Aloha Steemit Family!!!
Welcome to Part 2 of this series on how to change your genetic expression to improve health, prolong life, and promote happiness.
Before we get to the nitty gritty...let's recap a little...
In Part 1 I wrote about epigenetics, what it is and how we can change the ways our genes express with either negative or positive effects on our well-being.
One example of how our genes can be turned on or off is a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. During this process, the caterpillar's genes don't change. But the way they are expressed changes through epigenetic factors.
The four approaches(diet, detox, fasting, and movement) discussed in part 1 are the foundations of epigenetic alchemy. These strategies are fairly straightforward and well-supported in scientific research. Most scientists and lay persons would have a hard time disagreeing with the literature.
This next set, however, is a little farther fetched for the mainstream...but rapidly gaining momentum amongst holistic-minded healers...alongside some pioneering genetic researchers who are willing to cross the proverbial line between the abstract and physical.
"The fact that science led me to spiritual insight is appropriate because the latest discoveries in physics and cell research are forging new links between the worlds of Science and Spirit. These realms were split apart in the days of Descartes centuries ago. However, I truly believe that only when Spirit and Science are reunited will we be afforded the means to a better world."
~Bruce Lipton
This is the pervasive feeling I've had the last few weeks as I've been diving deeper into the ways in which we alter our genetic expression.
The lines start to blur very quickly when we allow ourselves to let go of pre-conceived ideas. And the magic that happens in the mind when we foster the merging of ideas from the spiritual and scientific worlds is what I intend to present in the next two blog posts.
Meditation
More doctors, researchers and scientists are starting to recommend and study practices such as meditation for its role in improving overall health.
Much of the research has involved looking at EEG's of experienced meditators, studying their brainwaves and making conclusions about how this affects the body hormonal and chemically to reduce blood pressure, increase cognition, build neural pathways, enhance immunity, and much much more.
In this image, Matthieu Ricard, a 66-year old Tibetan monk and geneticist, produces brain gamma waves—linked to consciousness, attention, learning and memory—never before reported in neuroscience.
So this made me wonder, how does this translate on an epigenetic level?
According to this article there are three primary ways that meditation changes our epigenome.
1) Decreasing inflammation
2) Maintaining telomere length and slowing the rate of cellular aging.
3) Lowering Risk of Cancer
How cool is it that we can alter our internal environment, lower stress, and change our phenotype with just a few minutes a day spent in a relaxed state?
And this type of genetic control is not limited to meditation...
Anything that reduces stress and elicits a relaxation response not only alleviates the symptoms that the stress response can cause, but frees the body to do what it does naturally—heal itself.
So whether it's tinkering in the garage or walking in nature, if it is calming, it will positively affect epigenetic factors through calming the nervous system.
Stress equals fight or flight mode or sympathetic dominance. Relaxation promotes cell and tissue regeneration or parasympathetic mode.
Beliefs and Emotions
Authors, doctors, and scientists such as Bruce Lipton and Lissa Rankin as well as HeartMath Institute, are paving a path for those of us who are willing to explore the connection between our beliefs and our current state of health.
In Part 1 of this blog series, I mentioned a study that explored how we even pass on epigenetic changes, marks, or scars, from one generation to the next. Which for me makes it ever so critical for us to shift our harmful outdated beliefs for our current and future generations.
Lissa Rankin wrote a book a few years back, called "Mind Over Medicine," which studied the amazing power of the placebo effect. The placebo effect is basically believing that something will heal us, and how this can change our body chemistry to promote healing.
In her book she references hundreds of research studies and documented cases of spontaneous remission from cancer...proving that the mind can heal the body when we believe we are getting what we need to heal. In fact, Rankin points out that clinical studies show that up to 80% of people given a placebo heal themselves.
If you want to know more about this placebo/self-healing effect I wrote about it here.
I also highly recommend picking up Lissa Rankin's book here.
Okay...back to how the mind heals the body...
The term psychosomatic is normally associated with “imaginary illnesses.”
In fact, the term simply relates to the physiological connections between mind and body.
We've all probably heard someone say, "Ohhh...she died of a broken heart." Or that someone's breast cancer was connected to their immense suffering and grief.
Well there's some truth to that...
In modern scientific terms, this connection happens through tiny molecular structures called neuropeptides
Peptides, a form of ligand, are tiny bits of protein that are produced throughout the body.
They are found in hormones such as endorphins, serotonin, and insulin, for example, and are key elements for life.
Neuropeptides pave the way between the brain (i.e. our emotions) and the body.
When a thought triggers an emotion, neuropeptides transmit those feelings through neuropathways and extracellular fluid.
Eventually these peptides will connect with cellular receptors throughout the body where they will have an impact on the functioning of body systems at all levels.
