Bennett's Neurovascular Reflexes (Applied Kinesiology)

Presentation

Bennett's neurovascular reflexes represent one of the most elegant and subtle therapeutic tools in Applied Kinesiology. Discovered in the 1930s by American chiropractor Terence Bennett, DC (1899-1972), these reflex points located primarily on the skull have the remarkable property of improving blood supply to specific organs when stimulated through extremely light fingertip contact. It was George Goodheart Jr. who, by integrating these reflexes into his Applied Kinesiology system in the 1960s, established the correlation between each Bennett neurovascular point, a specific visceral organ, and an associated muscle, creating a diagnostic and therapeutic tool of great refinement.

Terence Bennett's pioneering work relied on the use of a fluoroscope to observe in real time the modifications of organ blood flow when he applied light contact to different skull points. He documented over 70 reflex points capable of influencing the vascularization of virtually every organ in the body. Bennett named these points "neurovascular reflexes" because he considered their mechanism of action to operate through the autonomic nervous system, which controls blood vessel caliber and therefore organ tissue perfusion.

Among all Bennett points, the most famous are undoubtedly the frontal eminences, located on the frontal bumps of the skull, above the eyebrows. These points, associated with the stomach and the clavicular pectoralis major muscle, have become world-renowned as the "Emotional Stress Release" (ESR) points. Their stimulation through light contact for 30 seconds to several minutes produces a deep calming effect on the nervous system, significantly reducing anxiety, stress, and excessive emotional reactions. This application has become one of the most popular and accessible kinesiology techniques, taught even in mainstream approaches like Touch for Health and Brain Gym.

Discoverer: Terence Bennett, DC (1899-1972), American chiropractor. Integrated into Applied Kinesiology by George Goodheart Jr., DC (1960s)

Core Principles

Bennett's neurovascular reflexes function according to the principle of reflex vasomotor regulation. Each point on the skull corresponds to a cutaneous zone maintaining a reflex neurological connection with the vascular system of a specific organ via the sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nervous system. Stimulation of these points modifies the local sympathetic/parasympathetic balance, causing vasodilation in the target organ and thus increasing its supply of oxygenated blood, nutrients, and immune cells. This reflex vasomotor mechanism is fundamentally different from Chapman's neurolymphatic reflexes, which act on lymphatic drainage: Bennett's reflexes act on arterial vascular supply.

The stimulation technique for Bennett points differs radically from Chapman points by its extreme lightness. The practitioner applies barely perceptible fingertip contact — the pressure should not displace the skin more than one millimeter — with the finger pads on the cranial point in question. This lightness is not trivial: it is essential to the mechanism of action. Bennett had observed that excessive pressure inhibited the vascular response instead of stimulating it. The light contact acts as a fine neurological signal that modulates autonomous vasomotor tone without triggering a tissue defense response. The practitioner maintains this contact for a minimum of 20 to 30 seconds, sometimes several minutes, seeking the perception of an arterial pulse under their fingers — a sign that vascular regulation is underway.

The cranial location of most Bennett points is not coincidental. The skull is richly innervated by branches of the trigeminal nerve (V) and facial nerve (VII), which maintain close connections with brainstem autonomic centers (vagal nuclei, vasomotor centers). Cranial skin stimulation can thus directly modulate autonomic nervous system activity via these trigemino-vagal and trigemino-sympathetic reflex pathways.

Within Applied Kinesiology, Bennett reflexes are used when muscle testing reveals a weakness that does not respond to Chapman's neurolymphatic reflexes. If a weak muscle does not strengthen after stimulation of its associated Chapman point, the kinesiologist then tests the corresponding Bennett neurovascular point. If light maintenance of the Bennett point immediately strengthens the weak muscle, the practitioner confirms vascular origin and prioritizes neurovascular correction.

Technical Details

Other names

Bennett points, cranial vascular reflexes, NV reflexes, ESR points (for frontal eminences)

Stimulation type

Very light fingertip contact (feather touch, minimal pressure)

Pressure

Extremely light — should not displace skin more than 1 mm

Contact duration

20 to 30 seconds minimum, up to 2-3 minutes for ESR points

Primary location

Skull (frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital eminences) and some extra-cranial points

Positive response sign

Perception of arterial pulsation under the practitioner's fingers

Number of referenced points

Over 70 points in Bennett's complete system

Main Indications

• Vascular-origin muscle weaknesses not responding to Chapman reflexes
• Acute or chronic emotional stress (ESR points on frontal eminences)
• Anxiety, panic attacks, disproportionate emotional reactions
• Circulatory disorders with insufficient organ blood supply
• Vascular headaches and migraines
• Digestive disorders related to mesenteric vascular insufficiency
• Chronic fatigue with tissue hypoperfusion
• Concentration difficulties and brain fog (cerebral circulation points)
• Emotional preparation before a stressful event

Session Overview

The use of Bennett's neurovascular reflexes in an Applied Kinesiology session typically occurs during correction of a muscle weakness identified through manual muscle testing. After verifying that the weakness does not respond to Chapman's neurolymphatic reflexes (or when vascular involvement is directly suspected), the kinesiologist proceeds with stimulation of the Bennett neurovascular point corresponding to the muscle and organ involved.

The practitioner delicately places their fingertip pads on the identified Bennett cranial point, with barely perceptible contact. Touch lightness is crucial: the practitioner must resist the temptation to press, as any excessive pressure inhibits the vascular response. Contact is maintained with meditative stillness and attention. Gradually, the practitioner perceives an arterial pulsation that synchronizes and amplifies under their fingers — this signals that reflex vasomotor regulation is activated and blood flow to the target organ is increasing.

For Emotional Stress Release (ESR) point application, the protocol differs slightly. The practitioner places their fingers on the patient's frontal eminences and asks them to think about the stressful situation or disturbing emotion while maintaining contact. The process typically lasts 1 to 3 minutes, until the patient reports decreased emotional intensity or a calm sensation. The practitioner may perceive frontal pulsation synchronizing between both sides, signaling emotional balance restoration. The indicator muscle is then retested to verify effective correction.

The kinesiologist often teaches the patient the frontal eminence self-stimulation technique (ESR) for autonomous use during daily stress — one of the few Applied Kinesiology techniques easily applicable in self-management.

Variations and Sub-techniques

• Emotional Stress Release (ESR) on frontal eminences — the most famous and accessible
• ESR combined with visualization: holding frontal points while re-visualizing a trauma or stress
• Bilateral crossed ESR: one hand on the forehead, one on the occiput (front/back brain integration)
• Sequential stimulation of multiple points to correct a chain of vascular dysfunctions
• Bennett + Chapman combination: simultaneous treatment of lymphatic and vascular components
• Bennett points for cerebral circulation: improving concentration and cognitive functions
• Patient self-stimulation taught for accessible cranial points

Contraindications

• Recent head trauma or skull fracture
• Recent neurosurgical intervention
• Known or suspected intracranial hypertension
• Diagnosed cerebral aneurysm
• Skin infection or wound at cranial contact zones
• State of shock or medical emergency (requires conventional care)
• Unstabilized epilepsy (cranial stimulation may theoretically modify cortical excitability)