Learn These Foot Reflexology Points

 For thousands of years, reflexology has been used as a way to help people get relief from many types of physical conditions. Reflexology uses the notion that putting pressure on certain areas of the body, not only the feet, but also the hands and ears, can help decrease inflammation, increase blood flow and nerve flow to certain organs, and return the body to optimal health.

Foot reflexology is the application of pressure on different pressure points of both feet that come from Chinese Medicine.  These pressure points are linked to specific parts of the body and when applying the right type of pressure a foot reflexology session can provide pain relief and help the body by facilitating energy flow, also known as chi, throughout the body.  With stimulating certain points on the feet I have personally seen great results with foot reflexology helping people with digestion issues and females with PMS concerns.  

In a 30 minute foot reflexology session for $50 pressure is applied to both feet where Maureen feels that certain points need to be released. The pressure is not too hard and most people find a session quite relaxing.  Here are some common points that people need released during a session.  

1. Tai Chong

The Tai Chong is also called the LV3. This point is found by placing your finger between your big toe and the second toe. It is just at the point where the tendons come together. Applying pressure on this area for just a few seconds can help reduce stress.

It can also relieve headaches and can reduce feelings of irritability, anxiety, and anger. Women who are suffering from menstrual pain may also benefit from applying pressure at this reflexology point. This point is also used for treating people who are feeling depressed.

2. Yong Quan

The Yong Quan is also called the KD 1. It is also often referred to as the kidney one. It is located in the depression that you feel located below the big toe joint. It is in between the second toe and the big toe. This pressure point is used to help to calm the spirit. In this way Yong Quan can help with blurry vision, headaches, sore throat, dizziness, and loss of voice.  Applying pressure in this area can be calming and relaxing for most people.  Massage this point for two or three minutes and then switch to the other foot.

3. Tai Bai

To find the Tai Bai acupoint on the foot you will want to apply pressure on the side of the foot until you reach the depression point. This will be located in the middle side area of the foot. It is near the ball. Once you have located this point on the foot you will want to apply pressure. You can apply as much pressure as you can stand.

The main function of this pressure point is to help with gastric issues. This includes ailments such as abdominal distention, dysentery, constipation, gastric pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and sluggishness. This point on the foot can also provide support for the spleen when you are feeling sluggish or heavy.  This reflex point can also be great for arthritis and joint pain. It is useful for sugar cravings as well.

4. Shen Mai

Find the bony bump that is located on the outside of the ankle. This is where the Shen Mai pressure point can be found. When you apply pressure to this area of the foot it can help promote patience. It also can help reduce anxiety and fear. If you have a cold, pressure on this point of the foot can help alleviate some of the symptoms that you are experiencing.

If you have pain and stiffness in the neck or are suffering from a painful back or pain in the legs, using this point may help. It can also help alleviate symptoms from a headache.

I hope this helps explain how some foot reflexology points work. If you are wondering if a session can help you email Maureen for a 10 minute free demo @ maureen@healingartsnyc.com

What to do For Your Health After Having COVID-19

Unfortunately with Omicron I have now seen enough post-COVID patients from various strains to write this blog.  Good news is if you have gotten COVID and still feel off in any way I have some health tips to help you feel like your old self again.  This blog is for those who got COVID and please share with your friends and family so we can help each other post-COVID.

Post COVID or long haul COVID are the terms used when symptoms or signs persist for more than two weeks after COVID-19 onset.  I have seen symptoms continue for months after and include fatigue, headaches, poor focus or attention, shortness of breath, and so much more.  Symptoms after having COVID-19 continue after the initial infection because the SARS-CoV-2 virus goes into the body causing more inflammation than the average virus.  The number one place that inflammation hits is the air ways and lungs because that’s how it gets into the body. The second place this virus hits is the liver.  We are aware that it affects the lungs but no one is talking about the liver.  So our goal at Healing Arts is to help boost up your immune system to reduce the inflammation while supporting the lungs and liver.  

Due to the affect the virus has on the liver DO NOT go for any medical procedures that include anesthesia for 6 months after having COVID-19 even if you don’t have long haul COVID.  The liver will not be able to handle the anesthesia and you will have a hard time detoxing it from your system afterwards.  So unless it’s life or death, no anesthesia during this time.  

