Whittlesey Natural Health Center

Most people experience stress, and most people think stress is only a mental problem. It is only in our “head”. However Hans Seleye MD and others discovered that stress causes many measurable physical and chemical changes to the body. There are different types of stress. Mental, physical and chemical. We all known about mental stress. It usually caused by time pressure or deadlines, relationship problems or money concerns. Physical stress comes from non-healing injuries, pain and physical over-exertion. Chemical stress comes from immune problems such as infections (virus, parasite, bacteria, yeast) or allergies. The other cause of chemical stress is high or low blood sugar. Blood sugar imbalances are one of the most common problems.

There are three stages to the Adrenal Stress Response:

• Alarm Reaction stage
• Resistance Stage
• Exhaustion Stage

There are two primary hormones that the Adrenal Stress Response effects. They are Cortisol and DHEA. These hormones in turn effect and interact with other hormones and systems in the body. Disruption of cortisol and DHEA has wide reaching effects. Cortisol's main functions are: to break down muscle and convert it to glucose (blood sugar), stimulate the liver to release glucose and to inhibit insulin so that blood sugar stays elevated. This provides fuel for the body to burn when under stressful conditions. Other functions are to provide: a quick burst of energy for survival reasons, a burst of increased immunity, and lower sensitivity to pain. The stress response is an ancient physiological mechanism designed for short term support to help in emergencies or when food supplies were low or when we are sick or injured. It wasn't meant for the long term.

Changes in the levels of these hormones in people undergoing the different stages of stress can be measured using saliva and blood tests. The Alarm Stage is the beginning response to stress. This is the body's first attempt to stabilize itself. I n this stage cortisol is elevated and DHEA remains steady. In the resistance stage the body has been battling whatever is causing the stress and its reserves are beginning to decline. Cortisol remains high and DHEA begins to drop. As the person transitions through the Exhaustion stage the adrenal glands are failing and the levels of Cortisol and DHEA drop. In the end phase of Adrenal Exhaustion cortiosl is very low and DHEA plateaus.

In all stages fatigue and more frequent colds and flus are common. In the Alarm Stage the person won't be able to fall asleep very easily, perspire easily, wake up tired even after a good night's sleep, and gain weight easily during periods of stress. As they transition into The Resistance Stage they will begin to have insulin resistance and high blood sugar, which causes: fatigue after meals, crave sweets, craving that isn't relieved by eating sweets, frequent urination, increased thirst and appetite. When they begin to into the Exhaustion Stage they will have they following symptoms: cannot stay asleep, craves salt, afternoon fatigue, dizziness when standing up quickly, weak nails, headaches with exertion or stress, slow starting in the morning and afternoon headaches. By this time they will now have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and they will also have: irritability if meals are missed, feel shaky, jittery, tremors, agitated and easily upset, nervous, poor memory, get lightheaded if meals are missed, crave sugar during the day, blurred vision and need more and more coffee to function.

These imbalances also have negative impacts on thyroid function, testosterone, estrogen and progesterone production. Also adrenal and blood sugar imbalances also cause immune system over-activity and/or weakness, which leads to inflammation, allergies and chronic infections. These effects are too much for this article. We will save them for future articles.

The bottom line is: stress is a major player in the poor health many people are experiencing today. So what can you do? Learn how to manage time. Give yourself extra time to complete projects or do your errands. Take stress vacations. Take a day off now and then and do no work or chores. Do you the things that you enjoy the most. Learn stress exercises. Learn to forgive. See the light at the end of the tunnel. Follow my basic diet guidelines from my previous newsletter. If you really want to get your health under control, I highly recommend that you have a salivary Adrenal Stress Index test performed. This test is done by DiagnosTechs Laboratory. It is simple and pain free. They have been doing salivary hormone testing longer than any other lab and very accurate and thorough. I also recommend comprehensive blood chemistry testing to measure blood sugar levels, thyroid function and assess the functions of your other body systems.

If you love your child, don't give him or her (or yourself) a laptop computer. This a pretty provocative way to start out an article. But I am serious about it. I am not talking about electromagnetic radiation or anything like that. I am talking about posture. Sitting on your bed with a laptop on your lap is about the worst thing you can for your posture. Even using laptop on a desk or table can be bad for your posture.

