Free Healing the Nervous System, Muscular System, and Skin(Integumentary System)

Free Healing the Nervous System, Muscular System, and Skin(Integumentary System)

April 5 9a-6p Central

April 6 10a-6p Central

Free and Open to All.

A. Healing the Nervous System

1. Nervous System Trauma 

Trauma is not just something that happened to you—it’s what happens inside you as a result of overwhelming experiences. From a nervous system perspective, trauma is a dysregulation of safety, connection, and processing, where the body and brain get stuck in survival mode long after the threat has passed. Trauma affects the brain, the body, the emotions, and the energy system—and healing must involve all of these layers.

1. How the Nervous System Responds to Trauma

The nervous system is designed to protect you. In a threatening situation, it activates the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight). If escape or defense isn’t possible, it shifts into freeze, dissociation, or collapse (dorsal vagal state).

Fight / Flight – Hyperarousal, anxiety, panic, anger

Freeze / Collapse – Numbness, depression, fatigue, disconnection

Fawn (adaptive response) – People-pleasing to avoid conflict

When the trauma is not processed, the nervous system gets stuck in these states and struggles to return to balance (parasympathetic “rest-and-digest”).

2. Trauma Is Stored in the Body (Not Just the Mind)

Traumatic memory is often nonverbal and stored in body sensations (tight chest, gut knots, trembling). The brain’s amygdala stays hyper-alert, scanning for danger. The vagus nerve, which governs emotional regulation, digestion, and heart rate, gets disrupted. Muscles, fascia, and energy centers hold unresolved tension and survival patterns.

3. Common Symptoms of Nervous System Trauma Dysregulation

Anxiety, panic attacks, or hypervigilance

Fatigue, brain fog, or chronic pain

Insomnia or broken sleep

Digestive issues (IBS, nausea, poor appetite)

Emotional numbness or disconnection

Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unable to make decisions

Mood swings or dissociation

Feeling unsafe or “not at home” in your own body

2.  Brain Fatigue

Brain fatigue, also called mental fatigue or cognitive exhaustion, is a condition where the brain becomes overworked, undernourished, or dysregulated, leading to a decline in mental clarity, focus, and emotional resilience. It’s often described as “brain fog,” burnout, or mental heaviness, and can be caused by a combination of physical, emotional, energetic, and lifestyle-related imbalances.

From a holistic perspective, brain fatigue is a signal from the nervous system, mind, and energy body that it’s time to pause, reset, and restore.

1. Symptoms of Brain Fatigue

• Poor concentration or memory lapses
• Difficulty focusing or completing tasks
• Sluggish thinking or decision fatigue
• Low motivation or lack of creativity
• Mental fog, zoning out, or dissociation
• Emotional reactivity or numbness
• Sensitivity to light, sound, or noise
• Headaches or heaviness in the head
• Irritability, overwhelm, or anxiety

2. Causes of Brain Fatigue (Holistic View)

A. Nervous System Overload

Chronic stress keeps the brain in a hyperalert state, depleting cognitive energy.

The prefrontal cortex (logic, planning, focus) shuts down when overwhelmed, leaving the limbic brain (emotional, survival) in control.

B. Neuroinflammation

Poor diet, toxins, infections, or leaky gut can trigger inflammation in the brain, disrupting neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

C. Poor Sleep & Circadian Disruption

Deep sleep is when the brain detoxes (via the glymphatic system). Without rest, waste products build up, causing mental fog and fatigue.

D. Nutrient Deficiencies & Blood Sugar Imbalance

Low B vitamins, magnesium, omega-3s, and iron can impair brain energy.

Blood sugar crashes drain mental fuel and cause irritability or fog.

E. Emotional & Energetic Drain

Unprocessed emotions, trauma, or overthinking consume cognitive resources.

Energetic leakage from over-giving, poor boundaries, or empathic overload leaves the brain depleted.

3. Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the nervous system’s innate ability to adapt, rewire, and reshape itself in response to experiences, emotions, thoughts, environment, and even trauma. It is the foundation for healing, learning, emotional growth, and recovery from stress or injury.

Rather than being fixed, the brain and nervous system are dynamic, flexible, and capable of change throughout life. From a holistic perspective, neuroplasticity is not just a biological process—it is also influenced by mind, energy, environment, and spirit.

