SYMPATHETIC
DOMINANCE
by Dr. Lawrence
Wilson
© May 2019, LD Wilson Consultants,
Inc.
All information in this
article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any
disease or health condition.
Contents
Definition of the pattern:
1. A slow oxidation rate AND a hair potassium level of 4 mg%
or less
2. A slow oxidation rate AND a sodium/potassium ratio of
about 4 or more. (Hair must not be washed at the lab for accurate readings.)
Name Of The Pattern
Name Confusion
No Hair Washing
Sympathetic Dominance On A Retest
Variants
Combination With Other Patterns
Quantifying Sympathetic Dominance
What To Do If You Are Not Sure If A Person Has A Sympathetic
Dominance Pattern
Sympathetic dominance is one of
the most important and most interesting patterns seen on hair mineral
analyses. It has to do with the
autonomic nervous system.
Dr. Paul Eck, my mentor and
teacher of nutritional balancing, did not recognize this pattern. I recognized it around 1998 after he
died.
Name
of the pattern. I used to call this pattern the pusher pattern, because I noticed people
with this pattern tended to push themselves. This is the same name used for this
pattern in advanced acupuncture.
The pattern is now called sympathetic dominance because a person
with this pattern is overusing the sympathetic nervous system.
Name confusion. This is not the same as a sympathetic state of body chemistry. This is fast oxidation.
Also, some other hair analysis
labs and doctors use the term sympathetic dominance differently. So please strictly follow the
definition below to define this pattern.
DEFINITION OF
SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE ON A HAIR ANALYSIS
This pattern is always
characterized by either:
1. A slow oxidation rate AND a
potassium level of 4 mg% or less.
2. A slow oxidation rate AND a
sodium/potassium ratio greater than about 3 to 4.
Both the above can also be
present.
Let us discuss these possible
patterns in more detail:
1. Slow oxidation
PLUS the hair potassium level must be 4 mg% (or 40 parts per million) or less. This is the most common situation of sympathetic dominance.
The lower the potassium level,
the more severe the pattern.
The slower the oxidation rate,
the more severe the pattern.
2. Slow oxidation
plus a sodium/potassium ratio greater than about 3 or 4.
The higher the sodium/potassium
ratio in this case, the more severe the pattern.
If the calcium/magnesium ratio
is also greater than 9.5, the pattern is a double pattern and is more severe.
Do not wash the
hair! The hair
must not be washed at the laboratory for accurate assessment of sympathetic
dominance. See below for more
about hair washing at the laboratory.
II. THE MEANING OF SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
Sympathetic dominance indicates
a person who is over-utilizing his or her sympathetic nervous system. In simple terms, the person is pushing himself or herself, or worrying too much.
The sodium and potassium
readings on a hair tissue mineral analysis, and to some degree their ratio,
have to do with the utilization of this branch of the autonomic or automatic
nervous system.
Relation
to the stress wave and progression from fast to slow oxidation.
The stress wave is the way the
body responds to a stressor.
Sympathetic dominance can occur when there is not enough recovery phase.
The
progression from fast oxidation to slow oxidation. While some use of this
fight-or-flight system is normal and needed, when it is overused chronically,
it becomes exhausted. The body
flips into a parasympathetic state we call slow oxidation. However, if one keeps on using the
sympathetic system after exhaustion occurs, the sodium and potassium levels in
the hair keep declining, revealing the pattern we are discussing.
Physiology. In fact, the person is eliminating in the
urine and sweat some sodium and potassium beyond what is ideal. This directly gives rise to the low
levels. The pattern also has to do
with the level of aldosterone in some instances, and
it has to do with more complex mechanisms that come into play when the adrenal
glands are very stressed, and depleted nutritionally.
1. More physical activity than is
appropriate for them. People
who are in a sympathetic dominant mode of behavior
often run around too much physically.
Many are forever busy. They
have trouble just relaxing, sitting still, resting, and being idle.
They often feel compelled, and
at times, somewhat obsessive or compulsive, though usually not in a
pathological way. In fact, this
can be a very positive trait when it is controlled. Many are very caring and thoughtful, for example, but it is
taken to an extreme and eventually begins to damage the body.
