Herbal Health

CT scanning

Computerised Axial Tomography or CAT scanning, also known as CT scanning, is a highly sophisticated X-ray technique which literally uses computers to take X-ray slices of parts of the body.

This technique is specifically indicated in the assessment of damage to the spinal column. It is particularly useful in assessing damage to the intervertebral discs. It also establishes whether there is pressure on the nerve structures relating to the spinal cord.

The value of such studies is at times questionable because up to one-third of patients without pain have abnormal findings with such tests.

EMG ( electromyographic testing)

Electromyograms are tests of nerve conduction to assess how well the nerve does its job. Together with physical examinations they are sometimes useful to pinpoint organic causes of pain complaints.

Such tests can be useful to find damage to nerves, muscle problems, joint inflammation, and imbalances of fluids in the body.

Many pain syndromes, however, are difficult to define and are not well described in medical textbooks. Some of these problems include the pain associated with inflammation of muscles or myofascial pain syndrome, temporo-mandibular joint or TMJ syndrome, and some of the severe pain syndromes caused by damage to the autonomic nervous system.

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The ultimate treatment may be surgery to clear away obstructing bone — laminectomy, or to remove the discs — discec-tomy, or to join bones to prevent movement between the vertebrae — fusion. However these procedures should only be carried out if there is overwhelming evidence that severe damage or pressure is occurring to the spinal cord or the nerve roots.

Treatments which should certainly be considered prior to surgery, except in emergency cases, include TENS, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and psychological methods of gaining coping skills.

Medications used in the treatment of back pain include antiinflammatory drugs, antidepressants to modify pain awareness, tranquillisers and other muscle relaxants and some simple pain relieving medications.

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Some people begin to think of themselves as ‘chronic invalids’ punished by occupational disability and a ruined social life. They may become housebound, adopting a sick role and believe their pain is a warning signal and that they have a significant amount of physical illness despite all medical reassurance. The combination of sick role, health anxiety and resistance to reassurance makes these patients difficult to treat and to rehabilitate.

The pain patient typically uses a number of pain-killing drugs simultaneously, and often a bewildering array of other medication. Chemical dependence is frequent — particularly with the use of pain-killers containing narcotic derivatives such as codeine and propoxyphene such as Digesic and Codral Forte. They have had usually more surgical procedures, often without success, and are constantly searching for a physical cure. Because the patient’s income is usually less than he or she would have earned, the standard of living is often reduced, which puts additional strain on the family.

The pain patient often uses their affliction to tyrannise the family, playing the role of a chronic invalid and arousing guilt feelings.

Pain’s toll in terms of human suffering is remarkable. Of course, there’s no way to price misery. But billions of dollars are spent on medical care or on lost productivity. The chronic pain patient has had medical and surgical costs ranging from $50,000 to $100,000.The record perhaps goes to a 40-year-old labourer, ‘Hector B’, who had 40 pain-operations costing $450,000 — all originating from an injured back which eventually led to:

• A cordotomy — a division of pathways in the spinal cord to give relief from intense pain.

• An amputated leg.

• Phantom limb pain.

• Cingulotomy — a brain operation that cuts nerve tracts in an attempt to control pain.

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Despite all this knowledge, we are left with the conclusion of what a great puzzle pain is. Physicians too readily claim that pain is a reaction of defence — a fortunate circumstance which puts us on our guard against the risk of disease. There is a variable link between pain and injury. It is widely believed that pain is always the result of physical damage and that the intensity of the pain is proportional to the severity of the injury.

In general, the relationship between injury and pain holds true — a pinch of a finger produces mild pain while a door slammed on it is excruciating! But there are many instances where the relationship fails to hold up. For example, about 65 per cent of soldiers who are severely wounded in battle and 20 per cent of civilians who undergo major surgery report feeling little or no pain for hours, even days, after the injury.

In contrast, no apparent injury can be detected in about 70 per cent of people who suffer from chronic low back pain. The importance of pain for mankind’s survival becomes clear when we consider what happens to people insensitive to pain. They learn with difficulty to avoid damaging themselves severely. But they survive because they develop a language to communicate a problem. Many of them sustain extensive burns, bruises and lacerations during childhood. These injuries ultimately lead to the loss of limbs or joint function simply because they have no pain defence to injury or accident. It has long been known that if the nerves in a joint are missing, or defective, a condition develops in which the joint surface is damaged and the ligaments and other tissues are stretched. This particularly happens to joints such as ankles, knees, wrists and elbows. But there is still a puzzle. Even with normal people, injuries sometimes occur without pain. How is it that a finger can be chopped off in an accident and no pain is felt? Those who have experienced the passing of a kidney stone describe it as painful beyond any expectation that pain could be so intense. Similarly, there is the pain after the healing of an injury.

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A balanced approach is advisable in the case of asthma. Firstly, medicinal drugs may be necessary to control the immediate symptoms and make life bearable for the patient. Secondly, an effort should be made to identify airborne allergens. Some careful detective work, may help to pinpoint the culprits. Skin-prick tests can also be useful here, although they are not always accurate. Once airborne antigens have been identified they can be eliminated as far as possible from the home, using the methods described on p66. If something in the workplace is responsible for the asthma, either as an allergen or an irritant, every effort should be made to change to a different working environment. The asthma may get worse as the years go by, and as the bronchi become more sensitive they react to lower and lower levels of irritant – and they may begin to react to other, milder irritants as well.

