The Gut-Brain Connection

The digestive tract, or the gastrointestinal tract, or even the gut, as it is sometimes called, is the basis of digestion. The health of the digestive system affects the health of the body physically emotionally, mentally and spiritually. In the book “The Second Brain,” Dr. Mark Gershon identifies the connection between the gut and the brain. The digestive system and the brain first came from the same connective tissue. Did you know that the digestive system has more nerve endings than the central nervous system? Yes, it does. How does this affect the emotional connection between the gut and the brain? The nervous system is able to handle reflexes in the digestive system without any input from the central nervous system. How cool is that?

As an oriental medicine practitioner, the physical and emotional components of the organs are a big part of my practice.

Heart: The principle organ is sensitive to emotional states. The heart governs the blood vessels, stores the spirit and opens to the tongue. The positive feelings of the heart are joy, expansiveness, uplifting emotions, courage and valor. The negative emotions are sadness, constrictiveness, guilt and deceit. They all weaken the heart. Its taste is bitter and its element is fire.

Lungs: The lungs are the canopy of the viscera. The lungs and the large intestines are intertwined (sisters). The emotions of the lungs are sadness, bereavement and grief. The lungs need their “breathing room” or psychic space. If the lungs felt smothered, denied or invalidated, then asthma or other respiratory illness would arise.

Stomach/Spleen: The stomach governs energy flow throughout the gut. The stomach and spleen are intertwined. The spleen deals with worrying, pensiveness. Its flavor is sweet and its element is earth.

Liver/Gallbladder: The liver is free coursing, stores the blood and governs the sinews. The liver’s element is wood and its flavor is sour. Bile is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. These two organs are vulnerable to choleric emotions, such as anger, anxiety, irritability, frustration, jealousy and resentment. These negative emotions are stored in these organs and slowly eat away at them. An example is anger and rage that move upward to the head, causing hot head, red eyes, headache or migraine and bloodshot eyes. There may also be a pressure-like feeling around the ribcage.

Kidneys: The kidneys are responsible for the reproductive organs. Their color is blue/black and their element is water. The emotions associated with the kidneys are fear and shock. If someone is overcome with fear, they may lose control of their bladder, causing spontaneous urination. Positive emotions of the kidneys are self-esteem, security and willpower.

Colon: The colon is sensitive to all the emotions going on in the other organs. As a colon therapist, I have seen many people with digestive disorders clear them up not only with colon hydrotherapy, but also by becoming aware of suppressed emotions. I have worked with many people with various types of digestive disorders. One that is most common is constipation. Constipation tends to be emotionally linked to not being able to let go, or as a child feeling ashamed of going to the bathroom because someone might have been anal about bathroom matters, or being called “stinky” when they had a bowel movement.

These emotions get trapped deep inside the colon, and the person at times doesn’t even know they are there. During colon therapy sessions, sometimes the colonic may be uncomfortable as the emotions are being uprooted. As the emotions come to the surface, the discomfort subsides and the fecal matter really flows out of the body. At times, someone may become very emotional, either crying, melancholy or angry. This is all good for the client to move forward in their life.

I asked a client if I could share this story because I thought it was so interesting. A client with chronic constipation that I have been working with for a while doing emotional release colonics mentioned a story that triggered an amazing colonic release. In an emotional release colonic, I find a subject that creates a trigger in the client. For this client, it was going through old wedding videos of her kids’ weddings one weekend. She got to one in particular that she started to talk about. In the beginning of the session, I could hardly get a full release until the subject came up. I noticed the water changing color and the client voiced slight cramping (peristalsis). I asked her to continue with the story. The events and anxiety of the day unfolded: one of her children went out on the balcony after the wedding to jump (attempting to commit suicide), and she talked him off the ledge. She then had to push this aside and return to the wedding party, and not let the newlyweds know what had just transpired. Reviewing this, she realized that the wedding was not filled with only joy in the beginning but fear and horror in the end. This event happened 10 years ago and still had a severe effect on her colon health. At times, going over past events may be emotional for the client. When that happens, I just hold space with them to help them get through it. If necessary, they are referred to a psychologist.

As Bernard Jensen states, “Success, health and happiness lie within me, they do not come from the outside.” The proper balance of our physical and emotional life is important to our everyday lives. To understand the connection between mind and body, we must realize that total health includes mind, body and soul.

