Memories of Things Past: PART 3 of 7

The Third Emotional Centre relates to the desire to make our mark on the world, with our sense of identity and self-esteem, with how well we do our job, and how others perceive, assess and acknowledge our performance. This is at the heart of the third emotional centre. It has to do with the "me against the world" element of our lives. Memories related to these emotions are stored in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth, the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestines and upper colon, the liver and the gall-bladder.

The organs of the third emotional centre are more closely aligned with our emotions than the organs of almost any other area of the body. Perhaps due to the fact that the first way we interact with the world is through our digestion. It makes sense to feel things at 'a gut level'. One of the largest issues associated with ulcers and other ailments of this emotional centre is the issue of responsibility and commitment. How well we fulfill these responsibilities can set the stage of illness or health in this area.

Our emotional centres contain contrasting sets of emotions, the powers and vulnerabilities which we must balance for best health. When an imbalance occurs, our intuition knows it and it speaks to us through our bodies in illness.

Third Emotional Centre - Power: Adequacy - Skills, competence, making it work
Third Emotional Centre - Power: Responsibility - Being caught in the middle
Third Emotional Centre - Power: Aggessiveness - Threat, intimidating, territoriality
Third Emotional Centre - Power: Boundaries
Third Emotional Centre - Power: Competitiveness - Winning, gain

Third Emotional Centre - Vulnerability: Inadequacy - Inferiority, incompetence, giving up
Third Emotional Centre - Vulnerability: Irresponsibility - Addiction
Third Emotional Centre - Vulnerability: Defensiveness - Restraint, entrapment, avoidance and escape
Third Emotional Centre - Vulnerability: Limitations
Thrid Emotional Centre - Vulnerability: Noncompetitiveness - Losing and conceding, loss

Ask yourself if any of these statements ring true and see what side you tend to fall on - again, remember one isn't better than the other, but rather that we are seeking balance.

1) "I am the best at my job. No one is better than me." (Adequacy)
2) "I'll just do it tomorrow, who cares?" (Irresponsibility)
3) "I often feel intimidated by people" (Defensiveness)
4) "I always have to win" (Competitiveness)

Memories of Things Past: PART 2 of 7

The second emotional centre contains emotions relating to our purpose. To pursue and acquire whatever we believe will bring us happiness - a career, money, position, sex, partnership and children. At the same time, we worry about individuating from family - about holding on and letting go. About gaining control of the outer world.
Located in the pelvis and lower back, the second emotional centre encompasses the male and female reproductive organs; the kidneys, bladder and urinary tract; the lower gastrointestinal tract; and the muscles of the lower back.
Memories and emotions stored in these organs have a dual aspect; they deal with our drives and how we go after what we want in the world and with the relationships we form as we leave the family and establish ourselves as autonomous individuals.

Our emotional centres contain contrasting sets of emotions, the powers and vulnerabilities which we must balance for best health. When an imbalance occurs, our intuition knows it and it speaks to us through our bodies in illness.

Second Emotional Centre - Power: Drives - Active, uninhibited, direct, go-getter, shameless
Second Emotional Centre - Power: Relationships - Independent, needed by others, takes more, has well-defined boundaries, assertive, protects, opposes

Second Emotional Centre - Vulnerability: Drives - Passive, Inhibited/phobic, indirect, waits for things to come, shameful
Second Emotional Centre - Vulnerability: Relationships - Dependent, needs others, gives more, has poor boundaries, submissive, needs protection, cooperates

Ask yourself if any of these cliches ring true and see what side you tend to fall on - again, remember one isn't better than the other, but rather that we are seeking balance.

1) "I'll do anything for you" (Excessive giving)
2) "I can have it all" (Excessive independence)
3) "No one will ever love me. Everyone always leaves me" (Excessive dependence)

Memories of Things Past: PART 1 of 7

Our bodies have physical memories, systematically organized in our tissues and our organs; a record of something that has happened and affected us in ways we may never have completely grasped or grappled with. They linger in the deep recesses of our brain but are also sequestered in our bodies.

How do we know that memories exist in the body? We might have a hard time believing that every part of the body is associated with its own specific emotions. But there is support to demonstrate that the body is the repository of actual physicalized memories of events and emotions that have happened to us and continue to affect us in the present.

Do you get a headache whenever a certain person approaches you? A stomach-ache when you have to visit your family? Anxious at the thought of having to go to the dentist?
There is no doubt that emotions have physical manifestations. You FEEL fear, anxiety, pain, joy...

