Zone therapy; or, Relieving pain at home

by Wm. H. Fitzgerald; Edwin F. Bowers

It is possible that repeated “colds”—generally from dust infection—result in a chronic irritation of the mucous membrane, followed by a thickening (or hypertrophy) of the tissues.

This thickened tissue dams the circulation of blood in the membranes, and presses upon the delicate nerves of the nose, thereby irritating them, which irritation proves to be the last straw. So the nerves of the nose throw up both hands with a despairing moan.

An acute inflammatory irritation is established, setting up a vicious circle. For the pressure causes nerve irritation, and the nerves retaliate by still further disturbing the circulation, thereby causing more pressure.

Then, if really it is pollen that causes the physiological conflagration we call hay fever, the mucous membrane is so susceptible that it will readily respond to the action of the pollen. Which is probably also true of those cases that develop similar conditions from the odor of roses, horses or cats.

It is significant, however, that of all the hundreds of hay-fever patients that have ever come under my care not one had an absolutely normal nose. Invariably there were bony spurs, protruding turbinate bones, cartilages twisted out of proper alignment, an inflamed and thickened mucous membrane lining, or some other pathological condition, one usually requiring surgical interference.

So if you have, or expect to have, hay fever or any other abnormal condition of the nasal mucous membranes, see a specialist and have your nose placed in as near a perfect condition as surgical skill and your physical shortcomings will permit, not forgetting also a thorough stretching of the soft palate. This the surgeon will accomplish by means of a finger inserted in the throat and a hooked instrument in the passage back of the nose. By enlarging the contracted parts of this passage normal drainage and circulation in these tissues is established.

The best results are obtained by operating during the height of an attack. If sometimes even a needle be thrust through the congested mucous membrane, so that the blood flows freely, the attack can be broken up, and the condition frequently eradicated for that season.

Then use any combination of the following procedures, which experience may prove helpful, remembering that here no fixed rule can be laid down, and that what “works” magically in one case might have but little effect in another.

First, make steady firm pressures on various points in the roof of the mouth with the thumb. Be careful to “cover” the region directly on a line with the nose. These pressures should be maintained for from four to eight minutes at a time, and repeated a half dozen or more times daily. Those experienced in zone therapy claim that the pressures have an immediate and powerful effect upon abnormal conditions in this zone.

At the same time the upper lip should be firmly forced against the teeth with the first finger. This usually has a most discouraging effect upon sneezing.