The Interaction of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System in Chronic and Acute Complaints —Innovative Test Methods for Causal Diagnostics and Customized Solution Strategies
The Interaction of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System in Chronic and Acute Complaints —Innovative Test Methods for Causal Diagnostics and Customized Solution Strategies
Thomas Beisswenger, M. Sc., Germany
Introduction
As part of the BICOM Congress 2025, the lecture will focus on innovative approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The focus was on the development of patient-centered treatment options based on sound diagnostics.
Basics of the vegetative nervous system (VNS) Definition and function
The VNS, part of the autonomic nervous system, regulates essential bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion and breathing without conscious control. It consists of two main components:
Sympathetic nervous system ("Fight or Flight"): Activation of the body in stressful situations
Parasympathetic nervous system ("Rest and Digest"): Promotes rest and regeneration
These two systems work in balance (homeostasis) to respond to environmental conditions and ensure optimal regulation of organ functions. A long-term imbalance leads to vegetative stress, which can manifest itself in physical and psychological complaints.
Vegetative stress
A typical sign of vegetative stress is a persistent dominance of the sympathetic, parasympathetic or both systems. This manifests itself in symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disorders, digestive problems or chronic pain.
S = Sympathetic nervous system P= Parasympathetic nervous system
Diagnostics: "Find the error"
Two diagnostic approaches were presented that are aimed at finding the cause of complaints instead of focusing solely on symptoms:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00132-022-04230-z/figures/4
Therapeutic approaches: Individual solutions for complex problems
The solution strategies presented are based on test-based diagnostics that personalize treatment.
Basic programs
Various energetic states were identified for which specific basic programs were presented.
Conclusion and outlook
The lecture emphasized the importance of cause-oriented diagnostics and the combination of VNS analysis and orthopaedic examination. The methods presented make it possible to treat complaints individually and promote sustainable healing. In my opinion, this approach represents a valuable extension of diagnostics and therapy for alternative practitioners, physiotherapists and doctors.
What Influence Does Chronic Stress Have on our Body? Possibilities with the Bioresonance Method
Dr. Sinan Akkurt, MD, Turkey
Stress is a frequently encountered condition in today's fast-paced world, triggered by both major life events and everyday responsibilities. Stress is not just an emotional state; it initiates a series of physiological events within the body. The frequency and duration of these events have significant impacts on health, particularly in relation to autoimmune diseases.
Stressors can be both physical and emotional. Major stressors include the loss of a loved one, divorce, or trauma, while smaller, chronic stressors such as lack of sleep, long working hours, and poor lifestyle habits can also harm health. While some individuals quickly notice the physical and emotional effects of stress, others may remain unaware of its impact. Nevertheless, the internal stress response affects everyone.
The Stress Response
The body responds to stress through two major systems: the nervous system and the hormonal system.
The Nervous System's Response to Stress
The nervous system has two main components that regulate stress responses: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
Sympathetic System:
When under stress, the sympathetic system activates the "fight-or-flight" response, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands.
Parasympathetic System:
The parasympathetic system acts to counterbalance the sympathetic response by calming the body and shutting off the stress reaction.
The coordination between these systems is essential for maintaining a healthy nervous system. However, when this balance is disrupted and the body remains in a prolonged state of stress, long-term health problems may develop.
The Hormone Response to Stress
Stress triggers a chain reaction in the body's hormonal system, involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands. This is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Cortisol Release:
The hypothalamus produces corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which prompts the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, the primary stress hormone.
Cortisol increases blood sugar to provide energy and suppresses the immune system to control inflammation. However, prolonged high cortisol levels can weaken the immune system and lead to chronic health issues.
How You Experience the Stress Response
The physical and emotional symptoms of stress may include a racing heart, muscle tension, sleep disturbances, headaches, and digestive problems. If stress persists, it can impair immune function, making the body more susceptible to illness.
The Effects of High Cortisol
Chronically elevated cortisol levels can cause numerous physical and psychological issues: Physical Effects:
Increased appetite and cravings for sugary foods
Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen
Loss of muscle mass and bone density
Suppressed immune function
Psychological Effects:
Depression, anxiety, and mood swings
Sleep disturbances and chronic fatigue
These effects can lead to increased inflammation and contribute to the development or worsening of chronic diseases.
