Psychiatric Disorders such as impulsive anger & road rage, may be caused by a common parasite...

Individuals with a psychiatric disorder involving recurrent bouts of extreme, impulsive anger--road rage, for example--are more than twice as likely to have been exposed to a common parasite than healthy individuals with no psychiatric diagnosis.

In a study involving 358 adult subjects, a team led by researchers from the University of Chicago found that toxoplasmosis, a relatively harmless parasitic infection carried by an estimated 30 percent of all humans, is associated with intermittent explosive disorder and increased aggression.

The findings are published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry on March 23, 2016.

"Our work suggests that latent infection with the toxoplasma gondii parasite may change brain chemistry in a fashion that increases the risk of aggressive behavior," said senior study author Emil Coccaro, MD, Ellen. C. Manning Professor and Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago.

"However, we do not know if this relationship is causal, and not everyone that tests positive for toxoplasmosis will have aggression issues," Coccaro said, adding that additional studies are needed.

Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, as recurrent, impulsive, problematic outbursts of verbal or physical aggression that are disproportionate to the situations that trigger them. IED is thought to affect as many as 16 million Americans, more than bipolar disorder and schizophrenia combined.

As part of their pioneering research to improve diagnosis and treatment for IED and impulsive aggression, Coccaro and his colleagues examined possible connections to toxoplasmosis, an extremely common parasitic infection. Transmitted through the feces of infected cats, undercooked meat or contaminated water, toxoplasmosis is typically latent and harmless for healthy adults. However, it is known to reside in brain tissue, and has been linked to several psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and suicidal behavior.

The research team recruited 358 adult subjects from the U.S., who were evaluated for IED, personality disorder, depression and other psychiatric disorders. Study participants were also scored on traits including anger, aggression and impulsivity. Participants fell into one of three groups. Roughly one third had IED. One third were healthy controls with no psychiatric history. The remaining third were individuals diagnosed with some psychiatric disorder, but not IED. This last group served as a control to distinguish IED from possible confounding psychiatric factors.

Hold your cats

The research team found that IED-diagnosed group was more than twice as likely to test positive for toxoplasmosis exposure (22 percent) as measured by a blood test, compared to the healthy control group (9 percent).

Around 16 percent of the psychiatric control group tested positive for toxoplasmosis, but had similar aggression and impulsivity scores to the healthy control group. IED-diagnosed subjects scored much higher on both measures than either control group.

Across all study subjects, toxoplasmosis-positive individuals scored significantly higher on scores of anger and aggression. The team noted a link between toxoplasmosis and increased impulsivity, but when adjusted for aggression scores, this link became non-significant. This finding suggests toxoplasmosis and aggression are most strongly correlated.

However, the authors caution that the study results do not address whether toxoplasmosis infection may cause increased aggression or IED.

"Correlation is not causation, and this is definitely not a sign that people should get rid of their cats," said study co-author Royce Lee, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago. "We don't yet understand the mechanisms involved--it could be an increased inflammatory response, direct brain modulation by the parasite, or even reverse causation where aggressive individuals tend to have more cats or eat more undercooked meat. Our study signals the need for more research and more evidence in humans."

Coccaro and his team are now further examining the relationship between toxoplasmosis, aggression and IED. If better understood, this connection may inform new strategies to diagnose or treat IED in the future.

"It will take experimental studies to see if treating a latent toxoplasmosis infection with medication reduces aggressiveness," Coccaro said. "If we can learn more, it could provide rational to treat IED in toxoplasmosis-positive patients by first treating the latent infection."

---

Story Source:

The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of Chicago Medical Center. The original item was written by Kevin Jiang. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Audio on the Immune System by Professor Dubonet in simple easy terms everyone can understand!

This is an audio only file.  It is done by Professor Desiree Dubonet and Dr. Bill Cunningham of White Dove Healing Arts.
Prof Dubonet explains the Immune System in simple easy terms that anyone can understand.

Why isn't my digestive system working properly?

What's going on that my digestion is so terrible?

