Hidden toxic stressors we don't think about— Part 2

I find that toxins are a stressor for all of us. I frequently find myself discussing cleaner options for cleaning products, cosmetics, drinking water, food, etc.  For this reason, I decided to dig back into the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter archive and republish this two-part article with fresh information. I hope it will motivate you to clean up your lifestyle wherever you can.

In the last issue of the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter, we introduced the topic of hidden toxic stressors, including  signs that your body is struggling with toxicity, and if so, how to address it.

In this issue, we offer questions to help you analyze how toxic your diet and environment are.

Is your water safe?

Do you drink water straight from the tap? You might consider getting some kind of filtering system. There are many chemicals hiding in tap water—including chlorine and fluoride—things that are added to our water that purportedly protect our health. The problem is, if you’re struggling with toxicity, these chemicals will only add to the problem. Check out Tap Water Toxicity & Your Guide to Water Filters for more information.

If you think that bottled water will keep you safe, think again! There have been many reports that the water used in many brands of bottled water is simply tap water. Furthermore, most bottled water is stored in plastic bottles, which can leach chemicals into the water, adding to increased toxicity. There are good options available, but I recommend doing your research.

What’s hiding in your food?

When grocery shopping, do you take the time to read labels? If not, it’s time to start. Processed foods have many less-than-nutritious ingredients added to them and are typically high in hidden sugars, preservatives, additives, and food colorings. Food additives and colorings have been associated with hyperactivity and allergic reactions. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame are considered to be neurotoxins. Even “healthier” alcohol sugars like xylitol can cause digestive distress. Check out 6-Step Checklist to Avoid the Worst Ingredients for some information on on unsafe food ingredients.

Another source of toxins in food is residue from herbicides and pesticides. See Are You Eating the Most Pesticide-Laden Produce? for a list of the 2025 “dirty dozen” foods. Choosing foods with the “Organic” label will help protect you from these harmful chemicals. Organic Farming: 5 Major Benefits will help you better understand the benefits of organic farming.

Another label to look for is “Non-GMO.” Genetically modified foods are heavily sprayed with chemicals, most notably glyphosate, which is associated with many health issues. Read this article for more information on the dangers of glyphosate. There is also some concern with how genetically modified foods themselves affect the body. All in all, it’s better just to avoid them!

Are there hidden ingredients in your health and beauty products?

Do you live by the motto “beauty knows no pain"? You might be surprised to learn that the pain caused by health and beauty products is more insidious than you think. It is just as important to read labels on your cosmetics, lotions, hair products, and perfumes as it is on your foods. There are many chemicals that find their way into these products, some of which are endocrine disruptors, such as phthalates. Don’t forget about nail polish, hair dye, hair treatments, and bath bombs. Check out the Environmental Working Group's safety database of cosmetics.

Are your cleaning products safe?

More and more, people are becoming aware of the dangers associated with cleaning products. Aside from chemical burns and lung damage due to inhalation, cleaning products contain fragrances and other chemicals that can overtax our bodies’ detoxification mechanisms. Something as simple as dryer sheets can wreak havoc with our endocrine system as well as cause harm to the environment.

Bleach seems to be a common cleaning product that finds its way into even the most natural of homes. Read The Dos and Don'ts of Cleaning with Bleach to learn more about the dangers associated with bleach.

By this time you may be asking, what can I clean my house with? Here is a great resource for safe and natural cleaning products: What are the safest cleaning products for your home?.

Do you take medications, get seasonal vaccines, or have amalgam fillings?

This is where the can of worms I mentioned in the last newsletter gets “wormier.” I have no desire to get between a client and their medical doctor or dentist. My goal is to provide resources for my clients to educate themselves on risks associated with things like medications, vaccines, and amalgam fillings. My primary concern is detoxification and whether or not your system is overburdened or not. In other words, can your body handle the extra burden of one of these treatments? Sometimes certain treatments are necessary, and you have to find other ways to promote detoxification. Other times it’s better to find safer alternatives.

Do you find yourself taking ibuprofen daily to help with your aches and pains? Doing so brings about an extra burden on your kidneys, liver, and digestive system. Think about whether you want to risk long-term effects. Check out Is It Safe To Take Ibuprofen Every Day? for a great discussion of the risks associated with ibuprofen as well as some good alternatives. If acetaminophen is what you use, you still need to exercise caution. Read Acetaminophen safety: Be cautious but not afraid to learn about the risks associated with improper dosage.

