by Georgianna Donadio, MSc, DC, PhD
One of the frustrating aspects of health information that we hear the most from consumers is that just when you think you’ve got a handle on what you are supposed to do to be healthy – the information changes.
For example, not long ago those of us who were over 50 were assured that if we moderately cut back our portions, decreasing our calories and exercised for a half hour 4-5 times a week, we could keep the extra body fat that creeps in after menopause, at bay.
How many women dutifully reduced their calories and did their daily half hour exercise routine, only to feel that there was “something wrong with them” because this formula didn’t work for their body, even though the “experts” said it was the right way to control weight after 50.
The weight loss wisdom has now shifted for women past the age when our estrogen is dramatically lower than pre-menopause. Estrogen, as every woman knows, is that amazing hormone that is a metabolic calorie burner as well as a reproductive hormone. It keeps us heart healthy; keeps our skin healthy and it produces “pheromones” for attraction, among other amazing and important body functions
No longer is a half hour of exercise deemed adequate to increase the metabolic furnace that is slowed down by the loss of estrogen and the creeping weight gain around the middle. We now have to exercise a minimum of one hour per day and really watch everything we put in our mouths, especially carbohydrates, which we want more than ever for the serotonin surge they give us. This new information comes from the simple fact that women over 50 generally do not lose the weight they want with just a half hour of exercise.
What is important regarding losing weight and keeping it off after 50 is what our individual body tells us is right for our metabolism and body type. We need to ask ourselves what do we know about ourselves , and our own weight loss and weight gain pattern, that should be more important than the “weight loss expert’s” advice?
The big question is, now that we are past the age of reproduction and our body no longer is protecting us against many of the maladies that come with getting older, what are we willing to make the priority in our lives and what do we know about our own metabolic profile and how food and exercise affects our body weight? What also happens past 50 that can liberate us from this body syndrome and how can we harness it for our health and well being?
After 50, we lose our inhibitions, accept ourselves for who we are more, surprise ourselves with finding new interests and passions and throw off the yoke of being so concerned with success and achievement. We may lose some physical passion, but mentally and spititually we are "off and running" in a whole new way.
Important questions to ask ourselves about what we know about how to lose weight~
1- What do I know about how I gain weight?
2- What do I know about how I lose weight?
3- Do I eat when I’m stressed?
4- Do I lose weight when I’m stressed?
5- Do I use food for emotional soothing?
6- Does eating play a dominant role in my daily routine?
7- Is losing weight more important than eating what I like when I like it?
8- What am I willing to give up, to get the body weight I want?
9- Do I feel my food choices need to improve?
10- What is my personal experience with exercise?
11- What works best for me, what kind of exercise do I enjoy?
12- What do you know how my body responds to exercise?
13- Am I willing to make the time to take care of myself?
14- What are my health priorities?
15- What are my ego priorities?
16- What keeps me from being the weight I want to be- REALLY?
The issue of weight loss is intimately connected with our relationship with our mental, emotional and physical energy. Rarely do we see an energetic, productive, organized individual (man or woman) who struggles with weight issues, even after 50 because they are often focused on their external interests and passions. Ironically, these folks often suffer from not taking the time to eat when or as much as they should.
One of the weight loss “secrets” I have learned over the years from my patients is that when they are excited, creative, interested and passionate about their work, their relationships, learning, doing or being, the issue of a naturally right body weigh solves itself. We are often over focused on the sensory experience and pleasure of food as a main stay for satisfaction and fulfillment.
However, when something else captures our attention and energy, the issue of fulfillment and gratification can come from a totally unexpected and different source. Something to consider ~ Let's find our passion and joyfully burn those calories!
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Integrative Overview of the Endocrines Part VI
by Georgianna Donadio, MSc, DC, PhD
To review the subject of the Endocrine System:
The endocrines are just so perfectly expressed as "everything being connected to everything else in the body" that it is pure joy to share the information.
