You may be wondering why I would make such a ridiculous statement.
Of course we need to brush our teeth, change our oil, and talk to our loved ones.
Why?
In order for anything of value to remain healthy, it must be maintained.
Are not our spine and spinal cord as important as our teeth, car or relationships? Why do most
people not maintain their spines?
Did you know that your nervous system – brain, spinal cord and nerves – controls, coordinates
and heals every cell and organ of your body…both structure and function. The body
dysfunctions, develops disease and eventually dies without proper nerve flow.
Every day you are exposed to physical, emotional, and chemical stress. This stress places your
spine and spinal cord under tremendous pressure. This pressure causes tension in your spine
which interferes with normal organ function and your body’s ability to heal properly.
Unfortunately, this adverse pressure rarely causes pain or symptoms, yet, it always causes
interference, damage and dysfunction. This damage over time causes pain and symptoms.
Your spine must be maintained if you wish to keep it healthy, just as you maintain your teeth,
car, relationships and anything else you care for. What happens if you do not maintain these
things? They degenerate, decay and eventually break down.
Research shows that people under regular chiropractic care, including infants, children, teens,
adults and the elderly, get sick less often, handle stress better, have stronger immune systems,
and have an overall improved quality of life. Why? Because their spines are free of tension
and interference allowing all the signals from the brain, which control, coordinate and heal all
body structure and function, to reach their destination…the cells of the body.
If you are currently experiencing pain or chronic illness, can I assume that you are not
maintaining your spine?
If you do maintain your spine, I congratulate you. You are taking responsibility for your
health and taking proactive steps to improve your quality of life, prevent disease and injury
and achieve your optimum health potential.
If you are not maintaining your spine, waiting for a pain or problem to arise before going to
the chiropractor, the damage has already been done, and is very difficult to correct. Often it
is then too late and requires more severe measures such as drugs and surgery. When it comes to
health, the attitude of “don’t fix it ‘til its broke” rarely works.
By keeping your spine healthy before developing pain or disease, and maintaining a healthy spine
throughout your life, you will spend less time and money, preventing weeks, months or even years
of suffering.
Here are some tips for maintaining a Healthy Spine:
1. Chiropractic Care:
If you wish to maintain a healthy spine, first all chronic tension and interference must be
corrected. Once the spine is healthy and free of tension and interference, it is as simple as
getting adjusted 1 to 4 per month, depending on your individual needs. By doing this, you can
guarantee yourself a lifetime of optimum health and vitality.
2. Stress Reduction Strategies There are many strategies to help reduce stress tension in the body and body, including meditating
and deep breathing. If you wish to explore I very effective strategy I utilize in my own life, check out Self Discovery Techniques.
3. Healthy Nutrition
Drink at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces of Filtered water every day.
Read food labels and don’t eat anything which has ingredients that do not sound like food.
(i.e. monosodium glutamate, blue #6, anything bleached, etc.)
Eat food in the following ratio: 75% or more Alkaline Foods – 25% or less Acid Foods.
Alkaline foods are fruits and veggies…Acid is everything else.
(Exceptions: Almonds, Millet and Salmon tend toward Alkaline…pomegranates are Acid fruits
4. Proper Sleep Posture Sleep on your side or back…never on your belly. If on your side, a pillow between your knees and cradled
in your arms helps reduce pressure in your spine. If on your back, a pillow under your knees also reduces
spinal tension. Also, make sure your pillow is the right size. If on your back, your head should be slightly raised.
If on your side, your head should be level with your shoulders.
5. Basic Workspace Ergonomics
· Back of chair should have good lumbar support
· Seat height should be so that knees and hips are at 90 degree levels
· Computer monitor should be directly in front of you with the top of the monitor and or below eye level
· Desk height and chair height should be so that the elbows are 90 degree angles when typing, and hands, forearms and wrists in a straight line.
· Sit with head and neck in an upright position, even when on phone (no holding with cheek)
· When typing, keep shoulders relaxed and elbow close to body.
· Ample space between legs and desk
· Use a document holder next to monitor when typing.
Please give us a call and we would be happy to allow you to come in for a spinal check-up and
consultation with the doctor at a discounted rate. The doctor will sit down with you, listen to
your needs, do a complete spinal evaluation and recommend a plan which is best for you.
Don’t let your spine degenerate as your teeth, car engine or relationships do if you don’t
maintain them. Maintain your spine and reach your optimum health potential.
When you seek out a doctor, chiropractor, holistic practitioner, you probably have some pain or health issue that your looking to resolve and stabilize….looking for more BALANCE in your body and your life. This is absolutely understandable. When we have a health issue or experience some form of imbalance or instability, it is natural and healthy to seek balance and stability.
But how often do we seek out IMBALANCE and INSTABILITY? Actually, quite often! This is equally as important. This is why we go to the gym, go on vacation and reorganize our house, office or relationships. Let me explain.
When anything is stable and balanced, there is no movement or growth. It is maintained as it is. In order for there to be any movement or growth, an element of instability and imbalance must be introduced. Look at walking, for example.
