Marianne Gutierrez: Health Practitioner: Reverse Therapy and Lightning Process and three little glands

Reverse Therapy and Lightning Process and three little glands · 1 November 2007

Update November 1st 2007

Please check out the following two recent therapies to help CFS/ME.

First
The Perrin Technique I am really excited about this treatment programme and am actively looking for a therapist in my area. I will keep this website informed of my progress.

Second
If it is a type of counselling you need then check out this site:
Gupta Amygdala Retraining Article awaiting publication with comments from Ashok Gupta.
I am personally not sure of this route for me but I think it warrants checking out.

We appear to be singing from the same song sheet for a change!

Update: October 17th 2007
Phil Parker’s Lightning Process Training
This article brings into ‘the light’ the ‘tools’ of Phil Parker’s Lightning Process and highlights the concerns I and many others have for therapies that do not fully advertise their modus operandi.

Update: September 7th 2007
7 Questions to Phil Parker
Now awaiting a response from Phil Parker.

September 7th 2007
Response from Phil Parker

Also see this new article Lightning Process which includes an email from a patient in praise of the Lightning Process.

Reverse Therapy and Lightning Process and three little glands
Update – 16 March 2007

Further information:
Definition of psychiatry, psychology and psychotherapy
Lightning Therapy
Sunlight

Three little glands.

The hypothalamus is a little gland in the brain that is the control centre of the whole body and some say it is a brain within a brain.

It is the primary link between the nervous system and the endocrine system and it also triggers the pituitary gland to send out hormones. The pituitory gland is the size of a pea and sits underneath the hypothalamus and is extremely important as it controls other endocrine glands.

It is thought that the hypothalamus is under our conscious control. This means that factors in the environment trigger our subconscious mind to activate the hypothalamus. For example: if we feel the cold, information is cascaded down from the hypothalamus via glands and hormones (they are the messengers) so that various functions are triggered to provide warmth, if we feel fear adrenaline is released.

Another little gland in the brain is the pineal gland click on Sunlight. Daylight causes the pineal gland to ‘wake-up’ and stimulates it to stop the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep and awake cycle.
(Which is why I think that changes to the hour during the winter makes the disorder known as SAD, worse. Farmers do not change the times when they mlk their cows because when they did, the milk yeild went down. So during winter cows are milked at the same hour as the hour during summer. What does this tell you?)

What causes the pineal gland to malfunction?
Unusual light and dark rythyms, radiation, magnetic fields, poor nutrition or nutritional imbalances, temperature swings, high altitude and general stresses.

The pineal gland has a structure like an eye and functions as a light receptor.

There is a nerve pathway from the retinas to the hypothalamus and information about light and dark cycles is stored in an area of the hypothalamus (SCN) and this information travels along the pineal nerve via nerve impulses to the pineal gland. These nerve impulses stop the production of melatonin. At night when the hypothalamus and the pineal gland are not stimulated by light the production of melatonin increases.

I mention these important glands because of the two therapies mentioned in the title to this article.
There are two therapies that those with ME/CFS find help them: Reverse Therapy and Lightning Process. I have briefly looked at both and they seem to be involving some type of psychotherapy and hypnotherapy. I always feel annoyed with therapies that are given names that don’t completely explain what it is that is doing the healing, why can’t Reverse therapy and Lightning Process therapy be called psychotherapy or hypnotherapy? Is it because they don’t involve psychiatry or is it because they do and that puts patients off?

Reverse therapy deals with the hypothalamus and because it is thought to be under our conscious control, psychotherapy is involved to re-arrange the thoughts which may be affecting the workings of the hypothalamus.

Lightning Process deals with the over production of adrenaline and uses NLP and Hypnotherapy. Please see this website Lightning Process The pituitary gland sends messages to the adrenals to produce adrenaline and the pituitary gland is under the control of the hypothalamus which is under our conscious control.

