Dr. Volodymyr Koziavkin of Truskavets: helping children with cerebral palsy

by Anatoliy Horokhovsky

CHICAGO - In the middle of the summer of 1995, just before my departure for Ukraine, I met an old friend who is an active member of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America. When he heard that I was going to be in the city of Truskavets, a spa renowned for its unique mineral water, "Naftusia", he enthusiastically exclaimed: "You lucky fellow! And do you know why?" He immediately answered: "You will be able to meet the world-renowned physician Volodymyr Koziavkin. He runs the rehabilitation center Elita for the treatment of children with cerebral palsy."

While in Truskavets, I had an opportunity to interview Dr. Koziavkin.

My first question was regarding children's cerebral palsy, its symptoms and causes.

Dr. Koziavkin's reply: Children's cerebral palsy (hereafter referred to as CCP) is a systemic illness affecting tonicity of the whole muscle structure in the body. Most often it is muscle tension, sometimes atony or weakness of the muscles, or lack of muscle tonicity, namely twitching.

Until recently it was thought that CCP was caused by a disturbance in the function of the brain as a result of trauma during birth due to asphyxia, i.e., lack of oxygen, or due to infection or developmental anomalies.

All of the above is true. However, the disease was more complex than at first thought, and there were some unanswered questions. We were the first to discover that the spine plays an essential role in this grave illness. Blockages occurring between the vertebra prevent them from moving as they should. This leads to the impairment of the roots of spinal nerves that emerge from in between the disc and the vertebra. These nerves get compressed, which in turn leads to disruption in the transmission of nerve impulses and blood circulation.

Once we discovered this, we proceeded to develop a method to alleviate this condition, which immediately makes itself felt through better blood circulation. Legs, which until now were cold, turn warm; a child who could not move his fingers is now able to hold a spoon and tries to stand up.

All of this reminds one of a flower bud in which all petals develop simultaneously. A similar process takes place in a child. All important life processes begin to activate themselves.

It must be stated unequivocally that this disease requires an all-encompassing treatment regimen that requires medicinal therapy, as well as the utilization of herbs, beeswax and bath therapies, which are administered in tubs, saunas and steam rooms.

Q: Can modern medicine determine during pregnancy whether a child will have CCP?

A: Certain pathological defects can not only be detected but even removed. However, to do this one needs the latest in medical equipment and highly qualified doctors.

Q: Why did scientists fail to discover sooner the leading role of the spine and the spinal cord in the emergence of such a grave disease as CCP?

A: There were many attempts to develop new methods of treating CCP by such researchers as Woyt and Bobat. However, there was never a complete system, such as ours, advocating active intervention in the processes of the spine and large joints.

Four years ago in Munich, at the German Academy of Medicine, we presented our scientifically checked and proven in practice system of treating children with CCP. There our methods were recognized as unique and ones that deserve broad dissemination.

Q: It seems that even today Hippocrates' assertion that all diseases stem from the spine has not lost its actuality?

A: To some degree, yes. Please consider that most important functions of the human body are connected with the spine. No matter what disease one might suffer from, be it a headache, inability to move one's legs, asthmatic attacks or inability to bend due to radiculitis, it is not in vain to seek the cause in the spine.

Q: Until now we have spoken about new methods of treating CCP as developed by you. Now let's talk about your hands, which play an important role in achieving relief from this disease. But, obviously, they cannot do without modern medical equipment.

A: Let's talk first about the hands of a doctor effectively applying manual therapy to bring about the desired effect, when at the same time medicinal or surgical treatments are unable to bring relief to the suffering patient. What is the reasons for this? The reason is that manual therapy, in conjunction with other methods of non-traditional medicine, enable the doctor to quickly reveal the cause of illness and provide relief to the patient.

To clarify the above, let's look at the following example. When your fingers are stuck between a door and the door frame, the pain will persist, regardless of any medicine, until the fingers are freed. The same is true of a pinched nerve controlling the functions of some organ. Manual therapy can immediately relieve the conflict between the nerve and the disc - in other words, relieve the pressure on the nerve.

Now I will reply to the second part of your question. Our clinic is unique when it comes to medical apparatus and technical possibilities. However, modern equipment constitutes only one-half of the solution. You have to know how to use it. In this regard, our doctors and nurses who, by the way, are all knowledgeable in several foreign languages, have completed training courses in Canada, Germany, Austria and Italy.

