelling of the ankle.

SP8- Counting from the medial tibia, 3” from the SP9.  This one, in addition to the abdominal issues. Can be used for irregular menstruation and nocturnal emissions in males.  

SP9- On the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibial, in the depression on the medial border of the tibia.   Can be used for edema of the leg, jaundice, dysuria, incontinence and knee pain. It is one of a group of four that are great for knee pain, it corresponds with part of the Saphenous nerve which basically follows the meridian

Nutrition and your mood

So over the past few years of teaching anatomy and physiology to college students it became very apparent we eat like crap.  Like all of us... Every morning on the way to the school to teach I would get a coffee and some little snack at McDonald's.  (Not that I want to pick on McD's, actually like the food on occasion.  It reminds me to eat better by the way I feel afterwards).

I have always been interested in the nutritional aspects of health whether it was physical, chemical or emotional health.  I mean, chemical health is all the aspects of your hormones, neurotransmitters, and cell structures and abilities as they should work normally. Healthfully...

This brought me years ago to pro-biotics, when it was still considered 'witch craft' by some and just plain quackery by others.  I was into making Kombucha at home.  It went crazy and I couldn't give the stuff away because my 'scoby' had over produced and I had to get used wine bottles to get the stuff contained.  I also made home made sauerkraut, that was easy and fun, but still always seemed to make way more than I could use myself.  I did notice that I felt better with that in my diet.  I included Miso, and Natto (a fermented soybean delicacy... well I think it is... everyone else thinks its gross).

Now we are starting to broadly accept and understand that there is an entire 'biome' not only in us but on and around us.  We are like a little planet.  We have environments and areas of different species etc.  (check out this great NPR animation... https://youtu.be/5DTrENdWvvM )

That is the animation I use in my class when the computers work!

I recently went to a licensing seminar which was focused towards nurses and other practitioners such as dentists and medical doctors.  It was basic for what my understanding already was, including the 'fecal transplant procedure' which has not gone so well in human trials.  It basically is exactly what you think.  In a clinical setting, fecal material (poop) is taken from a 'healthy subject' and 'processed' then transplanted in a clinical setting (I assume this means sterile and all that) into the rectum of the more 'ill' person.  The idea is that the healthy person's biome or flora will populate the ill person's body and therefore make them healthier.  In fact this idea is not that uncommon... since kissing is really a symbolic reception of food from the mother... (you know you were not just breast fed until one day you jutted into steaks and stuff.  You needed pre-chewed food and the best way to do that was mouth to mouth... Later we see (mostly in movies, but there is some truth to it) a bowl of water passed around (Vikings) at a table to rinse their faces, drink, clear their noses etc... You can watch the series Vikings or you can watch the 13th Warrior and see it in action.  That too spread the biome from person to person enhancing them and keeping them similar and therefore healthy.  Lastly you can now see in some cases, especially those births that have doulas or midwives present, cesarean births will have vaginal fluids from the mother swabbed in the newborn's mouth, nose, eyes etc, as this populates the newborn with the mother's outer biome...

Anyway.  We find that the internal and external flora can have something to do with depression, anxiety and other mental illness.  It is assumed that since the biome can help make serotonin having the Vagus nerve and the enteric nervous system 'pick that up' or sense it helps us be more happy and calm.

https://www.longdom.org/scholarly/nutritional-psychology-journals-articles-ppts-list-3729.html
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/09/food-mental-health
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626

Nutritionally speaking though, when we talk about mood, we also need to have a chance to look at the neurotransmitters and hormones that have to do with mood.  Basically; Serotonin, Dopamine, Nor epinephrine, Endorphins, and others that regulate and determine 'mood'.  Basically if you have no building blocks of these chemicals you cannot make them.

So here are the ones that make a difference based on articles and research I have read.
1. Magnesium (helps in neuron conduction and relaxation)
2. Vitamin D3.  (Helps with the production of melatonin for sleep as well as serotonin and dopamine)
3. Fish oils or other Omega 3-6-9 oils that help with nerves and the processing of many nutrients.
4. Calcium (this is used by the nerves and as a buffer for acids in the body)
5. Water... yea.  water... it is what EVERYTHING is mixed with and produced with..
6. Zinc (has to do also with the maintenance of cells an such)
 here is a link to an article about that.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5492454/

Basically, the above six care helpful in many other ways.  If you are taking any psychotropic drugs or medications prescribed for anxiety, depression or even bipolar disorder (for which I suggest you supplement Pellegrino water which has lithium in it.  A typical drug for bipolar disorder).

We have now added all of these to my and my families diet.  We are happy and healthy,,, at least we are getting there.  Turns out, taking the proper supplements can help you eventually get off many drugs or at least get them decreased over time with your counselor.

Good luck, and be healthy.
I just had to get this all off my mind.

Also do your stretches!

Dr. Sean

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032719333713