Energy Medicine and Gastrointestinal Disorders

Author(s):  
Ann Marie Chiasson

Energy medicine (EM) consists of a range of modalities and techniques that work with the underlying energy field of the body. Techniques range from hands-on healing to using vibration, movement or sound. There is moderate evidence that energy medicine significantly decreases many types of chronic pain and is most utilized in patients with chronic pain syndromes. Energy medicine prevalence of use and evidence, specifically in GI disorders, has been less investigated. There are a few small studies demonstrating evidence for decreasing symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. Despite the lack of specific data for GI disorders, due to its role in increasing relaxation and decreasing pain, it can be a useful adjunct therapy. Most energy medicine modalities have specific techniques for GI disorders. Finding a skilled practitioner, as well as learning how to use self-healing techniques, can be valuable additions to a patient’s plan of care.

2021 ◽  
pp. 313-328
Author(s):  
Ann Marie Chiasson

Energy medicine (EM) refers to a range of techniques and healing modalities that alter the underlying energy field of the body. Energy is stimulated or moved within the body to restore an energy balance through a variety of modalities that include hands-on healing or vibration applied to the body and through movement or sound. Sleep is impaired when the body’s energy is imbalanced and an excess of energy is activated or carried too high in the body. The evidence specifically examining the effect of energy techniques on sleep is limited, with small studies demonstrating benefit with hands-on healing techniques for intensive-care patients and those with cancer and/or chronic pain. There is moderate evidence that energy medicine significantly decreases many types of chronic pain, and it is most utilized in patients with chronic pain syndromes. In addition, weak evidence exists for energy medicine and decreased anxiety. It is extrapolated by many practitioners that the effect on pain and anxiety will result in better sleep. In addition, most energy medicine modalities have techniques specific for improving for sleep that can be done by a practitioner or can be taught to a patient for self-healing. Finding a skilled practitioner or learning self-healing energy techniques for sleep can be valuable additions to a patient’s plan of care.


Biofeedback ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-14
Author(s):  
Sarah Roth

A thorough understanding of the physiological processes that underlie muscle tension is foundational to any discussion on environments and substances that alter such a process. The fascial web, an interconnection of the various fascia, extends throughout the entire body and acts to link every area of the body together and connect external and internal structures. It is the fascial tissue that transmits forces locally (i.e., between muscle and bone or between muscle and ligament) and distally, thereby creating muscle contraction in interconnected but distant areas of the body. Fascia is composed of various cell types, fibers (elastin, collagen, and reticular), and a fluid-like ground substance that is rich in proteoglycans. Fascial tissue responds both acutely and chronically to its environment via adaptations in both collagen and proteoglycan structure. Acutely, this results in the normal contraction of muscles and resultant movement, such as looking down at one's feet while walking, but chronically it can result in chronic pain syndromes, including tension headaches, due to tensegrity (tensional integrity) changes in the fascial framework. This can occur as a response to repetitive strain or acute injury. The purpose of this discussion is to provide an overview of some of the many influences on muscle tension from the perspective of a naturopathic doctor. I will use tension headaches as an example, though the principles discussed here may be extended to many different chronic pain syndromes.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar L. Ross

Pain is experienced within a complex biologic, emotional, psychological, and social context that may defy physical examination, diagnostic procedures, and laboratory tests. This chapter aims to empower internists to improve their medical practices in pain management. It provides a scientific background that covers nociception and how sensory processing occurs at multiple levels in the body. Clinical assessment is detailed, as well as diagnostic categories that include mixed or uncertain chronic pain syndromes (back pain, fibromyalgia, postamputation pain, pain from cancer and bone) and neuropathic pain syndromes (polyneuropathy, mononeuropathy multiplex, ganglionopathy, genetic disorders, focal and regional syndromes). Treatment of chronic pain can be surgical or interventional. Pharmacologic treatment for acute and chronic nociceptive pain includes special considerations for geriatric and terminal patients. For treatment of neuropathic pain, medications are the major component. One tables lists iatrogenic nerve injuries that can cause posttraumatic neuralgia and complex regional pain syndrome. Other tables detail stepwise pharmacologic management of neuropathic pain and cite recommendations on opioid use from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One figure illustrates how pain transducers monitor and influence tissue conditions. Other figures show sensory processing in the spinal cord dorsal horn, physical findings in the feet of patients with bilateral foot pain from small-fiber polyneuropathy, illustrate how examination can identify specific nerve injuries causing chronic pain, and provide classification of chronic pain syndromes. This chapter contains 82 references.


