Blog -

Mirror Neurons Reflect My Love- A prayer and workshop to heal….

Because trauma almost invariably involves not being seen, not being mirrored, and being taken into account, treatment needs to reactivate the capacity to safely mirror, and be mirrored, by others…”
~ Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D- ‘The Body Keeps the Score’

I apologize for opening with trauma. However, your less than self -loving thoughts and behaviors did not manifest from your beautiful imagination. If your imagination was damaged and now takes you on adventures into places so dark and isolating that you suffer in silence- feeling removed from all that you see around you- then the loving and creative inner child was hijacked by confusions and fears- aka trauma.

One of the most damaging confusions these traumas leave imprinted upon us is the feeling of being separate, alone, bad, unloveable etc etc. Most of us share these thoughts from time to time but deeper wounding often also creates physical isolation. These patterns can be heartbreaking when the soul inside likely craves connection, exhilaration, community, laughter and play. Our creative processes are also hijacked as creativity most always involves sharing and being seen for these wildly loving and expressive parts of us.

Still, undercurrents of confusion washed aside, we move through our lives and even make great strides. The self- reflections and healing work begin to poke light holes in the story built on hollow ground. However these healing journeys-deeply profound-are mainly of the solitary soldier and there is still a mind shaft of darkness that you trip into. It’s not your fault- it is faulty trip wiring..

Enter Mirror Neurons

Mirror neurons reside in the frontal lobe of the brain and were discovered in 1994 by Italian Scientists- identifying the frontal lobe as the seat of empathy. Until that point (unless we consider mimesis- and we should) imitation of others and other things, synchrony, language and empathy were a bit unexplainable.
Through mirror neurons we are able to attune to other’s emotions, motives and energies and thus respond. When what we see is fearful and unaccepting of who we are, we react by either adopting this behavior upon first ourselves, and eventually others, or we have enough wisdom wires from a more positive and un-traumatized life to not mimic these behaviors.

(I want to insert that traumas come in many forms and at many stages in your life. Just because you had a beautiful childhood I do not imply that you do not hold these same disturbances within you. And- there are those that are wired with such grounding rods of light that, even as children, something in them was able to discern and deflect destruction around them. I am speaking from common and personal experience).

Like most developmental experiences these mirror neurons are vital in our formative years for being wired with self acceptance and discernment of who we want influencing our lives. And, like most all experiences in life we tend to hold onto, and are impacted by, the more negative and painful events. We are wired this way for good reason- so that the body can know how to respond in the face of real danger. Yet when those dangers come from a person or environment we are supposed to be nurtured by, the wires get crossed and confused.

Also very worth correlating is that- as the mind takes in what it sees and articulates it through the body. Thus, rejection and fear contract the body causing many of the physical imbalances (especially digestive) that we see prevalent today.

I invite you at this point to take a deep breath into your loving heart if this touches into some wounds- which I promise make you beautiful.

How to Heal~ a workshop, and a prayer…

“Our culture teaches us to focus on personal uniqueness, but at a deeper level we barely exist as individual organisms. Our brains are built to help us function as members of a tribe”~ B Van Der Kolk, M.D

Engaging with life and community is a step. But, social engagement with discernment is where the work of self love begins. Groups that reinforce your faulty wiring may feel good for a time- as acceptance on any level can feel good to trauma. However negativity mirrors negativity.

The part of mirroring and healing these neurons that is challenging is that you now have to parent yourself into making decisions to show up to groups that can support you- and all of your loving parts- and reflect the basic goodness of all life despite the shared pain we all have. And thus you mirror the same to them and allow that basic goodness to flow through you… reciprocity…

…Just to be witnessed- your beautiful face to be seen- your tears to fall. No need to explain yourself or tell your story- until it’s time to do so from a loving place inside. No need to do anything but be and have those around you feel what we all feel, without words. No need to do anything but see what surrounds you- because the eye that perceives beauty is also the lens that beauty comes through.

If stepping fully into vulnerable territory of seer and witnesser among others is a few steps away I encourage a practice of allowing yourself to be seen by the ultimate healing forces of unconditional love- the mysteries and beauties of Nature. These forces want us to heal as they need us to see them and support their healing as well.

You can begin healing these lonely parts by joining in union with the eclipse- this great dance of reflection, light and dark. The Sun symbolizes the light and essence of the soul of all things. The Moon is a reflective force- relaying upon you how to bring the light of the soul into form. Yet as reflection falls upon your amazing face you will be asked to clearly see- also-all of the broken parts that need you to stand in this light and reclaim your beauty.