Chronic Versus Acute Stress
Stress can be classified as either acute or chronic:
Acute Stress:
Short-term stress is beneficial as it prepares the body to handle immediate challenges, such as escaping danger or performing under pressure.
Chronic Stress:
Prolonged stress keeps the body in a constant state of high alert, which can disrupt immune function and lead to chronic illnesses.
People experiencing chronic stress are more prone to infections and may have difficulty recovering from illnesses.
The Adrenal Glands
The adrenal glands play a crucial role in managing the body's stress response. These glands produce hormones such as cortisor, aldosterone**, and dehydroepiandrosterone*** (DHEA).
Under chronic stress, the adrenal glands can become fatigued, leading to a condition known as "adrenal fatigue." Symptoms include low energy, inflammation, and weakened immune function.
How Stress Affects Autoimmune Disease
Stress is a significant factor in the development and progression of autoimmune diseases. Chronic stress can disrupt the balance of immune system cells, causing an overactive immune response that attacks the body's own tissues.
Immune Cells:
T killer cells attack foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses.
B cells produce antibodies to target pathogens.
T helper cells accelerate immune responses.
T regulatory cells suppress immune activity to prevent overreactions.
In autoimmune diseases, there is often an excess of T helper cells and a deficiency of T regulatory cells, causing the immune system to remain in an overactive state.
Stress and Infections
Stress weakens the immune system's ability to fight infections. Viruses such as Epstein-Barr can reactivate under chronic stress, leading to severe fatigue and illness.
Managing stress is crucial for maintaining a strong immune system and preventing infections from becoming more severe.
Stress, Gut Health, and the Immune System
The gut plays a vital role in immune function, and stress can negatively impact gut health in several ways:
Gut Bacteria:
Chronic stress reduces beneficial bacteria like lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, allowing harmful bacteria to thrive.
Gut Barrier:
Stress weakens the intestinal barrier, increasing the risk of harmful substances entering the bloodstream.
* Cortisol: A vital hormone that helps the body respond to stress.
** Aldosterone: Regulates blood pressure by controlling sodium levels in the body.
*** DHEA: Helps balance blood sugar and lipid levels, supporting muscle and bone health.
• This "leaky gut" condition can lead to increased inflammation, food sensitivities, and autoimmune reactions.
Maintaining a healthy gut through proper nutrition and stress management is essential for supporting the immune system.
Selye and the Pathophysiologv of Stress
Two of the three distinctive signs of general stress, defined and expressed by Hans Selye, the "father" of stress research, are adrenal hypertrophy and thymic involution (46). The relative size/weight of the adrenal gland and thymus continues to serve as valuable biomarkers of overall levels of the HPA axis and glucocorticoid activity in an individual exposed to stress over a period ranging from a few days to several months. Elevated daily levels of ACTH lead to hypertrophy and hyperplasia of steroid-producing cells in the adrenal fasciculata . Higherthan-normal daily levels of endogenous or exogenous glucocorticoids result in the shrinkage of the thymus due to thymocyte apoptosis and suppressed proliferation . Chronically high levels of exogenous glucocorticoids can also lead to the shrinkage of the adrenal cortex due to negative feedback inhibition of ACTH secretion. Increased adrenal weight and thymic involution are frequently observed in rats and mice exposed to various chronic stress regimes.
In humans, increased adrenal size may also be associated with stress, as an increase has been observed during a depressive episode . Thymus size has also been used as an index.
Selye conducted most of his research in the laboratory using rats. There, he discovered that exposing animals to a wide variety of different physiological stressors resulted in only a few common physiological responses. Through these experiments, he proposed that organisms processed what he called "noxious agents" or "stressors" through a common, non-specific pathway. Later, he revised the definition of "stress," which he initially believed to be purely harmful, to include both harmful stimuli (distress) and beneficial or pleasurable stimuli (eustress). He found that both triggered similar biological processes.
The three common physiological responses Selye first identified in stressed animals were:
Enlargement (hypertrophy) of the adrenal cortex,
Shrinkage (atrophy) of the thymus and lymph nodes, and
Erosions and ulcers in the duodenum.
