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The Healing Code

The Healing Code:  Address Your Stress

I first learned about a book called The Healing Code from a patient of mine and I think this is one of the most fascinating books I’ve read in a long time.  This book gives hope.

The premise of the book is that all disease stems from physiologic stress. If you deal with psychological stress, you can be assured that your body is experiencing physiologic stress; however, even if you do not feel anxious or stressed, it’s still likely that your body is under physiologic stress.

So what does this all mean? Well, for starters, when you are under physiologic stress, your body is in survival mode (aka “fight or flight”). This involves activating your sympathetic nervous system which raises blood pressure, increases heart rate, stresses your adrenal glands, and overrides the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for digestion and for maintenance and repair of the body.

Instead of your body worrying about cancer cell over here, and virus over there, and digesting the food in your stomach, it’s worried about surviving the next few minutes. This means that people with chronic stress are bound to have digestive issues and are adversely affecting their body’s ability to heal itself.

The author of The Healing Code, Dr Alex Loyd, spent years trying to help his wife recover from depression. He even went back to school to get a PhD in Psychology to try to figure things out for her. One day, while flying home from a conference, he tells how this information appeared to him, and he knew how to help his wife when he returned home to her. He performed what he now calls the healing code with his wife and apparently she’s been great ever since. The co-author of the book, Ben Johnson, MD, DO, NMD, was diagnosed with ALS (a typically fatal auto-immune disease affecting the nervous system) and, knowing his fate, was seeking out alternatives when he came across the healing code. He began a diligent regimen of the healing code and reports that he cured his illness in 3 months.

In the book it’s explained how we accumulate memories, both good and bad, and that the bad memories can be constantly reactivated, even at a subconscious level, keeping you in a state of physiologic stress. Let’s say, for example, that you were in a terrible car accident 15 years ago with a red car. Ever since then, every time you see the color red, it may be causing you stress, whether you feel it (e.g. a random panic attack) or not (e.g. chronic high blood pressure or digestive issues without obvious cause).

The goal of this book is to teach you how to neutralize your body’s physiologic stress response with a simple 6 minute exercise done once daily which in turn would dampen the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, helping to lower blood pressure and heart rate, and allow the parasympathetic nervous system to take over again, thereby improving digestion and allowing the body to heal itself.

What have you got to lose? Maybe $15 for the book and the time to read it? I’ve already received positive feedback from others to whom I’ve recommended the book, such as lower blood pressure, less anxiety, resolving reflux, better sleep, etc.     Whatever ails you, why not give it a try?

 

By |2014-06-30T14:34:40-05:00April 30th, 2013|Articles, General|

L-Theanine

Did you know?

  • Can improve mood, reduce stress and help focus
  • Non-sedating improved alpha wave activity, the brain activity present when you are alert
  • Role in helping reduce cholesterol
  • May improve the efficacy of cancer treatments
  • Rats fed a high Theanine diet showed a significantly lower body weight, blood
  • plasma fat and overall body fat accumulation
  • Reduces blood pressure
  • Accelerates metabolism of alcohol metabolites which helps protect the liver from alcohol effects

L-Theanine is a non-essential amino acid and has unique and almost amazing properties. L-Theanine can cross the blood brain barrier and hence has psychoactive properties and is found in the tea plant. Green tea is felt to have the greatest concentration of L-Theanine.

L-Theanine can improve mood, reduce stress and help focus and particularly when working with caffeine. Moreover, individuals taking Theanine also showed improved alpha wave activity, the activity present when you are alert but not stressed and for most people the most desirable awake state. Unlike many supplements where research is still in its infancy there is a large base of clinical trials done by the Japanese to indicate that Theanine is not only effective but also safe. Japan approved Theanine as a universally safe supplement as early as 1964 and permitted unrestricted amounts in all foods except those for infants.

While Theanine is widely touted as a mind relaxant, and for good reason, it also has some other very attractive properties. Theanine has been found to increase dopamine in humans. Dopamine is the naturally occurring chemical in the brain, which is released during pleasant activities such as eating, sex and for some…chocolate. Dopamine produces a sense of well being.