Try this: Stand up with your feet shoulders width apart. Are you going anywhere? No. You are stable and in balance but standing in the same spot. In order to move forward, you must take a step. So, very, very slowly, lift your right foot and start moving it forward. You will, for a moment, feel unstable until you put your foot down in front of you, once again creating stability. Now do the same thing with the left foot. Do this over and over and you’re walking forward, moving back and forth between instability and stability / imbalance and balance. Do this exercise until you feel that fluctuation between instability and stability. This is how all things move forward and grow….fluctuating between stability and instability. You MUST have instability and imbalance in order to grow, move and heal.
Granted, too much instability and imbalance causes chaos, disorder and dysfunction, which is unhealthy. Likewise, too much balance and stability causes stagnation, tension and dysfunction, also unhealthy. The natural fluctuation between the two is what we want: This is HEALTHY!
Every time you eat something, this puts the chemistry of the body out of balance. As the body seeks the NEXT LEVEL of stability in the body, it uses the nutrients of the food to create new cells, create energy and drive function. Every time you exercise, it creates instability in the muscles and other tissues, and as the body seeks a NEW LEVEL of stability, your muscles grow and get stronger. Explore how wherever there is growth and movement, there are elements of instability and imbalance that drive that change to find NEW LEVELS of stability and balance.
In fact, when you read the title of this article, for a moment, you might have felt some instability (confusion or irritability). This was deliberate. We can’t grow or learn without an element of instability!
This is the goal of NETWORKSPINAL CHIROPRACTIC. When you first came in, there may have been areas of tension and restricted movement or chronic injury or health issue that hadn’t changed In quite some time….this is too much STABILITY AND BALANCE. The specific, gentle contacts on the spine are designed to introduce an element of INSTABILITY by triggering movement and breath in the body. Suddenly, the tension begins to release and the spine begins to move freer. We start experiencing a greater sense of EASE, instead of DIS-EASE. If there is too much INSTABLITY, a similar process restores balance through breath and connection with the body….also creating a greater sense of EASE.
If you feel you are experiencing too much INSTABILITY in your life, introduce some stability by deliberately taking calming deep breaths, meditate, spend time in nature and do more of the things you enjoy. If things are stagnant and not changing….TOO STABLE…introduce instability! Do something you wouldn’t normally do! Start exercising. Go on a trip. Go out on the town. Start a hobby. Start a business. Let your imagination go free.
In conclusion, if you have a health issue, there is either too much stability or too much instability and we can support you with creating IDEAL HEALTH through NetworkSpinal Chiropractic. Give us a call if you have any questions or would like to make an appointment for yourself and your family!
I have been hearing so much about this new conversational A.I., ChatGPT, so I decided to put it to the test. I asked it what impact stress has on health. Its answer was almost verbatim what I wrote in my last article, “Getting to the Heart of It…The Impact of Stress on Your Health and Your Life.” It also gave a great description of Network Spinal Analysis. My question is in bold followed by the response from ChatGPT. Check it out!
Tell me how stress impacts health
Stress can have a significant impact on physical and mental health. Chronic stress, in particular, can lead to a variety of health problems, including:
Heart disease: Stress can increase heart rate and blood pressure, putting a strain on the cardiovascular system.
Digestive problems: Stress can cause digestive problems, such as abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea.
Sleep problems: Stress can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, leading to chronic fatigue and decreased energy.
Depression and anxiety: Chronic stress can increase the risk of depression and anxiety disorders.
Immune system suppression: Stress can weaken the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to illness and infection.
Skin problems: Stress can cause skin problems, such as acne and eczema, or worsen existing skin conditions.
Reproductive problems: Stress can interfere with the menstrual cycle in women and decrease sperm count in men.
In addition to these physical health problems, stress can also have a negative impact on mental well-being, causing feelings of irritability, anger, and sadness. To maintain good health, it’s important to manage stress through relaxation techniques, physical activity, and a balanced diet. If stress becomes chronic and affects daily life, seeking professional help may be necessary.
What is the mechanism or physiology that stress has an adverse effect on health
Stress has an adverse effect on health through a complex physiological mechanism. When the body perceives stress, it activates the “fight or flight” response, which involves the release of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones cause physical changes in the body, such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and increased respiration.
The “fight or flight” response is designed to help the body respond to short-term stressors, but when stress is chronic, the body remains in this heightened state, which can have adverse effects on health. For example, elevated cortisol levels can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to illness and infection. Cortisol can also cause changes in metabolism that lead to weight gain, particularly in the abdominal area.
In addition to physiological changes, stress can also have a direct impact on the brain. Chronic stress can alter the structure and function of the brain, leading to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.
Overall, the mechanisms by which stress impacts health involve complex interactions between the hormonal, physiological, and psychological responses to stress. To maintain good health, it’s important to manage stress through relaxation techniques, physical activity, and a balanced diet, and to seek help if stress becomes chronic and affects daily life.
What is Network Spinal Analysis
Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) is a type of chiropractic technique that focuses on the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. The goal of NSA is to improve spinal function and overall health by reducing tension and stress in the spine and nervous system.
