The Mind-Body Connection is Real

Another mind/body/immune system article! 💕 

Dr. Anoop Kumar, an Emergency Department physician, feels so strongly that “the mind-body connection is real,” he not only organized, he leads a meditation session for fellow doctors, nurses and staff. 

“As a child, Anoop Kumar was surrounded by the teachings of Eastern philosophy. He says he came to recognize a common message woven through philosophy, science and spirituality - a message of well-being. It’s that message that helped inspire him to write his first book, “Michelangelo’s Medicine.” (now I have to get the book...) 

Favorite take-away - “...the human being is not only a human body.... we must include other elements, like emotion, thought, intuition, desire and consciousness.”

A close tie - “...poorly managed anxiety and stress contributes to disease.”

For the full article - click here - Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center doctor examines mind-body connection

Stick to your New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year!

In light of good intentions, resolutions and hope for positive growth, I thought I'd share How to Rewire Your Brain to Love Healthy Habits.

I need to work on many of the suggestions. They all resonate - pick my cues, make it automatic, work the three R's (reminder, routine, and reward), define my motivators, and s focus on baby steps.

Follow your Gut to treat Depression, PTSD & Anxiety

Trauma, PTSD, anxiety, fight-or-flight can all be connected to our gut. Our digestive system and our brains are connected.

Trauma Affects Your Digestive Health In Very Real Ways

Gimme some Skin

The largest organ you have - your skin.

Skin helps regulate body temperature, responds to touch, heat and cold... and quite important to our immune system, protects us from external elements. If damaged, it will try to heal, leaving behind scar tissue.

You probably knew all that. But did you know that your skin has its own ecosystem? Check it out - What Is The Skin Microbiome? Your Body's Largest Organ Has Its Own Ecosystem That You Need To Know About

The Importance of Hydration

Our body is 60% water and our brain 80%

A few obvious indicators of dehydration: Constipation, dry skin, kidney infections, hangovers...

A few not so obvious: Tiredness and fatigued, lack of nutrients, a weak immune system, constant hunger, weight gain, joint pain...

Head over to Ten warning signs you're not drinking enough water for more.

Fever

A temperature over 100.4 degrees is a fever. 

Over 104 degrees... and it’s time to see a doctor. 

There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to having a fever. As far as illness, fever can be the bodys attempt to fight infection. I’ve explained to my kids, the body is trying to cook - a.k.a. kill - the coodies. If they were relatively comfortable, we would allow the fever to run its course. If they were uncomfortable, a dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen helped to ease their symptoms.

There are other fever factors to consider when it comes to fevers: the time of day, age, energy levels, recent exercise, drugs, etc. (Read more -> Does a fever always mean you have an infection?)

Heatstroke is an honorable mention, red flag heat-related condition. Seizures and/or brain damage are more common when it come to this type of temperature elevation. In an attempt to regulate, the body sheds heat to cool off. You can help keep cool, by wearing light colored, thin fabric, breathable clothing. 

Our Body Stores Memories

“The marriage of body and mind happens through emotion. Emotional illness results when emotions don’t move and remain frozen within the body”  

~ Alexander Lowen, an American psychotherapist and father of Bioenergetics

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is the science that investigates the mind/body/immune system connection. Our bodies remember - good, bad, or indifferent - experiences, and tag the significant with deep feeling. The body is the mind. (specifically the deeper mind)

Explained a bit more medically, neuropeptides are the electrochemical component physically encoded into molecules which exist on cell walls throughout our tissues. These messenger molecules, are biological carriers of emotionally charged memories and information, a.k.a. the “molecule of emotion.” Hence, memories live throughout our body, soft tissue, and immune system. 

The body follows what is in the heart and mind

Bodywork can trigger neuropeptide sites, bringing imprinted experiences into consciousness, thereby eliciting an emotional response.

A benefit of bodywork: it can quell trigger sensations while working with qualified professionals (social workers, therapists, mental health practitioners, etc.) on issues. This way it is possible to get closer to the root causes – instead of having physical sensations causing us to guard, avoid, or protect.

“People base actions on avoidance of pain rather than pursuit of pleasure.” - Anthony Robins

~~~~~~~~~~

Louise L. Hay has done extensive study on the Mind/Body Connection.
A few examples, as gathered from Heal Your Body A-Z by Louise L. Hay:

Pain Areas and Probable Causes: 

Neck  - Refusing to see other sides of the question. Stubbornness, inflexibility. 

Spine - Upper/Lack of emotional support. Feeling unloved. Holding back love.

             Lower/Fear of money. Lack of financial support. 

Other Connections:

Arthritis - Feeling unloved. Criticism. Resentment. 

Stiffness - Rigid, stiff thinking

Weakness - A need for mental rest

Click here to view the full Emotional Pain Chart 

~~~~~~~~~~

Check this out:

A Heart transplant recipient started to experience the memories and food cravings of her deceased heart donor.

A murderer is caught based on a heart transplant recipients precise recollections and dreams.

Read more here...

~~~~~~~~~~

Studies by researchers have found that rats pass memories down through genes. 

"Prof Marcus Pembrey, from University College London, said the findings were "highly relevant to phobias, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders" and provided "compelling evidence" that a form of memory could be passed between generations. He commented: "It is high time public health researchers took human transgenerational responses seriously."

~~~~~~~~~~

Interesting snippet from 'Why do we remember pain?'

"Medical professionals are finding that analgesics -- drugs that prevent pain in the nervous system -- given to patients before surgery prevent chronic formation of pain memory, which diminshes the development of chronic pain later on."

~~~~~~~~~~

People who are emotionally impacted often have rounded shoulders, forward bending neck, and a concave chest. Our posture gears towards protecting the emotional center – the heart. We feel vulnerable. Not as strong and confident. 

Yet if we sit and/or stand straight hold our head high – our brain follows. 

We can fake it, till we make it.

Try it:  Assume the Supergirl stance 

~~~~~~~~~~

It takes 17 muscles to smile, and 42 to frown. The mere act of smiling lifts our mood, we feel more energetic.

Try it:  Smile

~~~~~~~~~~

Words render a direct response in the body. 

(What are you exposing your Self to? What is your internal dialogue? Are you kind to YOU?) 

The body follows what is in the heart and mind.

Emotions trigger an on-going cascade of endorphins and/or stress hormones. Our emotional tone directly influences the sum of biochemical processes.  

~~~~~~~~~~

More to come....