Microcurrent Case Conference 2015 Case Presentation: Releasing Lifetime Phobia of Having Feet Touched in One Sesssion

Transcription

1 Microcurrent Case Conference 2015 Case Presentation: Releasing Lifetime Phobia of Having Feet Touched in One Sesssion Darren Starwynn, O.M.D., Dipl. Ac., L.Ac.

2 Patient and Chief Complaint Woman, age 53, had just graduated from esthetic school. When she was a young girl she had gotten a nail in her foot, and was held down by force while a surgeon dug out the nail without anesthesia. She was traumatized. Chief Complaint: Lifetime phobia of anyone touching her feet. She hated to do it herself to put on shoes or socks. Etiology: Childhood doctor trauma P had one Microlight electro-acupuncture session with Darren

3 Findings, Diagnosis Subjective findings: Imbalance in Pericardium and Kidney meridians after pulse and kinesiology examinations Objective findings: Patient could not allow any one to touch feet

4 Treatments Given: Bilateral microcurrent and light therapy applied to the following acupoints while guiding the patient to think about having her feet touched, which originally brought up feelings of strong aversion. Pericardium 6 on ventral wrists Kidney 6 below inner ankle bones Du 4 (Mingmen) between L 2-3 spinous process on lower back Turquoise light was used confirmed by kinesiology, for people who are moody, overly mental, hypersensitive

5 Pericardium 6 Nei Guan (Inner Gate) Depression, phobias, intimacy and betrayal issues, loss of will, nervous breakdown, paranoia, can help take one inside themselves (meditation)

6 Kidney 6 Zhaohai (Shining Sea) - Depression, brings light into hidden fears to put them in perspective, panic attacks under medial malleolus (ankle bone)

7 Du 4 Mingmen (Gate of Life) Stiffness of back, impotence, leukorhea, build Yang fire energy in body. Between spinous process of lumbar 2 and 3 vertebrae

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9 Treatment Results After treatment I was able to rub her feet, at first lightly and then with firm pressure. She was amazed that she did not feel any aversion. I spoke with her October 7, 17 months after the single treatment. She said that the aversion eventually came back, but she was able to touch her own feet and not think about the phobia for quite a while after the treatment. She would like to get more treatments to see if she could permanently get over the phobia.

10 Phobias A phobia is a form of anxiety. It comes from a strong, irrational fear of something that is not an actual threat in present time Phobias involve the Fire-Water axis in the body. Shocks to the Heart may also produce deep fear in the Kidneys. People with phobias go to great lengths to avoid the object of the phobia. If they are not able to they are likely to experience: Panic Rapid heartbeat Shortness of breath Trembling Strong urge to escape Mental confusion

11 Types of Phobias Social phobias: Extreme self-consciousness, fear of being in public, being embarrassed, fear of public speaking, fear of rejection Agoraphobia: Fear of leaving familiar setting, with resulting panic attacks Specific phobias: fear of dogs, spiders, snakes, heights, flying, driving, germs, exams,, needles, webinars PTSD: Often associated with phobias triggered by stimuli in everyday life

12 Phobias and the Amygdala The amygdala is a structure located in the brain s medial temporal lobe. It develops conditioned responses to fearful triggering events associated with past trauma The amygdala and basolateral nuclei hold memories of traumatic events When the phobia response is triggered the amygdala releases corticotropinreleasing hormone, which activates the anterior pituitary to release adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates release of cortisol. The amygdala ultimately puts the person in a fight or flight mode

13 Treatments for Phobia Most psychotherapy aims to gradually de-sensitize a person to the trigger effects of the trauma based on changing thought patterns. Most common is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) EMDR Eye Movement Desenstization and Reprocessing, has been shown effective in alleviating some phobias EFT Emotional Freedom Technique self-tapping on acupressure points on the head and chest Antidepressants have been used for some phobias, but long term use creates many risks and downsides

14 Another method psychologists and psychiatrists use to treat patients with extreme phobias is prolonged exposure. Prolonged exposure is used in psychotherapy when the person with the phobia is exposed to the object of their fear over a long period of time.

15 Bilateral Phobia Desensitization (BPD) Using Microcurrent & Light Therapy

16 Bilateral Phobia Desensitization (BPD) Setting up treatment Get subject into a relaxed state with deep abdominal breathing, aromatherapy, massage or auricular therapy Select acu-points to be used that have a Chinese name that suggests use for alleviating fear. These are often on the Water or Fire meridians: Kidney, Bladder, Heart, Pericardium, Small Intestine, Triple Warmer Select color for treatment Optional select a beneficial Microcurrent frequency

17 Bilateral Phobia Desensitization Applying treatment Set Microcurrent device to biphasic probes, ua, timer to 30 seconds. On Acutron use probe preset #1, modify Timer. Insert selected color filters Wet Q-Tip electrodes and apply to same acu-point on left and right side of body, start treatment While current and light is flowing guide subject to think about triggering events associated with their phobia, or use other related methods Total treatment time can be 2 10 minutes. After first 2 minutes use light only, stop pressing trigger for microcurrent

18 Triple Warmer 5 Wai guan (Outer Gate) Helps create healthy boundaries, relieve guilt and shame, helps balance and heal relationships

19 Small Intestine 3 Hou xi (Back Ravine) Indecision as relates to processing information, lack of vision, stagnant growth

20 Examples of PE points 1 Heart 1 Ji Quan (Utmost Source) Cut off from source, isolated, joyless, spiritual emptiness in the armpit Bladder 47 Hun Men (Spirit Soul Gate) Powerful point to resurrect the spirit, helpful for drug and alcohol detox. Use with care on back lateral to T 9 Pericardium 5 Jian shi (Intermediary) - Helps let go of past loves, help clear possession on ventral forearm

21 Examples of PE points 2 Stomach 4 Dicang (Earth Granary) Anxiety, anorexia, bulemia, oral cravings, no appetite, feelings of abandoment at corners of mouth Heart 7 Shenmen (Heaven Gate) - Grounds scattered mental energies (Shen), sooths heart and calms mind, can help relieve insomnia on ulnar side of wrist crease Triple Warmer 5 Wai guan (Outer Gate) Helps create healthy boundaries, relieve guilt and shame, helps balance and heal relationships on back of wrist Pericardium 6 Nei Guan (Inner Gate) Depression, phobias, intimacy and betrayal issues, loss of will, nervous breakdown, paranoia, can help take one inside themselves (meditation) on front of wrist

22 More Acu-Points for BPD 3 Heart 3 Shaohai (Little Sea) Relaxes tight heart, relieves phobias, can help bring peace On medial elbow Triple Warmer 17 Yifeng (Wind Screen) May help alleviate fear of public speaking behind earlobes Kidney 8 Jiaoxin (Exchange Pledges) Extreme anxiety, can build faith on medial ankle area Kidney 21 You men (Dark Gate) Racing mind, can't turn off negative thoughts, gives strength to face hidden fears, dark spirit fears on chest, use light only for those with history of cardiac disease or pacemaker

23 More Acu-Points for BPD 4 Bladder 10 Tianzhu (Heavenly Pillar) Helps one find inner strength to face fears and deal with present challenges Kidney 6 Zhaohai (Shining Sea) - Depression, brings light into hidden fears to put them in perspective, panic attacks under medial malleolus (ankle bone) Bladder 40 Weichung (Central Servant) Reduces anxiety and overwhelm center of back of knees

24 Guided Imagery During BPD Reliving past traumatic event Visualizing doing phobic activity rate before and after Imagining speaking to fearful person from present or past Skillful therapists may use role playing or channeling person or situation that bring up phobias May be used as part of forgiveness practice