It seems nearly everyone has digestive issues of some form or another these days. Crohn's, IBS, Colitis, Celiac, and dozens of other digestive disorders have made an industry out of sugar free, gluten free, and dairy free products. So why is it that those with digestive issues can't often fully fix them and have to follow a very strict diet or suffer the painful consequences?   Below may give you some ideas of what is going on and how to remedy that problem! Gut flora imbalance  One of the main reasons you are not able to digest food properly is bacterial imbalance in your intestinal system. An ideal ratio for a properly functioning gut is 85 percent good bacteria to 15 percent bad, and when this is accomplished the good bacteria flourish and are allowed to do their job of digesting and absorbing certain starches, fiber, and sugars.  Unfortunately, a lifetime of habits littered with antibiotics, sugar, alcohol, toxins, and 'dead' food has destroyed the proper balance we require for good digestion.  In your effort to regain proper gut flora balance, consider antibacterial foods and herbs like garlic, onions, oregano, cloves, and black walnut. At the same time consider probiotic rich foods like green leafy vegetables and fermented foods such as sauerkraut, tempeh, and kefir. Enzyme deficiency Enzymes play a key role in our health by enabling our bodies to properly digest and use all the nutrients we take in to their greatest potential. If we do not introduce enough enzymes through our food, we put more pressure on the pancreas to produce enzymes in order to break down waste products, which eventually can leave it overworked and unable to produce the enzymes required to facilitate proper digestion.  To maximize your enzyme production, first increase your consumption of raw, organic food like papaya, pineapples, bee pollen, kefir, and fermented vegetables. Chew your food thoroughly to properly mix them with your enzyme rich saliva, which helps the process of pre-digestion.  Juicing is one way to really increase the amount of easily assimilated enzymes into your digestive system, as well as digestive and systemic enzyme supplements. Magnesium deficiency Previously, it was believed that magnesium was required for up to 325 enzymatic processes, but according to new research, that number is closer to 800. This makes magnesium very important in the digestive process.  Magnesium is also heavily implicated in proper functioning of muscles, including those in the lining of your digestive tract. A deficiency in magnesium causes the peristaltic action in your digestive system to slow right down, which hinders the movement of waste, and backs up the digestive process.  Consider liquid magnesium supplements, and loading up on salads rich in leafy greens and vegetables. Stress Stress creates all sorts of problems, not just for your digestion but for all parts of your body. Stress strips your body of various vitamins and minerals (B vitamins and magnesium to name a couple), tightens your muscles, slows down bowel movements, and inhibits absorption of enzymes and probiotics, as well as other nutrients.  Keep your stress in check through chamomile, medicinal mushrooms, kefir, and acts of gratitude, meditation, and exercise. Heavy metal toxicity There are many types of toxins that can cause digestive distress, however, one of the most gut compromising toxins falls in the heavy metals category.  Heavy metals are introduced into our bodies in a variety of ways, but some of the more problematic gateways are through vaccinations and mercury amalgams. Not only does this create a great burden for proper liver, gallbladder, and pancreas function (including secreting bile to facilitate digestion), but heavy metals also kill off good bacteria to further impair the digestive process. Heavy metal detoxification is a delicate process and should be handled by a professional, but you can consider chlorella and cilantro to help bind and remove them from your system.

What is Quantum Biofeedback?

What Is Quantum Biofeedback?

Quantum Biofeedback is a computerized energetic device that detects stressors in the body, and then emits healthy patterns back to your body.

With a head harness and wrist and ankle straps, the fully clothed client is attached to the biofeedback system which acts like a computerized scanner. The evoked signals are measured and determined to be in or out of balance – indicating stressors. Electromagnetic waveforms then stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms by providing true, healthy energy patterns.  The Technician can also use what we call "subspace", where you do not actually have to be hooked up to the device.  (Personally, this is 90% of my clientel), as I have clients from Mexico, the United States, Austrailia, Portugal and all over Canada!

A Biofeedback Technician (CBT) can help you and your body rebalance itself in those parameters that are most relevant for you at that given point in time. Measurements in 1/100 of a second ensure that the biofeedback frequencies need only be applied as long as they are useful – managing the stressors that may be affecting your health.

When people manage their stress, they heal themselves and the quality of their life improves. The stressors may include: allergens, bacteria and viruses, chemicals, dehydration, genetically altered foods, emotional issues, employment, fast foods, fungi, headaches and migraines, irradiation of foods, lack of sleep, medical conditions, diseases or disorders, nutritional deficiencies, overwork, pain, parasites, and relationship problems.

