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The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nerve tissue and support cells that extends from the brain (the medulla oblongata specifically). It begins at the occipital bone and extends down through the protective spinal column to the space between the first and second lumbar vertebrae. It does not extend the entire length of the vertebral column. The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system (CNS).

The spinal cord functions primarily in the transmission of neural signals between the brain and the rest of the body. The anatomy of the spinal cord itself consists of millions of nerve fibers which transmit electrical information to and from the limbs, trunk and organs of the body, away from and back to the brain. The nerves within the spinal cord are grouped together in different bundles called Ascending and Descending tracts. Ascending tracts within the spinal cord carry information from the body up to the brain, such as touch, skin temperature, pain and joint position. Descending tracts within the spinal cord carry information from the brain downwards to initiate movement and control body functions.

The spinal cord is surrounded by the Cerebral Spinal Fluid. The fluid acts as a cushion to protect the delicate nerve tissues against damage from hitting against the inside of the vertebrae. All of this is safely protected inside the spinal column in bony segments called vertebrae. The human spinal column is made up of 33 bones: 7 vertebrae in the cervical region, 12 in the thoracic region, 5 in the lumbar region, 5 in the sacral region and 4 in the coccygeal region. In adults the bones in the sacral region join to form one bone called the sacrum; the bones in the coccygeal region join to form one bone called the coccyx. Some believe, and I tend to agree, that if a proper lifestyle of exercise, diet and flexibility were maintained from childhood, most of these bones would not fuse and the body would remain much more limber and less prone to injury.

NOTE: Spinal disorders are the single greatest cause of disability in the working population. They are the second most frequent reason for a doctor visit and the third most common reason for surgery. People who have back pain and do not specifically retrain their deep back muscles are 22 times more likely to have a reoccurrence of back pain in the following three years.

The vertebral disc in the spine is an interesting and unique structure. Its primary purpose is to act as a shock absorber between adjacent vertebrae. Spinal discs also act as ligaments that hold the vertebrae of the spine together and as cartilaginous joints that allow for slight mobility in the spine. There are a total of twenty-three vertebral discs in the spinal column. Specific problems with any of these discs may prompt different symptoms, including back pain, neck pain and sciatica. Spinal Disc Construction: Discs are actually composed of two parts: a tough outer portion and a soft inner core, and the configuration is like that of a jelly doughnut. The outer portion of the disc (annulus fibrosus) is the tough circular exterior composed of concentric sheets of collagen fibers (lamellae) that surround the inner core. The inner core (nucleus pulposus) contains a loose network of fibers suspended in a mucoprotein gel.

There are 23 discs in the human spine: 6 in the neck (cervical region), 12 in the middle back (thoracic region), and 5 in the lower back (lumbar region). With exception to injuries, the primary reason people get spinal disc issues are due to dehydration and the body running low in enzymes.

Fun Facts

• The spinal cord is around 45 cm (18 in) in men and around 43 cm (17 in) long in women.
• There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves.
• The spine contains over 120 individual muscles, 220 specialized ligaments and over 100 joints.
• Cartilage makes up 25 percent of the spine's length.
• Cerebral spinal fluid turns over (new volume is made) 3.7 times a day!
• Cartilage disks expand in the absence of gravity -- The Skylab astronauts grew 1.5-2.5 inches due to spinal lengthening as a result of zero gravity. Gravity also causes these disks to compress over time. People shrink between a quarter of an inch and five inches every decade after 40. You are taller in the morning than at night due to temporary, daily compression of these disks.
• Over 250,000 Americans have a spinal cord injury with 82 percent being males. Spinal cord injuries are mostly commonly caused by: Motor vehicle accidents (48%), Falls (21%), Violence (15%), Sport-related injuries (14% - two thirds of these are from diving).

Health Conditions

• Misalignment of the vertebrae (subluxation) can cause nerve impingement. Many use Chiropractic to help this condition (I am not particularly in agreement with traditional Chiropractic manipulation techniques).
• Spinal cord injuries can change the amount of nerve transmission and affect strength, sensations, etc. In more severe injuries, nerves are unable to transmit any information and an area will become paralyzed (lose all function).
• Most of the health conditions, once injuries are ruled out, are from various viral and bacteria that can enter the spinal column and affect the smaller nerve bundles causing meningitis.