During an NSA session, the chiropractor uses gentle touch to identify areas of tension and stress in the spine and nervous system. The chiropractor then applies specific adjustments to help release this tension, which is said to improve the flow of spinal fluid and promote the self-healing capacity of the body.
NSA is based on the concept that the spine and nervous system are interconnected and that changes in the spine can impact the functioning of the nervous system. By reducing tension and stress in the spine and nervous system, NSA practitioners believe that the body can move towards a state of greater balance and health.
You may have heard that Stress has a direct impact on our Health and Well-Being. Did you know that it’s not actually the stress, but how we respond to it? Let’s explore how stress impacts our bodies and what determines if it harms us or helps us.
Stress is a normal part of life. It is a change in our environment or circumstance that requires us to make a change and ADAPT. We experience this every day. Whenever we experience a stress, there are 2 basic ways we adapt. The first is that when we experience a stress that we have the physical and mental/emotional resources to handle, we GROW. We get stronger, wiser, and even more adaptable. An example of this is working out. We use a controlled weight to stress the muscles and the muscles grow and get stronger. However, if we use too much weight, we could injure ourselves…which leads to the 2nd way we adapt.
When we experience a stress that overwhelms our resources to physically and mental/emotionally to adapt, the brain detects danger to our survival and it initiates the stress response, also called Defense Physiology or Fight-or-Flight. This is an automatic, primal response that protects us in times of danger. Below is a chart of what happens when the Fight-or-Flight Response is triggered:
When we look at this list of responses, there are 3 things we must understand:
The increased blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, blood sugar, muscle tensions and dilation of the pupils is produced to give us more oxygen, energy and faculties to confront the danger or run away in order to SURVIVE. We’ve all experienced this when we are on the highway and suddenly the car in front of us slams on their brakes. You know the feeling!
Immunity, digestion and sexual function are turned off, because they require a lot of energy and they are not required when we are fighting or running away from a threat. This explains a few things. We often get sick when we are stressed because immunity is suppressed and if the threat is great enough we may even soil ourselves.
And third….and the most important thing to understand…the first thing that happens when we perceive a threat is an increase in SPINAL CORD TENSION. It is this Spinal Cord Tension that triggers the signal to release adrenalin which initiates the Fight-or-Flight response. Could this be why we emphasize the importance of having a healthy spine and nervous system free of tension? It is THE reason!
The next thing I want to show you is a list of the top 10 medical diagnoses, which will lead to my profound realization:
If you look at this list and compare it to the list of the components of the Fight-or-Flight response, you will see what I saw 20 years ago. They are the SAME LIST! Look below:
What does this mean? That these health issues are nothing more than the Long Term Effect of the body being stuckin the Stress Response. The body never recovered from the stress you experienced and is still functioning as if it is still happening….even if it happened decades ago!
In conclusion, the most important thing you can do for optimum health and well-being is to recover from past stresses and increase your Adaptability. The 2 most effective strategies I have found to accomplish this is chiropractic and meditation. The most effective methods of chiropractic and meditation I have found are Network Spinal and Self Discovery Life Mastery. These 2 things are my health-care system for myself and my family and what I promote to my clients for optimal health and well-being.
Make your spinal and nervous system health your top priority and learn some method of meditation to quiet the mind and be present and you will see long term effects that will ensure optimal health and well-being throughout your lifetime.
If you have any questions or would like to make any appointment for an initial consultation or to get adjusted, gives us a call at (954) 848-4325 or e-mail us at info@placeforhealing.com. Please visit our website www.placeforhealing.com and view our audio/video page for more information.
The immune system of the body is our primary defense and “home maintenance” system. It keeps our body clean of toxins and resistant to invading organisms. It is responsible for detecting and eliminating possible pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, as well as detecting, destroying and replacing bad, damaged or defective cells from injury. It is kind of like our police and handy man all rolled into one.
Where is the immune system? If we look at our circulatory system, we can identify it. It consists of the heart, arteries, veins and capillaries all connected in a closed system. The digestive system? – Well, it starts at the mouth and winds its way through our body via the esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines and ends you know where. Nervous System…Skeletal System…Lymph System…they can all be seen and identified. But where is the immune system?
IT IS IN EVERY CELL OF OUR BODY. Whereas we do have unique blood cells called Lymphocytes, Basophils, Eosinophils, etc. which we identify as components of Immunity…they do not exist in an individuated system. They roam our body searching and eliminating those organisms and toxins which may have the potential of causing harm. Although these specialized cells are “designed” to accomplish these tasks, every cell, organ, tissue of the body also has its innate ability to protect itself. In fact, the largest organ of immunity is our SKIN. It is our primary defense. Our breath is also a vital component of our immune system, expelling toxins and alien critters with every exhalation. The specialized white blood cells actually only come into play if our primary defenses are overwhelmed.
We have come to believe that when the bacteria, viruses, fungi and toxins enter our body, we get sick. In fact this is a MYTH. If tomorrow you visited a lab, you would find that your body is full of these invaders. Yet, you are not sick because your immune system keeps them in check. It is only when our immune system becomes compromised, do these invaders cause havoc.