Additional research indicates even more L-Theanine benefits including that it plays a role in helping reduce cholesterol and that Theanine also may improve the efficacy of cancer treatments by decreasing the amount of cancer drug in healthy cells while focusing the drug on cancerous cells. The calming benefits of L-Theanine were also stressed in this study. Rats fed a high Theanine diet also showed a significantly lower body weight, blood plasma fat and overall body fat accumulation. There appear to be many L-Theanine benefits and not many negative L-Theanine side effects. However, as with any supplement there are some interactions with medications that might be significant to note. Theanine is known to reduce blood pressure and if taking Theanine supplements with blood pressure medication the potential exists to reduce blood pressure too far. Medically prescribed stimulants may interact with L-Theanine and reduce the effectiveness of the prescription. Although no case studies have been done specifically nor is there any indication it may prove harmful, it is worth noting when considering L-Theanine supplements.

The exact safe or “recommended dosage for an L-Theanine supplement is perhaps the most difficult to effectively guess. The scientific community has been unable to come up with any indication that there is an “unsafe” level of Theanine. As with any supplement, it is always best to check with a medical professional before using the supplement in the case of children, pregnant women or individuals with severe health issues. Frequently prescribed doses range from 50-200mg, 2 to 4 times daily. It is wisest to follow label directions and consult with your physician if unsure of the appropriate dosage.*

*The information above is not to be construed as medical advice. Consult with your health care provider.  Information for this article obtained from ltheanine.net
 
 
 
 
 
 
By |2013-04-30T06:22:23-05:00April 30th, 2013|Articles, General|

Eggocado Recipe

This eggocado recipe is great for those on a high protein diet. Serve for breakfast or any meal.

Ingredients:
– 1/2 avocado
– 1 egg
– Picante sauce, fresh herbs or uncured prosciutto

1/2 Avocado, remove seed, open egg into the hole in avocado, bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until egg has reached desired doneness. Top with picante sauce, fresh herbs or chopped uncured prosciutto.

 

By |2014-07-31T11:56:30-05:00April 26th, 2013|General, Recipes|

Trans-fats linked to irritability and aggression

One of the most disheartening aspects of being about the business of nutrition today is that the majority of the food available in the market place today does not jive with my idea of real, whole food. There is a lot of fake food out there. I’m sure you have heard about trans fats for example. The majority of trans fatty acids in our food come from an industrial process that partially hydrogenates unsaturated fatty acids to stabilize the oil and prolong shelf life, thus starting with an all natural fat as it occurs in nature, and literally de-naturing it by changing the molecular structure. Real food becomes man-made, man-altered, fake food. Inside our human body, our cells really struggle to put unnatural, fake food to any good use! In fact damaged foods cause a multitude of problems.

To make the point, a recent study published online in March of 2012, reports “dietary trans fatty acid intake is associated with irritability and aggression in adults. The investigators found that greater dietary trans fatty acid intake was associated with greater aggression. Furthermore, dietary trans fatty acid intake was a more consistent predictor of aggression than the other aggression predictors evaluated. Even after adjusting the data to account for confounders such as sex, age and ethnicity, the correlation remained significant. The investigators concluded that this study provides the first evidence linking dietary trans fatty acids with behavioral irritability and aggression. “ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22403632)

These trans fatty acids are also known to be artery clogging fat and the cause of much of our cardiovascular disease today. It is no surprise that heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity ride the top of the charts for the reasons for death in America today. Trans fatty acids are found in margarine and shortening and in fried foods like French fries, fried chicken, donuts and most fast foods, and packaged baked goods. With the popularity and availability of these foods, is it any surprise that we also are finding more children and adults with behavioral issues?   Healthy, undamaged, all natural fats, such as butter from grass fed cows, avocado, expeller pressed coconut oil, nuts and olives are good examples of undamaged, natural fats that contribute to good mental health and well being. Eat Well! Live Well!

