Paradigm Shifting ~ Nervous System Dis-Ease

A new way of looking at "neurotransmitter deficiencies" like Parkinson's disease

Old Paradigm ~ a Pill for Every Ill

In a traditional scenario, the view is that a Parkinson's Disease (PD) brain lacks dopamine in the basal ganglia, in particular due to death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia Nigra (SN). This is considered the cause of the disease, and therefore replacing lost dopamine is the treatment.

Therapeutic use of synthetic L-DOPA is common for treatment of PD. While this intervention often minimizes PD symptoms, exogenous delivery of L-DOPA does not stop or reverse progression of PD.

The problem with this reductionist approach is we fail to consider all the downstream effects of artificially increasing dopamine levels. And even more importantly, we fail to address the all-important question: WHY is there a lack of dopamine in the first place!? What is causing dopaminergic neurons in the SN to die?

A bridge from Old to New

We know from quantum biology and photobiology and the work of Alexander Wunch, MD, that humans require UVA exposure for transformation of phenylalanine and tyrosine into DOPA and eventual dopamine production (among other hormones and neurotransmitters).

In addition, we know from the work of Dr. Harald Blomberg (among others) in the field of psychiatry that MOVEMENT is an integral component of proper neurodevelopment.

Even Leonardo DaVinci understood this!

New Paradigm ~ A Quantum Neurodevelopmental Lens

What if, instead of the traditional approach to neurological issues, we looked at PD and other movement disorders through a quantum neurodevelopmental lens?

Hallmark signs of PD and "parkinsonism-like presentations", include resting tremors, slowness of movement (bradykinesia), rigidity and loss of postural reflexes, gait abnormalities (shuffling gait), dystonia, anosmia and assorted paresthesias, non-motor deficits including autonomic dysfunction, sleep disorders, behavioral and cognitive deficits and more. All of these "symptoms" amount to insufficient arousal of the neocortex. Much like in the case of the ADHD brain (blog post coming soon).

Why is there this NEED TO MOVE in these individuals? Did you ever stop to consider that perhaps the resting tremors are a way to stimulate the neocortex through movement?

Why is dopamine lacking? Could it be as straight forward as not having the proper UVA light exposure so that our system can make the necessary DOPA?

Movement & Primitive Reflexes

Think about this: Babies don’t sit still, are often slow to move early on, they don't follow directions, they are easily distracted, and they can’t organize activities or control impulses. But they grow out of it by developing the nerve nets of the neocortex, prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum through essential movement in the prenatal and early post-natal periods.

The movements a baby does, both pre-birth and during the first 1-2 years after birth are reflexive, involuntary movements. They happen in response to assorted stimuli. Those reflexive movements baby does have a name: Primitive Reflexes.

When the stimuli are lacking, the reflexive movements don't happen as they should.

When the reflexive movements don't happen, different brain regions fail to link up and communicate with each other. When the different brain regions are not linked up, we end up with aberrant levels of neurotransmitters (e.g. dopamine) and the resulting and corresponding aberrant behaviors (e.g. hyperactivity, resting tremors, rigidity, cognitive decline, aberrant muscle tone, etc.).

Primitive reflexes need to become integrated in order for other, life-long, POSTURAL REFLEXES like standing, sitting, walking, etc. to develop. These are the same postural reflexes lost in PD! Only when postural reflexes are in place can the rest of the system continue linking up as needed (think emotional health, cognitive abilities, executive function, etc.).

A reframe & a Solution ~ Rhythmic Movement Training

Could it be that PD and so many other motor deficiency issues plaguing us today are the result of retained or unintegrated primitive reflexes?

Could it be that Active Primitive Reflexes are at the root of low dopamine and the resulting need for movement, together with faulty light inputs and low UVA exposure?

Dr. Harald Blomberg used rhythmic movements as a means of integrating active/retained primitive reflexes. He curated a series of movements into his method, Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training (BRMT). These unique movements are aimed at recapitulating the movements we do in-utero and during the first 1-2 years of life.

Teaching an individual to do these rhythmic movements helps link up the different brain regions that may have become unlinked (or never linked up) due to trauma, injury, disease, surgical interventions, toxin exposure, and other environmental insults. In this way active or retained primitive reflexes can integrate (they disappear) and the proper postural reflexes can be established to support healthy behaviors.

This abbreviated description of BRMT and it’s broad applications doesn’t do it justice. But it’s a way to get the conversation started!

To learn more check out brmtusa.com or simply reach out and lets chat! If you're ready to book a session with us, head on over to the Our Services tab and scroll down to find our Primitive Reflex Integration cards for more information on pricing and availability.

If you’re a practitioner, health and wellness provider, teacher, therapist, body worker, parent, trauma specialist, social worker, or work with individuals with health issues, learning disabilities and other presentations, and would like to learn how to apply BRMT in your practice, consider taking a BRMT course.

Bottom line? Keep moving and sunrising! Both, movement and light, are essential for optimal production of neurotransmitters and hormones that play key roles in brain development, learning, behavior and memory.

Like I always say:

Bloom,

Amanda