The attack that the SARS-CoV-2 virus does on the liver is actually similar to what the Epstein Barr virus (EBV) does to the liver.  EBV causes mono and is prevalent in high schoolers and college kids.  Besides causing mono and attacking the liver, EBV has a third stage of attacking the thyroid and causing the autoimmune disease known as Hashimoto’s. I am now seeing in patients post-COVID, whether they have long haul symptoms or not, the SARS-CoV-2 virus also in the thyroid.  It is supposed to take months to years for the EBV to hit the thyroid and that’s only after having a chronically weak liver.  I’m seeing the SARS-CoV-2 virus hit the thyroid in weeks.  What takes EBV years, is taking the SARS-CoV-2 virus weeks.  

Using muscle testing I pick up on thyroid weaknesses due to an Epstein Barr virus energy a lot in my office even without the patient knowing there is a thyroid issue.  It is because we are picking up on it before it becomes an issue.  Western medicine has done a lot of studies saying that the majority of Hashimoto’s patients have Epstein Barr antibodies so there might be a correlation and I will tell you that there definitely is from what I see in the office.  

Inflammation can happen in any organ due to any pathogen or heavy metal or heavy chemical.  Toxins cause inflammation period.  That’s why our goal at Healing Arts is to help the body detox and with the right nutrition it can heal. When we start supporting the body to kill pathogens we have to be careful that the body does not have a die off reaction or a herxheimer reaction.  It occurs when any immune challenge: virus, bacteria, fungus or parasite, is being killed too fast. When these things die, toxins are released, literally pus and mucus build up and the body releases proinflammatory proteins (known as cytokines) in response. While some cytokine activity bolsters the immune system to fight infections, too many of these chemicals can have adverse effects. An overabundance of cytokines in the body leads to muscle and joint pain, fatigue, a suppressed immune system, skin rash and brain fog.  It is with some post COVID patients that 8 weeks later I am still seeing a high level of cytokines in their body and this is even after putting them on a program to reduce the inflammation.  Even if your COVID symptoms were mild, less than 24 hours of a slight cold, when I muscle test I am seeing cytokines stuck in the liver or thyroid causing inflammation.  

I think SARS-CoV-2 weakens the body to feed off of glutathione and that’s why it loves the liver.   SARS-CoV-2 goes into the body through the airways and starts attacking the lungs because that’s where it settles first but as it gets stronger and finds it way to the liver it feeds off glutathione and becomes even stronger.  This stage 2 in the liver doesn’t happen for everyone if the immune system is strong enough to fight it off before SARS-CoV-2 makes a home in the liver.  Stage 3 is when it burrows itself in the thyroid the same way EBV does. So the stages of EBV and COVID-19 are very similar except SARS-CoV-2 goes through the stages so quickly the body does not have time to recuperate and a lot more inflammation occurs with SARS-CoV-2. 

Depending on the body this inflammation can look like a lot of different things.  A study was done to show 50 different symptoms post COVID.  The majority of symptoms were fatigue and headaches followed by attention disorder and hair loss.  Besides supporting the immune system to fight COVID-19, then supporting the lungs, liver, and thyroid depending on what stages the body is going through we also support the headaches or attention disorder or hair loss by doing everything we can to reduce inflammation.  What I am seeing in the office that is testing the most often with great results besides the usual vitamin D with vitamin K, zinc and vitamin C are these four supplements: Inflammation Relief , Wellness Blend , Hydroxygen and Glutathione. 

Inflammation Relief is a supplement I made to reduce inflammation in the body including the cytokine response.  The supplement contains: Curcumin, Gotu Kola, Quercitin, Boswelia, Bromelain, Magnesium, Black Pepper,  and Fenugreek which are all amazing herbs to reduce inflammation.  This supplement is good for the post COVID patient who is still having headaches or muscle aches.

Wellness Blend is the first supplement I ever formulated to really help boost up the immune system when sick or to take to prevent getting sick.  Ingredients include garlic, liposomal vitamin C, mugwort, echinacea, oregano, lysine, eucalyptus and goldenseal.  This supplement tests well for patients who just need that extra immune system support.  

