Method of enhancing and regularizing specific autonomic nervous and endocrine functions through the continuous and discriminate thermal or electric stimulation of specific discrete skin areas

In accordance with the present invention, a method for enhancing and regularizing specific autonomic nervous and endocrine functions is disclosed whereby specific discrete skin areas are stimulated with copper and aluminum plates. The discriminate stimulation of such specific discrete skin areas with copper and aluminum plates enhances, in turn, specific autonomic nervous and endocrine functions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I. Description of the Theoretical Basis of the Invention II. Description of a Clinical Case III. Brief Description of what we Claim to be Novel 1. Description of the Theoretical Basis of the Invention Temperature regulation involves integration of autonomic, endocrine, and skeletomotor responses. Neuronal circuits involved in thermoregulatory control are complex. Effector areas for specific thermoregulatory responses are located throughout the brain stem and spinal cord. Thermosensitive neurons in and near the anterior/preoptic hypothalamus respond to subtle changes in hypothalamic or core temperature. Such neurons, which also receive input from visceral, skin, and spinal thermoreceptors, compare and integrate central and peripheral information, acting as a coordinating center that strongly influences each of the lower effector areas, eliciting in this way the optimal thermoregulatory responses for both internal and environmental thermal conditions. Thermal receptor afferents from different tissues affect thermoregulation in different ways. In addition, other humoral or endogenous factors, such as pyrogens, are integrated. Sympathetic control of cardiovascular and immune functions, hormonal control of energy balance, and neurohormonal control of salt and fluid balance have been reviewed and analyzed in as much as they are challenged by competing demands of thermoregulatory requirements. These interactions illustrate the close relationship of non-thermoregulatory control systems with thermoregulatory activation and vice versa, and constitute a very useful analytical and experimental tool to elucidate the cytoarchitecture of neuronal circuits by which specific endocrine and autonomic regulatory activities are controlled. Skin thermal sensory systems consist of separate receptors of warmth and cold, which are arranged in separate spots on the skin where thermal stimulation elicits the sensation of either warmth or cold. The threshold for eliciting a thermal sensation at these spots is considerably lower than in surrounding regions of the skin. Cold and warmth spots correspond to discrete zones of innervation by cold and warmth receptors whose pattern of distribution differs from one specific discrete skin area to another. Specialized cold and warmth receptors are present in dorsal root ganglion sensory fibers as well as in the anterior/preoptic hypothalamus. Presumably, the afferent pathways related to discrete groups of cold or warmth sensitive spots on the skin reach specific points of the thermoregulatory circuitry, eliciting specific thermoregulatory responses. The present invention is based on the assumption that the continuous and discriminate stimulation of specific discrete thermal receptors influences thermoregulation is specific ways. The present invention takes advantage of such interactions by stimulating specific discrete skin areas directly integrated in thermoregulatory control systems, which in turn enhance specific endocrine and autonomic functions. The precise location of each specific discrete skin area to be stimulated has been originally designated arbitrarily in the feet, hands, forearms, and lower parts of the legs. Seven different positions, or locations—two in the dorsal side, three in the ventral side, one in the anterior side, and one in the posterior side—have been assigned to each of these parts of the body. Each of these positions: forearm ventral anterior (fava), forearm ventral medial (favm), forearm ventral posterior (favp), forearm posterior (fap), forearm dorsal posterior (fadp), forearm dorsal anterior (fada), forearm anterior (faa), hand ventral anterior (hva), hand ventral medial (hvm), hand ventral posterior (hvp), hand posterior (hp), hand dorsal posterior (hdp), hand dorsal anterior (hda), hand anterior (ha), leg ventral anterior (lva), leg ventral medial (lvm), leg ventral posterior (lvp), leg posterior (lp), leg dorsal posterior (ldp), leg dorsal anterior (lda), leg anterior (la), foot ventral anterior (fva), foot ventral medial (fvm), foot ventral posterior (fvp), foot posterior (fp), foot dorsal posterior (fdp), foot dorsal anterior (fda), and foot anterior (fa) is represented in each of the twenty-eight drawings respectively. Efforts are being made to fine-tune these locations through experimental research and through the analysis of the pattern of expression of Hox gene complexes during limb formation in vertebrate embryos. A subset of members of the HoxD complex is expressed in a series of domains ordered along one limb axis, and a subset of members of the HoxA complex is expressed in series along a different axis. During development, Hox genes help specify the differences between body segments. They code for DNA-binding proteins whose expression patterns help subdivide the body into developmental compartments. Subsequent processes generate a fine-grained pattern of cell differentiation inside each compartment, helping organize the creation of minutely specialized sets of cells, forming structures such as thermal sensitive complexes. In accordance to the theoretical basis and performance of the present invention, it is proposed that the pattern of expression of Hox, and some other regulatory genes, expressed during developmental stages delimit specific discrete skin areas whose discriminate stimulation enhances specific autonomic and endocrine functions in response to thermoregulatory activation. Many of the specific autonomic and endocrine responses that the proper stimulation of each specific discrete skin area elicits are still to be clarified through experimental research. The mechanism by which thermal receptors are activated is not clearly understood in molecular terms. Although the molecular basis of heat sensitive neurons is beginning to be elucidated, knowledge about cold sensitive neurons is still lacking. It has been suggested that some skin receptors involved in thermal perception are polymodal. The present invention stimulates receptors located in discrete skin areas using one of the following procedures: 1. Applying a direct cold stimulus to such specific discrete skin areas with cold copper plates. 2. Creating an electromagnetic flow using such specific discrete skin areas as terminals by placing a copper plate in the specific discrete skin area in one side of the body and an aluminum plate in the specific discrete skin area of the symmetrical side of the body. The copper and aluminum plates have a potential difference of approximately 0.6 Volts. The plates are wrapped in a cotton material and soaked in a saline solution, which makes conduction to the skin efficient. Once the copper and aluminum plates—previously wrapped and soaked in the saline solution—are placed on the specific discrete skin area to be stimulated, the plates are covered with a plastic material in order to keep them humid and maintain conductance. The present invention succeeds in enhancing and regularizing specific autonomic nervous and endocrine functions by discriminately applying the proper stimuli (cold or electromagnetic) to specific discrete skin areas. 
