Neural Therapy — An Incredible Therapy for Modern Day Conditions

By Dr. Christine Surrago, ND

In an era of modern living and technology, our nervous systems are overstimulated, overdriven and taxed on a minute to minute basis.  Due to the overdrive of the autonomic nervous system (fight or flight system), the body lacks the ability to properly rest and heal.  Proper rest is the foundation of all health and healing.  Regardless of whether you sleep well or not, if your living in modern society, you have some degree of overstimulation on your nervous system.  

There is some excellent research that shows that many cases of chronic illness and pain are associated with negative changes in the autonomic nervous system.  This includes anxiety, depression, mood disorders, autoimmune diseases, digestive disturbances, chronic headaches, chronic pain conditions, chronic infections (such as lyme, EBV or MRSA), endocrine conditions (diabetes, hormonal conditions) and so forth.  An unbalanced autonomic nervous system has a widespread negative effect on the body including muscle tension and pain, decreased blood and lymph perfusion throughout the tissue, decreased glandular functioning, thyroid issues, adrenal issues, hormonal issues, cardiovascular and immune system issues.  Neural therapy helps to release tension and trauma that is held in the nervous system and helps to restore the function of all of the cells and organ systems.  

Neural Therapy

Neural Therapy consists of injections of procaine either just under the skin, or deeper in some cases.  Procaine is a medicine that helps to stabilize cell membranes, decrease inflammation, restore blood and lymphatic flow to a region.  Carefully placed injections of procaine in the body over a series of treatments help to restore the autonomic nervous system.  The restoration and balancing of the “fight or flight” response leads to expedited healing.

Chronic Pain + Myofascial Tension 
Neural Therapy is used to treat cases of chronic pain.  Some causes of chronic pain are from surgeries or traumas to the body.  Surgeries will result in a scar pulling on their other organs, bones and muscles.  This injection releases the scar tissue resulting in decreased pain.  Many women with C-Sections or fibroid removal have benefited drastically from this therapy. Any pain in their body that has developed over time from the scar tissue pulling on their body is completely resolved within a few treatments.

Interference Fields
Neural Therapy is used to treat interference fields.  An interference field forms from an injury, scar, surgery or tattoo.  These fields can cause a disturbance anywhere in the body no matter where it is located and halt the healing process.  All scars, injuries and tattoos need to be injected over time to clear these interference fields.  I have also seen concussions related to various diseases including hormonal disturbances, gastrointestinal issues and autoimmune diseases. A few injections around the crown of the head, restoring the autonomics around the head has significantly helped these people.  Tattoos are another trauma to the body which I highly recommend a series of neural therapy appointments to clear any trauma in the body.  I have seen many patients with tattoos receive neural therapy and many of their conditions resolve including anxiety, depression, digestion issues, hormonal issues.

Chakras + Mental Emotional Issues
There is another use of neural therapy, which I find very beneficial on a mental/emotional/spiritual level.  It is the injection of procaine near the different chakras.  Chakras can hold patterns or programming which can limit our ability to have healthy relationships, vibrant health and progress in our lives.  With these injections, people have reported to have released different programs during their visit and have the experience of having no ego or chakra programs for the rest of the day.  This experience is priceless and most people never have the opportunity to experience this.

Who Can Benefit?
Anyone can benefit from neural therapy. If you have had any injuries, scars, tattoos, surgeries it would certainly be beneficial.  If you have any degree of stress, anxiety, depression or a sense of unwellness you can certainly benefit from this therapy.    Conditions I have seen benefit from this therapy, or completely heal include:

• Autoimmune conditions including RA, MS, Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis
• Chronic immune deficiency leading to infections including Epstein Barr Virus, Lyme, Strep, Bowel infections + MRSA infections
• Hormonal issues including PMS, PCOS, amenorrhea, painful or excessive period flow, adrenal fatigue, thyroid issues
• Endocrine issues including diabetes
• Cardiovascular issues
• Mental/Emotional Issues including Anxiety + Depression + Bipolar

Photo credit: Melissa Rousseau

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Dr. Christine Surrago is a Naturopathic Doctor who practices medicine in Santa Monica California.  She draws on ancient healing modalities, nutrition, homeopathy, bioresonance and modern healing modalities from all over the world to cure her patients of illness.  For any questions or to learn more check out her website drchristinesurrago.com