We will discuss SEVEN aspects of the reproductive glands based on these concepts:
(1) the physical gland
(2) the seven (7) virtues
(3) organs and systems
(4) Selye's stress model
(5) the five (5) Whole Health aspects
(6) Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
(7) the seven (7) "deadly sins"
Called the “Master Gland” by many, the next endocrine gland to discuss is the Pituitary Gland. The Pituitary, in yoga and energy circles is often referred to as “the third eye”. This is because the Pituitary Gland is associated with “higher awareness and higher consciousness”.
As the Pituitary gland is located in the frontal portion of the brain, right behind the space between our eyes, it is called the “third eye” as it also “sees” the world from a different perspective beyond just the physical appearance. The Pituitary sits on its own little throne, called the “Turk’s Saddle”, and holds court as a high ranking endocrine gland. It has been called the Master Gland because the Pituitary acts as a “dispatcher” of sorts, directing the various endocrine gland secretions to function on cue.
These cues come from the nervous system, the emotional center of the brain and the body’s chemical communications. The Pituitary is the interconnectedness component of Maslow's Hierarchy. Just as the Pituitary interconnects all of the endocrine glands to each other, so does it relate to our awareness and consciousness regarding our connectedness to one another.
The endocrine system is a completely inter-dependent system and if there is an abnormal function in one gland it has a direct effect on all of the other glands, each of which adapts to the hormonal change and “pitches in” to try and restore balance to the body chemistry.
This is actually what happens in healthy societies when each member works to serve the common good of all. Physically the Pituitary is connected to our Balance in the world and to the balance of the entire endocrine system.
Regarding Selye’s Stress Model, the Pituitary, holds a place for our “higher self” and responds to and expresses Trust, Acceptance and Integration. The Pituitary is the Spirituality component of the Whole Health Five Aspects. Spirituality being defined literally as "breath or life" or how we live within ourself and with others.
So far we have gone over FIVE (5) of the SEVEN (7) aspects.The last two aspects, as we have seen with all the other endocrines clarify the emotional and behavioral aspects of each specific endocrine gland.
The VIRTUE of the Pituitary is Charity which expresses a generosity towards others and a giving of self. The Pituitary works on behalf of all the other glands, doing multiple jobs for the benefit of all. When we are accepting and gracious to all, we express the highest consciousness of the human experience and we are said to be living from our “third Eye Chakra”.
The DEADLY SIN of the Pituitary is the opposite of its virtue. The opposite of this charitable, hard working gland is SLOTH or laziness and self-serving behavior. While the higher expression of the Pituitary is Charity and generosity towards the good of all, the lower expression of the Pituitary is a laziness and uncaring self absorption. When we are too self-centered or narcissistic, we work against the common good and can become destructive.
It is very simple to see the value and importance of understanding how the body works in a whole integrated way. Many meditation and spiritual practices understand the power and potential of awakening the Pituitary or “Third Eye” consciousness. This awakening is not only for the benefit of others, but for our own emotional and physical health, as well as for our own happiness.
Next and final Endocrine Gland: the Pineal Gland
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
To review the subject of the Endocrine System:
The endocrines are just so perfectly expressed as "everything being connected to everything else in the body" that it is pure joy to share the information.
We will discuss SEVEN aspects of the reproductive glands based on these concepts:
(1) the physical gland
(2) the seven (7) virtues
(3) organs and systems
(4) Selye's stress model
(5) the five (5) Whole Health aspects
(6) Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
(7) the seven (7) "deadly sins"
Called the “Master Gland” by many, the next endocrine gland to discuss is the Pituitary Gland. The Pituitary, in yoga and energy circles is often referred to as “the third eye”. This is because the Pituitary Gland is associated with “higher awareness and higher consciousness”.
As the Pituitary gland is located in the frontal portion of the brain, right behind the space between our eyes, it is called the “third eye” as it also “sees” the world from a different perspective beyond just the physical appearance. The Pituitary sits on its own little throne, called the “Turk’s Saddle”, and holds court as a high ranking endocrine gland. It has been called the Master Gland because the Pituitary acts as a “dispatcher” of sorts, directing the various endocrine gland secretions to function on cue.
