#22 - Psychosomatic symptoms, Childhood ACE score (adverse factors).
Part of a series: 1. (Experimental design and variables - first #19), 2. (#20 - Retinoids), 3. (#21 - History of Psych drug use); about experimental design for a multi-factorial problem - FAS and ADHD and an increased risk for schizophrenia (schizoaffective disorders) which can lead to an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s dementia later in life. What do they all have in common?
Possibly many things including Retinoid imbalance or lack, mitochondrial dysfunction due to nutrient deficiency or imbalance, and quantum biology dysfunction due to nutrient deficiency or imbalance, misfolded proteins, other EMF and other physical and emotional reasons for oxidative stress.
To add #22 to the list - early childhood and other trauma can add to an oxidative stress condition and long-term health problems. Irritable bowel syndrome or colitis may be more likely which can lead to malnutrition of B vitamins and trace minerals and increase risk of autoimmune or food allergies developing with the leaky bowel membranes allowing whole proteins into the body. Psychosomatic symptoms can include muscle tension sometimes called body armoring which can limit range of motion or function and may occur more during an emotional situation.
The fact that histamine hyperexcitability meltdowns and other psychosomatic symptoms can be emotionally triggered may make a “it is just mental illness” more believable. Practicing cognitive therapy coping skills can help the brain and body to learn to be less over-active in the fear response habit but excess histamine can still make a mood meltdown a daily problem.
An example - picture a worker in a lunch breakroom and someone else closes a cupboard too abruptly and it makes a sudden loud noise (which can happen without trying to slam it shut). The worker is suddenly startled and their body floods with fear response chemicals and their muscles suddenly tighten defensively, and they may feel like hitting back, or running away, or crouching in fear.
The worker, without recognition of their own fear response, may react in blame or defensiveness “Why are you so angry? What did I do to you?” The other worker may have no idea what the first person is talking about. They had just shut a cupboard door is all. (Wtf coworker? It is always good to try to react peacefully because we have no idea what another person may be going through, or already had to survive.)
Digging deeper, we may learn that the first worker had a parent who would slam cupboard doors when angry and might follow that anger with a blow to a nearby child or spouse. In adult life, the old child pattern is still expected by the person’s learned body patterns - a loud cupboard door sound means that someone is angry and someone else is going to get hit. It can take a lot of daily practice of more positive self talk to counteract childhood messages that were embedded in our fear and anxiety centers. Having a chance to talk through the trauma can help a child or later adult to work through the old fear and be better able to recognize in the future that “Oh, that loud noise startled me…but my parent is not here anymore to hit anyone, so it is just a noise.”
Nutritional tidbit - an overactive startle reflex may also indicate a deficiency of cannabinoids which are needed to inhibit nerve signals -shut them off eventually. Imagine a doorbell buzzing . . . what if it never stopped? or only stopped after two minutes of continual buzzing? That would likely seem painful. Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a phrase used to describe our normal ability to dampen down a startle response if prewarned that a loud noise is about to happen. It is common in both autism (9) and schizophrenia to have a delayed PPI, and be over-startled, but the mechanism of action seems to be slightly different. (10)
Olanzapine helped improve the PPI response in schizophrenic patients, (7, viewable at 8), which makes sense because it reduces breakdown of cannanbinoids (and leads to overeating, weight gain, and often Type 2 diabetes; and withdrawal can be very difficult and lead to suicidal urges or suicide or even homicide/suicide). Instead of using a drug with potentially lethal side effects, simply using CBD drops would likely be effective at restoring a more normal startle reflex if lack of cannabinoids is involved. (11)
Other drugs that make the PPI worse (in animal-based research) - increase a startle reaction even when a noise is expected - include: NMDA antagonists, dopamine agonists, serotonin receptor agonists, or various neurodevelopmental insults (reviewed in 32, 211 and214), and is also altered in a number of transgenic mice having relevance to schizophrenia. 32” (Pedrazzi et al, 2015) (11)
Somatoform disorders (WebMD)
Psychosomatic
[si″ko-so-mat´ik] - pertaining to the interrelations of mind and body; having bodily symptoms of psychic, emotional, or mental origin.
