by Lawrence Wilson, MD

ADHESIONS

One of the most common human conditions is adhesions. Adhesions are tufts or piles of substances or tissue that accumulate all over the body when conditions are correct. They are a type of scar tissue. They can occur at every level of the body such as inside the cells themselves, and even at the atomic level. They can also occur at the cell membranes, the intercellular substance and matrix, as it is called, and at more gross levels such as in the muscles, skin, organs and entire architecture or structural level of the body.

STICKY TISSUES AND THE QUALITY OF STICKINESS IN THE BODY

Adhesions are like having sticky atoms, molecules, cells, tissues and other structures and substances in the body. This is not normal. While tissues should work together harmoniously, the word adhesions, when used in the context of health and the body, always denotes a pathological type of stickiness or glue-like consistency or tendency of the body substances and tissues.

This is a critical concept in health and disease that is not addressed much in allopathic medicine. It is the idea that the tissues, cells, organs and even at a molecular level must slip and slide around freely in order for a person to be healthy.

A mental analogy is that one’s mind and thoughts must be able to move and reason freely. If one is “hung up” or “attached” to an idea, we call this a neurosis or even a psychosis. The same is true of the body tissues. They must be able to respond to stimuli, adapt to stress and generally ply their way through life in a flexible manner.

One of the prime signs of aging is a loss of flexibility of the tissues. This is a direct effect of adhesions, even though no one talks about it this way. The body tissues and even organs and other structures become somewhat glued together, cannot move freely and this causes most illnesses, at one level.

WHAT CAUSES ADHESIONS?

Biochemically-caused adhesions. When the chemistry of the body is incorrect, adhesions occur easily and automatically. Certain mineral imbalances predispose on to the problem, although many imbalances may be involved. Some include copper toxicity, and the presence of the so-called amigos (high levels of hidden iron, manganese, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, boron and perhaps other minerals). This topic is discussed below in more detail.

What occurs is that when certain mineral imbalances and other situations occur in the tissues, the tissues become more sticky and tend to join together or unite in pathological ways.

It actually takes work on the part of the body to keep the tissue layers separated, and it is very important. Otherwise the layers would not move, one over the other, and the body becomes like a block or a blob of material that will not function correctly. It is as though the wires and pulleys on an elevator or some other mechanical device became rusted together, and the machine would not work.

Traumatic adhesion. Trauma of any kind is another basic, though secondary cause for adhesions. Trauma alone might not do so much damage. However, when the body chemistry is marginal or imbalanced, any trauma at all can upset it further and cause adhesions.

In this situation, anything that cuts, splits, or even just slightly upsets the tissues can cause an adhesion. It is known, for example, that a trauma or blow to a woman’s breast, perhaps from a car accident, can lead to cancer in that breast later on in life. This phenomenon is related to adhesion, once again.

At a deeper level, an adhesion is a type of trauma. I will not explore this idea in more depth, but it is the truth. A trauma causes a certain sticking or stickiness in the mind and perhaps the body. This is the definition of a trauma and the definition of adhesions at one level.

Inflammation. Inflammation is an early and often subtle type of tissue damage. It reddens and slightly damages tissues, and appears to make them more susceptible to adhesive damage. This may be due to some combination of nutritional changes, excess heat and perhaps other factors.

Infection-caused adhesions. Infections may cause adhesions by various mechanisms. Fighting infection may deplete certain nutrients in the local area. Another possibility is that endo-toxins and/or exo-toxins from bacteria, viruses, parasites and even fungi may poison the tissues at a local level. Extra heat from the infection, or even cold at the site of the infection may have an effect. Inflammation caused by infection may also have an effect.

HOW ADHESIONS CAUSE ILLNESS

Adhesions may not directly cause illness. However, they indirectly cause every type of ailment known to mankind. This occurs because they:

1. Restrict circulation of the blood and lymph fluids. This impairs cellular nutrition. It also restricts hormones from reaching the cells, along with other important chemical substances such as insulin, glucose, fatty acids and hundreds of others.

2. Restrict drainage of the tissues, causing toxin retention. This interferes with the elimination of all waste products from the cells and even the body. Not only are the tissues squeezed and restricted so that toxins build up there, but one can even become constipated, for example, if the colon has adhesions. Urine may not flow out of the kidneys adequately, or the bladder may not empty properly. The liver stops working correctly as well, as the liver cells are less able to eliminate many thousands of toxins that instead begin to accumulate in the liver, kidneys, and everywhere in the body.

