norepinephrine. Your gut pro-

duces 95% of serotonin and

50% of dopamine. Serotonin is

produced by nerve cells and is a

natural mood stabilizer. It is

linked to depression. It is con-

verted from tryptophan, the

amino acid that enhances sleep.

Dopamine is another neuro-

transmitter that is in control of

the pleasure center of the brain.

It is known as the “feel-good

molecule”. It stimulates one to

seek out sex, food, or even

drugs. It also controls move-

ment. Too much dopamine and

one will appear to have too

many movements such as nerv-

ous tics, Parkinson’s and schiz-

ophrenia.

Continued on page 3

The Enteric Nervous Sys-

tem (ENS) is considered to

be the second brain that

lies hidden in the walls of

the digestive system, this is

the “brain in your gut”.

This second brain contains

500 million neurons, that’s

more than your spinal cord!

It is one of the main divi-

sions of the nervous system

and consists of a vast net-

work of neurons dispersed

throughout the gastro-

intestinal tract. It may be

called the third part of the

Autonomic Nervous Sys-

tem (ANS). It is located in

the mucosal tissues that

line the esophagus, stom-

ach, small intestine and

colon, in other words, this

second brain runs 9 meters

from esophagus to anus. The

ENS sends and receives im-

pulses, records experiences

and responds to emotions. It

is a dominant regulator of gut

function, regulating secretory

processes, mucus defense,

immune response and sphinc-

ter function. The ENS may

trigger emotional shifts expe-

rienced by people with IBS,

constipation, diarrhea, bloat-

ing, pain and stomach upset.

This correlates to Chinese

medicine, whereas any diges-

tive issue tends to be linked

to the nervous system and the

emotions.

There are 40 neurotransmit-

ters contained in the gut,

some of which are serotonin,

dopamine, glutamate, and

The Brain / Gut Connection

THE BRAIN / GUT CONNECTION 1

HERB OF THE MONTH ~ MYRRH 2

ACHY MUSCLE MASSAGE OIL RECIPE 2

BRAIN/GUT CONNECTION CONTINUED 3

JUNIPER

MUSCLES OF THE MONTH ~ FOREARMS

3

4

AURORA THEATER ~

RUTHLESS ~ JAN 27-FEB 18

HARBOR PLAYHOUSE ~ RING OF FIRE - JAN 20-FEB 19

PORT A THEATER ~

DIXIE SWIM CLUB ~ FEB 3-5 YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU ~

FEB 15-FEB 26

CC BOTANICAL GARDENS ~

BASIC BEEKEEPING ~ FEB 1 GROWING ORCHIDS ~ FEB 8

GROWING MEXICAN SPICES ~ FEB 15 KITCHEN COMOPOSTING ~ FEB 22

FARMER’S MARKET ~

EVERY WEDNESDAY AT THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS DOWNTOWN CORPUS

CHRISTI 5-8 PM EVERY SATURDAY AT EVERHART & HOLLY CORPUS CHRISTI 9-12

February 2017

~ T H E R A P E U T I C M A S S A G E & H E R B A L H E A L T H ~

Inside This Issue:

Upcoming Events:

This newsletter is brought

to you by Chiron Holistic &

Sparky’s Spa, 505 S. Water

Street in Corpus Christi.

Our passion is bringing

therapeutic massage, herbal

health and well being to

you. Call or text (361) 877-

6900 for an appointment

today!

Valentine’s Special

1.5 Therapeutic Massage ~ $100 1 Hour Swedish ~ $50 Call or Text (361) 877-6900

Gift Certificate or Appointment

“The Enteric Nervous System doesn’t seem capable of thought as we know it,

but communicates back and forth with our big brain with profound results.”

– Jay Pasricha, MD, Director of JM Center for Neurogastroenterology

“And they sat down to eat

bread: and they lifted up

their eyes and looked, and,

behold, a company of Ish-

meelites came from Gilead

with their camels bearing

spicery and balm and myrrh,

going to carry it

down to Egypt.”

- Genesis 37:25

Myrrh is a

revered resin, an

aromatic gum

considered a

very precious

commodity in

the ancient world. It is no

wonder it was one of the gifts

the three wise men brought to

baby Jesus. Archaeological

evidence places myrrh’s use

in the incense trade dating

back to the 5 century BC.

Incense was burned to “forge

a symbolic link between peo-

ple and their gods.” Neferti-

ti, the Egyptian queen and

royal wife of Akhenaten, was

given a wedding gift of

myrrh resin and myrrh oil, one

used as incense and the other

used for beautifying the skin.