After 6-8 weeks, the effect of eliminating airborne allergens and irritants can be assessed, and if there are still serious symptoms then it may be worth trying an elimination diet. Continue with the basic measures for avoiding airborne allergens while the diet is in progress. Where foods provoke asthma, it seems that skin-prick tests are not all that useful in identifying the problem food. So a diet – such as that described in Chapter Fourteen – is the only reliable means of diagnosis. In the case of babies and young children. Remember that children should not be put on an elimination diet without medical supervision. This is particularly important for anyone who has ever had a very severe attack of asthma, because there is a risk of death if a serious reaction occurs when a food is reintroduced. If you are testing foods at home, your doctor should be able to give you a supply of suitable medicine for use in a severe asthma attack.

If foods do turn out to be instrumental in the asthmatic attacks, then avoiding those foods entirely is the simplest solution. Where this proves too difficult or dull, then the drug, sodium cromoglycate, taken by mouth, may be of benefit.

Asthma is a complex disease which may not be entirely due to allergy. For this reason, not all asthmatics will be able to track down the source of their problems using the methods described, and some will have to rely mainly on drugs to control their symptoms. For this group, and indeed for all asthmatics, avoiding exposure to irritants such as smoke and fumes will help greatly. Certain jobs carry a very high risk of asthma because they involve exposure to particular chemicals – these are described on p63- Anyone with a history of asthma, even if they have been free of symptoms for many years, should try to avoid such occupations, because of the likelihood of precipitating asthmatic attacks once more.

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Pliny, writing in ancient Rome, as well as Gmelin in modern times, noted that Artemisia derived its name from the ancient practice of lining the shoes with the leaves to prevent tiredness. It is also said that Roman soldiers put mugwort in their sandals in order to ease their march into Helvetia.

People who have spent their holidays in the canton of Tessin, Switzerland, must be familiar with mugwort, for it is one of the toughest and most widespread weeds in that district. It is easily recognised because it reaches a height of almost 2 m (5-6 feet). Anyone not well acquainted with the various members of the Artemisia family might mistake mugwort for wormwood, as it resembles the latter in taste and smell.

The claim that mugwort relieves tired legs can be proved quite simply. After a long walk, bathe your feet in an infusion of mugwort and discover for yourself its soothing effect.

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Not every high elevation has the same merits. The southern Alps enjoy many more hours of sunshine than the northern range. For this reason plants do much better in the more southern areas than in the northern regions. In some of the latter areas they have only stunted growth before dying. Naturally, medicinal plants are also affected by these regional and climatic differences. For example, Solidago that has been grown in the higher Engadine has a better and stronger effect on the kidneys than that grown in the lower region of Teufen and, interestingly, that grown in Teufen is still better than any grown in the districts below an altitude of 500 m (1,500 feet).

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As a rule, smooth skin is a sign of youthfulness and good health and it is not surprising that women in particular make a great effort to maintain this desirable condition for as long as they possibly can. But it is not simply a matter of giving nature a helping hand by applying plenty of powder, make-up and creams. In fact, the liberal use of such products may achieve just the opposite of what is desired. The real answer lies in taking care in one’s youth, living in a natural way and not worrying too much or constantly giving in to anxieties, for we know that stressful problems are wearisome and undermine the body’s reserves and well-being. They do indeed age us prematurely and foster the formation of wrinkles. Of course, constant tiredness on account of overwork or pursuing pleasures night after night can also harm one’s health and impair one’s youthful looks. It is understandable why so many people want to cover up these flaws in their faces by using all kinds of cosmetics.

What is less understandable is why some girls plaster their young and radiant faces with make-up. Make-up is supposed to hide what is ugly, but what could be more beautiful than glowing health, smooth and youthful skin, red cheeks and lips as nature coloured them.

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Unfortunately, it is possible to have dead teeth, and these could be likened to turrets without a crew. Their defences are gone and the enemies from outside are able to invade. No one is left to carry out repairs; no one is there to replace the damaged calcified tissue of the dentine or to take care of regenerating what becomes defective. Such a tooth may be repaired and closed up from outside, but if the dentist does not sterilise everything properly, bacteria may spread again inside the tooth and sooner or later cause its destruction. The only protection still left is the cementum around the root. Also surrounding the root is a network of nerves and blood vessels.

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In spite of all the new views about cancer, I am sure we are not mistaken in taking the cause to be a combination of factors, including nutrition, housing conditions, occupation, lack of oxygen and necessary exercise, as well as the mental state and attitude of the person. What is more, it can no longer be denied that an inherited predisposition contributes to cancer. The empirical fact that it is possible for therapies to be useless even if employed in the early stages of the disease, according to personal disposition and the reaction of the body, is a reason for sadness on the part of all therapists. No other illness presents more surprises to the doctor, even the specialist, than cancer. He may be successful in treating a severe case, but a seemingly mild one can suddenly take a turn for the worse against all expectations.

There is a practical lesson to be learned from this. It is absolutely necessary to take certain precautionary measures, particularly once you have reached the age of forty. You should be sure to avoid all carcinogenic influences. This means primarily tobacco, most chemical medicines, also colourings and flavourings in food and drinks. Another thing to avoid is constant or prolonged overtired-ness. Mental and emotional stress and strain, worries and constant feelings of depression are equally dangerous. They should be com-batted right away and every endeavour made to overcome them.

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