The GABA Challenge

WHAT IS THE GABA CHALLENGE?

The GABA Challenge is a test for the integrity of your Blood Brain Barrier (BBB).  The BBB is a semi-permeable (some things can go through) “wall” that filters needed proteins, nutrients, and hormones into the brain, and keeps all irritants OUT of the brain. 

Think of your skin.  That also is a barrier system for your body.  What happens when that barrier system is compromised?  Think of a cut or scrape.  The answer of course is inflammation in the form of immune response to everything that is passing through that is NOT supposed to…dirt, bacteria, etc. 

Now think of this wall around your brain, only cut up, scratched up and scabbed up.  The cells surrounding these wounds, being bathed in inflammation are your BRAIN CELLS.   

This inflammatory process will guarantee you early neuro-degeneration, and make you sensitive to mercury and other environmental toxins (Autism spectrum)!

The GABA Challenge test involves taking a neuropeptide (big word for protein), called GABA that is naturally made in every cell of your body.  The key bit of information that we are using is that it acts locally only.  It does not travel from the kidney to the brain, and it doesn’t cross the blood brain barrier. 

The neuropeptides that work in the brain are GABA, serotonin, dopamine, etc.  GABA being the only inhibitory chemical (it’s like the brake pedal).  All the others are excitatory or stimulating to the nervous system. 

When you take a drug that stimulates GABA in the brain, you tend to slow down, get tired, feel sluggish, lose fine coordination.  Alcohol and Valium are probably the most famous GABA stimulators.  If you have ever tried either, you know exactly what I mean. 

BUT, taking the protein directly shouldn’t do this.  Alcohol crosses the blood brain barrier, GABA does not.  When we take GABA internally, WE SHOULD NOT FEEL ANYTHING.  There should not be a slowing, intoxication, or incoordination feeling at all.  There should be no brain effect at all. 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. About 1-2 hours after dinner, on a night that you have nothing planned, take the 2 GABA capsules.
2. Go about your business (like I said, don’t have anything important planned)
3. Notice any unusual slowing down type feelings, ranging from drunken to lethargy, or simply slowed down.
4. Notice any excitation, agitation, or other stimulation such as feeling wired, which will happen in approximately 20% of the cases of compromised BBB.  Most will feel inhibited
5. Go to bed.  If you are slowed, it will be gone by the morning.  (If you feel hung over in the morning, the process of neurodegeneration is more advanced, and requires significant attention. 
6. ANY change, excitation or inhibition is a positive test for damage to the Blood Brain Barrier.

New Year's Resolutions

Would you like to be more successful with new year's resolutions?  Have you given up on resolutions because they never stick, and only lead to disappointment?  

There is a sure fire way to make change stick, whether a resolution or just a good intention.  Would you like to hear?

All change happens when your brain “circuits” fully connect…or close the circuit.  You know the concept.  In order to light a light, the circuit must close to fully connect from electricity to light bulb.   If the city shuts off your power or your light bulb is burned out, you stay in darkness…connect all the circuits, and your experience changes to light.  

The first circuit is the Frontal Cortex (FC):  this part of your brain is known as the executive or planning center.  It decides what you want.  The key here is to dig down at what you really want.  You don’t want to exercise, you want a fit body.  And you really don’t care that much about a fit body, because what you really want is the confidence that you think it will give you.  And really, you’d rather feel less confident and have what you really want…a caring partner who loves the heck out of you (for example).  

Second = Amygdala (AMG):  This part of your brain is the motive or motivation.  Why do you want it?  You really want a caring partner for connection and significance.  (which you could have without a date for that matter)  The big problem here is called a value conflict.  You want connection, which you might think is a partner, so you resolve to exercise (to feel more confident), but you hate going to the gym.  Conflict.  

Third = Basal Ganglia (BG):  This is the “action” part of the brain.  It sets the structure for achieving your goal.  “I will go to the gym for 45 minutes  5 days a week.”  Only your goal isn’t being in the gym, it is connection…so perhaps your structure or action plan could be revised.

