GREEN = Carbon
GRAY = Hydrogen
RED = Oxygen

• Central Nervous System – the brain and spinal cord
• Peripheral Nervous System – nerves that run to and from the central nervous system
• Autonomic Nervous System – Sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric nervous system
• The sympathetic nervous system is aroused by stress, anger or fear.
• The parasympathetic nervous system calms and relaxes.
• The enteric nervous system is responsible for the gut or alimentary canal.

Essentially, our nervous system not only keeps us informed about the world outside us and inside us, but it also allows us to react to it. Every muscle we move, everything we physically feel, and every tissue in our body is controlled or monitored by our nervous system. If we sense we are in danger, our body naturally alters its chemistry in order to prepare us for a fight or flight emergency.

It is the Sympathetic Nervous System which is responsible for causing these changes to occur. Its function is similar to a modern country’s national defense system: if danger is detected, all stations are put on alert. These stations increase their area monitoring so that if the danger approaches a particular location, a message can be sent to the command center which then dispatches the appropriate response. If the danger is of only a minor concern, a yellow alert may be sent out. If the danger is more threatening, a red alert response is sent. While in the alert stage, the various locations continually update the command center with status reports so that the command center can adjust its response according to the status of the danger. Information such as where the damage is located, extent of damage, necessary troops needed to fight, amount of supplies needed and so on, is continually sent until the danger is over.

Our nervous system acts similarly. If we perceive danger, our body’s defense mechanisms are put on alert, ready to act at a moment’s notice. The degree of alertness is determined by the amount of perceived danger. Not only does our nervous system become extremely receptive, which instantaneously feeds our command center (the brain) information with which we can make quick decisions, but it also prepares our bodies for action by inducing into our bloodstream a “super fuel” for us to use in the case of action.

When our bodies perceive danger, our chemistry changes according to the amount of the perceived danger. This means that if you sense you are in a slightly dangerous situation, the chemical changes may be small or barely noticeable. But if you perceive you are in a life- threatening situation, the chemical changes may be extreme.

There are many theories as to the exact order of the chemical reaction, but the most agreed to is this: When we sense danger, a part of the brain called the Hypothalamus sends out the initial alarm. This alarm stimulates the pituitary gland which in turn signals the adrenal glands to release into the bloodstream a drug called adrenaline (epinephrine).

• This chemical action has commonly been called the “fight or flight response”. This process prepares the body for action. Some of the most noticeable changes we experience are: increased rate of breathing
• increased blood flow to the brain and heart
• increased heart rate
• increased awareness
• increased metabolism
• increased energy
• increased blood pressure
• increased muscle blood flow and constriction of blood vessels and arteries
• the ability for the blood to quickly clot

Do some of these sound familiar? It has been proven that too much adrenaline causes fear and anxiety.

It is important to know that every human being experiences this process to varying degrees when faced with danger. I repeat that the degree of perceived danger determines the degree of response. This process continues until the perceived danger has passed. This is very important to remember: Once the danger is over, the body — if allowed to– naturally breaks down the induced chemicals, which allows the body to return to its normal relaxed state.

This early warning defense system helps us to survive in times of danger, but unfortunately, if we continue to remain in the “red alert” stage or continue to push the panic button without the necessary time for our bodies to rejuvenate or rebuild, we can overwork our nervous system. Not only does our nervous system sense danger from outside our bodies, it also senses danger or damage from inside.

For example, if we are over-using a particular muscle, this muscle, with the help of our nervous system, will tell our brain there is a problem which needs attention. The message that is sent by our nervous system may be pain or fatigue. If we listen to the message, as we should, we would stop working until the pain or fatigue goes away, which is how the nervous system lets us know when we can resume working. If we do not listen to the message, further damage may result and the messages become stronger. These messages will continue to intensify until we are forced to stop the damage. In the case of a muscle, the message may be intense pain or muscle spasms.

Our nervous system is no different. If we are continually over-working the nervous system, it will send us early warning messages that tell us something is wrong. These messages may be in the form of a headache, stiff neck, fatigue, trembling, depression, tight muscles, insomnia, and so on. There are a vast number of messages that could be sent. If we listen, relax, and give the nervous system some time off, it will rebuild itself and be ready for more later. If we don’t listen to the messages, they will continue to intensify until we can no longer ignore them.

One of the most common disorders caused by nutritional deficiency is anemia due to an insufficiency of B-12. This nutrient has the largest molecular structure of any single vitamin and consequently presents a serious absorption problem.