1. What Is Neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity means “the brain’s ability to change.”

This happens through:

New neural connections forming (synaptogenesis)

Strengthening or weakening of existing neural pathways

Neurogenesis: creation of new brain cells (especially in the hippocampus)

Myelination: insulating pathways to make them stronger and faster

2. The Nervous System’s Role

• The nervous system—central (brain, spinal cord) and peripheral (nerve pathways)—is responsible for how we:
• Perceive the world
• React to stimuli
• Regulate emotion, stress, and energy
• Store and release trauma
• Connect with others
• When you change how your nervous system responds, you change how you live, love, and heal.
• Somatic experiencing (listening to body sensations to release stored trauma)
• Therapeutic movement
• Positive visualization & affirmations
• Learning new skills or engaging in play
• Correcting negative thought loops 

4. Vagal Tone

Vagal tone refers to the health, strength, and responsiveness of the vagus nerve, the main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “rest-and-digest” and healing state of the body. A high vagal tone means your body can easily calm down after stress, while low vagal tone is linked to anxiety, inflammation, poor digestion, and emotional dysregulation.

1. What Is the Vagus Nerve?

The vagus nerve (Latin for “wandering”) is the longest cranial nerve, connecting the brainstem to the heart, lungs, digestive tract, liver, kidneys, and other organs.

It serves as a two-way communication highway between the brain and the body.

It regulates:

Heart rate

Breathing

Digestion

Immune response

Mood and emotional regulation

2. What Is Vagal Tone?

Vagal tone is a measure of how efficiently the vagus nerve functions. It reflects how quickly and effectively your body can shift out of stress mode (sympathetic) and into relaxation and repair mode (parasympathetic).

High Vagal Tone = Healthy Nervous System

Quick recovery after stress

Calm, steady heart rate and breathing

Good digestion and regular bowel movements

Resilient mood and emotional regulation

Lower inflammation

Low Vagal Tone = Dysregulated Nervous System

Difficulty calming down after stress

Anxiety, panic, or depressive states

Digestive issues (bloating, constipation, IBS)

Fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep

Heightened inflammation and immune issues

3. What Weakens Vagal Tone?

Chronic stress & trauma

Poor sleep

Inflammatory diet

Overexposure to screens and EMFs

Isolation, lack of emotional expression

Shallow breathing or holding breath

B. Healing the Muscular System

1. Spasms, Contractures, Adhesions

These three conditions—spasms, contractures, and adhesions—represent different ways the muscles, fascia, and connective tissue respond to injury, trauma, stress, or dysfunction. Each creates restriction, pain, and a loss of flow, but they originate from different processes. From a holistic perspective, they are not just mechanical—they reflect nervous system imbalances, emotional holding, and energetic stagnation.

1. What is a Spasm?

A muscle spasm is an involuntary, sudden contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. It can last a few seconds to minutes (acute), or become chronic if not resolved.

Causes:

• Dehydration or electrolyte imbalances (especially magnesium, potassium, calcium)
• Overuse or fatigue of muscles
• Poor blood circulation
• Nervous system overactivation (fight-or-flight response)
• Emotional stress or trauma stored in the body
• Spinal or nerve impingement (e.g., disc issues)
• Symptoms:
• Cramping, twitching, or knotting sensation
• Pain that temporarily paralyzes movement
• May occur during sleep, stress, or after exertion

Holistic View:

Spasms are protective reflexes—the body trying to prevent further injury or express a “held alertness”.

May reflect suppressed emotional energy needing release (e.g., anger, fear, urgency).

2. What is a Contracture?

A contracture is a chronic shortening or tightening of a muscle, tendon, or fascia that causes loss of flexibility and range of motion. Unlike spasms, contractures are long-term and structural.

Causes:

• Scar tissue or immobility after injury or surgery
• Neurological disorders (stroke, cerebral palsy)
• Prolonged muscle guarding or tension due to trauma
• Fascial binding or chronic inflammation
• Symptoms:
• Joint stiffness or deformity
• Limited movement or inability to extend limb
• Pain during movement or stretching
• Holistic View:
• Contractures can symbolize “frozen” patterns—deeply ingrained trauma, emotional bracing, or fear of letting go.
• Often linked to survival adaptations the body has made, especially after long periods of immobility or suppression.

3. What are Adhesions?

Adhesions are fibrous bands of collagen that abnormally bind together tissues that are normally separate—most commonly within fascia, muscles, or internal organs.