These cues come from the nervous system, the emotional center of the brain and the body’s chemical communications. The Pituitary is the interconnectedness component of Maslow's Hierarchy. Just as the Pituitary interconnects all of the endocrine glands to each other, so does it relate to our awareness and consciousness regarding our connectedness to one another.
The endocrine system is a completely inter-dependent system and if there is an abnormal function in one gland it has a direct effect on all of the other glands, each of which adapts to the hormonal change and “pitches in” to try and restore balance to the body chemistry.
This is actually what happens in healthy societies when each member works to serve the common good of all. Physically the Pituitary is connected to our Balance in the world and to the balance of the entire endocrine system.
Regarding Selye’s Stress Model, the Pituitary, holds a place for our “higher self” and responds to and expresses Trust, Acceptance and Integration. The Pituitary is the Spirituality component of the Whole Health Five Aspects. Spirituality being defined literally as "breath or life" or how we live within ourself and with others.
So far we have gone over FIVE (5) of the SEVEN (7) aspects.The last two aspects, as we have seen with all the other endocrines clarify the emotional and behavioral aspects of each specific endocrine gland.
The VIRTUE of the Pituitary is Charity which expresses a generosity towards others and a giving of self. The Pituitary works on behalf of all the other glands, doing multiple jobs for the benefit of all. When we are accepting and gracious to all, we express the highest consciousness of the human experience and we are said to be living from our “third Eye Chakra”.
The DEADLY SIN of the Pituitary is the opposite of its virtue. The opposite of this charitable, hard working gland is SLOTH or laziness and self-serving behavior. While the higher expression of the Pituitary is Charity and generosity towards the good of all, the lower expression of the Pituitary is a laziness and uncaring self absorption. When we are too self-centered or narcissistic, we work against the common good and can become destructive.
It is very simple to see the value and importance of understanding how the body works in a whole integrated way. Many meditation and spiritual practices understand the power and potential of awakening the Pituitary or “Third Eye” consciousness. This awakening is not only for the benefit of others, but for our own emotional and physical health, as well as for our own happiness.
Next and final Endocrine Gland: the Pineal Gland
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
Monday, August 2, 2010
Self-Esteem and Behavior
by Georgianna Donadio, MSc, DC, PhD
The other day, my 17 year old daughter was watching a reality television show about high school students who were treating each other quite badly. The lack of respect that many of them showed towards other students was stunning. What was even more disconcerting was their lack of awareness that the people they were taunting and verbally abusing had the same range of feeling they did; wanted to be accepted and valued as they did and wanted to belong within their peer groups, just like they did.
The main theme of the program was having a facilitator come into the school and teach the verbally abusive students the basics of how to have appropriate relationships. It was portrayed that these young people had never seen respect or compassion modeled for them at home. They were not "aware" that other students, young people like themselves, had essentially the same need to belong and the same feelings and desires that they did.
My daughter commented that it was obvious that these insensitive high school students were suffering from low self-esteem to be treating other people that way. This started a conversation about "where do we develop health self-esteem from" and why do some people develop it easily and others not at all.
Self-esteem is intimately connected to our health and how we treat ourselves, which is also expressed through how we treat others. The role of a parent is to instruct a child in "how to be in the world" and to provide the training, if you will, to have the skills, tools and awareness to develop a strong sense of self and self esteem.
"Roots and wings" was the expression many years ago, which refers to the stability, discipline and security that allows us to go out into the world and have the confidence in ourselves to "spread our wings" and fly.
As parents we have the profound responsibility of modeling to our children what they need to learn to be both healthy and happy. Children learn with their eyes, their ears and their hearts. It really does not matter what we say to our children, or what we say to others, it is what we do that counts. When we take the easy way out as parents and do not provide our children with a strong example and foundation of learning responsibility, integrity and how to respect others, we fail them and we hurt them.
To teach our children to be healthy and happy we must teach them the number one rule of liking themselves, which leads to liking others:
When our behavior is congruent with our values, with what we know intellectually and intuitively is right and good, we like ourselves. When our behavior goes against our values and what we know is the right way to behave, we have low self-esteem. We don’t like ourselves when we behave in a way that directly or indirectly hurts ourselves or others.