Fourth = Cingulate Gyrus (CG):  This is your feedback part of your brain.  It notices if your structure is working, and adjusts accordingly.  (Do more of what is working, and less of what is not).  Since our culture emphasizes sacrifice, discipline, and “Just do it,” (also read, you’re a lazy no good waste of air if you don’t force yourself to do what you are supposed to do), we lack this internal feedback…as a culture.  The reality is that we will never do anything that isn’t fun (and if you “will” or force yourself to do it, your health will suffer), and doesn’t achieve our results quickly (or at least noticeable movement toward our goal).  So if this is the same plan you tried last year, or you are getting the same results, think of something more enjoyable to move toward the goal you want.  In this case, maybe a co-ed racquetball club.

Fifth = Temporal Lobes (TL):  This is the relational part of your brain.  Any coincidence that it also hears…AKA listening.  If the CG is your internal ears (listening to you), this represents your external ears (listening to others).  And not the others who complain about the same problem you have.  Listening, and tapping into the specialized knowledge of those people who have already solved your problem.  Since you haven’t solved this problem previously, don’t make a plan based on what you already know.  Read a book, ask for help, or hire a person with specialized knowledge.  Just make sure that he or she has what you REALLY WANT (hint…it’s not time in the gym, or a firm body)  

According to human performance “experts,” you always only ever want certainty (with a bit of variety), connection, contribution, significance, and growth.  While I don’t believe anything I read without careful consideration, I do consider this helpful, because those things move you toward health and happiness.  And anything that does that (according to my internal ears), is something you can bank on for the betterment of your life.  

How do you know what you want in life?  Here’s a fun way to tell…evaluate your “addictions.”  I believe we are all addicts and more or less controlled by those addictions.  So let’s define our addictions as anything that we lack control over.  

(The chemicals I name, serotonin, dopamine, GABA, Adrenaline, and acetylcholine are chemicals known as neurotransmitters that produce a feeling or sensation by activating certain circuits in your brain.  They are the targets of antidepressant and antipsychotic medications, and every social drug, legal or not.) 

If you are addicted to sugar or bread, other carbs, or food in general, you desire serotonin…or at least the feel that serotonin gives to you.  Do you wonder how serotonin is released naturally?  Wouldn’t that be a better resolution…to do the things that increase serotonin in your life, rather than trying to will or force  yourself to stop eating the one thing that makes your brain feel good?  Replace sugar slowly with a habit of gathering resources.  A resource is a source of support or aid, a personal capability, an action or measure to which you have recourse.  

Gathering resources solves problems.  Do you know what your problems are?  The ones that have your attention are often distractions.  The ones that are under the radar are the stress inducing, serotonin zapping problems that leave you reaching for a bon bon.  Examine your life for experiences you do not prefer.  Maybe you can put up with them, but if you notice them and refuse to put up with them, and you seek the resource to solve those problems, you get a little party of serotonin in your brain.  

Resolve to search for non-preferences, gather resources, and solve those problems…if you are addicted to sugar.  You might need help to resolve them or to find the resource…if you had the resource, you would not put up with the problem.  Every problem ever invented has already been solved…search the internet, books, libraries, and people for the resources they used to solve your identical problem.  

Now you are addicted to gathering resources…what a wonderful thing.  

Are you addicted to tobacco or marijuana, or procrastination?  You desire acetylcholine (a less famous brain chemical).  Wouldn’t it be a better resolution to do the things that increase acetylcholine naturally?  Acetylcholine is released by noticing your successes…gratitude.  

How much time do you spend noticing the problems in your life versus noticing the successes?  I am not against noticing the problems, in fact, it is essential to solving problems and gathering resources, a great way to enjoy serotonin.  And…check the balance.  If you only notice problems, you lack acetylcholine and are drawn to the drugs that provide it.  