There are other therapies that involve supporting the pineal gland and melatonin imbalances. However I don’t think it is clear why there are imbalances of melatonin in ME/CFS people, if indeed there are. I am not at all sure why supplementing melatonin would help and feel it would further interfere with the production and non-production of melatonin by the pineal gland. Also the process of melatonin production in the pineal gland involves nerve impulses and for some MEers the nerve impulses are impaired especially if shingles is thought to be the trigger for their ME/CFS. What nutrients support the nerves? Calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, fish oils and B complex vitamins.

HOWEVER, back to the hypothalamus why would ME/CFS people think in a fashion that upsets the hypothalamus? Perhaps they don’t. Perhaps the hypothalamus is perfectly healthy and is sending out all the right signals but the other glands cannot respond because of missing nutrients which perhaps is why the pituitary and pineal glands malfunction. Nutrients go missing (are not absorbed into the blood) when the gut is unhealthy and can’t break them down for adequate absorption. And the gut becomes unhealthy because of stress.

I really believe that it is stress that got us MEers ‘MEd’ in the first place causing a breakdown in the workings of our guts. Stress caused by situations, people or diseases.
The reaction that helps us cope and stay calm and level headed when stress presents itself involves the B complex group of vitamins, zinc, omega oils and Vit C.
The nutrients that keep the gut healthy are the B complex group of vitamins, zinc, omega oils and Vit C.
Identical nutrients.
If we do not have enough of these nutrients and suffer much stress then the nutrients are robbed from the gut, making the gut become unhealthy. When the gut is unhealthy the body becomes ill.

Hold these thoughts for a minute while I just tell you something else.

There is a substance called homocysteine which is produced by the body and these levels get too high and can make us ill. The blood can be tested to discover the levels – anything over 6 is not good and anything over 15 is too high. It is balancing this substance that has helped people with CFS according to Patrick Holford. The supplements that help balance are: B6, B12 and folic acid.

The following has been taken from Patrick Holford’s website

CONQUERING CHRONIC FATIGUE Click on the title to get more information from Patrick Holford’s website and his book the H Factor.

“Ms X, aged 33, was suffering with chronic fatigue so she decided to check her homocysteine level. She was shocked when she found her H score was 25.9 units, higher than her mother’s! Ten years ago she’d had a big car accident and ever since then her health had declined. She’d had had chest infections, pleurisy three times and suffered from chronic fatigue. Sometimes she could barely walk. Here’s what she said: “Since my accident I’ve suffered from a lung infection called pleurisy three times, which knock you out for six weeks each time. This left me pretty much restricted to the house and certainly not able to workout. I used to do a lot of exercise but after the accident I haven’t been able to do so much because I feel very tired. As a result I’m a bit overweight.”

“Ms X went on the H Factor Diet and took the supplements. Within two weeks, she had much more energy and was also sleeping better. Two months later she re-tested her homocysteine level had dropped to 9.4 units. That’s a 64% decrease. Here’s what she told me: “I feel much better. I’m very busy right now and, in the past I’d feel overwhelmed and not able cope both mentally and physically, but now I feel great. My mood is very positive -no panic or depression. I feel bouyant, energetic and enthusiastic. I haven?t had any colds or infections. I’m sleeping much better, my PMS is much better. I experienced no breast tenderness in my last period, and no mood swings or tearfulness. I am really delighted and will continue of the H Factor approach, although not quite so strictly to the point where I can easily stay on it for life.”

See this link: Family Doctor
What causes a high homocysteine level?

“Homocysteine is an amino acid found in the body and is normally changed into other amino acids for use by the body. If your homocysteine level is too high, you may not have enough B vitamins to help this process take place. Or you may not have enough of the chemicals (enzymes) your body uses to process homocysteine.”

“Most people with a high homocysteine level don’t get enough folate (also called folic acid), vitamin B6 or vitamin B12 in their diet. Replacing these vitamins helps return the homocysteine level to normal. Other possible causes of a high homocysteine level include low levels of thyroid hormone, kidney disease, psoriasis, or some medicines.”

Stress depletes the gut of vital nutrients especially the B vitamins. A lack of B vitamins may produce too high a level of homocysteine. A high level of homocysteine can make us ill with CFS and other diseases. A huge lack of B vitamins may damage the nerve fibres and nerve impulses. B12 from the B vitamin complex is known to help many ME/CFS people.