What if there’s a disorder in any of the organs mentioned? What do you do? Acupuncture alone may be administered to address excess or deficiency using traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture or my famous AcuColonic, which combines acupuncture and colonics to increase circulation and release within the gastrointestinal system. This treatment is geared toward not only physical release but also emotional release. Having acupuncture either before but more effectively during a colonic is beneficial to the circulatory system and healing of these organs. When a client tells me their chief complaint, the client is assessed, a TCM diagnosis is rendered and the acupuncture points are chosen. The organs that are out of balance decide which points are chosen to accompany the colonic. Sadness, grief, anger or fear may be addressed and the client will express and release these emotions during the colonic session.

You see, when the bowels become overloaded with fecal matter, there is an increased load on other organs of the body, especially the eliminative organs. Most of the time, the organs are unable to handle this load due to suppression of the organs functions from “civilized living.” So the body stores the toxins in the joints, connective tissue and fat cells. If the bowels are unable to function at optimal capacity, the liquid waste matter will be reabsorbed into the body. When this occurs, the blood carries it through the circulation system, where toxins are deposited into the other eliminative organs, such as the skin (the largest eliminative organ), the lungs, kidneys, liver and gallbladder. Even though the heart is not an eliminative organ, the toxic load puts a lot of stress on it and thus it is compromised as well.

Then the skin gets involved. The skin tries hard to get rid of the toxins and we see it first by dull complexion, grayish undertone, pimples and acne. The sweat and sebaceous glands of the skin work overtime to release these toxins. In Chinese medicine, the skin is part of the lungs, so of course the lungs come to the rescue, “grieving” from the toxic load it has to overcome. The lungs do their part by cleansing the blood of the byproduct of respiration, carbon dioxide.

As you remember, the lungs and the skin are intertwined, so you must know that the lungs and the colon are sisters, making up the metal element of Chinese medicine. So if the lungs are overburdened or congested, then of course its sister will be the same. If the lungs are dealing with grief, then it is stored in the colon. A perfect example is when someone has halitosis, this is not from a dirty mouth, but from the stagnant matter in the colon riding upward and being expressed in the breath.

How do you feel physically when you’re toxic? How is your temperament? I hope this article shows you how toxins in the body not only affect you physically but also emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Mind, body and soul are one.

Tracy Piper, Colon Girl

Photo credit: gravakadavra

Do We Really Need to Detox?

Can you remember all the junk food you have eaten in your life? From childhood, high school and through college? All the environmental and chemical toxins we have come in contact with? Now, imagine a magical potion taking them all away, washing us squeaky clean and making us new as a baby. Sadly, there is no magical potion, but there is hope. We can revitalize our body and our cells, reduce our toxic load and bring new life to our bodies. “How?” you may ask. By detoxification.

Detoxification, or cleansing of the body, can be achieved in many ways: fasting (abstaining from food for a few hours or days), drinking juices for days, taking herbal formulation and colon cleaning by colonics. These detoxification methods allow the body to divert its energy from digesting food to detoxifying poisons stored in many areas of the body.

Why the need to detoxify?

The food we eat, beverages we drink and the air we breathe all contain some form of contaminant. The body is designed to handle some toxins, but not the onslaught that it has been given due to our “civilized” society. The intake of processed food, chemicals and environmental toxin in the millions, food additives, stimulants and genetically engineered and radiated food are all part of our “civilized” society.

The body has many organs of detoxification: lungs, kidneys, liver, colon, skin and lymphatic system. The effectiveness of these organs to eliminate waste matter of all sorts depends on how well they are functioning. If the channels of elimination are clogged, then toxins build up and back up into the system.

Along with physical toxins, we are also holding on to emotional toxins.

Intermittent or continuous negative thinking or emotions such as fear, sadness, worry, anxiety and anger can cause havoc on our spiritual well-being. Detoxing negative emotions is as vital to our health as bodily detoxification. There are mapping on the large intestine outlining negative emotions for instance. The sigmoid and cecum areas hold fear, the descending and ascending colon holds sadness, the splenic flexure holds worry, the transverse colon holds anxiety and the hepatic flexure holds anger. The negative emotions combined with physical issues will tamper with the healing of the body.

When given the chance the body totally regenerates itself with proper dietary choices and detoxification. The entire body can regenerate in two years. Ninety-eight percent of the body will regenerate in less than a year. Red blood cells rebuild in four months, the liver in six weeks, the stomach in one month and the intestinal lining in five days. In order for this magnificent machine to work at optimal function it has to be given the right fuel. This fuel will allow the body to build healthy tissues and organs. The body must be cleared of toxic matter!