A Biofeedback session may include using rebalancing programs such as Acu-Meridians, Chakras, Emotions, Iridology, Full Body Detox, Prostate/Ovarian Stim, Stressed Organs, Vitamins, Minerals and Aminos, Lymph, Homeopathic, Hormones, Allergies, Spinal, Nerves, Muscles, Flower Essences, Healing Crystals, testing supplements, acupuncture …as well as many other specific frequencies programmed for your stressors.  On the other side of things, it can release emotions that are hindering you from past lives, karma matters and cleanse auras.  It can really be life changing in these instances.

“Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.” - Sarah Bernhardt

Inflammation = Degenerative Disease

Inflammation has long been linked to both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Now, there’s emerging research that also links chronic inflammation to allergies, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes, digestive disorders, heart disease, hormonal imbalances and osteoporosis. 

Injured tissues become inflamed and result in redness, heat, swelling, pain and loss of function. When acute inflammation doesn’t shut down, it becomes chronic and causes damage to the injured tissues. Dr. Bland, a nutritional biochemist, says, “Inflammatory stimuli, such as bacterial infection, trauma, ischemic events, stress-related events, toxic exposures, allergens and chronic viral infections activate the inflammatory response.”

According to the health experts, the biggest culprit in causing abnormal inflammation is the pathetic “standard American diet” (SAD) of heavily processed convenience and fast foods. Dr. Perricone believes that “Inflammation equals aging. Inflammation is the reason you get wrinkles; why you forget everything from where you left your car keys to your neighbor’s first name; why you can be irritable and depressed and why you lose the healthy bloom of youth.”

Inflammation is what causes arthritic pain, stiffness when using your muscles, the wheezing of asthma and the discomfort of allergies. It is even possible that the progression of atherosclerosis is directly related to chronic inflammation in up to 50 percent of cases. Excess acid production also increases the inflammatory response leading to loss of bone and joint tissues.

To reduce degenerative disease, it’s necessary to avoid pro-inflammatory foods and rely exclusively on anti-inflammatory foods:

Pro-inflammatory foods to avoid:

* red meats from corn-fed, antibiotic/hormone laden animals

* saturated fats such as lard and meat fats

* fried foods

* partially hydrogenated (trans fats) found in margarines, chips, candies, cereals and baked goods

* cooking oils that are exclusively corn, safflower, sunflower or soy based

* soft drinks (both high sugar and diet varieties)

* excess sugar (both from heavily processed sources, such as candy and from naturally occurring sources such as fruit juice)

Perricone describes sugar as one of the most serious causes of inflammation, rapid aging and weight gain. Sugary foods quickly elevate blood sugar, creating an insulin release along with free radicals that oxidize fats. When oxidized, the fats form plaque deposits in our arteries, leading to disease. Thus, a diet high in sweets, pasta, fruit juices, cereals and even rice cakes can actually lead to heart disease. Insulin release also increases stored body fat and release of pro-inflammatory chemicals causing cell damage and accelerated aging.

Anti-inflammatory foods and dietary supplements to include:

* foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, especially cold water, wild-caught fish (or fish oil supplements)

* raw nuts and seeds (especially pecans, almonds, walnuts and flaxseeds)

* homemade soups made with poultry or meat bones (boiling the bones releases glucosamine and chondroitin into the soup which, when ingested becomes bioavailable in the body. They can reduce inflammation and helps repair cartilage)

* dark green vegetables (especially kale, seaweed and greens)

* antioxidants in supplement form (especially vitamins C and E, and quercetin)

* zinc taken in supplement form which assists healing and reduces inflammation

* extra virgin organic olive oil, expeller pressed grape seed and avocado oils

If you are already showing chronic inflammatory symptoms, I recommend that you adopt the following 10 dietary recommendations:

1) Eat lean meats and poultry that are free-range, organic and not corn-fed (i.e. grass-fed preferably).

2) Eat a wide variety of vegetables (the deeper the colors, the better).

3) Use cold-pressed, uncooked olive oil (in salad dressings) and grapeseed or avocado oil for cooking.

4) Avoid products that contain added sugars (especially white sugar and high fructose corn syrup).

5) Avoid or limit your intake of cow’s milk products.

6) Avoid or limit your intake of heavily processed grains and grains containing gluten if you suspect an intolerance to them (brown rice, wild rice and millet are gluten-free).

7) Eat organic foods whenever possible.

8) Identify and avoid foods to which you have an allergy or sensitivity.

9) Eat wild, cold water fish at least three times weekly, especially salmon.

10) Eliminate all trans fats. Avoid added saturated fats. 