By |2013-05-01T06:30:09-05:00April 26th, 2013|Articles, General, NANCY’S NUTRITIONAL NUGGET|

Insomnia & Sleep Deprivation Effects on Your Health!

Trouble sleeping? You need to find out why because various negative effects  of insomnia on your health are listed below.  There are numerous causes of insomnia, such as hormonal imbalance and decline, stress, blood sugar imbalance, adrenal fatigue, sensitivity to electrosmog, among others.  Call 281-298-6742 today for help!

Insomnia’s Negative Impacts
Your circadian rhythm evolved over hundreds of generations to align your physiology with your environment. Your body clock assumes that like your ancestors, you sleep at night and stay awake during daylight hours. This natural rhythm can be caused by uninvited insomnia or schedule changes that may or may not be within your control. If you confuse the situation by depriving yourself of enough hours of sleep or eating meals at odd hours (times at which your internal clock expects you to be sleeping), you send conflicting signals to your body. Based on the implications of this latest study, it’s easy to see how a compromised circadian system — caused by unhealthy sleep patterns — can lead to so many different kinds of disease. Proper cellular function and metabolism is essential for optimal health.

One of the worst things you can do to disrupt your body clock is to engage in regular night shift work. I realize many may not have a choice in selection of their job, but it is vital to understand that when you regularly shift your sleep patterns because of a job like police, fire or ER work, you are in fact sacrificing your longevity.

The Many Ways Disrupted Sleep Patterns Can Impact Your Health
Your individual circadian rhythm regulates activity throughout your body, from your brain, to your lungs and heart to your liver to your skeletal muscles. Numerous studies have shown the clear links between the quality of your sleep and your health. For example, your circadian clock influences your:
Short-term memory — Your circadian clock controls your daily cycle of sleep and wakefulness by alternately inhibiting and exciting different parts of your brain through regulating the release of certain neurotransmitters. The part of your brain known as the hippocampus must be excited in order for the things you learn to be organized in such a way that you’ll remember them later. If your internal clock isn’t functioning properly, it causes the release of too much GABA. According to a previous study, an excess of GABA inhibits your brain in a way that leads to short-term memory problems and the inability to retain new information.

Weight gain/loss — Lack of sleep has been shown to affect levels of two hormones linked with appetite and eating behavior. When you are sleep deprived, your body decreases production of leptin, the hormone that tells your brain there is no need for more food. At the same time, it increases levels of ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger.

Diabetes and heart disease risk — Both too little and too much sleep may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. A 15-year study of more than 1,000 men found that those getting less than six or more than eight hours of sleep a night had a significantly increased diabetes risk. A similar pattern has also been observed in the relationship between sleep and coronary heart disease.

Immune system – Research has found that when you are well-rested you are likely to have a stronger immune response to viruses than when you have not gotten enough sleep. It’s believed that the release of certain hormones during sleep is responsible for boosting your immune system.

Cancer risk — Disruption of your circadian clock may influence cancer progression through changes in hormones like melatonin, which your brain makes during sleep, and which is known to suppress tumor development. Melatonin is an antioxidant that helps to suppress harmful free radicals in your body and slows the production of estrogen, which can activate cancer. When your circadian rhythm is disrupted, your body may produce less melatonin and, therefore, may have less ability to fight cancer.

Furthermore, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), lack of sleep can have an adverse impact on other serious diseases such as:

• Parkinson disease (PD)
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Alzheimer disease (AD)
• Gastrointestinal tract disorders
• Kidney disease
• Behavioral problems in children
In addition to upsetting your metabolism, poor sleeping habits can also harm your health due to elevated levels of corticosterone, the stress hormone associated with road rage. When your body is under stress, it releases hormones that increase your heart rate and blood pressure. Your muscles get tense, your digestive processes stop, and certain brain centers are triggered, which alter your brain chemistry. Left unchecked, this stress response can eventually lead to a variety of health problems including:
• Headaches
• Indigestion
• Insomnia
• Increased anxiety
• Depression
• High blood pressure

So What Can You Do to Fight Insomnia Symptoms?
Optimize Your Light Exposure Two major highlights that are important to know are that it is important to optimize your melatonin levels through optimization of your light exposure. It’s important to have consistent regular exposure to bright light during the day and sleep in absolute darkness at night. Typically, this is not possible unless you have blackout shades or drapes and turn off all the lights in your room.

