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The
Body Electric
by Jackie Kosednar
All is a
procession.
The universe is a procession
with measured and beautiful motion.
~I Sing the Body Electric (Leaves of Grass)
Walt Whitman
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We are just beginning to understand the body as a machine powered
by electro-magnetic energy. We are also beginning to understand that
we are not our body. In the late 1960s, mass consciousness started to
awaken to this awareness. Much was published about out-of-body
experiences, other spiritual realms, ghosts, visitations by angels,
etc. This helped to instill the idea that we could live without
bodies. (Some believe there is a whole universe parallel to ours where
beings don't have bodies.) The idea didn't become popular, however,
until ordinary people began to write and publish their accounts of
near death experiences (NDEs). When several books on NDEs hit the best
seller list in the 1980s, we began to change our perception of and
belief systems about life after death.
The Chinese scientists of the first century plotted the energy
pathways that wired the body like a machine. They discovered that they
could restore function to the body by regulating and removing
blockages in these energy pathways. Their definition of the body as an
electromagnetic device became standard holistic practice. The Chinese
named the current that powers the machine chi, or life
force. The batteries or energy collectors that reservoirs the chi are
called Chakras.
With an understanding of the energy source for the body -- along
with knowing we are not our bodies -- we can study the body as a
machine. One thing that is obvious is that the physical body breaks
down frequently and (in most people) doesn't wear evenly. Many of us
are walking around with weak body parts that are drug-dependent, or
missing body parts that were removed because of disease. Chronic and
terminal disease rates are rising. There are few cures in site that
don't involve using drugs the rest of one's life. We can no longer
look the other way and believe that disease is out there waiting to
strike at random. Now, we know that disease is created over a long
period of time through neglect, abuse of the body or untreated
emotional trauma.
I once asked my favorite bodyworker if the regular work I had
received from him over the years was going to make my body wear
evenly. He laughed and said, "Of course!" I realized that in
his burst of laughter was the essence of preventative healthcare and
Chinese medicine. All of my parts worked fine. Over the years and
through my three pregnancies, my healthcare practitioner had regularly
corrected imbalances, weak systems, allergies and vitamin
deficiencies. My body definitely was wearing evenly, and I hadn't had
a cold or infection in years, so my immune system must be strong.
To keep my emotional energy healthy, I also work on my
emotional/psychological issues with the help of others. As the field
of body/mind medicine advances, we see how unprocessed emotional
energy connected to life experiences can create blowouts in energy
systems. Many people get sick nine months to a year after a traumatic
event. Louise Hay became famous for her work compiling emotional
causes to the illness they create in her classic book, Heal Your
Body. Even conventional medical treatment agrees that stress
(fear) is the main cause of disease. Finding help and support for
emotional problems will greatly enhance your health and prevent future
problems in the body's electrical system.
There are many kinds of bodywork that address the energy systems of
the body. Regular acupuncture/acupressure sessions keep the chi from
becoming stagnate or blocking up to create disease. Other energywork
methods focus on the chakras and other energy systems that hold or
collect the energy the body needs for health. Cleansing and repairing
these systems brings the person into balance. Regularly seeing your
Chiropractor keeps the spinal energies strongly flowing to the organs,
improving your health and preventing uneven wear and tear on the body
from work strain, such as "low back blowout" or
"computer neck."
We all know people who take better care of their cars than their
body, and then trade the car in every other year. However, we only get
one body to last a lifetime. I guess the Divine Designer planned it
that way. You can make your body last and avoid all kinds of
suffering. Ask yourself a few simple questions: What kinds of fuel are
you putting into this machine of yours that is so well designed it
heals itself? What kind of building blocks (vitamins, minerals,
carbohydrates, and proteins) are you providing for your body? In what
other ways are you fueling your body? Do you have a good diet and
regularly exercise? Are you cleansing your body periodically and
avoiding toxicity? Do you provide your body with enough water (8 to 10
glasses a day)?
A physical fitness consultant once told me that if people would
just exercise and drink plenty of water, they could avoid most health
problems. Why? Because regular exercise makes the body wear evenly; it
moves lymph, blood and chi. Furthermore, the body is electromagnetic.
Water is a conductor of electricity. The body needs water, not only
for cleaning the insides, but to enhance the electrical system and
brain. We are two-thirds water for a reason!
All disease is preventable. Take care of your body machine and
clear your emotional garbage. Your body will support the quality of
your life as long as you need it to get around in this physical
universe.
Jackie Kosednar is a holistic practitioner in private
practice specializing in spiritual counseling, personal growth
seminars, and energy work on the bio-electical field. She is the
publisher of Alaska Wellness magazine and author of the book,
"One Miracle After Another."