Vaccination is also a sticky topic. Whether you choose to get vaccinated or not is up to you. Just know you may have to do some extra detoxification from the additives and adjuvants (a substance that enhances the body’s immune response to an antigen) in the vaccine as well as from the immune residue of the attenuated viruses. Whether or not you get seasonal vaccines, Use Antiviral Herbs to Boost Immune System and Fight Viruses is a good article on how to stay healthy during the cold and flu season

Most of us over age 40 have or have had amalgam fillings in our mouths. They are about 50 percent mercury, which is a very dangerous substance to expose our bodies to. There are now many alternatives to these potentially harmful fillings that are also cosmetically more appealing. If you are thinking of having your amalgam fillings replaced, you may want to consider coming in for some Nutrition Response Testing first, so we can get you on a program to prepare your body for the procedure. If your detox pathways are already overburdened, going through the process of removal will expose you to more mercury, causing potential side effects. It is also best to seek out a holistic dentist who will take more precautions to protect you from the mercury. To learn more about the complications associated with amalgam fillings, read Dental Amalgam Danger: Mercury Fillings and Human Health.

The benefits of detoxification

To recap, it is important to assist your body in the detoxification process to maintain and/or improve your health. There are many things you come across in your daily life that may be increasing the toxic burden on your body, and it is good to be aware of how you can make better and safer choices.  The more you control what you can, the less the stuff you can’t control—such as air pollution—will impact your health.

To recap, here are the benefits of making less toxic choices:

• Decrease toxic load of the body, and improve liver function

• Reduce inflammation

• Aid weight loss

• Promote skin health

• Increase energy and mental function

If you need help figuring out what might be causing your symptoms of toxicity and would like to improve your body’s ability to detoxify, Nutrition Response Testing can help!

Marie's Body of Knowledge

What does the human body do with trauma? 

The short answer is, it holds onto it and stores it in our tissues. Whether it is physical or emotional trauma, it becomes internalized and part of our cellular makeup. Trauma is primarily stored in our myofascial tissue, which is an intricate web of connective tissue that is continuous from head to toe.

Because myofascial tissue is continuous from head to toe, pain and tightness in one area may result in feeling pain in a different part of the body. Myofascial tissue can tighten down to 2,000 pounds per square-inch and when left untreated, may restrict range of motion and feel like the body is in a straight jacket.

Humans are not adept at acknowledging and addressing trauma. The typical response is to brush it off, internalize it, and power on with life. In contrast, the animal kingdom, as discussed in the book Waking the Tiger, by Peter Levine, is adept at letting go of trauma. If you’ve ever witnessed two dogs in a fight, when the altercation is over, the dogs stand and shake, releasing the trauma from their tissues. Then the dogs run off wagging their tails, having released the negative interaction.

Humans have much to learn from the animal kingdom on how to manage the effects of trauma. As trauma enters the body, rather than dismissing or suppressing it, learn to acknowledge it. Feel what you feel. Scream, cry, beat up your pillow, and seek out myofascial treatment. Let it out and let it go. It’s not doing your body any good holding it inside.

If you have unaddressed physical or emotional trauma or chronic pain, I would recommend seeking out a physical therapist who specializes in myofascial release treatment. It may help release the tissues and the pain, tightness, and emotions that are being stored in them. It may be what your body needs to improve physical and emotional freedom.

Hidden toxic stressors we don't think about— Part 1

I find that toxins are a common stressor for everyone. I frequently find myself discussing cleaner options for cleaning products, cosmetics, drinking water, and food. For this reason, I decided to dig back into the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter archive and republish this updated two-part article. I hope it will motivate you to clean up your lifestyle wherever you can.

We hear more and more these days about the importance of “clean living,” but what does that mean to you? Are you aware of the many sources of toxins you are exposed to on a daily basis? Do you think something is safe just because it is on a store’s shelf, or because your doctor or dentist recommends or prescribes it?

We live in a toxic world. We are bombarded daily by toxic chemicals, metals, and microbes through our water, foods, cosmetics, cleaning products, medications, and medical treatments.

