Pain relief

Organic Acids Test OATs yeast/oxalates

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PAIN
I DIDN’T SETTLE
YOU SHOULDN’T EITHER

Earlier this summer I started to experience a lot of joint pain.

Since I removed sugar and all grains several years ago, all my joint pain and edema had disappeared.  I was more than happy.

But for some unknown reason the strong pain returned.

So I decided to investigate….and knowing me I headed for functional testing….

The OATS TEST.

What is the test?   Organic Acids Test.

The Organic Acids Test (OAT) offers a comprehensive metabolic snapshot of overall health with 75 markers.  It provides an accurate evaluation of intestinal yeast and bacteria.

Abnormally high levels of these microorganisms can cause or worsen behavior disorders, hyperactivity, movement disorders, fatigue and immune function (for me it was joint pain).

Organic acids are most commonly analyzed in urine because they are not extensively reabsorbed in the kidney tubules after glomerular filtration.

One of the most important uses of the organic acids test is as an indicator of dysbiosis, an abnormal overgrowth of yeast and bacteria in the intestinal tract. It’s the best way to find out about yeast overgrowths.

The Organic Acids Test also includes markers for vitamin and mineral levels, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter levels, and also include markers for oxalates, which are highly correlated with many chronic illnesses.

So I captured my urine, sent it in the kit, and waited for the results.

Guess what?

Yeast, yeast and more yeast….and with yeast often comes a sensitivity to oxalates.  Some dysbiotic/opportunistic large intestinal bacteria were also found.

Yeast + Oxalates, they go hand in hand.

Oxalates or Oxalic acid is an organic compound found in many plants.

In plants, it’s usually bound to minerals, forming oxalate. The terms “oxalic acid” and “oxalate” are used interchangeably in nutrition science.

Your body can produce oxalate on its own or obtain it from food. Vitamin C can also be converted into oxalate when it’s metabolized.

Once consumed, oxalate can bind to minerals to form compounds, including calcium oxalate and iron oxalate. This mostly occurs in the colon, but can also take place in the kidneys and other parts of the urinary tract (read kidney stones and UTIs).

For most people, these compounds are then eliminated in the stool or urine.

But not for me.  My body was holding onto the oxalic acid and driving my joint pain.

After shifting my diet, being vigilant about my hydration levels and electrolyte health, and most importantly eradicating the yeast and bacterial overgrown ~ I am pain free!

I really appreciate this test and it is a game changer for understanding what is really driving pain and digestive issues.

I didn’t settle for this pain, or just manage it.

I figured out the problem and solved it.  The OATs test also helps with depression, fatigue, sleep issues….the list goes on.

Wanna solve your pain issues?

I’m here, reach out, let’s figure it out together, with or without functional testing.

What Do You Mean by Pain? I’m Confused

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WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PAIN?  I’M CONFUSED.
Good question for sure.

Pain is a term that gets thrown around quite a bit.

I like the IASP’s  (International Association for the Study of Pain) definition as a starting point ~

Pain: An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.

So an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience where there can be actual tissue damage OR potential damage.

Okay, so is anxiety pain?  What about depression? Is that pain too?  YES!

The tissue damage in these cases could be happening from some toxin, produced by a pathogen, that is driving the emotional experience.

It could also be that you perceive something is harming you.  Or both!

There are a lot of scientific studies out (as early as 1954) that confirm what we have felt in our bodies for years ~ the reality of the Brain – Gut Axis.  The vagus nerve is involved, and/or there is direct communication between bacteria and the brain.  Wow.

So the diversity and health of the microbiome affects our emotional state.

What if your beloved dies unexpectedly or in a protracted illness.  Is that pain?  YES!

What if you are in the tangles of an active addiction.  Is that pain?  YES!

What about generational injury or insult?  Is that pain?  YES!

What about chronic heartburn….or chronic diarrhea.  Is that really pain?  Isn’t it just uncomfortable?  YES THAT IS PAIN.

Eczema?  Is that pain?  YES!  And almost always a result of a dysregulated gut.

Okay, so I know that plantar fasciitis is pain.  That makes common sense since it’s physical pain.  YES!

So pain, from a functional viewpoint, includes not just tissue damage, but mental/emotional and spiritual experiences too.  YES!

You don’t have to live in pain.

You don’t have to settle for managing your anxiety, depression, grief, the ravages of addiction, inherited paradigms, dysregulated digestion or foot pain.

The list goes on and on. I’m sure you have a list of your own.

As an expert in using natural drug-free methods to get you out of pain and keep you there, I utilize my ever growing toolbox to help you unlock your healing potential. 

I focus on the inter-relationship between your physical self, your mental/emotional self and your spiritual self.