Your head weighs about as much as bowling ball. It is supposed to sit squarely on your shoulders. In normal sitting posture, your ears, shoulders and hips should line up in a vertical line. It is very hard to spend much time on a laptop computer and maintain normal posture. Using a laptop computer causes most people to crane their necks forward more than desktops. Some people also bend their upper back forward. This is a recipe for disaster. When you hold your body in normal posture, the muscles in your neck and back don't have to work very much. They only contract occasionally. When your head posture is forward of your shoulder, the muscles in the neck and back have to contract full time. The muscles in your spine aren't supposed to contract full time. And when they do, you muscle spasms. This abnormal posture also causes the the curve in your neck to straighten out. The curve in your neck is designed to to support the weight of your head. If the normal 30 degree radius curve is straightened then this can lead to early breakdown and degeneration of the vertebral discs and other joints in the neck. A research study was done many years ago looking at the x-rays of 3000 people. And in almost every person with a straightened or abnormal curve degeneration was found. Also the keyboards on laptops are not usually ergonomically designed. So over many years the wear and tear will accumulate and potentially lead to hand problems.

All this is important to everyone- young and old alike. However, in children their bones are still growing and developing.. And while the bones are still growing they can developed in a good way or a bad way. This means that the shape of bone and the architecture of the joints can be changed away from normal and lead to permanent abnormal posture.

Now, don't worry you don't have throw away that brand new laptop. There is a solution. I recommend that you buy a lap top stand, keyboard and mouse for your laptop. They sell them at every office supply and computer store. With the stand you can adjust the screen to any height you wish. For a good keyboarder the center of the screen should be even with your eyes. If you aren't so good at keyboarding, then the top of the screen should line up with eyes. I did this with both of my kids and they are very happy with the set up. If you are suffering from neck pain, back pain or headaches and are still using a laptop, no amount of adjustments will solve your problems. Laptops are great for traveling and for short periods of time. They are not good daily long terms use.

The thyroid is main gland responsible for energy production and stimulating metabolism in the body. The thyroid gland sits right below the Adam’s apple in the front of the throat. It works in conjunction with the adrenal glands and the pituitary. The pituitary gland controls all the glands in the body. Receptors in the brain sense when a hormone is too low or too high and then the pituitary secretes messenger hormones to the different glands and tells them to either increase or decrease productions of the specific hormones. So the pituitary is the master control gland. The thyroid is the “metabolic Accelerator” and the adrenal glands help the body adapt to all forms of stress (emotional. Infections, blood sugar etc.). So, whenever a patient comes to office fatigue and low energy, I always investigate the thyroid.

Many factors influence the health of the thyroid. These factors include: prolonged stress whether from blood sugar imbalances, chronic infections, or pshycological, inadequate nutrition, toxic exposure other hormone imbalances and immune system dysregulation (especially autoimmune).

The most common problem with the thyroid is hypothyroidism. The main symptoms of Hypothyroidism are:

• Low energy
• Tend to have lower tolerance to cold Coarse and spares hair
• Tend to lose the outer 1/3 of the eye brow
• Puffy and baggy eyes
• Poor wound healing
• Oily Skin Depression
• Slow starter in the mornings
• Gains weight easily Low tolerance for exercise

Now there are other symptoms of hypothyroidism and other conditions can cause some of these symptoms. And there are several different types of hypothyroidism. That is why a through consultation and laboratory work-up is essential.

The main types of hypothyroidism are: Primary Hypothyroidism, Secondary Hypothyroidism, Thyroid Hormone Underconversion and Autoimmune Hypothyroidism or Hashimotos. Without getting over-complicated the first three problems are usually caused by prolonged mental and physiological stress, inadequate nutrition, toxic exposure, hormone imbalances and immune system problems. The solution involves repairing the thyroid with targeted nutritional and herbal formulas, removing the stressors and toxins and any other hormone imbalances especially the adrenal glands. Autoimmune Hypothyroidism is really an immune problem. It requires figuring out what is driving the immune system to attack the thyroid and determining if the person is Th1 or Th2 dominant. Autoimmune Hypothyroidism is controlled by fixing the immune system problem.

The good news is that usually these problems can be mitigated without thyroid hormone replacement. But the bad news is that takes time and work. Thyroid hormone replacement is fast and easy, but it doesn’t solve the problem.

In order for you to be successful in health recovery and maintaining wellness, you need to follow some basic dietary guidelines. Your body requires proper nutrients of sufficient quality and quantity to maintain itself. If you do not fulfill its needs, your success will be greatly diminished. If it has been recommended that you avoid certain foods, be sure to avoid them, in addition to following the guidelines below.