A prayer and practice- this can be done anytime with the cycles of the Moon- or a Tree or Flower or…

This is most powerful done naked in nature- just sayin.
Stand firmly with bare feet on the ground feel the support of the Earth
Look down- eyes wide and see the Earth and say “I am supported”
Eyes wide- gaze upon the reflective force (Moon, tree) and say “I see you”. Repeat this out loud as many times as needed until you here a voice whisper back “You are seen”.
As you look upon this beauty that sees you notice the movement, the texture, the sound. Notice how you feel and where in your body.
End with gratitude- a prayer of reciprocity and love.
I encourage you to maintain this relationship and witness the magic and healing.

To Be Seen in Silence~ A workshop to take this healing deep.

This is a gathering to begin to dissolve the separations in our minds and reflect the shared love, emotions and journeys of the heart that we all hold.
There will be one on one and group exchange without words- to quiet the story and bring the true nature of our soul out from the shadows that the story can cast.
This gathering will be held within a larger container of healing at a magical place HERE

THE PROTOCOL THAT HEALS and how to recieve 4-30 min integration sessions…

Blog, Digestion, Disordered Eating, Human Spirit

This will come as no surprise, I am sure, as many practitioners who enter the healing arts realm do so through experiencing life altering imbalances and disease. I am no exception.

I have suffered from digestive and other issues related to the abdomen and all of its mysteries since I was a child. I found my way to the beautiful techniques I share in my private practice, group sessions- and embody in my daily life as nothing in the Western medical model was even scratching the surface of what was buried underneath. Even with the diverse approaches within the natural medicine communities, the diets, herbal remedies and pills were helpful- but never completely- and only for awhile. What was I missing?….

As I sit here and write this today I have uncovered another layer of wisdom that is profound in managing, and at times, eradicating my symptoms of belly and body upset. A practice based in many wisdoms woven together that I can call upon to stop the spiral into the darkness (which it is when we don’t feel well- almost everyday). The first key, or step, to this protocol is being able to clear so much internal clutter that you can actually sense the spiral and where in the body it originates- often many places.

“In order to change you need to open yourself to your inner experience. The first step is to allow your mind to focus on your sensations and notice how, in contrast to the timeless, ever- present experience of trauma, physical sensations are transient and respond to slight shifts in body position, changes in breathing, and shifts in thinking. ” – Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD ‘The body keeps the score’

How do we do this?

We access our inner wisdom through unwinding the body. For me- this has been a combination of breath, meditation practices and certain exercises that have removed so much contraction in my belly and body that I am “going” twice a day (which is amazing). I learned the relationships that trigger one another within and befriended them by opening up their pathways for expression and healing. It was then- from this place that I learned the “protocol “that would help heal the even deeper layers so that the triggers no longer needed emergency response. The layers that would repair the trust of the body, that would nourish me back to a place of energy- sharpness in mind and youthfulness in my flesh and bone.

These layers addressed:

Bacterial colonization of the colon
SIBO symptoms and all the other mystery belly stuff they diagnose you with.
Autoimmune triggers within the digestive system
Eating behaviors
Fatigue and confusion

The process of this protocol is derived from the metaphysical workings of “us” yet land in a very solid foundation for your healing. This is a system like none other you have used if you are still feeling stuck in your body. This path and process can be one of ease- or challenge- depending on your level of self love and commitment. (triggered? curious?- I was) This path and process is a lifetime tool that will never fail you and is full of flexibility. What am I really talking about? …Is it a “diet”? A cleanse? A plant spirit? A radical life change? An exercise routine? A new form of meditation? Yes- No and Maybe.

I am sure you have been on programs before. Step by step- and expensive- programs that have let you down making you feel like you have let yourself down. I know you have a cupboard where supplements go to “die”- why didn’t they work?- or did they? This knowledge within that has led me to a place where I can now share about and relate to these experiences is humbling. I am forever grateful that the mysteries of how my/our organism is designed- is clearly no mystery when we breathe and blow away the clouds and get a new perspective- or is it THE perspective as the Sky is always blue? hmmmm

I am a bit cautious in sharing this process not to spoon feed you promises that “I have a thing you don’t and need- so you must follow”. I simply know what I am here in this body- with this beautiful spirit and soul to bring forth in this lifetime. Even as I say that I feel my humanness- that place where my desires and dreams meet my body and its limitations- AND I have learned how to pull myself up by my heartstrings and share with YOU because that is what I am here to do.