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Staying
Energetic Through the Inward Pulls of Autumn
by Kaycie Rosen
By recognizing our patterns ahead of time, we have the ability to prevent falling into those cycles that cause us to feel exhausted.
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Heading into the new school year is a good time to set our intentions for how we want to live in the months ahead. Especially here in Alaska , summertime leads us to focus on the outside world. Our energy goes towards producing and gathering food, enjoying the sunshine, and keeping the body active. As the seasons shift towards fall, however, that energy moves inward. As the light fades, our focus shifts towards school, work, and interpersonal relationships. Stresses may increase as work hours augment, schoolwork piles up, and we suddenly have to juggle more activities into a busy schedule.
Each of us has a pattern of how we act and react to stress, and these patterns can cause the body to get out of balance. Stress is of critical importance to our survival. From an evolutionary standpoint, exposure to stressors enforces that we are perpetuating the strongest and most fit members of our community. On a less philosophical level, moderate levels of stress keep us motivated and engaged, and the body is built to perform optimally when there is a balance of stressors and relaxation. However, our cultural standard is focused on rewarding productivity, and often relaxation is viewed as laziness. In this context, that balance can be easily discarded or lost.
We all know what it means to feel out of balance, but what is actually happening physiologically? Depending on your pattern, there are a number of ways that imbalance can manifest itself in the body:
The body’s first reaction in a stressful situation is to produce the hormones that have historically allowed us to survive. This means that when our ancestors ran into the bear, their bodies released hormones (epinephrine and cortisol) that allowed them to run fast, jump high, and see well. Epinephrine, or adrenalin, increases the heart rate, brings blood to our muscles, dilates our pupils, and opens our airways to bring in plenty of oxygen. Cortisol quickly mobilizes our fat stores and turns them into glucose to feed the brain and muscles. These hormones are very important for surviving the run from the bear; however, these are released with any stressor. This means that if we become angry with a coworker, feel pressed for a deadline, are running late for a meeting, or are too tired from lack of sleep, our adrenals will produce epinephrine and cortisol.
If this becomes a pattern that happens frequently throughout the day over a period of time, the body can become imbalanced in three primary ways. First, chronic overproduction of cortisol suppresses the immune system, making a person susceptible to infection and decreasing the ability to heal properly. In the longer term, the elevated blood sugar that results from cortisol release can lead to insulin resistance and, eventually, Type 2 diabetes. Cortisol is also in part responsible for how awake we feel, and is normally high in the morning and low in the evening. Chronic overproduction disturbs this natural circadian rhythm and can be related to problems with insomnia.
Another aspect of this cycle is what is commonly referred to as “adrenal fatigue.” For many of us, the adrenal glands are continually relied upon as the primary source of energy via epinephrine and cortisol rather than adequate sleep, good food, and relaxation. If this pattern continues over the course of several years, the adrenals can start to become fatigued and, in extreme cases, can lose function. Thus, symptoms of chronic fatigue, low libido and insomnia can all be related to adrenal fatigue.
Some of the behaviors related to stress can also be detrimental to our body. Eating patterns can be disrupted, for example. People will often skip meals during times of stress. Although it seems counterintuitive, over time this can cause weight gain. If, for example, a person is not eating breakfast, during the 18 or so hours that pass between dinner and the next lunch, the body thinks it is starving. When food is available again, the body will store it as fat. On the flip side, there can be the tendency to overeat or choose convenience foods. This can contribute to chronically high blood sugars, Type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and all the factors mentioned in last month’s article about cardiovascular disease.
It is also important to mention the effects of stress on the musculoskeletal system. Stress is often “stored” in the neck, shoulders, and low back, leading to muscle tension and chronic pain. Although the tendency can be to put exercise on the back burner during hectic times, this does not help. Exercise improves circulation to the muscles, stimulates the production of white blood cells, boosts metabolism, relieves stress, and moves the lymph. Aerobic exercise (also known as activity that makes us sweat) is critical for the health of heart and blood vessels. Weight-bearing exercise builds muscle and maintains bone density, preventing osteoporosis. Though often forgotten, stretching is of critical importance—particularly during stressful times, as it allows the body to release tension and aids in muscle recovery.
As we head into the autumnal focus on jobs, school, and productivity, it can be of great use to set our intentions for how we will maintain balance during times of stress. If that balance is lost, our ability to be productive and present at our jobs and in our professional relationships is compromised. Additionally, over the longer term, our health will be compromised as well. By recognizing our patterns ahead of time, we have the ability to prevent falling into those cycles that cause us to feel exhausted. Instead, we can eat wholesome, healthy foods and choose activities that help us to stay energized and engaged.
Kaycie Rosen, ND, is a family doctor practicing at Avante Medical Center . She can be reached at 770-6700.
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