Our body is designed to eliminate the toxins that, along with metabolic byproducts, it can’t use. When the body is overwhelmed by the sheer volume of toxins it is exposed to, the system backs up and inflammation results. Persistent inflammation and the inability to detoxify are two signs of ensuing or entrenched chronic disease. 

I realize I may be opening a can of worms, but my hope in this newsletter and the next is to offer food for thought so that individuals can make informed choices about what they allow their body to be exposed to. The November/December issue will offer ways to analyze how toxic your diet and environment are and what you can do to mitigate the effects.

What are signs that your body is struggling with detoxification?

• Brain fog

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Food sensitivities

• Constipation

• Bloating

• Nausea

• Insomnia

• Skin problems

• Depression

• Mood swings

• Bad breath

• Aches and pains

• Hormonal dysregulation

• Frequent illness

• Belly fat

How can toxicity in the body be addressed?

There are two ways to address toxicity. First, we can improve the body’s ability to detoxify through things that stimulate and promote detoxification, such as supplements, herbs, homeopathy, saunas, salt baths, and enemas. Second, we can remove as many toxins as possible from our diet and environment to limit exposure. The best choice is to do some of both. If someone is truly ill, they may have to use any method possible to get their body to function normally.

The benefits of detoxification

It is important to assist your body in the detoxification process to maintain and/or improve your health. There are many things you come across in your daily life that may be increasing the toxic burden on your body, and it is good to be aware of how you can make better and safer choices.  The more you control what you can, the less the stuff you can’t control, such as air pollution, will impact your health.​​​​​​​

The benefits of making less-toxic choices:

• Decrease toxic load of the body, and improve liver function

• Reduce inflammation

• Aid weight loss

• Promote skin health

• Increase energy and mental function

If you’re interested in finding out how to help your body detoxify, and what kinds of toxicity your body is struggling with, make an appointment for a Nutrition Response Testing session.

Marie's Body of Knowledge

How do you strike a blend of using Western and natural medicine for your health care needs? 

Both Western and natural medicine have a place in treating our health. Sometimes it is difficult to know when and how much of each approach to utilize to strike a balance. 

Western medicine is the traditional approach of a medical doctor (MD) who does a physical exam and makes a diagnosis utilizing blood tests, X-ray, MRI’s, CT scans, and referrals on to more specialized MD’s. Treatment generally consists of prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, injections, or surgery. It can also include referrals to physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractors, or acupuncturists. 

Natural medicine is a holistic approach. Its roots reach back to ancient traditional healers, who used treatments made from natural elements in the environment. 

Natural medicine practitioners may include homeopaths, herbalists, acupuncturists, and some complementary medicine chiropractors, naturopaths, physical therapists, and massage therapists. These practitioners tend to use muscle testing, through applied kinesiology, to find imbalances in the body, assess and read energy, and assess the musculoskeletal system and the internal organs. Treatment generally consists of nutritional and herbal supplements, and/or a hands-on approach to move the energy field, mobilize and manipulate the joints, and mobilize the soft tissue and internal organs. 

The natural medicine approach is a wonderful way to treat the body in the most natural way. It limits chemicals from medications and gives the body the opportunity to heal itself. 

However, when new symptoms arise suddenly or are not reducing or resolving within a couple weeks to a couple of months, then seeking out a Western medicine MD is part of the answer. They can determine if further testing or specialists are necessary for appropriate treatment. 

If the Western MD has determined that medical treatment is unnecessary, natural medicine treatment can then be continued. Sometimes both treatments can happen simultaneously. Blending the two approaches can provide you with the best opportunity to care for your body and overall health. 

Is a scar scrambling your nervous system?

If Humpty Dumpty had been put back together again, he would have had scars. Scars are the byproduct of the body repairing a wound. That’s a good thing, right? Yes, but once the body has healed, scar tissue may present some problems. Scar tissue on the skin’s surface can scramble nerve signals, causing a wide variety of symptoms, including pain and organ dysfunction. 

Most of us have visible scars somewhere on the surface of our skin, testaments to past surgeries, stitches, cuts and scrapes, or mole removal. (Scars can occur beneath the skin too, but that’s a subject for another article.) I first learned about the importance of treating scars when I began studying German auricular acupuncture. This article will focus on the repercussions of visible scars and what can be done to alleviate their symptoms. 