Suggestions To Strengthen

• Stay well hydrated.
• Make sure you are eating good salt, like Celtic sea salt. Sodium (like regular table salt) is bad for you, salt is an essential mineral.
• Avoid jobs and hobbies that could lead to injury.
• Get out of your chair and move! Keep the muscles healthy and cartilage flexible with regular movement.
• Practice the correct way to lift objects. Lifting the incorrect way can make you susceptible to spinal disc problems. Place pressure on your legs and avoid lifting by using your back muscles.
• Maintain good posture. Poor posture makes a person more susceptible to degenerative disc disease. Sit with your shoulders back and your spine straight.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Overweight and obese individuals are more at risk for developing spinal disc problems because of the added stress on the back.

The small intestine is a tubular organ that extends from the pyloric sphincter, at the end of the stomach, to the beginning of the large intestine, where the illeocecal valve is found. It is part of the gastrointestinal tract, or the human gut. Because of its many loops and coils (as much as 32 feet of it, or 9.8 m), it fills much of the abdominal cavity, as you can see in the photo.

The primary function of the small intestine is the absorption of nutrients and minerals found in food. The small intestine receives secretions from the pancreas, liver and gallbladder to help complete digestion of the nutrients in the chyme, which is the food ball received from the stomach. The enzymes enter the small intestine in response to the hormone cholecystokinin, which is produced in the small intestine in response to the presence of nutrients. The hormone secretin also causes bicarbonate to be released into the small intestine from the pancreas in order to neutralize the potentially harmful acid coming from the stomach.

The lining of the small intestine is filled with little hair like projectiles called villi and microvilli. Each villus has a network of capillaries and fine lymphatic vessels called lacteals close to its surface. The epithelial cells of the villi transport nutrients from the lumen of the intestine into these capillaries (amino acids and carbohydrates) and lacteals (lipids). The absorbed substances are transported via the blood vessels to different organs of the body where they are used to build complex substances such as the proteins required by our body. The food that remains undigested and unabsorbed passes into the large intestine.

Fun Facts

• The average length of the small intestine in an adult human male is 6.9 m (22 feet 6 inches), and in the adult female 7.1 m (23 feet 4 inches), though it has measured as long as 9.8 m (32 feet).
• The small intestine is divided into three sections; the duodenum, jejunum and the ileum.
• Over 90% of digestion and absorption takes place in the small intestine.

Health Conditions

• Celiac disease is when foods with gluten trigger your immune system to respond by damaging the small intestine.
• Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the intestine.
• Intestinal obstruction is when food or stool cannot move through the intestines.
• Ulcers, such as peptic ulcer, occur when acid eats into the intestinal lining.

Suggestions To Strengthen

• Eat more raw foods.
• Chew food thoroughly (30-40+ times per bite) as it puts less stress on digestive juice to act upon the food in an attempt to break it into pieces small enough to absorb.
• Avoid drinking more than four ounces with meals.
• Heed the rules of 'food combining' if you are trying to heal a sick intestine.
• Focus on being more secure in the areas you feel vulnerable or gullible in.

Skin is your body's biggest organ. It is one of the most important parts of the body because it interfaces with the environment and is the first line of defense from external factors. For example, the skin plays a key role in protecting the body against pathogens and excessive water loss. Its other functions are insulation, temperature regulation, sensation, and the production of vitamin D folates.

The skin is made up of three layers, each with its own important parts. The layer on the outside is called the epidermis. It's the part you can see. The epidermis is always hard at work forming new skin cells. When the cells are ready, they start moving toward the top of the epidermis. This trip takes between 2-4 weeks. As newer cells continue to move up, older cells near the top die and rise to the surface of your skin.

Most of the cells in your epidermis (95%) work to make new skin cells. The other 5% make a substance called melanin. Melanin gives skin its color. The darker your skin is, the more melanin you have. When you go out into the sun, these cells make extra melanin to protect you from getting burned by the sun's ultraviolet, or UV, rays.

The next layer down is the dermis. The dermis is hidden under the epidermis. The dermis contains nerve endings, blood vessels, oil glands, and sweat glands. It also contains collagen and elastin, which are tough and stretchy. The nerve endings in your dermis tell you how things feel when you touch them. They work with your brain and nervous system, so that your brain gets the message about what you're touching. Your dermis is also full of tiny blood vessels. These keep your skin cells healthy by bringing them the oxygen and nutrients they need and by taking away waste. As the dermis gets older, it gets thinner and easier to see through.