1. You have to eat breakfast. During the night when we don’t eat, the body secretes cortisol (a stress hormone) to try and keep your blood sugar level even. If you don’t, you start the day with your stress response already turned on. People who don’t eat breakfast start the day with stress before they even encounter stressful situations. Protein is especially important in turning off cortisol production
2. You have to eat 20 grams of protein with each meal. A palm-sized portion of meat or cheese, 3 eggs or protein powder will do. Protein provides the building blocks for our body. Also neurotransmitters (brain chemistry: serotonin, endorphins etc.) are made from proteins. So protein is important in maintaining our moods.
3. Do not eat trans fats. Trans fats cause inflammation and interfere with our brain and nerve function. Trans fat include margarine; any hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils etc. Our brain is 70% fat. Good fat-> good brain. Bad fat -> bad brain
4. Increase your omega 3 and 9 oil intake and decrease your Omega 6 oil intake. Omega 6 oils include canola, corn, soy, and safflower oil. Omega 3s come from fish, flax and walnuts. Omega 9s come from olive and coconut oil. Too much omega 6 causes inflammation. Omega 3 oils help quench inflammation, insure proper brain function and are essential for hormone production.
5. Eat enough fruits and vegetables every day to fill a quart-sized container. Vegetables and fruits provide essential phyto-nutrients and fiber.
6. Drink 6-8 glasses of water. Water is a part of every chemical reaction in the body. Therefore it is essential to have water to have smooth functioning body. Most people are dehydrated and don’t know it.
7. Decrease your grain intake especially wheat and corn. Get more of your carbohydrates (starches and sugars) from fruits and vegetables.
8. Do not eat any white sugar or starches. In other words do not eat any white flour (white bread, pasta, flour torritillas etc.), white rice, potatoes etc. These foods rapidly elevate your blood sugar levels. We want to avoid any rapid elevations of blood sugar for a number of reasons. So if you are going to eat any grains, eat whole grains.
9. Eat 35 grams of fiber per day. You might need to take fiber supplements. But if you eat enough fruits, vegetables and whole grains, you can get away without fiber supplements. Fiber slows the absorption of sugars and fats and is important for our gut flora (good bacteria) and hormone metabolism.

The viscera are all the organs and glands in your body, such as the stomach, uterus and gallbladder for example. These organs and glands are where most of our vital processes occur. When there is restriction or constriction, our health begins to suffer. All the organs move rhythmically automatically on their own without any conscious effort on our part. Part of this movement is called peristalsis. This is the movement that pushes the food through our digestive system.) esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine). It is kind of like squeezing toothpaste out of a tube. The liver, spleen, ovaries, etc move in their own separate rhythm. This movement usually coincides with the movement of the bones in our head (cranial respiratory rhythm) or our breathing. Proper movement of the viscera is essential for good health. When this movement is restricted, blood and lymph flow to the organ or gland is diminished. Blood and lymph provide the nutrients necessary to keep the organ or gland healthy. Also this diminished flow of fluids causes stagnation, which leads to toxicity. This stagnation can impede the flow of food through our stomach and intestines. Constriction of organ movement can also interfere with the secretion of bile, enzymes and hormones as ducts become pinched off or blocked.

Covering and wrapping around all these organs is layers of fascia. The fascia covers all our organs, muscles, brain and spinal cord. It is that cellophane like layer of tissue you see covering a piece of chicken. And in between the tissues and fascia is the interstitial space. This can also get kinked up or stuck to the surrounding tissues or organs. The end result of all these problems is decreased health and vitality of the organs and glands and lower level of ability to do the work organ or gland is supposed to perform.

A couple good examples are: Hiatal Hernia and Gallbladder congestion. In Hiatal Hernias the stomach rides up and gets stuck or pushes through the hole (diaphragmatic hiatus) in the diaphragm that separates the abdomen and the thorax. This cause stomach acids to pass back up to the esophagus and cause heartburn symptoms. It also interferes with the normal movement of food and the production of stomach acids, which leads to poor digestion. Causes of Hiatal Hernias are: eating too fast, eating under stress, laying down too soon after eating, stress and improper breathing. (Most people don't breath correctly.) In Gallbladder Congestion the duct that allows bile to flow into the Small Intestine gets closed or blocked. The area of the Small Intestine where the Gallbladder drains into can also become spasmed, shutting off the draining of bile. This causes the Gallbladder to become distended and painful. In addition to being painful, bile is essential for the digestion of fats. Many who have Gallbladder problems will taste fats long after eating or feel bloated after eating fats. Proper Gallbladder function is also necessary for the processing of HDL and LDL cholesterol. Gallbladder Congestion is caused by: high or bad fat diets, eating under stress, liver toxicity and poor breathing. Other common areas of visceral mal-position or restriction are the Uterus, Kidneys, Liver and Large Intestine.

The good news is that these problems be helped with Visceral Manipulation. In my office I perform Visceral Manipulation both by hand and with the Fulford Percussor. Manual manipulation uses a gentle but constant force to mobilize the tissue and fascia. The Fulford Percussor is little more intense but generally comfortable. It goes deeper and helps break up the the restrictions in the fascia which bind the tissues and organs. Neuro Emotional technique is often important in resolving constricted viscera. Often there are emotional connections to the problems. Nutritional supplementation may needed to help heal the organs, glands or tissues involved.

