Energy Medicine for Gut Heath
Did you know that the gut is considered the “second brain?” Research is showing strong evidence that the relationship between your brain and the stomach, “gut” is quite powerful. The Second Brain or the Enteric Nervous system is comprised of a network of nerve cells that line the digest tract. Neural tissue in the gut produces over 30 different neurotransmitters. Ninety-five percent of Serotonin is produced and stored in the gut and plays an important role in regulating mood and wellbeing. In fact, many anti-depressants are designed to increase serotonin to improve our mood. That is why eating healthy is not just about having greater energy and vitality, but it’s also about improving mood and cognitive functioning and so much more.
Our microbiome is a key factor in regulating our immune system, protecting us from disease, supporting our brain, and helping us digest food, among many other functions. While it is critically important to our health, the microbiome was not broadly recognized by medical science until the late 1990s, and we are still learning an enormous amount about what is now often referred to as “the missing organ.” Working with energy medicine can help support our microbiome, which in turn supports our overall health.
The microbiome consists of trillions of microbes (bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses), most of which are in our gut, especially the small intestine. Our microbiome is integrally involved with our physiology in complex ways. Two-thirds of our immune system is in our gut, but the microbiome also affects the heart, the endocrine system, the brain, and your stress response system too. When the microbiome is healthy, we are healthy. When our gut bacteria and other microbes are out of balance, that can lead to poor health.
Stress has a profound effect on our microbiome, especially when the stress is chronic. When we are able to effectively manage our stress, whether it is through energy medicine or other approaches or a combination, our entire being is healthier, including our microbiome.
How do we know if our microbiome is healthy? The most basic answer is that if you are thriving, your microbiome is healthy. If you suffer from any chronic conditions, that will likely be reflected in your microbiome. Energy medicine can help us assess where the imbalances are in our microbiome and can help us correct those imbalances to promote a healthy gut.
Both our environment and our diet can have profound effects on the health of our microbiome. Consuming processed foods and overusing antibiotics both reduce the healthy bacteria in our guts, leading to possible imbalances. Conversely, incorporating foods that are anti-inflammatory, promote healthy bacteria, and keep fungal growth in check can all be supportive of a thriving microbiome. For example, fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchee, and kombucha have high quantities of live bacteria and yeast that support our microbiome by promoting microbial diversity.
Energy testing can help determine the specific foods and herbs that are right for an individual’s unique system. It’s important to keep in mind that our microbiome is dynamic and ever-changing, so what is right for someone for a period of time may not always be as supportive. There is a reason we have the saying “gut feeling”—our gut tells us what we need to know. It’s our job to listen.