The dermis is home to the oil glands, also called sebaceous glands, and they are always producing sebum. Sebum is your skin's own natural oil. It rises to the surface of the epidermis to keep your skin lubricated and protected. It also makes your skin waterproof - because of sebum, your skin won't absorb water and get soggy. The epidermis also has sweat glands. The sweat comes up through pores in the skin that allow it to escape. When the sebum meets the sweat, they form a sticky protective film. The subcutis (or hypodermis) is the deepest layer of your skin. It stores fat, contains blood vessels, hair follicle roots and nerves.

Fun Facts

• What you see on your hands (and everywhere else on your body) are really dead skin cells.
• You probably lose 40,000 cells (that's almost 9 pounds, or4 kilograms) every year!
• A large amount of the dust in your home is actually dead skin!
• The color of human skin depends on the amount of pigment melanin that the body produces. Small amounts of melanin result in light skin while large amounts result in dark skin.
• Areas that experience repeated friction or pressure can form tough, thick skin known as a callus. Check out the fingertips of guitarists.

Health Conditions

• Acne is a skin condition that causes pimples or zits, including whiteheads, blackheads, etc.
• Callous is an area of skin generally hardened or thickened because of continual rubbing of the same area.
• Dermatitis is a long-term (chronic) skin disorder that involves skin inflammation with scaly and itchy rashes.
• Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin).
• Hives, correctly called urticaria, is a kind of skin rash characterized by pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives are frequently caused by allergic reactions and dehydration.
• Lichen planus is a disease that affects the skin, tongue, and oral mucosa sometimes associated with certain medications and diseases.
• Pityriasis rosea (also known as pityriasis rosea Gibert) is a skin rash (look to allergies).
• Psoriasis is a red, itchy rash. It is an autoimmune disease where the body sheds skin as much as 7000 faster than normal.
• Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that makes your face turn red and may cause swelling and skin sores that look like acne.
• Shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.
• Sunburn is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation that burns the living tissue.
• Warts are small, usually painless growths on the skin caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).

Suggestions To Strengthen (same as Sinus)

• While the skin has nothing to do with digestion, it is an organ that will reflect the health of the elimination system, particularly the colon and also the kidney, so clean them up.
• Look at food allergies as they can irritate the colon and show in the skin. Dairy and gluten would be the first to try eliminating.
• If you are a female with skin issues, try the female formulas to get hormones balanced. If hormones cause skin issues, you can almost be certain of liver congestion as well, so balance both.
• Direct sun for more than 20 minutes, or what it takes to see light pink is destructive to the skin.
• Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients, such as vitamin A, that are important to skin health. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin - fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity.

Sinuses are cavities (pockets) found in the cranial (head) bones. Sinuses are also referred to as "paranasal sinuses". We have four paired sinus cavities. Each sinus cavity has an opening (ostium), which opens into the nasal passages for free exchange of air and mucus.

• Frontal Sinuses - above your eyes, just behind the forehead.
• Maxillary Sinus - to the side of the nose and below the eye, just above the upper teeth, below the eyes and in back of the nose at the top of the throat.
• Ethmoid Sinus - between the eyes (actually within the spongy ethmoid bone).
• Sphenoid Sinus - Way back in the head, far behind the eyes, above the throat (in back of the nasal cavity). This sinus is just forward of the brain case, making complications here quite serious.

Sinuses are often our first line of defense which explains why they are the first to get infected. They lighten the weight of the skull and this is the reason why your head feels heavy and you feel tired and sleepy during a sinus attack. They give resonance to your voice (hold your nose and speak). They also filter and moisten the air that we breathe. They remove unwanted air particles. The mucus linings have ciliated epithelium (cells with fines hairs) that moves dirty mucus from the sinus cavities to drain into the nasal passages.

Fun Facts

• Your sinus is not in your nose, they are air filled spaces in your skull.
• The nasal passageway functions as a self-cleaning air conditioner. By the time the air we breathe gets to our lungs the nose has filtered, humidified and warmed.

Health Conditions

• Rhinitis describes irritation and inflammation of the mucus membranes inside the nose.
• Sinusitis refers to inflammation of the sinus passages, generally caused by a fungal (pollen is as much as 80% fungal), bacterial or viral germs.
• Nasal polyps are pearly gray, non-cancerous growths that are usually found on the lining of your nasal passages or sinuses cavities. They usually grow from damaged mucus membranes.

Suggestions To Strengthen

• Drink plenty of water. The sinuses are filled with mucus membranes that must remain naturally moist in order to be healthy.
• Rinse your nasal passages. Try using a Neti Pot to cleanse your sinuses. If you have chronic sinusitis, avoid chlorinated water as this could further inflame the tissues. (The shower is a great place to do this. You can snort up water and spit it out, and there's no mess!) Avoid hot or cold water - warm water is best.
• If you have a sinus issue, the deeper underlying cause is almost always a problem with the Large Intestine.

