Pain In the Neck?

Pain In the Neck?

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In 2025, Cyma Technologies completed a study entitled, “The Effect of Therapeutic Sound on Cranial Nerve Function.” Many modern day lifestyle patterns involve behaviors that can constantly stress the cranial nerves. Their placement in the body is found in the head, neck and throat areas, while their functionality extends into other areas of the body, as well. Not only are our cranial nerves affected by modern life, but our musculo/skeletal health is also impacted by these nerves, which all originate in the brain or the brain stem.

In previous studies, Cyma Technologies had investigated the effects of the AMI 850 Channel Ten on the nervous system as a whole; whereas, this study was focused on the twelve cranial nerves only. The following is a listing of them, their functions and the neurological and kinesiology tests performed to determine the effect of using therapeutic sound to assist in the return of their functionality.

The Olfactory Nerve—Cranial Nerve One provides signals to the brain so that smells can be recognized.

• The test consists of participants identifying common scents with their eyes closed. Each nostril is tested separately with scents such as peppermint or lemon.

The Optic Nerve—Cranial Nerve Two is a sensory nerve that involves vision. Through this nerve, impulses reach the visual cortex, allowing the eyes to accommodate changes from focusing on objects close, to those in the distance.

• The test involves the participant following an object with their eyes from close to further away from the face.

The Oculomotor Nerve—Cranial Nerve Three controls the motor function to the muscles around the eyes and pupil responses. It originates in the brainstem.

• *This test involves the participants moving their eyes in specific directions, as instructed by the physician, and is also used for Cranial Nerves Four and Six.

The Trochlear Nerve—Cranial Nerve Four is related to the downward, outward and inner eye movements and emerges from the back part of the mid-brain.

• *See Cranial Nerve Three tests.

The Trigeminal Nerve—Cranial Nerve Five has three divisions:

• ophthalmic—sensory impulses to the upper part of the face
• maxillary—middle part of the face, cheeks and upper lip
• mandibular—a collection of nerve cells that contain both sensory and motor function
• The test applies sensation, such as pressure to various areas of the face.

 The Abducens Nerve—Cranial Nerve Six controls muscles that provide movement in the eye socket, including the lateral motion of the eye.

• *See Cranial Nerve three test.

The Facial Nerve—Cranial Nerve Seven, moves the muscles of the face, provides a sense of taste, activates tear and salivary producing glands, along with relaying sensations from the outer part of the ear.

• *The test includes raising the eyebrows, smiling and frowning.

The Vestibulocochlear Nerve—Cranial Nerve Eight has sensory functions that involve hearing and balance. The cochlear portion has specialized cells which detect vibrations based on loudness and pitch. The vestibular portion, also with specialized cells, detects linear and rotational movements of the head, which adjusts balance and equilibrium.

• *The test utilized sound which was created next to the ear to create a vibration in the cranium.

The Glossopharyngeal Nerve—Cranial Nerve Nine has motor and sensory functions which send information from your sinuses, the back of your throat and parts of your inner ear to the back of your tongue. This provides a sense of taste for that area, as well as stimulating a voluntary movement in the muscle in the back of your throat. The nerve originates in the medulla oblongata.

• The test provides sensory information by checking for movements in the back of the throat as observed by the physician looking into the patient’s mouth.

The Vagus Nerve—Cranial Nerve Ten has the longest pathway, extending from the head into the abdomen, with diverse sensory and motor functions to include:

• sensations from the ear canal and parts of the throat
• sensory information from organs in your chest and trunk, i.e., heart and intestines
• allows control of muscles in the throat and provides taste near the root of the tongue
• stimulates muscles that move food through your digestive tract
• The test for this study was just for the part of the vagus nerve located in the throat area which involved swallowing.

The Accessory Nerve—Cranial Nerve Eleven has motor function to control the muscles of the neck and shoulders, allowing for the rotation, flexion and extension.

• The test involved shrugging the shoulders and moving the head in a circular pattern.