3. Restrict the flow of meridian energy in the acupuncture meridians. This is very important and the reason why some doctors like to remove large scars in certain locations. The acupuncture meridians feed energy to the body organs. It is a very deep system of energy of the body.

4. Restrict the flow of other subtle energies throughout the body. Our bodies require a number of subtle energies for their health. All of these can become restricted by different kinds of tissue adhesions.

5. Alter and restrict the physical movement of the body in hundreds of ways. That is, they cause chiropractic and all other structural imbalances such as kyphosis, scoliosis (twisting of the spine), osteoclastic and bone deformities, ligamentous attachments and deformities, and every other type of structural problems imaginable. When people say they have a “bad back”, for example, it often just means they have restrictions or adhesions in the neck, back, hips, knees, legs or elsewhere that alters posture, tires the body, restricts nerve flow, and ends up causing pain or other discomfort.

QUANTITIES AND QUALITIES OF ADHESIONS

Adhesions can be of many qualities, since they have multiple causes. Some are quite simple and temporary, such as tightness in a muscle after exercise, or even after sleep. These “work out” easily and quickly. Others are much more permanent, and difficult to undo or erase or untwist.

Some adhesions are easier to undo because only two tissues are adhered. Others involve multiple layers of fascia, connective and other layers of organs and tissues. These may be twisted over one another in very complex fashions for any reason, and these are much harder to “unwind”. They literally must be unwound, one layer at a time. This usually takes years, if it can be done at all.

The nature of the adhesions are influenced by the qualities of the chemical substances and their chemical bonding angles and styles. Some people know, for example, that salt forms a simple cubical-shaped molecule or structure. However, other chemical substances like human and animal DNA form twisted, spiraling structures. All this influences the nature, quality and quantity of adhesions.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE BIOCHEMICAL CAUSES OF ADHESIONS

For the biochemical aspects of adhesions, nutritional balancing science is one of the few ways to reduce some adhesions in the body. Let us address some major biochemical imbalances associated with adhesions. They include:

1. Reduced energy production in the cells. This shows up on a hair mineral analysis as an imbalanced oxidation rate, imbalanced mineral ratios, a low phosphorus level, and other imbalances.

2. The presence of toxic metals, toxic chemicals, and improper chemical compounds in the body. Everyone has some of these, but the problem gets worse if one has more than this.

3. Subtle deficiencies of various minerals, vitamins and other chemical substances needed for life. These include the omega-3 oils, for example, which help maintain flexibility of the cell membranes. Vitamins A and D, along with vitamin E, and other fatty substances are also needed. Pasteurized milk contains damaged fat, as does hydrogenated and trans-fats, which cause more adhesions at certain cellular levels.

Selenium and silicon, for example, along with zinc and lithium, actually give substances a slippery, smooth texture that tends to undo some adhesions. The skin of fish such as sardines, for example, is high in selenium that is needed for the fish to navigate or slip through the water without much resistance. It also helps the body tissues slip along each other without adhering.

Another substance in nature that is high in selenium and silicon is corn silk. Here again, one notes the smooth, glassy appearance of this substance. In fact, the corn plant, even the grossly genetically modified plant, is rather high in silicon and selenium, two elements that help reduce adhesions in the body.

Other smooth, glassy types of substances in nature that are high in silicon-based substances include glass, some plastics, and even the newer computer chips that are made of silicon or germanium. These are needed to move electricity so it slips and slides along faster and smoother without interference.

Inside of our nervous system and brain, electrical impulses must be able to move freely along the nerves. Also, a certain amount of mechanical slipping and sliding is absolutely required. Problems in this area give rise to improper brain architecture. This may not seem important, but as one develops spiritually, it becomes extremely important. The brain begins to work like a radio with an antenna, and if the antenna is not working well, it will affect thinking and other aspects of mental functioning. Lithium, along with zinc and other minerals such as selenium and chromium, allow this to occur. In fact, the ability of the cells and body structure to slip and slide among each other is a key to life and health.

HOW NUTRITIONAL BALANCING HELPS WITH ADHESIONS

Nutritional balancing science is one of the few healing sciences that directly addresses the problem of adhesions, their basic causes, and how to correct the causes at the deepest levels.

For example, copper imbalance is known to be one of the main instigators of adhesions, scars, scoliosis and other connective tissue types of adhesions in the body. This is not usable copper. It is a form or several forms of copper that are so electronegative in their effect that they cause the tissues to adhere in abnormal ways.