The typical approaches to treating anemia are to administer large dosages of ferrous sulfate (iron sulfate) which may cause gastrointestinal bleeding, or a 1 c.c. (1000 mcg.) intramuscular injection of vitamin B-12, which is difficult to maintain over a long period of time.

Absorption of B-12 in the diet is reduced by an erosion of the mucous lining of the intestines and decreased hydrochloric acid production in the stomach. Stress has also been implicated in reducing the amount of blood flow to the stomach wall (eschemia), and thus inhibiting the absorption of B-12.

Further, many people are lacking a protein called “Intrinsic Factor” that may also be necessary for absorption. Vegetarians are often at risk of deficiency because B-12 is only found in animal products.

Recently, a number of researchers have found that the Schilling Test, the standard for measuring B-12 in the blood, does not accurately account for utilization of B-12.

In the event that B-12 is absorbed through the digestive tract, it is often not utilized in the formation of red blood cells. With this in mind, researchers experimented with relatively high levels of B-12 both orally and sublingually, (under the tongue), and they found they could overcome both the absorption and utilization problems.

It is known that B-12 may be important for many conditions including

• anemia
• cardiovascular disease (resulting from a buildup of homocysteine or methylmalonic acid in the blood)
• multiple sclerosis
• neural tube defects (a birth defect)
• myelin protein deficiency
• neuro-psychiatric disorders
• anxiety
• depression
• mood swings
• memory loss
• optic & peripheral neuropathy

Using standard normal ranges for determining whether or not a person is in an anemic state does not always indicate that one is at an optimal level of health in relation to hemoglobin levels.

Boosting the hemoglobin to a range of 14-17, provides a much better basis for improved energy, stamina and mood and has been shown to be a primary treatment for the underlying cause of anxiety and depression. (Hemoglobin is the component of blood that transports oxygen to all of your 100 trillion cells, including your brain!)

From clinical experience it has been observed that supplementation with sublingual B-12 (dibencozide) at 10,000 mcg. per day along with 800 mcg. per day of folic acid, stimulates the bone marrow to raise the hemoglobin count by as much as 2-3 points per month, depending on the beginning values and overall nutritional status.

Other effects that can be observed in the blood by using this treatment include:

1. Raising suppressed white blood cell count
2. Improving the ratios among various white blood cells
3. Normalizing macrocytosis (Increase in red blood cell size)
4. Normalizing microcytosis (Decrease in red blood cell size)
5. Raising red blood cell count
6. Lowering homocysteine levels

The broad range of application of B-12 and folic acid supplementation have also included effective treatment for other disorders, including depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

1. “Nutrient Requirements of the Healthy Elderly-Should There Be Specific RDAs?” Blumberg, Jeffery, Ph.D., Nutrition Reviews, August 1994; 52(8):S15-S18.
2. “Performance of Serum Cobalamin (B-12) Assay for Diagnosis of Cobalamin Deficiency,” Matchar, David B., M.D., et al, American Journal of the Medical Sciences, November, 1994; 308(5):276-283.
3. “How to Diagnose Cobalamin (B-12) Deficiency,” Nexo, Ebba, et al, Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, 1994;54(Supple. 219): 61-76.

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease, is caused by problems with the immune system and tends to run in families. It affects at least 2.5 million Americans, including Olympic athlete Gail Devers who won a gold medal in track after being diagnosed with and treated for Graves’ disease.

Symptoms include:

• fast heart rate
• nervousness
• increased perspiration
• muscle weakness
• trembling hands
• weight loss
• hair loss
• skin changes
• increased frequency of bowel movements
• decreased menstrual flow and less frequent menstrual flow
• goiter
• eyes that seem to be popping out of their sockets.

The symptoms of hyperthyroidism rarely occur all at once. However, if you have more than one of these symptoms, and they continue for some time, you should see your doctor.

The thyroid gland works like an air conditioner. If there are enough thyroid hormones in the blood, the gland stops making the hormones (just as an air conditioner cycles off when there is enough cool air in a house). When the body needs more thyroid hormones, the gland starts producing again.

The pituitary gland works like a thermostat, telling the thyroid when to start and stop. The pituitary sends thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to the thyroid to tell the gland what to do.

About 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Many are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. No age, economic group, race, or sex is immune to thyroid disease.

The thyroid gland might produce too much hormone (hyperthyroidism), making the body use energy faster than it should, or too little hormone (hypothyroidism), making the body use energy slower than it should. The gland may also become inflamed (thyroiditis) or enlarged (goiter), or develop one or more lumps (nodules).