 The Hypoglossal Nerve—Cranial Nerve Twelve is responsible for relaying information to most of the muscles in the tongue.

• The test involved sticking the tongue out to the front, right and left.

Participants and Methods

The study consisted of 13 participants, (age range 46-77 years old). There were 2 males and 11 females. The study was conducted at a wellness clinic in Atlanta, Georgia. It was designed in collaboration with Cyma Technologies, (the manufacturer of the  sound therapy device used in the study) and the attending physician.

Participants completed standardized questionnaires and health histories pertaining to their current symptoms. This included their disclosure of having any prior Cymatherapy treatment with the AMI 850 device, which was to be used in the study.

The thirteen test subjects chosen for this study all showed some level of cranial nerve dysfunction in the pretesting provided, prior to the Cymatherapy session. In some cases, this dysfunction was reflected in the symptoms they reported in the preliminary health history, while others showed no outward symptoms.  

With those who reported symptoms, it was discovered that they often corroborated with the findings of the standard neurological/kinesiology testing that was performed at the onset of the study. The participants who reported no symptoms, but still showed dysfunction in specific cranial nerves, were included in the study. The test was done to determine the strength or weakness of the nerve on that particular day. It was also stated that some of the nerve weaknesses that did not respond to the one therapy session were chronic issues that had not been previously identified, as opposed to other nerves experiencing mild to moderate weakness.

According to the research physician, “It is important not to make deductions about someone’s health based on just symptomatology. This is insufficient information. While symptoms are an important way the body communicates, they don’t always reveal what disease process is occurring, or even more importantly why.”

After the initial assessment was done, to determine which cranial nerves were non- functional, each participant was provided a therapeutic sound treatment with the AMI 850 device Channel Ten. This grouping of frequencies was developed by Dr. Mandara Cromwell for the purpose of supporting the nervous system and assisting with the non-functionality of the nerves, due to potential causes of long-term chronic stress, inflammation and toxicity.

This study was designed to asses if therapeutic sound can diminish nerve dysfunction  and the symptoms that often accompany it. The AMI 850 channel used for the study contains measurable, sustainable and repeatable frequency patterns, which are essential for researching their impact on the nervous system.

The device utilizes the meridian pathways, as taught in Chinese medicine and has been proven, through preliminary studies conducted by the manufacturer, to provide the following benefits:

stress reduction, improvement of nerve tone, decrease in inflammation and              support of the sympathetic and parasympathetic aspects of the nervous system.

When asked about the importance of testing the function of the cranial nerves, the research physician offered the following insights:

“In modern society, many of our habits and aspects of our lifestyle induce mental, physical and emotional stress—all of which could have a negative effect on the head and neck area. This could also translate to a negative effect on the cranial nerves, particularly over an extended period of time. These habits include sitting with the neck and back in unhealthy alignment, while working or during leisure activities.

With the repetitive daily activities of working on the computer and talking on the phone, we begin to see the development of poor neuromuscular patterning and in turn, degeneration of the nervous system functions.”

It is postulated that the biggest challenge for the cranial nerves is caused by chronic neck flexion. Looking down at screens causes abnormal muscle strain and consequently impacts the nerves. The muscles get their signals from the nervous system (cervical nerve roots), which could explain the attendant muscle weaknesses found in the study participants with dysfunctional nerves.

It could also explain the apparent quick positive muscle response to the therapeutic sound treatment, even though it was designed to address nerve issues. When the correct frequencies were applied to the nervous system, the muscles were able to get the correct messaging.

The physician stated, “Dysfunction of any of the cranial nerves could have far-reaching effects on overall health. Less than optimal function could result in an increase in head and neck pain, inflammation in the brain, neck and jaw, jaw tension and eye strain, which are only some of the possible issues.

All of the cranial nerves start in the brain and extend outward into various areas of the head and neck. One of their many jobs is to activate the senses. They are involved in eating, smelling, seeing, hearing, and moving your head. They also assist in determining the location in space and taking in information from the environment.

