Post by robwhite on Aug 4, 2009 9:53:26 GMT -5
This was quite interesting as an overview to Eck's approach to MT: www.drlwilson.com/Articles/metabolic%20typing.htm
He primarily uses hair mineral analysis to look at mineral ratios to determine metabolic type, and he regards Oxidative imbalances and Autonomic ANS imbalances as being directly linked in specific ways and resultant of each other, and not seperate systems. The Oxidative / Autonomic state changes depending upon the stress state a person is in, using the model of different levels of stress as described in Dr. Hans Selye model of General Adaption Syndrome.
For example, Eck suggests most people in a normal metabolic state are very slightly Sympathetic dominant with a slightly slow Oxidation. When it is mild, one is forward-looking, optimistic, active and energetic. However, some people are 'healthy' parasympathetic dominant, but are rare. They love to relax, do not react to stress and may rest all day, not because they are tired but because they are content. They live in the present moment and are at peace within. A healthy parasympathetic dominant loves eating, has a great appetite and great digestion because the parasympathetic system activates digestion. They are rare due to the stress of modern living.
As a person gets stressed, symptoms of excessive Sympathetic dominance develop, including compulsiveness, running around excessively, overworking, excessive thinking, fearfulness, anxiety, worry or anger. One may talk, think and work fast. Excessively Sympathetic dominant individuals do not spend enough time in a parasympathetic state to rebuild the body, so it eventually becomes depleted of nutrients or “burns out”. At the same time that stress begins, Fast Oxidation increases, as an indication that the body is in the 'Alarm' stage of stress, and is intrinsically a Sympathetic ANS - dominant state.
As stress continues, the thyroid and adrenal glands begin to “burn out” and one goes into into 'Resistance' and eventually 'Exhaustion' stages of stress, which leads to Slow Oxidation because the sympathetic system becomes depleted of nutrients and can no longer function correctly, with symptoms of fatigue, allergies, low blood sugar, weight gain and many others, and also develops 'unhealthy' Parasympathetic ANS dominance. Unhealthy Parasympathetic dominance is far more common due to emotionally or chemically-caused imbalances. In fact, this is just a person who has exhausted the sympathetic nervous system to such an extent that the body flips into a parasympathetic state by default. In other words, since the two nervous systems are in a balance at all times, if the sympathetic system is depleted enough, the balance shifts to parasympathetic even if the person does not desire it. These people have often given up fighting for anything and just “holding on” or giving up. They may advocate peace, but they are not at peace. They may sit around or they may be active, but are in a give-up mode.
The way to determine a 'healthy' parasympathetic (i.e naturally occuring) from an 'unhealthy' parasympathetic (i.e stress-induced) state is through hair mineral analysis of mineral ratios.
This leads on to another interesting concept - autonomic 'dominance' and autonomic 'state' may be different. As stated earlier, many patients are naturally slightly sympathetic dominant in an optimal condition, but the body is in a parasympathetic state due to stress. Another way to express this condition is that the body is exhausted (parasympathetic) but the mind is still fighting or flighting (sympathetic dominance). Eck calls this common situation a 'burned out sympathetic dominant'. It is indicated on a hair analysis by a slow oxidation rate (usually a very low sodium and potassium ratio) with a very low potassium level.
To summarise, Eck found:
* A sympathetic state will usually correlate with fast oxidation.
* A parasympathetic state will usually correlate with slow oxidation.
* A parasympathetic state with fast oxidation is an indication of 'unhealthy' parasympathetic state due to 'burned out sympathetic dominance'.
* A sympathetic state generally correlates with Dr. Selye’s alarm stage of stress.
* A parasympathetic state generally correlates with an exhaustion stage of stress.
* Resistance stage of stress is an in between stage. It is associated with mild slow oxidation (i.e a slowing down rate of oxidation).
The idea of Parasympathetic dominance, in most cases, being a sign of exhaustion is quite alarming ( i am parasympathetic dominant) and is food for thought. Transposing the Stress Model onto dynamic changes in MT types, and also what being a particular MT type implies in terms of a persons stress state, is really fascinating and hopefully something Mr Wolcott and company will investigate further.
As a slight Parasympathetic dominant, very Fast Oxidiser, who was recently hormone tested to be shown to have Stage II Adrenal Fatigue, this makes sense to me. If you directly transpose the 3 stages of Adrenal Exhaustion to Seyles stress model, you can see that Stage II Adrenal Fatigue correlates with the 'Resistance' stage, where the adrenals are getting very tired, Oxidation is slowing but still elevated, but the ANS is moving into Parasympathetic dominance.
