The rhythms of the PMM are sensitive to several types of external factors. This enabled us to design appropriate tests and initiate explanation for the influence of so called energetic medicines.
Factors bearing on the PMM:
heat (moxibution) :
• It systematically slows down the rhythm of the PMM
• It has a relaxing effect, but increases the risk of tendonitis
• Local muscle tonicity is reduced
cold :
• It systematically accelerate the rhythm of the PMM
• It has a draining effect through local vascular and lymphatic acceleration
• Local muscle tonicity is increased
Electromagnetism :
• south pole of the magnet:
1. Slows down PMM in the limbs
2. Increases it in the trunk
• north pole of a magnet :
1. Increases PMM in the limbs
2. Slows it down in the trunk
Acupuncture needles :
Their position and orientation are of major importance.
They have an effect even when inserted on other points than actual "acupuncture points".
• On the inside of the arm:
Orientated towards the shoulder, they speed up the PMM's rhythm.
Orientated towards the hand, they slows it down.
• On the outside of the arm:
Orientated towards the shoulder, they slow down the PMM's rhythm.
Orientated towards the hand, they speed up it.
Hand pressures (shiatsu) :
Applied on muscle fibers:
• Quick pressures speed up the PMM's rhythm
• Slow pressures slow it down.
Elements susceptible to be sensitive to these energetic modifications
Through deduction, we suggest:
-receptor cells of the neuromuscular spindles: more precisely their active transmembranous pumps which are sensitive to changes in mechanical tensions (shiatsu), in temperature (moxas), in electrical potentials (magnets, needles).
-neuromuscular spindles in charge of controlling intramuscular pressure through muscle tonicity and maintain a certain level of homeostasy there.
Changing the sensitivity threshold point of these receptors triggers a more or less quick contraction of the slow oxydative fibers.
Of course this is only an hypothesis, but it is the most coherent abstraction we are aware of today;
How does modifying the threshold points generate a symptom?
Slowing down the PMM's rhythm induces:
a. A decrease in muscle tonicity
b. A local decrease of veinous circulation
c. A local decrease in lymph drainage
d. An increased sensitivity to tendonitis.
Increasing the rhythm induces:
a. An increase in muscle tonicity
b. An increase in local blood circulation
c. A decrease in the PMM's amplitude
d. An increased sensitivity to spasms.
The mechanical way :
• skeleton
Variations in muscle tonicity change the subject's statics. This induces unbalances which in turn favor the appearance of symptoms. A mechanical unbalance may lead to a pressure increase in a joint with symptoms such as pain and arthrosis.
• viscera
Movements induced by the PMM have an effect on the visceral function, either for local lymph drainage, or directly in connection to their "fonction motrice".
Abdominal viscera are constantly motioned by diaphragmatic respiration. As osteopaths, we are aware of the importance of these movements to the physiological working of the viscera. But the movements associated with diaphragmatic respiration also play a fundamental role.
A loss of mobility in the sacro-iliac joints reduces the amplitude of the iliac wings' movements on the frontal plane, thus reducing the amplitude in the transverse colon's mobility on the afore mentionned plane, and therefore impairing the efficiency of the intestinal transit.
The osteopathic treatment of the sacro-iliac joint often solves transit perturbation. Note the influence of the sacro-iliac joint's acupuncture points on the balance of the intestinal transit. In this example of visceral peristaltis, the diaphragm mechanical action is of major importance, but so is the involvement of the fascias movements induced by the PMM.
The vascular way :
A lesser quality in the vascular in-put may also impair systems at local level by reducing the input of necessary elements (oxygen, proteins, etc). The acupuncture's ability to anaesthetize may be coherently explained by a slowing down in the PMM's rhythms. By substantially diminishing the vascularization of an area, thus suppressing the oxygen input to the nervous receptors, it is possible to make them mute therefore depriving the brain of local data and inducing local anaesthesia. The same applies for any other organic function.
The lymphatic way :
It can not be separated from the fascia system motioned by the PMM. The fascias are envelops of connective tissue. By sheathing the muscles, bones and viscera, they support them and play a major hemodynamic role allowing the lymph to travel through the lymphatic channels. This system is essential to the elaboration of the immune system. The muscles contractions due to the PMM set the fascias in motion, alternatively animating them, thus generating the pressures and depressures of the lymphatic ways.
The perturbations in fascias movements will alter the local lymphatic circulation, inducing congestions, even œdemas.
Conclusion :
Thanks to the discovery of the PMM, energetic medicines will soon stop to be empirical to become scientific. Observation is the primary asset of any medicine and it has enabled us reach the results we have presented; understanding these phenomena will allow us to take further steps in defining pathologies and adapting new therapeutics. A lot is to be expected from future research, in acupuncture as well as in osteopathy, two medicines which keep getting closer and will probably continue to do so.
Of course, there are other factors accounting for the efficiency of energetic medicines, the above list is not comprehensive.
NB:
-Wanting to contract a muscle increases the local PMM's rhythm.
-The ingestion of various elements also makes it vary.
-Various pathologies influence it just as much.
