The Holistic Pharmacist

Archive for the ‘Mental Health’ Category

Mind over matter. This is a mantra familiar to most people today. It can help us get through our day, tend to our daily tasks and responsibilities, and motivate us during physical activity. The outcome is positive to the naked eye: we’re able to conquer our laziness, fatigue, or lack of motivation, and take action. However, is there a price to pay without knowing it?

 

Our ability to move, get up, or grab something is determined by our Nervous System, which consists of our brain, spine, and the many nerve endings that go across our body. However, there is a part of our nervous system that’s not within our control, which helps dictate our survival and adaptation as a human being. This is called the Autonomic Nervous System, and regulates our bodily functions such as¹:

• breathing

• digestion

• heart rate

• urination

• sexual arousal

*Note: “Autonomic” is related to the word “autonomous,” which means independent, self-determined

 

In a healthy body, when we are at rest or relaxed, the part of the Autonomic Nervous System that becomes activated is called the Parasympathetic Nervous System. This is the “Calm” branch of our Autonomic Nervous System. This means our heart is not beating fast, the food we ate earlier is digesting normally, and we are breathing normally. But when we are anxious or frightened, the part of the Autonomic Nervous System that becomes activated is called the Sympathetic Nervous System. This is the “Stressed” branch of our Autonomic Nervous System. This means our heart beats faster, the food we ate earlier doesn’t digest as well, and we breathe more rapidly. This is also referred to as our “fight or flight” response, when we decide to fight (become angry or aggressive), or flee (withdraw). This has had a primitive origin for our survival throughout human history, allowing us to adapt accordingly to different situations.

 

This is important to know, because many of us today are operating in a predominantly sympathetic state without knowing it. If you experience anyone or more of the following:

• Need coffee or tea to get through the day

• Have difficult napping

• If you are not on the move, you feel tired or sleepy

• Difficult for you to be idle

Then you might be Sympathetic Dominant². This occurs when there is an imbalance between your Sympathetic Nervous System and Parasympathetic Nervous System, meaning your body has difficulty relaxing like it’s supposed to. This is an internal state, meaning you feel wound up without any necessary external triggers, but it’s as if you are constantly anxious or frightened. For example, you may have a tendency for heart palpitations, tremors, and/or restlessness.

 

Although, more often than not, you may feel fine. Meaning, you don’t feel anxious or frightened. However, this is because Sympathetic Dominance is a compensatory mechanism your body enlists when your body is lacking in energy. This is generally caused by sub optimal functioning of your thyroid and adrenal glands, so you have to “will” yourself more to get things done, strongly activating your Sympathetic Nervous System. Some ailments that may arise from being sympathetic dominant include²:

• Hypo or Hypertension

• Hypo or Hyperthyroidism

• Grave’s Disease

• ADHD

• Constipation

• Nerve Pain

• Chest Pain

• Joint Pain

 

So what is the best way to prevent or remedy Sympathetic Dominance?

1. Adequate sleep: Getting at least 9 hours every night³

2. Limit caffeine: Limiting yourself to 1 cup of regular coffee or black tea a day (if desired)³      

3. Meditation: This will help activate your parasympathetic nervous system

4. Napping: If and when possible, try to take a short nap everyday

5. Avoid strenuous physical activity: If you are pushing yourself everyday in the gym, then it’s too much

6. Avoid always “Being on the Go”: Try to take time to read, listen to music or an audio book

7. Get a Hair Mineral Analysis: Check to see if you have sympathetic dominance, sub optimal adrenal and/or thyroid glands, which can cause you to become sympathetic dominant in the future. Visit Services on my website if interested in a Hair Mineral Analysis.

 

Willpower is a very precious and powerful thing we have, from helping us get through the day, to helping us reach our life’s highest goals and aspirations. However, it shouldn’t have to come at the cost of our health. Happy 2018, and I hope for success and wellness for everyone.

Thank you for reading.

 

*All information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health conditions.

