Energy Vampires are Among Us…

 Donna Eden to the Rescue

by Jen Springer

Anxiety therapy can come in so many ways. One of my favorite is energy medicine pioneer Donna Eden.

Let’s say you were at the grocery store on a busy Saturday. After shopping, you get into your car and you feel just drained, your brain is scrambled, and you’re feeling anxious. You’ve been zapped! Now what?

Here’s your Natural Anxiety Therapy Tip:

When this happens to you, take a few minutes by yourself. Go to the restroom, outside, your car, a bedroom – wherever you can have a few minutes of uninterrupted time to focus on yourself. Now do this exercise from my favorite energy guru Donna Eden:

Anytime you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or just plain “not right” this simple exercise would be great to do. This is anxiety therapy on the go! I’ve used it before I lecture, when I’m attending classes, during times of anxiousness or panic, or even after talking to someone who has stressed me out.

One of my other secrets is to use an essential oil blend called Valor. Before I do the exercise in the video, I will put a few drops on my palms and take four or five deep belly breaths. Then I’ll rub the residual oil on my ears and neck. This specific blend helps me feel centered and less anxious. Then I proceed to do the exercise from the video.

It helps to do the protection exercise in the Zip Up post and the one mentioned above daily as a part of your natural anxiety therapy program. Don’t forget Young Living’s Valor!
Watch the video again, then do the Wayne Cook. Tell me how you feel on Facebook.

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

6 Hidden Causes of Anxiety Webinars Ready!

by Jen Springer

Creating the 6 Causes of Anxiety Webinar Series has been the project of the year.

Recording these webinars and figuring out how to offer them to the world has been a hair pulling task at times.  My mind and internet skills have been greatly expanded!

If you are a VIP, you got to attend these events live. (Psst, if you want to be IN on future events, see the box on the top right of the page for the Free Course? Go fill it out now!)  Every spot for these live events filled up within hours of registration opening. The post event feedback was amazing; the reward of helping people figuring out why they feel like crap is what keeps me going.

These topics are the 6 hidden causes of anxiety, fatigue, hormone problems, brain fog, fibromyalgia, dull skin, and obesity that your doctor probably doesn’t even have a clue about – unless he/she is as cool as mine.

The information pooled into these webinars are from my formal education (B.S. & M.S.), countless hours of seminars, 10 years of practice, and most important of all … my personal experience.

Did you see the first one? The one that is the overview of all of them?

Click on the picture below and it will take you there.

The 6 Webinars Are About …

Part One – Food & Other Allergies

• The 7 most common foods that can make your brain go haywire.
• 14 typical symptoms, 16 symptoms that are 99% of the time not connected to allergies.
• 6 tests that take the guesswork out of what your body is reacting to.
• Why allergies are a symptom of a broken body, not a cause.
• Why radical digestive cleansing can cause more damage than good.

Part Two – Blood Sugar

• Why one minute you feel fine, the next you are a raging lunatic.
• Are you living in a state which insulin resistance is the norm, not the exception?
• The difference between diabetes, hypoglycemia, and insulin resistance and how determine which one is a problem for you.
• The ONLY test you should ask your doctor for to determine hypoglycemia and blood sugar problems.
• How to turn your blood sugar around in 5 simple steps.

Part Three – Hormones

• The 3 types of hormones that can make you “crazy”.
• The free (and most accurate) test you can do for your thyroid that your doctor doesn’t want you to know.
• Know how to spot imbalances with the 6 brain hormones, it’s so simple!
• Why playing with puppies and kittens may be necessary, not optional.
• The one test that pinpoints exactly what’s going on in your brain that physicians are up in arms over.

Part Four – Toxicity

• The human brain on toxins and why it has been linked to bi-polar, ADD, and mania.
• The medical doctor behind brain allergies who found that an inflamed brain is not your fault.
• Why insomnia, emotional outbursts, mania, migraines, alcoholism/drugs, anxiety, and the inability to think may be reactions to what you’re being exposed to every day.
• The 3 main body systems that must work right so your brain is happy and you feel energized.
• What to expect and look for when your body starts eliminating accumulated toxic waste.

