The state of Iowa is launching a project to become the #1 state in the US in health and longevity in the next 5 years.

Here’s the concept: Dan found that in certain areas, 9 key practices are found in common with the healthiest seniors.

The Power 9 and how Craniosacral Therapy (CST) integrates and supports:

Just move. Literally keep moving, the more the better. CST helps as we age in keeping fluid forces moving in the body, and lessens resistance to keeping in motion. Less toxic build of chemicals in the body as well.

Purpose Now. A sense of purpose is worth 7 years extra life expectancy. At least some of this emerges from greater mental clarity, which comes from decreased inflammation in the brain and better circulation, which is part of the CST and Geriatrics-reversal of the Aging process approach.

Down Shift. Stress leads to chronic inflammation in the body, which we discuss extensively in our 4-day class on Reversal of the Aging Process. Find a way to shed stress, which of course CST sessions clearly provide.

80% Rule. As in 80% full when you eat. And eat earlier if you can. CST can’t take credit for this, but if the digestive system is calmer, then it may be easier to stop overeating, which ‘down regulation’ of the nervous system will provide. We’ve found many times digestive CST addresses complaints.

Plant Slant. Not to say meat should be avoided, but veggies and nuts do promote heart health and positive brain function.

Wine at 5. In moderation of course, daily a glass or two. Who wouldn’t like this after a soothing CST session?
Belong. Some connection to a community that holds the concept of a higher power adds 4-14 years to life expectancy. In CST we talk about listening to your inner wisdom. Wouldn’t it be great to share this with an entire community?

Loved Ones First. A positive committed relationship can add up to 3 years of life expectancy. Also, keeping your aging parents in or near you at home makes a difference in positivity and outlook on life. As an aside, take a look at Another Country by Mary Pipher who addresses this subject quite extensively. There is a rhythm to what I call the stages of life. And rituals and ceremonies to augment and accompany them. In turns out grandchildren need grandparents, and they each provide something that the ‘in between’ generation may not have the time or accumulated wisdom to provide. This is what I call honor the elders.

Right Tribe. There’s an old saying ‘birds of a feather flock together.’ Another incentive to create positive communities with a positive outlook for the future. Our comment here is an emphasis on prevention rather than disease

Dan’s website is www.BlueZones.com and it’s about the practices that create community wide well-being and longevity. You should also visit www.bluezones.com/2011/08/iowa-launches-blue-zones-project to find out how this project is being implemented in Iowa.

Here are some statistics:

80 million Americans suffer from some form of insomnia or sleeplessness.

60% of American women suffer from some form of sleeplessness, which would suggest this first 80 million figure might be a bit low.

The CNN contributors seemed to suggest that many women use sleeping aids of some kind. Using these aids for the long term may cause dependency and ultimately cause unwanted problems.

What causes insomnia?

In a word, stress. Our reticular activitating system (RAS) in the brain can get overstimulated due to continuously high demand periods and ongoing emergencies. Like a switch that gets stuck in the ‘on’ position, this continuously high demand flight or flight part of our brain continues to be stimulated 24/7, making if difficult to transition to a restful, recuperative sleep which helps repair the stress and strain of the day.

Sleeping pills and the like may work for a while, but typically their effect is lessened over time, not to mention other side effects they may introduce. As a bonus, this ongoing overstimulation of our nervous system may lead to or encourage the creation of long-term inflammatory processes which may hasten the aging process. Take a look at my blogs on my Geriatric classes and Anti Aging suggestions for more input on this.

A solution:

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) creates balance in our autonomic nervous system, bringing more balance and synergy between our sympathetic (more active) nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system. A regular addition and application of CranioSacral Therapy can help retrain and ‘reset’ our reticular activitating system and turn off the stress switch which interferes with the normal sleep cycle, and lessen our dependence on sleeping pills and other artificial aids.

Hence, a Sleeping Pill Exit Strategy.

Summary of our research

Published in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing in 2008

Title of the Study: Craniosacral Still Point Technique:
Exploring its Effects in Individuals with Dementia

Study Design

A pilot group of individuals with moderate to severe Dementia and Alzheimer’s were administered the Craniosacral Still Point Technique at the same time every day for 5-10 minutes.