Let's say one day you go for a lovely walk down a country road. Your feet crunching on the gravel. The smell of lilacs in the air and the breeze against your arms and face. You're feeling strong, carefree, when suddenly a dog rushes out of the bushes snarling and baring his fangs. You panic and run. That evening when asked how your day was you don't mention the incident. In a sense, you've already begun to forget it because it was unpleasant and frightening and something you don't want to confront again - so it is not laid down in your verbal memory but rather it stays in your body memory. What you have done is to dissociate it from your consciousness and isolate it as painful and unacceptable. This is what we do with trauma.
By doing this we will experience consequences in our emotional state, our physical state or the state of our organs and tissues.

The body is divided into 7 emotional centres and each of these encompasses a particular group of organs and is associated with a given set of emotions.

The first emotional centre contains memories that are located in the blood and bones, the immune system, the spine and the hips. Emotions stored in this centre have to do with issues related to your family; your physical safety, security and support in the world; and to helplessness and hopelessness.
Have you experienced any physical issues in this area?

Our emotional centres contain contrasting sets of emotions, the powers and vulnerabilities which we must balance for best health. When an imbalance occurs, our intuition knows it and it speaks to us through our bodies in illness.

Which side do you fall on? Balance between both is key.

First Emotional Centre - Power: Sense of self, independence, self-sufficiency, fearlessness, trust

First Emotional Centre - Vulnerability: Sense of belonging, dependence, helplessness, fearfulness, mistrust

Ask yourself if any of these cliches ring true and see what side you tend to fall on - again, remember one isn't better than the other, but rather that we are seeking balance.

1) "That's okay, I'll do it myself" (independence)
2) "No one's ever there for me" (poor sense of belonging)
3) "If you want something done right, do it yourself" (self-sufficiency)
4) "The world is a dangerous place" (fearfulness)
5) "You can't trust anyone but yourself" (mistrust)

Estrogen and Progesterone: The good the bad and the ugly

There's been so much talk over the last few years about "bad" estrogen and "good" estrogen and everything in between!
What's the difference between estrogen and progesterone? Why do they say that estrogen can cause breast cancer? How do I know if I have too much estrogen in my body?
Here's a quick run down for those of us who don't know, and for those of us who need a bit of a reminder!

Estrogen is produced in the body for the most part by the ovaries and has 3 forms. It is paramount in a woman's fertility and sharply decreases at menopause. Excess estrogen is broken down by the Liver which coverts it into one of two forms: one of these forms is protective against cancer, the other cancer causing.
Many foods and substances can affect the metabolic pathways of this breakdown, but a well functioning liver is important in optimizing its clearance!

First let's look at the differences between the two hormones and go from there....

A proper amount of estrogen affects:

1) Reproductive Organs: changes of puberty

2) Skeleton: by increasing bone formation (which is why osteoporosis is common in post-menopausal women when estrogen levels are so low)

3) Urinary Calcium and Phosphate retention: increasing bone density

4) Protein: increasing overall protein

5) Metabolism and Fat: increasing BMI and fat distribution

6) Electrolytes: causing salt and water retention

7) Cardiovascular System: increasing good cholesterol and lowering bad, increasing blood clots


A proper amount of progesterone affects:

1) Uterus: promoting changes in the lining of the uterus and decreasing cramps

2) Fallopian Tubes: nourishing the fertilized egg as it travels towards the uterus

3) Breasts: increasing swelling

4) Electrolytes: excreting salt and water

5) Protein: mobilizing protein to the fetus during pregnancy


Metabolism of Estrogen and Progesterone:

1) Synthesis: progesterone and testosterone are made first, then converted into estrogen

2) Breakdown of Estrogen: by the liver

3) Detoxification pathways: the liver needs - Copper, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin C, NAC, Methionine and B vitamins to detoxify

4) Ratio of Estrogen Metabolites: predicting breast cancer risk


How can body get rid of excess Estrogen?

1) Liver detoxifcation pathways – there are 2 pathways, one which leads to the healthy metabolite, and the other which leads to the unhealthy cancer causing metabolite.

2) Increase consumption of plant foods and vegetarian protein - enhancing Liver clearance and promote the healthy Estrogen metabolite

3) Decrease consumption of meat and dairy – especially those containing antibiotics and hormones

4) Increase fiber intake - it can bind excess Estrogen in the bowel and increase its excretion. It also helps nourish friendly bacteria - try ground flax seeds and legumes.