Tune Your Body Clock for Optimal Health. Regardless of your age, the best way to keep your circadian clock functioning properly is to make sure you’re getting the necessary amount of high-quality sleep, during those hours when your body expects to be sleeping. The right amount for you is based on your individual sleep requirements and not on a one- size-fits-all prescribed number of hours.

Unfortunately, many people are quick to jump on the pill wagon once they start having sleep problems. But sleeping pills come with numerous side effects and can cause more harm than good. Better alternatives include using the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), listening to a brainwave synchronization tape or trying a natural remedy that can do the job without the side effects. It’s important to realize that even if you do everything else right (eat nutritious meals, exercise, manage stress) if you aren’t getting high-quality sleep, your health is bound to suffer in any of the numerous ways mentioned above.

For more details on natural ways to correct your sleep patterns, contact us and schedule an appointment with our medical team. You can also see “Sleep Study to Stop Insomnia” on our web site.

Article obtained from Dr.Mercola

By |2018-09-12T07:37:41-05:00October 3rd, 2012|Articles, General|

ARE YOUR HEADACHES NORMAL?

Do you suffer from headaches?  You need to find out why.

There are many types and causes of headaches and migraines. Sinus issues, sleep interruption or sleep apnea, TMJ, hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiencies, or even some types of brain tumors and disorders can cause headaches.  

You need not suffer from headaches anymore. Over the counter painkillers can cause ulcers, kidney and liver damage if taken in excess or over a long period of time. Find out what factors are contributing to your headache so you can treat the root cause(s) of your headaches or migraines.  

Call (281-)298-6742 for help today!

By |2018-09-12T07:31:52-05:00October 3rd, 2012|Articles, General|

Lunch and Learn

January 17th 4:00 to 5:00 pm UPDATED Time

The Woodlands Institute for Health & Wellness
26110 Oak Ridge Dr
The Woodlands, TX 77380

Call 281-298-6742 to reserve your spot today!

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    Phone Number :

    Email :

    How many people will be attending?:

    How did you find out about our event? :

    By |2018-01-17T08:24:27-05:00September 12th, 2012|General|

    Your Family Wellness Center

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    By |2012-09-28T09:19:17-05:00September 12th, 2012|General|

    Holistic Doctor in The Woodlands TX

    The Woodlands Institute for Health & Wellness


    The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness is here to serve your entire family. The Institute’s holistic approach combines the science of traditional medicine with the wisdom of natural holistic approaches, wholesome nutrition, and healthy lifestyle choices.

     

    Holistic Medical Providers at TWIHWInstitute founder, Dr. Mila McManus, Sandra Caldwell PA-C, and Dyvette Warren PA-C are firm believers in functional and preventative medicine. They are passionate about helping the patients achieve optimal health and an improved quality of life, while avoiding the side effects and discomfort of prescription drugs and surgery.

    By resolving hormonal imbalance, promoting healthy habits, detoxifying the body, and restoring optimal immune function The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness treats a wide variety of complaints including depression, fatigue, low libido, PMS, headaches, fibromyalgia, and sleeping disorders. Services also provided are IV and Injections, Infrared Sauna, Ondamed, health reset protocol, nutritional education, programs for allergy, rapid weight loss, menopause, and chronic inflammation.

    The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness treats a wide variety of complaints including:

    We are conveniently located off I-45 between Woodlands Parkway and Sawdust Road. 

    By |2022-10-10T15:31:55-05:00September 12th, 2012|General|