I will be sharing this process I speak of AND MANY OTHERS at a gathering of like minded hearts (or is it like hearted minds?)- seeking balance- like YOU. Anyone who joins the SILENCE MEET SOMA retreat this Fall will receive 4- 30 min phone calls to help integrate your process and protocol into you life. JOIN US!… BLESSINGS.

END-ometriosis

Blog

As a Maya Abdominal Practitioner, and teacher of the wise ways of the womb, I encounter many reproductive pathologies and imbalances in my female clients. Some of the most challenging cases of dis-ease I see on a semi regular basis are the ones involving endometriosis. It is a painful web that literally wraps itself through the body, the heart and spirit of the woman suffering. It is confusing as the spinster of this mesh of adhesions and constrictions is almost impossible to detect. It is heart breaking as it seems to strip women of feeling a sense of intuition with their bodies due to the lack of answers. It can be dream shattering when it comes to the Mother within wanting to be expressed. Where does it come from? What triggers it? How do we get out of this web? I hear them cry.

I was inspired to write this informative and emotional piece as one of my clients has become an amazing advocate for women who suffer from endometriosis. I have witnessed her and assisted her body through 2 surgeries and the layered emotional cocoon that she has broken free of- mostly. I say mostly because she is very well aware that a mystery illness like endometriosis needs impeccable care and attention to not let the mystery become a story of entrapment. Her name is Heidi- she is an inspiration and an example of knowing her body is her greatest teacher. She embodies the truth that the only way to unravel these webs is to go deep within, get all of the information you can, trust your heart and cry it out and continue to believe in the flow of life to move miracles into the spaces we create- when we go deep within and clear out the emotional and physical clutter that congests and confuses the body.

Seven months ago I was recovering from a major #endometriosis surgery and today I did this. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever do another half marathon, or run any distance for that matter so I’m incredibly grateful for all the surgical, naturopathic, therapeutic, and personal support I had to rebuild my body and soul. ~ Heidi

I am not so much writing this to inform you on what endometriosis is but to bring you to a place of empowerment within your own body around this and all dis-ease. However…

known as Sampson’s theory). Current thinking no longer supports this exactly; it seems perhaps endo might be it’s own separate tissue, possibly laid down in utero or possibly transformed (metaplasia theory) sometime during a woman’s lifetime by genetic or environmental factors or immune factors… More research is definitely needed, but most current advocates and many surgeons consider this one of many theories instead of the root cause.

For those who are not familiar, Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial type tissue is found outside of the uterus. This misplaced tissue releases blood and inflammation into the pelvic cavity, and in many cases, other parts of the body in rhythm with the menstrual flow each month. Because of the relationship to the increased pain during menses the original theory was that endometriosis is ‘leaking’ endothelial cells from the womb (known as Sampson’s theory). But, in Heidi’s research and work with this disease it appears that current thinking no longer supports this exactly; it seems perhaps endo might be it’s own separate tissue, possibly laid down in utero or possibly transformed (metaplasia theory) sometime during a woman’s lifetime by genetic or environmental factors or immune factors… More research is definitely needed, but most current advocates and many surgeons consider this one of many theories instead of the root cause.

The main symptoms are intense pelvic pain and swelling with the menstrual cycle that have no other explanation. This pain can eventually last all month and show up in other parts of the body as adhesions become more problematic. Other symptoms: Pain with intercourse, fertility challenges, urinary and digestive issues, excessive and clotty menstrual flow. Not all of these symptoms have to be present. The one major thing to note, again, is that there is an unknown component.

Endometriosis is directly linked to hormonal surges tied into the immune system and inflammatory conditions. However, it is unfortunately not as simple as naturally balancing the hormones since there is this undercurrent of imbalance in the immune system that does seem to have any clear path. There are many theories as to why it exists but they are speculations at best. And, from what I have witnessed in my treatment of so many is that looking for an answer to “why” perpetuates the inflammatory cycle. Inflammation responds to many factors including emotion. I will also note here that some of the myths around what causes endometriosis- like having sex on your period- should be ignored as many of them leave the woman with feelings of undue guilt and fear.