Hydroxygen are drops of oxygen that the body needs to heal faster.  These drops are especially good for the post COVID patient that is still coughing or having trouble breathing.  

Besides giving the body the right supplemental support we also want to replenish the glutathione that SARS-CoV-2 used.  We muscle test to see if the glutathione supplement will help and here are some ways to increase your glutathione naturally.  Glutathione is one of the body’s most important and potent antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that reduce oxidative stress by combating free radicals in the body. While most antioxidants are found in the foods you eat, glutathione is produced by your body. It is primarily made up of three amino acids: glutamine, glycine and cysteine. There are a number of reasons why your body’s glutathione level may become depleted, including poor diet, chronic disease, infection and constant stress. Glutathione is also known to decrease with age. Maintaining adequate levels of this antioxidant is incredibly important for your health in general, not just post COVID. Here is what you can do to ensure healthy glutathione levels. 

1. Consume Sulfur-Rich Foods

Sulfur is an important mineral that occurs naturally in some plant and protein foods.  Sulfur is required for the liver to make glutathione.  Sulfur is found in beef, fish and poultry as well as cruciferous vegetables.  Cruciferous vegetables are a family of vegetables known for their sulfur content and include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, boy choy, arugula, radishes, watercress, collards and mustard greens. Eat too much at once and it can bloat you due to the sulfur.  Allium vegetables, including garlic, shallots and onions, also boost glutathione levels also due to their sulfur-containing compounds.  

2. Increase Your Vitamin C Intake

Vitamin C is found in strawberries, citrus fruits, papayas, kiwis and bell peppers.  This vitamin has many functions, including working as an antioxidant to protect cells from oxidative damage. It also maintains the body’s supply of other antioxidants, including glutathione.  Researchers have discovered that vitamin C may help increase glutathione levels by attacking free radicals first, thereby sparing glutathione. They also found that vitamin C helps reprocess glutathione by converting oxidized glutathione back to its active form (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12499341/). 

The same study also showed that taking 500-1,000 mg vitamin C supplements increased glutathione levels in white blood cells in healthy adults by 18%.

Another study showed that taking 500 mg of vitamin C supplements per day increased glutathione in red blood cells by 47% (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8317379/).

Vitamin C’s relationship with glutathione is why intravenous Vitamin C drips are helpful when treating COVID.  Dr. Andrew G. Weber, a pulmonologist in NYC, has been giving his intensive-care patients who have been infected with the coronavirus 1500mg of intravenous Vitamin C several times a day - as part of an anti-viral protocol.

3. Add Selenium-Rich Foods to Your Diet

Selenium is an essential mineral and a glutathione cofactor, meaning it’s a substance needed for glutathione to work. Some of the best sources of selenium are beef, chicken, fish, organ meats, cottage cheese, brown rice and Brazil nuts. By increasing your intake of selenium, you may help maintain or increase your body’s supply of glutathione.

4. Eat Foods Naturally Rich in Glutathione

The human body produces glutathione, but there are also dietary sources. Spinach, avocados, asparagus and okra are some of the richest dietary sources.  However, dietary glutathione is poorly absorbed by the human body.

5. Add Turmeric to Your Diet Which Helps absorb Glutathione

Turmeric is a vibrant yellow-orange herb and a popular spice in Indian cuisine.  The medicinal properties of turmeric are likely linked to its main component, curcumin.  The curcumin content is much more concentrated in a turmeric supplement, compared to the powder we use to cook with. Just make sure the supplement has black pepper added to it because black pepper contains the bioactive compound piperine, known to increase the absorption of curcumin into the body by 2000% (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9619120/)

Numerous studies have shown that turmeric and curcumin extract have the ability to increase glutathione levels (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15650394/). Researchers conclude that the curcumin found in turmeric may assist in restoring adequate levels of glutathione and improve the activity of glutathione enzymes.

6. Consider Milk Thistle

Milk thistle supplements are another way to boost glutathione levels naturally.  Milk thistle is a herb comprised of three active compounds, collectively known as silymarin. Silymarin is well known for its antioxidant properties and shown to increase glutathione levels.  Researchers believe that silymarin is able to maintain glutathione levels by preventing cell damage (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1360480/). 