Compounds affecting Estrogen Metabolism:

Indole-3-carbinol (I-3-C) shunts the detoxification of estrogen to the non-cancer causing form.

It is found in cruciferous veggies such as:

Bittercress
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Collards
Horseradish
Kale
Mustard Greens
Radishes
Rutabaga
Savoy Cabage
Turnip
Watercress

You must get a minimum of 300mg daily to achieve a beneficial effect.
But be careful, I-3-C is inactivated by heat, so lightly steaming or quick stir frying is recommended to help preserve the compound!


In good health,

Dr. Stacey Welton, ND

Beat the heat with a cooling "mocktail"

It's a scortcher in Toronto this Summer! For those of us without AC, this past week seemed downright oppressive. Reaching for a frosty cold beer or cool tequila cocktail might have seemed like just the right thing - but be forewarned - alcohol will actually just make your body feel warmer.
Instead, why not try this?

Cardamom Rose "Mocktail":

Ingredients:
1.5 oz of cucumber infused water (just slice up about a half a cucumber and put in a 1L jug of water for about 30 minutes before you want to make this cocktail - you can drink the rest on its own or make multiple mocktails with the leftovers)
.75 oz of Rose syrup (make at home with rose water and simple syrup)
.25 oz of Fresh lemon juice
.75 oz of Fresh grapefruit juice
2 dashes of bitters
1 Cardamom Pod

Lightly muddle the cardamom pod at the bottom of a shaker, then add the remaining ingredients, then ice.
Shake for about 20 seconds.
Strain over fresh ice and add a splash of tonic water.

Cardamom is a great carminative (helps with digestion and flatulance) has antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects and cucumber has a very cooling effect on the body.

Happy Summer!

In good health,

Dr. Stacey Welton, ND

In-Patient Naturopathic Care

Carp Ridge Ecowellness Centre (CREWC) is located on 90 acres of Canadian shield wilderness and overlooks Ottawa Valley famland. It was established in 1997 and since November of 2008, it includes the Carp Ridge Healing House.
Here people can undertake in-depth rejuvenation detoxification programs, treatments for illness including cancer, come for natural childbirth or palliative care. Healing, living, birthing, dying...

They can be referred to the Healing House (HH) by their ND or decide to come on their own. They are screened for suitability and then an individualized program including diet, relaxation/meditation, gentle movement and creative activities is suggested. Services from the clinic, only a few minutes walk away, can be added if desired and appropriate, either as primary or complimentary care.

Their plan is to apply to the Ministry of Health for eventual inclusion under OHIP as a holistic, community based alternative to hospitals as well as to insurance companies for coverage.

How INTERESTING!!

For further information on staying at the Carp Ridge Healing House visit their website: www.ecowellness.com or email them at clinic@ecowellness.com

In good health,

Dr. Stacey Welton, ND

Hair Element Analysis

Have you been eating a lot of sushi lately? Been using anti-perspirants forever? Have old mercury fillings? Work in an environment where you are exposed to chemicals?...

Hair element analysis may be just up your alley!

Measuring elements in blood, urine and saliva have been used clinically for decades.
Doctors use these tests as diagnostic tools - to check your thyroid or to make sure your immune system looks healthy. Hair element analysis, however, is the most effective tool to look for exposure to toxic elements and on the other hand, it is also useful in determining the levels of elements essential to the proper functioning of the body.

These 'toxic elements' or 'heavy metals' are things such as: mercury, lead, and aluminum, and are well known to cause health problems.
They concentrate in soft tissue rather than in blood and urine which is why those substances aren't the best methods of assessing their levels; hair is uniquely suited for this! Just think - your hair grows over a period of time during which heavy metals are deposited in the hair shaft in varying degrees depending on your exposure to them.

If you know you have been exposed to significant levels of toxins - in fish, in beauty products, in the environment, on the job - then this is the test for you!

The procedure is easy and painless - just think of it as a haircut! A small discrete section of the hair is sampled from the back of the neck and sent off to the lab for testing.
Not only does the test assess toxic elements, but it also assesses essential element distribution. For example the ratios between some of the body's essential elements can point to specific disease processes or tendencies.

The best news about all this is that there are many Naturopathic interventions to help rid the body of toxic elements, or support the lack of essential ones.

So go ahead, ask your ND about it!