The other big mystery piece is in the detection of endometriosis. It does not clearly show up on your typical picture scans. This leaves laparoscopic imaging as the only option for clear diagnosis. Even then, if you don’t have a wicked smart doctor who knows this disease well they can miss some of the big areas in the body that the endometrial tissue has imbedded itself.

So what do women do when these symptoms rise and they have not yet been diagnosed? What do women do when they have been diagnosed? What does the path to END-ometriosis look like?

I really wish I had a clear endometriosis protocol (I’d be famous). I wish I could sing it all away as I hold the hands and wombs of my clients- which does help. However, I do have a path that I feel all women should follow when it comes to this disease and any disease in their body.

First, get all of the information you can. And with respect to endometriosis understand how it lives and breathes in your body- and LISTEN. We know it responds to inflammation. We know it responds to hormones. So, reducing the factors that create hormone imbalances and inflammations in general will help immensely. Get your blood and saliva tests and see where your hormones levels are at and act to ally them in healing. Talk to practitioners, talk to other women, talk to surgeons- get information! Without information you compile fears and feel like a victim of “no options”. With information you can begin to balance your body making the decision more clear around if to get diagnosed (if you have not) or have surgery.

Also, often times hormone replacement therapies can be life changing but should NOT be your first stop. I am an advocate of HRTs in cases like this when all other avenues have been explored. A band aid on an oozing wound without cleaning it out first is kind of what birth control has become. Lets administer hormone altering therapies once the body has been as balanced as possible- then you’re truly in the know.

Next, set up a team of support. Your self care is vital to the release of the emotions that will come through you as you address this disease. You do not have to hold this alone. And, as mentioned, trapped emotions create a back up of stress in the body- which is really the root cause of all disease. Abdominal massage therapies, in particular the Maya Abdominal Therapies as they address the emotional womb body so beautifully, are very helpful. Acupuncture for balance and group dance (my go to) to bring movement and community together in your life. Make time to spend with Nature and tell her your woes- she will listen and carry them away. Whatever makes your heart and body sing- do it.

Then, call in your herbal allies to support all of this opening. The plant world responds to your commitment to balance as it’s greatest desire is to actualize in love. Herbs in this case may not “cure” but they can open the pathways to heal and help your entire system find better alignment. Pelvic decongestants, diaphoretics, adaptogens, alteratives, lymphogogues and diuretics are very helpful. Please consult an herbalist or email me and we can discuss what is best for your body.

And- you KNOW how to be an ally to yourself. It begins with radical self love.

I have included info below from Heidi. You can turn disease into a discovery of self.

There are so many great resources I can share, mostly grassroots as we’re still light years away from a systematic medical and research approach. I’ll provide links to some of my current favorite advocacy groups from around the world, mostly formed by other women with endo and most of whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the World Congress on Endo last month.- Heidi

Endometriosis Research Center- Seattle chapter https://seattleendo.org/

Endo What? A great documentary that came out last year by the incredible Shannon Cohn and team. Forthcoming documentary is on Endo and the social justice issues surrounding why it’s so poorly diagnosed, etc. https://www.endowhat.com/

Endometriosis Australia https://www.endometriosisaustralia.org/

The Endometriosis Network Canada http://endometriosisnetwork.com/

Endometriosis Association of Ireland http://www.endometriosis.ie/

Pacific Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain (Dr. M and Beth her kick ass nurse practitioner) http://pacificendometriosis.com/

This group of surgeons is in Atlanta, GA but they are the best in the business and many women fly from around the world to receive surgery from this team. Also, the director (Heather Guidone) was my co-author for the poster I presented at the World Congress last month and she is an amazing advocate. http://centerforendo.com/#home-1

Here is one last bit of inspiration. Another client I worked with. Motherhood is not entirely off the table for all- don’t let the fear messages deter your dreams. Face your life with facts and then let the body be your guide to the magic that sometimes disease is trying to hide.

If you are reading this and unsure where to turn schedule a Skype or in person session with me.

Looking for a deeper journey into yourself with the allies of nature and silence as your guides?

Silence Meets Soma- a retreat back within.