8. Get Enough Sleep

A good night’s rest is essential for overall health. Interestingly, long-term lack of sleep can cause oxidative stress and even hormone imbalances (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25945148/). As if that wasn’t bad enough, other research has shown that chronic lack of sleep may decrease glutathione levels. Therefore, making sure you get good, restorative sleep each night may help maintain or boost your levels of glutathione.  If you don’t sleep well here are my sleep tips: https://healingartsnyc.blogspot.com/2020/05/sleep-well.html

9. Exercise Regularly

Regular physical activity of course is good for both your physical and mental health.  Recent research shows that exercise is also helpful in maintaining or increasing antioxidant levels, especially glutathione. Studies show it is a combination of both cardio and circuit weight training that increases glutathione the most, compared to completing cardio or weight training alone (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17925621/). However, overtraining without a balanced diet and proper rest can deplete your levels because too much exercise can be stressful to the body.

The good news is viruses can only affect us if we have a weak immune system.  For the most part, a strong healthy body, virus comes in and virus goes out, creating very little damage, even SARS-CoV-2.  The body’s own innate immune system is the strongest thing against any virus or other germ for that matter.  Having a strong  immune system is dependent on a healthy nutrient dense diet and a healthy lifestyle of exercise and good sleep.  The less stress the better for mind and body health, and a body void of as many toxins as possible.  We live and breath this concept at Healing Arts. We live this lifestyle, eat healthy and take our supplements for optimal health.

 

Ozone for the Sinuses

Ozone introduced via the nose also known as nasal insufflation provides benefits to both the nasal passageways, sinuses, and the entire body. Breathe in microscopic organic olive oil (made in a glass jar to be Healing Arts approved because it can’t be in plastic or aluminum) treated with the extra oxygen from the ozone.  Inhaling ozone this way helps to reduce allergy symptoms, sinus pain, headaches and inflammation throughout the body.

Studies have mixed reviews on directly breathing in ozone through the lungs and yet the extra oxygen that ozone gives can be so beneficial for the body. Dr. Armitstead loves putting ozone in the air having been asthmatic in her childhood.  It cleans the air, kills germs and makes it easier for her to breathe.  Knowing these benefits she loved brining the ozone sauna into the office. To be able to absorb the ozone in through the skin has done wonders for our patients.  We have seen wonderful changes in the reduction of pain, eczema, and psoriasis, less toxins, and better sleep.  Did you know that the ozone sauna can also help with fertility? It really is amazing!  Knowing how amazing it is to absorb ozone through the skin made us want to also offer it through the nose and sinuses.  

Using nasal insufflation is another safe and easy way to bring extra oxygen into the body.  We first have the ozone react with olive oil and then have the client breathe it in. Ozone reacts with the oil to form ozonides and terpenes.  It does not contain any active ozone gas so it will not cause irritation.  This chemical reaction keeps the lungs safe while still having the health benefits.  Health benefits include reduction in sinus pressure and irritation, decrease inflammation in the nasal passages, provides relief from both acute and chronic sinusitis, kills bacteria and viruses, helps with asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory infections, reduces brain fog, and promotes overall health and wellness.  I will personally do a 20 min treatment once a week to stay healthy.  Depending on what you need it for, recommendations vary.  For an acute sinus infection you may need it 3 times a week until the infection is gone.  Whereas for a chronic infection with no pressure you want once a week for at least four weeks. 

$40 for 20 min. 

$50 for 30 min. 

BOOK NOW

How to Gua Sha Using a Facial Roller

Gua Sha, also known as “coining”, “skin scraping”, or “pressure stroking” is an ancient instrument-assisted lymphatic technique utilized in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The best way to learn how to do gua sha on the face is by watching a demonstration, so I’ve included an in-depth video tutorial at the end of this post. 

When done on the face, gua sha can reduce fine lines and wrinkles, restore firmness and elasticity, promote a brighter complexion, relieve jaw tension, promote lymphatic drainage, and decrease puffiness. It can also help with sinus congestion and headaches. I find that when I do it in the morning it helps with mental clarity and reducing brain fog.  

Gua sha on the body (back, shoulders, and neck are the most common areas) and gua sha on the face are performed quite differently. While the point of gua sha on the body is to draw out transient therapeutic bruising, you do not want to do that when practicing on your face. 