Chronic issues such as neck pain and headaches are an epidemic in our society. They can often be traced back to nervous system dysfunction. With any form of treatment, including therapeutic sound, addressing chronic issues requires longer periods of intervention—not just one therapy session, as was provided for participants in the study.

These challenges would also require lifestyle changes, attention to mental and emotional health, nutritional support and structural alignment of the body,” the research physician concluded.

Study Protocol

The participants who showed outside of the normal nerve function during the preliminary assessment using standard neurological and kinesiological testing were placed on the AMI 850 therapeutic sound device for a thirty-minute session. Immediately following the AMI therapy, they were subjected to the same initial standard neurological and kinesiology testing, to determine if there was any change in the functionality of the nerves. No other treatments or tests were applied.

Data Analysis

When testing the cranial nerves, there were a total of 44 abnormal findings in the participants. After the thirty-minute AMI 850 therapeutic sound session, 37 of these returned to normal function. This indicates that 84% of the tested weaknesses were improved through the use of therapeutic sound administered by the AMI 850 device.

In addition to testing the nerves, some of the muscles, which were innervated by the cranial nerves, were also tested. There was a total of14 functional muscle weaknesses found in the study participants. After the thirty-minute AMI 850 session, thirteen of these returned to within normal function. This indicates that 93% of the muscles showing weakness returned to within normal parameters.

The statistics indicated that the most consistent cranial nerve weakness shown in the study was Cranial Nerve One—the Olfactory nerve. The participants showing this weakness could not identify scents.

The sense of smell is needed for survival in affording an awareness of the body and its surroundings. Dysfunction of this nerve can be caused by poor air quality, chronic sinus infections, dental challenges and chronic use of antibiotics. Processed foods and viruses can also cause a weakening of its function. When a nerve is overstimulated by stressors, it will begin to malfunction and show signs of weakness.

However, the overall health of the individual, their strengths and weaknesses, will determine how quickly the nervous system can recover, both in the short term and over time.

For example:

Many people who believed they had the covid virus reported a loss of their sense of smell.

With a correlation study, testing those with covid related sense of smell loss, we could examine if this included a Cervical Nerve One malfunction. If so, we could examine if a consistent usage of the specific Cymatherapy Nervous System protocol with the AMI 850, (generally suggested at six weeks), would be able to return the nerve function and sense of smell. To date, there is no traditional medical treatment known which can accomplish this.

The second largest nerve weaknesses found in the study were those with Trigeminal Cervical Cranial Nerve Five malfunction. Participants that were suffering with any kind of facial pain registered a dysfunction in the nerve. The three aspects of this nerve (ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular) cover the entire face.

It is not surprising that this nerve would be one of the top ones to show malfunction, as the symptoms reported in many of the initial health histories of the participants included the following:

jaw tension, TMJ, chronic headaches, neck pain and teeth grinding.

These symptoms correlated with the neurological and kinesiology pre-tests of the participants in the study. The research physician suggested that it would be important to do more studies on jaw tension. In some cases, it is a learned pattern commonly found with those who suffer chronic stress. In the cases of those with frequent headaches, some could be caused by this pattern, which reflects as trigeminal nerve weakness. This pattern of tension produces chronic inflammation in the head, neck and jaw, regardless of whether the patient experiences pain.

It is difficult to determine whether symptoms are caused initially by cranial nerve weakness or if the behavior patterns caused the weakness over time. In either situation, in a high percentage of the cases, Cymatherapy was able to return normal function to the trigeminal nerve or to diminish the corresponding symptoms.

The Vagus Nerve–Cranial Nerve Ten was third in the list of the most non-functional nerves found in the study. It is the longest of all the cranial nerves and arises out of the brainstem. It “wanders” throughout the body—and when in dysfunction, could cause head and neck tension.

Due to its placement, It could potentially change the signaling coming into and going out of the brainstem.  This can result in problems which include abnormal heart rate, changes in mood, acid reflux and other digestive issues. Many people who suffer from these disturbances also have headaches.