Resolve to tell and write what you are grateful for every day…if you are addicted to tobacco.  Report and document your successes and appreciations daily…and maybe one day the other form will seem less attractive.  

Are you addicted to wine, beer, liquor, valium (or other “downers”), or even self criticism?  You desire GABA.   Would you like to lessen the need or desire for alcohol (GABA) naturally?  GABA is released naturally through nurturing.  Think of a baby being held close, nursed, and cared for…that is nurturing. 

Our needs are a bit different from those days, but we all still need nurturing.  As an adult, you are your primary caregiver, and if you have a partner, great, you have help.  Nurturing activities that have been shown to increase GABA are yoga and meditation.  I would guess that anything that slows you down and cares for you would suffice.  A bath with candles and aromatherapy, maybe?  

Limbic bonding is another activity that releases GABA.  That is a doctor term for touching, hugging, cuddling, and sex.  Rather than willing yourself to stop the wine, how about resolving to have more limbic bonding, or beginning a practice of yoga or meditation?  Replace the need for GABA until the alternative for GABA is no longer needed…

Are you addicted to cocaine, meth, work, doing, your girl/boy friend (being in love)?  You desire dopamine.  Would you like to discover a more productive way to get your little rush?  Dopamine is at your disposal by “playing your passion (or love).”  

What would you love to do if you had just an hour that wasn’t filled with obligation, necessity, and responsibility?  If you’re not sure, look around.  There are signs of your passion all around you.  Your “stuff” reveals your interests and passions.  Do you have a football pillow of every team?  Model airplanes?  Books (what are they about)?  

Maybe you don’t know what your passion is…do what you think it is.  And see if it sticks.  You’ll know when you lose track of time having fun.  Resolve to sneak 30 minutes per day indulging in your passion or love.  I bet that 30 minutes becomes an hour pretty quickly.  And, I believe, this is more nourishing to your heart than broccoli or blueberries.  

Are you addicted to shopping, sex, coffee, gambling, edge of your seat movies or TV, taking risks, porn?  You desire adrenaline or noradrenaline.  Would you like to enjoy some adrenaline from a more productive source?  Resolve to accomplish something you can’t.  You couldn’t do much more than sleep and poop when you came into this world, so everything you now can do was once on your I can’t do list.

Adrenaline is known as the fear chemical, and just a little taste of that adrenaline is very exciting and feels oh so good.  Would you be a bit frightened to stand up at work and give your opinions?  Take on a project that feels over your head?  Follow that gut feeling to do something when you don’t have any idea where it will go?  

Stretch your skills and influence just a little bit farther, and then farther.  While you get to enjoy the adrenaline rush of the unknown, you just might become or accomplish something more, and help more people in bigger ways than you ever thought possible.  Start with noticing what you can’t do, but really want to do (although it seems a little scary).  

So set this year up to win.  Know what you really want, what the real motivation is, and create a new plan, constructed by specialized knowledge (in this case, a very unique knowledge of brain chemistry and addictions)…and always…always…notice if it is working for you.  Isn’t that a better plan than willing yourself to do something you really don’t want to do?  

Yours in Health,

Dr.Stone

Support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I thought I’d do my part for breast cancer…what the heck.  How about a cure?  If I offer the cure, would that be supportive of breast cancer?  

Of course I’m only being slightly serious.  I have no track record of treating breast cancer.  I have seen one person who had breast cancer…she had the fear of death handed to her in dramatic fashion, and submitted to mastectomy.  

And, very seriously, I can’t even cure everything that does show up in my office.  

So, how ‘bout I put it this way…here’s a rational approach that I would use if my wife had breast cancer.  And I’d feel pretty good about our odds.  

What we know…

Three things happen in every form of cancer of every age.  Something initiates cell mutation…There is a failure of the “suicide gene” to self destruct in response to mutation.  There is a failure of the “proofreader gene” to erase the mutation sequence.  And, finally, there is a failure of the immune “special forces” (AKA Natural Killer Cells) to identify and destroy the mutated cell.

