Our body is a machine for living. It is organized for that, it is its nature. Let life go on in it unhindered and let it defend itself, it will do more than if you paralyze it by encumbering it with remedies.
Leo Tolstoy
How the Mind and Body Communicate (part six)
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis
Yesterday we focused on the Sympathetic-Adrenal-Medullary axis, the brains direct pathway. Today we shall focus on the purpose of the indirect, the second mind-body communication pathway. The hypothalamus is the consolidation center of the ANS-
How the Mind and Body Communicate (part five)
Which Parts of the Brain Regulate the ANS (Autonomic Nervous System)?
The action of the ANS is orchestrated by the spinal cord, brainstem (made up of the midbrain, pons, medulla), hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex.
(1)
How the Mind and Body Communicate (part four)
The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis.
The other, the second, communication pathway is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA tweaks both the physiology and immune functions by cueing the endocrine system into release of informational mass called hormones. (1) It is called indirect because of:
How the Mind and Body Communicate (part three)
How the Mind and Body Communicate (part two)
Lets start off with viruses and bacteria from our last post. Most viruses and bacteria reproduce only as much, as to become a burden, if our immune system is compromised in some way. Genetics and aging have certainly the effect on the body which could foster disease. We can not deny the fact, that mental and emotional stress are also factors that will contribute to the environment in which viruses and bacteria will either strive or be dormant.
How the Mind and Body Communicate
In my last post on Crohn's I pointed towards the relationship of stress and gastrointestinal problems. The questions begs to be asked: What is stress? Why do we have a stress response? What happens to the body during the stress response? In the following posts I will try to draw a picture why alternative and complementary medicine have different approaches to disease and illness. Lets start with our current, the allopathic, model of healthcare in the United States which states that the absence of organic disease determines length an quality of life. However, medical models in other parts of the world stress the importance of illness, defined as the discomfort or symptoms the patient experiences. The saying goes that an illness is what the patient has on the way to the doctor's office. ("I have pain all over and feel really sick.") A disease is what the patient has after the doctor's visit. ("I have the flu.")
Crohn’s: Psychological Treatment is Essential for some
In my last post about Crohn’s I mentioned that the adaptation of some type of relaxation program might be beneficial in the treatment of Crohn’s disease. There has been promising research in this field and the connection of gastrointestinal dysfunction and psychological disorders.
Crohn’s (conclusion)
Crohn’s Disease, a Treatment Summary: The consumption of a diet based on whole, unprocessed foods which include whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. It further would include the ELIMINATION
Crohn’s (part ten)
Pancreatic Extracts and an Old Naturopathic Remedy
Pancreatic extracts can help reduce inflammation in IBD as well help digestion. Pancreatic insufficiency is characterized by impaired digestion, malabsorption, nutrient deficiency, and abdominal discomfort.