Psychosomatic disorder (psychosomatic illness) a disorder in which the physical symptoms are caused or exacerbated by psychological factors, such as migraine headache, lower back pain, or irritable bowel syndrome; see also somatoform disorders.
It is now recognized that emotional factors play a role in the development of nearly all organic illnesses and that the physical symptoms experienced by the patient are related to many interdependent factors, including psychological and cultural. The physical manifestations of an illness, unless caused by mechanical trauma, cannot be divorced from a person's emotional life. Each person responds in a unique way to stress; emotions affect one's sensitivity to trauma and to irritating elements in the environment, susceptibility to infection, and ability to recover from the effects of illness.
Physical conditions to which psychological factors are shown to be contributory are currently classified as psychological factors affecting medical condition. Any physical condition can be so classified, but the most frequently included are asthma, peptic ulcer, bowel disorders, cardiovascular disorders, arthritis, allergy, headache, and certain endocrine disorders.
In recent years there has been some success in using behavior therapy to treat these and other illnesses whose symptoms are related to the autonomic nervous system. Clients are taught new ways of coping with stress and new patterns of behavior. Among the techniques used are biofeedback, relaxation training, classical conditioning, and operant conditioning using social and material reinforcement.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. (https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/psychosomatic)
Body armoring: Wilhelm Reich discovered that helping his patients to work through trauma, inhibitions or shame affecting their emotions or sexuality helped with many other physical or mood symptoms the patients were experiencing.
With the groundbreaking work of scientists like Wilhelm Reich who discovered and coined orgone energy and character analysis and Peter Levine who wrote the book waking the Tiger and healing trauma and who also set up somatic experiencing Institute, they both believed that when we experience trauma and can not share this experience with a supportive caring witness and process it in a healthy way, this trauma is then stored in our body, in the fibers of our being and it lays dormant in our body like a trapped muscle which disrupts the flow of life force energy and may even cut off completely the flow of energy in a particular part of the body such as many adults of childhood sexual abuse have stuck energy in the pelvis area as a direct result of the trauma and it is how the body remembers the traumatic event.
Reich stated, “Armoring is the condition that results when energy is bound by muscular contraction and does not flow through the body”(Reich:1936). He saw that there existed character armoring which, he defined as “the sum total of typical character attitudes, which an individual develops as a blocking against their emotional excitations, resulting in rigidity in the body, and lack of emotional contact”. He defined muscular armoring as “the sum total of muscular (chronic muscular spasms), which an individual develops as a block against the breakthrough of emotions and organ sensations, particularly anxiety, rage and sexual excitation,” (Reich:1936).
The overall effect of muscular armoring with character armoring created the individual. Alexander Lowen, who was an associate of Reich, best summed up this overall effect as “The character of the individual as it is manifested in his typical pattern of behaviour is also portrayed on the somatic level by the form and movement of the body. The body expression is the somatic view of the typical emotional expression, which is seen on the psychic level as character. Defenses show up in both dimensions, in the body as muscular armoring.” (Lowen:1976). Specific touch and breathwork may need to be brought to the area of the armoring to release the character defense.- Body Armoring and Neuroception (https://psychosocialsomatic.com/body-armoring-and-neuroception/)
The Body Tells Your Story - Body Armoring, Part 1, Sarah Sherwood, (https://sarah-sherwood.com/the-body-tells-your-story-body-armoring-part-i/)
Body armoring, by Eugenie, (https://www.quantumpsychotherapy.com/body-armouring/).
The mystery aches and pains and chronic tension can be related to how we learned how to react to life. Early trauma can leave us in a heightened state of anxiety and the fear response can be very reactive.