Mutation is caused by chemicals and radiation.  The first two failures are caused by oxidation…the rusting process, and the last failure is caused by distraction…there was a shift in immune power away from Natural Killer Cells, and toward chemical, infection, or allergy defenses.  

The first line of defense for Sonya would be immunoglobulins and immune enhancing mushrooms, such as Reishi.  This does two things…number one is the immunoglobulins stop the spread of cancer, and number two, the mushrooms activate Natural Killer Cells.  

Next, we would use oxicell, our choice for glutathione therapy.  This substance is known as the master antioxidant, and we could achieve therapeutic doses with our transdermal application (a cream on the vascular areas of the skin).  Beyond the antioxidant benefit, oxicell also activates T-Regulatory cells, which creates a “smarter” immune system.  

Then we would activate B-Cells…the “intelligence” of the immune system, using green tea extract and/or resveratrol, the antioxidant in red wine.  These cells tag tumor invaded cells for destruction, giving the Natural Killer Cells clear targets for enhanced elimination.  

We would use my chemical and radiation test vials to identify any and all chemicals in her body, and effectively eliminate them using baseline nutrients that the liver needs to bind chemicals, such as sulfur, glutathione (there it is again), amino acids, and methyl groups (you can look this up if you want).  We would enhance elimination with milk thistle, and other liver supporting herbs.

And of course, we would support whatever organs or systems that our diagnostic process uncover…kidneys, bowel, adrenals…whatever.  That is my system…meet the needs.  

The last consideration is diet.  Our habit is the paleo or Mediterranean diet, although we practice “loosely.”  We would tighten the reins on our sweet treats and empty (read void of nutrition) carbohydrates…which are fun, but not as fun as eliminating cancer.  We would really emphasize emulsified veggies in smoothies.  Have regular lean and clean protein (organic), along with vegetarian protein sources.  We would definitely include broccoli and broccoli sprouts, as they have some documented cancer fighting power.  

We would monitor very closely, taking inventory on every symptom daily, and running labs every couple weeks to make sure her body is moving towards health…a state void of cancer.  

We would trust completely, that if we provided what her body needed, and monitored closely… her body would defeat the cancer.  

Ok, maybe not a cure, but a rational, scientific approach that sure in the heck beats the crap out of anything else offered.  The hard part is step one…looking fear in the eyes and saying, “I trust that true health will conquer any and all health challenges.”

"I Am Stuck!"

Do you feel stuck?  It is not uncommon for me to hear, “I have tried everything…medical and natural…and nothing works!”  Or, “Everything I try makes me feel worse!”  

Those are the words of people who have “Blocked Regulation” and/or “Switched Regulation.”

Those were the words of Rosalinda, Melissa, Raven, and Shannon, and now all share their happiness and success on our YouTube channel (DrStone16).  One of the keys to breaking the stuck pattern was treating them for Blocked and/or Switched Regulation.  I know those terms are foreign to medicine and most people, so let me explain…

Regulation:  This is my favored term for the little something within us that attends to our needs.  It keeps the heart beating, lungs breathing, and adapts to every change in our environment, both internally and externally.  The heart and lungs are regulated in our brainstem, which attends to what we call “vital functions.”  And they are vital…meaning death is the result of their failure.  

The brainstem is the “deepest” part of our nervous system.  The next deepest is the limbic system, also known as our emotional brain…but really functions as our fight or flee brain.  Emotions are not bad…in fact if you have been in love, excited about a project, or love your momma, you know that emotions can be wonderful.  The painful nature of some emotions is also good…they are there, just like the brainstem and vital functions, to keep you alive.  If you get emotional…upset in some way…it is giving you a guide to exit or change the situation.  Run from the bear…escape the mugger…or more practically, in life, change our patterns (habits, rituals)

The next layer of the brain is the cortex, commonly thought of as our thinking brain, but only a tiny portion of the brain…right behind your forehead, does the thinking.  Most of the cortex is for moving and sensing.   Again, all designed for survival.  For instance, if you touch a hot stove, the pain initiates a withdrawal reflex….all carefully coordinated in the cortex of your brain.  