I remember talking one time with one of my children who was complaining that "I don't like myself". I asked them an appreciative inquiry question:
"Do you think that feeling might come from something you know about yourself that the rest of us don't"?
Several days later he shared with me “that was one of the best questions anyone had ever asked him” and that it helped him to stop doing something that he felt really bad about doing.
This is a question to ask ourselves and to model to our children, who learn more from our non-verbal communication than anything we might "tell" them about how to live a happy, healthy life.
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
The other day, my 17 year old daughter was watching a reality television show about high school students who were treating each other quite badly. The lack of respect that many of them showed towards other students was stunning. What was even more disconcerting was their lack of awareness that the people they were taunting and verbally abusing had the same range of feeling they did; wanted to be accepted and valued as they did and wanted to belong within their peer groups, just like they did.
The main theme of the program was having a facilitator come into the school and teach the verbally abusive students the basics of how to have appropriate relationships. It was portrayed that these young people had never seen respect or compassion modeled for them at home. They were not "aware" that other students, young people like themselves, had essentially the same need to belong and the same feelings and desires that they did.
My daughter commented that it was obvious that these insensitive high school students were suffering from low self-esteem to be treating other people that way. This started a conversation about "where do we develop health self-esteem from" and why do some people develop it easily and others not at all.
Self-esteem is intimately connected to our health and how we treat ourselves, which is also expressed through how we treat others. The role of a parent is to instruct a child in "how to be in the world" and to provide the training, if you will, to have the skills, tools and awareness to develop a strong sense of self and self esteem.
"Roots and wings" was the expression many years ago, which refers to the stability, discipline and security that allows us to go out into the world and have the confidence in ourselves to "spread our wings" and fly.
As parents we have the profound responsibility of modeling to our children what they need to learn to be both healthy and happy. Children learn with their eyes, their ears and their hearts. It really does not matter what we say to our children, or what we say to others, it is what we do that counts. When we take the easy way out as parents and do not provide our children with a strong example and foundation of learning responsibility, integrity and how to respect others, we fail them and we hurt them.
To teach our children to be healthy and happy we must teach them the number one rule of liking themselves, which leads to liking others:
When our behavior is congruent with our values, with what we know intellectually and intuitively is right and good, we like ourselves. When our behavior goes against our values and what we know is the right way to behave, we have low self-esteem. We don’t like ourselves when we behave in a way that directly or indirectly hurts ourselves or others.
I remember talking one time with one of my children who was complaining that "I don't like myself". I asked them an appreciative inquiry question:
"Do you think that feeling might come from something you know about yourself that the rest of us don't"?
Several days later he shared with me “that was one of the best questions anyone had ever asked him” and that it helped him to stop doing something that he felt really bad about doing.
This is a question to ask ourselves and to model to our children, who learn more from our non-verbal communication than anything we might "tell" them about how to live a happy, healthy life.
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
Friday, July 30, 2010
NIWH Launched a New Website
by Georgianna Donadio, MSc, DC, PhD
NIWH launched its new website today! While the domain and address remain the same, the design and presentation is completely new. Now, while this may not seems like a health blog topic, let me say finishing a long term project and finally "having it done" is one of the best stress busters - ever - and something I personally wanted to share with all of you.
The NIWH team has been working for a long time (I think we started the new site in April) and when you are so focused on a project such as this, you loose sight of how much work you are doing and how tense you become as you are completing it and coming closer to the ever looming launch date!
After we launched the site today, we all took a deep breath and were so grateful that we won't have to be up into the wee hours of the night writing and re-writing copy, searching for, buying or editing photos, picking out appropriate quotes for page headers, designing collages or worrying that we forgot something REAL important that needs to be added.
While there is much tweaking that will undoubtedly take place over the next few weeks, what is SO wonderful and worthy of sharing with you is that when you have an END POINT to stress in your life it’s such an opportunity to realize and be thankful for the wonderful feeling of just being rather than being submerged in SO-MUCH-DOING.
So we hope our SO-MUCH-DOING is something you will enjoy looking at and please feel free to give us your feedback. Visit us at www.niwh.org.
