FINGER SQUEEZING FOR EYE TROUBLES.
If your eyes pain, close them lightly--or leave them open, if you
prefer--and squeeze tightly the knuckles of the first (or index)
fingers of both hands. Occasionally, if the eyes are set far apart and
extend over into the third zone, the second (or middle) finger must
be included in this digital embrace. But as a general rule pressure
on the upper and lower surfaces, as well as on the sides of the first
and second fingers will, within five minutes, relieve the pain of eye
strain. Understand, I say “relieve”, not “cure”. For if the eye strain
is the result of a too constant attendance at “movie” shows, and due
to the fact that the little eye muscles are expanding and contracting
hundreds of times a minute in an attempt to “focus” upon the
flickering screen, the only cure for this strain is to “cut out” these
entertainments, or else patronize a movie house where the flicker has
been “cut out.” Of course, if the eye strain is the result of imbalance
of the muscles of the eye it will be necessary to properly adjust this
faulty focus by reinforcing the lens of the eye with a supplementary
one made of glass.
But for temporary relief firm pressure over the joints of the first
and second fingers, continued for several minutes, will usually give
results.
Eye strain and muscle tire are largely under the control of the nervous
system. If the nerves are fatigued, the muscles function imperfectly.
If the muscles are wearied the nerves sympathize, and make the fact
known by raising a wail of distress.
And so it follows that a skeptic is legitimately entitled to say “Yes,
you zone therapists cure eye strain by squeezing fingers or toes, but
as the condition is primarily a nervous one, you really cure it by
suggestion.”
This, notwithstanding the fact that frequently the patient has no idea
as to what is being attempted, and doesn’t, until his pain is relieved,
know why any one should want to squeeze his fingers.
Also, I would urgently recommend any believer in the “suggestion” or
“mental” response of eye pains to omit pressures over the first and
second fingers to try and help this condition by squeezing the thumb
and little finger, and see what they accomplish.
However, accepting the extreme position of some of our friends,
and admitting that all eye strain is imagination--or an error of
the mind--I would ask them to consider the pert, prominent, and
resolutely determined stye--which is certainly not imaginary, nor
merely suggested. Also inflammatory conditions of the conjunctiva--the
membrane of the eye and lids--and that irritating and extremely
annoying affliction known as granulated lids.
It might be considered a crucial test of imagination to dissipate and
clear up these conditions, yet zone therapy does just this. For sties
and such eye conditions as conjunctivitis and granulated lids are
completely relieved by pressure exerted upon the joints of the first
and second finger of the hand corresponding to the eye involved. In
sties the relief is frequently complete in one or two treatments. In
other inflammatory conditions of the mucous membranes of the eye it may
be necessary to give treatments three times a week for several weeks.
Also, a bandage fastened around the index fingers, and soaked with
camphor water, frequently relieves itching and congestion of the eyes.
Favorable results are almost routine in these troubles, and usually
without employing any other measures. For facilitating treatment,
however--unless the results of the exclusive use of zone therapy are
desired for experimental reasons,--it might be well to use hot boric
acid compresses, or other indicated measures, in addition to the
pressures.
To go still farther I might state a fact that every doctor will
immediately admit. And this is, that inflammation of the optic
nerve--optic neuritis--is most decidedly not imaginary, nor is it,
so far as I know, cured by telling the patient that there is nothing
the matter with him. As a usual thing, whether treated or not, one
afflicted with optic neuritis goes on to complete blindness.
Yet we have cured optic neuritis by making pressures over the first and
second fingers, and over the inferior dental nerve--where it enters the
lower jaw bone.
One patient I have in mind, who had been treated without benefit
by several competent medical men, using conventional and accepted
methods, received no other form of treatment--no local applications, no
antiseptics. Yet relief followed almost immediately after the pressures
were made. The woman was treated twice the first day. That night she
slept without taking an opiate--something she had not done before in
several weeks.
A complete cure of her condition was brought about within a week, and
now, after the expiration of six months, there has been no return of
her symptoms.
For the benefit of physician readers I should like to add that in
treating eye strain, conjunctivitis, sties, granulated lids, and
eye conditions generally, pressures made with a blunt probe, (see E
Fig. 11) on the muco-cutaneous margins (where the skin joins the mucous
membrane in the nostrils) affects the second division of the ophthalmic
nerve, and assists materially in bringing about a favorable influence
in eye troubles.
I would also emphasize the importance of seeing that the condition of
the eye teeth was perfect, as frequently some chronic inflammatory eye
trouble may be caused by an infection from the roots of the canine
teeth.
In order permanently to cure anything its cause must be removed. And it
stands to reason that if a patient persists in poisoning himself with
coffee, tobacco, or alcohol; or suffers from an impoverished condition
of the blood, or from a brain tumor, lead poisoning, or an injury, or
has some constitutional or organic disease or some spinal lesion, which
is the basis for his eye trouble, permanent relief will not follow
unless these causes are removed or corrected.
[Illustration: Non-Electrical Applicators Useful in Zone Therapy
_*A*_ is an ordinary surgical clamp which can be used for clamping the
tongue.
_*B*_ is an ordinary eye-muscle retractor. This can be used for
intermittently retracting the posterior pillars of the fauces.
_*C*_ is a special type of nasal probe used for attacking the posterior
wall of the nasopharynx.
_*D*_ is a regular palpebral retractor which can be used for
intermittently retracting the soft palate, especially in the region of
the fossa of Rosenmüller.
_*E*_ is a regular flat applicator bent up at one end. This is useful
about the throat and fauces. It can be used as a pressure applicator
for the posterior wall of the oropharynx.
_*F*_ is an ordinary aluminum comb used for attacking the fingers or
toes either at the tips or about the joints.
FIG. 11.]
But if he has a condition due to an excess of nerve or muscle
tension, or if he has trouble produced by faulty circulation from
any cause, squeezing his fingers will come nearer to curing him--and
more expeditiously and satisfactorily--than any other treatment. If
you don’t believe it, try it. It costs nothing but a few minutes’
intelligent effort.