Although the Pituitary is no larger than a pea, it is sometimes referred to as the "master gland." In effect, it has a certain amount of control over all other glands that are responsible for hormone secretion. The gland is attached to the hypothalamus (a part of the brain that affects the pituitary gland) by nerve fibers. The pituitary gland itself consists of three sections: the anterior lobe, the intermediate lobe and the posterior lobe. Each lobe of the pituitary gland produces a specific regulatory hormone messenger or factor. These factors are secreted in response to the outside environment and the internal bodily responses to this environment. These pituitary factors then travel through a rich blood network into the blood stream and eventually reach their specific target gland. They then stimulate the target gland to produce the appropriate type and amount of hormone so the body can respond to the environment correctly.

The release of each of the hormones from the anterior lobe is controlled by a specific substance secreted by nerve cells in the hypothalamus. These substances, called releasing factors, are transmitted by nerve fibers to tiny capillaries in the hypophyseal stalk. They move through blood vessels to the anterior lobe, where each releasing factor is responsible for the release of a specific pituitary hormone.

The tissues in the anterior lobe consist of extensive vascular areas interspersed among glandular cells that secrete at least six different hormones. The first is growth hormone, which stimulates all the tissues in the body to grow by effecting protein formation. The remaining five important hormones influence body functions by stimulating target organs. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) controls the secretion of steroid hormones by the adrenal cortex, which affects glucose, protein, and fat metabolism. Thyrotropin controls the rate of thyroxine synthesis by the thyroid gland, which is the principal regulator of body metabolic rate. Prolactin regulates the formation of milk after the birth of an infant. Three separate gonadotropic hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and luteotropic hormone) control the growth and reproductive activity of the gonads.

The intermediate lobe produces MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone)- to control skin pigmentation.

The two hormones that are produced by the posterior lobe are antidiuretic hormone (ADH or vasopressin), which alters the permeability of the kidney tubules, permitting more water to be retained by the body; and oxytocin, which aids in the release of milk from mammary glands and causes uterine contractions. The only hormone that is synthesized by the intermediate lobe is the melanocyte-stimulating hormone, which controls skin pigmentation.

Fun Facts

• The pituitary gland is about the size of a pea and weighs approximately a half a gram.
• It is also known as the hypophysis or "master gland." The pituitary gland derives the name "master gland" from the critical role it plays in the body.

Health Conditions

• Oversecretion of the pituitary hormone, human growth hormone, can cause gigantism if it occurs before growth of the long bones is complete, or acromegaly if it begins during adulthood. Acromegaly presents with abnormal growth of the hands and feet. Gradual changes within the bones alter the patients face; lowering the brow and prominent lower jaw protrusion. If not treated, this disorder can cause serious illness and even death. In approximately 90% of patients with Acromegaly, a pituitary tumor is responsible for the overproduction of the growth hormone.
• Undersecretion of human growth hormone can lead to dwarfism if experienced during childhood, and decreased endocrine function accompanied by lethargy and loss of sexual capacity in the adult.
• Cushing's Syndrome is caused from continual exposure to high levels of the hormone cortisol. This disorder is rare and most commonly affects adults between 20 to 50 years of age. Symptoms vary, but most often people present with upper body obesity, round, full face and increased fat around the neck. Other symptoms include: severe fatigue, muscle weakness, irritability, anxiety and depression
• Benign tumors, called adenomas, are the most common cause of pituitary disorders. Small "microadenomas" (2- 3 mm or about the size of a pepper corn) are common in the general population (about ten percent of people have them) and are generally considered to be clinically insignificant. However, these lesions can sometimes grow and cause problems. When pituitary adenomas are greater than 1 cm in size (about the size of a grape) they are referred to as "macroadenomas." Macroadenomas are often discovered when they are 1.5 to 2.5 cm because of the "mass effects" that they cause. Pituitary hormone deficiencies may be caused by a growing adenoma as it presses on and damages normal pituitary tissue. The signs and symptoms of these deficiencies can be varied because different combinations of pituitary hormones may be affected.

Suggestions To Strengthen

• Understand that everything doesn't need to be done right away; there is a time for everything..learn to be more calm about the things you think "have to get done."
• Balance the energy between physical exercise and diet rather than mental activity.
• Relax that hard exterior and let the soft side out.
• Learn to take criticism less personally.