By observing animals exposed to both acute and chronic stressors, he also recognized that their ability to resist (or adapt to) these stressors involved progressive adaptation, measured by relative changes in these three physiological phenomena. After years of research, Selye proposed the General Adaptation Syndrome in a monograph published in 1950.
The General Adaptation Syndrome explains both the changes caused by stress experienced by animals due to the HPA axis and their ability to resist or adapt to the same stressors. The three stages Selye described were the alarm reaction, the stage of resistance, and the stage of exhaustion. As shown in the figure below, Selye suggested that the physiological changes observed in animals primarily originated from the initial "alarm reaction" to the stressor, a phase indicating that the animals had not yet adapted to or resisted the stressor. If the stressor was not fatal for the animals, they often appeared to recover from it. He then discovered that when animals were repeatedly exposed to a stressor that had previously caused an alarm reaction, they developed the ability to resist (or at least physiologically adapt to) the stressor. He called this the "resistance stage."
Finally, his experiments showed that repeated exposure to stressors that had previously resulted in resistance could eventually cause the animals to once again experience classic stress-related pathophysiology, sometimes with fatal outcomes. He referred to this as the "exhaustion stage."
Hans Selye: Preface-The stress of life (1956)
"Stress is essentially reflected by the rate of all the wear and tear caused by life. (...) For instance, we are just (.4 beginning to see that many common diseases are largely due to errors in our adaptive response to stress, rather than to direct damage by germs, poisons, or life experiences. in this sense many (...) nervous and emotional disturbances, high blood
pressure, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and certain (...) types of sexual, allergic, cardiovascular, and renal derangement appear to be essentially diseases of adaptation."
The "Purpose" of the Stress Response
Maintain effective blood flow (02/nutrition) to the brain and heart.
Immediately activate skeletal muscles for survival.
Increase energy production and gluconeogenesis by utilizing substrates (glucose, fatty acids, amino acids) from body stores.
Optimize ATP production to meet critical short-term needs at the expense of long-term
metabolic functions. Ensure physiological stability at the cost of metabolic reserves.
Conditions Related to HPA Axis Dysfunction
Increased activity of the HPA axis
Cushing's syndrome
Chronic stress
Melancholic depression
Anorexia nervosa
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Panic disorder
Excessive exercise (obligate athleticism)
Chronic, active alcoholism
Alcohol and narcotic withdrawal
Diabetes mellitus
Central obesity (metabolic syndrome)
Post-traumatic stress disorder in children
Hyperthyroidism
Pregnancy
Decreased activity of the HPA axis
Adrenal Insufficiency
Atypical/seasonal depression
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Premenstrual tension syndrome
Climacteric depression
Nicotine withdrawal
Following cessation of glucocorticoid therapy
Following Cushing's syndrome cure
Following chronic stress
Postpartum period
Adult post-traumatic stress disorder
Hyperthyroidism
Rheumatoid arthritis
Asthma, eczema
Stress Management and Healthy Living
To mitigate the negative effects of stress, it is essential to develop effective stress management strategies.
Key Steps:
Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
Follow a balanced, whole-food diet.
Engage in regular, moderate exercise.
Practice relaxation techniques and mindfulness.
These practices help maintain hormonal balance, support adrenal function, and strengthen the immune system.
Treatment of Acute and Chronic Stress with BICOM Bioresonance Method
The bioresonance method effectively addresses both acute and chronic stress. The key point in the treatment strategy is to balance the core problems that cause physical stress. Patients can apply various relaxation techniques, including the ones mentioned above, to manage stressors in their personal and social lives. They should aim to eliminate stress-inducing factors and learn to manage those they cannot remove.
Physical Stress Treatment:
Through the bioresonance method, as a first step, standard protocols must be followed. This includes addressing basic programs, removing blockages, supporting detox organs, and treating meridians. Food intolerances that trigger inflammation should also be treated.
Additionally, intestinal therapy is essential. A customized anti-inflammatory diet plan should be provided to address both food intolerances and inflammation of the intestinal walls.