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
NIWH launched its new website today! While the domain and address remain the same, the design and presentation is completely new. Now, while this may not seems like a health blog topic, let me say finishing a long term project and finally "having it done" is one of the best stress busters - ever - and something I personally wanted to share with all of you.
The NIWH team has been working for a long time (I think we started the new site in April) and when you are so focused on a project such as this, you loose sight of how much work you are doing and how tense you become as you are completing it and coming closer to the ever looming launch date!
After we launched the site today, we all took a deep breath and were so grateful that we won't have to be up into the wee hours of the night writing and re-writing copy, searching for, buying or editing photos, picking out appropriate quotes for page headers, designing collages or worrying that we forgot something REAL important that needs to be added.
While there is much tweaking that will undoubtedly take place over the next few weeks, what is SO wonderful and worthy of sharing with you is that when you have an END POINT to stress in your life it’s such an opportunity to realize and be thankful for the wonderful feeling of just being rather than being submerged in SO-MUCH-DOING.
So we hope our SO-MUCH-DOING is something you will enjoy looking at and please feel free to give us your feedback. Visit us at www.niwh.org.
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Relationships and Health
by Georgianna Donadio, MSc, DC, PhD
Recently, I attended a grief support group for adults who have experienced a significant loss over the past year. All the attendees were at various stages of grief and loss, from a wide range of life altering experiences.
What was so important to me about having the priviledge of hearing their stories is that each and every person talked about how being in relationship and or belonging to their family or loved ones was, in the end, the most important aspects of their life and the their loss was devastating, no matter how much success in other parts of their lives they had experienced.
Many of the attendees had excellent incomes, owned high end homes and lived what would be called abundant, successful lives. But what each of them discovered through the sudden loss of a spouse or family member, or through an unexpected divorce, is that Freud hit the nail on the head when he coined "we are never so hopelessly unhappy as when we lose love."
When it comes to our health, we often do not connect how imperative the experience of loving, being loved and belonging are to our overall well being and immune function. Leaving the support meeting, it felt important that from time to time we remind ourselves about what really matters in our lives, as our health and our relationships are intimately intertwined.
Many of the attendees also suffer from chronic headaches, fibromyalgia, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome or ulcers. All of these conditions can be traced back to the stress they experience from the loss and subsequent grief that comes from the loss of relationship.
Do something good for your self today, and for those you are in relationship with. Take a moment of gratitude for the gift of family, friends, spouse, partner, peers who enrich your life and keep you healthy.
Without the gift of sharing love, our lives and our health suffer.
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
Recently, I attended a grief support group for adults who have experienced a significant loss over the past year. All the attendees were at various stages of grief and loss, from a wide range of life altering experiences.
What was so important to me about having the priviledge of hearing their stories is that each and every person talked about how being in relationship and or belonging to their family or loved ones was, in the end, the most important aspects of their life and the their loss was devastating, no matter how much success in other parts of their lives they had experienced.
Many of the attendees had excellent incomes, owned high end homes and lived what would be called abundant, successful lives. But what each of them discovered through the sudden loss of a spouse or family member, or through an unexpected divorce, is that Freud hit the nail on the head when he coined "we are never so hopelessly unhappy as when we lose love."
When it comes to our health, we often do not connect how imperative the experience of loving, being loved and belonging are to our overall well being and immune function. Leaving the support meeting, it felt important that from time to time we remind ourselves about what really matters in our lives, as our health and our relationships are intimately intertwined.
Many of the attendees also suffer from chronic headaches, fibromyalgia, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome or ulcers. All of these conditions can be traced back to the stress they experience from the loss and subsequent grief that comes from the loss of relationship.
Do something good for your self today, and for those you are in relationship with. Take a moment of gratitude for the gift of family, friends, spouse, partner, peers who enrich your life and keep you healthy.
Without the gift of sharing love, our lives and our health suffer.
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Integrative Overview of the Endocrines Part V
by Georgianna Donadio, MSc, DC, PhD
To review the subject of the Endocrine System:
The endocrines are just so perfectly expressed as "everything being connected to everything else in the body" that it is pure joy to share the information.
