The Influence of Modern Neurophysiology on the Previous Definitions of “Segment” and “Interference Field” in Neural Therapy
Raphaela Engel, Hans Barop, J. Giebel, Sabina Ludin, Lorenz Fischer
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In neural therapy, local anesthetics are injected for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In this process, therapy makes use of the regulatory functions and plastic properties of the nervous system, especially its autonomic part. Up until now, a distinction has been made between "local/segmental neural therapy" and "interference field therapy." This division dating back to the middle of the last century was based on the assumption that anatomical and clinical segments were identical. However, this is only true for the projection symptoms, which are limited to metamerism. All pathophysiological processes beyond this segment were called "interference field events" ("outside of any segmental order" and "not explainable by neuroanatomical circuitry"). SUMMARY: However, modern neurophysiology no longer recognizes segmental boundaries, taking into account the occurrence of cross-segmental sensitization processes, neuroplastic changes, immune processes, and neurogenic inflammation. In addition, new insights into neuroanatomical circuitry have also contributed to segmental expansion. Thus, in recent years, much of the interference field activity has been assigned to an "extended" segment; however, even there, no segment boundaries can be defined. Thus, the former definition of the interference field effect (considered to be outside any segmental order) is considered obsolete. Nowadays, interference fields are called "neuromodulatory triggers." They can act anywhere, both locally and fairly distant, and even systemically. KEY MESSAGES: Thus, it is no longer tenable to classify interference field therapy as "unscientific" and "not recognized" while local and segmental neural therapy is being scientifically recognized. In the work at hand, the interference fields discovered by the Huneke brothers become scientifically definable as "neuromodulatory triggers" by showing that clinically and pathologically, hardly any segmental boundaries exist.