The pineal gland is a small gland located very near the pituitary in the center of the head. Modern medicine will tell you that the precise function of the pineal gland is not known, but I believe that is because there are certain aspects of the pineal (discussed below) that cannot be discovered with dissection and test tubes. We do know that the pineal gland produces a variety of hormones including: noradrenaline, serotonin, histamine, dopamine, octopamine, luteinising hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH), somatostatin and vasotocin. The main hormone produced and released by the pineal is melatonin, which is derived from the amino acid tryptophan.

Melatonin acts to increase sleepiness, the duration of sleep and the quality of sleep (thus higher levels are released at night/in darkness). It helps regulate (particularly drop) body temperature (thought to be through dilation of blood vessels), regulates other hormone levels and electrolytes. Melatonin also inhibits the stimulation of gonadotropin (LH) activity before puberty (antigonadotropic). It therefore prevents onset of puberty before the appropriate age. Long days inhibit melatonin and stimulate gonadal activity (yes, make sure your kids get plenty of sleep so they are not developing sexually before they should).

The pineal gland alters its activity in response to the state of light, as detected through this pathway. During darkness (i.e. night) it has an increased activity, where the hormones it produces are produced at an accelerated rate. Conversely, during light (i.e. day) its activity is suppressed. This daily rhythm is known as the circadian rhythm, and it appears that the gland has a major role in maintaining the circadian rhythm of the body.

Descartes states that the pineal gland is the 'seat of the soul'. It is associated with what many call the third eye or sixth chakra, which is a doorway to Higher consciousness and bliss. The Pineal is considered a portal to the inner or Higher self by yogi masters. Psychics consider it to be the link for inter dimensional experiences. An unusual psychiatrist, professor of medicine at University of New Mexico, and practicing Buddhist, Dr. Rick Strassman, MD, has written a book based on actual human studies of people under the psychedelic drug, DMT, 'The Spirit Molecule'. He has discovered, among other things, that the pineal gland is a source of DMT production during birth and at death, and during near death or mystical experiences. One things seems for certain, the Pineal acts as much more than a mere producer of hormones .. it may function more like a beacon that links us to the universe .. perhaps what allows intuition, ESP and other such things? (thus the photo I chose)

Fun Facts

• The pineal gland can be trained. It is an intelligent organ in the sense that it will respond to that which it is subjected. We know that if we keep a constant sleeping pattern, the body will naturally wake up at the same time each day and soon you don't need an alarm (this is circadian rhythm). You have basically trained the pineal gland.
• According to scientist Jennifer Luke, sodium fluoride (in your bathing or drinking water) targets the Pineal most of all and creates a cascade of blocked endocrine activity.
• The pineal is like a crystal. When light enters the eyes, with help of the eyes, the pineal fragments it into the various frequencies needed by the body.

Health Conditions

• SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is a pineal related illness that comes as a result of not enough light.
• Tumors of the pineal region account for just 0.5 percent to 1.6 percent of human brain tumors. Pineal tumors typically present with hydrocephalus, a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid pressure within the brain.
• There are also cases where the pineal gland will begin to calcify and cause all sorts of neurological symptoms.

Suggestions To Strengthen

• Get on a consistent schedule -to bed, waking and eating at the same times each day.
• Become more social and learn that rejection is okay.
• Eliminate Fluoride from your drinking water, toothpaste, water you bathe in, etc. It dumbs down intuitive and creative thinking.
• Trust your intuition. Problems with Pineal often comes to those who have intuition but have not used it..Use it or lose it! Society promotes logic and predictability, not intuition.
• Get into meditation, particularly the styles that incorporate a vocal mantra like Om as these resonant sounds open circulation and bring health to the Pineal region.
• If you have SAD syndrome or detect a pineal weakness due to a lack of natural light, try our Vitamin D. In more severe cases, you may need to sit under a full spectrum bulb (lit) for 45 minutes. The earlier in the morning, the better; generally most effective if used before noon.

Most people have four pea-sized glands, called parathyroid glands, on the thyroid gland in the neck. Though their names are similar, the thyroid and parathyroid glands are completely different. The parathyroid glands secrete a protein called parathyroid hormone (PTH), or parathormone. The parathyroid hormone basically controls the amount of calcium in our blood and bones.

PTH regulates how much calcium is absorbed from your diet, how much calcium is excreted by your kidneys, and how much calcium is stored in your bones. We store many pounds of calcium in our bones, and it is readily available to the rest of the body at the request of the parathyroid glands. PTH increases the formation of active vitamin D, and it is active vitamin D that increases intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption.

