Interventions on Human Life - Amanda McGregor reflects on her learning and losses, post covid restrictions, at this time of great change.
The nervous system relies on direct support in hormonal balance, encouraging a catalyst of sensory experience, perception and creative expression. Often we think of the sexual hormones; testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone, when looking for hormonal balance, but we can forget the importance of cortisol, triiodothyronine, insulin, seratonin and dopamine. Understanding the main hormones and the importance of their regulation is a crucial element to health and well being at this time.
The last six months seemed to became hijacked by a rethink about support systems. I was encouraging this, in my own health and how I was sharing my holistic thinking with others. I found an overlap of information, that proved exceptionally useful and 'universally important', in the hang over from the covid years. Post covid restrictions and controls, I relooked at the core support systems we use for the body, through plant medicine and hormonal balance, whilst revising my knowledge in all areas.
I found paths in every direction led back to making sure all hormones were able to act appropriately and to regulate our systems, to enable an expression of health emotionally, sexually, physically, neurologically and in our voices etc. After loosing too many people to death during covid restrictions, through systems of limit imposed on a government level, I kicked back to try to recover some understanding around those that had suffered and died around me, whilst also recovering my own sense of well being.
I would like to shine a light on the key points of learning as we can all get caught up in the fog of new agendas; with political health, economic gain, systems that can compromise. Yet the rebuilding of our own health and stability is very much in our hands and can be a simple off the shelf experience at the local pharmacy. Supplements including complex vitamins and minerals at this time, are very well developed and can make a huge difference in life and death, as after all we all made up of a chemistry. The elemental table of the human body is strikingly simple, said to be 99% made up of about six different factors - oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, calcium, and phosphorus. It is said that another five elements make up 0.85% of the remaining - sulfur, potassium, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium. All of these 11 elements are considered essential elements. So by making sure these elements are supported we can do a lot to help ourselves heal and function.
However there is a complexity in the health care system, to do with Doctors / General Practitioners's and supplements, that I would like to bring attention to. If you buy an off the shelf supplement, each vitamin and mineral package, instructs that you are asked to consult a Doctor or physician, you are encouraged to make sure the nature of the supplement does not contradict something else you are taking, like taking St Johns Wort and anti depressants. However a NHS Doctor is very limited in the ability to advise you on supplements, they can only share an opinion, if the overlap is concerning with the medication they have prescribed or if they can prescribe through an NHS channel. Sometimes this is because of similar ingredients, sometimes because of conflicting elements and often the note to 'consult a doctor', is written to be a disclaimer to protect the supplement brand. This means that the disclaimer or advice around supplements and plant medicine, is communicating to an empty void unless relevant to medication; the narrative around personal health care in respect to supplements and plant medicine is therefore silenced, or compromoised for the general public.
So if you want to know if you are stepping over the recommended dosage of Vitamin D, a crucial vitamin in the United Kingdom, (due to the cloudy dark winters), maybe by taking too many complex supplements, that all contain the same vitamin, a local Doctor sometimes feels unable to advise what to take unless prescribing. We therefore have a circular problem in disempowering individual long term health care and a major conflict in interests in supporting health. Complex vitamins and minerals are crucial to provide stable support and nutrients so the body can balance, express itself and think appropriately. Plant medicine often has receptors that mimic the body, yet the support of these plant medicines is not able to be met through G.P.s unless pharmaceutically available, often they are used by pharmaceuticals alongside synthetic medicines, there is very little transparency in this area. I asked a doctor to comment on these complications, so that we could gain some insight, they wanted to remain anonymous.
'We are limited in the advice we can offer, we often recommend a supplement in certain cases e.g. pregnancy and elderly care. There is guidance for GPs on maximum doses of vitamin D (4000iu/day), though awareness of the guidelines amongst GPs is varied. We need to exercise extreme caution when mixing supplements to avoid overdosing e.g. vitamin A and liver toxicitiy.'
The narrative around supplements and body identical plant medicines, again comes up in respect to HRT. Female 'body identical' receptors can be found in red clover, yam, soya products which all help the body to produce the female hormone oestrogen; a body identical natural plant medicine which can also be found on the NHS for hormone replacement therapy.
Doctor Comments -
'GPs are becoming more aware of supplements and herbal remedies – the herbal remedies for menopause are on the NHS leaflet for alternatives for HRT (Patient.co.uk) for example. Often the assistant at Holland and Barret can signpost you as to what is safe.'
However if you want to check the rest of your body for the other nine, plus hormones and find body identical receptors to help regulate your stress, your thyroids, your sugar levels you may find yourself in the dark without a system of support to check in or help you re-balance and find stability in your body, with only help if symptoms are really acute.
