HRV, Neuro Emotional Technique, and Failure to Thrive

In my office, I test Heart Rate Variability on each patient. I find it to be a useful tool in testing their adaptability and how that changes over the course of their care. In these charts, you will notice a little white block. That indicates where the person falls on the scale. Ideally, we want them to be exactly on the center line and as high up the line as possible with both scores that you see on the upper right at 100 or higher. In a way, this is a great measure of someone's vitality. Chiropractic care, especially coupled with the tool of Neuro Emotional Technique and a healthy diet, seems to have an excellent effect on this measure.

This patient perplexed me however. As you can see in the next two charts, not only did she not improve under care... she actually got worse! Her top score (which is often what I explain to patients as their reserves to handle incoming stressors) went from a 32.95 to a 27.44. And she wasn't looking too great to start with! I have never seen anything like it. This patient was referred to me by family members concerned for her life. She is diabetic and has recently been put on dialysis.

Once I saw the second hrv score, I was concerned. Something had to change. And then the thought occurred to me... she is failing to thrive. Is she even ok being alive? So I tested her with the concept. And she wasn't.

We cleared her using the N.E.T. process and I am so excited to show you her new scan:

CHECK OUT THOSE SCORES! 105! I couldn't be happier for her.

A Peek Behind the Curtain: Feeling unworthy of Love

Many times, Neuro Emotional Technique will provide "Aha!" moments for my patients. But sometimes, I am blessed to have my own in being a witness to their care. This was one of those days.

I had a patient who was wrestling with depression and anxiety. She had grown up in a severely abusive home, and now, in her golden years, she was haunted with "irrational worries"... worries that she knew were irrational but she couldn't figure out how to shake. She ended up on anti-depressants because she was losing the ability to get through the day or even get out of bed. I listened to her talk about how frustrated she was... she had such a good life, a loving husband, wonderful grown children and grandchildren who adored her... but she found herself overcome with worry. She felt she should just be grateful, but with every gift seemed to come more worry and the more she worried, the guiltier she felt. The depression just kept increasing exponentially throughout this cycle.

Of course, I encouraged her to dive into the feelings with NET.

What we uncovered was an NEC (Neuro Emotional Component) that not only opened her eyes, but mine.  

You see, she grew up with a violently abusive, strict father who she, despite all his harsh behavior, adored (as children often do). What surfaced with our session was how undeserving he felt of her love and adoration. And as she saw him struggle with his self-worth and self-love, she did what many 7 year olds would do... and what many adults channeling their inner 7 year old try to do... she loved him even more, trying to show him how lovable he was... trying to show him what she saw so lovable. She was trying to help him. And the more she loved, helped, tried... the angrier he got, the more undeserving he felt, the more severely he punished her, and the more his self-esteem suffered.  

As an adult, struggling with incapacitating anxiety and depression, she found herself wrestling with the same cycle, only now SHE was the one who felt like a burden, unlovable.

As she struggled, her family tried to help, but it just made the cycle continue. 

I share this story, not to discourage you from trying to help those you care about, but to give some firsthand insight as to what is going on. And if you are trapped in this cycle yourself, please put the self-judgement on hold and seek out a Neuro Emotional Technique practitioner.

In case you are wondering, she is feeling much better and currently weaning off her medication with the help of her MD. She has also been encouraged to seek the help of a licensed counselor to help process her current emotions and the scars of her past.

A Cautionary Tale about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

It happened yet again today...

I had a patient return for care today after a few year hiatus. She reported that a few months ago, she had carpal tunnel surgery because she had unrelenting numbness in her pinky and ring finger. The surgery didn't help and she showed up at my office desperate for help.

Allow me to explain the carpal tunnel (apparently, the surgeon needs to read this, too):

In carpal tunnel surgery, the Transverse Carpal ligament is cut to make more room for the Median nerve to travel through. (You can see both the ligament and the nerve in the picture.) This ligament can get irritated and thickened from microtrauma (typing on a keyboard is one of the main mechanisms for injury), resulting in irritation and/or compression of the Median nerve. This results in the middle finger getting "pins and needles" or going numb.  The finger can also get weak. Cutting the ligament to relieve the pressure has been the medical solution for this for quite some time. If you trace the Median nerve from the wrist to the fingers in the picture, you will see that it travels mainly to the middle finger (with a small piece branching towards the inner ring finger and the outer index finger so, sometimes, those with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will experience numbness here, too). The Ulnar nerve goes to the pinky and ring finger.

My patient was actually experiencing an ulnar nerve entrapment. This was confirmed during the exam that I did on the patient.

To say this makes me angry is an understatement. This happens all the time! And I cannot believe that these surgeons who are going in and operating have no idea where the nerves go to or what the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are. If that is the case, they don't deserve to have a license! This leads me to believe that all they are after is... MONEY!

Surgery is RISKY! And according to this article, 1 in 20 young, healthy adults die within a year of being anesthetized!

I generally refrain from speaking negatively about the medical profession, but this has got to stop. This patient has now gone through unnecessary surgery, is on disability, and is still seeking relief. I'm just glad she called and she is now back on the path of health and regaining her life. If you know someone who is having Carpal Tunnel symptoms, PLEASE share this post. And then have them call my office to schedule an appointment at 908.300.8800

A Little Miracle

(I wrote this for a friend about twenty years ago. He was going through a rough patch at the time. He recently reminded me of it, and I thought I'd share it with all of you...)

There lies a little miracle
In every twist and turn
In every broken heart
In every crash and burn

Sometimes we are blinded
to the lesson we should learn
But we have to look beneath the surface
to seek the wisdom earned.

Real Food Recipe: Coconut Chai Steamer (dairy free)

I was on the Standard Process Purification Program and jonesing for a warm, creamy beverage when I dreamt up this luscious concoction. If you make it, let me know how it turned out and if you modified it at all in the comments below!

Serves 2-4

Boil together for 10 minutes:

3 cups filtered water
5-10 slices of fresh ginger (I peel, slice and freeze fresh ginger so I always have some on hand... it is also a great addition to stir-fries!)
1 Tbsp black peppercorns

Add:
1 can coconut milk (I like Native Forest Organic Light coconut milk. It is in a BPA-free can and doesn't have the additives that coconut milk and almond milk beverages have. If you want a creamier drink, use the regular coconut milk instead of the light.)
1 Tbsp Vanilla extract
1 Tbsp cinnamon (Make sure you use ceylon cinnamon instead of the commonly sold "cassia cinnamon." Cassia is actually shown in studies to lead to a number of fatal health conditions while ceylon or true cinnamon actually decreases your risk for diabetes!)

Pour mixture through a strainer or cheesecloth to remove the peppercorns and ginger and put in Vitamix.

Add:
4-5 pitted medjool dates

Blend until creamy and serve!

Let's play a game!

As I was doing the dishes this evening, contemplating life, my brain reminded me that everything we experience in this world is a gift, even if the wrapping paper is pretty ugly at times. I started thinking about some of the uglier wrapping jobs in my life and decided play a game I like to call "Silver Linings" in which I think of one of the most unpleasant experiences I have encountered and find the gift. It's really kind of fun!  As I played, I felt myself grow happier and more grateful with every gift I unwrapped.

Have you ever played Silver Linings? If so, let me know about your experience in the comments below! And if you're playing along at home and get stuck, leave it in the comments below and let me help. Or try some Neuro Emotional Technique! (You can also email me privately at DoctorRedmond@gmail.com)

Happy hunting!

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