SO…to dispel this myth: First, you are sick, your immunity falters and then the bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins have the opportunity to cause disease.
So, in regards to “germs”… have no fear. As long as your immune system is strong, you have nothing to worry about. Of the men, women and children exposed to germs, only a handful actually manifest the disease. The others’ immune systems are able to protect them. So I repeat: As long as your immune system is strong, there is NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
Next, I wish to share with you seven strategies to super-power your immune system.
7 Tips to Strengthen Your Immune System
1) “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”
Thanks to the research of Candice Pert (Discoverer of Neuropeptides and the author of the book Molecules of Emotion) and other brilliant scientists and doctors, we now know that our emotions and thoughts directly effect our immune system. In fact, a new science has emerged called PsychoNeuroImmunology – The science of the relationship between Thoughts and Emotions, Our Nervous System and Our Immune System. In fact, in the advanced sciences, they see no distinction between these systems – they are in fact, all one.
A recent study performed at the University of Ohio has demonstrated that
1) Positive Thoughts increase T-Cell counts (a powerful part of our immune system) and negative thoughts decrease T-Cell counts… and …
2) Experiences of Love increase immune function.
So close your eyes and visualize your body and immune system as strong as can be. See your self like Superman standing upon your own Fortress of Solitude with your cape blowing behind you…your chin up in the air with confidence and self-esteem. Remind yourself everyday of the beauty that still exists in our world…Rainbows…Full Moons…Sunrises…Sunsets….A Baby’s Smile…Grandma’s Soup… Jumping Dolphins… Roaring Lions… Prancing Horses… Humans singing together under candle light. There is so much to love and so much to appreciate. Remind yourself of these things everyday.
If you would like some more specific exercises, Chapter 8 “Think and Grow Healthy” in my book A Clear Path to Healing has a 7 step process for using your mind to create anything you desire…including a strong immune system. Also, check out the revolutionary Self Discovery Life Mastery process at www.sdlifemastery.com. Our favorite:check out this Simple yet profound Guided Present Moment Awareness Technique
Step One in strengthening your immune system is this:
Don’t Worry…Be Happy!
2) Healthy Spine Free of Tension and Interference
Whereas the immune system is the defense and maintenance system of the body…the nervous system is the orchestrator of that system. The brain, spinal cord and nerves control everything in the body and mind. All body function and healing…perception and response…thoughts and feeling…are all controlled and organized by the nervous system.
Stresses in our life – Physical, Emotional, Chemical and Cultural – cause tension to build up in our nervous system and its surrounding structures (Spinal Column, Muscles, Tendons, etc.). Especially when those stress are overwhelming. This tension interferes with body function and healing – especially Immune Function.
The best method I know of to keep your spine free of tension and interference is Chiropractic – specifically Network Spinal Analysis or NSA.
NSA is a system of Wellness Care that uses very gentle touches on specific areas of the spine called “Spinal Gateways” to help identify areas of tension and entrain the body to self-regulate these areas of tension and heal. People under Network Care report that they are able to handle stress better, enjoy life more and are able to make healthier choice in their life.
So, step 2 in strengthening your immune system is to keep your spine free of tension, utilizing Chiropractic, specifically Network Spinal Analysis, as an effective tool.
3) EAT HEALTHY
Don’t allow those free radicals to get into your body begin with. Also, provide your body with the phytochemicals in plants and fruits which support a strong immune system. I outline a healthy system of eating in my book, A Clear Path to Healing, which will share with you now.
1) Drink at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces of Filtered water every day.
Our personal favorite the Waterfall by Nikken.
2) Read food labels and don’t eat anything which has ingredients that do not sound like food. (i.e. monosodium glutamate, blue #6, anything bleached, etc.)
3) Eat food in the following ratio: 75% or more Alkaline Foods – 25% or less Acid Foods. Alkaline foods are fruits and veggies…Acid is everything else. (Exceptions: Almonds, Millet and Salmon tend toward Alkaline…pomegranates are Acid fruits)
4) Specific foods high in phytochemicals:
Garlic
Soy
Citrus Fruits
Peppers
Red Grapes
Green Tea
Leafy Greens
Tomatoes
Flaxseed
Walnuts
Brazil Nuts
Cabbage
Sweet Potatoes
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
So, step 3 in strengthening your immune system is to EAT HEALTHY!
4) ANTIOXIDANTS AND IMMUNITY STIMULANTS
Antioxidants are nutrients which eliminate from the body detrimental chemicals called Free Radicals. Free Radicals are toxins which destroy human cells and cause the immune system to work extra hard. By supplementing your diet with antioxidants, you will help clean your body of Free Radicals and give your immune system a break to focus on other things. Also, supplement your diet with nutrients which build a healthy immune systems
The Antioxidants and Immunostimulants are:
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin A
Zinc
Selenium
CoQ10
Also, Mushrooms have demonstrated themselves to strengthen immunity.