Fun Facts

• You would think that lots of calcium in the body was good, right? If your blood calcium is over 10, you have hyperparathyroid issues.
• While the parathyroid glands are generally found on the thyroid, they can occasionally be found all the way down in the chest.

Health Conditions

• Hyperparathyroidism produces symptoms that have collectively become known as "moans, groans, stones, and bones." By far, the most common symptom is fatigue, but depression, memory loss, bone aches that lead to hypercalcemia, kidney stones, osteoporosis, and more.
• Another related condition is called secondary hyperparathyroidism, or secondary HPT - common in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis. In secondary HPT, the parathyroid glands make too much parathyroid hormone (PTH) because the kidneys have failed, and the calcium and phosphorus are out of balance.
• Hypoparathyroidism is decreased function of the parathyroid glands with under production of parathyroid hormone. This can lead to low levels of calcium in the blood, often causing cramping and twitching of muscles or tetany (involuntary muscle contraction), and several other symptoms. The condition can be inherited, but it also occurs after thyroid or parathyroid gland surgery.
• Pseudohypoparathyroidism is a condition associated primarily with resistance to the parathyroid hormone. Patients have a low serum calcium and high phosphate, but the parathyroid hormone level (PTH) is actually appropriately high (due to the hypocalcemia). Its pathogenesis has been linked to dysfunctional G Proteins (in particular, Gs alpha subunit).

WARNING!
Traditional doctors often remove one or more of the Parathyroid glands with no second thought. I encourage you to ponder that if God intended a person to have just 2 or3 glands rather than the 4 we are born with, then that is what we would have. We are born with 4 glands for a reason and we should consider keeping them all, not cutting them out like a faulty automobile part. Here are some things to be aware of: The "mini" parathyroid surgery takes just 20 minutes and it can change your life..Get your life back! Amazing, right? Have they told you about the possible damage to the laryngeal nerve that results in weakness or paralysis of the vocal cord/s? What about bleeding that may require a blood transfusion? Have you been told about how this tiny surgical procedure can damage the remaining parathyroid glands and make you unable to sustain normal calcium levels? Complications can mean you lose your thyroid, have extended periods of pain, permanent numbness of the skin on the neck, etc. More here >>

The pancreas is a large, carrot shaped gland. The larger end of the pancreas is called the head and is tucked into the gut just below your stomach. The tail end is on your left side and touches your spleen. The head is attached to the first section of the small intestine (duodenum) by the common bile duct. You can see in the photo that the gallbladder and the pancreas both share and empty their secretions into the small intestine through the common bile duct. The pancreas is technically considered an endocrine gland (refers to cells that secrete hormones), but it has digestive functions, making it an organ, or exocrine.

The part of the pancreas with endocrine function is made up of approximately a million cell clusters called islets of Langerhans, which play an imperative role in glucose (sugar) metabolism and regulation of blood glucose concentration. Within the Islets are four other types of cells that secrete glucagon, insulin, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide.

In contrast to the endocrine pancreas, which secretes hormones into the blood, the exocrine pancreas produces digestive enzymes and an alkaline fluid (referred to as pancreatic juice). It secretes them into the small intestine through a system of exocrine ducts in response to the small intestine hormones, secretin and cholecystokinin. Digestive enzymes include: trypsin, chymotrypsin, pancreatic lipase, and pancreatic amylase. They are produced and secreted by acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas. Specific cells that line the pancreatic ducts, called centroacinar cells, secrete a bicarbonate- and salt-rich solution into the small intestine.

When you eat, the body converts food to blood sugar (glucose). When the body gets sugar, the pancreas makes insulin which is used to take the sugar from the blood stream and store it in the liver or carry the sugar into your cells where it is burned for energy. It's a beautiful system. In humans, the secretory activity of the pancreas is regulated directly via the effect of hormones in the blood on the islets of Langerhans and indirectly through the effect of the autonomic nervous system in the blood flow.

Fun Facts

• All enzymes die if you cook food to only 150 degrees.
• The pancreas was designed to be the back-up for enzyme release, the primary source being from fresh, raw foods. When you don't eat raw foods, the pancreas is continually over worked and eventually will not function properly. Ok, that wasn't a fun fact.