Changing our diet and increasing our exercise is only part of the equation for detoxification. The foundation has to be strong and durable and it cannot be if it is laden with toxins. An overload of toxic material makes the body unable to absorb and assimilate nutrients coming in from the food eaten. With all this is mind it is important to begin any health regimen with a good detoxification program and continue periodic detoxification seasonally. Regular detoxification is effective in preventing many diseases from occurring or re-occurring.

What are sources of toxicity?

There are many sources of toxicity such as normal metabolic processes, poor elimination of undigested food, poor digestion of food, food preservatives and dyes, household cleaners, water softeners, cosmetic chemicals, various types of chemical toxins, second-hand smoking and lingering pathogenic toxins from previous illnesses.

When should we detoxify?

Every change of season is a good time to rid the body of built-up toxins, but “spring cleaning” is ideal because it is the time that nature goes through rebirth and growth. But one can cleanse anytime.

What are the signs that one needs to detoxify?

Signs that a cleansing is in order are constipation, acne, fatigue, constant bloating and excess gas, mucus buildup, PMS, depression, mood swings, nausea, halitosis and a low immune system.

So start detoxing when you have any of the symptoms mentioned or after eating poorly like during the holidays or on vacation or when your intuition tells you.

How to start?

A detoxification program can last three days to weeks depending on your health goals. If you are going to embark on months of detoxification, please consult a health care practitioner or doctor. Get regular blood work so your doctor can keep track of your progress.

A mild way of detoxing is to eat wholesome foods, raw fruits and vegetables, sprouted grains and drink lots of alkaline water. Other ways could be a three-seven day juice fast, taking herbal cleansers, doing an elimination diet like in the book “Clean” by Dr. Alejandro Junger or a colon-cleansing regime of colonics in conjunction with either one of the above detoxing methods.

Photo credit: rvaphotodude

The 411 on Probiotics

Probiotics – sometimes called “good bacteria” – help to keep a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract. There are many strains that come together to allow this, but the two most prevalent are Lactobacillus, which make up the majority of the probiotics living in the small intestines, and Bifidobacterium, which is more prevalent in the large intestines (colon). They help to maintain healthy colon cells as well as promote bowel regularity.

Recently, a lovely client of mine was suffering from constipation. She did not like taking fiber and saw no use for it. I explained how important it is to get at least 35 grams of fiber a day. She looked at me like I was insane. I asked her to at least try to increase her fiber intake to help her bowel contract (peristalsis). There are two basic types of fiber: soluble (pectin, mucilage) and insoluble (cellulose, hemicellulose). The insoluble type is considered roughage, does not break down in the digestive tract and does not dissolve in water.

In addition to the fiber, I also had her increase her probiotics. Why you may ask? Well, good bacteria love to eat soluble fiber. When probiotics eat soluble fiber, they multiply enormously. They then can beat out the bad bacteria by crowding them out of the large intestines. This helps to maintain the proper balance of bacteria in the colon and strengthens the immune system as probiotics make up three-quarters of the immune system.

Around the holidays, we encounter more and more sweets. These delectable sweets not only help to cause cavities but also increase one type of yeast (Candida albicans) in our colon. This particular yeast can spread throughout the body and cause health problems if we don’t take care of the situation. Candidiasis is very common with our sugar addiction these days. Besides eliminating simple carbohydrates, sugar products, fruits, caffeine, soda, etc, I also suggest my clients increase probiotics to 50 billion twice a day on an empty stomach. This particular issue takes longer to resolve, but if you stick with it diligently, the results will come.

So what else can these good guys do?

Promote better digestion: Probiotics support production of proteases (protein-digesting enzymes) and lipases (fat-digesting enzymes).

Create essential vitamins: In the gastroinstestinal (GI) tract, probiotics manufacture several B vitamins and vitamin K.

Balance intestinal bacteria after antibiotic therapy: Antibiotics disrupt probiotic populations in the lower GI tract, potentially causing unpleasant side effects during and after antbiotic therapy. Studies show that the large intestinal ecosystem returns to its prebiotic balance more quickly following antibiotic therapy when probiotics are administered.