10 Ways You Can Take Control Over You Skin Right Now in Preparation for the Holidays

As you know by now HOC is not shy when it comes to sharing the best of the best in vibrant health and that is why we took no shortcuts when we journeyed to visit Stephanie Lauren Brown in the city that never sleeps for tips on how to take care of our skin when we don’t get enough! Stephanie knows how to substantially improve skin with more than fourteen years of studies in conjunction with Ayurveda, and coupled with her magic touch. She can tell just from looking at you what lifestyle your body is living and give you suggestions that give results! 

Stephanie, if only all facials could be as sweet as yours. When we think of your approach to skin, the first word that comes to mind is effective. Experiencing your customized holistic facial in NYC further encouraged us to care for our skin from the inside out. 

What are ten ways you can take control over you skin right now in preparation for the holidays?

1. Start with hydration. We all know that drinking water is important, but when the temperature gets low, a key move you can make to keep yourself hydrated is forgoing ice altogether and instead, sip on hot water throughout the day. Throw a slice of lemon or orange in there for a little extra flavor if drinking hot water doesn't sound appealing. Hot water encourages your digestive system to relax and keeps all of your channels open to hydrate more deeply.

2. Exfoliate! The face and the body are probably ready for a more intense exfoliation after all of the time spent outdoors in the summer. For the body, I like to mix up a little organic sugar with sesame oil to make a scrub, and then take it into the shower with me. And depending on how intense the weather is where you live, exfoliate your face with caution. If you do too much, you'll end up causing more harm than good. This is a good time of year to begin a nighttime retinol treatment, which can exfoliate gently and help improve just about every skin concern imaginable - fine lines, sun spots, breakouts, etc. I adore Marie Veronique's gentle and natural versions. 

3. Up your internal omega intake with foods like salmon, sardines, anchovies, nuts, and seeds. These foods are important for just about all of the body's organs and functions, but your skin, in particular, will thank you. 

4. Massage your face. We really should be taking the time each day to do this, as the immediate and long term benefits are so great. Massage not only assists our skin in working more effectively, but improves the actual health of the skin by boosting circulation and oxygenation of the muscles. We hold a lot of tension in our facial muscles, especially around the jaw and in the forehead, so consciously relaxing these muscles relieves stress there and can prevent fine lines from forming. This is why I typically spend nearly an hour or more massaging the faces of my clients! Over time, the muscles lift, TMJ pain disappears, and the skin congests less. It's probably the single most important thing you can do for your skin, period. 

5. At night, the skin can absorb and assimilate nutrients more effectively than during the daytime, so it's imperative to take the time with your evening  skincare routine. Make sure you're effectively removing your makeup, then cleansing, followed by toning and then massaging in your serums. Layer on a heathy dose of a balm or moisturizer and wake up to happier skin, every morning. 

6. If you live in a dry climate, consider a humidifier next to your bed while you sleep to increase the amount of water in the air, and therefore, in your skin. 

7. There are a lot of health trends that come and go, but one that I can really get behind is the bone broth craze. There are so many good minerals, vitamins, and nutrients in there that we can't get from any other source in nature- I really try to encourage everyone to get on board with this. Some of my vegan clients have reluctantly tried this and have seen major improvements with a lot of different symptoms- from indigestion and leaky gut to joint pain and arthritis. Can't recommend it enough!

8. Sleep is so essential and it's always staggering to see the research on how many of us aren't sleeping well consistently. More than anything, it helps to regulate our body's hormones and basically affects every angle of our overall well-being, including the skin's health. If you're not sleeping well, make it your highest priority. 

9. By now we are all aware of how much stress can age us prematurely, so at this point it's just a matter of finding little ways to alleviate stress as we experience it on a daily basis. This is why having a few breathing practices are so helpful - we can do them anywhere and at any time. Breathing is generally at the heart of many meditation techniques and discovering at least one that works for you is key to keeping hormones balanced and the skin radiant. 