Is your foot pain a sensitivity to oxalates and the resulting systemic inflammation?  Over exercising because you have always managed your anxiety that way….and/or is your pelvis affecting your gate?  Perhaps it’s your shoes or the way you sit when you watch tv….it’s probably all of the above.

A mix of classical homeopathy for the anxiety symptoms and acute pain, a specialized food plan plus a few select supplements for the oxalate challenge, and finally some manual therapy, Rolfing, to address the neuromuscular tension.

That’s a functional medicine approach.  I focus on identifying and addressing the root cause of dis-ease. Each symptom or differential diagnosis may be one of many contributing to your illness.

It can take time to heal, and it can be uncomfortable getting out of pain.  Sounds weird right, but the fact is that healing often requires clearing and release, being a bit out of balance, before reaching a state of health.

Everyone’s adventure is different, and it takes as long as it takes.  Healing is a journey, not a destination, but together we can get you out of pain and focused on living the life you were meant to live.

I’m excited to get started.

Feeling Toxic? Considering a Detox? Wait! Read this First

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HEALTHY ENOUGH TO DETOX?

DO YOU EVEN NEED TO DETOX?

So, how you feeling today?  Did you make smart food choices over the recent holidays?

A few too many Christmas cookies? Too much Eggnog? Did you actually eat that Fruitcake? Consume all that Hanukkah Gelt?

How did those conversations around the dinner table about the current political landscape go?

Did you even have family to visit?  Where you alone?  Was December not even holiday time in your culture?

Did you over spend?

Feeling sluggish and “toxic”?  Profoundly uncomfortable?  Just want the discomfort to stop?

Thinking about doing a detox or cleanse?

Wait!  Don’t do it.  Step away from the juicer.  Put that Master Cleanse kit away. Don’t rush into some elimination diet!

Ridding the body of “toxins” – enduring a “detox diet” or drinking nothing but juice for several days to “cleanse” – has become a popular trend in the health/dieting world.

A Google search for “detox” retrieves 70 million hits, and the designer-juice industry now tops $5 billion annually, growing 4-8% a year, with much of the appeal based on juice’s supposed cleansing benefits.

But how effective are these detox programs in cleansing the body of harmful substances?  The “detox” fad needs a reality check.

So what is the history of detoxing the body and it’s connection to illness anyway?

HUMOROUS HISTORY

“The concept of toxins as the origin of disease can be found in the Egyptian medical texts and was inherited by the Greeks.

The Hippocratic physicians believed that the body ‘cooked’ the ingested food in the stomach, much like a cook would prepare food in a pot.

They called this process ‘coction.’  Different kinds of food were identified by their ‘humors:’ bitter, sweet, bland, sour, salty, acrid, and sharp or pungent.  As they were cooked they lost their individual properties and were mixed into a bland concoction that was sent to the members of the body for nutrition.

If ‘humors’ were incompletely cooked in the stomach they would have to be ‘cooked’ or ‘cocted’ in the tissues of the body. This would cause sickness, particularly inflammation, which was a sign of cooking occurring in the wrong parts of the body.

The conventional name for metabolic impurities in English, when the North American colonies were established, was ‘humors in the blood,’ or just humors.

The words humor and canker lingered in the American vernacular until the middle of the nineteenth century, but they were replaced by the terms ‘impure blood’ and ‘bad blood.’

The former word came from German, but the latter almost certainly was a contribution of the American Indians, who didn’t have a word for impure.

In the twentieth century the term ‘toxins in the blood’ came to substitute for ‘bad blood’ because environmental toxins became widespread.

Since the liver is the organ that ‘cleanses the blood’ this condition was also called ‘toxic liver.’

These terms are extremely widespread at the present time and probably as many products for ‘detoxification’ are sold today as were sold for ‘bad blood’ a hundred years ago. ~Mathew Wood.

BAD BLOOD?

Our bodies have a highly effective system for removing toxins.
Detoxification is an ongoing function carried out by the numerous emunctories of our very complex body.

Our cleansing tissues and organs that excrete toxins from the body include the liver and gallbladder (bile excretion), the kidneys (urination), the lungs (carbon dioxide), the colon (defecation), and the skin (perspiration).

Our sovereign organ for detoxification is the liver.

The liver is the chief organ responsible for breaking down both endogenous and exogenous toxins every second of our lives. It works in concert with the kidneys and colon as well as the lungs and skin to ensure that toxins leave the body as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The liver filters blood, removing chemicals, excess hormones, viruses and bacteria.

Additionally, the liver is called upon to metabolize drugs and chemicals and to break down alcohol. It also plays a key role in the digestion of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, and acts as a storehouse for vitamins, minerals and sugars.

IS CLEANSING THE LIVER GONNA MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER?

Maybe but we live in challenging times.  Wars rage across the globe, climate change no longer deniable, the social landscape demonstrating profound injustices and condoned hate.

