SYMPATHETIC
DOMINANCE
by Dr. Lawrence
Wilson
© October 2022, LD Wilson
Consultants, Inc.
All
information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment,
prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.
Contents
Definition of the pattern:
1. A slow oxidation rate AND a hair potassium level of 4 mg%
or less
2. A slow oxidation rate AND a sodium/potassium ratio of
about 4 or more. (Hair must not be washed at the lab for accurate readings.)
Name Of The Pattern
Name Confusion
No Hair Washing
Sympathetic Dominance On A Retest
Variants
Combination With Other Patterns
Quantifying Sympathetic Dominance
What To Do If You Are Not Sure If A Person Has A Sympathetic
Dominance Pattern
Sympathetic dominance is one of the
most important and most interesting patterns seen on hair mineral
analyses. It has to do with the
autonomic nervous system.
Dr. Paul Eck, my mentor and
teacher of nutritional balancing, did not recognize this pattern. I recognized it around 1998 after he
died.
Name of the pattern. I used to call this pattern the pusher pattern,
because I noticed people with this pattern tended to push themselves. This is the same name used for this
pattern in advanced acupuncture.
The pattern is now called sympathetic
dominance because a person with this pattern is overusing the sympathetic
nervous system.
Name
confusion. This is not the same as a sympathetic state
of body chemistry. This is
fast oxidation.
Also, some other hair analysis
labs and doctors use the term sympathetic dominance differently. So please strictly follow the
definition below to define this pattern.
DEFINITION OF SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE ON A HAIR ANALYSIS
This pattern is always
characterized by either:
1. A slow oxidation rate AND a
potassium level of 4 mg% or less.
2. A slow oxidation rate AND a
sodium/potassium ratio greater than about 3 to 4.
Both the above can also be
present.
Let us discuss these possible
patterns in more detail:
1.
Slow oxidation PLUS the hair potassium level must be 4 mg% (or 40 parts per
million) or less. This is the most common situation of
sympathetic dominance.
The lower the potassium level,
the more severe the pattern.
The slower the oxidation rate,
the more severe the pattern.
2.
Slow oxidation plus a sodium/potassium ratio greater than about 3 or 4.
The higher the sodium/potassium
ratio in this case, the more severe the pattern.
If the calcium/magnesium ratio
is also greater than 9.5, the pattern is a double pattern and is more severe.
Do
not wash the hair!
The hair must not be washed at the laboratory for accurate assessment of
sympathetic dominance. See below
for more about hair washing at the laboratory.
II. THE MEANING OF
SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
Sympathetic dominance indicates a
person who is over-utilizing his or her sympathetic nervous system. In simple terms, the person is pushing himself or herself, or worrying too much.
The sodium and potassium
readings on a hair tissue mineral analysis, and to some degree their ratio, have
to do with the utilization of this branch of the autonomic or automatic nervous
system.
Relation to the stress wave and
progression from fast to slow oxidation.
The stress wave is the way the
body responds to a stressor.
Sympathetic dominance can occur when there is not enough recovery phase.
The progression from fast
oxidation to slow oxidation. While some use of this
fight-or-flight system is normal and needed, when it is overused chronically,
it becomes exhausted. The body flips
into a parasympathetic state we call slow oxidation. However, if one keeps on using the sympathetic system after
exhaustion occurs, the sodium and potassium levels in the hair keep declining,
revealing the pattern we are discussing.
Physiology. In fact, the person is eliminating in the
urine and sweat some sodium and potassium beyond what is ideal. This directly gives rise to the low
levels. The pattern also has to do
with the level of aldosterone in some instances, and
it has to do with more complex mechanisms that come into play when the adrenal
glands are very stressed, and depleted nutritionally.
1. More
physical activity than is appropriate for them. People who are in a sympathetic dominant
mode of behavior often run around too much physically. Many are forever busy. They have trouble just relaxing,
sitting still, resting, and being idle.
They often feel compelled, and
at times, somewhat obsessive or compulsive, though usually not in a
pathological way. In fact, this can
be a very positive trait when it is controlled. Many are very caring and thoughtful, for example, but it is
taken to an extreme and eventually begins to damage the body.
