As cold and flu season approaches, many of us are looking for ways to strengthen our immune systems. While a healthy diet and regular exercise are crucial, there's another simple yet powerful tool at our disposal: soft belly breathing. This ancient practice, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, has been shown to have remarkable effects on our immune function and overall health.

The Science Behind Soft Belly Breathing
Soft belly breathing involves taking slow, deep breaths that expand the abdomen rather than the chest. This technique stimulates the vagus nerve, a key component of our parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our "rest and digest" state. When activated, the vagus nerve helps shift our body from a stress response to a more relaxed state, which has profound implications for our immune system.

Impact on Inflammation and Immune Response
Research has shown that activating the vagus nerve through breathing exercises can have a significant impact on our immune...

The human mind is a complex system comprising multiple levels of consciousness that interact with our physical well-being in intricate ways. By exploring these levels and their connections to our health, we can gain valuable insights into managing chronic illnesses and improving overall quality of life.

The Three Levels of Consciousness
Our mind operates on three primary levels: conscious, subconscious, and superconscious.
Conscious Mind: This is our waking state of awareness, responsible for logical thinking, decision-making, and voluntary actions. It represents only a small portion of our total consciousness.
Subconscious Mind: Operating below our conscious awareness, the subconscious mind stores memories, emotions, and experiences. It has a significant influence on our thoughts and behaviors, often without our realizing it.
Superconscious Mind: This higher state of consciousness is associated with creativity, intuition, and spiritual insights. It's where we can access deeper levels...

At Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine, we're always exploring cutting-edge research to provide our patients with the most comprehensive and effective care. Today, we're delving into an intriguing aspect of human biology that's gaining attention in the scientific community: the holobiome. 

The Holobiome: Beyond the Microbiome

Most of us are familiar with the concept of the microbiome - the collection of microorganisms that inhabit our bodies, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The microbiome plays a crucial role in our health, influencing everything from digestion to immune function.

However, there's a broader concept that encompasses not just these microorganisms, but also their genetic material and the complex interactions between them and our bodies: the holobiome. The holobiome is defined as the sum total of the component genomes in a eukaryotic organism, comprising both the host genome and the microbiome.

The Holobiome and Emotional Health

...

As part of our ongoing mission to provide comprehensive care for patients with hypermobility, our team recently hosted an illuminating group visit on this complex condition. During the session, we delved deep into the intricate connections between the gut, posture, the nervous system, and overall health for those dealing with hypermobility.

The discussion was led by our experts, Hannah Sutherland, Physical Therapist with Parr PT, and Dr. Cheng Ruan. They shared valuable insights and real-world examples to help attendees better understand this multifaceted issue. Here are the key takeaways from the session:

The Gut-Brain Connection

One of the core focuses was the crucial role the gut plays in hypermobility. As our experts explained, the gut is often referred to as the "second brain" of the body, containing more neurons than the brain and spinal cord combined. When the gut is not functioning optimally, it can lead to a host of neurological symptoms like dysautonomia.

Posture and...

At Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine, we believe healing is about more than just treating symptoms—it's about understanding the intricate connections within our body. Our recent POTS and Dysautonomia support group dove deep into a fascinating aspect of health that often goes overlooked: the profound relationship between our mental state, our environment, and our physiological responses.

The Intricate Dance of Mind and Body

Dysautonomia is more than a single-system disorder. It's a complex condition that demonstrates just how interconnected our bodily systems truly are. One of the most remarkable connections we explored is how our mental state can directly influence physiological responses—particularly through mechanisms like histamine release.

What is the Gut-Brain Connection?

Your body is constantly communicating—between your nervous system, digestive system, and brain. These communications happen through neural pathways, hormones, and chemical messengers. For...

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to view symptoms—whether physical or mental—as inconveniences to be suppressed or ignored. However, what if we approached these experiences differently? What if we saw them not as nuisances, but as valuable signals and teachers, guiding us towards better health and balance?

