“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Aristotle
Yes, you are the orchestration of 12 synergistic organ systems working as one! When one system is out of harmony, you need to treat the whole, not just the individual parts or systems.
WHAT IS AN ORGAN?
An organ is a part of the body that performs a specialized physiologic function. For example, the stomach contains epithelial tissue, muscle tissue, nerve tissue, and connective tissue, and has the specific physiologic function of breaking down food.
HOW MANY ORGANS DO WE HAVE?
To create a human we need 78 organs of differing sizes and physiological functions. These 78 organs are then required to synchronize into 12 different systems of the human body; each with its own function to balance the human system.
STORY OF THE GUT!
THE "GUT" IS THE CORE OF OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Not long ago, we held the belief that bacteria had little to do with our well-being and considered it a separate entity that just assisted the digestion of certain foods.
More recently, it has become a fact that humans possess as many bacterial cells as human cells – with over 10 000 species and trillions of microorganisms present in our gut!
The gut and the immune system support one another to promote a healthy body. For instance, the gut microbiome acts as a gatekeeper and a trainer. It teaches immune cells called T-cells to distinguish foreign entities from our own tissue.
THE "GUT" IS ALSO OUR SECOND BRAIN
Have you heard of the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA)? It consists of bidirectional communication between the central and the enteric nervous system, linking the emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions. Recent advances in research have described the importance of gut microbiota in influencing these interactions. Simply speaking, Gastrointestinal dysfunction can wreak havoc throughout the body; and has been linked to allergies, arthritis, autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, & more.
As an example. What if all those mental health challenges didn't require complex "thought-based therapies" and "anti - xyz" drugs. Instead, it required a differenct approach. Heal the digestive system to heal the mental health challenges. Seem's like a paradox, but as you will see below. Everything is connected. Knowing where to start is the key to healing and regaining normal function.
A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. Therefore, a person's stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression. That's because the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system are intimately connected.
THE "GUT" ICAN DRIVE OUR BEHAVIOUR
Neuroscientist and author of The Source, Tara Swart, M.D., Ph.D told MindBodyGreen “You can’t remember everything you have experienced in life, but you do store all this wisdom. Gut feelings are pattern recognition systems designed to keep you safe and well, but sometimes they can hold you back from thriving based on old fears.”
We all experience a ‘gut feeling’ now and then. It could be when you’re making a simple decision like what to eat, to something a little more complex like a career change. A gut feeling can often push people to make decisions they might typically have avoided.
These feelings have been labelled many different things over the years, including intuition, instinct and foresight.
But research from Flinders University found gut feelings are actually the product of the Enteric Nervous System (ENS), an intricate network of neurons and neurotransmitters found in and around the gut.
But can you always trust your gut? Sadly, no, it’s not that simple. Is it fear, is it anxiety, is it a gut instinct or intuition from previous experiences, causing that sensation in the gut? Tune into those feelings either way. Fear requires courage, intuition requires trust.
THESE 12 SYSTEMS ARE..
Digestive system—Salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, and large intestine. Processes foods and absorbs nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and water.
Reproductive system—Fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, ovaries, mammary glands, testes, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, and penis. Produces sex cells and sex hormones; ultimately produces offspring
Respiratory system—Mouth, nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, and diaphragm. Delivers air to sites where gas exchange can occur between the blood and cells (around body) or blood and air (lungs).
Endocrine system—Pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroid gland, adrenal glands, testes, and ovaries.) Provides communication within the body via hormones. Directs long-term change over other organ systems to maintain homeostasis.
Skeletal system—Bones, cartilage, and ligaments. Supports and protects soft tissues of the body. Provides movement at joints, produces blood cells, and stores minerals
Nervous system—Brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sensory organs (eyes, ears, tongue, skin, and nose). Collects, transfers, and processes information. Directs short-term change over other organ systems in order to maintain homeostasis.
Lymphatic system—Lymph, lymph nodes, and lymph vessels. Defends against infection and disease. Transfers lymph between tissues and the blood stream.
Urinary system—Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. Removes excess water, salts, and waste products from the blood and body. Controls pH.
Musculoskeletal system—Tendons, skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscles. Provides movement, support, and heat production.
Cardiovascular system—Heart, blood, and blood vessels. Transports oxygen, nutrients, and other substances to the cells, and transports wastes, carbon dioxide, and other substances away from the cells; also helps stabilize body temperature and pH.
Integumentary system—Skin, hair, and nails. Provides protection from both injury and fluid loss and provides physical defense against infection by microorganisms. Controls temperature.
Immune system—Leukocytes, tonsils, adenoids, thymus, and spleen. Defends against pathogens and other diseases.
SUMMARY
It's important to understand how the body works; so that we can understand how to help it heal, function optimally, and even perform! It turns out that everything is connected to everything. Like a car that stops, we can't just replace the wheels (bandaid approach) if the wheel alignment is out, or the driver keeps driving recklessly.
CALL TO ACTION
Knowing where to start is important.
Understanding that the digestive system is the gatekeeper between the outer world and the inner world of our cells. Means, that It might be worthwhile to look there first ;)
Especially, when gut microbiota can modulate, or tweak, the gut-brain axis, which enables them to influence brain function and pain sensation.
Researchers are finding that imbalances in the microbiota-gut-brain axis can lead to metabolic and cardiovascular disease as well as certain neurological diseases, depression, and chronic pain.
This means treating mental health challenges, metabolic challenges, chronic inflammatory conditions, chronic fatigue, and chronic pain... Might require a different approach. Or at least a different starting point.
REFERENCES
This is directly referenced from the best-selling amazon SelfCare Book "Lifestyle Medicine For the People" by Rory Callaghan. If you would like to read more content like this. Grab the free online chapters of the book or a hard copy.
We have done our best to reference everyone’s expert opinions, peer-reviewed science, and original thoughts, all references available here and referenced in the text.
We also understand that most thoughts are not our own and there is a collective unconsciousness, unconsciousness, and universal mind stream of energy that is always at work. How are references are sorted and filtered is here.