Remember who you are and unlock your original medicine~ Love, Jamie Renee Lashbrook

Us v. Them ~ The Disease of Separation

Blog, Client Praise, Digestion, Home, Human Spirit, Uncategorized

…I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug…

– taken from Hippocratic oath

Infertility and the Impotent Male Mindset

Blog, For the Guys, Herbal Wisdom, Hormone Health, Human Spirit

I will say in advance that this article is charged with some emotion and “judgment” towards our men. As most of you know I write many articles around support of our men and how the landscape of the healing arts world leaves them behind. However, in the fields of fertility they do not play fair. I write this after another interaction with one of my female clients recently that echoed the story I have heard way too often…

“I am still not pregnant, I am now on Letrozole (or insert one of many ovulation stimulating drugs), I feel awful and all of my tests say that I am hormonally healthy. My husband finally got checked out and it appears his sperm is weak. “Is he taking any action to improve his sexual health”. NO, he supports me and Maya massage and herbs and doctors but there is no way he will do any of this….”

Common Letrozole side effects may include:

dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, tired feeling
hot flashes, warmth in your face or chest
bone pain, muscle or joint pain
flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling)
headache
increased sweating
swelling, weight gain

It is at this point that I have to swallow my anger. I have to allow judgment to roll off my back as my client sits in front of me feeling defeated. Feeling like she has failed- like her body has failed and that she still has to carry the entire burden of the infertility diagnosis herself. It further astonishes me how many couples in this scenario- or should I say how many women- are willing to undergo expensive and invasive IVF treatments before the male partner tries to improve his fertile health. Again, I always hear- “he is so supportive of all the things I do”. Umm- of course he is- he doesn’t have to do anything inconvenient or invasive to his body. I am fully aware that this is not all men. But I write from first hand experience and my experience is that this is the common story.

Emotions aside, I can come into a place where there is compassion for a man who receives a diagnosis of poor sperm and reproductive health. Those words pierce straight to the heart of ego. And, in a society where men already feel isolated from emotional expression it can be an uphill climb to face the reality that they are not the warrior-creator-provider that the stories of conquer and kings make us all believe they should be.

Times are different, our bodies are different and face different challenges with stress and toxicity on many levels. This is not exclusive to the sensitive female system. Stress typically effects our hormone health first as the brilliance of life will not allow creation to continue if the landscape is barren and void of nourishment. This effects men equally to women. Women just speak of it more often as we have a moon cycle that alerts us to imbalance every month.

(I do want to insert here that many of my beloved friends, clients and colleagues identify as female with male type bodies. When I speak of women and females here I speak of those with female parts regardless of gender identity- and vice versa- as stress and fertility affect us all :)… However, this issue lends itself more to the straight, heterosexual population.)

Details of the infertility epidemic and what resources can be helpful for our men….

A diagnosis of infertility comes after a couple is unable to conceive after one year of trying. According to statistics from the CDC 35-40% of issues come from female imbalance, 35-40% come from male imbalance and the rest is of equal imbalance in both partners. This information alone should hopefully spark awareness to the importance of shared responsibility in this delicate, important and miraculous process.

Common causes of infertility for both men and women are:

Stress and trauma
Hormone imbalance
Poor diet and lifestyle- including being overweight
History of chronic disease
Medication use
Recreational drug use including tobacco and marijuana
Past or recent sexual infections
Abdominal surgeries

Causes of infertility in men:

Low sperm count and motility of sperm
Erectile dysfunction
Ejaculation issues and obstruction
had one or two undescended testicles when you were a baby or child
have a hernia in your groin- very common in men
Hormone replacements and steroid use- testosterone.
All of the above- stress, trauma, diet, lifestyle, smoking, drug use etc.

When my clients (mostly women) come in to see me around their reproductive health we start by looking holistically at all of the above factors. When it comes to baby making we must all remember that just because the fetus grows within the mother and is mostly nourished by her, the health of that initial beautiful organism is affected by the health of both cells from sperm and egg. What that sperm carries (stress, toxins, trauma) can greatly influence if and how that fetus develops. Both parts must be healthy and vital for life to respond optimally. When wanting to create a family- the vitality of the whole family organism should be addressed- mom, dad, baby/ mom, mom, baby/ dad, dad, baby- or whatever lovely structure your family takes.

So, how do we approach the male bodied partners out there who need some guidance around this joint effort plan in parenting? First, we acknowledge how the male dynamic is mostly NOT wired to self nurture. We meet them where they are and give them information in a way that supports and doesn’t diminish them. (And, yes, maybe a few harsh words of reality) There is NO shame in needing a little assistance in our reproductive health. MEN- of course you need assistance. Modern stressors affect us all-like I said. They affect all and affect us first in our endocrine balance which affects our sexual vitality. You are not less of a man because you battle and experience the same stress triggers as most every other man- and woman- walking. We all just need to talk about it more.

