Theory of Zone-therapy
ZOXE-THEKAPY.—Many of you will recall having aborted a threatening sneeze by pressing the upper lip firmly against the teeth with a finger, pressing a finger tightly against the bridge of the nose, or by pressing a finger nail into the tip of the nose. When in the dentist’s chair you grasp the chair arms with might and main or squeeze the interlaced fingers with equal zeal, or clench the hands as tightly as possible. When in pain or in anger we grind and grit our teeth and clench our hands, and perhaps also press the toes firmly against the soles of our shoes. When we hit our shins or stub our toes or bump our heads, we immediately grasp the offended part and press firmly until the pain is more bearable. Colds have been aborted, dry coughs eased, croup relieved, by pressure against the back part of the tongue with a spoon handle. Hiccoughs have been checked by pulling strongly on the tongue. All these instinctive actions are natural ways of relieving pain or nerve-tension by producing some degree of anasthesia. Zone-therapy is also of some value in the treat¬ment of coughs, cramps in the muscles and in headaches.