Q: It is well known that one of your patients was a German youth by the name of Alexander Graf. Could you recall the course of his treatment and whether you were successful in helping him?

A: The case of this youth is still very vivid in my memory. He fell victim to this disease in his childhood, resulting in the loss of ability to move around on his own; he could not move his fingers and could not speak. This disease chained him to his bed.

He went through six treatment periods at our clinic. He is now able to walk well, has no speech impediments, and his control over moving his fingers has improved to the point that he was able to obtain a driver's license. He is now well adapted to independent life. I have demonstrated this patient at applied science congresses in Italy, Germany and Austria. At the present time, only a specialist can detect the remnants of his disease.

This is not, by far, my only success.

[A note from the author: Since Dr. Koziavkin is a very modest person and is reluctant to speak about himself and how foreign specialists have rated his methods of treating CCP, I will have to speak for him.

A conference of scientists from Germany, Switzerland and France dedicated to the subject of CCP has confirmed the permanent clinical effect and absence of complications thanks to the use of Dr. Koziavkin's method. They have also noted the possibility for further growth of this therapy. In Offenburg, the city where this congress took place, a society has been established in the name of Dr. Koziavkin to promote his healing method.

In September of 1995, at an international medical congress in Marseilles, France, Dr. Koziavkin delivered a paper regarding his CCP treatment method that caught the attention of the attendees. As a result, he was invited to a similar forum that will take place this year in London.]

Q: Can all forms of CCP be treated with your method?

A: Unfortunately not all. We have a high success rate when treatments begin at an early age, when no permanent changes have occurred in the joints.

It is more difficult to help children with epilepsy and with problems resulting from other diseases.

Q: Where did you study orthopedic medicine (manual therapy) and can you name some of your teachers?

A: Yes, I studied orthopedics at the university with different teachers but, in practice, I had to develop my own methods. Everybody who studies and then uses his knowledge will introduce something of his own. This can be compared to two tailors, where, one will produce merely a [functional] suit to keep warm while the other might produce a "Pierre Cardin."

Q: We have discussed your career as a practicing doctor. Would you say a few words regarding your scientific work?

A: Several years ago, I successfully defended a doctoral thesis, obtaining the degree of doctor of philosophy in medicine. Recently, I completed my research and a professorial thesis which was approved.

For my achievements in treating children and adults with CCP I have been awarded the title "Outstanding Scientist" by the president of Ukraine.

Q: Did you have an opportunity to visit the U.S.?

A: Indeed. I visited the U.S. as a delegate to the International Congress of Biomechanics in San Diego, Calif. Also, at the invitation of the president of the American association dedicated to the study of healing methods of CCP, I visited New York. In New York I visited appropriate medical institutions and discussed my treatment of CCP with their doctors.

Q: Finally, can Americans take advantage of the treatment available at the Elita clinic?

A: Our clinic is only a treatment institution. Patients are recommended to us by a German company specifically founded to screen all applicants and which, by the way, covers all costs of running our clinic. The company's special medical commission studies all cases submitted to them and decides who has the right to travel to Truskavets for treatments.

My personal representative in the U.S. is Olena Filipchuk, who is authorized to answer all questions regarding the treatment of children and adults. Her telephone in the Chicago area is (847) 635-6424.

* * *

Obviously, I was very interested in the opinions of the parents regarding the effectiveness of the treatment their children received at this clinic.

I visited with a 4-year-old boy, Stefan Witan, from Germany. His mother related that her son had suffered a stroke (a burst vein in the brain) during his first year of life. This resulted in blindness, loss of hearing and loss of mobility. His prognosis was bleak. Doctors came to the conclusion that medicine was powerless in this case.

"But I did not give up hope that, eventually, somebody would be able to help my son," his mother said. And sometimes hopes become reality. After a regimen of two treatments, young Stefan regained his sight and was able to stand up.

"This time, after a treatment session with Dr. Koziavkin, a real miracle happened. During the night, Stefan woke up, got up from the bed by himself, and without any help, made his first timid step. And then another... And then, timidly and shaking from the strain and excitement, for the first time in his life, he walked independently to the other side of the room. Seeing this, I cried from excitement and happiness," related his mother.

At the conclusion of my interview with Dr. Koziavkin, I told him that I would publicize the words of Stefan's grateful mother: "I wish that your path of helping people will always be without obstacles and brightly lit. And may your golden hands never tire to alleviate pain."

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 14, 1996, No. 28, Vol. LXIV

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