Contact Reflex Analysis
An Energy Connection
By Dawn Hoezee
Energy. What does your mind imagine when you think of that word? I think of
lightening flashing across the sky. A newborn baby belting out his first cry.
A large waterfall crashing onto the rocks below. Then my mind settles on the
bursts of unrestrained energy my young children exhibit right around bedtime.
Their level of energy is in direct opposition to my level of energy about that
time. These are all images of what I might call big energy—obvious energy.
Energy is the life force of all things. A single drop of water has energy. A
leaf, a flower, light waves, bacteria, and a single human cell—all have
energy. This energy may be positive or negative. It may have a high or low frequency.
It may be strong or subtle.
In our physical universe, the main known energy is the electromagnetic field.
Western science has specific equipment used to measure the electromagnetic fields
and waves. However, not all energy is identical to the electromagnetic energy,
and traditional scientific equipment cannot measure its existence. Yet 5,000
years of study and experience speaks to the existence of the other kind of energy.
In the Indian tradition it’s call Prana, the Chinese call it Chi and the
Japanese name for it is Ki. It has many modern names, such as vital force, life
energy, bio-energy, subtle energy and others. Just as the existence of the neutron,
which cannot be directly detected, is based on indirect evidence, the existence
of this subtle energy is also based on indirect scientific evidence. Serious
frontier scientists have developed and participated in cutting edge physics
research, and hundreds of rigorous experiments have been conducted and published.
According to the Russian physicist, Dr. Yury Kronn, these experiments “have
unequivocally proven the existence and powerful influence of Chi on inanimate
matter, on molecular and even on nuclear levels, in chemical reactions and on
living organisms, including cells, bacteria, plants, animals and humans.”
Subtle energy affects humans physically, mentally and emotionally. Depending
on the balance or imbalance of this energy, the effects of a perpetual energy
situation on all living things will result in health and well-being and disease.
The ancient knowledge of healing in the Eastern cultures focus on balancing
these subtle energies that pervade all living things. It is believed that an
imbalance of energy or an insufficient flow of that energy is the ultimate cause
of disease. Just as our physical body has an organized design, the life energy
or subtle energy of our body also has an organized design.
What is CRA?
CRA is an energy connection. It is a technique that utilizes muscle reactivity
testing to assess the subtle energy of an organ, gland, system or structure.
CRA was researched and developed by Dick A. Versendaal, D.C., along with a clinical
nutritionist, a dentist and a hematologist during the past 40 years. This holistic
profile system offers a simple method of body checks and indicators to assess
the patient’s wellness or lack thereof. Keeping patients healthy with
CRA is focused on the Palmer philosophy of up, down, inside, out. This specialty
treatment addresses the patient’s emotional, structural and nutritional
needs and provides healthy lifestyle alternatives. The CRA energy assessment
is accomplished by testing one or more reflexes, which are based on acupuncture
points and meridians. In CRA the practitioner typically applies a single, downward
push on the wrist of a patient’s body. The gentle, but firm push is like
a subtle “question” and the muscle reactivity response is the “answer.”
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Determining the Cause and Extent of an Energy Imbalance
When trying to understand how the CRA—energy connection works, it is sometimes
helpful to compare the energy of the body to the flow of electricity in a house.
We typically don’t think or worry about what’s going on with our
body unless something goes wrong and symptoms are produced. It’s the same
with our home. No one typically worries about the refrigerator being able to
keep food cold, or the furnace heating the home when it’s 10 degrees outside.
However, if suddenly the television goes black, the lights won’t go on
and the house is getting colder by the minute it becomes an urgent matter. It
becomes a priority to make an assessment of what happened and then to figure
out what needs to be done.
People don’t often think about the flow of energy necessary for the body
to perform all of its intricate functions either. We breathe, blink, go from
an easy walk to an urgent run as we cross a busy street, and process complex
issues without actually thinking about how this is able to happen. A healthy
body is able to adapt to any given situation in any environment. The energy
flows freely to every minute area enabling each cell, organ and system to live
and function. Unfortunately, our bodies can also experience energy problems.
Energy to an organ, gland, system or structure may be disrupted, or it may be
flowing at a too high or too low of a frequency necessary for well being. These
energy problems create symptoms that at onset may only cause minimal irritation.
However, if left unchecked the body would deteriorate to a state of disease.
Contact Reflex Analysis is an organized method of assessing the energy situation
of the body. If there is a problem it can determine the cause and the extent
to which it has affected the rest of the body. By methodically testing the reflexes
on the body, CRA can determine the cause of a patient’s health issues.