It’s toxic out there…lots of bad blood. No wonder we feel a need to detox.  Our hearts, our souls, our minds, our bodies are continually processing our environment. Our environment that has become increasingly toxic, not just the soil, but in the ways we relate to the earth and to each other.

I believe we are all connected, deeply connected.  We can’t be optimal until our world is optimal. Healing involves much more than a green drink or some supplements to cleanse the liver.

Healing involves community and vulnerability. It involves connection. It requires that we sit with the discomfort, not try to fix or change it.  We need to get to know and understand our discomfort.

If we could have healed (not just fix) on our own, we all would have.

That’s where Functional Wellness Minneapolis comes in. I’m here to offer you expert support and a sustainable healing plan.

You want to feel better, to be as vital as possible.

Skip the cleanse or detox and reach out.  We can get you healthy without some extreme fad.

Side stepping the discomfort has never been the answer.

Together we can address what is really making you uncomfortable.

Bodywork + Nutrition + Homeopathy = Deep Sustained Health

Let’s get healthy together.  The world needs us healthy now more than ever!

MINERALS – The Spark Plug of Life

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Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (hTMA) 

Introduction to HTMA

The hTMA is a screening test that measures levels of minerals and toxic metals present in a sample of hair.

Minerals are the spark plugs of life and play many important health-related roles within the human body. They provide a window into our cellular health, and hair makes an excellent biopsy material.  This test reveals a clear record of mineral metabolism and metabolic activity (about 3 months).

Hair, like all other body tissues, contains minerals that are deposited as the hair grows. Although the hair is dead, the minerals remain as the hair continues to grow.

Minerals and toxic metals are locked inside the hair during the growth state as the body uses it for the storage and elimination of minerals. 

Creating a blueprint of one’s individual biochemistry, hair analysis can assist in identifying mineral patterns which may be associated with our body’s ability to handle stress, blood sugar and carbohydrate imbalances; metabolic rates; biochemical energy and production and glandular imbalances.

Using a science of micro mass spectrophotometry and correct sampling, hair analysis is a highly accurate way to test tissue mineral levels. Hair grows from the inside to the outside of the cell, so it accurately reflects the intracellular mineral content of our bodies. Over 95% of the minerals in the body are intracellular, so hair is an extremely valuable diagnostic tool. Minerals circulating in the blood are under a very different homeostatic control than minerals in the tissue.

Blood pH is more tightly regulated and will work hard to stay regulated at the expense of the tissue. This is why the tissue readings can give us more information. And then with that information, we can see many different homeostatic balances in the body and work to balance them.

The essence of biochemical therapy, or we could say nutritional therapy, is to identify each person’s nutrient overload and deficiencies and provide a game plan that helps normalize the body’s systems. We really have to know for sure our body’s mineral levels to help us know what to eat and how to supplement correctly.

This method of testing has been used for at least 100 years worldwide to screen for the level of 20 minerals and toxic metals in a sample of hair.

It is a non-invasive, relatively inexpensive method of testing and is very accurate.  Hair mineral analysis testing is an excellent method for assessing, monitoring and guiding the correction and improvement of one’s body chemistry.

Hair provides a window into the entire workings of the body, giving us accurate insights into how to balance health through a nutritional protocol.  Hair is an excellent way to see imbalances in metabolic health and bring correction to them before deeper health pathologies set in.

WHY SHOULD YOU GET A HTMA TEST?

  • To determine your current metabolic type (oxidation rate) so you can fine tune your macro nutrient ratios and create an eating plan specific to your unique health.
  • To get a clear plan for supplements specific to your current health so you can stop wasting money on supplements you don’t need and that aren’t working.
  • Find out if you have current metal exposure.
  • To understand why you have fatigue and determine your current vitality.
  • Find out whether you have adrenal or thyroid insufficiency.
  • Find out whether your body is dealing with some level of blood sugar imbalance.

There is so much information this test provides.  It is an excellent addition to all the other evaluative tools I use.

For this newsletter I want to talk a bit about oxidation rate and the autonomic nervous system.

The major take away is this ~  HTMA testing helps us efficiently prioritize your next steps:

  • Are you in the most effective nervous system for digestion and elimination?
  • Is there balance between anabolic systems (building yourself up) or catabolic systems (tearing yourself down)?
  • Are you actually able to absorb nutrients?  What should YOU be eating based on your metabolic rate?
  • How is your body able to handle stress?

Let’s maximize your health so you can do all the things you want to do!  No limits.

OXIDATION RATE and AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

HTMA interpretation relies on metabolic blueprint. Oxidation rate is another way to talk about the metabolic rate.  Oxidation rate provides insight into fuel needs of the body.  It is primarily controlled by the neurological and endocrine systems.  Oxidation is the bridge between neuro/endocrine control and mineral response shown on HTMA.