An introduction to the skin and its dense network of nerves is useful to understand how scars on the skin can cause distress. The network of the skin’s nerves communicate on the surface level, but also coordinates communication with the organs and various structures of the body that lie beneath it. The brain and nerve plexuses throughout the body coordinate all this communication via nerve impulses, which are basically exchanges of energy. When the skin is cut, the nerve communication is broken. As the wound heals, the communication can begin again, but may be impeded by the scar tissue, which isn’t quite as good as new. 

Scars have the potential to interrupt and absorb the energy of nerve impulses, rather than allowing them to flow freely. The stored energy in the cells of scar tissue was actually measured by German neurophysiologist Albert Fleckenstein to be equal to that of a 1.5 volt battery! Not all scars become “active,” in this way, but many do. Interestingly, they may not become active until many years after the initial injury or surgery. This activity seems to be spurred by periods of stress on the body, including illness, poor nutrition, emotional stress, pregnancy, etc. If a scar becomes active, it will eventually begin to randomly discharge energy out of sequence with the normal functioning of the body, causing the nervous system to become scrambled, either a little or a lot. 

When these random energy discharges happen, any organ system can be affected. For example, it is not uncommon for a woman who has given birth to have a scar (C-section, episiotomy or tearing) that causes interference in the normal functioning of the body, most notably in the thyroid gland. Scars can be the cause of or contribute to unexplained pain, digestive upset, anxiety, hormone imbalance, headaches and migraines, as well as any stubborn condition that won’t improve.

When scanning the ears using German auricular acupuncture, it is possible to pick up the energetic interference from scars. In this system, the practitioner can treat the scars both on the ears and the scar itself. The most effective way to treat the scar itself is with low-level laser treatment. By monitoring the pulse while running the laser light across the scar, I can feel which areas are active, and when the energy has been cleared. Scars typically require a few treatments to become deactivated, but results vary depending on the scar. Some clear after one treatment, and some require many treatments.

A muscle testing technique I have recently begun using, Nutrition Response Testing (NRT), is also useful in testing for scar interference, among its numerous other attributes. (Read more below.) By using this method, it is very easy to see if there is a scar causing nervous system interference or organ stress, and which scar it is. It also offers easy monitoring of progress in the treatment of each scar. Treatment using Nutrition Response Testing  is the same as described above, with the addition of massaging the scar with wheat germ oil between laser treatments to enhance the effect. 

I’m thrilled to be able to combine both German auricular acupuncture and Nutrition Response Testing to find and clear active scars in order to unscramble my clients’ nervous systems, allowing their bodies to function properly and heal themselves. If you’re feeling a bit like Humpty Dumpty who has been glued back together, I invite you to come in for an assessment, and see if a scar is affecting your health and well-being.

Nutrition Response Testing

I recently began to use Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) at Red Clover Clinic, a very effective way to assess and treat the outcome of the undernourishment and highly stressful lives that are so much a part of modern society. 

Most of us are exposed to many toxic chemicals, heavy metals, GMO and processed foods, plastics, and other factors that interfere with the proper functioning of our bodies. And, despite the fact that we are “over-nourished” with junk food and foods lacking dense nutrition, we are malnourished when it comes to the basic nutritional building blocks we need to nourish and repair our bodies. Not a pretty picture!

The NRT assessment begins with a couple of neurological muscle tests to see if the nervous system is blocking healing in any way. The practitioner then assesses each of the major organs using a muscle testing technique, looking for signs of stress. Once this information is collected, the priority organ is determined, so that the rest of the assessment and the treatment will be highly precise. 

Next, we must determine if there is anything causing stress to the organ. The stress could be caused by food sensitivities, immune challenges, chemical or heavy metal toxicity, or scars (see above). If there is a stressor, it must first be addressed, followed by the addition of any specific organ support. Treatment of the stressors and the organ support consists of specifically chosen whole-food supplements, primarily from Standard Process. 

It’s really amazing what can happen when the body is given the precise nutrition it has been lacking. When it is well-nourished, the body can heal itself! Feel free to contact me if you’re curious about what Nutrition Response Testing can do for you, or ask me about it at your next visit.