Happy Eating!!!

Birch Bark

Birch Bark has been used medicinally for centuries.  It contains BETULIN & BETULINIC ACID, which are powerful Anti-inflammatory agents.

Traditionally, is has been used to relieve headaches, reduce fevers, eliminate excess water, thins the blood and combats urinary tract infections.  

The only active ingredient is Aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, which was originally derived from the bark of willow, birch and poplar trees.  It is the natural forerunner of synthetic aspirin and has been invaluable for relieving overall pain.  


Traditional healers used it to reduce the inflammation of rheumatism, arthritis, edema and gout. The USFDA has approved it for the treatment of warts.  It can also be used to soothe itchiness and scalp sores. or as other topical remedies such as acne, joint pain sores, bruises, burns, eczema, boils and to stimulate hair growth.  It is also a natural herbal diuretic and studies are being done with this pretty little tree that may make prostate cancer a thing of the past.

As a Diaphoretic, it produces perspiration (cleansing toxins from the body through the skin) and helps to cool the body and reduce fever, making it helpful for easing the discomforts of colds and other viral infections and sinusitis..  It has been used as a treatment for the herpes virus, genital infections, chickenpox, shingles, infectious mono, and are thought to play a role in Multiple Sclerosis and Karposi's sarcoma.

Native Americans have used Birch Bark as a remedy for centuries in a tea and other beverages to treat stomach and intestinal problems such as diarrhea and dysentery. It is used as an absorbent in cases of diarrhea, flatulence, poisoning and gastrointestinal diseases.  It has an anti-ulcer effects as well.

Birch Bark can act as a gentle herbal sedative, therefore it can help in cases of sleeplessness and insomnia to help you have a better sleep.

The standard dose is 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon, 3 times a day in juice or water, under the tongue as as desired.  I like to make mine as a tea.  It has barely any taste at all if added to water, but you may detect a faint sweetness.  May be taken 3 times daily.  Needs to be stored in a cool dark place. Keep out of the reach of children.

Contradictions:  People who are hypersensitive to aspirin should not use Birch Bark and anyone taking prescription blood thinning medications should always consult a physician before using.

Indoor Worm Composting

Recently at our Earth Day Celebrations, one of our practitioners (Chandra), brought in this article on Indoor Worm Composting which I thought I'd share with you ...

Setting up a Worm Bin... This set up uses a 3 bin system, 
1 to collect water in the bottom, 
1 to hold the worms and 1 used to harvest the castings later on.

Materials:
3 medium shallow bins (approximately 60 x 40 x 20 cm) with 1 lid
Large and small sized drill bits
2 pieces of wood
Newspaper
Red Wriggler Worms

1.  Drill large holes in the bottom of 2 bins
\2.  Drill smallair holes in the lid and along the sides at the top if needed.
3.  Tear up strips of newspaper to be used as worm bedding in one of the bins.
4.  Place compost that contains worms into bin and put the lid on top
5.  Put 2 pieces of wood on the bottom of empty bin(no holes).  This will raise the worm container off the ground and collect compost tea in the bottom to be used for plant nutrients.
** note:  The third bin (with holes) may be placed on top of the other 2 but is not needed until castings sare ready to be harvested.

Adding compost:  Add you compost in 1 corner of the bin.  Some people like to burry their waste underneath the castings.  You may add most types of uncooked fruits or vegetables to your worm bin like you would in a regular composter.  Such as:  Skins, Rinds, over ripened fruits, crushed eggshells, etc.

At first don't feed too much to your worms, only as much as they can eat to keep your bin from having bad smells.  Usually about 2 - 3 pounds of waste a week for this size of bin in the beginning is the maximum.  
Collect worm tea every couple of weeks in a jar.  Add a small amount of this tea mixture with water to your plants.

Harvesting:
Start harvesting when most of your compost has become worm castings.  You will need to use your empty bin to harvest the worms.
1.  Take a few handfuls of castings with worms and put into your bin
2.  Add some new compost to the bin
3.  Place this bin over top of the existing worm bin so that worms will crawl up through the holes in the bottom to reach new food.
\4.  This process will take about 2 months, during this time, decrease the amount of compost you add, and leave the lower compost bin alone.  Not all, but most of the worms will make it to the top bin.

You can use worm castings on your house plants, flowers or vegetable gardens!!!

Courtesy by Harmony Hearth Healing & Massage by Chandra