What? Mushrooms?!?!? That’s right. Mushrooms are powerful immune system supporters that have been used in the Orient and in the South American jungles for thousands of years. I am not talking about your run-of-the-mill throw in the salad mushrooms. I am speaking of specific varieties of mushrooms found only in tropical rainforests and other remote parts of the world. Such varieties as Shiitake, Maitake, oyster, enoki, reishi, astragalus and many others. These mushrooms contain powerful immune system builders called alpha and beta glucans which are not naturally produced by our bodies. They are only found in plant and animal sources.
I know of a product called Bio-Directed Immunity. It is a special blend of 20 varieties of Immune Strengthening mushrooms, organically grown under precise laboratory conditions. If you are interested in getting more information about this product and purchasing it for yourself and your family, email our Wellness Consultant at anja@placeforhealing.com
Step 4 in strengthening your immune system is supplementing your diet with ANTIOXIDANTS and MUSHROOMS
5) CLEAN ENVIRONMENT
The less work your immune system has to do, the more energy and resources it has to keep you healthy. Why bog it down with unnecessary toxins from your environment. Using an effective air and water filter actually nourishes your body’s immunity allowing it to rest, rather than putting it to work. If you are looking for very effective, affordable air or water filter system, contact our wellness consultant, Anja at anja@placeforhealing.com
Step 5 in strengthening your immune system is cleansing your air and water with an effective filter.
6) PROBIOTICS
There are actually bacteria in our body that supports our health and our immune systems. These are called Probiotics ( as opposed to Antibiotics which destroy life and inhibit our immune system). These probiotic organisms live in our digestive system and have such names as Lactobacillus acidophilis and Bifidobacterium bifidum. These probiotic, immunity-strengthening bacteria are readily available through a food which is available in any supermarket – YOGURT! If you are lactose-intolerant or just do not like yogurt, probiotic supplements are available at any health-food store.
Step 6 to strengthen your immune system is to TAKE A PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENT and/or EAT YOGURT
7) ADEQUATE EXERCISE, DEEP BREATHING AND PROPER REST
The last thing I’d like to discuss are two things which may seem diametrically opposed but they go hand-in-hand: ADEQUATE EXERCISE and PROPER REST. I go into these in very specific detail in A Clear Path to Healing, but briefly you want to get good aerobic exercise at least 5 times a week. This can be a walk, a swim, a run. Something to get the blood flowing in your veins and your breath deepened. Deep breathing supports a strong immune system.
And after exercising make sure you get proper rest. There are many strategies to improve sleep including proper posture, firm supportive mattress, meditation and the use of magnetic and far-infrared technologies. To learn more, pick up my book A Clear Path to Healing or email our Wellness Consultant, Anja at anja@placeforhealing.com
So, step 7 to strengthen your immune system is Adequate Exercise, Take Deep Breaths and Proper Rest
Let’s Summarize
To Strengthen Your Immune System:
1) Don’t Worry…Be Happy
2) Keep Your Spine Free of Tension
3) Eat Healthy
4) Take Antioxidants and Immunity Stimulants
5) Take Probiotics and Eat Yogurt!
6) Filter your Air and Water
7) Get Adequate Exercise, Deep Breathe and Proper Rest
I hope you all take action on this information, so that you are strong and fearless against this little wimp – Mr. Germ
Yesterday, our son woke up with 103.7 fever. I immediately gave him a Network Adjustment followed by a gentle Toggle to his atlas. In less than an hour, his fever broke and today he has a little cough but no fever. No antibiotics. What medicine? Chiropractic, rest, positive intentions, nutritional immune boosters, lots of love and attention and the innate healing intelligence of the body. (Watch how his neck responds to the gentle Network contacts on his sacrum.)
“How does Network Spinal Analysis work? How does such a gentle contact make such a difference?”
This is by far the most common question I am asked by my patients. When looked at scientifically, the answer to this question is quite complex, yet there is I story I tell that answers it quite clearly. What’s profound about this story is that not only does it describe how network works, but it also describes the process of how we get sick and how we heal.
Here is “The Parable of the Fortress.” Enjoy!
———–
Imagine a small, peaceful village. Farmers, merchants, women, children….all going about their daily routine. There is no danger. There are no threats.
Part I: Defense / Dis-Ease
Suddenly, a group of bandits arrive on horseback. They burn the houses. They steal their treasures. A few of the villagers are injured….a few are killed and the bandits leave. The villagers realize that there is now a danger. There is a threat. The villagers realize that they are no longer safe and need to defend themselves. They build a wall around their village with a gateway to enter and exit.
The bandits return. They climb over the wall. They dig under the wall. They smash the wall. They ride through the gateway. They burn the houses. They steal their treasures. A few of the villagers are injured….a few are killed and the bandits leave. The villagers realize that they are still in danger. There is a greater threat. They build a taller, deeper, thicker, stronger wall around the first wall with a smaller gateway to enter and exit.
And so it goes….on and on…building wall after wall.
···
The first half of the parable demonstrates the process of disease. As we go through life, we experience stress. These stresses may be of a physical, emotional/mental, or chemical nature.
Whenever we perceive any change in our external environment, a part of our brain asks one question: “Am I in danger? Is there a threat?” If the answer is “YES,” the brain initiates a response called “The Fight-or-Flight or Stress Response” and the body begins a series of reactions called “Defense Physiology.”