Individuals in rest homes in Iowa and Minneapolis were the study candidates.

One of the key variables that were studied was agitation-a key behavior in patients with this condition. An improvement in just this one behavior would be seen as a positive by administration and staff.

Therapists trained by the Upledger Institute were utilized in this study.

Premise of the study:

It was felt that the Craniosacral Still Point-an easily administered and learned technique-would increase the
volume and production of Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) in the brain. It has been documented that a normal adult
produces about 800ml a day of CSF, and over time, as aging occurs the production drops to half of that, or 400ml a day. In individuals with senile dementia or Alzheimer’s, the production could be as low as 200ml a day, or 75% less than that of normal adult production.

The suspected consequences of this decreased CSF flow this that there is a decrease in the ability of the brain to chelate, or wash away, heavy metals in the brain. Secondarily, immune system factors which prevent inflammation from occurring in the brain are diminished. Regular application of the Craniosacral still point on a daily basis is thought to increase the flow of CSF and aid in the removal of metabolic waste and toxicity in the brain.

Results of the study:
There were both clinical and statistical results that were of significance.

1. A decrease in agitation-both during and after the study. After the intervention stopped, the patients still experienced a decrease in agitation which was monitored before, during and after the project.

2. It was reported that clients were more interactive and could remember names of caregivers and children previously forgotten, as well as displaying increased cooperation with staff.

3. At about week 3 of the intervention, it was noticed that these results and changes in behavior begin to be exhibited.

4. It was generally concluded that ‘further investigation is warranted’ into this technique.

A proposal for a more expanded study is now in process.

For more information or a copy of the original study contact me at michaelm@bodyenergy.net

8. Omega 3-6-9 oil

Omega 3-6-9 oil has been long recognized as a valuable nutritional supplement. Contact Janice Webber at jwps@eastlink.ca or JoAnn Cuddigan at joann@sunstarorganics.com.

9. Arthritis and Diabetes

Arthritis and Diabetes are two inflammatory based diseases that can accompany the aging process. A nice preventative practice that has been developed over the last few years is tai chi for arthritis and tai chi for diabetes, incorporating elements of chi gong (another ancient practice). This is a graceful way to stay young and healthy. Contact Janice Weber at jwps@eastlink.ca for a referral to local instructors in your area.

10. Transformational Coaching

One of the best coaches for transformational work, incorporating inner bonding, spiritual awareness and the ability to change the patterns of our thinking, which can manifest as disease, is my friend and associate Nancy Swisher. Nancy is an internationally recognized transformational coach who advises clients around the world. For more information, visit her website at www.choosingselflove.com

11. Rolfing/Structural Integration

Rolfing from the right resource helps counteract the inevitable influence of gravity on our bodies. For more information, go to www.rolf.org

12. Grounding and healthy boundaries

Being grounded and ‘in’ the body is complimentary to feeling welcome to our stay on the planet. Suzanne Scurlock-Durana is a master at feeling grounded, present aware and at peace in the body. For more information, go to www.healingfromthecore.com

13. Still point inducer

Lest I forget, one useful device for CranioSacral Therapy self-treatment is the Upledger Institute still point inducer. Used 5-10 minutes a day, a still point inducer is like having your own therapist at home. For more information, go to www.bodyenergy/products or www.upledger.com

14. Soul Retrieval

There are many paths that lead to completion. A very ancient technique that has been practiced by Shamanic practioners for thousands of years is called soul retrieval. Soul retrieval allows one to resolve spiritual, emotional, and traumatic issues. This traditional way of completing often includes individual, family, multi-generational, and community concerns. For more information, go to www.bodyenergy.net/otherresoruces/shamanicpractioner

15. Blue Zones

Last but not least, I’ve recently found out that my adopted Iowa is initiating a program called Blue Zones, which is based on a book by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic explorer who did a survey of places in the world where people live the longest and fullest lives.

Dan’s website is www.BlueZones.com and it’s about the practices that create community wide well being and longevity. You should also visit www.bluezones.com/2011/08/iowa-launches-blue-zones-project to find out how the state of Iowa is launching a project to become the #1 state in the US in health and longevity in the next 5 years.