 

1. Schmidt, A; Thews, G (1989). “Autonomic Nervous System”. In Janig, W. Human Physiology (2 ed.). New York, NY: Springer-Verlag. pp. 333–370.

2. Wilson, L. (2016, August). Sympathetic Dominance. Retrieved from http://drlwilson.com/articles/SYMPATHETIC%20DOMINANCE.htm

3. Wilson, L. (2017, December). The “Free” Nutritional Balancing Program. Retrieved from https://www.drlwilson.com/ARTICLES/HEALING%20LIFESTYLE.htm

 

Did you know that every mineral has a personality associated with it? To me, this is the most fascinating concept I learned in Hair Mineral Analysis.  But does that really make sense? If we fully accept the relationship between mind & body, it does indeed. As you read in Part 2, our chemistry has a profound effect on our psychological well-being. One barrier that many have in fully grasping this concept is that I am providing a mechanical description of human psychology.  Meaning, your personality is directly derived from your chemistry and that I am discounting the power of human will. An analogy to an automobile may help.

Your “will” is you sitting behind the driver’s seat. You have the choice to push the gas pedal, hit the brakes, and steer right or left. If your car is in excellent condition, then you are working with maximum “potential.” If you are calm and relaxed, not frustrated or upset, you can “will” your “potential” to your liking. This is called self-actualization. You can accelerate as you like, slow down if you have to, and make the proper turns. I believe this is when true happiness can occur in human beings.

Unfortunately, most of our bodies today are weak—our cars are not in good condition. So our potential is much less than it can be. Does this compromise our ability to function in day to day life? No.  Most of us will be able to get by. An old rusty buggy might get you to the supermarket and back fine, but is it ideal? In my opinion, we are not here on this Earth to just function and get by. I believe we are here to evolve, grow, and mature as fully developed human beings. But what happens with the old buggy? It won’t accelerate like it should so you have push down on the gas pedal harder. You have to “will” it more. The brakes might not work well, so you have to go at a lower speed to make cleaner stops. You under utilize your “will.” You are either overexerting yourself or under exerting self. Your “will” and “potential” are not in harmony with each other. This conflict can engender feelings of tension and frustration within you. It may build up to the point that you take your car to the shop. Or, as in the case with most people, you learn to adapt. Your awareness of this conflict diminishes. You learn to “will” your way through life. But, you may end up paying devastating consequences. Your body becomes so weak that it won’t listen to your will anymore. Like a car that becomes stranded in the middle of the highway, you may suddenly collapse with a heart attack or stroke.

If we optimize our car (body), we will allow the maximum potential for our will to proceed with less frustration and tension. We can better cruise in life. So what constitutes the structure and function of our body? Minerals. They are responsible for our physical structure and the thousands of chemical reactions inside our cells, affecting every organ system in our body. These essential minerals are: Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Copper, Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Chromium, Selenium, Iodine, Lithium, Boron, and Molybdenum.  Like in a successful play, each of these minerals has to play their role and only read from their script. If a person’s chemistry is imbalanced, then this harmony becomes disrupted. Suddenly, the extras are playing the role of the protagonists. The quality of the play diminishes. The minerals that tend to become dominant in an imbalanced person are:

1. Copper: This is most prevalent imbalance today. This tends to be more severe in women, but is equally prevalent in men. Copper is a feminine mineral. In general, it is responsible for making us softer than our previous generations. It has a stimulatory affect, acting on our diencephalon (old brain). Copper dominant individuals can be very bright, creative, and sensitive.  However, they can also be too emotional, have racing thoughts, and experience mood swings. Some CNS (Central Nervous System) manifestations include:

-Anxiety

-Schizophrenia

-Depression

-ADHD

-Agoraphobia

 

2. Calcium: Similar to being strong structurally, it has a tough and protective effect on someone’s personality. However, it can also make one “too serious,” apathetic, and emotionally suppressed.  Some CNS manifestations include:

-Depression

-Low libido

 

3. Iron: “Iron heads” tend to be very common in our population today. Iron dominant tend to be determined, ambitious, and charismatic. However, they can also be risk-takers and have authoritative tendencies. It also accumulates in the amygdala of the brain, which has to do with feelings of rage and anger.