Just as the villagers put up walls around their village to protect them from the bandits, so does the body put up a defense to protect us.
This quote from Kurt Vonnegut’s “Breakfast of Champions” describes the process well:
“My mind sent a message to my hypothalamus, told it to release the hormone CRF into the short vessels connecting my hypothalamus and my pituitary gland. The CRF inspired my pituitary gland to dump the hormone ACTH into my bloodstream. My pituitary had been making and storing ACTH for just such an occasion. And nearer and nearer the zeppelin came.
And some of the ACTH in my bloodstream reached the outer shell of my adrenal gland, which had been making and storing glucocorticoids for emergencies. My adrenal gland added the glucocorticoids to my bloodstream. They went all over my body changing glycogen into glucose. Glucose was muscle food. It would help me fight like a wild cat or run like a deer. And nearer and nearer the zeppelin came.
My adrenal gland gave me a shot of adrenaline, too. I turned purple as my blood pressure skyrocketed. The adrenaline made my heart go like a burglar alarm. It also stood my hair on end. It also caused coagulants to pour into my bloodstream, so, in case I was wounded, my vital juices wouldn’t drain away. Everything my body had done so far fell within normal operating procedures for a human machine. “
Research now shows that 95% of all disease is a result of this stress response and defense physiology. In fact, the top 10 most diagnosed ailments are the body remaining in the stress response even after the threat is gone. Look at this table of the stress response in relation to the top 10 most diagnosed ailments.
Stress Response
Adrenalin Pumped into Blood
Blood Pressure Increases
Heart Rate Increases
Shallow, Rapid Breathing
Blood Sugar Increases
Muscle Tension Increases
Pupils of Eyes Dilate
Immunity is Turned Off
Digestion is Turned Off
Sexual Function is Turned Off
Top 10 Most Diagnosed Ailments
6 Depression and Anxiety
1 High Blood Pressure
10 Heart Palpitations
3 Respiratory Disease
4 Diabetes
5 Back/Neck Pain and Headaches
9 Vision Problems
2 Allergies and Frequent Colds
7 Digestive Disorders
8 Impotency
As you can see, when compared, there is a direct correlation between these two lists. In fact, the top 10 most diagnosed ailments are the long term effects of the body being stuck in the Fight-or-Flight Stress Response and Defense Physiology.
···
It is important to understand that in the dis-ease process, the brain and body believe that it is in danger. On some unconscious level, we made a decision, due to our experiences, that the world and our lives are not safe. Therefore, the body is continuing the stress response so that we SURVIVE the threat. It is the wall around the village.
This “wall around the village” is most obvious in our spine as muscle tension, altered posture, and reduced range of motion. In Network Spinal Analysis, we refer to this as Defense Posture, often seen as a roundedness in the back, the pelvis tucked under and the head forward. It can also be seen in the posture as a high shoulder or hip.
Traditionally in the healing arts, whether it be medicine, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, physical therapy and so on, the strategy has been twofold. The first strategy is to attack and kill off the threat. Medical doctors may prescribe antibiotics to fight off a germ and natural practitioners may prescribe herbs, nutrients or stress management techniques to reduce the stress-load on the body.
The second strategy is to attack “the wall” itself – “the wall” representing the components of the stress response as listed above. The medical doctor may prescribe blood pressure medication, while the chiropractor will restore the vertebra to its proper position and the massage therapist will massage the muscle until relaxed. And so on. In other words, to “climb over, dig under or smash the walls.”
Unfortunately, because the body is intelligent and it creates the stress response in order to protect itself from a perceived threat (whether real or imagined), just as in the parable of the Fortress, unless the brain, nervous system and body begin to “believe” it is safe once again, it will continue to initiate the stress response and put back its defense, usually with a “higher, deeper, thicker, stronger wall.”
That is why the symptoms, tensions, ailments keep coming back, never fully heal and become a chronic condition.
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If you examine the Fight or Flight Stress response, you will begin to realize that when the body goes into defense, all of the mechanisms of healing and growth are diminished or stopped completely.
Ergo, when the body begins to let go of the stress response and the resultant defense physiology, then and only then can the body begin to heal.
Part II: Letting Go / Healing /Ease
Now, imagine years and years have passed. The bandits continued to attack the village year after year. The villagers continued to build thicker and thicker, deeper and deeper, higher and higher walls around the village with one tiny gateway to enter and exit. There is a vast fortress now around the village with many walls, with a gateway in each wall. The fortress is now impenetrable and the bandits have left never to be seen again. The villagers live in their fortress still believing they are in danger. There is a threat.
The truth: There is no longer a danger. There is no longer a threat.
One day, a wise sage arrives at the fortress. He knocks on the gateway. The soldiers guarding the gate demand, “Who goes there?” The sage answers, “I come with a message and a gift.” The guards frisk him, check his credentials, interview him and determine that it is safe to let him through the first wall….the first gateway. The villagers inside the first wall greet him and ask him for his message.
He tells them… “You are safe.” The villagers invite him to stay and after a few days they decide to tear down the outer wall.