Michael

To put a positive spin on things, there have been a number of resources I’ve come across over time that contribute to a ‘reversal of the aging process’ that I want to share. Please feel to use these for your own growth, development, and education:

1. CranioSacral Therapy

We all encounter the bumps and bruises of life as time goes on. CranioSacral Therapy is a good way to reduce old stresses and strains in the body and gain ground against the aging process. See the BodyEnergy website for more information.

2. 3-Day Mini Intensive Program

As part of the comment above, Body Energy’s 3 day ‘mini intensive program is a great way to get from 2-6 hours of intensive therapy to dissolve old and significant traumas to the body. These intensives have become part of my ‘anti aging secret’ as we go through our 50’s, 60’s, and beyond. See the BodyEnergy site for information on our 3 day mini intensive program.

3. CranioSacral Therapy and Geriatrics

Designed to teach some simple techniques for the caring of our parents and friends, this 2-day course is a great way to give back to those who have given so much to us. See the BodyEnergy site for more information on this class.

4. Transcendental Meditation Program

Studies have shown that long-term practitioners of Transcendental Meditation have a biological age which is 20 years younger than their chronological age. In fact, it is the Transcendental Meditation movement which coined the term ‘reversal of the aging process.’ Transcendental Meditation addresses stress, insomnia, high blood pressure, and a variety of the dysfunctions of the aging process. Besides CranioSacral Therapy, Transcendental Meditation is the best healing modality I have come across in my life. Email TMinfo@TMChicago.org for more information.

6. Maharishi Ayurveda

This ancient science provides an excellent way to release deep toxins that may have accumulated in the body. Along with our 3-day mini intensive program, I recommend the Ayurvedic Panchakarma program to optimize health and reverse the effects of the aging process. For more information visit the Raj website.

7. Supplements

Supplements are highly recommended by Dr. Upledger for a variety of disease processes and the prevention of dementia and Alzheimer’s. These supplements would include antioxidants such as CoQ10 and resveratrol, alpha-lipoic acid, and Vitamin C & E.

8. Nutritional Components

One of the factors we have identified in our Geriatric class is the influence of long-term inflammatory processes in the body in regard to the symptoms of Dementia and Alzheimer’s. As the saying goes, you are what you eat. Two great resources to look at:

Leo Galland MD, (comments on anti inflammatory foods) – www.bottomlinesecrets.com

Weston A Price, a pioneer in healthy nutrition – www.westonaprice.org

More resources and information will follow in the next blog post.

Cerebral Palsy and CranioSacral Therapy

Often what one does in a 3 day intensive is a deep listening to the cellular activity in the body, and in particular the activity of the immune system. Just as soon as you think you find a pattern or a particular formula, someone comes along to teach you a variation on the theme or maybe something altogether different. This time the lesson came from my little (but very wise) 6-year-old professor in Connecticut.

Diagnosed early with Cerebral Palsy (CP) she has significant motor and spasticity issues. ((Extended note: in a very broad way CP involves some loss or deficit of motor control in the body. But the way these ‘symptoms’ display themselves in a patient can vary widely. That’s why a diagnosis can at times be limiting.))

However, on this particular day she taught me something different, which indirectly will affect her motor and spasticity issues. This involves her immune system and deals with early trauma or damage to the brain. Many times we will see a type of low level (or even high level) inflammatory response of the brain. This causes a variety of reactions, including production of ‘pro inflammatory cytokines,’ a toxic bi product of the immune systems efforts to protect it. However, in my little professor’s case, she chose to do something different. It seems a thing shell of dead tissue, much like the outer skin of an orange, had accumulated around the edge of the brain. To some extent, these dead brain cells also diminished the ratio of white to grey matter in the brain.

In my little professor’s brain there was no inflammatory response, however these dead brain cells were getting the immune system involved in a different way.

Much like a ship that slowly dissolves in the sea, this old brain tissue was also slowly dissolving away, inside the existing brain using the immune system’s phagocytes, monocytes and other immune system factors to get the job done. There is nothing wrong with this, but in a way it gave the immune system another job to do, this in a body that has more than enough on its plate, so to speak.