Ongoing practice of mindfulness and communication techniques with self-talk or others can help teach the brain new patterns that react more calmly and with less suspicion. It takes time and adequate cannabinoids to forget unused pathways and to ‘learn’ - build new pathways. Like a chain of dominoes our nerve cells can be connected in more fearful reactive ways that lead to more of an inflammatory response rather than a thoughtful “Well that happened, what shall I do next?” Pausing before reacting gives the rational mind time to make a rational choice instead of acting out of an old overactive emotional fear response.
Before ‘wellness’ may be fully possible the nutrient deficiencies or imbalances may need to be corrected and an overactive fear response may need to be calmed down with ongoing meditative practice or cognitive therapy.
#22 - psychosomatic symptoms will be a Rule-Out, part of the screening as it may be a factor but is not necessarily a common issue in patients with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia has not been associated with psychosomatic symptoms which suggested to a research team that it is more organic/biologic in nature, rather than being more of a trauma or emotional response leading to physical and mental symptoms. (Ananth, Engelsmann, 1984) (1)
Breast cancer and other cancers, CVD, and respiratory illness are more frequent causes of early death in patients with schizophrenia than suicide or self-injury.
When we find out what risk factors or conditions are seen more often in combination together, then it can be easier to figure out causal links underlying both conditions.
“Despite the theoretical controversy and methodological problems, the present review of the empirical literature suggests that patients with schizophrenia may be at increased risk for breast cancer [low iodine and elevated bromide and fluoride would be risk factors] and possibly for cardiovascular disease [low magnesium, zinc, selenium, excess calcium, and low B vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids can be involved]. On the other hand, patients with schizophrenia seem to be at reduced risk for developing either rheumatoid arthritis or lung cancer. The epidemiological investigations are worth pursuing since the convincing demonstration of a relationship between schizophrenia and a particular physical disease would yield valuable information about the pathogenesis of both disorders.” - (Harris, 1988) (2)
People with schizophrenia have a shortened life expectancy, 15-20 years less than typical for developed nations. The mortality increase does not seem to be primarily related to suicide or self-injury. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and respiratory illness are believed to be more frequent causes of the early deaths for patients with schizophrenia diagnoses in developed nations.
“People with schizophrenia have a life expectancy 15–20 years shorter than the general population in developed countries (Hennekens et al., 2005). This mortality gap also appears to be increasing, suggesting that people with schizophrenia are not benefiting from advances in healthcare to the same extent as the general population. This increased mortality was initially attributed to suicide, but the incidence of suicide cannot account for this mortality gap. Indeed, a recent epidemiological study reported that only one-third of subjects with schizophrenia attempted to harm themselves (Karagianis et al., 2009). In general, this excess mortality is attributable to cardiovascular, neoplastic and respiratory disease (Leucht et al., 2007).” - (Hodgson et al, 2010) (3)
Individual combinations of the list of 22 variables may also be increasing risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease, and hyperinflammation itself increases risk of respiratory illness.
Hyperinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction would increase risk for cancer or CVD. Hyperinflammation can also lead to respiratory distress and fluid excess - edema of the body or lungs. The inflammatory cytokines cause changes that lead to fluid collecting where it shouldn’t. Magnesium, potassium, and calcium and sodium, all need to be in balance for fluid balance between the cells and the vessel systems (cardiovascular, lymphatic/glymphatic, and Primo Vascular System (PVS), more later).
Think about how a panic attack can cause a change in breathing. Hyperventilating, breathing too quickly can lead to lightheadedness from lack of oxygen exchange. Body armoring may include the throat muscles cramping up (SILENCE IS GOLDEN! - heard too often, can really inhibit a child). Taking ten deep breaths can be a very helpful strategy in any stressful or confusing situation. It forces a pause between the action/event/stimulus and your reaction, and it is providing oxygen. We tend to hold our breath when stressed.
Retinoid toxicity includes an increase in blood lipids.