Can you see a pattern here? Something to do with stress? And B vitamins? If I got my homocysteine levels checked I bet they will be high – so on with the B vitamins! B vitamins are also good for the nerves and omega oils are thought to repair the myelin sheath around the nerve fibres – all good news don’t you think?

There are many B vitamins and the B complex group of vitamins contains folic acid as well as B12 and B6 as well as other B vitamins.

I have a problem with most supplement products because I am allergic to the fillers and binders and sometimes the ingredients themselves. Please read this article; Allergies Supplements Medication and Ingredient Listing

Updated here 22 May 2006
I originally said here: ‘Forget Reverse therapy, forget Lightning Process therapy’ but in reality I didn’t mean that. I meant to say forget the named therapies and then meant to add: ‘You may need some form of psychotherapy for example: ‘Cognitive Behaviour’, because stress can be caused by our thinking and guilt and that needs to be sorted out too.’

(I belong to a prayer-group where we have the freedom to speak about our concerns and ask God for help and understanding and clarity and I have learnt to forgive those who sought to harm me when I was young or to learn that there is no need to blame myself or to understand that I mustn’t let my thoughts wander over the same old thoughts when it has been dealt with and to let it go.)

Then also enrich your diet with B vitamins, Omega Oils 3&6, Zinc and Vitamin C making sure that the supplements you use do not contain any ingredients you are intolerant to and stay off the foods you are allergic to. Try the regime for a month or three before paying for any of the expensive therapies.

This article was written because my last article about this subject: homeostatis, hypothalamus and reverse therapy needed further information and clarity.

What am I actually saying?

1 There is a disease ME/CFS
2 The brain and three little glands are the control centre of the body’s well-being
3 The controlling gland – the hypothalamus is under our conscious control
4 Therefore it is reasoned that psychotherapy will help and certain tools of psychotherapy – hypnotherapy, NLP etc
5 I believe that it is a lack of nutrition causing the problems with the glands because of the drain on nutrients while the body copes with stress.
6 Therefore good nutrition will help and supplementation with B vitamins, calcium and magnesium and omega oils and zinc and possibly some form of counselling or psychotherapy or in my case Jesus Christ.

Note: Had to stop taking the Solgar B vitamins as I had more aches and pains although interestingly enough I had more sustainable energy and my sleeping was gorgeous compared to what it was! May go back to them again and perservere but I am waiting for a response from a company about how they make the B vitamins as apparently they are micro-organisms. I did feel better with the B vitamins … I think.
Tricky this ME/CFS isn’t it!!!

Further information:
Definition of psychiatry, psychology and psychotherapy
Lightning Therapy
Sunlight

09 September 2007
More thoughts

Next: Ashok Gupta - Gupta Amygdala Retraining

Previous: Phil Parker's Lightning Process training

Hello, I found your article while surfing for stuff about the Lightning Process. I have “applied” to do it, mainly because I met someone who has really benefitted. I do feel a bit sceptical, having tried so many things. I am still not sure if you are saying do or don’t do it? Further thoughts would be so welcome!
Best wishes
Elaine

— Elaine Oct 3, 06:33 PM #
Lightning therapy Click on the link for more information about this therapy. I wouldn’t touch it myself. I think it is a lot of money. As far as I can make out, it is about retraining your thoughts which is akin to CBT, Cognitive Behaviour therapy. Being a christian has caused me to practice my own CBT through prayer and a relationship with Jesus Christ causing in me a realisation that it is I that needs to change not everyone else. Also I really feel that God has led me to the Omega oils that have been extremely pivotal with improvements to my brain and focusing and energy and to the calcium, magnesium and zinc supplements that helps the muscles and energy, and Vit C through freshly squeezed fruit and veg juices that aids digestion and toxicity, now including dead sea salt baths that also aid detoxification, to stretching (see my stretch routine) and to pacing providing good quality rest inbetween any activities.

Do Lightning therapists allow taster sessions for possible clients? Can you book just one session of Lightning therapy and see if it is for you?