Modern science confirms that insight, as, of all female hormones, progesterone is the one most essential for conception and to the survival of the fertilized egg and the fetus throughout gestation. It is necessary for full-term pregnancy.

At ovulation, progesterone levels rapidly rise from 2-3 mg/day to an average of 22-25 mg. per day, peaking as high as 30 mg/day. If fertilization does not occur in ten or twelve days, progesterone levels fall dramatically, triggering the shedding of the secretory endometrium (the menstrual cycle).

If pregnancy does occur, however, progesterone production is taken over by the placenta which secretes an ever increasing supply, reaching 300-400 mg/day during the third trimester!

Among the numerous other desirable effects of Natural Progesterone are the following:

• Makes Possible the Survival of the Fertilized Egg (successful pregnancy)
• Maintains the Secretory Endometrium which Feeds the Ovum & Resultant Embryo (full-term pregnancy)
• Progesterone Surge at Ovulation is the Source of Libido

Because progesterone is essential to prevent the premature shedding of the supportive secretory endometrium, a significant drop in progesterone levels or blockade of progesterone receptor sites during the first 10 – 12 weeks of pregnancy may result in the loss of the embryo (failed pregnancy or miscarriage).

Dr. Katherine Dalton reports that women who use a properly formulated progesterone cream during the first 19-20 weeks of pregnancy produce healthier, more intelligent children.

For more detailed, technical information of the functions of Natural Progesterone and its effect on pregnancy, see the Progesterone Technical Information Page

The natural health approach to uterine fibroids is to combine cleansing programs that are typical of cancer programs with a hormone balancing program to reduce excess estrogen. Both of these approaches act to increase the liver’s detoxification systems. The liver removes wastes and other toxins that tend to corrupt normal cellular processes. The liver removes excess estrogen.

The liver is responsible for destroying excess estrogen. If it is not functioning efficiently too much estrogen remains in the body. Estrogen is a cell-proliferating hormone.

Natural progesterone can help to correct hormone imbalances that lead to the development of uterine fibroids.

Before your periods stop, you go through a transition period called perimenopause — this can last on average from two to six years, although some women have it for a shorter amount of time, and others longer. And once your periods have stopped for six months to a year, you’re considered as being in menopause.

The average age for women to have completed menopause is age 51 — which means that most women go through this change between the ages of 47 and 53. So if you go through menopause before this — for whatever reason — you’ve experienced premature or early menopause.

Premature menopause is menopause that occurs before age 40; early menopause is menopause that occurs in the early 40s. If premature menopause occurs naturally — that is, if you haven’t had surgery, radiation treatment or chemotherapy that led to menopause — it is often referred to as Premature Ovarian Failure (POF). This sounds devastating. But basically, all it means is that your ovaries aren’t working as they should. They’re shutting down years, even decades, before their time.

If early menopause is a result of surgery or cancer treatments, you’re facing the same situation, just for different reasons. In other words then, early menopause, no matter what the cause, means one simple thing: your reproductive system is no longer working the way it used to. Your body is switching from being reproductive to being non-reproductive.

Pre-Ovulation

The pituitary gland releases a hormone called FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), which stimulates an ovarian follicle to grow and an egg to mature. The pituitary gland also releases LH (Luteinizing Hormone) which stimulates the follicle to manufacture and secrete estrogen. Estrogen causes the uterine lining to grow.

Ovulation

The pituitary gland releases a heavy surge of LH. Home ovulation kits are designed to detect this sharp increase. 24 to 36 hours after the surge, the follicle will rupture, releasing the matured egg to the fallopian tube. The remainder of the ruptured follicle (called the corpus luteum) recedes back to the ovary and begins to secrete progesterone. Progesterone causes an increase in blood vessels to the uterine lining, inhibits other eggs from developing, and causes the Basal Body Temperature (BBT) to rise about half a degree.

Luteal Phase

The luteal phase is the period of time (usually 11-14 days) following ovulation.

The egg can be fertilized within 24 hours of release, while it is still in the fallopian tubes. If the egg is fertilized, the pituitary gland produces hCG which causes the increased production of progesterone. The progesterone in turn causes the BBT to remain high throughout the luteal phase and after the 14th day. High progesterone levels are also responsible for “morning sickness” and other symptoms of pregnancy.

If the egg is not fertilized within 24 hours, the corpus luteum regresses and slows its progesterone production. After around 11-14 days, there is no longer enough progesterone to supply the uterine lining with blood, and so menstruation begins anew.