Honestly our food supply is deficient in minerals. It is nearly impossible to replenish mineral reserves through food alone. Food plays a large role in pulling us in, or pushing us out of oxidation patterns.  The goal of the dietary plan is to help modulate the oxidation type.

A key part of vitality is the health of our Autonomic Nervous System.  

Common causes of imbalance include:

  • Inherited chemical imbalances
  • Insufficient diet
  • Stimulants (caffeine, stress)
  • Negative thinking
  • Traumas (physical/emotional)
  • Toxic metals/chemicals

Only REST will rebalance this system!  

The autonomic nervous system regulates many functions in the body and consists of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic branches.

The Sympathetic branch activates the brain muscles and the thyroid and adrenal glands, which enable the body to respond to stress. We primarily use our sympathetic nervous system during the day, and it is associated with spending energy.

The Sympathetic nervous system is also called the “fight-or-flight-or-freeze” system that could reach the brain and the muscles and is the speed-up system. It causes expenditure of energy and is catabolic, which means “a breaking down of body tissues.” We can say that one is in more “sympathetic state” when one is physically and mentally active.

The Sympathetic branch of the nervous system is balanced by the Parasympathetic branch, which is more associated with the nurturing and repairing of body tissues. The parasympathetic branch also enhances digestion and elimination of toxins.

The Parasympathetic system is conserving, nurturing, nourishing and restful. It activates the digestive organs. It is anabolic and regenerates the body. Healing really requires that an individual spend plenty of time in the “parasympathetic state” in order to allow for proper digestion and elimination of toxins and to rebuild the organs and glands, or really, the entire body.

We are more “parasympathetic” when we rest, relax or sleep. So the body balances these two systems and the minerals associated with them. Animals are actually quite good at this. My dog, Marzipan, models this so well.  She runs fast chasing critters all day, but is equally comfortable spending the afternoon sleeping in the sun (on my bed!).

Humans, however, have difficulty balancing the autonomic system. We live in a world that dysregulates our autonomic system through systems of oppression and domination. Many people are required to fight all the time, for actual or perceived survival. Others are in a “give-up mode” where they no can longer muster the fight and are often de-pressed, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Most people today have either overactive sympathetic nervous system function or they have exhausted the system and end up in an unhealthy parasympathetic state. The body is in a state of exhaustion. Healing looks different for everyone, but an essential ingredient is a safe place to heal and regenerate, alone and in community.  Remember, we are connected even if we can’t tell.

It’s imperative for health to maintain a proper balance between the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system, so you can function actively as well as heal and regenerate the body.

Here are some common causes of imbalance. They can include inherited chemical imbalances. Eating foods that we are allergic to or sensitive to drives imbalance. Having pathogens also contributes to stress.   The use of stimulants such as caffeine, drugs, energy drinks or even stressful lives driven by adrenaline or over-exercising deplete us.   A lack of exercise keeps the body unable to eliminate toxins.

Negative thoughts and narratives about our world affect us deeply.  Think placebo here.  Our thought patterns and belief systems informed by inherited and/or generational trauma can “run” us without our awareness.  Addiction and spiritual dis-ease, an inability to receive based on our understanding of our worth and value, sitting in resentments and fear, all these factors affect our vitality.

Our digestive systems only function when we are in a healthy parasympathetic state.  Only then can we restore healthy digestion so we can metabolize our nutrient dense foods!  We are what we absorb, not what we eat.

Annual Homeopathic Flu Prevention Clinic

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HOMEOPATHIC FLU CLINIC

WORRIED ABOUT GETTING THE FLU?

You don’t want to get sick, but you don’t want to get a Flu vaccination and

risk the side-effects.  You want a way to prevent the flu.

Is there another option?

YES ~ Influenzium 2017-2018 is a homeopathic flu remedy that is updated each year based on the flu strains predicted by the World Health Organization (WHO).  It is created to stimulate your body’s own defense system and strengthen your immune system against the current flu viruses naturally.

  • Call to reserve your 15 minute appoint with the homeopath in minneapolis
  • Includes 6 doses of the remedy
  • Instructions on how to take successfully
  • Access to me via phone or email for any follow-up questions during the season

Functional Testing: The Best Way to Know For Sure!

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Humans are incredibly complex creatures. For many clients, a foundational approach to restoring good nutrition and overall wellness works wonders. For others, deeper underlying dysfunctions need to be addressed, to allow the body to heal.

I am trained to restore wellness using the tools and knowledge of advanced laboratory testing to determine deeper issues, and targeted specialized supplementation to promote healing. I do not diagnose or treat disease.