Doctor Comments -
'Pick your medic, some G.P.'s have a sympathetic ear and are happy to do basic bloods – including thyroid and female hormones, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, glucose and diabetes bloods.'
In my experience in working over long term healthcare keeping an eye on the regulatory aspects of the body is crucial. Inbalance can lead to strokes, blood clots, diabetes, severe menopause symptoms, oestrogen cancer, cancer, fungal infections, problems with the pituitary gland, A.D.H.D., oesteoporosis, bacterial infections, dementia, post traumatic stress complexities, relationship disorders, mood swings, anxiety, O.C.D. acute depression, bi-polar depression, alzheimers etc.
To look at all your hormones the best way is to do a dry urine test, at a high cost of around £400, however this D.U.T.C.H. test is complex and complete and can help you see which vitamins, minerals and therby one can see what plant medicine receptors can be used to promote support in areas that need attention. However there are other ways to support our systems and rebalance our nervous systems with a general practice of balance without needing to spend quite so much, as long as we stick to dosage recommendations and regulated systems of supplements.
Too much metal in the brain - like copper, zinc, iron can lead to long term mental health illnesses, along with exaggerated proteins.
Gene expression and DNA sequencing in cells, veins and arteries needs hormonal regulation, including oestrogen, for healthy gene expression and the rebuilding of cells in DNA sequencing and methylation pathways. Disturbances to gene expression and DNA sequencing can create acute illness in veins, arteries and cells. Getting the right suppport for norepinephrine to epinephrine or adrenal support - serotonin to melatonin, cortisol can make a huge difference to our functioning and regulating health.
An inability to regulate sugar levels in the body can lead to insulin diabities and problems with the pancreas, glucose and fatigue.
An inability to regulate stress through the cortisol hormone can lead to imbalance of the whole system, especially in a woman's cycle, after trauma or at times of grief.
Too much stress, parasites and fungus in the gut can lead to too little serotonin which is crucial for its role as a neurotransmitter and a hormone, pituitary function, leading to brain fog, IBS, neurodiversity, not enough testosterone. Candida can lead to severe fungal infections that can be systematic.
Not enough excercise, through the modern sedentary lifestyle, limited relationship values, in deep sharing and love can lead to a lack in dopamine which also relates to the nervous system and an ability to think and focus.
Physical Activities and Products can help -
Magnets can be used to stabalise and balance, the electrodes in the nervous system, making significant difference to the male and female pain body, mood, stress (cortisol), and women's cycles, or the menopause.
Energy Healing such as Reiki and Tai Chi can help to support the nervous system and enable dopamine production.
Resistance Weight Training helps with Oesteoporosis.
Hypnotherapy can help to process deep emotions and regulate stress and emotional well being.
Swimming can help to bring emotional regulation and help calm the nervous system.
Environmental factors in reduced anxiety, nature, stabilty, security, love, attention can make a big difference to neuroplasticity.
Holistic Therapies can help you develop your entire system.
If we take complex vitamins and minerals for our age group and our health issues we can succeed in a holistic health practice enabling our bodies to refind balance and their expression of self in personal identity.
We then can do our own complex research to find 'body identical receptors' that can help support our systems. I can help with health management and your personal creative expression, I cannot prescribe; this is a journey of self discovery. I find that everyone relates to holistic healthcare differently, I can recommend brands I find particularly useful and plants and roots that have really made a difference to me and others, however this journey is one for you, in relating to a deeper calling of well being in the self.
I find Vitabiotics to be particularly helpful for a very general, off the shelf, vitamin and mineral supplement, they are not over complicated and are proven to work. Both Mens health and Womens health are effective, also Menopace for the menopause years. Reading the online reviews of supplements and vitamins and minerals really helps to find how people experience the product. There are a lot more products available at the website of the brand than in the shops, it is important to shop around until you find what works for you, the more organic is normally the better, but with Vitabiotics they seem to get the right mix of ingredients even though they are not organic. Remember often less is more with supplements due to the 'elemental' requirements of the self.
Doctor Comments -
'Sticking to mainstream multivitamins such as those by Vitabiotics, Sanatogen or mainstream pharmacies such as Boots own brand, or Superdrug are a good bet as the UK supplement industry is well regulated and is evidence based. Exercise extreme caution when buying from the internet and overseas.'
Natural Plant Resources -
He Shou Wu Root / Fo Ti - Rebuilding core strength, energy, libido, bloods.