Some believe they are still fast
oxidizers, when, in fact, the body has Òburned outÓ of fast oxidation and is
now in slow oxidation.
Many feel they are being Òchased
by tigersÓ much of the time. They may have been taught that to relax is a
Òwaste of timeÓ or ÒunproductiveÓ or ÒlazyÓ.
They are doers. Often they identify themselves with
their ÔdoingnessÕ, meaning their activities, physical
or mental, rather than identifying with their beingness. The latter would be more like a very
young child who is just happy to be himself or herself
and need not run around or do much of anything to be happy.
2. Anxious or
worriers. This is a form of
Òrunning around aimlesslyÓ in the mind
3. Tired, but
usually somewhat out of touch with the fatigue and exhaustion. They often feel tired only when they
slow down. The reason for this is that the
body is often in a Òsecond windÓ mode of living much of the time. If they relax, they often feel like
going to sleep. This is disturbing
for them, so they get up and go again, putting themselves back in a sympathetic
nervous mode.
4. A very active mind.
Sympathetic dominant individuals are generally smart and have a very
active mind to begin with, which gets overactive easily. This can make relaxing, sleeping or
just sitting even more difficult.
5. Willfulness. This, of course, is a good thing if it is used wisely. However, the best use of the will for
the sympathetic dominant type of person is to will oneself to slow down, relax
and perhaps meditate, since that can undo the pattern better than anything
else. The use of the will for
other purposes, such as planning, moving the body, thinking too much and so
forth, tends to make the pattern worse and keep it going.
6. Fearful and
always somewhat depressed underneath due to fears, worries and fatigue. Some with sympathetic dominance are running away because
otherwise they would not feel well.
7. A high copper
type of personality. They generally have hidden or
overt copper toxicity. This helps
explain some of their symptoms such as an active, analytical, emotional aspect
of the personality.
8. In Acupuncture,
damp heat or a weak yang rising.
9. Reduced libido
in some cases. This may stem from hidden
fatigue, and an inability to just relax.
10. Ungrounded and
not centered enough. This
goes with the tendency to run around too much or worry too much.
11. Problems with
the first and second energy centers, called in Oriental medicine the first and
second energy centers. This has to do with grounding,
centering, and other things.
12. Often occurs
in intelligent, spiritually-oriented people. I am not sure why this occurs,
but it is common.
IV. CAUSES FOR SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
Causes
for this pattern can come from the spiritual, mental or physical realm.
1. Spiritual
imbalances as a cause of sympathetic dominance. Sympathetic dominant individuals are usually quite
spiritually oriented or advanced, compared to the mass of the people. One wants to Òmove onÓ, so to speak,
but does not know how to do this without burning out the nervous system in a
fight-or-flight reaction.
This is where meditation of the
proper kind can be essential and powerful. It is a productive way to use the will and other mental
faculties without burning oneself out.
The same will that gets one into
trouble with this mineral pattern can thus be used in a powerful, healing,
creative manner. For more
information about this, read the article entitled Meditation. Beware of using just any meditation, as
many do not have nearly the same effect as the one we recommend. Another article to read on this topic
is Mental Development.
Another spiritual aspect of this
pattern is that many with sympathetic dominance are somewhat lonely because of
the their level of mental development.
They react to this by trying to Ôfit in with the crowdÕ. To do so, they tend to overwork,
overachieve, and generally run themselves ragged. Many try to please others, which is always a mistake. As a result, they exhaust themselves.
Another spiritual aspect is that
these individuals are generally quite ungrounded and uncentered. They have a strong need for grounding
and centering. There are not too
many ways to achieve this, and one is the Roy Masters meditation exercise
mentioned above and in the article on meditation on this website. Walking slowly is another excellent way
to become centered and grounded, and is highly recommended for this reason. Also, learning to maintain strict
boundaries and learning basic truths about the world and about people is also
most helpful. For this, a starting
point is to read the article called Survival on this
website, and to implement what it recommends totally, without exception.
2.