We will discuss SEVEN aspects of the reproductive glands based on these concepts:
(1) the physical gland
(2) the seven (7) virtues
(3) organs and systems
(4) Selye's stress model
(5) the five (5) Whole Health aspects
(6) Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
(7) the seven (7) "deadly sins"
The Thyroid is the next endocrine gland to discuss. The Thyroid, in yoga and energy circles is often referred to as “the throat” chakra. The Thyroid gland is located in the neck. It differs from other endocrine glands in that its hormones are stored for future use, as well as secreted for immediate metabolic needs. The hormones produced by the thyroid, Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3), are responsible for stimulating cellular metabolism throughout the entire body as well as growth and energy. The Thyroid controls how many calories we burn, our body heat, and how much we weigh. If the Thyroid was removed and there was no hormone replacement, the cells would cease to function metabolically and death would occur within a relatively short period of time.
The Thyroid is the personal power and self expression component of Maslow's Hierarchy. This is easily understood when we think about how our throat is “our voice” and when we speak our truth and express ourselves in the world, we own our personal power and experience self-expression. Under functioning Thyroid problems are believed in many healing circles to be caused by “not having a voice” and not expressing ourselves in the world. Physically the Thyroid is intimately connected to our Brain Cortex – and our interpretation of Self.
Regarding Selye’s Stress Model, the Thyroid can express the Fear, Worry and Lack of Trust dynamic. The Thyroid is the mental-cortex-intellect component of the Whole Health Five Aspects.
So far we have gone over FIVE (5) of the SEVEN (7) aspects. The last two, as we saw with the reproductive glands, the adrenals and pancreas and thymus, clarify the emotional and behavioral aspects of each specific endocrine gland.
The VIRTUE of the Thyroid is FORTITUDE or strength. Often the force of will of an individual determines their fortitude or strength. The “throat chakras” – which relates to our voice in the world and how we express our WILL in the world, is what the Thyroid represents. People who have Graves disease, where their eyes are bulging from their sockets, is the result of a hyperactive thyroid gland and appears very clearly as a forceful expression of WILL or anger. If you have ever witnessed anyone becoming intensely angry about not getting their way, you can see this eye bulging occur.
The DEADLY SIN of the Thyroid is once again the opposite of its virtue. The opposite of fortitude and strength is weakness, fear and ANGRY WILLFULNESS. When we are too focused on getting our way or imposing our will onto others, we suffer from aggression that ultimately can become expressed through the symptoms of chronic conditions, such as Graves Disease.
Once again we can see the value and importance in understanding how the body works a whole integrated being. The Thyroid is another important gland in the endocrine system, enabling us to function well metabolically to keep us healthy or if malfunctioning can make us sick.
The function of our Thyroid function is in our hands. The way we think, treat ourselves and others play a role in the health and function of our Thyroid gland.
Next Endocrine: The Pituitary Gland
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
To review the subject of the Endocrine System:
The endocrines are just so perfectly expressed as "everything being connected to everything else in the body" that it is pure joy to share the information.
We will discuss SEVEN aspects of the reproductive glands based on these concepts:
(1) the physical gland
(2) the seven (7) virtues
(3) organs and systems
(4) Selye's stress model
(5) the five (5) Whole Health aspects
(6) Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
(7) the seven (7) "deadly sins"
The Thyroid is the next endocrine gland to discuss. The Thyroid, in yoga and energy circles is often referred to as “the throat” chakra. The Thyroid gland is located in the neck. It differs from other endocrine glands in that its hormones are stored for future use, as well as secreted for immediate metabolic needs. The hormones produced by the thyroid, Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3), are responsible for stimulating cellular metabolism throughout the entire body as well as growth and energy. The Thyroid controls how many calories we burn, our body heat, and how much we weigh. If the Thyroid was removed and there was no hormone replacement, the cells would cease to function metabolically and death would occur within a relatively short period of time.
