Mind body tricks and weird science

Usually, we try to influence our body, by tricking our minds. There are visualization, placebo effect, positive self-talk, and other well-known tricks. The reverse direction of influencing the mind through the body is also interesting, even though it is less discussed. For today’s reading, you are welcome to click here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Mapping the brain to the body

When I was very young, I practiced manual therapy for a couple of years. One of the amazing things about our body is a strange mapping of our brain on our skin. Pressing certain acupuncture points gives our brain very serious commands that can influence feelings of pain and hunger, addictions and cravings, depressions and mood swings and some other strange stuff.

While the acupuncture manuals are very detailed and specific, this knowledge does not map well on what we know from medical science. Medical science does not have a good explanation for hypnosis either, yet we can learn to apply it effectively.

Does our brain map onto our skin, and pressing certain points we reprogram it? Certain studies of carpal tunnel syndrome make clear the connection is complex and mysterious.

Vagus nerve

Every time we discuss the brain-body connection, we mention the vagus nerve. This nerve is responsible for the fight-or-flight response and some finer responses. There are several classical ways to influence it:

• By changing the way we breathe we can calm down. This is direct activation of the vagus nerve.
• Sitting or standing or upside-down we get access to different memories and creative abilities. Not sure if this is a cardio-vascular thing or some other effects. The heart rate is controlled by the vagus nerve.
• People who cleanse and do not eat for a while, report some sort of profound ease and clarity. The vagus nerve is connected to the nerves in the stomach.

Alternatively, we can simply apply electrodes to the vagus nerve and see what happens.  I quote:

Neuroscientists in France have identified that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can restore consciousness even after someone has been in a vegetative state for over a decade…. Since 1997, VNS has been used as an adjunct therapy to treat pharmaco-resistant epilepsy and other maladies such as clinical depression, systemic inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches, etc

Nootropics

It is tempting to think that our brain-body communication is influenced mainly through the vagus nerve stimulation, but it is not entirely true. There are many minerals, hormones and “stuff” that accesses our brain through the brain-blood barrier.

One of the safest and most popular nootropics is ginkgo biloba. It passed several placebo-controlled tests and can even treat strokes. I quote:

Most commercially available preparations are standardized to two active ingredients: flavone glycosides and terpenoids. The flavonoid constituent is a strong antioxidant and is believed to have general neuroprotective benefits. The terpenoid fraction interferes with platelets and helps individuals recover following a stroke by decreasing the risk of blood clots in the brain and reducing nerve cell death associated with stroke. Constituents of Ginkgo may also inhibit neurotoxicity and nerve cell death caused by nitric oxide.

I took Gingko when my focus got “sticky” (ADHD) and it appears to have been helpful.

Syncing brainwaves

Another cool trick is syncing brainwaves. Brain waves are relatively slow, and zapping the brain with low-intensity electromagnetic pulses we cause the brain waves to sync. Some researches report less controlled brain sync during lucid dreaming, hypnosis and the “flow” state.

Whatever causes the brain waves sync, it results in increased connectivity of the brain. This causes, for example, higher creativity and increased executive functions. No wonder some of the greatest developments in art and science were done by people when they were asleep.

Be careful with your brain

Literally. I quote:

Each time a brain is hit, despite some protection by a thick skull and cushioning fluid layer, and even with additional external protection like helmets, the softer tissue inside runs into its walls at or near the speed of impact. That internal collision leads to damage, both at the macro level, where structures break and vessels might bleed, and on the micro level, where the neurons that make up brain tissue become like frayed electrical wires, no longer able to signal along their networks. In response to the damage, the tissues also go into inflammation mode, attempting to start the healing process but also causing dangerous swelling and other mechanisms that can instead worsen the damage. That cycle of microvascular damage is what becomes cumulative over time with repeated mild concussions, leading to scarring and cellular death.

I remember when I was a child and a TV set did not work we used to hit it physically, hoping for some loose contact to move. The brain is not a TV set. Do not hit it. Many sports have a high chance of hits in the head and in the groin. I understand the allure of danger (I love horse riding), yet I prefer to focus on safer sports. If you swim, you will be OK. Researches recommend at least one hour of workout per week…

When should we control our mind via our physic?

We do it all the time. Here are some examples:

• Do breathing exercises
• Don’t get hit in your head
• Sleep well and try lucid dreaming
• Do take safe nootropics
• Don’t abuse drugs and alcohol
• Do work-out and walk in nature
• Apply massage to your acupuncture points