Competitively inhibit “bad bugs”: Good bacteria compete with bad ones for fuel and space, making it difficult for harmful bacteria to gain presence in the GI tract. Some probiotics produce natural antibiotic substances (like acidophilin, in the case of L. acidophilus DDS-1) that directly attack harmful bacteria. Today’s growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria makes the need for alternatives all the more urgent.

Balance immune response: Probiotics impact the immune system, stimulating the production of immunoglobulins (antibodies) and cytokines (chemicals made by the body that modulate inflammation) that promote greater resistance to infection and inflammatory disorders of the GI tract such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Affect pathogenic gene expression: Just like you and me, harmful bacteria have genes that control their function. Probiotics appear to have the capacity to affect the expression of those genes in ways that reduce pathogens’ virulence.

A good probiotic is vital for our well-being. Find a good probiotic, preferably with an enteric coat so it opens in the intestines. Although L. acidophilus is more pronounced in the small intestines and L. bifidophilus in the large intestines, a wide variety is key.

Acupuncture: How, When, and Why?

Today I want to talk to you about one of my life’s passions: Acupuncture. Acupuncture, one of the oldest healing practices in the world, is an alternative healing modality used to restore and maintain health. Fine sterile needles are placed at specific points of the body, which stimulate qi (life force energy). Acupuncture can be used for many ailments but must be performed by a qualified practitioner to be safe and effective.

Our body is made up of yin and yang aspects with yin being inner, soft, slow, cold, and weak. Yang is the opposite: outer, hard, fast, hot, and strong. As opposite as they are, they are inseparable forces that maintain the body in a balanced state. This balanced state is HEALTH. The opposite of health is, of course, disease. Disease is a stagnation of energy leading to blockage of qi along the 12 regular meridians and 8 extra-ordinary meridians. So what can acupuncture treat? Stress, pain, digestive problems, fertility, neurological issues, orthopedic disorders, and more!

I have been an acupuncturist since 2002 and have seen it change so many lives. Coming from the conventional world of medicine, it was hard for me to believe that these little needles with such a fine prick can actually change things. My eyes have been opened and my patients have seen the results. In my practice, I use acupuncture alone or in conjunction with other modalities to get different desired benefits.

Many patients may not think it’s important to reveal certain medications, recreational drugs, or medical conditions, but these are very important for the practitioner to know before treating you. I treated a young man years ago who held back the information that he smoked marijuana before coming in for a treatment. Well, the treatment I was giving him was for pain, so I was increasing circulation intensely. In Chinese medicine, pain is caused by stagnation of qi (energy). This patient ended up getting a serious high and passing out, which was quite frightening. Fortunately, he came through and promised to reveal all information in the future.

I personally have treated various types of conditions with acupuncture. I remember when I was called to turn my first breached baby. I had only known of the condition in theory and wasn’t sure what to expect. I still remember everything about that first session. The client was lying face up, and I proceeded to calm her and place needles in her pinky toe. This is an empirical point for turning breech babies. The patient had seen her doctor and was slated for an inversion, an invasive procedure, if the baby didn’t turn on its own. She did not want such an invasive procedure and opted for acupuncture.

I placed needles at two points to increase qi and blood flow in a smooth manner and at another point to cause the bearing down effect. With needles in place, I took pole moxa, which is the AiYe (motherwort) herb, in a cigar shape and lit it. This herb, along with the pecking motion of the moxa, starts the qi movement. After a few minutes of pecking and circling in a clockwise position, I saw her abdominal area start to move. “Ah ha,” I thought, “I’m getting somewhere.”

Although this was the desired effect, it was both scary and exciting to see the baby move vigorously inside. I continued this for 30 minutes, and then the baby decided to go to sleep, presumably tired from all the activity. Needles were removed and the session ended. Sometimes you can turn a breech baby in one session, but most of the time it takes a few sessions.

Day 2: The patient stated she did not sleep well because there was a lot of movement. Did the baby finish its turn? I palpated the abdominal area and found the baby to be horizontal. I repeated the session from Day 1 with needles and moxa to finish the baby’s turn. MASSIVE MOVEMENTS! It looked as if the baby was going to come out right there. Now I didn’t mention it previously, but moxa smells like marijuana and leaves you feeling quite relaxed. Being in the home of a prominent attorney, with the neighbors smelling this well-known aroma, was not easy. After the session while in the elevator, a neighbor shot me a “how dare you” look, which left a little smile on my face to end my day.

Day 3: The client went to see her doctor and, yes, the baby had turned. Our lovely baby girl was born almost a week later through natural childbirth.