In dialoging with this brain tissue we were directed to accelerate the dissolution of this dead and ineffective tissue. In CranioSacral Therapy (CST) we have an advanced energy technique that can help to break down adhesions and dissolve stubborn tissue more quickly. We did this with the assistance of several other therapists as well. The result? A brain with a lot less ‘clutter’ and ‘dead weight.’ An additional benefit of this treatment is that we will hopefully have an immune system that can better put its resources to use where they are needed.

Since I’ve gone this far into left field, I’ll tell you one more thing. In advanced CST we have a technique to ‘regrow’ tissue. This is based on Dr. Upledger’s research on the immune system. We have a way to ‘ask’ the stem cells in the body (everyone has their own supply-no need to go ‘outside’ for a foreign supply) to go where they are needed to replenish dead or damaged tissues. Stem cells are kind of like blanks in that they can turn into bone cells, muscle cells, brain cells … you name it, all with a simple and polite request.

We did this for our little professor because she told us to and in the end we learned how to clean up un needed tissue, strengthened the immune system, and regrow vital areas of the brain.

1. It works! Students were able to easily learn how to palpate the CranioSacral Rhythm and learn how to do a still point on each other. The easy pace of the class gave students the time to have all their questions answered, get validation, and to gain confidence in their own ability to treat patients.

2. Variations on a theme: How to modify the still point to treat patients in a geriatric setting was very successful. Students learned how to treat in situations that will support more challenged clients.

3. The mix of beginning and more advanced students worked very well. Advanced students (SER 1 and above) were able to refine their listening skills and prepare themselves and apply their knowledge to a geriatric population. In addition, they became a resource for the new students who may want to refer their patients to others for more advanced work.

4. Our presentation of the mechanism of what causes Dementia and Alzheimer’s, which included the inflammatory process, was well received. It was simple enough for everyone to ‘connect the dots’ to their own experience.

5. Lastly, we were able to treat three Geriatric patients that were in their 80’s. Each felt the benefits of the treatment. Students were able to feel and see the changes that their CranioSacral Training brought about. The students were able to practice a simple protocol that, in 15 minutes, allowed them to relax their patients, find areas in the body that needed treatment, and reduce inflammation in the body.

During our time together we found, in the process of treatment, many of our seniors were able to tell their life story and have somebody listen. It was very validating to see our seniors respond in such a positive way.

In this economy, healthcare is still a strong segment for employment.

There are 2 aspects of a “recession proof” job:

1. The more local and applied an application the better-it cannot be “outsourced.”
2. The more specialized, the better

In this context, I’d like to discuss CranioSacral Therapy and Geriatrics as a long-term employment opportunity.

The Opportunity

Demographics: There are now over 80 million “baby boomers” about to retire. As one of them, I will tell you no one wants to age or “retire” the way our parents or grandparents did. That translates into a greater emphasis on well-being, preventative health and what I like to call “reversal of the aging process,” which is part of the impetus on creating the CranioSacral Therapy Geriatrics 2 and 4-day classes and programs.

Having said that, there are health issues that need to be addressed..

Over 60 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. (note: officially speaking, this is called primary degenerative dementia or Alzheimer’s as a type of senile dementia). According to CNN, Alzheimer’s could become “the defining disease of the baby boomer generation.” According to President Reagan’s former Alzheimer’s doctor “If this is not dealt with, this will cripple the healthcare system.”

Alternative Approach

BodyEnergy Company, over the past 5 years, has helped pioneer research into the application of a simple CranioSacral Still Point to individuals with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. This simple 5-10 minute application has demonstrated clinical and statistical significance in the management of agitation for these patients.

Furthermore, we believe application of CST on a regular basis may prevent, slow or stop the progression of the disease, or possibly even reverse the effects of this disease.

There are no other known modalities that have shown this potential.

Imagine if Alzheimer’s could be prevented, held in suspension, or even reversed?

Do you think there might be a demand for a product or service that could do this?

Body Energy in conjunction with our associates at the University of Iowa are looking into a larger study (the first pilot study took 4 years to conceive, conduct and publish) to push further in the this new area of alternative research.

Training Opportunity and Specialization

Beginning-level CranioSacral Therapy and Geriatrics (CSG2) is a 2-day class training laypersons, caregivers and other interested parties in the application of a simple technique to apply to friends, parents and relatives. At the same time, they receive the background to appreciate how and why these techniques work so well. With this information, they can choose to specialize in this form of treatment and/or add this to the Geriatrics treatment modalities they already practice.