Its’ medicinal properties are

mentioned in the writings of the

Ebers Papyrus, an old Egyptian

medical text from 1550 BC.

Myrrh is a shrubby looking tree

that goats enjoy munching on. It

originates in Somalia, although

it is native to North Africa,

Egypt and the Middle East. It

was used in embalming the

dead, as well as a fragrance and

for many skin conditions. The

gum/resin may be made into an

essential oil, which is high in

sesquiterpenes. Essential oils

have the ability to cross the

blood-brain barrier due to their

small molecules and lipid solu-

bility. Sesquiterpenes deliver

oxygen to cells and help depro-

gram bad DNA. They are

thought to be helpful in treating

brain cancer by disabling the

bad code and producing a high

oxygen environment, which

cancer cells hate.

Myrrh oil is an antiseptic, anti-

microbial, antiviral, antifungal,

anti-inflammatory, analgesic,

carminative, expectorant, seda-

tive and antidepressant. It is

used for many skin conditions

such as dried, chapped skin,

wounds, sores, burns and re-

ducing scars. It is used as an

anti-aging agent, astringent yet

moisturizing.

Cautions using this plant are

that it could be toxic if used in

excess and it is not recom-

mended for pregnant women.

Consult your health care pro-

vider and educate yourself

before using these plants,

herbs or essential oils.

Sellar, Wanda & Watt, Martin.

Frankincense & Myrrh, 1996.

Essential Oils Desk Reference,

Essential Science Publishing,

2001.

Stewart, PhD, RA, David. The

Blood-Brain Barrier.

www.oilhealer.com/

bloodbarrier.cfm

Page 2

A WORD OF

ENCOURAGEMENT

AFTER FAILURE

IS WORTH MORE

THAN AN HOUR

OF PRAISE

AFTER SUCCESS.

Achy Muscle Massage Oil Recipe 16 oz Carrier Oil Coconut oil, almond, olive, or other carrier oils Dried Herbs: Juniper berries, arnica, eucalyptus, cayenne, ginger, rosemary, calendula, lavender, Other: Camphor crystals Essential oils: Wintergreen, peppermint, lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender A crock pot is a great tool to use when making a massage oil (just make sure its not the one you cook with!). Place your oil in the crock pot or a double boiler and put the temp on low. Place your dried herbs into the pot, allow to simmer for a couple of hours. (Must be dried herbs as fresh contain moisture and that will cause your solu-tion to mold.) Strain herb matter and add your essential oils. Place in containers and your ready to go!

Superb Herb ~ Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)

The Brain / Gut Connection (cont’d from page 1)

Page 3

Juniper (Juniperus communis)

Part Used: Ber r ies

Energy: Spicy, sweet, warm

System Affected: Kidneys and stomach

Properties: Diuretic, carminative, antiseptic, stimulant

Uses: Treatment of ur inary pr oblems, (stones, gravel,

gout, etc), anti-inflammatory for arthritic and rheumatic

pains and carminative for indigestion and flatulence.

Source: Tierra, C.A., N.D., Michael. The Way of Herbs.

“I CAN’T CHANGE

THE DIRECTION OF

THE WIND, BUT I CAN

ADJUST MY SAILS TO

ALWAYS REACH MY

DESTINATION .”

- JIMMY DEAN

Glutamate is found in high

concentration in every part

of the body, although it is

the most abundant neuro-

transmitter found in the

vertebrate nervous system.

It is involved in learning

and memory, as well as

creation of movement of the

body. It aids digestion by

signaling the stomach,

small intestine and liver. It

is an energy source for the

cells lining the gut. This

amino acid is found most

abundantly in breast milk,

which helps support new-

born gut tissue.

Norepinephrine is a neuro-

transmitter as well as a

stress hormone. It affects

the brain where attention

and responding actions are

controlled. Norepinephrine,

along with epinephrine,

control the fight-or-flight

response, therefore it in-

creases blood flow, releases

glucose from the energy

stores and increases blood

flow to the muscles.

“Trusting your gut is trusting

the collection of all your sub-

conscious experiences,” says

Melody Wilding, a licensed

therapist and professor of

human behavior at Hunter

College. “Your gut is this

collection of your life’s expe-

riences”. It is our gut instincts

that keep us out of trouble.

We need to learn to listen to

that inner voice, the gut, that

warns us something is about

to happen.

