I was all ears for the Autoimmune Summit that was put on by Dr. Amy Myers, MD. It was a free week long summit and featured many experts in the autoimmune field. I will share with my blog readers some of the highlights so you can feel like you were listening right along with me! Autoimmune disease begins in the gut so focused healing must look at the gut. Somewhere in your past history you may have had an insult to the gut which compromised the integrity of your gut lining. The insult might be caused by repeated ingestion of foods that can contribute to increased permeability of the intestinal lining (e.g. sugar, dairy, gluten, soy, legumes, nightshade vegetables, legumes, grains). Because there are a lot of foods that you could be reactive to, I recommend food allergy testing along with testing for yeast for starters. Your autoimmune disease could be the result of an infection of some sort that you had or have (c.difficile infection in my past hx), yeast, bacteria or parasites could play a role here also. Whatever the cause was, it has essentially created a situation where your gut is leaky or more permeable than it should be; this means incompletely digested food proteins can be absorbed into your bloodstream across the intestinal lining triggering the immune system to go on high alert for these dangerous invaders. Molecular mimicry can then cause the immune system to react against your own tissues if the amino acid sequence in the food protein is similar to a sequence found in your own tissues. This is one theory as to how autoimmune disease gets started. The first essential step then is to remove the offending insults that you can control in your diet.

Remove any bad bacteria, yeast, parasites from the system through specific targeted eradication of infectious organisms. Replace any nutrient deficiencies that may be detected.You might uncover deficiencies in Vitamin A, Vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, or iron for example. Supplement enzymes as needed or phytogens to improve digestive function. Use aggressive probiotic and prebiotic factors to restore gut function. Repair integrity of intestinal lining using targeted support factors like glutamine and herbs like Vaccinium vitis-idaea. Foods that are supportive to the gut include kim chi, raw sauerkraut, leeks, garlic, Jerusalem artichoke and asparagus. Omega 3 from wild seafood sources and insoluble fiber from veggies contribute to healthy gut bacteria. If you can stomach it, try eating organ meat such as liver which has increased nutrient density and is a source of cobalamin (Vit. B12) as well as Vitamin A and D. These are a few ideas to start you eating in a more targeted way to balance your immune system. Please book into see Dr. Vinge if you want to find out more about treating your autoimmune disease using naturopathic medicine. Please google autoimmune summit if you want to purchase the seminars that were featured on the autoimmune summit.

At this time we are entering into a higher state of consciousness and with this ascension process, there can be ‘growing pains’. Look at any given news channel for the current headlines and you will know that the world is in a major upheaval process. There seems to be much conflict collectively and perhaps conflict on an individual level as well as we are all looking to embrace the light despite the darkness that seems to be out there at this time. The death of Robin Williams was a shock to many. I just found out about the death of someone by suicide that I knew, not someone I was close to, but it made me sad nonetheless that people are feeling at their breaking point and must feel the pressure is too intense for them to stick around.

Some of the symptoms of ascension that you may feel include feeling cold at times or else the opposite extreme feeling hot, feeling intense emotions that seemingly arise out of nowhere (these emotions can be sadness, anger, frustration- they are different for everyone- our hearts are opening and we are washing out emotions that are not in alignment to a higher state of being), feelings like elements of your life do not fit you anymore or you are not clear on your direction and where you are going, feelings of being in a pressure cooker, anxiety, panic attacks, disorientation or dizziness, changes in energy levels including extreme fatigue, lack of motivation, sleep disturbances whether it be insomnia or waking at a specific time in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep, stiffness in back and neck, extreme hunger or loss of appetite, weight loss or weight gain and many others. Certainly medical issues can be the cause of these symptoms and need to be ruled out but I am seeing a lot of these aspects in many people that I see.

We are looking to become our authentic selves. Letting go of old patterns that are not serving us or letting go of old beliefs that we have outgrown can be part of the picture. Releasing old programs that do not fit us anymore that don’t feel right for us. Realizing that separation is an illusion and that we are connected to a higher power or higher force of love even when we forget and go into fear about our lives.  We are releasing old attachments that prevent us from feeling like we are the empowered individuals that we are. We are feeling the death of our ego-ic self and seeing the emergence of our authentic self, one that is connected to the whole. We are experiencing more compassion and more love for those around us-again, part of our heart’s awakening. We need to have compassion for ourselves in this process as it does not always feel good especially if you are sensitive.