Specifically, I focus on:

  • Adrenal health
  • Digestion
  • Food sensitivities
  • Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)

I combine evidence-based knowledge with cutting-edge nutrition and supplementation techniques to address the underlying causes of disease and common health complaints. Here is a list of the diagnostic panels I currently utilize.

PREMIUM DIAGNOSTIC PANELS:

Adrenal Test DUTCH:Urine test to capture hormonal levels and cortisol/cortisone circadium rhythm.

Gastrointestinal Health Stool Panel:
Screens for parasites, fungal overgrowth, bacterial infections, intestinal inflammation, digestive function, dysbiosis and a deficiency of beneficial gut bacterial.

MRT: A state-of- the-art Food Sensitivity test that identifies 150 common inflammatory foods and chemicals. Identifying and removing inflammatory foods is the first step of gut healing.

HTMA:A hair tissue mineral analysis is a screening test that uses hair as a tissue mineral biopsy. This method of testing has been used for at least 100 years worldwide to screen for the level of 20 minerals and toxic metals in a sample of hair. Hair mineral analysis testing is an excellent method for assessing, monitoring and guiding the correction and improvement of one’s body chemistry.

What is Functional Wellness?

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This is at the foundation of my practice ~

THE CORE PRINCIPLES THAT DEFINE FUNCTIONAL WELLNESS:

BIO – INDIVIDUALITY:
Functional Wellness views us all as biochemically unique. This approach supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual. My personalized approach treats the individual, not the disease. There is no “one size fits all” approach to health and wellness.

AWARENESS OF CURRENT HABITS/PATTERNS:
We work together to identify your current lifestyle barriers to wellness. The power of this therapeutic partnership is based on the fact that you, the patient, are an active participant in the development of the therapeutic plan.  You make the sustained lifestyle changes that improve your health and wellness.

FUNCTIONAL WELLNESS IS SCIENCE BASED:
What we put in our bodies, what we do with our bodies and what happens within us is connected in a complicated network of relationships.  We work to understand those relationships so we can see the dynamic functioning of the body.

BODY’S ABILITY TO HEAL ITSELF:
Your body is intelligent and capable of profound self-regulation.  This ability is expressed through a dynamic balance of all your body systems. We are an intricate biodynamic system that contains incredible feedback mechanisms. Together we focus on maximizing that ability by enhancing your vitality.

WELLNESS IS A LIFE LONG JOURNEY:
Health and wellness is not just the absence of disease, it is a state of vitality.  Functional Wellness looks to find the root causes or mechanisms involved in any loss of function (heartburn, chronic body pain, migraines, digestive issues, hormonal imbalance, grief to name a few). It utilizes an “upstream” approach to consider the complex web of interrelations in your life, including the internal and external factors that affect total function or vitality. This unique approach makes that journey easier to travel.

I’m Sandra Jones and I have helped thousands of people to become pain-free with my drug-free approach called Functional Wellness. As a Certified Rolfer, Classical Homeopath and Certified Functional Nutritionist, I offer you an individualized wellness plan to get you out of pain and back to living the life you know is possible.

DYSBIOSIS & PROBIOTICS

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PROBIOTICS? 

With the discovery of the microbiome, a new frontier in science and health care was born. While still in its infancy, there is compelling evidence suggesting numerous health benefits of taking probiotics. While the benefits of probiotics were once thought to be restricted to gut and digestive health, new research on the gut-brain axis is connecting our microbiome to the health of the brain, immunity, bone density, blood sugar, mood and even our intuition – and this is the short list.

Transient vs. Colonizing Probiotics

There are two basic types of probiotics: transient and colonizing. The vast majority of all the probiotics on the market are transient probiotics, which transit through the gut but do not make a permanent or lasting change to the microbiome. There are plenty of studies supporting the numerous health benefits of transient probiotics, but once you stop taking them the microbiome generally returns to its original state before probiotic use. The health benefits gleaned are unfortunately dependent on continuous use of transient probiotics.

Colonizing probiotics, while still very rare in the marketplace, actually adhere to the gut wall, become permanent residents, and build microbial diversity. In one study, a colonizing probiotic called Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 was shown to adhere to the gut wall and increase microbial diversity in a study group of subjects over 60 years of age. While the science studying our microbes is still in its infancy, it is clear that diversity matters. Westerners have significantly less microbial diversity than other cultures around the world.

I HAVE FOUND THIS COLONIZING PROBIOTIC TO BE THE BEST

Prescript-Assist combines 29 nutrient rich, soil-based, pH-resistant organisms with Leonardite prebiotic to increase the amount of beneficial gastrointestinal micro-flora found in the GI Tract. This supplement also corrects the damage that antibiotics cause, helping the GI track return to a healthy state. In other words, Prescript-Assist helps to re-establish the normal balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in the intestine. Leonardite prebiotic, also a soil-based organism, enables the probiotic organisms to thrive and prosper in the intestines.