 

4. Manganese:  Manganese dominant individuals tend to be emotionally cool and quiet. However, they can show erratic behavior, extreme irritability, impulsiveness, and violent behavior. In fact “Manganese Madness” is a psychosis condition that tends to affect miners, welder, and others exposed to large quantities of manganese.  Some CNS manifestations include:

-Schizophrenia

-Violence (In fact, studies performed in the California State Prison System in the 1980’s showed that inmates had 2-7 times the amounts of manganese in their hair tissue as controls).

But as I mentioned in Part 2, we have a bigger problem to worry about in today’s modern era. This is the unprecedented high level of toxicity we are exposed to today. These are in the forms of ionizing radiation, EMF waves, pesticides, and especially, toxic metals. They wreak havoc by displacing our essential minerals, and causing and exacerbating their imbalances. Toxic metals imbalance a person’s chemistry, and poor nutrition makes you more susceptible to this consequence. So how do toxic metals affect our personality? Let’s look at Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, and Aluminum.

1. Mercury: Like copper, mercury is a very feminine and emotional mineral. Mercury toxic individuals tend to be very intelligent, have a good sense of humor, and exhibit quick thinking. However, they can be timid, irritable, devious, violent, and kooky. Mercury toxicity is shown in The Hatter character in Alice of Wonderland. Back then, mercury was used in the process of making hats, coining these mercury-toxic individuals as “mad hatters.”

2. Lead: Similar to its structural feature as extremely heavy and dense, it can lower one’s IQ and make one feel dull and “dense.” Interestingly, lead was used to make water pipes in the Roman Empire, where it poisoned the people who drank the water. Some believe this may have contributed to the unexpected fall of Rome. Some CNS manifestations include:

-Violence

-ADHD

-Mental retardation

 

3. Cadmium: It is a very heavy, hard, and tough mineral that industries use for plating to cover up softer minerals such as copper, brass, or aluminum. Similarly, it is has the effect of acting like a “pseudo-macho mineral” on one’s personality. It can harden individuals and make them appear strong, when they are really weak and brittle underneath.  It also has the interesting effect of sequestering copper, hiding the sensitive side of the person. Some CNS manifestations include:

 -Violence

-ADHD

-Mental retardation

 

4. Aluminum: It is a very lightweight, soft, and toxic mineral. Aluminum toxic individuals tend to be mentally weak, soft in the head, and exhibit forgetfulness and foggy thinking. Some CNS manifestations include:

 -Dementia

-Alzheimer’s disease

 

 5. Arsenic: This is considered to be the slow death mineral. It is used commonly today in pesticides. Some CNS manifestations include:

-Stupor

 So thus, as successful as Dr. Watson was 30 years ago in affecting his patients’ personalities by balancing their chemistry through diet and supplementation, it is a much more challenging task today because of these toxic metals. Detoxification MUST be accompanied for the ultimate balancing of one’s chemistry.  These are methods used to enhance the removal of these toxins through the elimination channels or emunctories of the human body. The 6 primary emunctories are:

1. Colon

2. Kidneys

3. Lungs

4. Liver

5. Skin

6. CNS (Central Nervous System-emotions)

Specific detoxification techniques include Coffee Enemas (colon, liver), Near Infrared Saunas (colon, kidneys, liver, skin), Castor Oil Packs (liver), and Meditation (CNS) which can help accelerate the process of balancing one’s chemistry based on Hair Mineral Analysis. If these emunctories are congested, then a Healing Reaction is more likely to occur.  This is where a patient will feel worse, as toxins are being removed from the cells into the bloodstream, but the body is unable to keep up with its elimination. It is not a sign of alarm, as the patient’s chemistry is in the process of balancing, but can be a cause for discomfort.

Thanks for reading.