Next, we provide resources and solutions that are simple. My recent client knows that there is no way her husband will come to see me so we created a plan where she would teach him the abdominal massage for her and she would also do the massage for him. This creates intimacy that is also nourishing the tissues and organs of the reproductive systems- win win. We also talked about herbs and foods for him that he could easily incorporate.

For the man who is more willing to be an active participant- I strongly suggest that everything the woman does- the man also does. If she is going to alter her diet and lifestyle to more balance and health- so should he. If she is going to take nourishing herbs for her reproductive system- so should he. I will also insert here that regardless of fertility challenges, we want healthy babies and these steps should be taken by ALL couples looking to conceive.

Support for the male body

Herbs– when deciding to take herbs please work with someone experienced in the field of health. Also, diet and lifestyle must be addressed for any plant’s healing properties to have full positive affect on the body.

Saw Palmetto berry ~Saw Palmetto is nourishing to the entire endocrine system, which may help improve overall reproductive function in men
American Ginseng Rt. ~This hearty root is considered to be one of the best male sexual tonics. Clinical observation has shown American ginseng to to support healthy libido, erectile dysfunction and enhance male sexual performance.
Maca~ In a human study of 9 men who were given gelatinized maca for 4 months at 1,500 – 3,000 mg a day experienced an increase in libido, sperm count, motility of sperm, increased DHEA levels, decreased anxiety and stress, lowered blood pressure, balanced iron levels and an increase in adrenal androgens.
Yohimbe Bark ~Yohimbe has been found to increase circulation to the erectile tissues; aiding in physiological and psychogenic (mental) impotence. Impotence; the inability to sustain erection, is the most common sexual disorder among men.

Diet and Lifestyle- all things worth doing take time. Allow your body to be nourished before you try to conceive.

Foods high in Zinc~ Zinc has been widely researched in relation to the reproductive health in men. You can easily supplement with zinc and I recommend zinc rich foods as the body more readily uses foods for our nourishment (as long as gut health is in check). Foods high in zinc are: Oysters, spinach and greens, organic lamb and beef, pumpkin seeds, cashews.
Organic foods~ organic does matter when we talk fertility. Some of the most potent endocrine disruptors come on our foods in the form of pesticides and antibiotics. Fresh, clean and organic foods nourish the body and help keep digestion moving and the liver in optimal filtering health.
Removing toxins~ Environmental toxins are harsh enough but add tobacco and other drugs to our liver, lungs and body and we have a cocktail of major hormone disruption. Habits are not easy to break and I do not take lightly the journey of quitting tobacco, alcohol, recreational drugs etc. I will propose these questions however: Is the health of the fetus important? Are you willing to adjust your lifestyle to make space for a healthy new baby?- There is no judgment here at all. Just necessary questions as life is not a game to play with.
Stress management~ Emotional and physical stressors are- in my opinion- the most damaging to our entire system and reproductive health. Find ways to balance your work and your play. Have a creative outlet. Exercise. Take up some mindfulness practices such as meditation and breath. Massage and self- care are very important. (The Maya abdominal massage is excellent for reproductive health in both women and men). Spend more time in nature- alone and with your partner. Have loving, playful and pleasurable sexual connection :).

This journey through the infertility diagnosis is emotional and taxing. Sharing equally in the responsibility can help ease the levels of stress assumed mostly by the female. Less stress on one partner= more love between both partners= better baby making.

If you are finding that there is an imbalance in the desire for shared responsibility please reach out. Men- do not feel ashamed to talk about how to nourish your sexual health. Women- do not feel alone in the journey. We can find balance and solutions for the health of our children who in turn will bring hopeful, healthful love to this Earth.

Other articles you may find helpful:

Female- Fear- Fertility

P is for Prostates..

SIBO- And the stress connection.

Blog, Digestion

I have contemplated writing about SIBO for a couple of years but hesitated for many reasons. Mostly because there are a vast number of rabbit holes one can Google down when you search for SIBO information. And because I really wanted to work with more SIBO clients and relate my personal experience rather than completely regurgitate information I read. I have/have had SIBO. And, typically when I have experienced something myself I can access my inner guru and relay some clear answers.

