Lambert & Lynn's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘vertebral arteries’

Question:

I had a fall some years ago (from a wall after a rather wild party) and since then have had several black spots floating sporadically in my right eye. One moves around but returns to the middle of the eye and can be distracting when I drive. Is  there anything I can do to reduce or eliminate them?

Answer:

The eye is a fascinating organ; its sophisticated structure is a marvel of nature and the inspiration for the modern camera. Not surprisingly, it’s incredibly sensitive and a trauma such as your fill could easily cause these spots. Let me explain about the structure of the eye. The retina is the most important and complex part.

As light falls on it, this photo-energy is converted into electrical energy, which is picked up by the sensitive cells in the retina and transmitted via the main optic nerve (the ‘cable’ that carries the information) to the visual centre of the brain.

An efficient blood supply is essential for the retina, and indeed the whole mechanism of the eye. The retinal layer of nerve cells is sandwiched between two layers of blood supply: the choroid layer, which is full of capillaries and lymphatic blood vessels, and the capillaries of the central after that lie on the surface of the retina. The main source for the blood supply to the central artery comes from the vertebral arteries of the neck via branches of the vertebro-basilar circulatory network.

The slightest fluctuation in blood supply can cause visual impairment. Temporary spots are probably due to a short-term dip in blood supply to the retina. When the supply is normal, they disappear. Anaemia or low blood pressure can trigger such floaters, as may donating blood. Permanent floaters mainly occur because of small particles (tiny clots of blood or detached tissue) in the liquid that fills the inner chamber of the eye bathing the retinal surface.

Because the vertebral arteries carry the main blood supply to the retina, any disalignment of the vertebra, due to trauma, can cause impaired vision by reducing the flow of blood. Many people who have head injuries or whiplash experience poor vision, or partial loss. Manipulating the neck through therapies such as osteopathy or chiropractic can improve visual impairments caused by trauma. Patients with poor vision linked to chronic fatigue also report sudden brightness and clarity of vision after treatment.

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The main line of treatment for temporary floaters is to keep the eye and its muscles well supplied with blood. To improve microcirculation, you must be in good health generally, so good nutrition, regular exercise, stress management and neck massage help.  

Here are my suggestions

Diet

* Avoid alcohol, coffee and excess salt, because they constrict blood vessels; alcohol also consumes surplus oxygen from the blood, so making the vision blurred. Also avoid yeast products as these cause fatigue due to gut fermentation which produces alcohol.

* Drink lots of water: at least eight large glasses of still water daily between meals. Dehydration often affects vision; in fact, extreme dehydration can cause floaters. Also drink freshly juiced carrots and apples with a little fresh root ginger to boost energy.

Supplement

Take Ginkgo Biloba 2000: one daily for a month.

Massage

Massage the jaw on both sides and also the muscles of the neck going down to the shoulders. First massage the sides of the neck using a little oil (sweet almond, for instance). With your thumb and fingertips, massage the back of the head (occiput), especially an inch above the hairline where the tendons of the neck muscles are attached. They may be sore to the touch. When the neck muscles are related, massage the shoulders. Do this yourself when you have a shower, or ask a partner to do it once a week for two months. (To find more about massage for couples, see Health Notes on page 63.)

Yoga

Therapeutic Iyengar yoga helps blood flow through the vertebral artery by realigning the cervical spine, the part that is in the neck. The following postures are particularly helpful: cobra swing, spinal twist and semi-bridge. These postures are explained in Therapeutic Yoga, the book I co-wrote with Jiwan Brar.

Eye exercises

Thousands of years ago, yoga practitioners developed specific exercises, which are very helpful for improving and maintaining good vision. They have been modified in recent, times, in, for example, Bates exercises (see my 6 March column this year – which you can find on my website, www.drmali.com – or read W H Bates’s book Better Eyesight With out glasses, Hind Pocket Books.