Just to let you know, on my regime of going the natural route I am 50% better than I was and I can now take on more work. I can walk further than I could. I can say YES to social occasions more often than I could. I make improvements all the time, which I measure by how far I can walk and the social occasions I say YES to. I can also say YES to a dead sea salt bath which I couldn’t cope with last year. And the days on which I can do more are increasing too. It is taking time but a strict dogma of not using chemical medication or ‘quack’ therapies and staying with what agrees with me seems to be paying off.
I am also researching the thyroid please click here for further information.
I hope all this helps. Please comment again if you need further info/thoughts.

— Marianne Oct 3, 07:41 PM #
Hi, I just stumbled on your piece mentioning Reverse Therapy & The Lightning Process, I’ve done them both & neither of them are actually Psychotherapy, RT is really a kind of life coaching that espouses doing stuff that makes us happy & not putting up with situations that make us uncomfortable, it’s great in theory & a good idea for how to live a pretty good life but it ignores the limitations of having ME, that’s actually the point but despite what they say it doesn’t work for everybody.The LP is just a vey simple ‘stop’ technique taken from NLP, it’s grossly overpriced as a treatment & I wouldn’t recomend it although it does work for some people.Anyway I’ve got a lot better & am hopefully on the final lap of recover, I agree with you that ME is essentially a chronic stress state, but whilst digestion & assimlation of nutrients is an important component in getting well I don’t believe that it’s the key thing.Hardly anyone gets fully recovered from ME by diet & nutrition alone.Basically this stress response needs turning off, can be done partly by the RT approach of living better in a moment by moment way, the LP approach of turning off negative thought patterns can help but it’s possibly more beneficial to stop the negative conditioning that we have that leads to the stress response.Personally for this I’d recomend a therapist who uses NLP & hypnotherapy(importantly here it shouldn’t need too many sessions, it’s not like some treatments where you can keep going for months, 2 or 3 sessions to deal with the key elements), I think if you do this after having improved digestion & diet then you have a good chance of a full reocovery.Good luck.

— Matt Mar 15, 12:45 PM #
Hi Marianne, I am very sceptical about the L.P. It looks to me like VERY expensive CBT. Many doctors believe that CFS/fibromyalgia are symptoms of endocrine disorders – my daughter has become much better since beginning hormone replacement, but still suffers from CFS, and experimenting with L.P. is not on our list. We have already had too many other false dawns with alternative therapies. It worries me that P.P will not accept sceptical patients, and that what actually happens is shrouded in mystery. Surely a genuine therapy would be available to more at an affordable price (remember that CFS sufferers cannot work), and should be beneficial to all, sceptical or not. It smacks of voodoo.

— Jane Sep 8, 11:45 AM #
Hi Matt and Jane, I’m a back to basics person so to you Matt who says that LP is not psychology I disagree. Anything that involves changing thought patterns or processes is psychology – I think. Other than that I think we are all saying the same thing. It is interesting that you mention voodoo Jane because if you look at the prospectus of becoming an LP practitioner very carefully you will see that the use of crystals, dowsing and tarot cards are suggested. I await the answers to my questions that I put to Phil Parker to see if he will admit to their usage. I don’t have a problem with Phil Parker using any medium he wants, I have a problem with him not informing the interested parties of the intention or probability to use these mediums. It is all about making an informed decision and how can you if the person you go to for answers won’t give you the answers? Phil mentions on his website an analagy about going to the right person for answers and uses the London bus system saying something like: If you want to get answers about how to travel across London you ask those who have experience of doing so. Well as I said in one article – I don’t. I go to the relevant person for information ie their website or I get a map. If the relevant person won’t give me the information then surely the aspect is suspect. By degrees Phil is divulging more and more about his Process – let’s hope that finally he tells us the complete God’s Honest Truth.