Mental/emotional causes of sympathetic dominance. This has the most to do with oneÕs upbringing. Many people are taught not be lazy, to
be productive, to not waste time, and so forth. This can become exaggerated into sympathetic dominance. It is a type of compulsive or obsessive
quality, we might say.
Another emotional cause may be
excessive emotions that are fearful, negative, angry or harmful in some
way. For example, fear of poverty,
fear of the unknown, fear of self, even, can drive many people to achieve
highly or just to keep moving all the time.
Fear. The sympathetic nervous system
is the fight-or-flight system. It
is the bodyÕs response to fear. Anything
that creates fear, whether it be listening to the
news, watching a horror movie or war movie, being in the company of harmful
friends or family, or a thousand other situations can contribute to sympathetic
dominance symptoms.
Anger. Many people with sympathetic
dominance are quite angry underneath.
This is partially because they are spiritually advanced people who are
having trouble handling the world.
It can also be for all sorts of other reasons, such as childhood
traumas. Dealing with anger, which
is always an adrenal response to fear that is projected onto others, is
important for many people with sympathetic dominance pattern.
3. Biochemical or
nutritional causes of sympathetic dominance. Copper
imbalance is always present with this pattern. In fact, a low hair potassium, Dr.
Eck found, is always an indicator for hidden copper toxicity. To read more about copper, read Copper Toxicity Syndrome.
Other toxic metals, especially
mercury and cadmium, or even toxic chemicals in the body may also irritate and
drive a person even when he or she wants to relax.
The three amigos are always present in excess as well. They help support the sodium level,
according to our research. Note
that they will often not be revealed on early hair mineral analyses. These are aluminum, along with a biounavailable form of manganese and iron that are most
likely oxides. These also irritate
and stimulate the adrenals or the nervous system, perpetuating the
pattern. For more on this topic,
read The Three Amigos.
Also, fatigue also depletes
vital nutrients such as zinc, chromium, selenium and others. These vital minerals
and some vitamins as well are then often replaced by toxic metals such as
cadmium, copper and others.
If one follows a nutritional
balancing program, however, the toxic metals and toxic chemicals will slowly be
eliminated from the body. As that
happens, a person often calms down, worries less, relaxes more and the
sympathetic dominance pattern disappears.
Many other toxic and
physiological minerals can also contribute to the pattern.
4. Physical causes
of sympathetic dominance. An interesting cause of this pattern is
muscle tension in the body. This may take the form of simple tense
muscles or it may cause spinal misalignments and other distortions of the
physical body and posture that require handling by chiropractors or osteopaths.
It might also take the form of
tight fascia that is addressed by Rolfing or Structural Integration, tight
ligaments, bad posture or other structural or physical imbalances.
This is a strictly physical
situation for the most part. This
also means that anyone with sympathetic dominance should consider physical
therapies such as chiropractic and structural integration as part of an overall
healing program.
An interesting structural aspect
is that a so-called cringing posture will tend to cause this pattern by
irritating the sympathetic nerves in the upper and lower spinal area. As the posture changes, the nerves can
relax.
Chiropractic misalignments can
also contribute to the pattern in a fairly pure physical sense.
V. CORRECTING SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
The
nutritional balancing programs we recommend are geared to correct sympathetic
dominance in at least ten different ways, which I will elaborate here:
á
Basic good nutrition. Those with sympathetic dominance often have poor eating
habits, as they are always somewhat on the run. They also are depleted by their pattern. Also, the sympathetic nervous system
interferes with their digestion and their elimination, so these area of their
bodies are weakened in most cases.
These are specifically addressed with nutritional balancing programs
with the right food, good eating habits and the use of supplements such as GB-3
and others.
á
Balancing the oxidation rate. This helps eliminate toxic metals and restore the autonomic
and other parts of the nervous system to optimal functioning.
á
Toxic metal removal. The nutritional balancing program begins to remove All of the toxic metals. For more about how this is done without chelation
therapy, read The
Danger of Toxic Metals.
á
Specific nutrients. We may give specific nutrients
to rebuild the brain and nervous system.
This, however, is never quite as important as the basic lifestyle
changes mentioned above.