Causes:

• Injury or trauma
• Surgery or inflammation (e.g., abdominal surgeries, endometriosis)
• Repetitive motion injuries
• Poor fascial hydration and movement
• Symptoms:
• Restriction of movement
• Deep, pulling or pinching pain
• Referred pain patterns (due to fascial interconnectivity)
• Organ dysfunction (in visceral adhesions)

Holistic View:

Adhesions are often seen as “emotional glue”—where the body holds on to old trauma, grief, or injury by literally binding tissues together.

They reflect stagnation—a lack of flow, flexibility, or resolution.

2. Muscle Imbalance

Muscle imbalances occur when certain muscles become chronically tight, overactive, or strong, while their opposing or supporting muscles become weak, underused, or inhibited. This creates postural distortion, joint misalignment, movement inefficiency, and often chronic pain or injury. From a holistic perspective, muscle imbalances are not only physical—they reflect how you live, move, feel, and respond to life. They can result from habitual movement, emotional holding patterns, trauma, energetic blocks, and nervous system dysregulation.

1. What Are Muscle Imbalances?

• Muscles work in pairs or systems:
• Agonist muscles: Primary movers
• Antagonist muscles: Oppose the agonist to create balance
• Synergist and stabilizer muscles: Support movement and posture
• A muscle imbalance happens when one side of the system becomes dominant or shortened, and the other becomes inhibited or lengthened. This disrupts biomechanical harmony and 

Causes:

Altered joint tracking

Uneven tension on fascia

Compensatory movement patterns

Increased risk of pain and injury

2. Root Causes of Muscle Imbalances

A. Physical / Lifestyle Factors

• Repetitive patterns: Daily habits (e.g., always crossing one leg, using dominant hand)
• Sedentary lifestyle: Weakens core, glutes, and postural muscles
• Overtraining or one-sided exercise: Strengthens certain muscle groups disproportionately
• Injury or surgery: Causes guarding and compensation elsewhere
• Poor posture: Slouched shoulders, anterior pelvic tilt, forward head position

B. Nervous System & Stress Patterns

Chronic stress or trauma causes muscle bracing, especially in:

Neck and shoulders (holding tension or fear)

Jaw (suppressed emotion or control)

Lower back and hips (safety and survival response)

Stress and trauma also inhibit other muscles (e.g., glutes, diaphragm) due to nervous system shutdown (freeze or collapse).

3. Pain

Pain in the muscular system and fascia is more than just a mechanical issue—it’s a message from your body that something is blocked, overburdened, inflamed, or unprocessed. Pain is not always a sign of damage—it is often a call for awareness, rest, release, or emotional integration. The muscles and fascia are deeply intelligent tissues. They respond not only to movement, posture, and injury—but also to stress, emotions, trauma, and energy flow.

1. How Pain Develops in Muscles and Fascia

A. Physical Factors

• Tension & Overuse: Repetitive strain, poor posture, or lack of stretching leads to tight, shortened muscles and stuck fascia.
• Microtrauma & Adhesions: Injuries or inflammation can cause the fascia to become sticky or scarred, creating pain and limited movement.
• Dehydration: Fascia is a fluid matrix—when it dries out, it becomes rigid and painful.
• Weak or Imbalanced Muscles: When some muscles compensate for others, chronic pain patterns can form (e.g., low back pain from weak glutes or core).

B. Nervous System Response

• Pain often reflects nervous system hyperactivity, not structural damage.
• Chronic stress keeps the body in fight-or-flight mode, causing muscles to brace or tighten reflexively.
• The brain can create a pain memory loop, where it expects pain and amplifies it (central sensitization).
• Trauma and emotional overwhelm can keep certain muscles in a holding pattern long after the event is over.

2. Fascia’s Role in Pain

Fascia is a sensory organ—rich in nerve endings, proprioceptors, and emotional memory.

Tense fascia compresses nerves and restricts blood flow, creating burning, aching, or sharp pain. When fascia is bound, dry, or inflamed, it restricts movement and causes compensation in other areas. Fascia links distant parts of the body, so pain in one area may reflect tension or dysfunction elsewhere.

Example: Shoulder pain may originate from fascial restriction in the hips or abdomen.

4. Trigger Points

Trigger points are tight, sensitive knots within muscle or fascia tissue that cause pain, restriction, and referred discomfort (pain felt in another part of the body). They are often associated with chronic tension, trauma, emotional stress, poor posture, or energetic blockages. From a holistic view, trigger points are more than mechanical dysfunctions—they are dense bundles of unresolved energy, held stress, or emotional memory encoded in the body.