A malfunctioning Cranial Nerve Ten can be the cause of weakened health in many areas of the body. A more comprehensive study would need to be done to determine how sound therapy could address the vagus nerve weakness in areas of the body, other than the head and neck regions.

Discussion

This study, which was designed to examine the effects of therapeutic sound on the cranial nerves and the attendant muscles, demonstrated a significant difference in their functionality after the therapy was applied. The therapy is introduced to the body through the feet, sending frequency messages via the  meridian pathways.  As the healing force moves upward and reaches the head and neck, there is the potential for activating the whole nervous system. The neck muscles, which are closest to the cranial nerves, made them an easy “bridge” to test, signifying that the function of the nerves had been restored.

It is clear from this study that Cymatherapy with the AMI 850 makes immediate changes in the nervous system function. How much of the therapy would be needed for long-standing, sustainable health improvements and restoration of function is outside of the scope of this study. Early indicators are that the therapy could provide a viable solution to those suffering from cranial nerve dysfunction and the accompanying symptoms.

The limitation of the study was that it was conducted for one-day. The recommended use of the therapy to address serious health concerns is a minimum of 2-3 times per week for a six week period. The study was, however, designed to provide groundwork for future research on the efficacy of using therapeutic sound to treat the nervous system dysfunction or disorders. 

There were objective improvements demonstrated by the pre and post testing, while many subjective improvements were voiced by the participants. We can postulate that there would be continued and more long-standing improvements with further therapy using the designated channel on the AMI 850 device.

Study Participant Comments:

It was easy for the participants to see how Cymatherapy with the AMI 850 device could have a positive impact on their symptoms and overall health. Many reported feeling a greater sense of well-being. Remarkably, these improvements were experienced after just one session.

When asked what changes were experienced in head, neck and jaw symptoms during or after the session, participants responded:

Participant # 1 said, “Yes, I felt my neck muscles relaxing and my sinuses were opening.”

Participant #3 said, “I felt much more relaxed and freer. Everything looked brighter.”

Participant #6 said, “ I had less eye strain and decreased head pain. My neck was also more relaxed.”

When asked what was learned from the experience of the AMI 850 session, participants responded:

Participant #10 said, “I learned about the twelve cranial nerves and how they relate to the rest of the body. The AMI 850 is a great tool to relieve tension and align the body.”

Participant #3 said, “It was interesting to learn about the cranial nerves and how they relate to the senses and movement.”

Participant #7 said, “Through sound and vibration we can calm our nervous systems.”

Despite the fact that the participants listed out-of-pocket expenses for the therapy for a full six week protocol as a deterrent, they unanimously stated that they would recommend the therapy with the AMI 850 to other family members and friends. In addition, they all stated in the post-study comments that they would be willing to participate in future studies that involved the device and the therapy.

The research physician suggested the following, “In my view, more testing and follow-up on the specific patterns of weakness with the protocols needed for their resolution could be highly beneficial. From my observations of the positive responses in just a one-session, one-day study, it would be worthwhile to explore what could be accomplished in the recommended six-week protocol, as suggested by previous research done by the inventor of the device. I believe this is indicative of the changes we could see possible as part of the healthcare of the future. Over time, there could be a greater potential for chronic weaknesses to be resolved.”

One of the major accomplishments of the study was bringing awareness to important health issues to the participants.  It also introduced them to a relatively new drug-free pain therapy to assist in obtaining better health, while providing a health assessment opportunity. Many of the participants had no prior awareness of having any nervous system issues.

Some of them experienced a reduction of symptoms with just one therapy session, but were instructed that more treatment would be needed to seriously address their health concerns. Continued Cymatherapy sessions would help to raise patient awareness   about needed health improvements and could be woven into an overall health plan with progressive lifestyle changes.

A future study model could include the same preliminary techniques for both the brachial plexus and lumbar plexus aspects of the nervous system, again providing an affordable and time efficient way to give patients and participants a true picture of their health.