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Tags: retinal surface, nerve cells, arteries of the neck, vertebral arteries, sensitive cells, optic nerve, low blood pressure

Question:

My 22-yearold son has severe head injuries from a car accident. He has damage to his brainstem and pinhead bleeding around the brain. He is now conscious and remembers all aspects of his life. He has paralysis of one vocal cord, which we are told will get better with speech therapy. There is weakness on his right side – his arm requires splints to straighten it – and he has developed ataxia (defect of gait). What can he do to help his recovery?

Answer:

From your description, your son has symptoms similar to those following a stroke, in that his body and parts of the brain on one side are affected. Over the past two decades, I have been using a powerful physical rehabilitation technique to help stroke patients.

There have been two successful clinical studies: the first was carried out at the Hammersmith Hospital in 1996 with l2 elderly stroke patients under the supervision of a consultant geriatrician. Last year, with funding from a patient and the cooperation of Peninsula Medical School based at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust, my brother Nizam and I set up a research project where we rehabilitated another group of l7 stroke patients.

First, I advise you work on the neck, as the vertebral arteries located inside the cervical spine irrigate the brainstem, which has centres that control vocal cords; the cerebellum, which controls gait and posture, as well as other areas that must be involved in such a complex case. He should first be on his back, with a pillow under his head. Massage both sides of the neck, using oil such as my Alive Back Massage Oil (Integrated Health Group,), or two tablespoon sweet almond oil with three drops essential lavender oil. Rub the muscles and tendons of the neck. (Details on how to do this are shown on my Life style DVD, Integrated Health Group.) Then he should turn over so you can massage the shoulders using both hands, squeezing then releasing the muscles. This will improve the blood circulation. Initially the muscles will be stiff and sore. As days go by, the muscles will ease and this massage will facilitate the better circulation of blood and cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the brain.

Next you must work on the right arm and hand. It seems that it has already developed extreme spasm of muscles due to the brain damage. Massaging the biceps on the outside upper arm and the flexor muscles running down the inside arm will help relieve tightness and lessen the chance of total loss of use of the right hand. Massage the entire back and focus on the buttock muscles on the right side, particularly the tender trigger point in the centre of the right cheek. This can help bone up muscles which participate in balance and posture.

Next, massage the right quadriceps( front of thighs) and  right hamstrings( back of  thighs).Then massage the right calf and shin muscles, using your thumbs and fingers to clasp them from both sides.

Special Marma points, which the martial arts practitioners of ancient India used to revive muscles paralysed in action. Stimulating them with your thumb can reactivate specific muscles involved in controlling gait, balance, co-ordination and posture.

Nutrition is important since there may be a tendency to gain weight your son should avoid sugar, oily or fatty foods, including pork, lamb and dairy products. H e should drink freshly juiced carrots, celery, apple and root ginger (preferably organic), and eat one banana daily. Carrots and bananas contain potassium, which is good for  muscles. So, too, is lean protein (chicken breast, turkey, eggs, almonds soaked in water for 24 hours, lentils, tofu, cottage cheese).

The more tense and tired your son is the worse his muscle performance will be. Practise retention breathing: inhale for three seconds, hold for three to six, then exhale for six. Also practice brisk exhalation, forcing the air out of the lungs by sucking in the abdomen sharply, which raises the dome of the abdomen and helps energise the body.

I strongly recommend seeing an experienced chiropractor or osteopath for two sessions to adjust the cervical vertebrae, which have probably been misaligned.

Acupuncture is also useful in some cases. When the muscles become active again,

physiotherapists or therapeutic Iyengar yoga specialists can assist with exercises.

I have obtained MD in General Medicine with Honours in 1980 and joined The Central Institute of Advanced Medical Studies in Moscow for post graduation in Acupuncture. I have completed diploma courses in Acupuncture, Anesthesia, Iridology, Hypnotherapy and Clinical Fasting. Practicing as Integrated Medicine expert.
Visit my health shop – http//www.drmalishop.com
121 Crawford Street, London, W1U 6BE
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Tags: integrated health group, elderly stroke patients, hammersmith hospital, royal devon, sweet almond oil