“Abstract: Oral retinoid therapy is associated with significant mucocutaneous and systemic toxicity similar to that found in hypervitaminosis A. Beside the well-known mucocutaneous adverse effects like cheilitis [cracks at the corners of chapped lips], xerosis [dry skin], desquamation [scaly dry skin], dryness of mucous membranes [dry eyes, inner ear or nose may get scabs], more troublesome findings are ocular effects, hair loss or hypergranulation tissue. The most unwanted systemic side effects under both retinoids (isotretinoin and etretinate - [medications]) are teratogenicity, bone toxicity and serum lipid increments. Careful patient counselling and monitoring will enable the physician to modulate these effects and reduce their impact on patient compliance.”
Hypergranulation is an excess build-up of granular tissue during wound healing or in a skin injury. (Vuola, 2010) Keratinocytes are pushed aside as the granular layer of cells over-multiplies beyond the needs of the missing tissue area. Infection can be a cause or inflammatory conditions. Friction or occlusive wound dressings (air and water tight) may also be risk factors. (4)
Retinoic acid may be elevated during infection of inflammation.
Background Info about our Primo Vascular System:
The Primo Vascular System was renamed “Primo Vascular” from the original North Korean scientist’s proposed name, to stand for Primary - first vascular system. In the embryo the PVS vessels and nodes form prior to other blood and lymphatic vessels, as suggested by their presence in relation to other vessels. Their network of ~ city streets look the oldest, the primary conduits that other vessels form around later. The network is our electric field pathways known over time by different names in different cultures.
The Primo Vascular System is found in the same areas where the acupressure/acupuncture pressure points of the Prime Meridian pathways are expected to exist. It seems to be critically involved in stem cell production (6) and may be involved in how properly made homeopathic remedies can help us. (12)
Homeopathic remedies are a much diluted and shaken alcohol extract of an herb or substance that can cause a negative symptom. The alcohol extract is usually then added to little sugar pills which are left to dissolve under the tongue. Shaking and diluting, repeat, repeat, repeat…, is how nanoparticles are made and nanoparticles of the original substance has been found in properly made homeopathic remedies. (12) The tiny bit of negative substance may be stimulating the body to defend against that type of negative symptoms with a change in stem cells being produced or other microRNA messengers. We really don’t know the full extent of everything that we don’t know.
And sadly, modern medical world tends to ignore enormous breakthroughs instead of being excited about the unknown possibilities to discover. The “PrimoVascular System” still shows a “Debunked” article as the second search result (on Bing). Modern “debunkers” really need to find a new field of work, in my opinion, (or rename them “liars for pay” or “propagandists”).
Abstract: This article describes the historical background and pathophysiologic aspects of the PrimoVascular System (PVS). The PVS is depicted as being the most recent body system to be discovered, with a specific anatomical and immunohistochemical signature that sets it apart from the arteriovenous and lymphatic systems. It is comprised of immune functions, endocrine functions, and is found to be deeply involved in several biological processes, including tissue regeneration, inflammation and cancer.
Though ongoing research has been conducted since 2002, the original discovery was actually made in the 1960's by BongHan Kim, a North Korean scientist, which went virtually unnoticed for a span of nearly 40 years.
The presence of “primovessels” in and around several vessels and nerves, viscera and fascia, and in the brain and spinal cord, reveals a common link that could potentially open novel possibilities of integration for cranial, lymphatic, visceral and fascial approaches in osteopathic manual medicine. (Chikly, et al, 6)
Table 1: Reported discoveries of BongHan Kim. (6)
BongHan Kim (BHK) claimed he discovered a new circulatory system inside plants, invertebrate, and mammals, especially rabbits. He said this was the “Kyungrak System”, meaning the system of “acupuncture meridians and collaterals” in Korean. The so called Kyungrak system (or BongHan/BH system) consisted of a network of BongHan ducts (or BH ducts), BongHan corpuscles (or BH corpuscles), and BongHan liquor (or BH liquor), circulating inside of them, a liquid high in chromatin.