I first got into gua sha when looking for something to help patients with eye strain which is a symptom that patients started complaining about more when the pandemic hit.  A lot of people working from home had to increase their screen time.  I have also seen gua sha help with other symptoms related to vision such as light sensitivity and eye dryness. 

I also have chronically reactive lymph nodes behind my ears (I suffered from a lot of ear infections as a child) and many tender points on my face (especially in front of my ears and along my hairline) which correspond to specific acupuncture points that have benefited from stimulating daily with gua sha.

BODY VS FACIAL GUA SHA

In Chinese medicine, gua sha on the upper back, shoulders, and neck is a common treatment for colds, influenza, and fevers. It is also good to do if you have been exposed to someone who is sick or if you feel a virus coming on. 

If you are interested to know more about the science of body gua sha, PUBMED includes studies that have found gua sha to effective in treating back and neck pain, migraines, liver inflammation, perimenopausal symptoms, and breast distention/mastitis.  

Because body gua sha is painful and the point is to dig deep enough to create bruising for healing it can be uncomfortable and make people not want to do it.  That’s why I fell in love with the lymphstar machine that we use for lymphatic drainage session in the office.  With this type of technology you get the lymphatic healing benefits without the bruising or pain during a relaxing 30 minute or 60 minute session.  

Having fallen in love with the health benefits of lymphatic drainage I was super excited to be able to show patients how to do it for the face at home.  I would not try body gua sha at home.  So what are the benefits of facial gua sha? Facial gua sha is great for lymphatic drainage of the face which helps with detox from the brain and mouth and also less puffiness which people tend to get around the eyes.  It’s advertised as anti-aging for wrinkles but I want people to understand that less wrinkles is secondary to the movement of lymph and toxins which is very healing.

Facial gua sha also helps relieve muscle tension in the head and neck which not only helps with TMJ problems, headaches and neck pain but can also prevent them.  I am so surprised when I do the facial gua sha how many tender spots I feel.  Spending extra time on the tender spots brings circulation to the area helping to prevent pain.  

Since this is a technique that originates in Chinese medicine,I find it fascinating to look at all of the acupuncture channels (meridians) that are on the face and  neck that you can stimulate with facial gua sha.  

Starting at the center of the face moving outward and down, these are the channels that run down the face:  

• Governing Vessel, also called Du (GV); 

• Urinary Bladder (UB); 

• Gallbladder (GB); 

• Stomach (ST); 

• San Jiao, also called Triple Heater/Triple Burner (SJ); 

• Small Intenstine (SI); 

• Large Intestine (LI)There are different gua sha tools you can use made of different stones. There are flat stones that are made for scrapping and to get in deeper.  There is also rollers that have a softer affect that I prefer because I realized patients were using the flat stones too intensely which helped but also caused too much inflammation in the process.  So I do highly suggest the roller over the flat stones.  

We carry in the office 3 different stones because I couldn’t decide on just one stone.  We have jade, rose quartz and opal facial rollers.  I prefer to muscle test each person for which one works best for their body.

Rose Quartz Roller: Increase Circulation, Promotes Production of Collagen, and Calms Sensitive Skin. Best Used at Night and for Soothing.

Green Jade Roller: Helps Reduce Puffiness, Help Tone and Firm Skin Cells, and Stimulate Collagen Production. Best Used in the Morning and for Balance.

Opal Roller: Good for all Skin Types, Can help to Cool and Refresh Fatigued Skin.

The flow of lymph only goes one way: towards the heart. So when you use the gua sha the strokes should be from the center of the face outward and moving down the face and neck (see video for demonstration). 

One of the biggest positive cosmetic benefits I notice when I perform facial gua sha on myself is a reduction of facial puffiness, most notable in my cheeks. You could say that it sculpts my cheeks. Others may notice de-puffing of their eyelids, jawline, under their eyes, or in the forehead. The reason that facial gua sha reduces puffiness is due to the drainage of lymph out of the face and neck. The lymph’s job is to carry toxins so that’s why I say it’s good for detox. 