The same chemicals that run our body and brain are the same chemicals that run our emotions.
Bruce Lipton, author of "Biology of Belief", states in this article that 95% of disease is created through the interaction of proteins with dysfunctional signals. There are three primary situations in which dysfunctional signals cause dis-ease...toxicity, trauma, and thoughts/perceptions.
"Cells, tissues, and organs do not question information sent by the nervous system. Rather, they respond with equal fervor to accurate life-affirming perceptions and to self-destructive misperceptions."
"Consequently, the nature of our perceptions greatly influences the fate of our lives."
"While most of us are aware of the healing influences of the placebo effect, few are aware of its evil twin, the nocebo effect. Just as surely as positive thoughts can heal, negative ones-including the belief we are susceptible to an illness or have been exposed to a toxic condition-can actually manifest the undesired realities of those thoughts."
According to Dr. Bruce Lipton, "gene activity can change on a daily basis. If the perception in your mind is reflected in the chemistry of your body, and if your nervous system reads and interprets the environment and then controls the blood’s chemistry, then you can literally change the fate of your cells by altering your thoughts."
So if you are struggling to heal and feel like you've done everything you can, try asking yourself, "what beliefs could be hindering me?"
I love the work of Byron Katie for the powerful effects it has on identifying restrictive belief patterns and shifting them in order to lower stress, overcome depression, and improve our relationships.
Her technique involves four questions that stimulate examination of all beliefs that are linked to a feeling of discomfort.
A powerful way to shift emotions that are connected to beliefs is through Emotional Freedom Technique.
Personally, I was able to let go of years of unconscious programming and trauma through just a few tapping sessions on forgiveness and self-worth.
Here's my favorite EFT practitioner, Brad Yates, guiding his viewers through forgiveness.
Now...That's just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to the power of our thoughts.
What if we could even affect our actual DNA by shifting our thoughts?
This is exactly what the Institute of HeartMath has been studying for the past few decades.
According to this article,...
"After two decades of studies, HeartMath researchers say other factors such as the appreciation and love we have for someone or the anger and anxiety we feel also influence and can alter the outcomes of each individual’s DNA blueprint."
"HeartMath researchers have gone so far as to show that physical aspects of DNA strands could be influenced by human intention. The article, Modulation of DNA Conformation by Heart-Focused Intention – McCraty, Atkinson, Tomasino, 2003 – describes experiments that achieved such results."
"For example, an individual holding three DNA samples was directed to generate heart coherence – a beneficial state of mental, emotional and physical balance and harmony – with the aid of a HeartMath technique that utilizes heart breathing and intentional positive emotions. The individual succeeded, as instructed, to intentionally and simultaniously unwind two of the DNA samples to different extents and leave the third unchanged."
“The results provide experimental evidence to support the hypothesis that aspects of the DNA molecule can be altered through intentionality,” the article states. “The data indicate that when individuals are in a heart-focused, loving state and in a more coherent mode of physiological functioning, they have a greater ability to alter the conformation of DNA."
“Individuals capable of generating high ratios of heart coherence were able to alter DNA conformation according to their intention. … Control group participants showed low ratios of heart coherence and were unable to intentionally alter the conformation of DNA.”
I will touch on this idea of changing our genetic blueprint by other means in more depth in Part 3.
So let's summarize what we have learned here....
1)Meditation and anything that calms the nervous system can affect the way our genes express.
2) Basically everything that you can imagine doing to heal your body...even if it's just a placebo...if we believe it...then it changes our chemistry and brain waves...and it is changing the way our genes express. This is what closes the gap between science and spirituality...and one reason why prayer works so well
3)Examining our beliefs and changing them to foster more positive emotions (especially love and gratitude) can alter the dysfunctional signals that create disease in the body...and even physically change our DNA.
Focusing on the areas discussed here (and in Part 1) and setting goals to include a few, if not all of these strategies in your daily routine, will set you on a path to health and happiness despite what you inherited from your parents (whether it be emotional or physical "scars").
Why not tip the scales in your favor?
And one final thought...
When we share our stories of transformation and recovery (through testimonials in person or online) and when we radiate gratitude and love...we can create an epigenetic shift-ripple across space and time...altering the genetic expression for all of humanity.
Now, let that sink in for a moment. 😊
I hope you enjoyed this installment of the three part series on Epigentics.
In Part 3 I will discuss the ways we can positively alter our genetic expression through sun-exposure and sleep...plus some potential (mind-blowing) ways to activate or even recode our DNA.
I'd love to hear your feedback and insights!
May you all be blessed with lengthy telomeres and life-enhancing perceptions!!!
Pachee and Family