Some believe they are still fast
oxidizers, when, in fact, the body has Òburned outÓ of fast oxidation and is
now in slow oxidation.
Many feel they are being Òchased
by tigersÓ much of the time. They may have been taught that to relax is a
Òwaste of timeÓ or ÒunproductiveÓ or ÒlazyÓ.
They are doers. Often they identify themselves with their
ÔdoingnessÕ, meaning their activities, physical or
mental, rather than identifying with their beingness. The latter would be more like a very
young child who is just happy to be himself or herself
and need not run around or do much of anything to be happy.
2.
Anxious or worriers. This is a
form of Òrunning around aimlesslyÓ in the mind
3.
Tired, but usually somewhat out of touch with the fatigue and exhaustion. They often feel tired only when they
slow down. The reason for this is that the
body is often in a Òsecond windÓ mode of living much of the time. If they relax, they often feel like
going to sleep. This is disturbing
for them, so they get up and go again, putting themselves back in a sympathetic
nervous mode.
4. A very active mind. Sympathetic dominant individuals are
generally smart and have a very active mind to begin with, which gets
overactive easily. This can make
relaxing, sleeping or just sitting even more difficult.
5.
Willfulness. This, of course, is a good thing if it
is used wisely. However, the best
use of the will for the sympathetic dominant type of person is to will oneself
to slow down, relax and perhaps meditate, since that can undo the pattern
better than anything else. The use
of the will for other purposes, such as planning, moving the body, thinking too
much and so forth, tends to make the pattern worse and keep it going.
6.
Fearful and always somewhat depressed underneath due to fears, worries and
fatigue. Some with sympathetic dominance are
running away because otherwise they would not feel well.
7.
A high copper type of personality.
They
generally have hidden or overt copper toxicity. This helps explain some of their symptoms such as an active,
analytical, emotional aspect of the personality.
8.
In Acupuncture, damp heat or a weak yang rising.
9.
Reduced libido in some cases. This may stem from hidden
fatigue, and an inability to just relax.
10.
Ungrounded and not centered enough. This goes with the tendency to run around too much or worry
too much.
11.
Problems with the first and second energy centers, called in Oriental medicine
the first and second energy centers.
This has
to do with grounding, centering, and other things.
12.
Often occurs in intelligent, spiritually-oriented
people. I am
not sure why this occurs, but it is common.
IV. CAUSES FOR
SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
Causes
for this pattern can come from the spiritual, mental or physical realm.
1.
Spiritual imbalances as a cause of sympathetic dominance. Sympathetic dominant individuals are usually quite
spiritually oriented or advanced, compared to the mass of the people. One wants to Òmove onÓ, so to speak,
but does not know how to do this without burning out the nervous system in a
fight-or-flight reaction.
This is where meditation of the
proper kind can be essential and powerful. It is a productive way to use the will and other mental
faculties without burning oneself out.
The same will that gets one into
trouble with this mineral pattern can thus be used in a powerful, healing,
creative manner. For more
information about this, read the article entitled Meditation. Beware of using just any meditation, as
many do not have nearly the same effect as the one we recommend. Another article to read on this topic
is Mental Development.
Another spiritual aspect of this
pattern is that many with sympathetic dominance are somewhat lonely because of
the their level of mental development.
They react to this by trying to Ôfit in with the crowdÕ. To do so, they tend to overwork,
overachieve, and generally run themselves ragged. Many try to please others, which is always a mistake. As a result, they exhaust themselves.
Another spiritual aspect is that
these individuals are generally quite ungrounded and uncentered. They have a strong need for grounding
and centering. There are not too
many ways to achieve this, and one is the Roy Masters meditation exercise mentioned
above and in the article on meditation on this website. Walking slowly is another excellent way
to become centered and grounded, and is highly recommended for this reason. Also, learning to maintain strict
boundaries and learning basic truths about the world and about people is also
most helpful. For this, a starting
point is to read the article called Survival on this
website, and to implement what it recommends totally, without exception.
2.
Mental/emotional causes of sympathetic dominance. This has the most to do with oneÕs upbringing. Many people are taught not be lazy, to
be productive, to not waste time, and so forth. This can become exaggerated into sympathetic dominance. It is a type of compulsive or obsessive
quality, we might say.