Health inside and out,

Tracy Piper, L.M.T., L.Ac., C.H. C.C.T

Colon Hydrotherapy: A Step by Step Guide

Since spring is a prime time for detoxing, talking about the digestive system seems extremely fitting this time of year.

Gastrointestinal problems are one the most common health complaints challenging our society. These include indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, and constipation, just to name a few. Many live with these discomforts and take pills or other drugstore remedies, never really knowing what more can be done. Some may go to the doctor, and they are either dismissed, given yet another pill or told to take a laxative. Many have never heard of colon hydrotherapy and consider it a new modality. Yet it has been around for centuries, dating back to 1500 B.C. in the Egyptian medical document Ebers Papyrus. Most notably, it was first used by Cleopatra and credited for her porcelain skin.

In modern times, medical professionals like the American surgeon Dr. John Harvey Kellogg have advanced colon hydrotherapy. His experience performing thousands of bowel surgeries led to the conclusion that 90% of the diseases of civilization were due to improper functioning of the colon.

Facts of digestive disorders
· Digestive diseases affect 60-70 million people.
· Digestive disorders account for 50 million visits to physicians’ offices per year.
· 13% of all hospitalizations are for digestive disorders.
· Digestive disorders cost $87-107 billion in direct medical costs and $20 billion in indirect medical costs per year.
(Source: Brenda Watson, N.D., author of “Essential Cleansing for Perfect Health.”)

What is colon hydrotherapy (colonic)?
Once the colon is overrun with old waste, toxins and parasites, a colon hydrotherapy session (colonic) may be needed to return the system to its normal, healthy state. Colon hydrotherapy is a very safe—and often very pleasant—procedure. If more people actually knew how toxic the colon can be, they may be inclined to get a colonic more frequently. During the course of the day, the body can come in contact with all kinds of toxins and unwanted bacteria in addition to normal body waste. If your colon isn’t working a peak performance, these elements can sit stagnant in the system… sometimes for years! Colonics can help bring the balance back to your system and make it a healthy environment. Each colonic session will be roughly the same, and every effort is made to allow the person getting the colonic to remain in a relaxed state for the duration of the session.

What happens during a colonic?
A colonic session is 40-45 minutes in length. Approximately 15 gallons of filtered water are gently infused into the colon using a disposable speculum. The speculum allows for the insertion of filtered water and the removal of waste. The speculum used may vary from therapist to therapist, but they all basically work the same way. As the patient inserts the speculum (with the aid of the therapist) into the rectum about two inches into the rectal canal, a gentle flow of hot and cold water is used to create contractions of the colon muscles. The water breaks down the waste, which then exits the body through the speculum. Gentle massage is applied to the abdomen to help loosen impacted material for a more complete elimination. For personal comfort, most people keep their bodies covered during the session. The use of disposable instruments and tubing is employed to secure total sanitation and hygiene. The waste can be seen in the tube. Over subsequent visits, the entire length of the colon can be cleansed this way. The therapist monitors the water temperature and waste as it exits the body. Often, the therapist can tell a great deal simply by observing the waste—including much about the patient’s bodily health, dietary lifestyle and what may be causing the issue or issues at hand.

How many colonics are recommended?
One colonic, although helpful, is not necessarily enough to effectively cleanse the colon. A comprehensive program with nutritional input, colon management techniques, and a series of five to ten colonics is recommended for a thorough program. The first three colonics should take place over a period of ten days, followed by weekly colonics thereafter. Seasonal maintenance colonics are also recommended. Additionally, a colonic is suggested before a colonoscopy (a medical examination by a gastroenterologist). It is also good to perform before, during and after a long term fast. Working with a therapist on a regular routine can help anyonemove toward a clean, healthy body and lifestyle.

What are the other benefits of colonics?
Colonics tone the muscles of the bowel while removing waste matter from the colon. They recondition colons that have become distorted due to poor eating habits. Colonics also stimulate reflex points, which positively affect other organs.

How do I prepare for a colonic?
To prevent cramping during the session, AVOID ALCOHOL COMPLETELY. To increase chances for success in each session, avoid bread, pasta, coffee and heavy meals. Fruit, vegetables, and grains are good choices to eat. Drink plenty of water, fresh juice and non-caffeinated tea. Also, it is wise to refrain from eating anything two hours prior to the colonic. Your personal therapist can advise you on what to eat following the colonic session.