Health Conditions

• Injury - Because the pancreas is a storage depot for digestive enzymes, injury to the pancreas is potentially very dangerous. A puncture of the pancreas generally requires prompt and experienced medical intervention.
• Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. Gallstones and alcohol are the two most common causes for pancreatitis. A variety of factors cause a high pressure within pancreatic ducts. Pancreatic duct rupture and pancreatic juice leakage cause a pancreatic self-digestion.
• Pancreatic cancers, particularly cancer of the exocrine pancreas, remain one of the most deadly cancers, and the mortality rate is very high.
• Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas. Secondary diabetes is a special type, which can be caused by many factors.

Suggestions To Strengthen

• Decrease intake of refined carbohydrates (sugar), increase complex carbs and fiber.
• If you are going to eat sweets, eat them right before you eat some protein (except dairy) to help balance metabolism.
• Consume a balanced diet of good fats (raw nuts and seeds, clean "kosher-type" fish for meat choices).
• Eat lots of fresh, raw vegetables and fruits, organic if possible.
• Stop the stimulants - coffee, caffeine, etc.
• Eat regularly to keep your blood sugar stable.
• Indulge in the sweetness of life. The pancreas needs laughter, experience the things that bring happiness, good memories and dreams.

Your nose allows you to smell and it is also the main gate to the respiratory system, your body's system for breathing. The nose has two holes called nostrils. The nostrils and the nasal passages are separated by a wall called the septum. When you inhale air through your nostrils, the air enters the nasal passages and travels into your nasal cavity. The air then passes down the back of your throat into the trachea, or windpipe, on its way to the lungs. When you exhale the old air from your lungs, the nose is the main exit route for the air to leave your body.

The inside of your nose is lined with a moist, thin layer of tissue called a mucous membrane. This membrane warms up the air and moistens it. The mucous membrane makes mucus, that sticky stuff in your nose you might call snot. Mucus captures dust, germs, and other small particles that could irritate your lungs. If you look inside your nose, you will also see hairs that can trap large particles, like dirt or pollen. If something does get trapped in there, you can probably guess what happens next. You sneeze.

The nose allows you to make 'scents' of what's going on in the world around you. Just as your eyes give you information by seeing and your ears help you out by hearing, the nose lets you figure out what's happening by smelling. It does this with help from many parts hidden deep inside your nasal cavity and head.

Up on the roof of the nasal cavity (the space behind your nose) is the olfactory epithelium. The olfactory epithelium contains special receptors that are sensitive to odor molecules that travel through the air. These receptors are very small - there are at least 10 million of them in your nose! There are hundreds of different odor receptors, each with the ability to sense certain odor molecules. Research has shown that an odor can stimulate several different kinds of receptors. The brain interprets the combination of receptors to recognize any one of about 10,000 different smells. Mucus produced by cells in the trachea and bronchial tubes keeps air passages moist and aids in stopping dust, bacteria and viruses, allergy-causing substances, and other substances from entering the lungs. Impurities that do reach the deeper parts of the lungs can be moved up through mucous and coughed out or swallowed.

Fun Facts

• The nose acts as a self-cleaning air conditioner by warming, moistening, and filtering the air before it goes to the lungs.
• Sneezes can send those unwelcome particles speeding out of your nose at 60 - 100 mph!
• You couldn't taste anything without some help from the nose! Odors from foods allow us to taste more fully. Take a bite of food and think about how it tastes, then pinch your nose and take another bite. Notice the difference?

Health Conditions

• Rhinitis, inflammation of the nose and sinuses is sometimes caused by allergies.
• Deviated septum is a shifting of the wall that divides the nasal cavity into halves.
• Nasal polyps are soft growths that develop on the lining of your nose or sinuses.
• Nosebleeds are generally caused from rupturing capillaries (vitamin C deficiency).
• Foreign body is when an object that should not be in the nose is placed there, generally by playing children.
• Anosmia, the inability to perceive odors, is often related to zinc deficiencies.
• Choanal atresia is the most common nasal defect affecting newborns, occurring in one out of every 7,000 births.

Suggestions To Strengthen (same as Sinus)

• Drink plenty of water. The sinuses are filled with mucus membranes that must remain naturally moist in order to be healthy.
• Rinse your nasal passages. Try using a Neti Pot to cleanse your sinuses. If you have chronic sinusitis, avoid chlorinated water as this could further inflame the tissues. (The shower is a great place to do this. You can snort up water and spit it out, and there's no mess!) Avoid hot or cold water - warm water is best.
• If you have a sinus issue, the deeper underlying cause is almost always a problem with the Large Intestine.