National Treatment Network

In addition to all of the above, practitioners who are graduates of this class become eligible to join a national treatment and referral network for the following areas:

• Homecare
• Independent Living
• Specialized in-house assisted living
• As an adjunct to “in-home employment opportunity”

We welcome you to become part of a resource to assist the existing eldercare healthcare network and become part of a growingly compassionate, alternate, and preventative approach to the aging process.

One of the things I begin to notice as I would check in on the patients in our six-week study is their starting point. If you’ve been around a Dementia or Alzheimer’s patient you notice how withdrawn and deeply inside their psyche they seem to be. Having also worked with a number of autistic and cerebral palsy children, I was also familiar with that withdrawn, “hard to get to” mental place. Although the mechanism of why these kids display their symptoms is a bit different, the outcome is the same-lack of connection and communication with the outside world.

We began to notice that about halfway through our six-week Alzheimer’s study the patients started to change-get more interactive, more cognizant, more changes in verbal and social behavior. I began to ask our key investigator, “Do any of these patients have any prior disease process or history?” It was as if I’d asked the stupidest question in the world. “Of course” was the answer.

It turned out when I was able to examine the medical history of these patients that many of them displayed indications of sometimes decades old inflammatory processes diabetes, arthritis, and a whole host of problems that we commonly associated with the aging process. I would notice that our subjects seemed to be sitting on a mountain of accumulated issues, and as the momentum of our 5-10 minute daily treatments took hold, not only would they display momentary clarity but also begin to process and release restrictions that might have been lodging in the body for decades. We had one 100-year-old woman in a nursing home in Minneapolis who started speaking in complete sentences and was able to start feeding herself.

In my own experience of treating early onset dementia I found a common first response is that patients feel more relaxed and less anxious. This is also something the caregivers and family members notice as well. The less stress there is on the body, the healthier the immune system and the greater the fluid flow.

Another effect we noticed was that family members and caregivers were able to have much more interaction with the patients. As the patients began to retrieve some memory of who they were speaking with, sometimes surprised caregivers had the opportunity to interact in a more meaningful way. This is not usually the case in the degeneration that is associated with this condition. Our hope is that continued application of these CST Techniques will offer even more improvement.

It was upon this realization that I begin to think, “How could CranioSacral Therapy assist the aging population to transition in an easier, graceful manner as their chronological age advances?” Having a stepmother in an Alzheimer’s unit in California and, later on, a sister-in-law who succumbed to some of the same symptoms, I began to think that CranioSacral Therapy (CST) might be a key for their challenges. About this same time my mentor, Dr. John Upledger, wrote an article about the circulation of Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) in the brain, and how even middle to aging adults had half the circulation of their younger counterparts.

There are many coincidences that seem to occur in CranioSacral work. In my case, I had some clients and associates who were retired Professors of Nursing at the University of Iowa. With their help and research they confirmed Dr. Upledger’s findings, and found, even more to the case, that circulation of CSF in patients with Dementia and Alzheimer’s was even less than that of aging adults, even half again as much. To put a number to this, a normal adult produces 800ml a day of CSF, a “middle age” person perhaps 400ml a day, and a person with Dementia and Alzheimer’s 200ml a day.

We quickly began to assess the implications of this lack of CSF flow in the brain. You see, CSF has a “chelating” or washing action which helps removes heavy metals across the blood brain barrier. In addition, immune system factors, which in a normal adult keep the brain free and clear of inflammation, become compromised when CSF flow is lessened. We began to think that if we could somehow increase the flow of CSF in at-risk patients or patients in any stage of Dementia, would it have a positive effect?

Well, it turns out there is one tried and true CST technique that accomplishes just this. It’s called the Still Point. It increases the flow of CSF in any client. We designed a 6-week study to assess the effect of CST on agitation in patients in various stages of Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Agitation is one measure that any institution would like to manage better if they could. Published in 2008, our study shows that regular application of this CST Technique has clinical and statistical significance.

That’s how CSG2 came into being. Building on this research we want to get the information out to the public-to laypeople, caregivers, therapists and others who treat this population.