Some of the Advantages of Taking Prescript-Assist Include:

  • Enhanced GI Survival of Prebiotic/Probiotics
  • 29 Proven Symbiotic Strains
  • Supported by Prebiotics
  • Backed by Peer Reviewed, Published Clinical Studies
  • No Known Side Effects
  • No Refrigeration Required
  • Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Vegan

Basic Viability vs. Engineered Delivery

Most probiotic supplements on the market today rely on 1 or 2 strains of fragile, lactic-acid based bacteria. Prescript-Assist is different. Unlike other probiotics, Prescript-Assist has inherent viability. That means the species selected for inclusion are naturally adapted for survival in the human GI tract. Among the 29 beneficial organisms found in Prescript-Assist are a class of bacteria commonly referred to as “spore-formers”. In addition, Prescript-Assist contains Bacillus subtilis: A proven probiotic species found in traditional foods.

A Four-Step Plan

A logical strategy for a probiotic regime would be to introduce colonizing microbes into the gut and digestive tract that support microbial diversity, and ultimately promote digestive self-sufficiency. In an effort to accomplish this, I suggest a four-step comprehensive plan for perfect gut health:

Step 1: Support the intestinal mucus membranes by introducing prebiotic soluble fiber to create the best possible environment for healthy microbes to thrive.

Step 2: Introduce healthy, colonizing probiotics that will remove undesirable, non-functional microbes and simultaneously make way for new beneficial, permanent residents to proliferate.

Step 3: After the gut is primed, boost colonizing microbes to complete the process of achieving thriving microbial diversity.

Step 4: Maintain with colonizing probiotics as needed and small amounts of fermented foods.
fermented

Lower Back Pain and Dysbiosis

 

Chronic lower back pain has a lot to do with chronically tensed belly and pelvis muscles. Why do you tense there? One reason could have to do with what you eat.

If you have chronical or recurrent pain in the lower back, you need to look at different factors to find a solution.

Several Rolfing sessions with body pattern awareness combined with 30 minutes of brisk walking 7 days a week can reduce the problems dramatically.

LOWER BACK PAIN IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM
Often chronical pain in various parts of the moving body has to do with chronically tensed muscles – this also applies to the lower back. But you must remember, that the lower back is not only the lower part of the back, it is also the back part of the pelvis, that is connected with the rest of the body in a complicated and fine network of muscles, bones, ligaments, connecting tissue etc.

That is why it is often of no use to look at lower back problems as an isolated phenomena. We are multi-dimensional beings.  There is a lot going on!

TUMMY SIZE AND GUT FLORA
On top of looking at your general movement pattern, it can be relevant to look at what this pelvis contains. A big part of it contains the gut! No surprice, but have you ever given your gut flora a thought? The gut contains about 2 kg of bacteria, which is vital for our survival.

Good health is dependent on this gut flora´s balance. There are beneficial, opportunistic and dysbiotic bacteria. If the balance of these types of bacteria is not beneficial and dysbiotic, it means that the gut wall it is vulnerable and a typical symptom of that is what is known as leaky gut. A leaky gut can´t handle certain food. If you have a dysbiotic gut flora, you might know perfectly well, that you have certain food intolerance, but you might also not know what more food you might have difficulty in digesting.

One of the symptoms of a more or less dysbiotic gut flora is bloating. You know – just a little or a lot every day, maybe beginning at the same time every day, maybe it starts at different times.

BLOATING MAKES YOU TENSE
What makes the problem worse is, that being bloated can make you tense in the inner pelvic muscles. You don´t necessarily know it, because, in terms of muscle sensation, the bloatedness makes you partly numb in that area and you can´t control all the inner pelvis muscles consciously. You aren’t using the appropriate muscles for movement (like your psoas!) because you can’t “find” it.

Additionally dysbiosis creates inflammation in the small and large intestine, which basically are suspended from your lower vertebrae.  This extra strain creates susceptibility and eventually can disorganize your spine and pelvic causing pain, stiffness and discomfort.

Nutritional Therapies Practitioner ~ N.T.P.

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In additon to being a bodyworker utilizing Rolfing and Craniosacral Therapy, and a Nationally Certified Classical Homeopath, I am excited to announce that I am a
Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (N.T.P.)

What is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner?

A Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) is trained and certified through the Nutritional Therapy Association (NTA). NTPs do not diagnose or treat disease. Instead, NTPs help clients improve health and vitality by addressing six foundations:

Diet
Digestion
Blood sugar balance
Mineral balance
Fatty acid balance
Hydration

N.T.P.s focus on the biochemical individuality of each client.

N.T.P.s use a variety of tools to create a personalized nutrition program unique to each client.

