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Autonomic Body Therapy ® for Alternative ManagementByDr. Michael Austinof PainDecreased pain, better sleep patterns, and less stress are just a few of the comments from patients who havereceived Autonomic Body Therapy. I began developing Autonomic Body Therapy® (ABT) shortly aftermoving to Tucson in 2006. ABT is the synthesis of Bowen, Meridian, and Mind Body Therapies.I was introduced to Bowen Therapy in 2002, for treatment of bilateral, medial and lateral epicondylitis /tenosynovitis (tennis and golfers elbow). Immediately following the session my pain diminished at least 70%and continued to drop over the following few days. This, as I was to find out, is the hallmark response followinga Bowen Session.However; as good as bowen is I felt that the training lacked depth and was very dogmatic. I believed I coulddeliver the knowledge that was lacking and produce treatments and training that would surpass that which I'dreceived.My knowledge of skeletal muscles and the human nervous system from my chiropractic education was a naturalfit to bowen and gave me a depth of knowledge that surpassed the bowen instructors. This was the firstdivergence from bowen.I began Meridian Therapy training, a needleless form of acupuncture, in 1992. It became apparent to me thatmany bowen movements were done at or near acupuncture points. I began experimenting with scalpacupuncture areas for the treatment of vertigo and other points for sinus congestion with great success. I furtherapplied the mental, emotional correspondences' from Chinese Medicine that added yet another facet to ABT.ABT is not massage, spinal manipulation, or pressure points. It is a distinctly different therapy in that it is morehands off, than hands on. Cross fiber manipulations, called "ABT moves," are done in sequences of three orfour at a time. Sequences of moves are interspersed with crucial breaks where the patient is left on the table fortwo to five minutes. Subsequent moves done in sequence are further interspersed with these important breaks,with sessions lasting from one half-hour to one hour. ABT sessions typically begin at the core (pelvis) of thebody and work outward. Sequences of ABT moves are utilized to treat a wide variety of conditions.Autonomic Body Therapy® works primarily through stimulation of mechanoreceptors and proprioceptors of theextremities with a resultant attenuation of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous systemregulates many of the bodies systems as well as influencing the immune system, and emotions through thehypothalamus. Secondarily, fascia, being crystalline microscopically, releases an electrical charge throughpiezoelectric effect. This electrical discharge changes the fascia from a gel to a sol chemically, therebyfacilitating rehydration of the fascia restoring range of motion and decreasing pain as seen most notably infrozen shoulder syndrome.A tertiary reflex is believed to occur via the piezoelectricby acupuncturists but in this case without the needles.effect further stimulating the meridian system utilized

-- IBesides the treatment of pain there are many visserosomatic conditions that respond to Autonomic Body• Therapy including fibromyalgia, RA, RSD, TMJ pain, indigestion, reflux, PMS, PTSD, carpal tunnel, bunions,and tennis elbow.Case Studies55-year-old female with a greater than ten-year history oflow back pain whose previous treatment includedallopathic treatment, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and physical therapy. Her reported analog pain scale waseight out often. Initial ABT treatment included the basic relaxation moves, hamstring, sacrum, and kneeprocedure. Follow-up visit one-week later patient reported no back pain. Patient related she.went to a baseballgame with her grandson the day after her initial treatment and didn't realize that she was 'pain free until shearrived home.72-year-old female with history of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, bilateral knee and hip replacements.Her reported analog pain scale was nine out often. Previous treatment included allopathic treatment,chiropractic care, acupuncture, and physical therapy. Initial ABT treatment included the basic relaxation moves,hamstring, sacrum, knee procedure, hammertoe, bunion, lung procedure, upper respiratory procedure, pelvicprocedure. Upon completion of the ABT session, the patient reported that she had no pain.A 26 YO female with a chief complaint ofCRPS, type1 (RSD). The onset of the complaint was May 2001following an MV A where the patient sustained an injury to the right ankle. From date of onset the diseaseprogression continued up the patient's right leg, eventually traveling to the contralateral leg and fmallyprogressing to involve the entire left upper extremity. The patient had undergone a series of nerve blocks andboth an upper and lower spinal cord stimulators all of which eventually failed to relieve her pain. Currentmedications included Lyrica 100mg BID, Desipermine 25mg BID. The patient was referred to my office by herpain management anesthesiologist, as a last resort before under going sympathectomy.The patient was treated once a week for 5 weeks. She reported on a follow up phone call that she had no painapproximately 10 days after her last office visit. Her sympathectomy was canceled.Michael Austin D.C., a licensed chiropractor since 1994 and is the developer of ABT. Dr. Austin holdsadditional certifications as a Craniosacral Therapist and Reiki Master, with 19 years as an integrative medicalpractitioner.Dr. Austin is a Contract service provider for the Southern Arizona Veteran's AdministrationTucson, and Indian Health Services at San Xavier for the Tohono O'odham Nation.Health Care inDr. Austin teaches Autonomic Body Therapy® through weekend workshops and offers CEU's for some healthcare providers. For more information contact Dr. Austin's office for training in your community.Dr. Austin may be reached at (520) 887-2428 or on the web at www.drmichaelaustin.corn