Homeostasis and Homeodynamics - By Sheri Dixon

All living systems display a dynamic steady state, which is referred to as homeostasis,

or balance.

In the human body, whenever an imbalance exists, the body corrects it. Cells, organs

and systems display the constant ability to swing from one extreme to another and

return to a state of homeostasis. Swings happen on the biochemical, physical, and/or

spiritual level.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is designed in a way that every organ and

gland in the body receives stimulation from both the sympathetic, (stress) and the

parasympathetic, (rest, repair) sides of the ANS. An increase in sympathetic activity

implies a decrease in parasympathetic activity. When one division is active, the

opposite is inactive. Both sides require the ability to switch on to activate a function,

and to switch off to rest and heal when this is appropriate.

If a person is operating in an active sympathetic state at a particular time, we would

refer to them being in a sympathetic mode. The same would apply to a single organ,

gland or system. Reduced activity would be referred to as being in a passive mode.An example would be the activation of the digestive organs and glands when food is

consumed and digested, and the switching off of the digestive system when the body

needs to respond to an internal, or external stress situation. In this way the ANS has

the ability to function and maintain homeostasis due to a full range of function.

Whenever there is a medically diagnosed condition, or even adverse symptoms, it

always involves an imbalance in one or more of the body’s regulatory control systems

that maintain our health. The sympathetic nervous system will be automatically

triggered to respond to alarm reactions. This is achieved by elevating the heart rate to

increase oxygen, energy, and nutrients from reserves to manage and adapt to the

source of the stress. If the stress cannot be adapted and responded to, perhaps because

there is insufficient oxygen or energy, then the body will begin to conserve energy in

order to maintain the most life sustaining activities. Certain functions are no longer a

priority. Fat burning is a good example because the body can be sustained by the

stored glycogen in the liver and muscles for 4-5 hours before precious oxygen and

energy are utilized to burn stored fat.

If the sum total of all internal and external stress that the body is exposed to cannot be

managed and adapted to, then, over time, the body will function in a prevailing

sympathetic mode. This will be at the expense of the opposite parasympathetic side of

the autonomic nervous system. This side is responsible for digestion, rest, repair,

detoxification, regeneration and the immune response. Over time, this side of the

ANS is weakened due to the reduced oxygen, nutrients and energy that are supporting

the main threat to health.

There is no good or bad side of the autonomic nervous system. However, we can say

that functioning in a prevailing sympathetic stress state is to be in degeneration, or

ageing, and functioning in a prevailing parasympathetic state, similar to well trained

(but not over trained) sportsmen for example, is anti-ageing or regeneration.

The ideal for anti-ageing would be a balanced autonomic nervous system that is

slightly parasympathetic.

A 5-minute HRV (heart rate variability) test is one of the best ways to check the

efficiency of your regulatory systems. These systems include the autonomic nervous

system, the immune system and the endocrine system and they work together,

enabling us to maintain our natural health state and prevent the conditions that allow

diseases to develop.

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Homeostasis and Homeodynamics – By Sheri Dixon