In Traditional Chinese Medi-

cine (TCM), digestion issues

are directly related to the

emotions. If we are upset

emotionally, we usually have

an upset stomach, diarrhea or

even an ulcer. Sleeping prob-

lems are prevalent in today’s

society, as well as unresolved

trauma and PTSD. And when

grief overcomes us, the pain

centers in the solar plexus.

Michael Gershon of Colum-

bia-Presbyterian Medical

Center said, “A lot of infor-

mation that the gut sends to

the brain affects well-being,

and doesn’t even come to

consciousness.” We may not

even be aware of the core

problem, but just try to fix it

with a drug.

Hippocrates said that “All

disease begins in the gut”,

which reflects the saying

“we are what we eat”. The

healthy functioning of the

gut is vital to the brain, as it

affects our well-being, vital-

ity and our health.

Susan “Sparky” Sparks,

LMT is the owner of Chiron

Holistic, LLC a massage

studio and herbal apothe-

cary.

(Sources: Brain-Gut, hop-

kinsmedicine.org; American

Journal of Gastroenterolo-

gy, nature.com)

of muscles that surround, attach

and provide movement for these

bones. The muscles of the super-

ficial (first layer) and anterior

(front) forearm are the movers of

the wrist and hand joints. They

all have the same origin, the me-

dial epicondyle of the humerus,

or the elbow. This large, promi-

nent bone, the elbow, protects the

ulnar nerve. Striking the medial

epicondyle causes that tingling

sensation called the “funny

bone”.

Superficial layer of muscles that

lies right underneath the skin in

the forearm are the flexor carpi

ulnaris, palmaris longus and flex-

or carpi radialis. Lying under-

neath the superficial layer is the

flexor digitorum superficialis and

even deeper is the flexor digi-

torum profundus and the flexor

pollicis longus.

The flexor carpi ulnaris is a mus-

cle that inserts at the pisiform

which lies at the base of the fifth

metacarpal bone, right next to the

As a massage therapist, I see

computer techs, dental hygenists,

hair stylists, cashiers and yes,

even massage therapists with

tight forearm muscles. To have

these muscles massaged and

stretched, relieves the

tension and tightness

and benefits those

with carpal tunnel

syndrome. Carpal

tunnel syndrome is a

condition which re-

sults when the mus-

cles of the forearm

become too tight, the

retinaculum of the

wrist compresses

down and presses on

the median nerve. All

these muscles are

compressed in this

small area of the fore-

arm, therefore making

it easy to work on

them all simultaneously.

The forearm is made up of two

bones: the radius and the ulna.

There are three different layers

wrist and originates on the medi-

al epicondyle of the humerus. Its

action is to flex and adduct the

wrist. The palmaris longus mus-

cle runs between the flexor radi-

alis and the flexor carpi ulnaris,

but is not always present. It is

actually absent in about 14 per-

cent of the population, though

that does not have any effect on

grip strength. Its action is to flex

the wrist and tenses the palmar

aponeurosis. The insertion point

is the retinaculum and palmar

aponeurosis and it originates at

the medial epicondyle of the

humerus. The flexor carpi radial-

is flexes and abducts the wrist. It

inserts at the base of the second

and third metacarpal bones and

originates at the medial epicon-

dyle of the humerus.

The muscles of the forearm are

tightly compacted in this small

area and make it easy to massage

and release. One stroke will en-

compass all these muscles and

provide relief.

Muscle of the Month ~ Forearms

505 South Water Street

Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Phone: 361-877-6900

E-mail:

chironholistic@yahoo.com

Check us out on Facebook Sparky’s Spa

Chiron Holistic, LLC is an herbal apothecary and therapeutic massage studio. Susan ‘Sparky’

Sparks began studying medicinal plants some 30 years ago. She incorporated massage into

her practice in 2001 after studying with Dr. Rosita Arvigo, who developed special massage

techniques from Don Elijio Panti, a famous shaman from Belize. She makes herbal products

with certified organic herbs or they are ethically wildcrafted with love and prayers. Sparky

combines 16 years of massage experience in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports, Shiatsu, Jin Shin

Do, Tsubo, Foot Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Myofascial Release, Myoskeletal, Maya Ab-

dominal, Maternity, Burn/Scar, Onocology and Medical Massage. She is a member American

Bodywork & Massage Professionals, American Botanical Council, American Herbalist Guild

and South Texas Botanical Gardens. She is a Qi Gong Level I Instructor and Master Garden-

er. Chiron Holistic is dedicated to providing a pathway towards holistic health. We are here

to assist you on your journey towards wellness.

C H I R O N H O L I S T I C ~ S P A R K Y ’ S S P A