I contend that this amazing organization of survival NEVER MAKES A MISTAKE!  Every experience you have is a carefully coordinated effort to increase your probability of surviving another day, week, month, year…yet these four people, and many others, did not feel like their body was working for them, or even with them.  It felt like all heck was breaking loose!  And here’s why…

Blocked Regulation:  Technically speaking, this is an inability to shift from parasympathetic (rest and digest) to sympathetic (fight or flee) and back again.  Regulation is literally stuck…or blocked.  But for a good reason.  There is something challenging survival…an immune challenge…that is demanding attention…the attention of regulation.  I compare this effect to a “fire in the kitchen.”  You can’t really step away for a snooze, to take a potty break, or attend to any other needs.  

This response is still your “best chance of survival” however, even if you can’t sleep, can’t digest, can’t heal…because the challenge cannot be ignored.  Often this is caused by a toxic metal (ie. Mercury) or an undiagnosed infection.  And it is true…success, progress, and feeling well are “blocked” until this problem is addressed.  

Switched Regulation:  This was named for the way it presents…you do something good for you, and you feel bad.  Sometimes you can even do something bad for you and feel better!  It’s an observation made by many patients and doctors, and only the most investigative ever figure out how to remedy this confounding experience.  It was certainly a confounder in my practice for many years…until I dug deep and discovered this very important barrier to healing.  

Often, this is caused by multiple immune challenges…my best analogy is a parent with 4 seriously upset kids in front of her.  As she listens and responds to one, two others get LOUDER.  And that is how it is with symptoms…you attend to one, and others get louder.  It is not even that the attention was wrong…it was just incomplete.  The treatment that was started was appropriate to one problem, and most likely needs to continue with additional support.  

Ultimately, this whole experience is about locating and attending to the top priority (-ies).  I often say that the reason Melissa, Shannon, Rosalinda, and Raven progressed…was that we located the top priority.  Blocked regulation and Neurologic Switching confuse the process of finding the top priority, and that is why it is a process of discovery.  

The stressors that cause blocked or switched regulation are not obvious with typical diagnostics.  I have experienced this first hand, with my “get all the cards on the table” approach of the past.  In this approach, I would order a multitude of lab tests, approaching $2,000 in diagnostics, hoping to unveil any and every stressor and imbalance that stood between my patient and good health.  Yet even with all that information, I would still run into blocks.  Or worse, as I attended to all the needs we uncovered, the patient would feel worse.  

Even with our extensive process of diagnosis, using neurological, energetic, and lab diagnostics, along with simply listening to the messages (we are very thorough in our diagnosis) it still takes a few to several visits to completely nail all priorities, including the TOP priority.  

And, of course, there are a few people that I never identified all the top priorities, and progress was not achieved.  Those are the ones that keep me searching and improving.  

 There are also many more who have shocking results using these diagnostic tools.  Results that surprise me and the patient.  They also keep my searching and improving, attempting to reproduce those results on a more consistent basis.  

For most, however, it is a step by step process of listening, noticing, and responding, requiring patience and time.  The most obvious regulation problems can be quickly observed with a simple muscle response testing using acupressure points.  The most stealth regulation problems sometimes are not evident until we retest the lab markers, identifying objectively (noticing), that one particular organ or system is blocked (no change) or switched (gets worse).  (Although I am getting better at spotting the “stealth” regulation problems, sooner rather than later!)

If you are personally “stuck,” this assessment can be the one thing that breaks you free to start enjoying the experience of your health moving again in a positive direction.  And…if you keep moving in a positive direction, maybe you can one day qualify for the BEST EVER group I talk about HERE!