The wise sage approaches the gateway in the next wall. He knocks on the gateway. The soldiers guarding the gate demand, “Who goes there?” The sage answers, “I come with a message and a gift.” The guards frisk him, check his credentials, interview him and determine that it is safe to let him through the next wall….the next gateway. The villagers inside the second wall greet him and ask him for his message.
He tells them…“You are safe.” The villagers invite him to stay and after a few days they decide to tear down the second wall.
And so it goes….on and on….until all the walls are down.
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The second half of the parable demonstrates the healing process available through Network Spinal Analysis. Rather than trying to fix anything, correct anything, treat anything, we take the approach of the wise sage. We bring a message to the brain, nervous system and body.
“You are safe.”
How do we do this? Through Network Spinal Analysis (NSA), we first determine where the body is in defense.
These areas are in a state of tension. These may be areas of pain or discomfort, but more often they are areas that you are totally unaware of. They are areas “disconnected.” They are unresponsive to stimuli, but instead react with greater defense when touched or “treated.” In NSA, we tend to avoid these areas, where in other health-care practices, they are the area of treatment.
Next, we analyze the spine to find what we call “Spinal Gateways.”
Spinal gateways are often found right above, below or on the opposite side of the area of defense. They are areas of calm and ease, free of tension. They are very responsive to light touch. By making a gentle contact on the spinal gateway, at just the right time, with just the right amount of force, the attention of the brain is brought to this center of peace and for a moment, it decides, “I am safe.” Suddenly, you may feel yourself take a sigh-like deep breath….you may feel like you want to move or stretch and you begin to become aware of the area of defense as it starts to relax. You begin to feel the first “wall” come down.
Through a series of levels of care, we continue to develop these gateways, as the body “decides” to let go of all the dominant patterns of defense it has accumulated over a lifetime.
We do not force, coerce or direct the body to do anything through any medication or therapy. We simply bring it the message of safety and invite the body to let go of defense.
I recently had a discussion with another Facebook user about the true cause of disease and role germs do or do not play in this process. Read this discussion below:
Barry WeinbergIf you saw flies swarming around some garbage in a field, would you think the flies caused the garbage? How would you get rid of the flies…with bug spray? I think you know the answers. Then why do we think germs cause disease and treat it with medicine? Maybe its time to clean the garbage from the field.
Facebook User Reply en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germ_theory_of_disease
Pretty sure this is the answer to your question.
Barry Weinberg Oh, my friend, it was not a question. It was a point. I know you choose to believe that germs cause illness, but the truth is a depressed immune system causes disease. It has been proven that there are more germs in our body than human cells. It is when our immune system gets depressed due to the inadequate adaptation to stress that germs take the opportunity to feed….like the flies on the garbage in the field. When things are in right order in the body, germs are actually beneficial and assist our body. Even Pasteur, the creator of the Germ Theory recanted his germ theory on his deathbed, saying, “Bernard is right. The pathogen is nothing…the terrain is everything.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Bernard
Claude Bernard (12 July 1813 – 10 February 1878) was a French physiologist. Hist…See More
Facebook User Reply I agree that when we are weak and run down, we are considerably more likely to get sick. However, take a well rested, healthy person, introduce disease into their body and you will very likely also end up with a sick person. We’re not that far apart on this one…I think.
Barry Weinberg I think where we differ is in our beliefs. Your belief is that disease can come from without. I believe (and have seen 20 years of evidence for) that disease comes from within. Just as darkness can not be introduced to a room. So can disease not be introduced to the body. Just Darkness is caused by removing the light, disease is caused by a lose of health. Just as darkness can be eliminated by reintroducing light, disease is eliminated by restoring health. To fight disease is as futile as fighting darkness. (PS. Thank you for your comments. This is an important discussion. I believe our current health care crisis is not caused by lack of insurance but by this very issue.)
Facebook User Reply I respect your experience. The only experience I have is reading, but a lot can be gleaned from reading.
Using your model of “disease cannot come from outside the body”, are you suggesting that if we inject a perfectly healthy, well rested person with hiv, flu, a common cold, that they will not become infected?
This is essentially what I’m hearing, and the crux of my disagreement.
Barry Weinberg If their immune system is strong, yes! We are exposed to an uncountable number of germs every moment and we are not sick. There will be a classroom of children that get sick, yet one child does not. His immune system was strong. Nurses and doctors have worked in hospitals and triage for centuries amongst the most horrendous of disease and do not get sick. Their immune systems are strong. I’ll repeat, just as the flies do not cause the garbage in the field, the germ does not cause the disease. They are opportunists that take advantage of an already dis-eased system. Just because something is in the same the same location of a problem, does not deem them cause. Germs are ALWAYS there. Just because they are found in the location of where there is disease, does not create a cause and effect relationship. In fact, the proper cause and effect relationship would be that the disease is the cause and the germs are the effect.
Facebook User Reply wise
Barry Weinberg PS. I always trust my experience way before I trust what I read. You will never know the taste of an apple by reading about it….only by taking that bite!
“I originally came to Dr. Barry Weinberg and A Place for Healing because I suffered from vertigo, migraines and lower backaches. Lots of work stress and taking lots of medications.