I also notice a reduction in the appearance of fine lines, especially the number ones between my eyebrows. If I wake up from a night of frowning in my sleep, the evidence disappears quickly after my morning gua sha session. So here’s my advice, use my video as a starting place to explore gua sha.  If you don’t do it hard enough or if it’s too hard you aren’t going to damage anything so it really is safe. Pull the tool across your face, don’t push it. Think of spreading butter on toast. Pulling comes more naturally when you use the same hand as the side of the face you are working on; if you try to use the opposite hand you’ll be more likely to try to push the tool. 

For the gentlest and most relaxing type of gua sha facial, use long, slow, meditative strokes with a thicker tool laid as close to flat against your skin as possible. You can vary the pressure from light to more firm. You can even turn it into a type of moving meditation by coordinating your breathing with the strokes. When doing this style, it’s best to anchor the skin where you begin each stroke using your other hand. You’ll need to allot more time for this style, ideally at least 5-10 minutes, but you can drag it out even longer if you wish. For a more invigorating facial, use rapid, short strokes with light pressure.  Use firm pressure when doing gua sha on your neck, medium pressure on your face, and feather light pressure around your eyes. And don’t forget to take before and after photos so you can see how these techniques affect your skin!

The stones are smooth so you don’t have to use lotions or oils.  I prefer to do it on bare skin after I wash my face in the morning since it helps my mental clarity and reduces brain fog. But you can do it at night, too. 

Contraindications:

Do not do gua sha on fresh botox. Talk to the provider who injected it to find out how soon you can safely implement facial massage.

Do not do gua sha on top of injected fillers in the face.

It’s best to talk with us first if you are dealing with any kind of skin problems like acne or rosacea. It’s best not to do scraping on top of areas of active inflammation, but to instead do the strokes on the other areas of the face, and especially on the neck to promote lymphatic drainage in order to get the inflammation down. 

You can place your gua sha stones and rollers in the fridge or in a bowl of ice water (just dry it off first) and press it gently into areas of inflammation. If you suffer from puffiness using a cold roller or flat stone could give more benefits.  

If you are still uncertain whether gua sha is something you should add into your daily routine please let us know at your next visit and we can help you decide with our expertise and then muscle test you also for which stone would be best: jade, rose quartz or opal.  

This video contains a demonstration to empower you to begin your own facial gua sha practice. 

Learn Where MSG is Hidden

MSG has been used as an acronym for "monosodium glutamate" for years. MSG is a flavor enhancer and popular ingredient in many Asian cuisines. It is common enough knowledge that people can get MSG reactions that Chinese restaurants were advertising MSG-free on their food starting in the mid 1990s.  MSG reactions can include flushing, sweating, chest pain and weakness.   The most common symptom I see in my office are headaches or migraines.  Other symptoms include facial pressure, drowsiness, and numbness and tingling in the face, back, and arms.

MSG is a neurotoxin that is best to stay away from even if you don't notice any symptoms.  Actually we know it as MSG but it's more factual name is Manufactured free Glutamate or MfG.  Since it is common knowledge that we should not ingest MSG the food industry as come up with other names, 40 more names to be exact.  

One popular place where it can be found is in low fat or nonfat milk products and may diary products that contain carrageenan, guar gum and locust bean gum.  Protein powders contain glutamic acid, which , invariably will be manufactured with MfG.  Also if you see the word 'protein' by itself on any label it contains MfG.   Also hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed pea protein, hydrolyzed whey protein, hydrolyzed corn protein and tomato protein all contain MfG.

In sensitive patients reactions have been reported from soaps, shampoos, hair conditioners and cosmetics where MfG is hidden in ingredients with names that include the words "hydrolyzed," "amino acids," and or "protein".  Most sun block, spf lotion and insect repellents also contain MfG.  

According to the manufacturer, Varivax-Merk chicken pox vaccine contains L-monosodium glutamate and hydrolyzed gelatin, both of which contain MfG.  The vaccine has been shown to cause brain lesion ni laboratory animals and cause obesity and reproductive disorders later in life.  It would appear that most, if not all, live virus vaccines contain some ingredient that contains MfG.

Some people have reactions to MfG even if it's a small dose and others need a large dose to feel MfG toxicity.  A reaction can occur immediately after ingestion or up to 48 hours.  The time lapse between ingestion and reaction is typically the same each time for a particular individual who ingest an amount of MfG that exceeds his or her individual tolerance level.  