Part Five – Nutritional Deficiencies

• Why why you eat is not as important as how you absorb it.
• The #1 macro-nutrient that most people don’t get enough of at every meal that your brain needs to feel balanced.
• A simple formula for food combining that even a 6 year old can do.
• The #1 nutrient that made Jen go from “straight jacket material” to sane overnight.
• The 6 supplements a depressed, anxious, foggy thinking, and absent minded brain needs all the time.

Part Six – Adrenal Fatigue

• What the adrenals are and why you should give a rip about them. (Pssst, they may be your ticket to sanity!)
• Determine if salty cravings, afternoon slumps, decreased tolerance, and the 15 other items on the adrenal health checklist are trouble for you.
• Which adrenal test not to waste your money, there’s another one your doctor can do that’s better.
• What the heck an adaptogen and how they can give make you feel more alert, calm, and not get frazzled with everyday stress.
• Why saying “no” might be the critical factor to regain vibrant health.

You can pick and choose what you’d like to learn. Study at your own pace whenever you like.

 
Be sure to go watch the first one, it tells you exactly what’s going to expect in each webinar.  Here’s the link again 6 WEBINAR SERIES.

If you LOVE it, don’t keep it a secret. Share using the Facebook and Twitter links below!

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

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Self Love & Anti-Aging Secrets That Help With Anxiety

by Jen Springer

Who doesn’t want to bust stress causing anxiety and have glowing skin?

You can do them at the same time!

This all came about a few years ago when I started noticing wrinkles around my eyes, lips, and mouth.  Who doesn’t freak out when these start to appear?!?   I do want to age gracefully, but not prematurely.

When we “love ourself”, our body secretes a hormone called oxytocin. This little talked about hormone counter acts the cortisol increasing effects of stress.  That means when you take a time out of your day to do #3 in my video above, you are helping your body produce this wonderful hormone.

Watch the simple 3 minute and some odd seconds video I recorded for you above. It’s short, simple, and sweet with a guarantee you can create gorgeous glowing skin starting today with Jen’s three secrets.

If you need more help with #1, you can find the webinar mentioned in the video HERE.

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

My Candida Yeast Overgrowth Treatment

by Jen Springer

Dealing with candida is frustrating. The things you need to stop are the things you crave.

Sometimes it feels like punishment more than a cure. Unfortunately, for a person who deals with chronic candida overgrowth these are lifelong changes.

Warning: you may hate me if you keep reading and try these things! (You might not like the changes I list below.)

Want to know the reason uncontrollable yeast? It is there because it can be. Period.

Yeast doesn’t grow out of control without reason. Something happened and allowed already present yeast in your system to grow out of control.

The secret to curing candida is to figure out WHY it’s there and make your body a place where it can’t grow anymore. 

You cannot do yeast cleanses and expect them to hold if the underlying cause is not addressed. It will grow back again and again. Most people pimping candida or fungus killing product won’t tell you this – but I am here to be frank with you when nobody else will.

The first step to killing off yeast is to stop the nourishing the yeast and make your digestive tract stronger.

What feeds yeast like gasoline on a fire? SUGAR. All forms of sugar. This includes: honey, agave, table sugar, maple syrup, alcohol, fruit sugar, brown rice syrup, etc. What doesn’t feed yeast that is sweet? Stevia, plus it’s also anti-fungal.

What else feeds yeast? Fermented foodstuffs & drink and refined carbs. Alcohol, vinegars, pickles, and condiments. Some people may find benefit from home made cultured veggies and kombucha, personally it grew my yeast and I couldn’t do them until my body was somewhat repaired.

Eliminating refined carbs is the no brainer nobody wants to do: breads, pasta, white rice, potatoes, and any other grain that has been ground up.  Some people may be able to do complex carbs like wild rice, sweet potatoes, and quinoa. I could in extreme moderation. If you try it and your symptoms come back, you know it’s a culprit.