 

“A twenty-two-year-old unmarried woman volunteered as a research patient in a study of the effects of nutritional biochemical treatment in mental illness.…The young woman frankly stated that she had no confidence whatever in the general physical approach we were taking to her kind of problem, but was convinced, rather, that she ‘needed psychoanalysis.’…..She gave the following information about herself in initial interview:

She lived in her family alone with her father. Her mother, a heart patient for many years, had died two years previously of a heart attack….Her father was an excessively ambitious physician who had spent almost no time at all at home with his wife and children….Her recollections of childhood and early youth consisted mainly of painful memories of family arguments, of her mother having fainting spells and heart attacks as a consequence of such arguments. She felt her father had indirectly caused her mother’s early death by his indifference, neglect, and cruelty.”

She reported the following symptoms: severe depression with frequent suicidal urges; often she would stay in her room for days, afraid to see anyone; she developed an extreme revulsion for her father to the point of feeling like running and screaming at his sight…She brooded over her mother’s death constantly, and could not separate this event from her revulsion for her father. On the other hand, she would occasionally be overcome with remorse about her hatred for him and would admit to herself that she also loved and admired him.

Although she was convinced that the suggested biochemical treatment was “silly,” she agreed to give it a fair trial. During the first month her worst symptoms began to disappear. Her depressed days became less and less frequent until they did not recur. And within three months’ time she stated she was well. Her attitude toward her father became normal. Six months after the start of her treatment she became engaged, and she was married the following year.”

This was a passage from the 1972 book, “Nutrition and Your Mind” by Dr. George Watson, Ph.D. This was one of the most influential books I have ever read in my entire life. I had always thought that problems with the mind were purely of psychological origin. They were to be solved with therapy sessions, where the art of understanding and analysis would help lift the cloud of distress from the patient. But as Dr. Watson illustrated through personal accounts, the solution was nearly always very simple: customized nutrition. Suddenly, patients who were told to just be “crazy, depressed, or psychologically unstable,” underwent magical transformation—sometimes overnight, with their previous personality becoming an unrecognizable shadow to their new self.

So how does this happen? One must first acknowledge that we need energy to do anything in life—plan, move, talk and laugh, contemplate, and cry. Second, that this outward energy is merely a reflection of the energy within our cells. The biochemical name for this energy is called ATP.

Our cells are 24-7 factories that work relentlessly day and night to form ATP. Because glucose is the main source of ATP, it becomes their best friend. However, this is no easy task. Glucose has to go through 18 steps before all of its ATP is created, and also, enough fat has to be available for this to occur properly. And herein, lays the problem.

People vary in their rate of how they burn or “oxidize” their glucose. There are 3 types:

1. Fast Oxidizers

2. Slow Oxidizers

3. Mixed Oxidizers

Fast Oxidizers burn glucose too fast, Slow Oxidizers burn glucose too slow, and Mixed Oxidizers are a combination of the two. Does this mean that Fast Oxidizers have more energy than Slow Oxidizers? On the surface, yes, but internally, they are not efficient. Like a wood stove with a fire that is burning too fast, they are overheating the room and are in danger of running out of fuel.

So what Dr. Watson was able to do through specific diet and vitamin/mineral supplementation was to speed up a Slow Oxidizer, and slow down a Fast Oxidizer. This allowed the person to burn glucose at a balanced rate, and thus, a dramatic turnaround would happen in their personality. So what are some personality traits associated with Fast and Slow Oxidizers? Based on degree of their imbalance, they can have one or more of the following symptoms:

Mild Fast Oxidizer

1. Energetic

2. Forward- looking

3. Positive

Extreme Fast Oxidizer

1. Nervousness

2. Fearfulness

3. Aggressiveness

4. High-strung

Mild Slow Oxidizer

1. Quieter

2. Gentler

3. Patient

Extreme Slow Oxidizer

1. Spacey

2. Apathetic

3.  Pessimistic

4. Depressed

5. Over analytical

6. Nervousness

7. Defensiveness

8. Rigidity

Based on Hair Mineral Analysis, at least 85% of people today are Slow Oxidizers. This can have a tremendous affect on many different aspects of your life such as the friends you make, the partner you choose, your profession, and the hobbies you partake in.