Since receiving Network Chiropractic care, I’m off my meds…less tension in my back and neck. I’m much more aware of my mind and body. I experience very little headaches. I used to have an episode of vertigo about every other month, but now I’ve had only 2 minor attacks during the year I’ve been coming.
I feel energetic physically and mentally under Dr. Weinberg’s care. I now have peace and am stress free.”
~ Linda Damon
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This beautiful testimonial demonstrates what my practice is all about. People who have been to my practice know that I am not about fixing anything or making pain go away. Yet, when the spine and nervous system are free of tension and interference, the body seems to “magically” heal and pain, illness and injury leave the body. People who have been to my practice know that I don’t usually give instruction on nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle habits. Yet, when the spine and nervous system are free of tension and interference, people seem to “magically” know what changes they need to make in their lifestyle and make those changes.
People who have been to my practice know that I am not a counselor, life coach or therapist. Yet, when the spine and nervous system are free of tension and interference, anxiety, depression and fear tend to “magically” fade and they experience more mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
This is what my practice is all about.
Through the gentle, honoring contacts I apply to the spine with Network Spinal Analysis chiropractic care, people connect more with their bodies and develop new strategies to release tension, use tension to create change and become more adaptable to life. Through this process, not only does the body heal, but people experience more well-being in all areas of their life in a way that they never experienced before.
This is what my practice is all about.
Empowering people to heal themselves by finding the message in their pain, tension, illness, or injury and using it as a guide and the fuel to make subtle changes in their life that produce dramatic, positive results.
Have you ever had a pain that just wouldn’t go away? An injury that doesn’t seem to want to heal? Any chronic health problem or challenge? It is my intention in this article to share with you a subtle, but powerful solution to this dilemma. And although the solution is simple, I can guarantee a part of you will not want to do it. In fact, a part of you will scream, “NO! I WON’T DO IT.” Let’s explore this.
In any healing process, the first step is awareness. You have to become aware of a problem before it can be changed. If you have a piece of lettuce in your teeth, you can’t remove it until someone points to their mouth and says, “There’s something in your teeth.” In the healing process, this awareness usually starts as a symptom, such as a pain or discomfort.
The next step in any healing process is acknowledgement. You have to acknowledge that there’s a problem. If you ignore the pain or discomfort that you became aware of, what usually happens? It gets worse, doesn’t it? So acknowledgement is necessary. The admittance that “I have a problem and something needs to change.”
Now we come to the next step in any healing process. And this is the key to truly begin the healing. This is the step I referred to earlier. This is the step that you will probably resist and stop reading this article with an adamant “NO!”
The third and critical step to any healing process is ACCEPTANCE.
Once you become aware that there is something happening that needs to change, and you acknowledge it for what it is, to truly start the process of it changing and healing, you must accept it for what it is. You must feel it, experience it and accept that in this moment this is what is. You must accept that your life up to this point has led to this experience. You must accept responsibility that the structure of your life as you have lived it, your behaviors and actions, and your thoughts, beliefs and the meaning you give things led to this experience. And, most importantly, you must accept that you have the power to change it and only YOU can change it.
One of the greatest stories of the power of acceptance is the story of Victor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning and a survivor of the Holocaust. Victor Frankl was a prisoner in the Auschwitz death camps during the Nazi occupation of World War II. Surrounded by the smell of burning bodies and the sounds of children’s screams, Frankl found himself in an experience where death was certain.
One day, Frankl was taken to a dark room in the basement of a burnt out building, so that the “doctors” could give him a “routine checkup.” Before he knew it, he was strapped to a table and the men began sterilization surgery on him … without anesthesia. As he lay on the table in excruciating agony, he had a realization. These men had the liberty to go where they pleased and do what they wished, but, they did not have the freedom to think for themselves. They were puppets of a dark master, of which they must perform such horrible acts upon another human being. Although they had liberty, he, Frankl, had the freedom to create in his mind whatever picture he desired and think his own thoughts. With this sudden insight, he accepted his situation and began spending all his time with his eyes closed imagining himself running through green fields with his children and grandchildren. He saw himself being free of his horrible surroundings and envisioned himself traveling to America to share his story and newfound wisdom.
Victor Frankl survived the death camps. He traveled to America and wrote his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, which has been a source of inspiration for millions of readers. If Frankl had not accepted his situation, he would have suffered through his experience and probably never survived. By accepting his appalling circumstance and creating a new vision within his mind, Victor Frankl not only lived through it, but healed himself in the process and helped millions of people around the world to accept their situation and heal as well.
So what comes after acceptance? NEXT!!! This is what is, but what’s next? What is your ideal? And your ideal is not to be free of pain or cured of your illness. The ideal is what is on the other side: abundant health, vital energy, full self-expression, living on purpose. Create a vision of your ideal and align the structure of your life, your behaviors and actions, and what you focus on with that vision … and watch the magic of healing, growth and success unfold.
If you want support with this process, please call our office at (954) 202-7477 or email me at drbarry@placeforhealing.com to experience the health and wellness benefits of reorganizational healing and network spinal analysis care.
A Place for Healing 