He primarily uses hair mineral analysis to look at mineral ratios to determine metabolic type, and he regards Oxidative imbalances and Autonomic ANS imbalances as being directly linked in specific ways and resultant of each other, and not seperate systems. The Oxidative / Autonomic state changes depending upon the stress state a person is in, using the model of different levels of stress as described in Dr. Hans Selye model of General Adaption Syndrome.
For example, Eck suggests most people in a normal metabolic state are very slightly Sympathetic dominant with a slightly slow Oxidation. When it is mild, one is forward-looking, optimistic, active and energetic. However, some people are 'healthy' parasympathetic dominant, but are rare. They love to relax, do not react to stress and may rest all day, not because they are tired but because they are content. They live in the present moment and are at peace within. A healthy parasympathetic dominant loves eating, has a great appetite and great digestion because the parasympathetic system activates digestion. They are rare due to the stress of modern living.
As a person gets stressed, symptoms of excessive Sympathetic dominance develop, including compulsiveness, running around excessively, overworking, excessive thinking, fearfulness, anxiety, worry or anger. One may talk, think and work fast. Excessively Sympathetic dominant individuals do not spend enough time in a parasympathetic state to rebuild the body, so it eventually becomes depleted of nutrients or “burns out”. At the same time that stress begins, Fast Oxidation increases, as an indication that the body is in the 'Alarm' stage of stress, and is intrinsically a Sympathetic ANS - dominant state.
As stress continues, the thyroid and adrenal glands begin to “burn out” and one goes into into 'Resistance' and eventually 'Exhaustion' stages of stress, which leads to Slow Oxidation because the sympathetic system becomes depleted of nutrients and can no longer function correctly, with symptoms of fatigue, allergies, low blood sugar, weight gain and many others, and also develops 'unhealthy' Parasympathetic ANS dominance. Unhealthy Parasympathetic dominance is far more common due to emotionally or chemically-caused imbalances. In fact, this is just a person who has exhausted the sympathetic nervous system to such an extent that the body flips into a parasympathetic state by default. In other words, since the two nervous systems are in a balance at all times, if the sympathetic system is depleted enough, the balance shifts to parasympathetic even if the person does not desire it. These people have often given up fighting for anything and just “holding on” or giving up. They may advocate peace, but they are not at peace. They may sit around or they may be active, but are in a give-up mode.
The way to determine a 'healthy' parasympathetic (i.e naturally occuring) from an 'unhealthy' parasympathetic (i.e stress-induced) state is through hair mineral analysis of mineral ratios.
This leads on to another interesting concept - autonomic 'dominance' and autonomic 'state' may be different. As stated earlier, many patients are naturally slightly sympathetic dominant in an optimal condition, but the body is in a parasympathetic state due to stress. Another way to express this condition is that the body is exhausted (parasympathetic) but the mind is still fighting or flighting (sympathetic dominance). Eck calls this common situation a 'burned out sympathetic dominant'. It is indicated on a hair analysis by a slow oxidation rate (usually a very low sodium and potassium ratio) with a very low potassium level.
To summarise, Eck found:
* A sympathetic state will usually correlate with fast oxidation.
* A parasympathetic state will usually correlate with slow oxidation.
* A parasympathetic state with fast oxidation is an indication of 'unhealthy' parasympathetic state due to 'burned out sympathetic dominance'.
* A sympathetic state generally correlates with Dr. Selye’s alarm stage of stress.
* A parasympathetic state generally correlates with an exhaustion stage of stress.
* Resistance stage of stress is an in between stage. It is associated with mild slow oxidation (i.e a slowing down rate of oxidation).
The idea of Parasympathetic dominance, in most cases, being a sign of exhaustion is quite alarming ( i am parasympathetic dominant) and is food for thought. Transposing the Stress Model onto dynamic changes in MT types, and also what being a particular MT type implies in terms of a persons stress state, is really fascinating and hopefully something Mr Wolcott and company will investigate further.
As a slight Parasympathetic dominant, very Fast Oxidiser, who was recently hormone tested to be shown to have Stage II Adrenal Fatigue, this makes sense to me. If you directly transpose the 3 stages of Adrenal Exhaustion to Seyles stress model, you can see that Stage II Adrenal Fatigue correlates with the 'Resistance' stage, where the adrenals are getting very tired, Oxidation is slowing but still elevated, but the ANS is moving into Parasympathetic dominance.