All other foods you know are allergens must be elimnated to fix allow the intestines to heal. If you’re on a budget, get rid of the fab 4 for at least 6 months: gluten/wheat, dairy (casein/whey), soy, corn.   The gut can’t heal if they keep getting irritated.

If it’s in the budget, I highly encourage the ALCAT test for allergies. This identifies all sources of inflammation in one test. I had guessed for years what I was reacting to. One test and I knew for sure.

Now that you’ve gotten rid of the fuel it’s time for the rebuilding process.

My protocol:

1. Life 5 probiotics. If a probiotic doesn’t have lactoferrin in it, I won’t waste my time. Lactoferrin goes after the yeast roots (rhysomes) and gets them out of the gut lining. Also has billions and billions of super strains of pro-bacteria.  I did 3 right before bed on an empty stomach for at least a year!

2. Cleansing Trio. This is a 2-3 week gentle cleanse designed to scrub out yeast, parasites, encrusted intestinal waste, and tone the intestines. (Full Directions Here)

3. Longevity Caps.  Yeast killer!  I started with 1 in the morning and 1 at lunch. Then I worked up to 2 in the  morning and 2 at lunch. I don’t do these at night because they may cancel out Life 5′s actions.

4. Kolorex extract. 1 cap twice a day with the Longevity caps.

5. Lot’s of fresh garlic in my food.

If you like this protocol, print out the super detailed instructions HERE.

Recently I have added one more thing to this protocol. It’s a tea that has anti-fungal ingredients. It was designed for weight loss, but I have found it’s amazing for controlling yeast and craving. It’s called Slique Tea and I drink it all day long because it tastes amazing!

I found out if yeast is killed off too fast, it will come out your skin.  Years ago I had made drastic changes in my diet and added yeast killing supplements without doing the Cleansing Trio first.  Because my body wasn’t eliminating properly, the yeast couldn’t leave fast enough and I developed little itchy bumps all over my back.  I backed off the yeast killing program a bit, did the cleanse, and increased water. No more problems!

These changes will get you off to a good start. Repairing a yeast damage takes time, months or even years.  Be aware of symptoms and what triggers them.  Go slow and be patient.

Have you taken the 5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Reduce Anxiety Course?  Get over to the right side of this page and get it now! (Plus, you’ll be a VIP and are privvy to special tips and webinars the public never sees.)

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

Anxiety Cause: Candida Yeast Overgrowth

by Jen Springer

Itchy butt & private parts, wet ears, and red scaly skin.

YUCK, but this is very real and it is a super common cause of fatigue, anxiety, panic attacks, memory loss, foggy thinking, hormone imbalance, flatulence, toenail icks, and skin rashes.

I was so grossed out by the yeast pictures on the internet, I couldn’t even stomach to post one here. (Search Candida and be ready to gag.) So you got a mushroom!  Not remotely close to candida except they belong to the same scientific classification of the fungi kingdom.  Outside of that they are completely different, most mushrooms are health giving and candida is health robbing.

Most people don’t know candida overgrowth can be a hidden factor to anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.  I have had my own personal struggle with candida for years.

I had many of the typical and common candida symptoms such as:

• bloating around the mid section
• itchy and wet ears
• white bumps on the back of my arms and upper legs
• white coating on my tongue
• gas
• inability to lose weight
• anxiety/mood issues
• food allergies
• urinary and vaginal infections
• body inflammation
• brain fog
• fatigue
• insatiable cravings for sugar and breads
• constant dry cough

We are all individuals these symptoms can be the same of different than mine. I even developed asthma at one point! I don’t have asthma!  There was so much yeast in my body that it was harbored my lungs too and I would wheeze.

My intestines must have looked like Swiss cheese from the yeast roots taking hold. Candida overgrowth is a major contributing factor to food allergies. Food particles pass through the tiny holes from the yeast (aka: leaky gut) and circulate throughout the body. The body freaks out because it thinks the undigested food is a threat and releases attack chemicals. These chemicals can create feelings of restlessness, anxiety, and even panic attacks.