2011 ◽  
Vol 4;14 (4;7) ◽  
pp. E343-E360
Author(s):  
Ricardo Vallejo

The perpetual pursuit of pain elimination has been constant throughout human history and pervades human cultures. In some ways it is as old as medicine itself. Cultures throughout history have practiced the art of pain management through remedies such as oral ingestion of herbs or techniques believed to have special properties. In fact, even Hippocrates wrote about the practice of trepanation, the cutting of holes in the body to release pain. Current therapies for management of pain include the pervasive utilization of opioids, which have an extensive history, spanning centuries. There is general agreement about the appropriateness of opioids for the treatment of acute and cancer pain, but the long-term use of these drugs for treatment of chronic non-malignant pain remains controversial. The pros and cons regarding these issues are beyond the scope of this review. Instead, the purpose of this review will be directed towards the pharmacology of commonly prescribed opioids in the treatment of various chronic pain syndromes. Opium, derived from the Greek word for “juice,” is extracted from the latex sap of the opium poppy (Papaverum somniferum). The juice of the poppy is the source of some 20 different alkaloids of opium. These alkaloids of opioids can be divided into 2 chemical classes: phenanthrenes (morphine, codeine, and thebaine) and benzylisoquinolines (agents that do not interact with opioid receptors). Key words: Opioid metabolism, opioid interactions, morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, methadone, intractable pain, endorphins, enkephalins, dynorphins, narcotics, pharmacology, propoxyphene, fentanyl, oxymorphone, tramadol


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar L. Ross

Pain is experienced within a complex biologic, emotional, psychological, and social context that may defy physical examination, diagnostic procedures, and laboratory tests. This chapter aims to empower internists to improve their medical practices in pain management. It provides a scientific background that covers nociception and how sensory processing occurs at multiple levels in the body. Clinical assessment is detailed, as well as diagnostic categories that include mixed or uncertain chronic pain syndromes (back pain, fibromyalgia, postamputation pain, pain from cancer and bone) and neuropathic pain syndromes (polyneuropathy, mononeuropathy multiplex, ganglionopathy, genetic disorders, focal and regional syndromes). Treatment of chronic pain can be surgical or interventional. Pharmacologic treatment for acute and chronic nociceptive pain includes special considerations for geriatric and terminal patients. For treatment of neuropathic pain, medications are the major component. One tables lists iatrogenic nerve injuries that can cause posttraumatic neuralgia and complex regional pain syndrome. Other tables detail stepwise pharmacologic management of neuropathic pain and cite recommendations on opioid use from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One figure illustrates how pain transducers monitor and influence tissue conditions. Other figures show sensory processing in the spinal cord dorsal horn, physical findings in the feet of patients with bilateral foot pain from small-fiber polyneuropathy, illustrate how examination can identify specific nerve injuries causing chronic pain, and provide classification of chronic pain syndromes. This chapter contains 82 references.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar L. Ross

Pain is experienced within a complex biologic, emotional, psychological, and social context that may defy physical examination, diagnostic procedures, and laboratory tests. This chapter aims to empower internists to improve their medical practices in pain management. It provides a scientific background that covers nociception and how sensory processing occurs at multiple levels in the body. Clinical assessment is detailed, as well as diagnostic categories that include mixed or uncertain chronic pain syndromes (back pain, fibromyalgia, postamputation pain, pain from cancer and bone) and neuropathic pain syndromes (polyneuropathy, mononeuropathy multiplex, ganglionopathy, genetic disorders, focal and regional syndromes). Treatment of chronic pain can be surgical or interventional. Pharmacologic treatment for acute and chronic nociceptive pain includes special considerations for geriatric and terminal patients. For treatment of neuropathic pain, medications are the major component. One tables lists iatrogenic nerve injuries that can cause posttraumatic neuralgia and complex regional pain syndrome. Other tables detail stepwise pharmacologic management of neuropathic pain and cite recommendations on opioid use from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One figure illustrates how pain transducers monitor and influence tissue conditions. Other figures show sensory processing in the spinal cord dorsal horn, physical findings in the feet of patients with bilateral foot pain from small-fiber polyneuropathy, illustrate how examination can identify specific nerve injuries causing chronic pain, and provide classification of chronic pain syndromes. This chapter contains 82 references.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document