10. Get a facial! At a minimum, I recommend getting at least one facial with each seasonal change annually. This is especially important if you live somewhere with dramatic seasonal changes so that you can get a professional's stamp of approval on seasonally-appropriate products for home use, which can be different for everyone. Find an Esthetician who aligns with your values and uses products that you are interested in using so that they can be an effective part of your team.

Article by: Karli Quinn

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Stephanie Lauren Brown is a passionate Holistic Skin Therapist whose work focuses on nurturing the skin from the inside out.

After personally battling cystic acne for ten years, Stephanie understands how frustrating and self-deprecating troubled skin can be. Years of internal antibiotic use combined with harsh, chemically-laden prescription creams and aggressive facial procedures made her wonder why no one or nothing had seemed to make a substantial improvement in her skin. It was then she decided to explore what might be causing this chronic condition, and began a deep, lifelong study of the body and its processes.

Over fifteen years of studies have refined Stephanie's abilities to assist clients who are suffering from troubled skin utilizing natural ingredients and practiced techniques. She has been a working Certified Massage Therapist since 2002, and is a Certified Ayurvedic Health Educator through the California College of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Institute since 2006. Stephanie is also an Aveda-trained holistic Esthetician and has completed multiple advanced body and skin therapy trainings throughout her career in a variety of healing modalities including Marma point therapy, Pancha Karma and traditional Ayurvedic body therapies, Acupressure, Reflexology, manual lymph drainage, Myofascial release, and Reiki. She holds Aesthetic Licenses in both New York and California. Stephanie combines the most effective techniques in her treatments in addition to thoughtful lifestyle coaching to assist each client on their path to vibrant health.

Stephanie Lauren Brown: Holistic Skin Therapist

As you know by now HOC is not shy when it comes to sharing the best of the best in vibrant health and that is why we took no shortcuts when we journeyed to visit Stephanie Lauren Brown in the city that never sleeps for tips on how to take care of our skin when we don’t get enough! Stephanie knows how to substantially improve skin with more than fourteen years of studies in conjunction with Ayurveda, and coupled with her magic touch. She can tell just from looking at you what lifestyle your body is living and give you suggestions that give results! 

Stephanie, if only all facials could be as sweet as yours. When we think of your approach to skin, the first word that comes to mind is effective. Experiencing your customized holistic facial in NYC further encouraged us to care for our skin from the inside out. 

1 . Your Ayurvedic approach is personalized and natural – how did you come to find that a holistic routine was a solution that works wonders for skin. Tell us about your philosophy.

I learned from my own experience with cystic acne. I began developing acne at the age of thirteen and suffered from a pretty severe case of it for about ten years. During that time, I tried just about everything that was suggested to me, from Accutane (which I took three times) to going vegan, to microdermabrasion, and nothing really made a significant difference. I had essentially given up on ever having skin that I could feel confident about without makeup. Around the same time, I began focusing seriously on my yoga practice and discovered Ayurveda. I was so intrigued and wanted to integrate it into the bodywork that I was already practicing professionally, so I got certified as an Ayurvedic Health Educator. The year and a half I spent in that program was transformational; it was as if I was finally putting a language to information that I had known all along. And slowly, by implementing the techniques and lifestyle suggestions it offered me, my skin completely cleared up, my chronic anxiety was alleviated, and I felt more aligned with my purpose than ever before. 

The holistic medical model of Ayurveda opened my eyes to not only the intricate connections of every system in the body, but to the connection we have as humans to the earth. Ayurveda is the original "farm to table" movement and proves that living in harmony with the environment around us is the truest and healthiest way to exist. We only have to shift our perspective to be able to see that our skin is just the outer reflection of our inner state of health, which includes the physical, mental, and spiritual components. You can't expect a single thing about your body to change if you don't consider all of the parts involved. I try to help my clients see themselves from a different perspective than they have before.

2. What is the first thing you notice about other people’s skin?

Because I use the skin as a diagnostics tool, I can tell a lot about the kind of lifestyle you live by just looking at your skin. Both Chinese medicine and Ayurveda have specific face-mapping techniques that I use to see where you may be experiencing an imbalance internally. By supporting your body via diet, sleep, and stress reduction, the skin will naturally improve. 

3. Many of us are often on the go or traveling and this deeply affects how our skin looks and feels. What is in your skin travel bag?