When the body is full of yeast, the body is at a heightened state and extremely reactive.  Emotions run high, hands and fingers wave when someone cuts you off in traffic .   Minute amounts of physical exertion create massive inflammation. PMS cramps double you over.  Meals result in immediate flatulence, belching, and bloating.

You can take Donna Gates Body Ecology Candida Test HERE. How do you score?

My body didn’t need tranquilizers or the purple pill, it needed the candida killed off.

The October 24, 2011 post I’m going to share my tricks and secrets. If you have any of your own, please share them on the Natural Anxiety Facebook page.

Know anyone who’s always tired, bloated, and craving sugar? Please share this post with them on Facebook now, they are counting on you.

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

Simple Anxiety Therapy Exercise

by Jen Springer

Exercise is an important part of any health and wellness routine.

But sometimes, finding the time, or the place, or the right kind of exercise can cause the very anxiety attacks it’s suppose to help cure.

Here’s a little anxiety therapy exercise you can do anywhere, any time you feel your stress level start to rise:

Take a look around your surroundings. Find and focus on one object that is pleasant to look it. It may be small or large, brightly colored or quiet and dark. If you’re outdoors, for example, it may be a leaf on a bush, or the mailbox on the corner.

Whatever it is, you want to focus all your attention on this object as you inhale and exhale slowly and deeply for one to two minutes. While you are doing this exercise, try not to let any other thoughts or feelings enter your mind. If they do, just return your attention to the object.

At the end of this exercise you will probably feel more peaceful and calmer.

Any tension or nervousness that you were feeling should be diminished. In fact, the more often you do this, the faster and easier it should become to “train” your body to calm itself. What may have taken you five minutes the first time you did this, may only take two after a while.

Try this simple anxiety therapy the next time you feel those unsettling feelings trying to take over your sanity.

Did you like this simple tip? People suffering need your help! Share using links below to your Facebook and Twitter pages.

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

Exactly How to Do a Whole Body Detox

by Jen Springer

Cleansing doesn’t have to be hard or taste like stagnant pond water.

I love the idea of 2 scoops of this and 1/3 of a tablet of that makes the yuck go away!

It can be that simple, that’s the way is should be.

The first time I did this cleanse, I was so excited and relieved that everything was outlined for me. I’m not so great at keeping myself on track, that darn wagon is so easy to fall off of.

In case you missed the directions, you can find them HERE.  I tweaked it a bit and made it my own, of course!

A few things were changed up so that I could really work on the inflammation I’ve been feeling the last few months.  The juice before bed is meant to pull out acid and help my body become more alkaline. The Omega Blue helps inflammation as well because of the omega 3′s from the fish oil.

The other angle I took for reducing inflammation was to target the adrenals. The PD 80/20 is pregnenolone and DHEA – both help a stressed set of adrenal glands.  The best way I have found to help kick start the hypothalamus is to place some DHEA under the tongue. It doesn’t have any taste thank goodness!

The other endocrine helper I used were the Thyromin in the morning, Endoflex in the lunch smoothie, and 4 Multigreens with dinner. Thyromin and Multigreens helps my low thyroid and give me energy – without stimulants.

This cleanse can be done without added supplements, but I had chronic nagging pain to get rid of so I hit it hard! It worked. As a result, my pain level is down 50%. I’m going to do the cleanse again in a few weeks and see what happens, why not?

Without further ado, here’s the custom adrenal building / anti-inflammatory 5 day whole body detox I created for myself:

RIGHT WHEN I WOKE UP:

8 ounce glass of water with ½ a fresh lemon or lime juice

1/3 of a capsule of PD 80/20 under my tongue, holding it for one minute

BREAKFAST:

2 scoops Balance Complete with ½ dropper of YL Stevia and 5 drops orange oil

3 Thyromin

3 Omega Blue

1 Digest & Cleanse

2 Comfortone

SNACK:

3 ounces Ningxia Red

½ Cup Granny Smith Apple, Berries, or Bing Cherries

LUNCH:

2 scoops Balance Complete with ½ dropper of YL Stevia, 1 drop Endoflex Oil

1 Super B (expect a niacin flush!)

Snack:

2 ounces of Almonds, Walnuts, or Pine Nuts

½ Cup Granny Smith Apple, Berries, or Bing Cherries

DINNER:

2 scoops Balance Complete with ½ dropper of YL Stevia and 5 drops tangerine oil

3 Omega Blue

2 Comfortone

4 Multigreens

1 Digest & Cleanse

SNACK:

Vegetable Juice: 1 very large cucumber or celery heart. Juice the WHOLE thing, peel and all. Dilute 50/50 with water add a sprig of fresh mint leaves or a bit of lime juice if desired, drink it all. YUM!

BEFORE BED:

1/3 of a capsule of PD 80/20 under the tongue, hold for one minute

1 Life 5

• 4 drops of peppermint oil in one gallon of water. Drank this throughout the day.

What should you expect from a cleanse? You could have less pain and inflammation like me. Or, if you’re craving salt and sugar that may subside.  Allergies, what allergies?!?  One of my favorite outcomes is when people report to me that they could just put down cigarettes EFFORTLESSLY because of cleansing.

Now you’re asking, “Where do I get this stuff?”

I know, a few dozen of you have already sent me requests asking for the source and I apologize for the delay!

The above products come from Young Living. I have been using for over 10 years and love them as much now as I did then.  The very first cleanse that helped me go from a 1-bowel-movement-a-week person to a “regular” daily person was from them too!   The stuff works and I trust recommending it to you.

I’ve heard stories where people pick up some random product from the local health food store have skin break outs, headaches, or major colon blowout – I don’t want that to happen to you! This is so gentle you can still work and live a normal life while you do it.

If you’re a do-it-yourself person, you can go to the Young Living site direct by clicking HERE. Or, if you want to ask me questions regarding your personal situation email me at Jen@NaturalAnxietyTherapy.com.  I’ll help you get going in the right direction.

Here’s a question for you -

Are you feeling blah, sluggish, bloated, and all around toxic? Yes?  Let’s work together and get your body working the way it supposed to. Feeling good is your birthright!

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

How To Handle Stress and Stay Sane

by Jen Springer

Fried, frazzled, and flipping out?

This is no way to be. Life is no fun when you feel like you are ricocheting through your day like a  rogue ping pong ball.

We all use the phrases, “If I could just get through this I’d feel better”, “I’m so stressed out!”, and “He/she/this job is making me crazy!”.

Sound familiar? Over using the first phrase is something I’m guilty of.

Stress can suck the ever lovin’ life out of you … literally.

Our body goes into overdrive and plows through resources in order to handle stress. It’s similar to pushing the acceleration pedal to the floor and watching the gas gauge drop to empty.

It’s no wonder why out of control stress over a period of time leaves our guts trashed and adrenals smoked. Not to mention the gray hair and wrinkles!

The reality is, we all have stress and how we handle it determines our sanity. Some people glide through it and appear unaffected.  How is that? Are these people super human?

No, people who appear to be unaffected by stress are simply well adapted. They know how to take care of themselves and mentally frame stress in a healthy way through trying times.

Recently I had a bunch of stress, but the good kind. All exciting and a bit overwhelming. Finishing off my students for the quarter, moving my horses, and re-configuring my business definitely had the potential to throw me into an anxious tailpsin.

Now that all the stress is wrapping up I know I handled it better than I did in the past. I slept well, my body didn’t inflame, and I didn’t spaz out during any of it. That is an achievement!

Here are a few things I did differently “take care of myself”:

1. Vitamin C, at least 1000 mg every day. My body loves vitamin C!

2. GABA: the amino acid for “calmness”. If I felt ANY hint of stress I took 200 – 400 mg at the time.

3. If something started to get me riled up I’d ask myself, “Is this worth dying for?”  In the long run it is the harsh reality of chronic stress.

4. Acupuncture or chiropractic sessions every week.

5. Essential oils of Stress Away and Valor.

Changing these things made a huge difference with how I felt during all the chaos as well as post-chaos.  Oh, one other thing. I didn’t work until all hours of the night to get things done. Sleep was a priority.  Hence why the lapse in blog posts and webinars!

