Image thanks to Dmitry Grigoriev
The majority of people who walk through my door these days have a food or environmental intolerance. Whether it is electromagnetic sensitivity, inhaled substances or ingested substances, intolerances can play havoc with our body’s and our brain’s ability to function. Intolerances can be correlated with symptoms of ill health such as, irritability, problematic mood, abdominal bloating and discomfort, brain fog, headaches, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, food cravings, adrenal imbalances and energy swings. Please note that this article is not related to allergies, which is a life threatening condition to be addressed by the medical system.
These are the mechanisms that I work with as a Kinesiologist to expose and address intolerances.
Identify triggers
Often there is emotional associations and stored memory of trauma in the body around the time that the intolerance started. This stress can then perpetuate the food intolerance and the physical symptoms related to the food intolerance. When we can identify these triggers and the event that first caused the intolerance, we can help the body to let go of its reactive physical and emotional patterns.
Trauma or distress can affect the ability for the energetic and physical body to be centred and stable. It also affects our ability to be completely present to the here and now, rather than reacting to something that may have happened in the past. Being present and centred physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically, is a key factor in supporting the body to develop more resilience to the environment.
2. Identify any other toxins associated with the intolerance
There are certain toxins that can affect the body’s immune system and therefore immune reactions such as inflammation and irritation. For example, some medications can have side effects that affect the gut. Heavy metals and pesticides can also play a part in disrupting immune and digestive functions, as can overgrowths of candida (a natural yeast present in the body). The balance of bacteria in the gut can be impacted by all these kinds of toxins, and then there is the immune and digestive knock on effect such as intolerances.
Another hugely toxic substance to the body is cortisol. If we have too much stress, for too long, the body will produce too much cortisol for the body to handle. Among many things, this affects the fine balance of hormones, digestion, immune and brain function. Stress has a lot more impact on our physical wellbeing than we might think. So above all, to reduce your stress levels and to treat yourself with compassion, is to take a big step in the direction of health and recovery from intolerances.
3. Support the body to ‘Rest and Digest’
If the body’s nervous system is not in balance it can affect the ability to digest food and to recover from injuries. A food intolerance is often perceived in the body as an injury to the digestive system. An inhaled intolerance such as pollen or mould can be perceived as an injury to the sinuses, and therefore causes the inflammatory types of responses involved in sinusitis. When we are stressed or in overdrive, the sympathetic nervous system is over-active. This does not allow the parasympathetic nervous system to function so well, which is the system for ‘rest and digest’. When we can help these neurological patterns to calm down, the digestive system, hormonal systems and immune system work more effectively to deal with foods and other environmental influences. The adrenal system will often need to be addressed as well when it comes to specific food and inhaled intolerances.
It can be a bit of a search and release kind of process when it comes to addressing intolerances. We are often able to re-introduce foods and have less reactivity to environmental factors when the relevant factors are addressed. When it comes to allergies, I am not qualified to treat these. Allergies are serious and life threatening and need to be dealt with by the appropriate medical professionals.