All of the following contain MfG:

Names of ingredients that always contain MfG:

Glutamic acid (E 620) 
Glutamate (E 620)
Monosodium glutamate (E 621)
Monopotassium glutamate (E 622)
Calcium glutamate (E 623)
Monoammonium glutamate (E 624)
Magnesium glutamate (E 625)
Natrium glutamate
Anything “hydrolyzed”
Any “hydrolyzed protein”
Calcium caseinate, Sodium caseinate
Yeast extract, Torula yeast
Yeast food, Yeast nutrient 
Autolyzed yeast
Gelatin
Textured protein
Whey protein
Whey protein concentrate
Whey protein isolate
Soy protein 
Soy protein concentrate
Soy protein isolate
Anything “protein”
Anything “protein fortified”
Soy sauce
Soy sauce extract
Protease
Anything “enzyme modified”
Anything containing “enzymes”
Anything “fermented”
Vetsin
Ajinomoto
Umami
Zinc proteninate

Names of ingredients that often contain or produce MfG during processing:

Carrageenan (E 407)
Bouillon and broth
Stock
Any “flavors” or “flavoring”
Natural flavor
Maltodextrin
Oligodextrin
Citric acid, Citrate (E 330)
Anything “ultra-pasteurized”
Barley malt
Malted barley
Brewer’s yeast
Pectin (E 440)
Malt extract
Seasonings

*1 Glutamic acid found in unadulterated protein does not cause adverse reactions. To cause adverse reactions, the glutamic acid must have been processed /manufactured or come from protein that has been fermented.

*2 E numbers are use in Europe in place of food additive names.

The following are ingredients suspected of containing or creating sufficient processed free glutamic acid to serve as MfG-reaction triggers in HIGHLY SENSITIVE people:

Corn starch  
Corn syrup  
Modified food starch 
Lipolyzed butter fat  
Dextrose
Rice syrup
Brown rice syrup  
Milk powder 
Reduced fat milk (skim; 1%; 2%) 
most things “low fat” or “no fat”  
anything “enriched”
anything “vitamin enriched” 
anything “pasteurized”
Annatto
Balsamic vinegar
certain amino acid chelates (Citrate, aspartate, and glutamate are used as chelating agents with mineral supplements.)

Poison and the Blood Brain Barrier

The Blood-Brain Barrier, or BBB, is a single-layered lattice of cells joined together by tight junctions that keep most substances out and allow few substances into the brain.Toxic substances typically kept out include heavy metals, pesticides, germs, plastics as well as damaging proteins while substances allowed in are oxygen, hormones, and nutrients.  Your bbb has tight junctions that become loose or broken with a protein called zonulin. Zonulin also breaks down the protective layer of your intestinal wall creating leaky gut.  Zonulin is increased in the body due to glyphosate (an herbicide found in our food from Roundup made by Monsanto).  To find out what foods contain glyphosate go to Detox Project website. Zonulin is also made in response to eating wheat.  With too much zonulin the bbb leaks letting toxins come into the brain causing damage and inflammation on the brain.  In other words, a Leaky Brain is an Inflamed Brain.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Leaky Brain?

Leaky Brain manifests as multiple signs and symptoms, so pay attention to these as opposed to ignoring them:

ADD/ADHD/Autism spectrum disorders

Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

Chronic fatigue that does not improve with rest or sleep

Headaches or migraines that come on suddenly, become worse with standing, and grow more severe as the day progresses

Memory loss or another cognitive decline which may lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Mood disorders, particularly anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia

Peripheral neuropathy 

Seizures

It is important not to ignore these signs and symptoms because those living with Leaky Brain are at an increased risk of developing neurological or psychiatric conditions. 

What Causes Leaky Brain?

The profound connection between the brain and the gut cannot be underestimated as research repeatedly confirms that microbes living in the gut affect the brain both positively and negatively.

In fact, the stomach and small intestine contain a lining similar to the blood-brain barrier which also keeps harmful substances from entering the gut.