The cause may be found to be as straightforward as having a subluxation or pinched
nerve that is blocking energy to a specific organ. Or the cause may be a complex
situation of an energy deficiency in one organ resulting in low function, which
caused another organ to compensate by overworking, which resulted in etc…the
connections could go on and on.
CRA uses the “pulse” as a rating system to determine whether the
energy to a specific area is too high or too low. By using a muscle reactivity
test one can determine if the energy to a particular area has been disrupted
or if the energy frequency is either too high or too low. If the “pulse”
rating system indicates that a particular part of the body has too low of energy,
it can be determined that there is dysfunction in that area.
Low pulse rating numbers indicate dysfunction of the specific system, organ,
gland, cell or tissue. Having low energy or a low energy frequency is like trying
to run a car off the energy of an AA battery. There is simply not enough energy
for that particular organ, gland or system in the body to function effectively.
Symptoms occur and a stage is set for viruses, bacteria and diseases to thrive.
At the opposite extreme, high pulse energy that is too high can be compared
to power surges in a home or to having an appliance plugged into an outlet with
an output too high for the appliance to handle. A power surge would trip a breaker
switch, or it would fry the electrical component of any appliance. Try to power
a flashlight off a car battery and watch the flashlight immediately burn out
or even explode. If CRA determines that the “pulse” of a specific
area is too high, this means that particular area has been worked and overworked
and potentially many “burn out.”
Finding and Treating the Cause, Not the Symptoms
The body has been created with many systems, organs and glands, each with multiple
backups in place. When one organ is not functioning optimally, the backup organ
has to work harder to compensate. As the primary organ regains function, the
backup can return to its state of ease. If any of the back up systems, organs
or glands have to work overtime for long periods of time, they will tire and
lose optimal function. Each time any part of the body is not functioning optimally,
symptoms occur. They may or may not be minor at first. However, more major symptoms
occur as the backup systems become more and more involved. In CRA the goal is
to correct the energy imbalance by finding and treating the cause, not the symptom.
Once the cause of the health problem is found, proper treatment can be determined.
Traditionally, Western culture medicine has treated symptoms and ignored the
opportunity to find the cause. If a patient has an acid stomach—antacids
are given. If the gallbladder is causing pain, take it out. If the sinuses are
congested, take antihistamines and decongestants. If that doesn’t help,
scrape the sinuses. Inhalers and steroids are given to control asthma. However,
the question remains, “What is the cause?” If one is unable to determine
the cause patients are doomed to a life, which at best consists of symptom management,
with no hope for complete healing.
Developing an Effective Treatment Plan and Monitoring the Healing Progress
CRA is also an invaluable tool for establishing and monitoring the treatment
of a patient at any given time. It is useful in determining what course of action
to take in balancing the body’s energy and also to determine the effect
of any particular action. For example, if a patient has chronic lung congestion,
the energy pulse for the lungs will either be high or low. The patient decides
to leave the office for a quick cigarette “to calm his nerves” and
then returns. A quick reassessment of the pulse rating for the lungs will indicate
what effect the cigarettes had on the lungs. Most likely the pulse will either
be lower or higher than the initial pulse rating. It would be an excellent way
of showing the patient the negative effect smoking has on his condition.
How one chooses to manage an energy imbalance or deficiency is separate from
the CRA analysis. The CRA analysis will determine the root cause of an energy
imbalance or deficiency. Once the cause has been determined there are many management
techniques and procedures that can be implemented. Some are more beneficial
and effective than others in restoring health and energy balance. The choice
of technique is an individual preference and not specifically dictated by CRA.
The CRA proposed model uses Dr. B.J. Palmer’s 4-R’s Method and is:
Rehydrate—microwaters, minerals; Rest—meditate, sleep, silence;
Rejuvenate—good food, nutritional supplements, exercise; Realign—chiropractic
adjustments, release breaker switches.
CRA can and will assess the body’s energy changes and monitor the effectiveness
of any treatment. The pulse will assist in determining the extent of the effect
and whether or not it was beneficial. The goal is to determine what is necessary
to most effectively bring the body’s energy back to a range where healing
can occur.
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CRA: Discovering the Possibilities
With CRA a whole new realm of healing is open to the practitioner. This technique
allows you to reason through the possibilities and gives you the means to test
them. Questions such as, “Do certain foods affect the energy pulse? What
affect does the presence or even the mere thought of a particular friend, family
member, co-worker have on the pulse?” can not only be asked, but also
answered. By using the CRA technique you can help your patients become more
in tune with their body and how simple lifestyle changes can lead to optimal
functioning of the body’s organs, glands and systems.
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