Scientists used to believe that the majority of communication in the brain was electrical in nature until the discovery that there is a synaptic gap between neurons. Remember that neurons are the very elements that make up most of the brain, spinal cord and complex nervous system. Communication of information between neurons is accomplished by movement of chemicals called neurotransmitters. They are released from one neuron at the presynaptic nerve terminal, then cross the synapse where they may be accepted by the next neuron at a specialized site called a receptor. In the photo you can see the pinkish dots as neurotransmitters crossing that synaptic gap and being received by a receptor on the next neuron.

Activation of a receptor site causes an action that may be either depolarization (an excitatory postsynaptic potential) or hyperpolarization (an inhibitory postsynaptic potential). Neurotransmitters are synthesized from plentiful and simple precursors, such as amino acids, vitamins and minerals. These are readily available from the diet and require only a small number of biosynthetic steps to convert.

By far the most prevalent transmitter is glutamate, which is excitatory at well over 90% of the synapses in the human brain. The next most prevalent is GABA, which is inhibitory at more than 90% of the synapses that do not use glutamate. Major neurotransmitters include: glutamate, aspartate, D-serine, ?-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (noradrenaline; NE, NA), epinephrine (adrenaline), histamine, serotonin (SE, 5-HT), acetylcholine (ACh), adenosine, anandamide, nitric oxide, etc.

Neurons expressing certain types of neurotransmitters sometimes form distinct systems, where activation of the system affects large volumes of the brain. Major neurotransmitter systems include:

• The noradrenaline (norepinephrine) system which is responsible for feelings of arousal and reward.
• The dopamine system is responsible for reward, as well as cognition, nausea, motor systems and endocrine system.
• The serotonin system regulates mood, satiety, body temperature, sleep.
• The cholinergic system in involved with learning, short term memory, arousal and reward.

In addition, over 50 neuroactive peptides have been found and new ones are discovered regularly. Many of these are "co-released" with a small-molecule transmitter, but in some cases a peptide is the primary transmitter at a synapse. Single ions, such as synaptically released zinc, are also considered neurotransmitters, as are some gaseous molecules such as nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and carbon monoxide (CO). These are not classical neurotransmitters by the strictest definition. The only direct action of a neurotransmitter is to activate a receptor. Therefore, the effects of a neurotransmitter system depend on the connections of the neurons that use the transmitter, and the chemical properties of the receptors that the transmitter binds to.

Fun Facts

• Cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine back into the presynaptic neuron, leaving the neurotransmitter molecules in the synaptic gap longer, eliciting a pleasurable emotional response. Drugs like cocaine, opium, heroin, nicotine, and alcohol increase the levels of dopamine. If it feels good, dopamine neurons are probably involved!
• Ritalin affects the synapse in a way that is similar to amphetamines ("speed").
• The plant poisons curare and hemlock cause paralysis by blocking the acetylcholine receptor sites of muscle cells. The well-known poison botulisum works by preventing release of acetylcholine, so Botox is used cosmetically to cause paralysis in muscles.
• Hallucinogens such as LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, and ecstasy work by attaching to serotonin receptor sites and blocking transmissions in perceptual pathways. A similar, but milder reaction occurs when you take Prozac.
• Endorphin is short for "endogenous morphine." It is structurally very similar to the opioids (opium, morphine, heroin, etc.) and has similar functions like inhibiting pain and feeling pleasure.

Health Conditions

Over 60 diseases and illnesses may be caused by or associated with neurotransmitter deficiency. Some of these include:

• ADD
• Alzheimers
• Autism and Aspergers syndrome
• Bipolar disorder
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Depression
• Diabetes insipidus
• Epilepsy
• Fibromyalgia
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Parkinson
• Premature ejaculation
• Schizophrenia/psychosis
• Sociopathy (being a sociopath)
• "Pediatric Neurotransmitter Disease" is an umbrella term for genetic disorders that affect the synthesis, metabolism and catabolism of neurotransmitters in children.

Suggestions To Strengthen

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet, particularly enough protein as neurotransmitters are made from them.
• Eliminate and then detox medications that interfere with neurotransmitters, like antidepressants, or any mood altering drug, including Ritalin.
• Avoid stimulants like caffeine and chocolate, diet pills.
• Avoid brain overload, give your mind a rest from television, stress, excess work, etc.
• Get the intestines healthy (leaky gut, constipation, IBS, etc.)
• Over exposure to sun light can interfere with healthy Serotonin levels.
• Above all, take time to meditate and pray, connect to your Higher Power.