Therefore, many of the same factors that cause a leaky gut—poor gut health, unhealthy diet, food intolerances, food sensitivities, toxins and infections—can also create a leaky brain. For more information on Leaky gut listen to my podcast #13 Digestion Leaky Gut and Lectins.

Studies from Harvard show that wheat creates leaky gut because it contains  a protein called gliadin, which increases the zonulin.  Again it’s this Zonulin that weakens the tight junctions of the gut lining and BBB thereby contributing to leaky gut and leaky brain.

Five causes of Leaky Brain:

1.Gut Dysbiosis (infections)

2.Leaky Gut

3.Autoimmune Disease

4.Mental Health Conditions

5.Stress & Vagus Nerve Dysfunction

All five of these categories have inflammation as a basis for the problem, yet they become even more problematic in the following disease states:

Bacterial infections deteriorate the BBB allowing bacteria into the brain where they do not belong.

Mold toxins trigger inflammation, promote oxidative damage in the brain, and disrupt the BBB.

Excess glutamate overstimulates nerves causing the BBB to breakdown increasing permeability to potentially harmful agents.

High blood sugar and diabetes represent dramatic changes in blood sugar which produce oxidative stress and inflammation

Elevated homocysteine, seen in individuals living with heart disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease or those who survive a stroke, changes tight junction function and prevents the BBB from functioning properly.

Obesity increase oxidative damage and deprive the brain of oxygen.

Low quality sleep interrupts the sleep-wake cycle interrupting the uptake of nutrients and offload of toxins while increasing inflammation.

While it is more obvious that leaky brain causes inflammation which then drives mental health conditions, it is less known that mental health conditions can also drive inflammation and leaky brain.  The contributing factors could be:

The Brain-Gut Axis: The Vagus Nerve Connection

The brainstem connects to the vagus nerve, which in turn connects to all the digestive organs. The brain sends signals through the vagus nerve to the organs. The organs also send signals through the vagus nerve to the brain.

The vagus nerve initiates many important digestive functions such as stomach acid secretion, enzyme production, gallbladder function and intestinal motility.

If there is poor brain communication to the vagus nerve there can be many negative effects including:

Chronic inflammation

Poor digestion

Leaky gut

Inflamed brain

How to Reverse and Heal a Leaky Brain – Stop, Start, and Seek

Treating a leaky brain starts by healing a leaky gut. This involves eliminating all the causative factors of leaky gut and leaky brain and then adding dietary and lifestyle factors that support brain health.

Following these steps will lower inflammation in the body and brain, maximize the transport of oxygen, glucose, and other nutrients into the brain, facilitate better removal of toxins out of the brain, reduce oxidative stress, and help rebuild tight junctions to restore the integrity of the BBB.

STOP:

Consuming gluten and foods that you cannot tolerate including sugar and processed foods in meals

Ignoring stress

Allowing bacterial and viral infections to fester before getting treatment

Drinking alcohol in excess

Exposure to environmental toxins in air, water and food

Eating nonorganic food that contains glyphosate

START:

Detoxifying the body of pesticides,  and heavy metals

Taking in probiotic foods to keep the gut balanced

Eating essential fatty acids, which are vital for the brain, including avocado, coconut oil, flaxseed, hemp seed, oily fish, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts

Reducing inflammation through the diet  - Listen to our podcast on Chronic Inflammation

Making quality sleep a priority

Reducing psychological and emotional stress through exercise, meditation, journaling

SEEK:

Figure out what supplements you need to take to help repair the BBB including:

Acetyl L-Carnitine, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Alpha-GPC, Angelica (Dong Quai) Extracts, Astragalus, Astaxanthin, Apigenin, B12-B6-Folate Mix, Berberine, Bitter Melon, Butyrate, Catechins, Chlorogenic-Acid, Citicoline, Collagen, Curcumin, Vitamin D3, Fish Oil, Ginseng, Licorice, Luteolin, Lycopene, Myoinositol, Magnesium, Melatonin, Methylene Blue, Olive Leaf Extract, Oxaloacetate, Parthenolide (Feverfew), Progesterone, Pterostilbene, Resveratrol, Rosmarinic Acid, Shilajit, Selenium, Sulforaphane, Ursolic Acid

There's lots of different supplements for support so it's best to get muscle tested for your exact nutritional support.