Organic Ashwagandha - Cortisol Support
Organic Ashwagandha - Testosterone Support
Pinus Species - Testosterone Support
High Quality Organic Cocoa - Dopamine support(must be hand picked and ceremonial grade)
Holy Basil - Cortisol Support
Liquorice Root - Cortisol Support
Reducing Carbohydrates in the diet - Helps with Insulin regulation
Chromium - Helps regulate sugars in the diet
Costus Igneus Plant - Helps with Insulin Regulation
Red Clover, Yam, Soya - Helps with Oestrogen
Probiotics - Helps with Serotonin
Candida Cell Wall Surpressor with active ingredient Chitin (lufernon) - helpful to clear fungus from the body.
Black Walnut Oil - Helps to clear parasites.
Charcoal and Magnesium can help to reduce metal content in the brain.
Black Charcoal Wood Sticks can be bought to put in water to filter.
Cleansing flouride away (using charcoal), from the pituatary gland can help with melotonine production.
Macha Leaf - Antioxidants
Green Tea - Antioxidants and stimulant, useful with brain fog and ADHD.
Milk Thistle with active ingredient silybin - Supports the Liver Health.
Apple Cider Vinegar helps kidney health.
Coconut Water - Great for rehydration, with electrolytes.
Ginger, Gingko and Ginseng - For immune system function and cognitive function.
Essential Fats in meals which include extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, unsalted uncooked nuts, seeds, avocados and oily fish to help with thyroids.
A high fibre diet and probiotics help regulate sugar in the body.
Watching out for contradictory ingredients in supplements and overdosing -
Taking calcium, zinc, or magnesium supplements at the same time can be a problem which is why calcium is often left out of complex vitamin and mineral supplements. It is important to make sure you are taking recommended doses and sometimes it is good to take them at a different part of the day, splitting vitamin and minerals to morning and evenings. Although finding caffeine in a supplement, can seem a worry, when there is a brain fog, or slow processing due to symptoms, often this stimulant is helpful, making sure a product with green tea in it is taken in the morning, can be important to allowing stimulation at the right time of the day.
It is possible to stress the Liver by taking too much Vitamin D, so watching strength and levels is important.
Doctor Comments -
'Too much vitamin D can lead to excess calcium which can cause symptoms and also effect kidneys.'
The following are frequently in complex vitamin and mineral supplements, yet amounts must be considered with concern and regulated if taking in the same supplements.
Magnesium and calcium/multivitamin
Vitamin A
Vitamins D, E and K
Fish Oil & Gingko Biloba
Copper and zinc
Iron and Green tea
Vitamin C and B12
Probiotics can be taken for both the gut and the mouth, if problems with gum disease, probiotics for the mouth can help reduce symptoms. Calcium is helpful with this, to help strengthen teeth and jaw.
Hormone balancers
General - Zinc, B12, B6
Thyroids - Omega 6,9 Fish Oil etc
Natural Insulin for Sugar Regulation
Natural Cortisol for Adrenal Support
Natural Isofavanes (soya, red clover, yam) and Zinc for Sexual Hormones
Overall this information is quite complex, however, reaching out for a core support vitamin and mineral supplement and then building habits, nutrition and support systems around that can improve one's well being hugely.
Developing a system of support for my own nervous system, whilst working as an intuitive, therapist and artist; working with major trauma, palliative care and creative expression, I have to regulate and balance my nervous system. I find supporting my own creativity, my voice, to be phenomenally helpful to encouraging well being, community and creative intelligence. Over the twenty plus years of practice, I have learnt so much about how to keep balance, clarity and vision aligned and centred whilst helping thousands of people with their hurdles in life.
Magnets for stress, pain, addictions and rebalancing the nervous system, are the least invasive or dangerous intervention, accept in respect to digital equipment and technology when you are wearing them!
However, developing a narrative and support system around these plant medicines and supplements can really support our health care, of course the pharmaceutical companies have a strategic position. Doctors and 'us', as individuals, can develop a stronger voice and understanding around these elemental concerns of human life and share our knowledge using all methods of communication available; many of the public went to chemistry lessons and biology lessons and did take on the national curriculem basic learning in science.
Sometimes, when we receive an overwhelming, life changing diagnosis, we don't know where to go for help or how to begin. Breaking the healing process down to simple steps and gaining support through a therapist like myself, or working with a sympathetic Doctor can really help. Health management can be greatly insightful, creating a journey of self discovery that can help the real you to emerge and express themself, expanding on your presence and finding your unique voice in the world.
Author of A Life of Bliss, Seeds of Light, available on Amazon.co.uk
Appointments available online and in Oxfordshire, London with Amanda McGregor
Hypnotherapy (for regulation), Energy Healing, Intuitive Therapy, Health Coaching, Creative Expression.
Further Reading in Self Regulation -
The Myth of Normal by Dr. Gabor Mate
Fast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz
Medicine Woman, Art by Amanda McGregor
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