1. What Are Trigger Points?

Trigger points are localized hyperirritable spots within a taut band of skeletal muscle or fascia.

They can be active (producing pain or symptoms) or latent (not painful until pressed).

When pressed, they may cause:

Local pain

Referred pain (e.g., neck trigger point causing headache)

Twitching or muscle spasm

Burning, tingling, or aching sensations

They’re often felt as “knots” or tight nodules under the skin.

2. How Trigger Points Form (Physical + Energetic Perspective)

A. Physical Causes:

• Overuse or repetitive strain
• Injury or trauma
• Poor posture or body mechanics
• Muscle imbalance or compensation
• Sedentary lifestyle or long-held tension
• Dehydrated fascia or lack of circulation
• Poor sleep / Inadequate Sleep
• Sluggish lymphatic circulation 

B. Nervous System & Emotional Factors:

Trigger points often form in response to chronic stress or a nervous system stuck in fight/flight/freeze mode.

The body may “lock down” an area to protect against perceived danger, even long after the threat is gone.

Unprocessed emotions—grief, anger, fear—can somatically lodge in the muscles and fascia.

C. Energetic View:

Trigger points are seen as stagnant or contracted energy—places where qi/prana/life force is not flowing.

They may correspond with blocked meridians (in Traditional Chinese Medicine) or imbalanced chakras (in energy healing systems).

3. Symptoms Associated with Trigger Points

• Local pain, tightness, or tenderness
• Referred pain or sensation (e.g., toothache-like pain in the jaw from neck trigger points)
• Limited range of motion
• Muscle weakness or fatigue
• Emotional sensitivity or irritability (linked to somatic storage)
• Sleep disturbances or headaches
• Poor cognitive function
• Inability to recover
• Neurological dysfunction in other areas of the body

C. Healing the Skin

1. Sluggish Skin

Sluggish skin refers to skin that appears dull, tired, slow to heal, uneven in tone, or lacking vitality and glow. It may also feel rough, dry, congested, or lifeless. From a holistic perspective, sluggish skin is a sign that your internal systems—especially detoxification, circulation, and energy flow—are under-functioning. It reflects a need for renewal on physical, emotional, and energetic levels.

Physical & Functional Causes of Sluggish Skin

Impaired Detoxification

• The skin is a backup detox organ, so when the liver, kidneys, colon, or lymphatic system are overwhelmed or congested, waste builds up and gets pushed out through the skin, leading to dullness, breakouts, or sluggish healing.
• Common contributors:
• Liver congestion
• Constipation or slow digestion
• Poor lymphatic drainage
• Toxin

2. Congested Skin

When erythema (redness), congested skin, and inability to sweat occur together, it reflects a deeper disruption in the skin’s detoxification system, circulation, and energy flow. From a holistic view, the skin is a mirror of internal health—and these conditions suggest that the body is overheated, stagnant, or blocked, and unable to release, regulate, or renew through its natural pathways.

1. What’s Happening in the Skin?

A. Erythema (Redness)

• Erythema is inflammation-driven redness caused by dilated capillaries and increased blood flow to the surface of the skin. It often signals:
• Heat, irritation, or immune overactivity
• Histamine response (from allergies or food sensitivities)
• Emotional intensity (blushing, embarrassment, anger)
• Inflammatory conditions like rosacea, eczema, or dermatitis

B. Congested Skin

• Congested skin happens when toxins, dead skin cells, oil, and debris get trapped in the pores or within the fascia layers of the skin. This reflects:
• Stagnant lymphatic flow
• Sluggish detox pathways
• Poor cellular turnover
• Imbalanced oil production

C. Inability to Sweat (Anhidrosis or Hypohidrosis)

Sweating is one of the body’s primary detox and cooling mechanisms. When this function is impaired:

Toxins accumulate, leading to congestion and inflammation

Body temperature regulation is compromised

Skin may become dry, inflamed, or overly sensitive

Vital qi or life force energy becomes trapped in the body

3. Imbalanced Skin

Unbalanced skin refers to skin that is not functioning in harmony—overproducing oil or too dry, inflamed or dull, reactive or sluggish. It may fluctuate between conditions like breakouts, redness, sensitivity, tightness, or congestion. From a holistic perspective, unbalanced skin is a sign of inner disharmony—a reflection of deeper physiological, emotional, energetic, or lifestyle imbalances.

