by Tony Terranova Tue May 19, 2009 2:25 am
Hi Nick,
This is a huge subject matter and one which I continue to study for personal reasons. As you know my wife Jenny has a genetic illness for which they say there is no cure so I am always searching to try and find out what makes the human body tick from a mind and body prospective. The brief talk I gave on the Breacons was about the fact that we are our own biggest drug company in that our bodies can produce infinite amount of drugs in precisely the right amount and when we need them. My interest in this has been a result of my combined experiences from my 30 years of global travels, my NLP studies and the regular meetings with the neurologist who monitors my Jenny’s health.
Here are some notes/thoughts for you to ponder on so that you can make your own research if the subject interests you.
You often hear that we are our thoughts and that what we think can affect our health. Now to some it sounds a bit new age and a load of nonsense. I am an engineer so I never dismiss anything without first looking at it logically. So I took this concept and looked at it from a practical level from which I could see and feel the results. To me the concept relates to the impact that our emotions have at a neurological level and the resultant drugs that our bodies create for each emotional state and the impact of those drugs on our well being. It is as Deepak Chopra says “an invisible intelligence that you cannot deny exists”. My research has led me to find out that the core of all these chemicals originates from a chain of amino acids that are called neuropeptides (you can research all this yourself).
Let’s look at some hard examples. When we smile the muscles in our jaw that move are very close to the part of the motor cortex that releases serotonin. This drug will reduce the temperature of the brain and generally make you feel good. Having deficient levels of serotonin can result in you getting depressed. So, we smile and we get a free shot of serotonin and just the right amount. In fact studies have shown that very depressed people who have been subjected to continuous smiling (as part of an experiment) were able to reduce their dependence on anti depressants, some even stop using them.
When we really laugh out loud with a good old belly laugh the muscles in the diaphragm promote the release of endorphins which is the free make you feel good drug of life that makes us immediately feel better.
When we hold onto anger and hostility we produce cortisol (from the adrenal cortex) which suppresses the immune system – the more we do this the more the neurological pathways to our cells secreting cortisol get hooked on the shots of cortisol and we are in danger of becoming addicted to it with the result that we habitually exhibit anger and hostility when things don’t go our way (and more cortisol gets shot into the system). Long term damage can be done with this bad habit as it can slowly shut down our immune system over a long a period of time making us more venerable to serious illnesses.
When we have a moment of great courage we produce neuropeptides that are similar to interluken-2 which is one of the most powerful drugs currently used to in chemotherapy to fight cancer. During moments of danger we produce adrenalin which can give us superhuman abilities and at the same time make us freeze if we do not learn to control. Certain thoughts can produce excessive adrenalin which can over time adversely affect our health – such thoughts would again be hate, anger and aggression etc.
Basically we have an endless drug store which is related to all emotions; anger, hate, love, depression, fear, anxiety, jealousy and so on. You are the owner of Nicks’s internal drug company that can produce any chemical. So back to the ‘you are your thoughts concept”. I know that for some this is appears to be nonsense and in such cases I use the following example to prove it is in fact as real as it gets and ignore it at your own peril!
As you know it is a well established principle that there are human beings with dual and multiple personalities and it is accepted as a disorder/health problem. These cases are the ones that really drive home that you are your thoughts. In such cases you can have a person who is colour blind when they are in one personality state and yet their vision is perfect when in the other personality state. You can have a situation where they have allergies when in one state and yet no allergies when they assume the other personality. So this is hard proof of the power thought, and how powerful it really is if we truly believe from the core of our bones and inner self. It is not new age mumbo jumbo it is real. If we can just learn how to access that internal power some of life’s tough times may just disappear with thought changes. If you research some of the experiments that a French immunologist called Jacques Benveniste in the 1980’s on the immune system you will see that he categorically proved there is an invisible intelligence (quantum intelligence) at work and yet the scientists still would not accept his work!
All too often the medical and drug fraternity are too quick to give drugs when there are in fact other natural cures and positive impacts from changing ones state. When we produce our own drugs they are done in the perfect amount and sent to the exact spot they are needed with no side effect (how smart is that!). I do respect the medical industry they are fantastic and have their part to play, but they must remain open minded. For example many people suffer from heartburn; they all take Pepto-Bismol or gaviscon and a load of other stuff. In fact all you need is 2 fresh lemons, squeeze them and drink them and your heartburn will go away in seconds. Heartburn is an acid imbalance in your gut which happens because a small valve in the bottom of your stomach closes at a certain acidity level (stress can cause it) – taking gaviscon cools your heartburn but does not open the valve, drinking 2 freshly squeezed lemons restore your good to more balance alkaline level by opening the valve so you are treating the problem not the symptom. I have also read and research facts that say a body cannot exhibit cancer if it is in fact alkaline – the research stated that cancer can only live in an acidic environment. Our stomachs can become acidic during times of pressure and emotional stress (back to the heartburn scenario).
I am fortunate in that I can pick up a lot of information during my global travels from different cultures and have met and leant a lot from mega talented mentors. They say that in ancient Japan they used to drink 4 large glasses of water first thing in the morning and not eat or drink anything else for 45 minutes as the treatment for illnesses. It is still a valid thing to do now and so simple. I have also found that drinking a cup of boiled water with a fresh squeezed lemon and organic honey first thing in the morning purifies liver.
I could go on and an on as this subject fascinates me. All this information is out there, all I do is take the time to go and find it and study (but it is hard work as the inforamtion is all fragmented and you have segregate the crap from the good stuff). In fact this weekend I finally decided to take the jump and do my own masterclasses with the support of all my coaches at Fighting Fit Martial Arts (I had to be pushed to do it). The difference is that these will not be self protection classes. The six FFMA masterclasses over six months will focus on combat conditioning, nutrition, well being, life coaching for a balanced life (based on what I have learnt from other cultures my travels and my studies), attribute (skill) training for modern day martial arts but at the same time holding onto the spirit and core values of the traditional arts. All the coaches at our club will participate as they are each very well qualified. Hope you can make them…..
By the way Jenny is doing real well all things considered and the whole family continuous to cope with it in a great spirited way (and I am very proud of my girls for showing such courage) – Also thanks for all the chocolates you have given me for Jenny every time I have met you – that is very kind of you Nick and it will not be forgotten.
Your friend,
Tony. T
Last edited by Tony Terranova on Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:58 pm; edited 1 time in total
