What is the vagus Nerve?

The vagus nerve, known as the 10th cranial nerve, is a vital component of our autonomic nervous system. Responsible for rest and repair functions within our body's intricate neural network, this parasympathetic nerve emerges from the brainstem above the spinal cord alongside the other 11 cranial nerves. Its role in maintaining balance and regulating various bodily functions is crucial for overall well-being.

The cranial nerves are essential components of our body, playing a crucial role in transmitting sensory information, such as the sense of smell through the first cranial nerve to the brain's olfactory region. The trigeminal nerve, also known as the fifth cranial nerve, branches out to supply sensations to the face, head, and mucous membranes, while also providing motor impulses for chewing. This nerve is responsible for providing sensation to areas like your teeth, jaw, and face. During a dental visit, when numbing is administered before a procedure, a branch of this important nerve is anesthetized.

An intriguing fact about the vagus nerve is its unique journey from your head all the way down to your intestines, making it the only nerve to venture outside of the cranial region. This long and intricate nerve, among the 12 pairs of cranial nerves, has a significant impact on various parts of the body, including the brain, neck, torso, tongue, pharynx, heart, and gastrointestinal system. With sensory, special sensory, motor, and parasympathetic functions, the vagus nerve plays a vital role in regulating skin sensations, taste perception, muscle movements, and smooth muscle activity in vital organs like the trachea, bronchi, and gastrointestinal tract. The vagus nerve also plays a vital role in reducing inflammation and enhancing immune function.

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Topics: Immune System, depression, Anxiety, inflammation modulation, Vagus Nerve, non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation, nVNS, cranial nerves, immune modulation, gammaCore Sapphire, gammaCore

The Brain's Goldilock's Principle Your Must Learn

Too much, or too little, iron can permanently damage the brain!

NOT ENOUGH: Low iron has been linked to many health problems, including fatigue, restless legs syndrome, developmental delays, lower I.Q., decreased resistance to infections, ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, psychotic disorders, brain fog, memory loss, hair loss, and Tourette’s.    

Thinking about getting pregnant and want your child to have a healthy brain? Your iron levels need to be in a healthy range starting at conception.  

A pregnant woman that is low in iron, or has decreased iron availability, early in her pregnancy can cause lifelong neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD, low I.Q., developmental delays, and decreased brain maturation. The health of a child starts with the health of the mother the day they are conceived and having adequate iron stores throughout her pregnancy is an essential part of being a heathy mother. This is why work with women to ensure they are as healthy as possible, and have ideal iron levels, before, during, and pregnancy.   

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Topics: ADHD, inflammation, Alzheimer's, depression, Anxiety, memory loss,, Dementia, Body Pain, Iron overload, Too Little Iron

Understanding Food Tolerance

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the region of our body that directly interacts with the external world through the foods we eat. Our GI tract performs two main functions. First, it allows us to absorb nutrients critical to maintaining our health. Second, its protective immune system shields us from pathogens, such as bacteria and foreign invaders. The area of our GI tract—from the esophagus to the rectum—where we absorb nutrients and have our protective immune system consists of a specialized line of cells, called the “mucosal layer.” 

Identifying and Removing Reactive Foods

Identifying and removing reactive foods can be a good first-step strategy that may impact energy levels, skin appearance, digestive comfort, well-being, mood, and more. When multiple food reactions are identified, your healthcare professional may recommend removing those foods from the diet. Taking steps to support the GI mucosa and immune system and address any environmental concerns, as recommended by your healthcare professional, may also be beneficial.

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Topics: ADHD, Leaky Gut, depression, Anxiety, Leaky Brain, Healthy Gut, Healthy Eating, Food Intolerance, Healthy Brain, Asperger's Syndrome, mTBI

Biofeedback therapy is a great alternative treatment for patients such as pregnant women and people with pre-existing medical conditions who are unable to use drug-based pharmaceuticals. It was originally developed as a self-regulatory technique to assist with relaxation for people suffering from chronic stress and anxiety.

Biofeedback therapy works by using electrodes to measure bodily responses through several different types of biofeedback machines.   Measurements such as blood pressure, sweat gland activity, heart rate and temperature are used by health care practitioners and biofeedback therapists to recommend more effective treatment plans. Treatment plans often include mental activities and relaxation techniques to strengthen the positive effects of biofeedback therapy.

Biofeedback therapy allows patients to control bodily processes that are usually involuntary. It can be used to treat common health problems such as stress, migraines and high blood pressure and is also believed to be useful in treating neurological disorders such as ADHD, PTSD, Insomnia and digestion problems.

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Topics: ADHD, depression, HRV Biofeedback, Anxiety and Stress, Biofeedback, Insomnia and Stress, PTSD

Mercury toxicity is the great mimicker of a host of health challenges.

Here is a sample of what one should know about mercury toxicity.

1: Mercury is known to denervate nerve fibers, similar to the pathology of multiple sclerosis. In other words it makes it so the nerves do not work.

2: Mercury can leak into the blood-brain barrier and reduce nerve conduction velocity and visual evoked responses, diagnostic tests used for multiple sclerosis.

3: Mercury can inhibit the action (binding) of happy hormones, like serotonin, at the synapse (nerve to nerve connection) leading to depression.

4: Mercury can cause hearing loss.

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Topics: fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy, Insomnia, mercury, depression, autoimmunity, Anxiety, Multiple Sclerosis, candida

The CoQ10-Statin Secret

By Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S.

The medical literature clearly shows that statin medications like Lipitor,Crestor, Zocor shut down the production of one of the most important nutrients in the body. And I am referring to Co-Enzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

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Topics: inflammation, depression, Ubiquinone, Statin, Co-Q10, Cardiovascular, LDL, Hair Loss, Liver Disease

If you are like the many patients who visit a doctor, your chief complaint is fatigue and/or weight gain. Learn how you can regain your zest and improve your overall health and feel younger in the process!

I know in my practice, fatigue is often on of the most common health complaints. Of course fatigue is also one of the main symptoms of hypthyroidism as well. Having low energy robs you of your zest for living and you end up not participating in your once favorite activities. You feel like you are getting old. You don't need to accept this low energy as your new reality.

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Topics: Hypothyroidism, fatigue, brain fog, depression, Adrenal, Anxiety, adrenal fatigue, hypoglycemia, hypoadrenia