Brain Cleansing During Sleep

                                                                                                      

Brain Cleansing During Sleep

The following is an excerpt from an article written by Tad Wanveer a CranioSacral Therapist and instructor for the Upledger Institute.

Why do we sleep?

Recent research by Maiken Nedergaard and colleagues at the University of Rochester in New York shows that a major purpose of sleep is to help the brain cleanse itself of harmful materials.

How does the brain cleanse itself?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a nourishing and cleansing brain fluid.  CSF carries essential nutrients into the brain, and transports waste and toxic material out of the brain.

How does CSF flow into and out of the brain?

The brain is comprised of two cell types: “neurons” and “glia.”  Glia have a multitude of important tasks and one is to control the flow of CSF.  One sort of glial cell is called an “astrocyte” because it looks similar to a radiating star.  The tips of some of these star-shaped cells create channels in which CSF flows into and out of the brain.  For CSF to actually enter or exit the brain it passes through little holes in the astrocyte tips called “aquaporins.”

What controls the flow of CSF inside the brain?

Astrocytes and other glial cells help control the size of the space through which CSF and other substances flow inside the brain (extracellular space).  The extracellular space becomes smaller during wakefulness and larger during sleep.  The larger extracellular space allows more CSF to flow inside the brain.

What happens if CSF doesn’t flow well?

When CSF flow is hindered then brain cells can’t receive essential nutrients nor cleanse themselves well.  This can cause cell stress that may lead to cell dysfunction.  For instance neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are associated with a build-up of toxic material in the brain.

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) may help CSF flow.

One primary intent of CST, a gentle hands-on therapy, is to encourage the flow of CSF.  CST clients often fall asleep during treatment.  Perhaps this is the body’s way of boosting the effect of CST by optimizing the size of the space through which CSF flows.

Sleep opens the brain-cleansing pathways.

In summary during sleep the brain’s extracellular space enlarges.  This allows more CSF to flow throughout the brain.  CSF helps carry essential nutrients to brain cells and helps cleanse the brain of toxic material.  This is a very important reason why we need to sleep.

Jeannette Raskin is at Family First Chiropractic on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 
To book an appointment call 403-347-3261. 142 Erickson Dr, Red Deer.  www.family1stchiro.ca

Vision Board

 Vision Board

A vision board is like creating a role model, but instead of someone else, it is like creating a role model of your best self. A vision board is a board, created by you, that reminds you of the person that you want to become in the future. It can portray goals that you have for your social life, your romantic life, your professional life, it can be whatever you want. But it should create the image of the all-encompassing person you desire to be. This may seem like an empty gesture, but often can yield real results by allowing you to better visualize the small steps you need to take to work toward a goal by seeing it every day. You will never outperform your picture of yourself, so it is important to keep updating a positive picture of the person you want to be.

Here's how that works:

STEP 1:

Look through your favorite magazine or journal. Find images that you connect to. Or, have a specific image or goal in mind? You can simply search for that image on Google Images. Find images that give concreteness to the adjectives you want to be described as. Want to be more family-oriented? Find pictures that demonstrate the relationship you want to have with your kids. Want to find your dream man/woman? Find images that exemplify the qualities you want them to have. Cut all of these images out and paste them on a poster board. Or if you want to go digital, you can create a Pinterest board or use an app like Posterino. Look at others' vision boards to find inspiration as well. It can be as simple as Googling "vision boards" or checking out Pinterest. You may find a quote or an image that you find inspiring yourself, and desire to use it. The image above is an example of a vision board. The focus is on interests: fitness, family, and motivation. Positive images pair with uplifting and action-oriented phrases.

There are even specific apps for making vision boards. Dreamitalive.com not only features a place to create vision boards, but also allows you to connect with like-minded people to use as mentors and team members on the journey. Mind Movies is a way to animate your vision board and thus make it even more engaging. Mind Movies is an online vision board creator that allows you to combine your uplifting images with powerful affirmations and motivating music to produce an inspiring three-minute video. The movement and music can help create the kind of inspired emotion that may be difficult for some just looking at a board. They are also easy to share with others, if you want to get friends and family in on your goals. Mind Movies also offers their own videos as inspirational guides that offer steps to achieve different dreams. Some of the popular ones they feature are: "Attracting Health," "Attracting Wealth," and "Attracting Spirituality.