Balanced skin isn’t just about appearance—it’s about communication, detoxification, and protection. When it’s not balanced, it’s asking for support and alignment from the inside out.

Oily T-zone, dry cheeks	Sebum dysregulation, hormonal imbalance
Breakouts and sensitivity at the same time	Barrier dysfunction, inflammation
Redness, tightness, and stinging	Impaired moisture barrier, histamine overload
Dull, flaky patches with clogged pores	Sluggish cell turnover + dehydration
Frequent flare-ups (eczema, rosacea, acne)	Gut-liver axis dysfunction, immune system hyperreactivity

 Root Causes of Skin Imbalance (Holistic View)

A. Internal Physiological Imbalance

1. Gut-Skin Connection

Leaky gut, candida overgrowth, or dysbiosis contribute to inflammation, breakouts, and reactivity.

Poor digestion = nutrient deficiencies = weakened skin barrier and dull appearance.

2. Liver & Detox Pathways

When the liver or lymphatic system is sluggish, toxins are pushed through the skin, causing congestion, breakouts, or irritation.

Inability to eliminate waste creates inflammatory skin responses.

3. Hormonal Imbalance

Estrogen dominance, low progesterone, or insulin spikes can disrupt sebum production and cellular repair.

Hormonal flux causes oily and dry patches, breakouts, or heightened sensitivity.

4. Nutrient Deficiencies

Lack of omega-3s, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, B-complex, and magnesium affects the skin’s ability to stay hydrated, clear, and calm.

5. Chronic stress = elevated cortisol = increased oil production, inflammation, and slowed healing.

6. Suppressed Emotions

Suppressed emotions may appear on the skin as redness, hives, or breakouts.

A nervous system stuck in fight/flight or freeze may disrupt the skin’s natural regeneration cycle

Choose an oil from each of the following lines:

Line 1

Single Oils: Melissa, Rose, Jasmine, Marjoram, Spikenard, Neroli, Benzoin, Tarragon, Petitgrain

Line 2

Single Oils: Atractylodes, Sage, Basil, Sylvester Pine, White Pine, Red Pine, Cinnamon, Cassia, Tamala, Narcissus, Acacia

Line 3

Single Oils: Thyme Linalool, Linaloe, Patchouli, Nutmeg, Angelica, Palo Santo

Line 4

Single Oils: Spikenard, Valerian, Tarragon, Marjoram, Petitgrain, Anise, Cypriol, Hyssop, Lavender, Tuberose, Benzoin, Acacia, Sage

Blend: Vagal Tone

Line 5

Single Oils: Marjoram, Petitgrain, Basil, Sitka, Spikenard, Valerian, Lavandin, Wintergreen,

Birch Tar, Milfoil, Buddha Wood

Line 6

Single Oils: Spikenard, Valerian, Vetiver, Rus Khus, Myrrh

Blends: Balance, Unwind

Line 7

Single Oils: Galbanum, Black Pine, Dwarf Pine, Spikenard, Poplar Balsam, Chamomile, Camphor, Ginger, Terebinth, Lemongrass, Litsea Cubeba, Helichrysum, Arnica

Blends: Pain Soothe, Birch Complex, Pain Relief Psychogenic, Arnica Complex

Line 8

Single Oils: Ginger, Thyme, Opopanox, Kava Kava, Shiso

Blends: Trigger Point Blend, Fascial Support

Line 9

Single Oils: Carrot Seed

Line 10

Single Oils: Spikenard, Parsley, Elemi, Cape Chamomile

Line 11

Single Oils: Helichrysum, Yarrow, Milfoil, Chamomile, Cajeput, Ginger, Melissa, Juniper, Cypress

Blends: Sudorific

Or

Healing the Nervous System, Muscular System, and Skin(Integumentary System) Kit For Purchase: $115 ($212 value)

• Spikenard 5ml
• Sudorific 5ml
• Carrot Seed 5ml
• Thyme Linalool 5ml
• Black Pine 5ml
• Birch Tar 5ml
• Lavandin 5ml
• Tamala 5ml
• Neroli Petitgrain 5ml
• Herbal Antispasmodic Tincture 1oz
• Parsley Body Tonic 4oz
• Spikenard Body Tonic 2oz