I know you have stress helpers of your own, visit me over on Facebook and DO TELL! Everyone loves hearing what works.

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

Why Your Body Makes Your Brain Feel Cuckoo Part III

by Jen Springer

Heads up, you’re going to feel smarter after you read the rest of William Walsh, Ph.D. article!

I know it’s a brain bender, BUT the information below explains that actual why you may feel out of sorts.

So, how do you find out if you are dealing with any of these?

Simple, find a doc who practices functional medicine or orthomolecular psychiatry.

In the meantime you can have some fun pinpointing yourself with the charts on Nutritional Healing’s web page HERE.

Orthomolecular or functional docs will run tests to determine what is causing crazy making feelings that are paralyzing your life. I was very fortunate to find one of these docs when I was ill. They know where to start looking if you’re manic, flipping light switches, or so depressed you can barely take out the trash.

Remember, the issues below aren’t healed overnight. However, once the problem is found your physician can create a plan to bring you health and sanity back.

Be patient with yourself!

When you’re brain hurts after reading this article, come my the Natural Anxiety Therapy Facebook Page and show me your pearly whites!

The Critical Role of Nutrients in Severe Mental Symptoms by William Walsh, Ph.D. continued from Part I & Part II …

Biochemical Factors in Behavior Disorders, “ADHD,” and “Mental Illness”

The Pfeiffer Treatment Center has amassed a large database of biochemical information from more than 10,000 patients with mental health problems. Examination of this data shows that most of these persons have striking abnormalities in specific nutrients required for neurotransmitter production. The most common chemical imbalances we encounter include the following:

Over-methylation

Many persons who suffer from anxiety along with depression are over-methylated. Methyl is an important chemical group consisting of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms (CH3). Over-methylation (too many added methyl groups) results in excessive levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Typical symptoms include chemical and food sensitivities, underachievement, upper body pain, and an adverse reaction to serotonin-enhancing substances such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, St. John’s Wort, and SAMe⁶. They have a physical tendency to be very depressed in folates (a form of folic acid), niacin and Vitamin B-12, and biochemical treatment focuses on supplementation of these nutrients. These persons are also overloaded in copper and methionine (a sulfur-containing amino acid) and supplements of these nutrients must be strictly avoided.

Under-methylation

Many patients with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, “oppositional-defiant disorder⁷,” or seasonal depression are under-methylated, which is associated with low serotonin levels. They generally exhibit seasonal allergies and other distinctive symptoms and traits. They have a tendency to be very depressed in calcium, magnesium, methionine, and vitamin B-6 with excessive levels of folic acid. These under-methylated persons can have a positive effect from Paxil, Zoloft, and other serotonin-enhancing medications, although nasty side effects are common. A more natural approach is to directly correct the underlying problem using methionine, calcium, magnesium, and B-6. SAMe, St. John’s Wort, Kava Kava, and inositol (a natural sugar alcohol) are also very useful in treating these individuals.

Metal-metabolism

A common problem in “ADHD,” behavior disorders, and hormonal depression is a physical inability to control copper, zinc, manganese, and other trace metals in the body due to improper functioning of metallothionein – a small protein synthesized in the liver and kidney in response to the presence of some metal ions⁸, including zinc, mercury, cadmium, and copper. It binds the metal ions tightly and is important both in ion transport and in detoxification.

These patients are often deficient in zinc and manganese, the amino acids cysteine and serine, and vitamin B-6. They are commonly overloaded in copper, lead, and cadmium. They must avoid supplements and “enriched foods” containing copper. In addition we recommend they drink bottled water and limit use of swimming pools and jacuzzis treated with copper sulfate anti-algae agents. Foods to be limited due to high copper content include shellfish, chocolate, and carob.

Elevated copper levels are associated with hormonal imbalances and a classic symptom is intolerance to estrogen. Biochemical treatment focuses on stimulation of metallothionein using zinc, manganese, cysteine, serine, and vitamin B-6.