Another emotional cause may be
excessive emotions that are fearful, negative, angry or harmful in some
way. For example, fear of poverty,
fear of the unknown, fear of self, even, can drive many people to achieve highly
or just to keep moving all the time.
Fear.
The sympathetic
nervous system is the fight-or-flight system. It is the bodyÕs response to fear. Anything that creates fear, whether it be
listening to the news, watching a horror movie or war movie, being in the
company of harmful friends or family, or a thousand other situations can
contribute to sympathetic dominance symptoms.
Anger.
Many people
with sympathetic dominance are quite angry underneath. This is partially because they are
spiritually advanced people who are having trouble handling the world. It can also be for all sorts of other
reasons, such as childhood traumas.
Dealing with anger, which is always an adrenal response to fear that is
projected onto others, is important for many people with sympathetic dominance
pattern.
3.
Biochemical or nutritional causes of sympathetic dominance. Copper imbalance is always present with this pattern. In fact, a low
hair potassium, Dr. Eck found, is always an indicator for hidden copper
toxicity. To read more about
copper, read Copper Toxicity Syndrome.
Other toxic metals, especially
mercury and cadmium, or even toxic chemicals in the body may also irritate and
drive a person even when he or she wants to relax.
The three amigos are always present in
excess as well. They help support
the sodium level, according to our research. Note that they will often not be revealed on early hair
mineral analyses. These are
aluminum, along with a biounavailable form of
manganese and iron that are most likely oxides. These also irritate and stimulate the adrenals or the
nervous system, perpetuating the pattern.
For more on this topic, read The Three Amigos.
Also, fatigue also depletes
vital nutrients such as zinc, chromium, selenium and others. These vital minerals
and some vitamins as well are then often replaced by toxic metals such as
cadmium, copper and others.
If one follows a nutritional balancing
program, however, the toxic metals and toxic chemicals will slowly be
eliminated from the body. As that
happens, a person often calms down, worries less, relaxes more and the
sympathetic dominance pattern disappears.
Many other toxic and physiological
minerals can also contribute to the pattern.
4.
Physical causes of sympathetic dominance. An interesting
cause of this pattern is muscle tension in the body.
This may take the form of simple tense muscles or it may cause spinal
misalignments and other distortions of the physical body and posture that
require handling by chiropractors or osteopaths.
It might also take the form of
tight fascia that is addressed by Rolfing or Structural Integration, tight
ligaments, bad posture or other structural or physical imbalances.
This is a strictly physical
situation for the most part. This
also means that anyone with sympathetic dominance should consider physical
therapies such as chiropractic and structural integration as part of an overall
healing program.
An interesting structural aspect
is that a so-called cringing posture will tend to cause this pattern by
irritating the sympathetic nerves in the upper and lower spinal area. As the posture changes, the nerves can
relax.
Chiropractic misalignments can
also contribute to the pattern in a fairly pure physical sense.
V. CORRECTING
SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
The
nutritional balancing programs we recommend are geared to correct sympathetic
dominance in at least ten different ways, which I will elaborate here:
á
Basic good
nutrition. Those with sympathetic dominance often
have poor eating habits, as they are always somewhat on the run. They also are depleted by their
pattern. Also, the sympathetic
nervous system interferes with their digestion and their elimination, so these
area of their bodies are weakened in most cases. These are specifically addressed with nutritional balancing
programs with the right food, good eating habits and the use of supplements
such as GB-3 and others.
á
Balancing the
oxidation rate.
This helps eliminate toxic metals
and restore the autonomic and other parts of the nervous system to optimal
functioning.
á
Toxic metal
removal. The nutritional balancing program
begins to remove All of the toxic metals. For more about how this is done without
chelation therapy, read The Danger of
Toxic Metals.
á
Specific
nutrients. We
may give specific nutrients to rebuild the brain and nervous system. This, however, is never quite as important
as the basic lifestyle changes mentioned above.
á
Supplement program
special alterations. We give fewer stimulating supplements
to these people. For example, I
substitute Thyro-complex at 2-2-2 for Endo-dren because Thyro-complex is
more balanced and not as powerful a product. Also, I reduce Megapan to 1-1-1
instead of 2-2-2 in all cases.