á
Supplement program special
alterations. We give fewer stimulating supplements
to these people. For example, I
substitute Thyro-complex at 2-2-2 for Endo-dren because Thyro-complex is
more balanced and not as powerful a product. Also, I reduce Megapan to 1-1-1
instead of 2-2-2 in all cases.
á
We
give more parasympathetic-oriented supplements. These may include calcium, magnesium, zinc, ox bile, pancreatin or other supplements such as valerian root, for
example, if needed for sleep or relaxation for a while.
á
Lifestyle. We recommend a lot more rest and sleep, going to bed early,
and making a concerted effort to slow down your thinking, moving, eating, and
all other activities.
á
Other
lifestyle recommendations include learning to start each day slowly, taking slow walks during the day and deep
breathing on a regular basis.
á
Dietary suggestions. Eliminate all stimulants such
as caffeine, fruit, fruit juices and sugar.
á
The Pushing
Down Exercise. This is the most powerful way to slowly
undo many of the physical, mental and emotional causes for the sympathetic
dominance pattern.
á
Use a lamp sauna daily. Using a near infrared lamp
sauna each and every day is extremely helpful. You may feel tired temporarily, but that is because it is
relaxing the autonomic nervous system and is very, very helpful. Just rest after the sauna session. A far infrared sauna or traditional sauna are not as good.
á
Foot reflexology and coffee
enemas. Foot
reflexology is superb to rebalance the acupressure meridians and relax the
nervous system. Coffee enemas
bring energy downward in the body and are also particularly needed by people
with this pattern. They can be life-saving and usually feel very good. These procedures, along with the sauna
sessions, are specifically helpful for this mineral and personality pattern.
á
Chiropractic and Rolfing. Also consider chiropractic
adjustments and perhaps Rolfing or structural integration to reduce adhesions
and tension in the body.
HAIR MUST NOT BE
WASHED AT THE LAB TO IDENTIFY SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
It is critical that the hair not
be washed at the laboratory for accurate readings of sodium and potassium, in
particular. These are water soluble minerals, and are easily removed by washing.
Only two laboratories I am aware
of do not wash the hair at the laboratory. These are Analytical Research Laboratories in Phoenix,
Arizona, the one I most recommend, and Trace Elements, Inc. in Addison, Texas.
I do not recommend using Trace Elements, Inc. for hair testing. They are not as careful, they do not
list the ideal hair values, their graphs are more difficult to read, and their
nutrition programs are not as good.
I do not recommend using a hair
tissue mineral testing laboratory that washes the hair in any manner. In my experience, the problems associated
with hair samples that are contaminated with dust or other items is much less
than the problem of skewed readings due to the chemicals used to wash the hair.
SYMPATHETIC
DOMINANCE ON RETEST HAIR MINERAL ANALYSES
On retest hair mineral analyses when a person is following a
nutritional balancing program, the pattern is much less important because it is
usually just a retracing effect that is very temporary and will pass usually in
a few days to a few weeks or so.
One may still experience the
symptoms of sympathetic dominance while one is retracing the pattern, but the
symptoms are usually transient and fairly mild most of the time.
VARIANTS OF
SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
Burned Out Sympathetic Dominance. This pattern is present when the
sympathetic dominance pattern of a low potassium level combines with a
sodium/potassium ratio less than 2.5.
This
may indicate that a person has been in sympathetic dominance for a long time,
or it has been quite extreme, so that now the adrenal glands are quite
exhausted, causing a low sodium/potassium ratio. It is not a healthful pattern at all, and is associated with
exhaustion, fatigue, depression, and most chronic illnesses.
Hunted. This is just a way to express or understand an extreme
sympathetic dominance pattern.
Criteria for a ÔhuntedÕ pattern include a potassium level of 1 mg% or
less, a Ca/K ratio greater than 200, and an Na/K ratio
of 4 or more.
Three highs. It is possible to have a three high macromineral
pattern along with sympathetic dominant.
Four Highs. This is also possible along with sympathetic dominance.
COMBINATION
PATTERNS THAT INCLUDE SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
Sympathetic
dominance is part of a number of other important macromineral
patterns on a hair mineral analysis in which the hair is not washed at the
laboratory. These include:
1. Trying Too Hard
pattern. This is indicated by
sympathetic dominance and a calcium level above about 165, also called a calcium shell.
