Sunday, September 26, 2010

Living "Inside the Box": Your body as temple

The more I observe the intricacies of human life the more awed I am at the gift of life. As a doctor I enjoy teaching about how to move forward from where you are to an improved state of health. The more you understand the physical body and its importance to your overall existence the easier it is to make choices that support the life you were meant to have. One way that I describe human health is to recognize the Three Control Systems that each person has by which they manage their life.

Your Three Control Systems: These are: 1) your brain and motor nerves; 2) your physical body with its neurotransmitter receptors located in the gastrointestinal tract so that it can make decisions without your conscious brain; and, 3) your autonomic nervous system which acts separately, “in the background” without conscious control, to maintain for the brain and body a safer, more stable base of operations. I will write more, but first is this disclaimer:

Describing the complete "diagram" of a human being has been a task that many have sought to do. I consider it impossible for us to ever fully create a "map" of every aspect of a human being. The graphic to the right is courtesy of the Institute of HeartMath Research Center and used with permission as part of my project on what I call Human Energy Anatomy.

About your Three Control Systems:
When you work with me your integrative medicine program includes more than one step, more than one way of improving your health. I include the Three Control Systems in constructing individual integrative medicine programs.
1. Your physical body must have good food, rest and appropriate movement. We may begin with laboratory testing to check for things that are holding back your ability to physically heal (such as gastrointestinal microbial imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, heavy metal toxicity, enzyme production polymorphisms, and more).
2. Your brain needs to know what is going on, that you are doing things that will help. This is part of what I call Therapeutic Education and I may assign reading and homework such as temperature graphing and Diet Diary. The clarification of the brain's role in health is the background for the new Integrative Physical Health initiative (more information will be posted in future entries on this blog).
3. Your Autonomic Nervous System needs to sense that it is being acknowledged and supported. On my teaching site you can read more about the ANS as your Internal Protector, Dr. Stephen Porges's writings about the ANS, autonomic dysregulation and ways to treat "dysautonomia." [click here]

A lot more could be said about this way of looking at this life that we have. In closing here is a note about the “Stage” on which we live our lives:

"Outside the Box": I am convinced that there is a consciousness that is outside of these Three Control Systems, which is the You that can influence those three. This "real you" has been the subject of conjecture by philosophers and religious scholars. I classify it as being a more elemental observer and subtle influencer of the three control systems. It does not experience fear and anxiety and is always available to help the three discover successful courses of action. I consider each of those three to be perfect in its conducting its activities in accord with what it knows. I do not blame them for not being given the information or the raw materials for healthy living; that is the purpose for my teachings and my resource networking and for the work of all others in society who are dedicated to helping people experience life more fully.

Each of the Three Control Systems -- as well as the consciousness that is You -- are all worthy of the Welcome that is a key to being part of the human family (see Family Constellations). You deserve to be here and to live a full, rich life. I have written more about the reason for hope and positive outlook in earlier entries in this health support blog [back to Home].