The Body's Language

Our bodies and minds are constantly communicating with us. A headache, fatigue, anxiety, or digestive issues aren't random occurrences—they're messages. These symptoms are our body's way of saying, "Hey, something's not quite right here. We need to pay attention."

Symptoms as Signals

Think of symptoms as warning lights on a car's dashboard. When that "check engine" light comes on, it's not trying to ruin your day—it's alerting you to a potential problem that needs addressing. Similarly, our symptoms are signaling areas of imbalance or stress in our lives.

• Physical pain might indicate overexertion or poor posture
• Digestive issues could...

Every other week, Dr. Cheng Ruan meets with patients suffering from dysautonomia and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) to discuss various aspects of managing their conditions. In our most recent session, we delved into the crucial topics of hydration and salt, exploring their impact on autonomic function and overall well-being.

The Importance of Electrolytes

Our discussion centered around the significance of electrolyte supplementation, particularly salt, in regulating autonomic dysfunction. Dr. Ruan emphasized how proper electrolyte balance can play a vital role in managing symptoms associated with dysautonomia and POTS.

Sodium: More Than Just Salt

We explored the effects of sodium on various bodily functions:

• Its impact on the mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells
• The role of the trigeminal nerve, specifically its maxillary branch, in moderating the vagus nerve
• How oral formations can have a calming effect on the vagus nerve

Interestingly, we also touched on...

In the fast-paced world we live in, it's easy to forget that our mental and physical health are deeply interconnected. Here at TCLM, we honor the connection between the mind and the body and recognize that ancient forms of treatment often have deeper evidence based methodologies. For example, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a holistic approach to health with over 2,000 years of history, offers a fascinating perspective on this mind-body connection. Let's explore how TCM views the relationship between our emotions and our physical well-being.

The Five Element Theory

At the core of TCM's understanding of emotions and health is the Five Element Theory. This concept links specific emotions to particular organs in the body:

1. Anger - Liver
2. Joy - Heart
3. Worry - Spleen
4. Sadness/Grief - Lungs
5. Fear - Kidneys

According to TCM, an imbalance in these emotions can lead to physical ailments in their corresponding organs, and vice versa.

How Emotions Affect Your Organs

Liver and Anger

In TCM,...

At Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine, we believe in addressing the root causes of health issues, not just treating symptoms. Recent research has shed light on a fascinating connection between our thoughts, emotions, and physical health through gene expression. Dr. Cheng Ruan recently discussed this topic in a group visit, and we'd like to share some key insights with you. 

The FKBP5 Gene: A Key Player in Stress Response 

The FKBP5 gene plays a crucial role in our body's stress response. This gene can be affected by trauma experienced not only in our own lives but also in previous generations. It influences our immune system, hormone balance, and may contribute to a more exasperated physiological stress response. 

Manifestation: More Than Just Positive Thinking 

Dr. Ruan emphasized the role of our thinking in shaping the choices we make and actions we take for our present and future, Our imagination and perception can actually affect our gene expression. By...

We're thrilled to announce that our clinic is expanding its services with a variety of new group visit programs! These sessions are designed to provide you with comprehensive care, education, and support in a collaborative environment.

Spotlight: Type 2 Diabetes Group Visit Program

One program we're particularly excited about is our Type 2 Diabetes Group Visit Program. Due to high demand, we expect this program to fill up quickly, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible.

Program Details:

• Duration: 6 sessions
• Leader: Gardner Mack, Nurse Practitioner
  • Specializes in diabetes education and blood sugar management

Session Schedule:

1. November 7: Introduction
   • Type 2 Diabetes background and establishing goals within the group. 
2. November 14: The Impact of Food
   • Special Guest: Ruben Lespron, Registered Dietitian
3. November 21: Managing Exercise, Stress, and Sick Days
4. November 28: No Group - Happy Thanksgiving
5. December 5: How Type 2 Diabetes Connects to the Rest...