Step 2: 
Put this board in a place that you will see it FOR SURE. Like, a lot. Make it your home page on the Internet. Put it next to your bed. Put it on the refrigerator. I don't care, just make sure you see it a lot, so much that you don't even think about it anymore.

Step 3: 
Stop thinking about it. Let it become simply part of the things you see every day. This way, your brain gets accustomed to it. Vision boards are all about emotion. "Just seeing my vision board for a few seconds in the morning whilst brushing my teeth, I'm immediately reminded of what is really important in my life and how grateful I am for the life that I have already created," states Martyn Anstey. He continues: "It can catch me just as I am about to go to a business meeting, and just seeing one word, one image, completely changes my day." When making your vision board, focus on images and words that will get this type of reaction; you want your brain to wake up, and realize the way to the things it wants.

Step 4: 
Live your life, but be aware and be active. Vision boards are not going to do all the heavy lifting for you; they are simply there to help you notice the possibilities that are right there for you, and to realize the potentialities within yourself to reach these goals. Many vision board proponents purport to have completely forgotten about a vision board until much later, realizing that they had attracted into their lives exactly what we were looking for, to an odd specificity. Vision boards help make all of the jumbled, abstract feelings in your head into a foreseeable future. If you're skeptical about making a vision board yourself, ask what you really have to lose by trying it. Not really much. But perhaps it makes you more in tune to the repercussions of your choices and how they align with getting what you want. 

Dr Elton Clemence is taking new patients at Family First Chiropractic. 403-347-3261 142 Erickson Dr Red Deer T4R 2C3

Cerebrospinal Fluid

Cerebrospinal Fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid immerses the brain and spinal cord in essential nutrients, cleanses the brain and spinal cord of waste material, and flows throughout the body contributing to whole-body biochemical equilibrium. Imbalance of the autonomic nervous system can decrease the production of cerebrospinal fluid, which can lead to nutrient loss and toxicity of the brain or spinal cord, as well as biochemical and cellular stress throughout the body.

Cerebrospinal fluid is produced in four interconnected cavities within the brain, called ventricles. The autonomic nervous system controls the amount of cerebrospinal fluid that is created. Nerve fibers from two parts of the autonomic nervous system send signals to the ventricles.

The two autonomic nervous system parts are: the sympathetic, referred to as the “fight or flight” or “stress response” division; and the parasympathetic, called the “rest, digest and renew” or “healing” division.

The autonomic nervous system can become imbalanced due to things like infection, chronic pain, disease or stress. This can increase sympathetic division signals sent to the ventricles, which can lessen cerebrospinal fluid production by as much as 30%. On the other hand, parasympathetic signals sent to the ventricles increases cerebrospinal fluid production so the system can create the maximum amount for a healthy brain, spinal cord and body.

Reducing the body’s “stress response”, especially when a stressful state is chronic, helps to rebalance the autonomic nervous system. This can increase parasympathetic signals sent to the ventricles, which optimizes cerebrospinal fluid production. Then the brain, spinal cord and body as a whole can receive ideal levels of nutrition and cleansing.

Craniosacral Therapy is an effective method that can lessen stress, balance the autonomic nervous system, and optimize cerebrospinal fluid production and flow leading to optimal health, healing and well-being.
Jeannette Raskin is located at Family First Chiropractic, Red Deer. 403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca

CranioSacral is Gentle yet Powerful

How does CranioSacral Therapy work?
CranioSacral Therapy works by helping the body’s natural healing mechanisms dissipate the negative effects of stress on the central nervous system. This is accomplished by utilizing a physiological body system called the craniosacral system, which maintains the environment in which the central nervous system functions.  The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, extending from the cranium (head) down to the tailbone area (or sacrum). The role of this system in the development and performance of the brain and spinal cord is so vital that an imbalance or dysfunction in it can cause sensory, motor and/or neurological disabilities. For example, if the bite (or jaw) is out of balance, the whole head is out of balance, and often the whole body.

 

How can something so gentle be so powerful?
The craniosacral system has a rhythm that can be felt throughout the body, just like the pulse. I use a very light touch to monitor this rhythm from head to feet to pinpoint the source of an obstruction or stress. I can then encourage the natural movement of the fluid and soft tissues to help the body self-correct. This simple action is often all it takes to remove a restriction. Sometimes, like peeling layers of an onion, once some restrictions have released and balanced, others may show themselves and need attention.
Jeannette Raskin is located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr, Red Deer
403-347-3261
www.family1stchiro.ca