The Thyroid is the personal power and self expression component of Maslow's Hierarchy. This is easily understood when we think about how our throat is “our voice” and when we speak our truth and express ourselves in the world, we own our personal power and experience self-expression. Under functioning Thyroid problems are believed in many healing circles to be caused by “not having a voice” and not expressing ourselves in the world. Physically the Thyroid is intimately connected to our Brain Cortex – and our interpretation of Self.
Regarding Selye’s Stress Model, the Thyroid can express the Fear, Worry and Lack of Trust dynamic. The Thyroid is the mental-cortex-intellect component of the Whole Health Five Aspects.
So far we have gone over FIVE (5) of the SEVEN (7) aspects. The last two, as we saw with the reproductive glands, the adrenals and pancreas and thymus, clarify the emotional and behavioral aspects of each specific endocrine gland.
The VIRTUE of the Thyroid is FORTITUDE or strength. Often the force of will of an individual determines their fortitude or strength. The “throat chakras” – which relates to our voice in the world and how we express our WILL in the world, is what the Thyroid represents. People who have Graves disease, where their eyes are bulging from their sockets, is the result of a hyperactive thyroid gland and appears very clearly as a forceful expression of WILL or anger. If you have ever witnessed anyone becoming intensely angry about not getting their way, you can see this eye bulging occur.
The DEADLY SIN of the Thyroid is once again the opposite of its virtue. The opposite of fortitude and strength is weakness, fear and ANGRY WILLFULNESS. When we are too focused on getting our way or imposing our will onto others, we suffer from aggression that ultimately can become expressed through the symptoms of chronic conditions, such as Graves Disease.
Once again we can see the value and importance in understanding how the body works a whole integrated being. The Thyroid is another important gland in the endocrine system, enabling us to function well metabolically to keep us healthy or if malfunctioning can make us sick.
The function of our Thyroid function is in our hands. The way we think, treat ourselves and others play a role in the health and function of our Thyroid gland.
Next Endocrine: The Pituitary Gland
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
Monday, July 26, 2010
Integrative Overview of the Endocrines Part IV
by Georgianna Donadio, MSc, DC, PhD
To review the subject of the Endocrine System:
The endocrines are just so perfectly expressed as "everything being connected to everything else in the body" that it is pure joy to share the information.
We will discuss SEVEN aspects of the reproductive glands based on these concepts:
(1) the physical gland
(2) the seven (7) virtues
(3) organs and systems
(4) Selye's stress model
(5) the five (5) Whole Health aspects
(6) Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
(7) the seven (7) "deadly sins"
The Thymus is the next endocrine gland to discuss. The Thymus, in yoga and energy circles is often referred to as “the heart” chakra. The Thymus is a primary source of all immune cells being formed through the stimulation of “T” (thymus) cells and “B” (bird – because they were first discovered in birds) cells. From the very early stages of our embryology the Thymus is the primary mover in the development of our immune systems. It shrinks after early childhood but still plays a roll in communicating with the early T and B cells it populated back when we were still in our mother’s uterus.
The Thymus is the self-esteem component of Maslow's Hierarchy. This is evident in as much as our immune function is an expression of how we care for and think about ourselves. To see this at work, the observation of HIV positive patients, who have a high self-esteem and self worth, rarely manifest AIDS; sometimes never does it manifest, or only when the individual is confronted with profound stress such as loss or grief which lowers the immune system function. Less than 50% of HIV positive patients ever develop AIDS and much of this is contributed to the individual’s self-esteem level. Physically the Thymus is intimately connected to our Immune System and Neurotransmitters.
Regarding Selye’s Stress Model, the Thymus can express Infections/Compromised Immunity - which is a loss of self protection. The Thymus is the environmental (internal and response to the external) component of the Whole Health Five Aspects.
So far we have gone over FIVE (5) of the SEVEN (7) aspects. The last three, as we saw with the reproductive glands, the adrenals and pancreas, clarify the emotional and behavioral aspects of each specific endocrine gland.
The VIRTUE of the Thymus is HOPE – the individual who sees the world as good and holding promise for the future has hope and feels positive about life and what is to come. This also creates a positive sense of self and self-esteem. Hope fills our life with thinking about the future and that we can fulfill our dreams and goals, rather than directing our attention to what others have and we don’t have. With hope comes the belief that we can be valued, loved and belong in this world – which is an important component to being healthy and having a strong immune system.