BongHan Kim, using radiotracer, described the BH ducts as being comprised of many smaller ductules composed of endothelial cells with characteristic rod-shaped nuclei. He applied biochemical and histochemical analyses of the BH system and found that the fluid inside the ducts is transparent, and contains more nucleic acids, especially DNA, than any other tissue.
He described the components of the BH liquor as:
Total nitrogen content: 3.12–3.40%
Non protein nitrogen content: 0.10–0.17%
Lipids: 0.57–1.00% Reduced sugar: 0.10–0.12%
Total hyaluronic acid: 170.4 mg%
More than 19 free amino acids,
More than 16 free mononucleotides,
Very abundant DNA and RNA nucleotides.
For BongHan Kim, the BH ducts also contain “sanals“, meaning “live egg” in Korean which seems to have a function equivalent to that of stem cells. BongHan Kim described these “sanals”, modernly renamed Primomicrocell or Pmicrocell, as having hematopoietic functions, and being able to regenerate injured tissues, and heal wounds.
[…]
Electrical conductivity of a BongHan vessel recorded by BongHan Kim: BongHan Kim identified three periodic potentials of 15-30 seconds, 7-10 seconds, and 20-25 seconds. The method used to measure these signals was not specifically described.
According to the research of BongHan Kim, damage to BongHan vessels can “modify the frequency and amplitude of the heart and change the peristaltic motion of intestines.” It can also reduce nerve excitability and decrease muscular contractions.” (Chikly, et al, 6)
Our electrical fields are our energy and our quality of life, and apparently have a lot to do with our heart rate. The PrimoVascular System has narrower vessels and seems to be more electrical in nature than cardiovascular or lymphatic vessels. If we want to understand quantum biology better, and how it may affect health, then we likely need to better understand our PrimoVascular system first, and how it develops in embryology and continues to function throughout our lifespan.
Schizophrenia likely involves too much electrical flow that is happening too fast to form memories. As hyperinflammation continues, ongoing damage would be accruing that would likely add up to elevated blood lipids and heart arrythmia and possibly cancer, in addition to increasing harm to the brain that can lead to Alzheimer’s dementia eventually.
Body armoring - an emotional fear response leading to decreased muscle function may involve a slowing of the PrimoVascular energy flow: “It, [damage to BongHan vessels], can also reduce nerve excitability and decrease muscular contractions.” (6) In body armoring it is more of a continual muscle spasm that never stops once emotionally triggered or as an ongoing shoulder/neck/back tension, so a different mechanism of action may be involved than damage to PVS vessels. Excess calcium (allows muscle fibers to contract) and lack of magnesium (allows muscle fibers to relax) may be involved in chronic muscle spasm seen in fibromyalgia too.
Lack of cannabinoids may also be preventing normal inhibition of a nerve action once it was started. Some chemicals tell a nerve signal to cross a synaptic junction between the sending nerve and the receiving nerve cell, while others including cannabinoids tell the synapse to stop.
I am near email length limit and will stop here.
Addition - Resources
Kelly Boys, Finding Your Blind Spots: How to Develop Self-Awareness, (Youtube).
The Link Between Personal Style and Identity | Molly Bingaman | TEDxUMKC (Youtube). We all have style - our inner comfort with movement and our attire for ease of movement versus making a statement or feeling cheerful - but are we allowing ourselves to express it? Is there anyone else in our lives who is a negative influence regarding feeling free to express ourselves?
Master Shi Heng Yi – 5 hindrances to self-mastery | Shi Heng YI | TEDxVitosha, (Youtube)
Helpful for women, indirectly related to body armoring and self-image in women: expectations of women are different than for men and that can make it challenging for a woman in the business world (or anywhere). Why we have too few women leaders | Sheryl Sandberg, TEDx, (Youtube)
Body armoring - emotional defensiveness - may also appear in a change in posture, standing more shoulders down and forward, rather than confidently upright. Excess weight gain may also be trauma related. Dressing in bland or dark-colored and loose clothing may also be linked to emotional inhibition or devaluing from someone in the person’s life.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.
Reference List
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