The copper also damages the normal types of tissue attachments, which are called sulfur-sulfur or disulfide type bonding. This type of tissue binding is not pathological or “adhered”. Unlike adhesions, disulfide bonds are more flexible and considered far more normal in the body. They are used in all flexible or connective tissues such as tendons, ligaments, muscles and elsewhere.

OTHER WAYS TO CORRECT ADHESIONS

The problem of adhesions is as old as mankind. Older methods to deal with adhesions include sciences such as yoga and perhaps certain meditations.

More modern methods include stretching exercises, massage, and many methods of manipulation of the tissues. These include osteopathy, chiropractic, Rolfing, structural integration, visceral manipulation, and other types of deep tissue work and so-called bodywork. These therapies, in general, are excellent and complement nutritional balancing science as they seek to balance the body in a physical and structural way.

Electrical machines such as TENS and other stimulators are used to break up some mechanical adhesions in the body. A problem with most of them is that they may introduce stray electrical or magnetic frequencies into the body that may be harmful.

Exercise may help some adhesions, but usually exercise makes things worse. The reasons include depleting nutrients needed to maintain the tissues, and moving the body in repetitive ways that tire certain muscles, tendons and ligaments, leading to more damage to them. This is why nutritional balancing science never recommends vigorous exercise. Most people’s tissues are simply so weak and diseased that exercising actually causes more adhesions.

Sauna therapy is excellent for adhesions. The near infrared sauna, in particular, carries frequencies that seem to help reduce many types of cellular and structural adhesions, reducing pain and causing relaxation at many levels.

Other heat therapies such as hot water baths, steam baths and others also have some effect in this area. This is one reason these baths have been popular with mankind for thousands of years.

Even sunbathing, which is an infrared heat therapy, is helpful for reducing some adhesions. The problem with it today is the high level of ultraviolet exposure. Sunscreen helps this problem, but the sunscreen is usually a highly toxic brew that is dangerous if used more than occasionally.

The Roy Masters meditation, which moves energy downward through the body, is also a powerful way to undo adhesions. This is rather complex, but the movement of etheric energy downward through the body raises its vitality and helps heal all types of injuries, traumas and other wounds.

OTHER TOPICS RELATED TO ADHESIONS - SCLEROSIS

Sclerosis is a condition somewhat related to adhesion. It is a form of adhesion, in a way, in which certain cell types replace normal cell types in the brain (multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s plaques, etc.), in the arteries (arteriosclerosis and fatty or calcium plaques), in the muscles and elsewhere. Sclerosis might be considered another word for adhesions, but it is more specific in that other cell types and structures replace the normal cell types in these situations.

Interestingly, on a nutritional balancing program, these aberrant cell structures and types generally melt away. This would indicate that they represent “Band-Aids” or “Crutches” that the body literally constructs when the normal tissues have become weakened, in some cases. This is definitely the case with arterial plaques that seem to protect the artery from possible breakage or aneurisms.

In the case of other types of sclerosis, in places like the brain, the plaques will also disappear and be re-absorbed as the underlying cell structures heal. Here the plaques do not represent adaptations, perhaps, although perhaps they do.

WHY DOES SURGERY OFTEN CAUSE ADHESIONS?

Having surgery, especially some types of surgery such as bowel surgery, esophageal surgery and others, always tends to produce adhesions and other types of scarring. The reasons include:

1. Trauma to the tissues tends to cause and worsen most adhesions.

2. Infection can worsen adhesions during and after surgery. Subtle infections from surgery and hospitals are extremely common and many go unreported and undetected.

3. Damage due to the chemical agents used, such as anesthesia drugs, antibiotics and others that damage the liver and weaken the patient.

4. Other. Even the sewing thread and the surgeon pulling and stretching the organs and tissues to move them aside so he can work can contribute a little, as can blood loss, since blood contains many nutrients and most people are very deficient in some nutrients.

This is why before surgery, if surgeons insisted on improved diets, vitamin, mineral and other supplements, more rest and sleep, and better water, patients would survive and recover far better from surgery with many fewer complications, of which a major one is adhesions.

WATER-DRINKING AND ADHESIONS

When one does not drink enough water, drinks the wrong kind of water such as reverse osmosis water or alkaline water, or uses substances that deplete water such as caffeine, sugars and alcohol, adhesion problems can become far worse.