 EXAMPLE 
 Regularization of Menstrual Cycles and Entrancement of Fertility Four different specific discrete skin areas are to be stimulated throughout the menstrual cycle. The electromagnetic stimulation of the first specific discrete skin area triggers autonomic and endocrine responses that enhance the functions of the menstruation days; the electromagnetic stimulation of the second specific discrete skin area triggers autonomic and endocrine responses that enhance the functions of the follicular phase of the cycle; the electromagnetic stimulation of the third specific discrete skin area triggers autonomic and endocrine responses that enhance the functions of ovulation; and the electromagnetic simulation of the fourth specific discrete skin triggers autonomic and endocrine responses that enhance the functions of the luteal phase of the cycle. Menstrual cycles will regularize and fertility will be enhanced if the four different specific discrete skin areas are stimulated during the proper days throughout the cycle. II. Description of a Clinical Case One clinical case is exposed herein in order to illustate the performance of the discriminate stimulation of specific discrete skin areas with copper and aluminum plates in the enhancement and regularization of specific autonomic nervous and endocrine functions. It is strongly suggested that specific autonomic nervous and endocrine functions can be enhanced and regularized by the discriminate stimulation of specific discrete skin areas with copper and aluminum plates. A 33-year-old woman had unsuccessfully attempted to become pregnant for more than eight years. The woman had been previously treated systematically and unsuccessful during five years with several drugs and methods already approved and commonly used by Medical Doctors to enhance fertility. One year after she had quit all the other treatments, our procedure was applied to her, consisting of the following steps: 1. Placing one copper plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position favm (refer to the drawings) on the right side and placing one aluminum plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position favm (refer to the drawings) on the left side. Each plate—previously cleaned with a knife, wrapped in a cotton material, soaked in a saline solution, and placed in the position described above—was covered with a plastic material and held in place with a bandage every night during the days of menstruation of the first cycle of treatment. 2. Placing one copper plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position faa (refer to the drawings) on the right side and placing one aluminum plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position faa (refer to the drawings) on the left side. Each plate—previously cleaned with a knife, wrapped in a cotton material, soaked in a saline solution, and placed in the position described above—was covered with a plastic material and held in place with a bandage every night for the rest of that first cycle of treatment. 3. Placing one copper plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position favm (refer to the drawings) on the right side and placing one aluminum plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position favm (refer to the drawings) on the left side. Each plate—previously cleaned with a knife, wrapped in a cotton material, soaked in a saline solution, and placed in the position described above—was covered with a plastic material and held in place with a bandage every night during the days of menstruation of the second cycle of treatment. 4. Placing one copper plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position faa (refer to the drawings) on the right side and placing one aluminum plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position faa (refer to the drawings) on the left side. Each plate—previously cleaned with a knife, wrapped in a cotton material, soaked in a saline solution, and placed in the position described above—was covered with a plastic material and held in place with a bandage every night during days four to nine of that second cycle of treatment. 5. Placing one copper plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position fadp (refer to the drawings) on the right side and placing one aluminum plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position fadp (refer to the drawings) on the left side. Each plate—previously cleaned with a knife, wrapped in a cotton material, soaked in a saline solution, and placed in the position described above—was covered with a plastic material and held in place with a bandage every night during days ten to sixteen of that second cycle of treatment. 6. Placing one copper plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position fap (refer to the drawings) on the right side and placing one aluminum plate (4×1 cm, wrapped in a cotton material, and soaked in a saline solution) on the skin surface in position fap (refer to the drawings) on the left side. Each plate—previously cleaned with a knife, wrapped in a cotton material, soaked in a saline solution, and placed in the position described above—was covered with a plastic material and held in place with a bandage every night during the rest of that second cycle of treatment. Results The woman became pregnant during the second cycle of treatment. Conclusion Although a study with several women is necessary to assess the precise performance of this application of the invention, this case illustrates one of its most intended applications, and suggests that the treatment applied to the woman enhances fertility. III. Brief Description of What we Claim to be Novel A. The discovery that the continuous and discriminate stimulation of specific discrete skin receptors with copper and aluminum plates, previously wrapped in a cotton material and soaked in a saline solution, enhances specific autonomic nervous and endocrine functions. B. The finding and designation of the specific discrete skin areas to be stimulated during each phase of the menstrual cycle in order to regularize the cycle and enhance fertility. C. The finding and designation of the specific discrete skin area to be stimulated for other specific applications of the method, such as enhancing the performance of the immune system. D. The proposition stating that the pattern of expression of Hox and some other regulatory genes expressed during developmental stages delimit specific discrete skin areas whose discriminate stimulation enhances specific autonomic and endocrine functions in response to thermoregulatory activation. E. The proposition stating that some polymodal skin receptors can be activated creating an electromagnetic flow by placing a copper plate in a specific discrete skin area and an aluminum plate in another.