feel an analogy coming on,” said Max, who by now was sprawled across the couch looking relaxed and quite at home.
“Your life must have seemed so empty after Max graduated from your high school, Vic,” said Daniel.
“You have no idea,” replied Vic.
“I should perhaps clarify some concepts before I go any further,” said Daniel. “This will give you a better understanding of where we’re coming from.”
He turned and placed the disc on the workbench and then reached for a box in the overhead cupboard. As he searched through its contents, he continued.
“There are many things that have not been proven scientifically with the typical double-blind scenario, which is the standard for clinical trials in evidence-based medicine. But that doesn’t mean that these things are not relevant. If we were to wait for science to answer all of our questions we would miss out on a lot of things.”
“What about the importance of placebos?” asked Max. “Isn’t blinding important in medical research?”
“That’s a good question, Max,” said Daniel. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that double-blind trials aren’t necessary or don’t produce valid findings. But think of all the scientists that were ridiculed and violently opposed throughout history when they presented new ideas. It really isn’t all that long ago, in the grand scheme of things, that people believed the world was flat. Take micro-organisms and atomic particles. Those have always existed, but it wasn’t until the invention of sophisticated equipment like the electron microscope that we could detect them.”
“So you’re saying that just because we can’t see, or prove, something doesn’t mean that it’s not true or that it doesn’t exist,” said Ben. “Are you also saying, then, that we must simply take some things on faith?”
“Essentially, yes. That is what we’re saying. Some people believe that there are no such things as miracles in life. They attribute inexplicable phenomena to unknown natural forces. But whether you believe in miracles or unknown forces is not really important. The bottom line is that you cannot deny the existence of things or concepts just because they can’t be seen or measured. Elizabeth and I have this unwritten rule when it comes to the human body. If it makes sense and has the potential to provide benefit without causing harm, then it is worth trying. We both have an open spirit and have tried many different health approaches, by our own application and with professionals. We believe that this has allowed us to live a long and healthy life without any medication or surgical interventions.”
Ben had no trouble taking that advice on faith. These people were living testaments to the lifestyle that they promoted. Their openness to new ideas and approaches, even at their age, was remarkable. Ben didn’t know a lot of people as old as the Websters, but those that were the same age, or close to it, were often very set in their ways and less than adventurous when it came to lifestyle changes.
“Maybe we should get back on track,” said Vic. “I think Daniel was talking about symptom-free dysfunction in bodily systems. I’m sure Max is just dying to know how an organ or gland can function at less than full capacity without any pain or discomfort.”
“Yes, Vic, that’s a burning question. Please let the master explain,” said Max.
“OK. As I was saying, or about to say, usually only about ten percent of nerve function is for sensory impulses, and many of the internal organs have very few sensory fibers connected to them. So it’s difficult to tell whether or not they are functioning optimally. Symptoms such as pain will eventually appear. But that often happens only after several years of operating at less than full capacity. By then, it’s difficult, and maybe too late, to correct the problem.”
An embarrassed Ben looked over at Max, fully reclined on the couch, and sound asleep. “I wonder what percentage capacity he’s functioning at right now.”
“Whatever it is,” said Vic, “he appears to be symptom-free.”
Elizabeth smiled. “You know, Ben, his ability to relax isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We try to create an atmosphere here that puts people at ease and helps them relax. I have to admit that I’ve never seen anyone quite that relaxed, but I’m certainly not offended. I take it as a compliment.”
“Don’t try to take too much credit, Elizabeth,” said Vic. “I’ve seen him do that in a classroom, and we didn’t design those rooms to promote relaxation.”
“How you cope with stress is such a significant factor in the development of disease and aging. If someone is able to relax and reduce stress, as Max appears able to do in just about any environment, the results can only be positive in the long run. Take note, Ben. Workaholics tend to be outlived by people like Max. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” said Elizabeth as she glided across the room and through the beaded curtain covering the doorway into the house.
Ben found it unsettling how much the Websters seemed to know about his personality, lifestyle and health. They had never asked any specific questions to elicit this information, yet he felt as though they knew him intimately. He watched Elizabeth disappear into the corridor attaching the house and the garage, then turned to Daniel.
“What causes these imbalances or blockages in the body’s bio-energetic systems like the sublaxations you mentioned earlier, Daniel?”
“They’re called ‘sub-lux-ations’, Ben,” explained Daniel. He placed the disk on the floor in front of him and reached for his glass of chlorophyll water. “They’re so terribly important, and yet almost no one aside from chiropractors has ever heard the term. It is one example of interference or blockage in the energy system of the body. Acupuncturists will talk about blockages of chi in the meridians, while others will refer to a lack of flow in your energy vortexes, called chakras, or a disruption in your aura. There are a variety of causes, and these disruptions can occur at any time throughout our lives. The earliest occurrence is right at the moment of birth. Even a so-called ‘normal’ birth can be traumatic. The head is twisted, traction is applied to the neck during the exit from the birth canal—these things are very traumatic, Ben. A newborn infant can experience vertebral subluxations, for example, in the cervical spine from its very earliest moments of life. This causes interference with the flow of energy, even though the symptoms may not appear for several years.”
“And that’s not all,” said Elizabeth, who had quietly returned to the garage and picked up the conversation where Daniel left off. “Consider the frenzied, stressful pace of life that most people lead these days. There are endless demands on their time, patience, and abilities. This constant state of physical, mental, and emotional stress takes its toll on the body. High stress results in over-stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. As Daniel mentioned earlier, this can affect things like blood pressure, pulse and digestion. This can begin a negative spiral effect on the body. As neuromuscular tension develops throughout the body, high levels of the stress hormone cortisol pulse through the blood and tissues. This alone has many negative effects. With all of this going in the body, the immune system may not function as well as it otherwise would and you may not have enough energy to do all your regular activities as your nutrient and energy stores become depleted.”
Daniel emerged from the front driver side wheel well to finish the explanation. “After many centuries of research it has become very clear that the structural integrity of the body, and specifically the pelvis-spine-cranium complex, plays a crucial role in maintaining muscular balance throughout the body, enabling it to communicate with itself, balancing tissues, muscles and organs, and opening the channels to wellness and healing.”
As Daniel moved to the other end of the vehicle and descended into the rear wheel well to inspect the brake assembly, Ben slid Max’s feet off the couch to the floor and sat down next to him. He had learned a lot from the Websters in just a couple of visits. Thinking it over, he realized that there seemed to be one underlying theme to their message so far: interference