With SIBO I don’t have many answers, and frankly no one really does as it is a relatively new pathology of the gut. However, I feel called to speak on some of the common veins that run through every single one of my clients, and myself, with regards to etiology and recovery. What I will discuss is in relation to the work I do in supporting the human body through trauma and stress through abdominal massage, breath and body awareness. And how unreleased stress and tension in the body- specifically the abdomen- will lend itself to SIBO through rapid decrease in motility function (I will explain this later).

Why I say I have/ have had SIBO is that I don’t really know if it every completely goes away. My recent test of last year was negative but then some minor symptoms crop up and I simply wonder. I talk about this with my clients who come in with desperate eyes looking for answers to alleviate some of their feelings of failure in healing SIBO. I talk about this because it opens the door to working with the body where it is at- learning to really tune in and make lasting life changes rather than thinking that there is a start and finish.

True, many do completely live symptom free and I find those are the ones who have embraced the many changes that are necessary to ensuring that SIBO doesn’t return. This is not what most want to hear because it requires deep work on the emotional level to have that self care mastery and sense of your body. And, this is where finding someone to guide you into your body to address the stress triggers can really help you walk that path. AND- it doesn’t have to look perfect which is why I also say that you may just have to deal with SIBO, on minor levels, for some time. Because stress does exist and you have to exist so there’s that dance.

Ok- so for those of you who have NO idea what SIBO is lets dive in:

SIBO is short for small intestinal bacteria overgrowth. It is a condition where large amounts of bacteria populate the small intestine causing a variety of health symptoms not only in the gut but in the entire body- because as we know, the gut is like grand central station for the majority of our bodily functions. In fact, the symptoms of SIBO are so closely related to IBS (which is only a list of symptoms and not something I consider a real diagnosis) that many doctors are calling SIBO the new IBS. A study published in the Townsend Letter found that 84% of IBS patients presented with SIBO when tested.

SIBO symptoms:

Gas and bloating after almost anything you eat, especially carbohydrates.
You take probiotics and feel worse
Abdominal pain, discomfort, cramps
Mood disorders
Constipation, diarrhea, or a combination
Nausea and heart burn
Fatigue and brain fog
Malabsorption of nutrients
Systemic pain
Unexplained weight gain or loss
Hormone imbalances

There are also many diseases now being linked to SIBO like fibromyalgia, thyroid disorders, Crohn’s disease, cystitis, colitis, skin disorders and many more. If you have any of the above symptoms and have been diagnosed with IBS with no success in eradicating your symptoms, I highly recommend getting tested for SIBO.

Testing and Treatment

There are a couple different testing methods but the preferred is the hydrogen/methane breath test. The unwanted bacteria that populate the small intestine get really cozy and wait for you to eat anything that turns to sugar. When they feed on your pasta and wine they then produce the gasses hydrogen and methane. These gasses are not naturally produced by human cells making them distinguishable in the breath test. (the breath test is a slightly long, annoying but mostly accurate test). These gasses are what give you the uncomfortable digestive symptoms and prevent your food from being properly absorbed and passed into your colon properly. The key in treating SIBO is then to eradicate these bacteria, and this is where incredible confusion and frustration sets in for most people.

There are two main treatment options for killing the bacteria: antibiotics and a more natural approach using antibacterial herbs and supplements. I am not going to go into what works and what doesn’t because it really depends on you, how well you address the underlying causes associated with SIBO and how diligent you are with diet. Also, what I have found, as with most imbalances in the body, is that there is not a one size fits all protocol with these things. However, you must kill the buggers so choose a course that suits you. And studies have shown a 75% reduction rate in symptoms once the bacteria has been addressed. Unfortunately, many think that like other bacterial infections in the body, if you take the prescribed course of antibacterials then you are done. This just is NOT the case- sorry to say- and is how many clients end up finding me, or others who can help, to guide them in the other intricacies of SIBO that allopathic medicine falls short to address.

Alongside antibacterials, most all natural and allopathic doctors will also prescribe some sort of supplementation or prescription medication to address motility of the gut. They are now also aware that these bacteria love to make little nests in biofilm so biofilm disruptors are recommended. All of this in combination with a very rigid diet that omits most all carbohydrate intake.

In brief the standard protocol is:

Take antibacterials
Follow one of the many recommended diets (Gaps, FODMAPS, SCD, Elemental)
Take prokinetics for motility
Biofilm disruption (I won’t go into this but is necessary)
Retest

Looking at this seems pretty straightforward, unless you have SIBO and know the path is not that linear. What the above protocol fails to recognize is what impairs gut motility in turn impairs digestive enzyme production, transit of food, absorption of nutrients and so on.