á
We
give more parasympathetic-oriented supplements. These may include calcium, magnesium, zinc, ox bile, pancreatin or other supplements such as valerian root, for
example, if needed for sleep or relaxation for a while.
á
Lifestyle. We recommend a lot more rest and sleep, going to bed early,
and making a concerted effort to slow down your thinking, moving, eating, and
all other activities.
á
Other
lifestyle recommendations include learning to start each day slowly, taking slow walks
during the day and deep breathing on a regular basis.
á
Dietary
suggestions.
Eliminate all stimulants such as caffeine, fruit, fruit juices and sugar.
á
The Pushing Down Exercise. This is the most powerful way to slowly undo many of the
physical, mental and emotional causes for the sympathetic dominance pattern.
á
Use a lamp sauna
daily. Using a
near infrared lamp sauna each and every day is extremely helpful. You may feel tired temporarily, but
that is because it is relaxing the autonomic nervous system and is very, very
helpful. Just rest after the sauna
session. A far infrared sauna or
traditional sauna are not as good.
á
Foot reflexology
and coffee enemas.
Foot reflexology is superb to rebalance the acupressure meridians and relax the
nervous system. Coffee enemas
bring energy downward in the body and are also particularly needed by people
with this pattern. They can be life-saving and usually feel very good. These procedures, along with the sauna
sessions, are specifically helpful for this mineral and personality pattern.
á
Chiropractic and
Rolfing. Also
consider chiropractic adjustments and perhaps Rolfing or structural integration
to reduce adhesions and tension in the body.
HAIR MUST NOT BE WASHED AT THE LAB TO IDENTIFY SYMPATHETIC
DOMINANCE
It is critical that the hair not
be washed at the laboratory for accurate readings of sodium and potassium, in
particular. These are water soluble minerals, and are easily removed by washing.
Only two laboratories I am aware
of do not wash the hair at the laboratory. These are Analytical Research Laboratories in Phoenix,
Arizona, the one I most recommend, and Trace Elements, Inc. in Addison, Texas.
I do not recommend using Trace Elements, Inc. for hair testing. They are not as careful, they do not
list the ideal hair values, their graphs are more difficult to read, and their
nutrition programs are not as good.
I do not recommend using a hair
tissue mineral testing laboratory that washes the hair in any manner. In my experience, the problems
associated with hair samples that are contaminated with dust or other items is
much less than the problem of skewed readings due to the chemicals used to wash
the hair.
SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE ON RETEST HAIR MINERAL ANALYSES
On retest hair mineral analyses when a person is following a
nutritional balancing program, the pattern is much less important because it is
usually just a retracing effect that is very temporary and will pass usually in
a few days to a few weeks or so.
One may still experience the
symptoms of sympathetic dominance while one is retracing the pattern, but the
symptoms are usually transient and fairly mild most of the time.
VARIANTS OF SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
Burned Out
Sympathetic Dominance. This
pattern is present when the sympathetic dominance pattern of a low potassium
level combines with a sodium/potassium ratio less than 2.5.
This
may indicate that a person has been in sympathetic dominance for a long time,
or it has been quite extreme, so that now the adrenal glands are quite
exhausted, causing a low sodium/potassium ratio. It is not a healthful pattern at all, and is associated with
exhaustion, fatigue, depression, and most chronic illnesses.
Hunted. This is just a way to express or
understand an extreme sympathetic dominance pattern. Criteria for a ÔhuntedÕ pattern include a potassium level of
1 mg% or less, a Ca/K ratio greater than 200, and an
Na/K ratio of 4 or more.
Three highs. It is possible to have a three high macromineral pattern along with sympathetic dominant.
Four
Highs. This is also possible along with
sympathetic dominance.
Doubling. The sympathetic dominance criteria can exist on the second
four minerals. When they show up
on the second four minerals, it is called a doubling pattern.
Second four only. The pattern could also show up only on the second four
minerals. We donÕt believe we have
seen this pattern. It would mean
the condition is only present at a deep level of oneÕs being.
COMBINATION PATTERNS THAT INCLUDE SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
Sympathetic
dominance is part of a number of other important macromineral
patterns on a hair mineral analysis in which the hair is not washed at the
laboratory. These include:
1.
