By Sarah A LoBisco, ND

I’ve had the pleasure of tuning into The HayHouse World Summit, an online event that featured 110 inspirational authors within a 10 day span. The speakers included Dr. Bruce Lipton, PhD, Marcelle Pick, M.S.N., OB/GYN NP, Mark Hyman, MD, Lissa Rankin, MD, Dr. Northrup, MD, Deepak Chopra, Dr. Joe Dispenza, Dr. Dawson Church, Wayne Dyer, Maryanne Williamson, Michael Neil, and Robert Holden.

This was like a rock concert party on my laptop for me!

My heart strings were tugged as I listened as these teachers weaved the tapestry between science, healing, and wholeness. I was jamming along as the science of neurology, nutrigenomics, epigenetics, emotional health, spirituality, and biochemistry was intertwined and unified into a common endpoint-even if the language of expression was different. 

These various scientists, masters, and doctors discussed how programming downloaded prenatally and in infancy can run our stress response and play out learned responses via neural pathways in our brain. These programs play out in our adult life through various and individual biochemical and physical effects. To some teachers these results are expressed as a blockage from our true self and purpose; whereas, others discussed the specific negative impacts on our biology and disease processes. The good news is they all offered solutions in a variety of ways.

As I’m writing my blog for this week, I’m listening to the last stream of speakers. Currently, Larry Dossey, MD is continuing with the theme above. He is discussing how human intention and prayer (what he also terms “communication with the absolute”) affects physical change and how love and compassion can be used to support modern medicine’s results.

What struck me through this summit is how science is validating the body and spirit’s power to heal. It was serendipitous in timing to my training with the Institute for Functional Medicine’s 2013 Annual Symposium, Illuminating the Energy Spectrum.

Besides learning about how genetic diversity, individualized exposures, and lifestyle effects biological imprinting, our last day in Texas training included a whole series on the Therapeutic Encounter. We were presented with a summary of various scientific studies connecting the power of the mind and connection to others and how it positively impact healing (see below references).

The most amazing presentation to me was with David Perlmutter, M.D., F.A.C.N and Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D. Here, a shaman and neurologist united quantum physics, biochemistry, and neurology with the body’s healing potential.

My passion and purpose was found in the expression of Naturopathic and Functional Medicine eleven years ago. These two disciplines promote the unification of all practitioners coming together and helping to eradicate fear and hopelessness in medicine and educate empowerment in the body’s innate healing potential! I am so grateful for these teachers and my ability to pay it forward in my own way.

Please visit my upcoming Saratoga.com blog for the continuation of this blog and the power of spontaneous remission!

These blogs are dedicated to all of my clients who have been my partners and teachers through the years as well!

References:

The 2013 HayHouse World Summit. June 1-June 10, 2013. http://www.hayhouseworldsummit.com/

Here is a short list of references that Dr. Rakel presented summaries for in our training at the IFM’s 2013 Symposium: Colloca L, et al. Lancet Neurology. 3(11); 2004, McKay KM, Imel ZE, Wampold BE. Psychiatrist effects in the psychopharmacological treatment of depression. J Affect. Disord. 2006;92:287-90, Kaptchuk TJ. et al. Components of the Placebo Effect: RCT in patients with IBS. BMJ 336 (7651), 2008).

Dean Ornish , MD. Love and Survival: The Scientific Basis for the Healing Power of Intimacy. Harper Collins. New York:NY. 1998.

Erica C. Leifheit-Limson, et al. The Role of Social Support in Health Status and Depressive Symptoms After Acute Myocardial Infarction: Evidence for a Stronger Relationship Among Women. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. 2010; 3: 143-150 Accessed August 15, 2011. http://circoutcomes.ahajournals.org/content/3/2/143.full

Abraham Verghese: A Doctor’s Touch. Filmed Jul 2011 Posted Sep 2011. TEDGlobal 2011. http://www.ted.com/talks/abraham_verghese_a_doctor_s_touch.html

Taylor SE, Klein LC, Lewis BP, Gruenewald TL, Gurung RA, Updegraff JA. Biobehavioral responses to stress in females: tend-and-befriend, not fight-or-flight (abstract). Psychol Rev. 2000 Jul;107(3):411-29. PMID: 10941275

Robin S. Rosenberg. Abnormal Is the New Normal: Why will half of the U.S. population have a diagnosable mental disorder? Slate: Medical Examiner. April 12, 2013. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2013/04/diagnostic_and_statistical_manual_fifth_edition_why_will_half_the_u_s_population.html

Dr. Northrup. Yikes! I’m Becoming My Mother. Flourish. hayhouseradio.com. (Streaming Radio) May 1, 2013.

Mate’, Gabor. Addiction: Childhood Trauma, Stress and the Biology of Addiction. Apr 29, 2013. Journal of Restorative Medicine.

Kenneth D. Kochanek, M.A.; Jiaquan Xu, M.D.; Sherry L. Murphy, B.S.; Arialdi M. Miniño M.P.H.; and Hsiang-Ching Kung, Ph.D., Division of Vital Statistics. National Vital Statistics Reports. Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2009. Center for Disease Control. 59(4). March 16, 2011/ http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr59/nvsr59_04.pdf

Hyman, M. The Third Metric: The Two Steps To Solving Our Real Energy Crisis. Drhyman.com. June 3, 2013. http://drhyman.com/blog/2013/06/03/the-third-metric-the-two-steps-to-solving-our-real-energy-crisis/