Pyrrole disorder

A common feature of many behavioral and emotional disorders is pyroluria, detectable as a purple (on testing paper) metabolite in urine called “the mauve factor.” Pyroluria is an inborn error of pyrrole chemistry, which results in a dramatic deficiency of zinc, vitamin B-6, and arachidonic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid). As noted earlier, certain pyrroles called kryptopyrroles (literally, “hidden pyrroles”) bind with B-6, then zinc to deplete the body’s supply. Common symptoms include explosive temper, mood swings, poor short-term memory, and frequent infections. These patients are easily identified by their inability to tan, poor dream recall, abnormal fat distribution, and sensitivity to light and sound. The decisive laboratory test is analysis for kryptopyrroles (the “mauve factor”) in urine. Treatment centers on zinc and B-6 supplements together with omega-6 essential fatty acids.

Glucose dyscontrol

Our database indicates a significant number of our patients have chronic low blood glucose levels. This problem doesn’t appear to be the cause of behavior disorders, depression, etc., but instead is an aggravating factor which can trigger striking symptoms. Typical symptoms include drowsiness after meals, irritability, craving for sweets, trembling, anxiety, and intermittent poor concentration and focus. Treatment includes chromium, manganese, and other glucose-stabilizing nutrients, but the primary focus of treatment is on diet. These patients benefit from six or more small meals daily with emphasis on complex carbohydrates and protein. In essence, they cannot tolerate large meals or quick sugars. Complex carbohydrates provide the necessary glucose in a slow, gradual manner and may be thought of as “time-released” sugar.

Toxic substances

Occasionally we encounter a patient whose condition has resulted from a heavy-metal overload (lead, cadmium, mercury, etc.) or toxic levels of pesticides or other organic chemicals. Our database indicates that persons with a metallothionein disorder are especially sensitive to toxic metals and that over-methylation is associated with severe chemical sensitivities. Effective treatment requires a three-part approach: (1) avoidance of additional exposures, (2) biochemical treatment to hasten the exit of the toxic substance from the body, and (3) correction of underlying chemical imbalances to minimize future vulnerability to the toxic material.

Malabsorption

Although only 10% of our database case histories involve serious malabsorption, more than 90% of autistics exhibit this problem. There are three primary classes of absorption problems: (1) stomach problems, including excessive or insufficient HCl (hydrochloric acid) levels, (2) incomplete digestion in the small intestine, and (3) problems at the brush-border, the tiny villi⁹ that tremendously increase the surface area of the intestine, where most nutrients are absorbed into to the blood stream. The consequences can include nutrient deficiencies, irritation of the intestinal tract, candida, and mental health problems. Incomplete breakdown of protein and fats can adversely affect brain neurotransmission, and is associated with impulsivity and academic underachievement. Treatment depends on the type of malabsorption present and may involve adjustment of stomach HCl levels, digestive enzymes that survive stomach acid, nutrients to enhance digestion, and special diets.

Essential Fatty Acids

The brain is 20% fat (by dry weight) and these fatty substances fulfill very important functions. The myelin sheaths which surround our brain cells contain essential fatty acids that are directly involved in nerve receptor formation and nerve transmission. A 1998 Symposium at the National Institute of Mental Health presented strong evidence of the important roles for omega-3 oils (especially EPA an DHA¹⁰) and omega-6 oils (especially AA and DGLA¹¹) in “ADHD,” depression, and “schizophrenia.” A recent Harvard study showed EPA and DHA supplements to be more effective than psychiatric medications in combating “bipolar depression.”

Typical American diets usually result in insufficient omega-3 and excessive omega-6 and some nutritionists routinely recommend supplements of omega-3 oils. However, biochemical individuality also exists with oils and certain persons are innately low in omega-6 oils. A review of symptoms and specialized plasma and red-cell-membrane lab tests can identify individual needs.

Summary

Nutrients play a critical role in mental health. They are the building blocks of the nervous system. Correct testing and understanding of deficiencies and overloads can pinpoint the causes of many severe mental symptoms, thus opening the door to hope and recovery.