Nutritional Therapy Gives Your Body What It Needs to Thrive

Food is not just something delicious we eat every day. Food is the basic building block of health. Our bodies must get important nutrients from the things we eat in order to be healthy. If what we eat does not contain enough of these nutrients, our bodies will have to do without something they need, and eventually our health will suffer.

This can take the form of decreased energy, health problems, and even weight gain as the body tries to get enough nutrition by over-eating nutrient-poor foods. Getting a solid nutrition program in place will help you be successful with a new eating plan.

A Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, or N.T.P., is a specialist within the holistic nutrition health field. An N.T.P. uses functional nutrition, which looks for the root cause of a dysfuntion and not just its symptoms.

We advise whole foods, traditional cooking and preparation techniques for meals, and offer supplements when needed. We are trained in anatomy and physiology, and use a hands-on physical evaluation called a Functional Evaluation, along with lingual-neuro testing. These combined techniques allow us to make a customized nutrition plan to address your specific needs.

I chose this modality because of the functional component ~ not just the hands-on assessment tool (Functional Evaluation) but also the lingual-neuro testing. This is not applied kinesiology.

Let me explain a bit more…

Functional Evaluation (FE)

Nutritional Therapy Practitioners (NTP) have many tools that they use to assess overall balance and nutritional status within the body. One of these tools is the Functional Evaluation.

The Functional Evaluation involves a series of palpations and other clinical assessment tests (such as pulse, blood pressure, pH of saliva, etc) that help NTPs identify specific areas of functional deficiencies.

The tests were selected by the founders of the Nutritional Therapy Association following the research of a variety of functional medicine practitioners including Dr. Frank Chapman, Dr. George Goodheart, Dr. Robert Ridler, and Dr. Terrance Bennett, to name just a few.

The FE is not invasive and not painful, however we do look for a tenderness rating for each reflex and palpation point.

The Functional Evaluation is not used therapeutically. Rather, it is a tool used for assessment, to gather information. It allows the practitioner to use the innate wisdom of the body to show where it is experiencing distress/imbalance and what it needs to be in balance. It allows the client’s body to convey these needs to the practitioner.

In summary, the Functional Evaluation technique allows me to address the nutritional needs of you, my client, as we assess your biochemical individuality and make tailored diet and lifestyle recommendations.

Lingual-Neuro Testing (LNT)

The second part of the Functional Evaluation involves Lingual-Neuro Testing (LNT)

Lingual-Neuro Testing (LNT) is a valuable biofeedback tool that enables the health care provider to determine the usefulness of a nutritional supplement before it is dispensed to the client. LNT accesses the body’s innate ability to discriminate between what it needs, and what it does not need, in order to correct a specific problem–a weak organ or a nutritional deficiency, for example. This simple and effective technique makes the difference between a generic nutritional therapy plan and a personalized one.

The phenomenon that is observed with LNT represents:

The existence of physiologic indicators, like the heart rate, that reflect specific body functions and their relative health.
The powerful connection between the sensory function of the mouth and the brain, or central nervous system (CNS).
The ability of the CNS to recognize the value of what is in the mouth (i.e. a nutritional supplement).
The tendency of the CNS to immediately change a physiologic indicator in response and proportional to the recognized value of a particular nutrient.

There are three fundamental questions the practitioner needs to address with each client to provide effective nutritional therapy:

Is there a functional deficiency?
What particular nutrient will work for that client?
When is the client sufficient?

LNT enables the practitioner, once an assessment is complete, to address these questions by measuring the client’s response to therapy options that other people with a similar condition have benefited from. By personalizing an otherwise generic “cookie cutter” approach to healthcare, LNT can improve client outcomes and reduce the possibility of uncomfortable side effects.

There are two types of physiologic indicators, those that respond to LNT, and those that change only gradually over time in response to improvement in health.

The latter indicators are dependable milestones that mark a client’s position on their road to recovery. Although the presence of uncomfortable symptoms is useful in determining how and to what degree a client’s health is compromised, and was the motivation for the client to come in for care in the first place, a lack of symptoms does not mean good health.

In fact, the resolution of symptoms is an indication that the client is only half way to complete health recovery. Beyond that, physiologic indicators are necessary to determine client status, and should be checked regularly to confirm progress.

The LNT goes hand-in-hand with the Functional Evaluation. It is a special feedback mechanism based on the neurological response of how the tastebuds communicate with the brain and through the central nervous system.

All together, the Functional Evaluation and Lingual-Neuro Testing, along with the Food Journal review, Nutritional Health Assessment analysis and detailed health history allow the N.T.P. to provide you with well-guided recommendations for diet, nutrition and lifestyle based on your biochemically individual needs.

Homeopathic Flu Vaccination

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The Flu. Be informed about your options.