Some ways to assist this process or make it more manageable include getting out into nature. Being out in nature connects us to the earth element which is very grounding. Some people feel drawn to the mountains while others may feel more drawn to the water element. Go for a hike in Bragg Creek or spend more time around water whether it be a running stream or a body of water. The important thing is that you are breathing fresh air; being around plants that oxygenate the surrounding environment is vital. Leaving the city vibe behind so you are not exposed to the constant noise of construction, machinery or industry will make you feel like a new person. Do whatever feels grounding to you in terms of music, meditation, and self care. Bathing in epsom salts and baking soda can help release energy that you pick up throughout your day. Carrying pocket stones that are grounding can help as well. The Book of Stones by Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian is a good reference to read about the healing properties of stones. And lastly breathe! Focusing on your breath is key to making you feel more connected to yourself. All of these changes are positive and are supporting you being your most authentic, powerful and loving self.

 

 

 

Treating Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leaky gut is a common factor compromising health in western populations. Leaky gut is a situation in which the tight junctions which normally keep the intestinal lining tightly regulated begin to leak.
When there is a leaky gut, a damaged bowel lining results from poor diet, parasites, yeast, bacteria, infection, or medications, and this allows substances such as toxins, microbes, or undigested food to leak through which causes inflammation and often triggers immunological reactions. Four main causes of leaky gut include poor nutrition, chronic stress, toxin overload, and dysbiosis (an imbalance between good and bad bacteria in the gut). Toxins found in antibiotics, medications, pesticides, aspirin and NSAID use can contribute to a compromised intestinal lining. Casein found in dairy products and gluten breakdown products like gliadin found in whole wheat can cause increased inflammation in the digestive tract. Other common allergens include corn, soy, nuts, and citrus fruits.

Treating Leaky Gut involves:
1. Removing the foods that are damaging the gut and triggering the immune system. Test for food allergies and eliminate those allergenic foods for at least 3 months.
2. Replacing those foods with a healthy whole foods hypoallergenic diet.
3. Repair with targeted nutrients like glutamine (an essential amino acid that is required by gut enterocytes for growth and repair). GI Sustain and/or L-Glutamine powder.
4. Pancreatic enzymes can help breakdown food proteins to a level that maximizes absorption of food. Biogest.
5. Eliminate bad microbes that are contributing to inflammation. Berberine complex, Candaclear 4, Digesten (Juglans nigra), and Intestigen, are some of the products that I use.
6. Supplement probiotic bacteria (good bacteria) to crowd out any undesirable organisms like yeast, bad bacteria and parasites. Good bacteria contribute to healthy digestion and help create an intestinal lining that has maximal integrity. Good bacteria taken consistently may help you desensitize to the food allergies that you currently have. HMF Replenish, HMF Intensive, HMF forte are some of the products I use to replenish good bacteria.
Foods that can contribute to healing of the gut include carrot juice and cabbage juice. All non-starchy vegetables are high in phytonutrients which contribute to healing. Bone broth contains collagen and the amino acids proline and glycine that can help your damaged intestinal lining heal. Drink 1-2 cups daily. Fermented vegetables are very healing to the gut and include raw sauerkraut, kimchi and coconut kefir. Pickles (with a minimum of processing, sugar, etc) and foods like miso, tempeh (fermented organic soy) can also be supportive for a healthy gut; organic soy yogurt with live cultures can be eaten. Chia seeds, ground flax seeds and hemp seeds can provide much needed fiber and essential fatty acids for the gut. Grass fed beef, grass fed lamb and wild fish in the form of salmon, shrimp, sardines, herring can supply essential fatty acids for repair. If you do not tolerate seafood, I recommend supplementing with essential fatty acids in the form of fish and flax seed oil. Other herbs that support healing and the reduction of inflammation include Licorice root, Slippery elm, Ficus carica, Vaccinium vitis idaea, and Rosemarinus officinalis. Because grains can contribute to a leaky gut, choose non-gluten grains and soak overnight before cooking. If you are going to consume legumes (beans, lentils),I also recommend soaking overnight before consuming. Lastly stress is a huge factor which contributes to gut inflammation. Stress can be reduced by exercise, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises and emotional freedom technique; stress management should be a daily practice. This is just an introduction for leaky gut. Please come in for a proper consult if you want to know more at Parallel Wellness.

Reference: Wikipedia; Phytoembryotherapy, Doctors Franck Ledoux, Gerard Gueniot.