As Dr. Paul Eck, who enhanced the work of Dr. Watson, and created the nutritional balancing method based on Hair Mineral Analysis, explains:

“Many people have tremendous amounts of love and passion on the ‘inside.’ However, due to inadequate energy levels, they are relatively incapable of fully expressing their deep love and affection.

The reason some people appear to be cold, unloving, and lacking in feeling is not because they want to be this way. They are this way because they have no choice.

Don’t you remember what is was like when you were ill in bed, and you barely had enough energy to even sit up? Were you vivacious and enthusiastic and so radiating with energy that everyone wanted to be around you?

Were you an exciting person to be around? Were you loving and warm and sensitive to the feelings of everyone around you?

I believe that most people could be many times more loving and passionate if they just had more energy.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that were true! If all we needed were a couple of supplements with a diet to balance our chemistry, and then we could tap into our ‘best’ personality.  The reality is: this is true. However, the only difference is unlike Dr. Watson’s case of the 22-year old woman who dramatically changed after 6 months, it will take most people much longer.

This is because now, especially in the 21^st century, we are faced with an unprecedented challenge that greatly delays the process of restoring balance to a person’s chemistry……..

Stay tuned for Part 3 to find out.

What is personality? It has many different definitions, but I think it is the way we interact with the outside world—our loved ones, friends, and strangers.  It is what the people outside of you see. What factors define our personality? Generally, most of us would agree that it’s the combination of our genetics and environment. Either way, we tend to believe it is purely of psychological origin. In other words: mind over matter. I hope by the end of this writing, you will come to realize the other critically important neglected factor in defining our personality: nutrition.

When I first entered alternative medicine, understanding the relationship between nutrition and personality was the last thing on my mind. I was mainly concerned with grappling with physical ailments using natural remedies. But, as my reading continued, the evidence became not only plausible—but certain that there was indeed a strong relationship between your nutrition and personality. Initially I asked myself, “How many people know about this?” to later, “People should really know about this.”

Before one can fully grasp what I’m about to say, let’s first explore the chemistry of our body. Every second that we are alive, our cells are working. Thousands of reactions are taking place, allowing us to function the way we do when we go about our daily lives. These include hormones, neurotransmitters, and other signals our body produces. Do these have an effect on our personality? If they didn’t, psychiatrists would never prescribe medications. Medications can manipulate your chemistry, so you “feel” better. Suddenly, a person can go from feeling depressed and even suicidal, to feeling cheerful and optimistic about life on an antidepressant. A hyper, rambunctious child can become calm and docile when they’re on an ADHD medication. The shy, quiet person can become life of the party after a couple shots of alcohol. Why is this so? Because anything that can manipulate your chemistry, will affect your personality.

But what does this have to do with nutrition? Can nutrition “manipulate” our chemistry to affect our personality? Let’s look at some examples in studies:

• Incarcerated juveniles put on a sugar-restricted diet had a reduction in antisocial behavior, disruptive behavior, and assaults compared to non-restricted juveniles.
  

• In bipolar patients, people hospitalized for mania had a higher blood marker for food sensitivity to gluten than non bipolar patients.

• People who had lower blood levels of omega-3 were more likely to report depression, impulsiveness, and a more negative outlook on life.

• Substance abuse patients who supplemented with omega-3 showed a reduction in anger after 3 months.

• People with extremely low vitamin D levels had an increased risk of depression

• In ADHD children, supplementing with magnesium and vitamin B6 reduced hyperactivity after 2 months

 This only scratches the surface of the staggering relationship between nutrition and our personality.  In Part 2, I will examine this relationship deeper, as well as its relevance to toxic metals, and on how you can personally benefit from this knowledge in helping yourself become the person that you always wanted to be.

My second article on Headaches published on the Arlington Examiner. Click here to read.