Footnotes:

1. Methionine is an amino acid you need that you can only get from food or supplements.
2. Choline is part of the vitamin B complex family.
3. Fatty acids are the building blocks of fats.  The tail end of the fatty acid molecule is called the “omega.”  Some fatty acids have two carbon atoms together located 6 atoms from the end.  These are called omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have a double carbon atoms at 3 from the end.
4. Chemicals that transfer messages from one nerve cells to the other.
5. Serotonin, dopamine, and nonepinephrine are all neurotransmitters.
6. SAMe stands for S-Adenosyl Methionine.  It is a supplement and a chemical produced in the brain from the amino acid methionine.  In one chemical process, SAMe adds methyl groups, thus would be harmful to people already over-methylated.
7.  A psychiatric diagnosis for a pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior lasting at least 6 months.
8. An ion is a negatively charged atom or group of atoms.  They tend to want to combine with other atoms or groups of atoms.
9.  Villi are minute, finger-like projections that give the small intestine lining a velvet-like appearance.  They absorb nutrients.
10.  There are 3 kinds of omega-3 fatty acids.   Two of them are EPA and DHA, which are found in fish oil.
11.  There are 3 kinds of omega-6 fatty acids.  Two of them are AA (arachidonic acid, mentioned earlier in this article) and DGLA.

Why Your Body Makes Your Brain Feel Cuckoo Part II

by Jen Springer

Now we’re getting to the good stuff!

William Walsh, Ph.D starts getting into neurotransmitters, pyrroles, and nutrients.

I apologize, the geek in me gets so jazzed to share this with you.

It was information like this written by Joan Matthews Larson, PhD. and Carl Pfeiffer that kept me hanging in there when I was really knocked down the anxiety and panic 24/7.  I knew what was going on in my body, but fixing it was the challenge. That took time and patience (as I outline in my ebook Let’s Get Physical).

Next post, methylation. That’s when we’ll really dork out together! Take your Omega 3′s and Brain Power oil to be ready for that one!

The Critical Role of Nutrients in Severe Mental Symptoms by William Walsh, Ph.D. continued from Part I …

Nutrients and Mental Health

As we enter the new millennium, the medical and scientific communities agree on the tremendous influence of neurotransmitters⁴ on behavior disorders, “ADHD” (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), depression, and “schizophrenia.” People can have a predisposition for these problems due to genetically aberrant levels of specific neurotransmitters. Our mental health is dependent upon having the proper amount of these critical brain chemicals.

Some psychiatrists express their scorn for nutrient therapies, claiming that they are too puny to have any real clinical potency. They often say, “You really need a drug to get the job done for a serious condition like depression.”

My favorite response begins by asking the question, “Where do our neurotransmitters come from?”

The brain is a chemical factory that produces serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine⁵, and other brain chemicals 24 hours a day. The only raw materials for their syntheses are nutrients, namely, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc. If the brain receives improper amounts of these nutrient building blocks, we can expect serious problems with our neurotransmitters.

For example, some depression patients have a genetic pyrrole disorder which renders them grossly depleted in vitamin B-6. A pyrrole is a basic chemical structure that is used in the formation of heme, which makes blood red. Pyrroles bind with B₆ and then with zinc, thus depleting these nutrients. These individuals cannot efficiently create serotonin (a neurotransmitter) since B-6 is an important factor in the last step of its synthesis.

Many of these persons appear to benefit from Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, or other serotonin-enhancing medications. However, as with all mind-altering drugs, side effects occur and the true cause of the mental difficulties remains uncorrected. Similar – and more healthful – benefits can be achieved by simply giving these patients sufficient amounts of B-6 along with supporting nutrients.

Most neurotransmitter problems appear to be genetic in nature and involve abnormal absorption, metabolism, or storage of key nutrients. As neuroscience advances, biochemical treatments to correct brain chemistry become better defined. Nutrient therapy can be very potent and does not involve side effects, since no molecules foreign to the body are needed. This therapeutic approach may eventually eliminate the need for most psychiatric medications.

to be continued …

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