The movement and function of the viscera is often ignored. But as you have seen above movement is life!

There has been much confusion about food allergies. When I was in school in the early eighties, many doctors didn't believe that foods allergies even existed. Many people think that food allergies only cause digestive problems. Well now it is clear that food allergies cause many health problems. It is estimated that a minimum of 4 percent of the population has some sort of food allergy. The number of people affected by food allergies is more likely around 15 percent.

Food allergies effect several parts of the body and cause many symptoms. The first place food effects is the digestive tract (stomach and intestines). They also cause problems in the liver, gallbladder, brain, lungs and thyroid. The symptoms food allergies cause are wide ranging. The obvious symptoms are bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea and burning. But food allergies also cause itching skin, runny nose, watery eyes, “brain fog”, fatigue, ringing in th ears, eczema, depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, aggression, joint inflammation and others. Food allergies also cause people to be more susceptible to environmental allergies such as dust, mold and pollen. Food allergies have been associated with autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's Thyroid (autoimmune) and celiac disease. Several prominent neurologists feel that gluten allergies( wheat, rye, barley and spelt) cause more problems in the brain than the digestive tract. MRI scans of gluten insensitive who still eat gluten, show shrinkage of the brain. Since food allergies are an immune system problem they stimulate adrenal stress reaction which leads to insulin resistance, inflammation, fatigue and hormone imbalances. Also the immune stress leads more frequent colds and flus and other infections. So you can see that food allergies can cause big problems.

The most common food allergens are:

• Gluten --- wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut
• Milk Products --- cream, ice cream, cheese, yogurt
• Corn
• Soy
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tomatoes
• Potatoes
• Shell fish

There are different types of allergies. The three main types of sensitivities are fast reacting, slow reacting and food intolerance.

Fast acting allergies are caused by IgE antibodies and are the classic food allergies most people have heard about. This is the type of allergy that causes a rapid reaction and may lead to death in a matter of minutes or hours. Peanut, shell fish and strawberries are the most well known. These allergies are usually genetic in origin.

Slow reacting food allergies are less known by the general public. These allergies are mediated by IgG and IgA antibodies. These allergies can take up to 3 days to cause an allergic reaction. Because of this it is difficult to know what foods you are allergic to. This type of allergy is most often responsible for the chronic health problems associated with food allergies. Slow reacting food allergies can be genetic or acquired. People can develop slow reacting allergies because of chronic stress and adrenal fatigue, chronic insulin resistance (high blood sugar or metabolic syndrome), gut infection from yeast, parasites or bacteria, dysbiosis (too many bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria, liver toxicity or just eating too much of one type of food.

Food intolerance is where a person's body doesn't have the enzymes or lacks the ability to digest a particular food. Lactose intolerance is a good example. This is not an allergic response, as no antibodies are produced. But it does cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Also some foods cause rapid rise or drop in blood sugar and this can cause symptoms similar to food allergies.

So how you do figure out what you are allergic to? In the past the only way test for this is the Rast scratch test. In this test the patient's back is painted patches of different allergens. And then these patches are scratched. If the patches swell up, then the person is allergic to the food in the patch. This type test is really only accurate for fast reacting allergies. Many doctors only accept this type of testing.

Now we have blood testing to check for allergies. The ELISA/EIA antibody testing can test for IgE, IgG and IgA antibodies. This is becoming more accepted. Most medical doctors usually only look at IgE antibodies, because they are looking for fast reacting allergies. Functional doctors look at both. The ELISA/EIA have some limitations. If the patient's antibodies are low overall due to chronic immune stress or the patient hasn't eaten the offending food for a long period of time, then there will be false negatives and the test will not be accurate. Muscle testing or kinesiology and Electro-dermal Screening is often just accurate as ELISA/EIA blood testing.

Elimination and challenge is probably the most accurate method to determine food allergies. But it is the most difficult. In this method the patient eliminates the most common foods and foods that are suspected for three weeks. Afterwards, the foods are re-introduced one at a time every three days and the patient looks for any return of symptoms with each food. This very accurate but it takes discipline. I use this method in conjunction with the Clearvite Program and muscle testing. See www.clearvite.info.

After a food allergy is identified, the food should be avoided for 120 days. Afterwards patients can eat most foods every 7 days or so. With severe fast reacting allergies or celiac disease, those foods should never be eaten at all. NAET or ASERT are also helpful in reprogramming the body and sometimes eliminating the allergy. However to be most effective the gut must be repaired, yeast and parasites must be removed, adrenal stress removed and bad bacteria replaced with good bacteria.