No one wants to get sick with the flu. These days you can’t miss the conversation and controversy happening about vaccinations. You also can’t miss the massive public campaign that makes us believe that this year’s vaccine is the sure way to avoid this contagious viral disease. In fact if you find yourself in Wallgreens, you can join a program to get points toward your purchases if you get vaccinated!

So what are we supposed to do? Does the flu vaccination really “protect” us from getting sick? Or does the shot actually create an internal environment that opens us up to infection and sickness?

As a practitioner of natural medicine therapies, particularly homeopathy, the answer is clear. Don’t get the flu vaccination if at all possible.

Step away from the needle or nasal spray. The needle vaccines do not contain any live viruses, and so they have to contain formaldehyde, Thimerosl, antibiotics, aluminum and Squalene. FluMist, the nasally administered live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), reproduces in the upper throat of the vaccine recipient and basically causes general flu symptoms. So you get the vaccine, and you get sick. Plus, because it is a live virus vaccine, it is suggested to stay away from immune-compromised people for three weeks – because you are contagious. Seriously?

Even the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States reports that “…influenza vaccines are still among the least effective immunizing agents available, and this seems to be particularly true for elderly recipients.” It is important to be aware that officially, the flu shot will reduce the likelihood of an infection, but not guarantee immunity! Also remember, the flu is caused by a virus and therefore will not respond to antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for secondary bacterial infections such as sinus infection or bacterial pneumonia.

Dr. Jefferson, (co-) author of various research studies on the influenza vaccine for the renowned Cochrane Collaboration, a highly reputable international institution that analyses clinical research, asserted that flu vaccination indeed slightly reduced cases of confirmed influenza, but that the number of adults who experienced flu-like diseases (presumably caused by other than the influenza virus) increased. The number of sick days or hospitalizations over all did not change.

So what do I suggest?

Stay Healthy and Vital
Get Individual Constitutional Homeopathic Care
Take the Influenzinum 2015-2016 Homeopathic remedy.

Being healthy decreases your susceptibility to catching the flu. Eat a variety of vegetables (best cooked in the colder weather), less fruit (too yin), stay hydrated, get enough sleep, move your body daily at least 30 minutes, get out in the sunshine whenever possible to make Vitamin D (especially here in Minnesota), and spend time in the wisdom of your heart.

Constitutional Homeopathic care is the cornerstone of wellness. The goal is to strengthen your immune system and increase your capacity to stay healthy and vital. This individualized care means that remedies are catered to you. Contact me to talk about what makes sense for you.

Influenzinum 2015-2016 is an alternative that offers a safe and effective prevention against influenza.

The Influenzinum homeopathic remedy has been used around the world for decades. In 1998 the French Society of Homeopathy conducted a survey of 23 homeopathic doctors concerning their use of Influenzinum for the prevention of the flu (Coulamy, 1998). The survey included use of Influenzinum over a 10 year period (1987-1998) in 453 patients. Results of the survey were remarkable. In approximately 90 percent of the cases no instances of the flu occurred when Influenzinum was used preventively for all ages 2 and older. In the survey, no side effects were noted in 97% of the cases, while 3% experienced mild nasal discharge.

Homeopathic prevention for past infectious diseases, such as cholera and influenza, are in the public record and have been proven highly effective. In one case involving vaccination against meningitis, out of 18,640 children homeopathically immunized during an epidemic, only 4 cases were recorded (0.0002 percent), while out of some 6,340 non-vaccinated children 17 cases of meningitis were recorded (0.003 percent, or almost 10 times the rate of infection). No system of vaccination can provide a 100% guarantee of protection, as factors such as nutrition, stress and predisposing factors also come into play. However, the homeopathic immunization is unique in being free of side-effects, being gentle (administered orally), and highly effective.

If you are already under Homeopathic Constitutional care, you may still want to receive the Influenzinum remedy to have in your “medicine cabinet.” Because you have an individualized remedy, you receive very specific care ~ but you may also need the Influenzinum remedy.

If you have received the current Flu vaccine, this remedy can help “clear” the effects, and help your immune system get back to normal.

If you currently have the flu, there are dozens of homeopathic remedies to help you get well more quickly, and back to your life, so give me a call! Influenzinum may be just what you need.

Influenzinum™ instead of the Flu Shot. This homeopathic medicine has been prepared according to the standards of the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States since 1957. Influenzinum is the only homeopathic flu remedy that is updated each year based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization. It contains a dilution of the same three viral strains as the conventional Flu Vaccine.

This homeopathic Flu preparation dilutes the three viral strains to 1 part per billion without the need for mercury as a preservative and infuses the medicine into tiny pellets that dissolve easily in the mouth. This homeopathic method of preparing the vaccine greatly reduces the risk of side effects.

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