Changes in Salivary pH and General Health Status Following the Clinical Application of Bio-Energetic Synchronization
Ted Morter, Jr., M.A., D.C., Tonya L. Schuster, Ph.D.
Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research ~ Volume 2 ~ Number 1 ~ Pages 1-7
Abstract
The present preliminary study investigated the relationship between autonomic nervous system imbalance, fasting salivary pH, and general health status following the clinical application of Bio-Energetic Synchronization. The clinical objective of Bio-Energetic Synchronization involves the updating or re-setting of inappropriate response physiology mediated through sensory engrams. Clinical observations indicate that the inappropriate expression of response physiology often reflects characteristics of autonomic imbalance. Thus, in view of other studies linking lower fasting salivary pH to sympathetic “stress,” salivary pH was investigated as a possible index of physiological change reflecting the clinical objective of Bio-Energetic Synchronization. Twenty four patients attending a four day program, during which each patient received Bio-Energetic Synchronization, were separated into two gender and age matched groups of 12 subjects each. The two groups were categorized according to presenting symptoms or conditions which closely reflected predominantly sympathetic (S-Group) or parasympathetic imbalance (P-Group). Prior to, and four days following the administration of Bio-Energetic Synchronization, participants of the two groups were tested for fasting salivary pH and asked to complete the Rand-36 General Health Status survey. Results revealed, prior to care, that the P-Group had lower, but not significantly different, salivary pH values than the S-Group. Following the administration of Bio-Energetic Sychronization, pH values increased significantly in the S-Group, and decreased significantly in the P-Group. Moreover, the S-Group expressed lower total scores (lower perceived health status) than the P-Group in the Rand-36 survey both pre and post care although the S-Group showed significantly improved scores regarding general health, post-care. Greater pre-post improvement was observed in the S-Group, suggesting a greater overall treatment effect in the S-Group compared to the P-Group. The indication of a greater clinical effect for the S-Group was also supported by a large effect size of 0.80 for pH change, compared to a moderate effect size for the P-Group of 0.50. Based on these preliminary findings it is suggested that measurement of fasting salivary pH may be a reliable non-invasive means of substantiating pre/post intervention changes in autonomic imbalance. Additionally, lower fasting salivary pH values appear to be associated with sympathetic imbalance, while higher values appear to be associated with parasympathetic imbalance. As well, in the present study, subjects in both the S-Group and P-Groups self-reported overall improvement in general health status concomitant with pH changes following the application of Bio-Energetic Synchronization. These preliminary findings support clinical observations suggesting that this approach is associated with restoration of autonomic balance. The relevance of this process to the etiology and correction of vertebral subluxation is discussed.
Key Words: Fasting Salivary pH, sympathetic and parasympathetic imbalance, Bio-Energetic Synchronization
