The Nervous System
Before I begin the clinical explanation of what the nervous system is all about, I wish to make a few general statements from a holistic perspective.
In my experience, I firmly believe that the entire body and the health of our functioning physical organs are intricately tied into the nervous system.
If we do not take a careful review of the nervous system during each and every herbal treatment, we are simply looking at symptomatic medicine. I believe that each of our functioning organs is tied into the well-being of our nervous system.
As I will discuss further, the nervous system is responsible for stimulating all sorts of secretions which are key to digestion, waste removal, hydration of the body, etc. Additionally, it is responsible for the secretion of epinephrine or adrenaline, which in turns stimulates tension in muscles and taxes our overall psychological stability. Without a good night's sleep or a relaxed state of mind, no amount of allopathic, eastern, or herbal medicine is going to help! If we cannot properly produce mucous secretion or relax enough to give our body a break to rejuvenate for the next day's work, the organs will become taxed and function poorly. The nervous system affects ALL aspects of our well being.
So let's look at the physiological breakdown of the system we call "the nervous system." Its a bit complicated but here goes.
I The Nervous System is broken into two parts:
- IA Central Nervous System - The brain and spinal cord
- IB Peripheral Nervous System - Surrounding sensory receptors
Peripheral is in turn broken into two parts:
- Sensory-sight, smell, sound, touch
- Motor-movement and motion
Motor is in turn broken into two:
- IB1 somatic-skeletal muscle
- IB2 autonomic- smooth muscle and organs
Autonomic is in turn broken into two:
- IB2a sympathetic-spine (thoracic and lumbar)
- IB2b parasympathetic-cranial and spine (sacral)
A closer discussion of the Autonomic (IB2) or "Involuntary" Nervous System involves a brief discussion of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
Sympathetic
This system is more local and specific. The base nerve receptors are in the spine (thoracic & lumbar area) When stressed, it specifically involves the secretion of epinephrine-also called adrenaline, resulting in ADRENALINE STRESS and a "fight or flight" response. This stimulates muscles and glands, and the effects linger long AFTER the stress is gone.
Specific outward signs of SYMPATHETIC or ADRENALINE STRESS include: dilated eyes, increased heart rate, tight muscles, dilated bronchial, increased glucose, low moisture, dry skin, low saliva, cavities, low hydrochloric acid, and liver deficieny.
>In these client cases, its important to slow the mind, cool the body, increase mindfulness, and increase acid production.
Parasympathetic
This system controls overall organs, most secretions, and functioning of the digestive, cardiopulmonary, reproductive and vascular systems. The base nerve receptors are in the cranial and the spine (sacral area). The parasympathetic system tends to play almost an antagonistic role to the sympathetic system. They usually work opposite one another:
Specific outward signs of PARASYMPATHETIC or ADRENALCORTAL STRESS include: constricted eyes, decreased heart rate, tight lungs, constricted bronchial, high moisture, sweaty skin, increased saliva, increased peristalsis, liver excess.
In these client cases it is important to assist in elimination through stimulating the thyroid, and to alkalize the body.
In conclusion, I would like to simply state that no part of the human body and its functioning systems can be isolated or treated individually. This is only a guideline and only touches on the complexity of the entire nervous system. The nervous system, is in turn, only one of several other functioning systems in the human body. All are linked, and all will probably never be fully understood. All systems are required to maintain a healthy functional existence.