I try to keep it simple as I hate to lug around a huge bag so I typically have a hydrating toner and an oil with me at all times. On the plane, I will frequently mist my face and then massage in some oil to trap the water into the skin. And if it's a long flight, I'll layer on a nice thick layer of moisturizer on top to make sure I don't get too dry! I also keep a balm of some sort to use around the eyes, lips, and on my hands. 

4. What is your daily skin beauty regime?

This shifts depending on where I am. In the city (NYC), I always make sure to start the day with some water splashed on the face, followed by a toner, and then an oil mixed with an antioxidant serum of some sort. This helps to neutralize any free radical damage that occurs from living in a polluted city (yuck). At night, I double cleanse, using an oil first, then repeating my toning, oil, and serum application but instead using a heavier oil and a retinol serum. Then I layer on a balm. If I'm in the country (at our house in Northwestern Connecticut), then I'm much less diligent about everything! 

5. Is it more important to feed your skin from the inside or outside?

Ooooo- a tough question! But ultimately, no matter what you're using on the outside, topical products are almost useless unless you're making an effort to take care of yourself on the inside via diet, sleep, and stress reduction. Period. 

6. Do you have any tips for reducing redness?

If you're seeing redness in the skin, you've got inflammation, and it's definitely also happening somewhere internally, as well. Remove all inflammatory foods from your diet (dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar) and use some calming topicals to soothe the skin like pure aloe gel. 

7. Who is your (sk)inspiration?

I am inspired by so many women who are using modern chemistry mixed with herbal alchemy to craft elegant, superior products. Marie Veronique, Sara Crowe of Floracopiea, and Julie Elliot of In Fiore are just a few. 

8. What is the best thing for dry skin? Oily skin?

Dry skin needs hydration via water and something that can hold it in there like a hyalauronic acid serum followed by an oil and balm. Oily skin needs regular exfoliation and a lightweight oil like grape seed or jojoba to keep it balanced. 

9. Do you prefer a shower or a bath?

Baths!  I dump everything in the bath, including crystals and flowers. Baths make me feel like a goddess.

10. We often hear how crucial the appropriate amount of sleep is. In your opinion, what role does sleep have on affecting the skin?

Sleep is absolutely essential to hormonal regulation which affects every function of the body. If you're not sleeping well, your immune system will be compromised and you're much more likely to get sick, not to mention experience dull skin. Make sleep a priority- it's essential to your health. 

11. If you could choose one makeup item to wear what would it be? Why? ( i.e. foundation, mascara, lip , eyebrow etc.)

It used to be foundation but now that my skin doesn't break out I don't usually wear makeup. A good mascara is hard to find but it's kind of my can't-live-without item.

12. T or F. It is better for your skin to wear no makeup at all.

 Absolutely. Wouldn't it be so great if we didn't feel pressured to wear makeup at all? Let your skin breathe and skip it. 

Article by: Karli Quinn

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Stephanie Lauren Brown is a passionate Holistic Skin Therapist whose work focuses on nurturing the skin from the inside out.

After personally battling cystic acne for ten years, Stephanie understands how frustrating and self-deprecating troubled skin can be. Years of internal antibiotic use combined with harsh, chemically-laden prescription creams and aggressive facial procedures made her wonder why no one or nothing had seemed to make a substantial improvement in her skin. It was then she decided to explore what might be causing this chronic condition, and began a deep, lifelong study of the body and its processes.

Over fifteen years of studies have refined Stephanie's abilities to assist clients who are suffering from troubled skin utilizing natural ingredients and practiced techniques. She has been a working Certified Massage Therapist since 2002, and is a Certified Ayurvedic Health Educator through the California College of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Institute since 2006. Stephanie is also an Aveda-trained holistic Aesthetician and has completed multiple advanced body and skin therapy trainings throughout her career in a variety of healing modalities including Marma point therapy, Pancha Karma and traditional Ayurvedic body therapies, Acupressure, Reflexology, manual lymph drainage, Myofascial release, and Reiki. She holds Aesthetic Licenses in both New York and California. Stephanie combines the most effective techniques in her treatments in addition to thoughtful lifestyle coaching to assist each client on their path to vibrant health.