How did this happen?! And the one common denominator- STRESS

SIBO isn’t something you just wake up with. It creeps in over time unfolding symptom after symptom which makes it difficult to really pinpoint when the story began. I have found that for most with SIBO they already had a compromised digestive system for some time. I hear from a lot of my clients that they have lived with minor digestive issues for so long that it became a normal state. This alone triggers a constant stress response in the body which over time impairs motility. The main causes of SIBO are also some of the main causes of many other intestinal disorders.

Improper diet and lifestyle
Parasitic infections
Food poisoning
Antibiotic use
Long term medication use- including birth control pills
Abdominal surgeries
Excessive stress leading to reduction in digestive enzymes and gut motility

If current stress levels are not addressed then motility and in turn digestive enzyme production, nutrient absorption and so on have a very difficult time in being restored. Even if we start to heal the lining of the gut through supplementation and diet, there is still no guarantee that SIBO stays at bay until the motility function of the digestive system is restored. And, gut motility functions properly in your parasympathetic “rest and digest” state. It relies on your parasympathetic and enteric nervous system to fire the communication signals to the body that it is safe and to unwind the contracted intestinal tract.

An important protective mechanism against SIBO is proper small intestine motility via the migrating motor complex because stasis promotes bacterial overgrowth. – Allison Siebecker, MD ‘Townsend Letter’

If your abdomen and intestinal motor function stay in contraction then you will continually perpetuate the pile up of bacteria in your small intestine rather than it travelling to your colon where it belongs or can be dealt with. If your body stays in your stressed flight or fight mode then your system signals digestion to slow and reduces enzyme production. Digestive enzymes and healthy levels of stomach acid are necessary not only for breaking down our food for absorption, but stomach acid is a first line of defense against more incoming bacteria on our food. But, coming back to the point of stress, even if you supplement with digestive enzymes, which I encourage in the beginning, if the motor function does not move your food through properly then you will still fight the SIBO back up. Ok, I think you get the point.

When we think of stress we think of the daily grind of work, family, finances etc. We often overlook that the body registers improper diet, toxic environments, toxic thoughts and an unbalanced lifestyle as stress. If we truly want to understand how to heal and what our body needs we have to listen to it. Unwelcome bodily symptoms and disease are literally signals from our beloved bodies that it needs help. But rather than slow down and listen and tune in, we create more chaos by constantly seeking “the little blue miracle pill” and we never actually heal.

Deep down we ALL know what is needed to create balance in our lives. Deep down we KNOW that most of our stress is self created. Deep down we all FEAR what it takes to really face our reality and take care of ourselves. But, I will tell you from experience, and from witnessing my clients’ recoveries, the more we come back to the our bodies and listen, the more we allow our fears to surface and address the stress trapped in our bodies, the easier actually taking care of ourselves is. It is really a big ol’ prescription of self-love and it is very human to fear that path- you are not alone.

Ok- mini tangent. What were we talking about? Oh, yes, SIBO…

As I said, the SIBO world is tricky to navigate and there is no miracle cure. But I can guarantee that the more you return to your body and reduce the stressors that keep the SIBO cycle going, the more you are going to be able to hear your own cues to heal and awaken your own inner gut guru. How do we return? We seek guidance and support that can help the body remember how to go with the flow. I have personally found abdominal massage and breathwork to be the most profound in assisting the enteric and parasympathetic nervous systems as both healing modalities address the abdomen directly. Reach out to practitioners who can hold witness to your stress and help you release it in a way that serves your body. Get some coaching. I have also found that most of my clients need someone to help them navigate the protocol their doctors have prescribed. But most of all, trust your body, trust yourself that you are strong enough to balance your own system and… trust your gut.

Are you curious about how abdominal massage and breath can help? Do you need help finding someone to support your journey? Want to know more about SIBO and my personal protocol? I am here…

Schedule a Coaching Session Now where you will get my insights. Additional sessions will include at home abdominal care and guided healing breathwork to help you release the stress in your belly.

In the Seattle area? Schedule an in person Healing Session Now.

All new clients- $10 off your first session. Existing clients- refer 1 person and receive $10 off your next session

I realize I just barely touched on all the mechanisms of SIBO as that was not the intent of the article. I have included links below to some highly intelligent doctors and specialists in this area that can elaborate.