Trying Too Hard pattern. This is indicated by
sympathetic dominance and a calcium level above about 165, also called a calcium shell.
2.
Wasting OneÕs Time or Biding OneÕs Time. This is a potassium of 4 mg% or less, combined with a calcium shell
and a calcium/magnesium ratio of 13.5 or higher.
3.
Stress From Within And Without This is sympathetic dominance
combined with a calcium/magnesium ratio greater than 13.5.
4.
Trying Hard To Stay Afloat. This consists of sympathetic dominance
combined with a double high ratio pattern. The latter is a sodium/potassium ratio greater than about 5
and a calcium/magnesium ratio greater than about 10). It must also be a two highs or
perhaps three highs pattern, but not a four highs pattern.
5. Workaholic
pattern. This pattern is defined as three high macrominerals,
AND a sodium/potassium ratio greater than 3.
All of the above patterns always
include a sympathetic dominance pattern.
QUANTIFYING SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE
One can assess the severity of
sympathetic dominance by assessing how many sympathetic dominance patterns are
present on a hair chart. Double
and triple sympathetic dominance patterns are common, and it is possible to
have ten or even 15 sympathetic dominance indicators.
The way to quantify the pattern
is to add up the number of sympathetic dominant indicators that are present on
the chart. Here are the criteria,
so far:
1. Potassium of 4 mg% = a single pattern.
2. Potassium of 3 mg% = a double pattern.
3. Potassium of 2 mg% = a triple pattern.
4. Potassium of 1 mg% = a quadruple pattern.
5. Potassium less than 1 mg%. This is not currently read on ARL hair tests, but some other
laboratories read potassium levels at lower levels. Lower potassium indicates more sympathetic dominance
patterns, and the exact criteria are still being worked out.
6. If the potassium is 4 or less, AND the sodium/potassium
ratio greater than about 3 to 4, this may add another multiple, or up to 5 more
sympathetic dominant patterns depending on how high the sodium/potassium ratio
is. (For the number of indicators to add, see Elevated Sodium/Potassium Ratio in the Quantifying
The Patterns article).
7. If the potassium is 4 or less, AND the sodium/potassium
ratio is greater than about 3 to 4, AND the calcium/magnesium ratio greater
than about 9.5, this adds another multiple, or perhaps more than one if the
sodium/potassium ratio and/or the calcium/magnesium ratio are very high.
8. A four
lows pattern adds another indicator.
9. If three highs or four highs pattern is present, AND the
sodium/potassium ratio is about 3 or greater, this adds another multiple or
perhaps more than one, depending on how high the sodium/potassium ratio is.
10. If three highs or four highs pattern is present, AND the
sodium/potassium ratio is about 3 or greater, AND the calcium/magnesium ratio
is greater than about 9.5, this can add another multiple or perhaps more than
one, depending on how high the sodium/potassium ratio and/or calcium magnesium
ratios are.
11. Every four poor eliminator patterns adds one sympathetic dominance
indicator.
12. Every four very poor eliminator patterns adds an additional one
sympathetic dominance indicator. (This is in addition to indicators due to poor
eliminator pattern.)
In this way, one can have, for
example, five, ten or even fifteen sympathetic dominance patterns on a single
hair mineral chart!
WHAT TO DO IF ONE IS NOT SURE IF A PERSON HAS A SYMPATHETIC
DOMINANT PATTERN
At
times, a hair mineral analysis may reveal borderline sympathetic dominance such as a hair
potassium level of 5 mg% and a sodium/potassium ratio of about 4. In these cases, here are some ways to
decide if sympathetic dominance is present:
1. Retest the hair after two months or so using hair cut
very close to the scalp and only ½ inch long in order to obtain very
up-to-date mineral readings. This may clarify whether the person has
moved into sympathetic dominance.
2.
Try both a regular program and a sympathetic dominant
program and ask the patient which way he feels better.
Begin
with a sympathetic dominant program because it is milder and therefore
safer. Giving a more powerful standard program when sympathetic dominance
is present overstimulates the autonomic nervous
system and the person feels better for a short time - a week or two - and then
usually feels worse.
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