This may occur for a simple reason that the tissues are not well-hydrated. However, dehydration also affects circulation, elimination of waste materials, and many chemical reactions. See the article Water For Drinking on this site for more on the subject of drinking water.

THE PROBLEM WITH REMEDIES, IN RELATION TO ADHESIONS

The use of remedies for health problems has many problems that are discussed on this website. Among them are subtle or gross toxicity, cost, and the fact that almost all of them subtly unbalance body chemistry.

In addition, however, remedies often cause subtle adhesions in the body. This is the direct result of their toxicity and that they upset body chemistry, even in a very subtle, electrical or energetic way. Note that remedies do work symptomatically, at times in dramatic and powerful ways. Whether the remedy is a medical drug, an herb, a yoga posture, a touch by an energy or body worker, they do “work”. But at what cost?

Nutritional balancing science does not involve the use of most remedies, even mental, electrical, energetic, homeopathic, herbal or drug remedies. The reasons for this is to avoid the problems above. Also, and quite amazingly, they are simply not needed in almost all cases when one knows how to balance the body properly using only diet, lifestyle, eating habits, drinking the proper water, and a few simple detoxification methods.

Remedies all have side effects. If they did not, they would technically not be called remedies. They would be called lifestyle or balancing substances. However, very few of them qualify for this appellation or name.

MEDICAL DRUGS AND ADHESIONS

This is another large and unfortunate area related to adhesions. Medical drugs almost always cause adhesions at the cellular and, at times, organ levels. They often subtly irritate, damage and congeal the tissues. This is one of the causes of “adverse effects”, but even more so, the cause of subtle liver damage in the body.

In fact, allopathic remedies cause so much adhesion damage that I predict that someday most of them will be outlawed. They would be outlawed today, even Aspirin and ibuprofin, except that they work temporarily and the drug company lobby and other lobbies ignore the horrendous statistics of how these common drugs damage the stomach, and moreso the kidneys and livers. They are the leading causes of kidney and liver failure in America and in other nations.

WHAT IS SCARRING?

What is called scarring is nothing more than adhesions in the tissues that are visible, or can be felt with the hand. Unfortunately, most adhesions cannot be felt. They go undetected and are not dealt with by most medical and holistic doctors and practitioners. At least, with scars one is aware that something ugly has appeared. What most people are unaware of is the ugliness inside their cells caused by scarring or adhesions due to their diets, their lack of rest, their lack of water, and their unhealthful lifestyles.

OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ADHESION PROBLEM

Adhesions are life. This means that physical life as we know it is a type of adhesion to physicality and matter. This is a very high level of understanding of adhesions. However, it is important because as one develops mentally and spiritually, one slowly undoes one’s attachments and adhesions to the physical world. This is a very interesting topic that is beyond the scope of this article. Other articles on this website such as Mental Development discuss some of these topics in detail.

Adhesions and relationships. One can say that codependent relationship are a type of adhesion phenomenon. In other words, they represent a type of ‘stickiness’ between people or unhealthy way to relate to others. This is a large topic, but it is interesting to note that adhesions can occur between people, not just between the tissues of the body. For more on this interesting topic, read Codependency on this website.

All addictions are an adhesion phenomenon. In other words, one is unhealthfully attached or ‘stuck’ to a substance such as alcohol or marijuana, for example. This is another very interesting topic. To read more about it, read Addiction, Carbohydrate Addiction, Sugar Addiction, and Medical Marijuana on this website.

In the field of psychology, neuroses, fixations, and obsessions can be viewed as types of ‘mental adhesions’. For example, a person who is neurotic or obsessed will keep coming back to a theme or way of thinking in a pathological manner. It is as though their thinking is ‘stuck’ to a topic or way of perceiving life.

Apparently their minds cannot “slip and slide” or move freely from thought to thought, or from subject to subject, and instead they become caught and inflexible. Viewing neurosis and obsessions as a type of adhesion phenomenon is interesting and may help some people to overcome this common mental affliction.

All mass attractions, such as between planets, for example, are related to the phenomenon of adhesion. This may sound a little outrageous, but it is the truth. This topic is beyond the scope of this article. However, I mention it because adhesion is a basic property of all matter. As stated earlier, keeping the tissues and cell components of the body from congealing, mixing, blending and destroying one another in this way is actually an important task of the body. The same principle applies in physics, physical chemistry, and even in our personal and interpersonal lives.

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