The DEADLY SIN of the Thymus is very opposite of the virtue of the Thymus - hope and belief in the future, seeing the world as good and abundant; the sin of the Thymus is that of ENVY – resentment towards what others have; feeling diminished and less valued because another may be perceived as having more than us. Envy, jealously and resentment are poison to the heart, the mind and the body. Envious thoughts send messages to the cell membranes of our immune system that are toxic to the body’s health and function.
Once again we can see the value and importance in understanding how the body works a whole integrated being. The Thymus is a major player in the endocrine system, disabling or empowering the immune system to keep us healthy or make us sick.
The outcome of our Thymus function is up to us – out thoughts, behaviors, virtues and negative actions all play a role in this amazing gland’s function.
Next Endocrine: The Thyroid Gland
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
To review the subject of the Endocrine System:
The endocrines are just so perfectly expressed as "everything being connected to everything else in the body" that it is pure joy to share the information.
We will discuss SEVEN aspects of the reproductive glands based on these concepts:
(1) the physical gland
(2) the seven (7) virtues
(3) organs and systems
(4) Selye's stress model
(5) the five (5) Whole Health aspects
(6) Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
(7) the seven (7) "deadly sins"
The Thymus is the next endocrine gland to discuss. The Thymus, in yoga and energy circles is often referred to as “the heart” chakra. The Thymus is a primary source of all immune cells being formed through the stimulation of “T” (thymus) cells and “B” (bird – because they were first discovered in birds) cells. From the very early stages of our embryology the Thymus is the primary mover in the development of our immune systems. It shrinks after early childhood but still plays a roll in communicating with the early T and B cells it populated back when we were still in our mother’s uterus.
The Thymus is the self-esteem component of Maslow's Hierarchy. This is evident in as much as our immune function is an expression of how we care for and think about ourselves. To see this at work, the observation of HIV positive patients, who have a high self-esteem and self worth, rarely manifest AIDS; sometimes never does it manifest, or only when the individual is confronted with profound stress such as loss or grief which lowers the immune system function. Less than 50% of HIV positive patients ever develop AIDS and much of this is contributed to the individual’s self-esteem level. Physically the Thymus is intimately connected to our Immune System and Neurotransmitters.
Regarding Selye’s Stress Model, the Thymus can express Infections/Compromised Immunity - which is a loss of self protection. The Thymus is the environmental (internal and response to the external) component of the Whole Health Five Aspects.
So far we have gone over FIVE (5) of the SEVEN (7) aspects. The last three, as we saw with the reproductive glands, the adrenals and pancreas, clarify the emotional and behavioral aspects of each specific endocrine gland.
The VIRTUE of the Thymus is HOPE – the individual who sees the world as good and holding promise for the future has hope and feels positive about life and what is to come. This also creates a positive sense of self and self-esteem. Hope fills our life with thinking about the future and that we can fulfill our dreams and goals, rather than directing our attention to what others have and we don’t have. With hope comes the belief that we can be valued, loved and belong in this world – which is an important component to being healthy and having a strong immune system.
The DEADLY SIN of the Thymus is very opposite of the virtue of the Thymus - hope and belief in the future, seeing the world as good and abundant; the sin of the Thymus is that of ENVY – resentment towards what others have; feeling diminished and less valued because another may be perceived as having more than us. Envy, jealously and resentment are poison to the heart, the mind and the body. Envious thoughts send messages to the cell membranes of our immune system that are toxic to the body’s health and function.
Once again we can see the value and importance in understanding how the body works a whole integrated being. The Thymus is a major player in the endocrine system, disabling or empowering the immune system to keep us healthy or make us sick.
The outcome of our Thymus function is up to us – out thoughts, behaviors, virtues and negative actions all play a role in this amazing gland’s function.
Next Endocrine: The Thyroid Gland
With all good wishes,
G
© by NIWH 2010 all rights reserved
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
