We are constantly stimulated. From when we wake up in the morning and check our emails to when we snooze in front of the TV at night, our senses are always hyperactive. Modern lifestyles are designed to keep the so-called HPA axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis) constantly activated: we live in a fight-or-flight stress mode that is a major driver for emotional and physical imbalance.

What really happens to our internal environment in a state of stress? The body cannot tell the difference between being followed by a feral beast (the idea of stress for our prehistoric ancestors) or being stuck in traffic and late for work. The body’s response is the same: the perceived danger activates the brain to release hormones that will stimulate the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline and noradrenaline. Translated into symptoms, we will experience an increased heart rate and blood pressure, shallow breathing and an inability to digest food. Translated into action, we will get to work flustered, breathless and possibly angry already! But what if the stress is constant? What if we live our daily routine always in alert, always thinking about the next thing on the to-do list, always ruminating our worries and anxieties? This chronic type of stress activates another adrenal hormone called cortisol, which is essential for survival, but can have detrimental effects on our health if chronically elevated. High cortisol levels are associated with a depleted immune system, weight gain – especially in the belly area, erratic appetite and sweet cravings, poor sleep and fatigue.

An effective way to manage stress levels and prevent burnout is to address our daily routine step by step and make changes that are possible and sustainable. An integrated approach with herbal medicine, colourpuncture and lifestyle modifications is an excellent start for success! There are herbs called adaptogens that work on the body’s ability to adapt (indeed) to stressful situations. When stress is chronic, we start losing this ability and we slowly creep into a state of fatigue. Adaptogens work directly on the adrenal glands and help replenish depleted stores. They are mostly roots (liquorice, ashwagandha, rhodiola, ginseng), so rich in polysaccharides (sugars) and nutrients that help nourish and tonify the body. The sugars in these herbs, however, will not spike blood sugar, but will help balance it and reduce sugar cravings. There are many different plant adaptogens, with different qualities and slightly different actions, so make sure you book an appointment to be given a personalised blend for your needs and constitution.

Colourpuncture offers a powerful way to rebalance the triad body-mind-spirit when we are in a state of stress. Colour carries information and energy to the parts of the body responsible for stress management. There are specific reflex areas linked to the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenals that when stimulated by coloured light, transfer that information to the deeper levels and reach the target organs. The sessions are deeply relaxing and an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves, closing the eyes to the exterior world and opening them to the interior. An opportunity to stop that constant stimulation we are exposed to on a daily basis, pause and remind the body and mind what it means to be still and to observe sensations, emotions, memories or forgotten events that might come to the surface. We are so busy chasing life that we forget how we feel, we lose the connection with our inner beings, hence the ability to know where our limits are. Colourpuncture can help us find that inner connection again and offer healing to our frantic body, mind and spirit.

‘Colourpuncture has really helped me edge away from burn out. The sessions are deeply relaxing and effective at discharging my nervous system. Feeling balanced!’

‘The colourpuncture is almost miraculous! Went in stressed and a little grumpy, came out on cloud 9’

Sleep is essential to survival as is breathing, drinking and eating. During sleep, the body regenerates its functions, the brain resets and clears the subconscious while new neural pathways are created, the immune system boosts its anti-inflammatory activity and fights off pathogens. Sleep is one of the most important repair strategies of the body. So what happens when our sleep is not optimal? We wake up feeling fatigued, we need stimulants to get through the day, we lack motivation, our memory and concentration are poor, we are in a bad mood, we feel low or snappy… by the end of the day we are not tired, but exhausted and more likely to experience what is ‘toxic sleep’, that dull, lethargic, poor-quality state crowded with anxiety dreams. In the long run, our nervous system is burnt out and we lose the ability to self-regulate. This state increases the risk of developing chronic conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, depression, obesity, diabetes.

It is not just a matter of how many hours we sleep, but especially what quality our sleep is: can our brain cycle through the different stages of sleep during the night? The brain works at different frequencies: gamma, beta, alpha, theta and delta. Theta and delta waves are linked to REM and non-REM sleep, respectively. Theta waves are higher frequency than delta waves and are involved with dream activity. At this stage, brain activity is closer to that seen in a wakeful state, this is where new neural pathways are formed, the brain re-organises itself and clears the subconscious, dumping all thoughts and worries, so that we are ready to start the new day with a clear canvas. During this phase, the amygdala is particularly active for the processing of all the emotions we lived throughout the day that need to be organised and stored. Dreams can also help us understand deep-seated emotions, worries and fears by bringing them to our conscious mind, so that we can see them, remember them and process their meaning. The deeper sleep rhythm is linked to delta waves, slower frequencies that take us into the non-REM phase of sleep. Here our breathing and heartrate slow down, muscles relax and the body is allowed to regenerate, energy stores are replenished, the brain slows its activity and allows events to ‘sink in’. This is why this phase is important for consolidating memories and learning. 

How can we optimise sleep then? Colourpuncture is a non-invasive holistic therapy that can be used effectively to help the body re-establish healthy sleeping patterns. With the use of coloured light, brain frequencies and the Esogetic wildcrafted herbal oil, applied onto specific points of the skin, this powerful technique supports the capacity to fall asleep, stay asleep and promotes dream activity. A particular focus is given to the endocrine triad of hypothalamus, pituitary gland and pineal gland. These parts of the brain are involved in controlling the sleep-wake cycle in accordance to light and darkness (the so-called circadian rhythms). After a number of treatments, people report being able to fall asleep more easily, stay asleep and wake up refreshed. As a consequence, concentration, memory and mood are improved and they are able to cope better with their daily lives.

However, this is only one side of the coin. With colourpuncture, we can go a step further and use sleep and dreams as healing. By promoting dream activity and working on those parts of the brain that hold memories of trauma, colourpuncture can release blockages and tap into the deep-seated causes of why we might struggle sleeping. Sleeping puts us in touch with our subconscious and if we are not ready to do that, the sleep pattern can become disturbed. What is that we are trying to avoid? Colourpuncture shines light in our darkest places and brings emotions and memories to the surface, so that we can see them, recognise them and let them go.

Get in touch if you would like to start your healing journey now!

We are all unique human beings! Different heights, different sizes, skin colour, different personalities and tastes. There is no one size fits all. A definition of body constitution is ‘the physical characteristics of the body, including the mode of performance of functions, the activity of metabolic processes, the manner and degree of reactions to stimuli, and power of resistance to the attack of pathogenic organisms’. Despite recognising the presence of differences, modern medicine often does not take our uniqueness into account and works with protocols, rather than tailoring the therapy to the person. To be able to fully appreciate and honour our uniqueness when looking after ourselves, we need to ask the ancient traditions to teach us how to rebalance our body, mind and spirit. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine have been around for thousands of years, addressing the balance of Yin and Yang and of the Doshas, respectively. Also our Western tradition of healing recognised the different constitutions and predispositions. Think of the four temperaments of Hippocratic medicine or the six tissue states in the Physiomedical tradition of herbal medicine.

Iridology is another discipline that helps identify our constitutions, our strengths and weaknesses in our bodies, our predispositions to disease and the ways to get better. Different colours in the iris – the coloured portion of the eye – tell us whether the immune system, digestive system or circulatory system need more careful looking after. We can be taken into a journey of the iris, studying the different structures and understanding what they mean for us. Iridology can reveal different dispositions of the body and mind, which can be then addressed in treatment.

The modern naturopath has a vast array of choice for understanding the interaction between the human being and the surrounding environment, by tapping into these teachings. Natural medicine holds the strength of always honouring the uniqueness of the human being and having the tools to then tailor treatment to those specific needs.