2. Wasting OneÕs
Time or Biding OneÕs Time. This is a potassium
of 4 mg% or less, combined with a calcium shell and a calcium/magnesium ratio
of 13.5 or higher.
3. Stress From
Within And Without This is sympathetic dominance
combined with a calcium/magnesium ratio greater than 13.5.
4. Trying Hard To
Stay Afloat. This consists of sympathetic dominance
combined with a double high ratio pattern. The latter is a sodium/potassium ratio greater than about 5
and a calcium/magnesium ratio greater than about 10). It must also be a two highs or
perhaps three highs pattern, but not a four highs pattern.
5. Workaholic pattern. This pattern is
defined as three high macrominerals, AND a
sodium/potassium ratio greater than 3.
All of the above patterns always
include a sympathetic dominance pattern.
QUANTIFYING
SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
One can assess the severity of
sympathetic dominance by assessing how many sympathetic dominance patterns are
present on a hair chart. Double
and triple sympathetic dominance patterns are common, and it is possible to
have ten or even 15 sympathetic dominance indicators.
The way to quantify the pattern
is to add up the number of sympathetic dominant indicators that are present on
the chart. Here are the criteria,
so far:
1. Potassium of 4 mg% = a single pattern.
2. Potassium of 3 mg% = a double pattern.
3. Potassium of 2 mg% = a triple pattern.
4. Potassium of 1 mg% = a quadruple pattern.
5. Potassium less than 1 mg%. This is not currently read on ARL hair tests, but some other
laboratories read potassium levels at lower levels. Lower potassium indicates more sympathetic dominance
patterns, and the exact criteria are still being worked out.
6. If the potassium is 4 or less, AND the sodium/potassium
ratio greater than about 3 to 4, this may add another multiple, or up to 5 more
sympathetic dominant patterns depending on how high the sodium/potassium ratio
is. (For the number of indicators to add, see Elevated Sodium/Potassium Ratio
in the Quantifying
The Patterns article).
7. If the potassium is 4 or less, AND the sodium/potassium
ratio is greater than about 3 to 4, AND the calcium/magnesium ratio greater
than about 9.5, this adds another multiple, or perhaps more than one if the
sodium/potassium ratio and/or the calcium/magnesium ratio are very high.
8. A four lows pattern adds another
indicator.
9. If three highs or four highs pattern is present, AND the
sodium/potassium ratio is about 3 or greater, this adds another multiple or
perhaps more than one, depending on how high the sodium/potassium ratio is.
10. If three highs or four highs pattern is present, AND the
sodium/potassium ratio is about 3 or greater, AND the calcium/magnesium ratio
is greater than about 9.5, this can add another multiple or perhaps more than
one, depending on how high the sodium/potassium ratio and/or calcium magnesium
ratios are.
11. Every four poor eliminator patterns adds one
sympathetic dominance indicator.
12. Every four very poor eliminator patterns adds
an additional one sympathetic dominance indicator. (This is in addition to
indicators due to poor eliminator pattern.)
In this way, one can have, for
example, five, ten or even fifteen sympathetic dominance patterns on a single
hair mineral chart!
WHAT TO DO IF ONE
IS NOT SURE IF A PERSON HAS A SYMPATHETIC DOMINANT PATTERN
At
times, a hair mineral analysis may reveal borderline
sympathetic dominance such as a hair potassium level of 5 mg% and a
sodium/potassium ratio of about 4.
In these cases, here are some ways to decide if sympathetic dominance is
present:
1. Retest the hair after two
months or so using hair cut very close to the scalp and only ½ inch long
in order to obtain very up-to-date mineral readings. This may clarify whether
the person has moved into sympathetic dominance.
2.
Try both a regular program
and a sympathetic dominant program and ask the patient
which way he feels better.
Begin
with a sympathetic
dominant program because it is milder and therefore safer. Giving a more
powerful standard program when sympathetic dominance is present overstimulates the autonomic nervous system and the person
feels better for a short time - a week or two - and then usually feels worse.
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