In the treatment of chronic stress, 'shock therapy' should be tested. If positive, use the 10147 program sequence or the programs 3093.0, 432.2, 241.4, 3094.0, and 3095.0. The 'Sissi Karz method' can also be used for shock treatment.
'Chakras' should be tested and, if necessary, opened to restore energy balance. Hormonal and Metabolic Effects of Chronic Stress:
Chronic stress disrupts hormonal balance and metabolism, primarily affecting the central nervous system, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands due to elevated cortisol levels. Therefore, these systems must be addressed sequentially.
The following 'hormone regulation programs' should be used:
Program sequence: 10170
Individual programs: 270.4, 271.6, 934.1, 3050.0, 980.2, 981.1, 3049.0
Additionally, 'vegetative dystonia programs' (10169 and 10170) should be tested and applied.
To regulate cortisol levels, pituitary support programs should be used, including program sequence 10072 and programs 916.1 and 907.0.
For balancing adrenaline release due to chronic stress, the 10006 program sequence or programs 844.0 and 922.4 can be applied.
Adrenal Support:
To support adrenal glands under chronic stress, program 923 can be used by placing the input applicator on both kidneys, output on a magnetic mat, and saliva in the input cup. Therapy time should be adjusted as needed. Applicators can also be tested individually on the kidneys to create personalized programs.
Adrenal glands require additional supplementation of vitamins and minerals depleted under chronic stress, such as:
B vitamins (especially B5), Niacin
Vitamin C
Magnesium
Zinc
The `Sissi Karz method' can be utilized to stimulate these points and enhance vitamin and mineral absorption.
Mental Health and Mood Support:
Patients with chronic stress often experience low cortisol levels, leading to symptoms like fatigue, lethargy, unhappiness, and depression. Therefore, antidepressant and anxiolytic programs should be tested and incorporated into the treatment. Suggested programs include:
3027.0, 535.1, 428.3, 900.5, 125.4, 432.5, 911.4, 231.4, 230.4, 549.4
For improving serotonin function, the 841.0 and 980.5 programs can also be added. CU Hormone Test Set:
To maximize the effectiveness of chronic stress treatment, the "CTT hormone test set" should be used. Key ampoules to test and treat include:
002 (Adrenaline)
007 (Cortisol)
008 (DHEA)
026 (Serotonin)
034 (Pituitary gland)
035 (Hypothalamus)
036 (Adrenal gland)
Place these ampoules in the input cup and test/treat with program 192. Although these ampoules are prioritized, the entire set can be tested and applied for optimal results.
Conclusion:
By applying these protocols using BICOM bioresonance, you can provide a highly effective treatment for chronic stress. This approach may prevent the onset of autoimmune conditions and other chronic illnesses. For patients with existing health issues, addressing chronic stress as an underlying cause will contribute to long-term treatment success.
How Do Oxygen, Hydrogen and Pollutants Influence the Regulation of our Glands and Cellular Power Plants?
Sybille Arnold, naturopath, Germany
An understanding of the biochemical role of oxygen and hydrogen in the regulation of the glands and the function of the mitochondria is very important today, as regulation is increasingly restricted by pollutants and various external stresses.
The importance of the topic of energy production and hormonal regulation is essential for health, vitality and well-being.
How can we use oxygen and hydrogen to support bioresonance therapy? And what information can help us as therapists to recognize the appropriate use for our patients?
Oxygen
Oxygen in cell function
The role of oxygen as the main player in cellular respiration supports ATP production in the mitochondria through phosphorylation. A high oxygen supply increases the efficiency of energy production.
The influence of oxygen on glands
Oxygen improves blood circulation and the metabolism of the endocrine glands (e.g. adrenal gland and thyroid gland), promotes hormone synthesis and hormone secretion.
Oxygen improves mental clarity, immune function and cellular recovery/regulation.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen in cell function
The role of hydrogen is the antioxidant effect of molecular hydrogen H2.
It reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS cause cell damage) through neutralization. Hydrogen protects mitochondria from oxidative stress.
The influence of hydrogen on glands
Hydrogen improves the function of the pituitary gland and regulates hormone systems. It promotes insulin sensitivity and supports hormonal balance and cell regeneration.
Hydrogen has an anti-inflammatory effect and promotes regeneration and stress management.