— Marianne Gutierrez Sep 8, 12:33 PM #
Hello, all v. interesting. What’s your link between Sogar vit B and aches and pains? How did you know it was the vits? Thanks Sarah

— sarah Nov 6, 09:31 AM #
Hi Sarah, I have no scientific clinical trials concerning why I get aches and pains when I take a Solgar B Vitamin. There is nothing in the capsule to suggest any of the allergens I am intolerant to are there. I have tried on many separate occasions months and months apart and get the same effect – aches and pains and feeling ill. I emailed Solgar to request some info and although they assured me that the allergens I am intolerant to are not present they also said that some of the ingredients are, now forgive me because I have totally forgetten the terminology used, but words like ‘grown in a laboratory’ were used. This may be the cause as I cannot tolerate fungi/yeasts of any description. I also think that it is not ‘fair’ on companies who may take every care they can to produce an allergen free product when it is for CFS/ME people like me who are so sensitive. I bring it to the attention of the CFS/ME world that intolerance/allergies may be the cause of most symptoms of CFS/ME and that CFS/ME people may be re-infecting themselves because of not understanding the labelling on supplements. NO ADDED may mean that the allergen is there but the company have not added any more. Or not understanding that yeast contains many B vitamins and that may be used to produce a B vitamin supplement. So while the company may not add the yeast when harvesting the vitamin some of that yeast must be present in the capsule perhaps? Some vitamins are grown on milk maybe these are in the Solgar B and maybe this is why I get aches and pains. It is a mine field trying to understand it all. Food is your best bet – bananas contain some B vitamins and meat does too. In fact meat contains a lot of the vitamins and minerals we need. I do find I am better on days I have eaten bananas, apples and green leafy veg like dark green lettuce and cabbage. I am certain that this world in this time is eating far too much ‘manufactured foods’ from supplements to pork pies including sauces. Time consuming as it can be sometimes, it is far better to make your own using locally produced fresh produce. (except my calcium supplements and fish oils of-course!!!) Hope this helps. Please see the article on the Perrin Technique on the home page here – I do believe this really provides answers for ME – the cause and the cure.

— Nov 7, 09:11 AM #
hello,
i have just come across your site and found it very informative and interesting. i have had cfs since march 2006. i started pacing in january 2007 and i am taking omega 3, multi vits, gingko biloba, siberian ginseng, green tea, garlic, and most recently vitamin b12 1000mcg sublingually…....since pacing commenced in january i have begun improving though experienced the expected setbacks as i was gaining an understanding of the concept. i have had follow up and encouraged and told that i was doing well and getting it right mostly so that was a boost that i needed and support that i required so badly. i have to say that my brain fog and energy levels where improving and most recently from commencing the b12 (i don’t eat red meat and menstruate heavily) i have had noticable benefits. i am going to continue to take them as i have found out that people who don’t consume red meat and are menstruating should consider supplementing with b12 anyway. i feel like i have turned a corner and am hopeful for the future. i do mindful meditation daily in the morning and have retrained myself to respond to situations differently, to make time to relax and be kind to myself. the supplements that you mention are what i am taking and i find that very interesting. thank you for contributing this as it is helpful for people who are suffering from this illness….......the puzzle that it is.

kind regards

dawn

— dawn hosking Nov 12, 12:18 PM #
I have first hand experience of the Lightning Process having accompanied a relative to the 3 day seminars. All I can say is that it has been highly effective for her – after suffering from post viral chronic fatigue for 18 months, my relation no longer suffers from the condition and is living a normal life – able to work, go out and socialise with friends, exercise, do sport – do everything, in fact, that she did before she became ill as a result of severe glandular fever and wasn’t able to do subsequently for 18 months.

It is not voodoo – no use of crystals or dowsing or anything like that – and everyone who was on the course at the same time as my relation had similar good results, although I obviously can’t say if they continue to be well. My relation is going from strength to strength two months after completing the process. I wanted to post this to counterbalance the negativity of this site to a process that I have seen work as a “well” person on people who had been suffering with CFS/ME, some for more than 10 years. It may seem expensive, but most people on the 3 day seminar had spent a fortune over the years on alternative medicines, therapies etc and not one felt that the money had been wasted on the lightning process, as it enabled them to leave free of the debilitating symptoms they had had at the start of the 3 days.

— Helena Jan 27, 12:55 PM #

I would be very interested to hear your comments: