Connectology Mackay

26/03/2026

California jury on Wednesday found that Meta and Google were to blame for the depression and anxiety of a woman who compulsively used social media as a small child, awarding her $3 million in a rare verdict helping to hold Silicon Valley accountable for their role in fueling a youth mental health crisis around the globe.

Jurors concluded that Meta and Google should pay the woman $3 million in compensatory damages, with Meta responsible for 70% of that amount.

The jury also decided that Meta and Google's actions should trigger punitive damages, which means there will be a separate phase of the trial where the jury will decide what amount of damages are appropriate to punish the multi-trillion-dollar companies for their conduct.

The verdict from a Los Angeles jury over the harms of social media comes a day after a separate jury in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $375 million in damages for failing to protect young users from child predators on Instagram and Facebook. The New Mexico jury found Meta responsible for misleading consumers about the safety of its platforms, declaring that the tech company had flouted state consumer protection laws.

Source: NPR

21/03/2026

The vagus nerve is one of the body’s primary communication pathways.

It carries information about what’s happening in the body up to the brain — and sends signals from the brain back to many of our vital organs.

This constant feedback helps the body maintain homeostasis across systems like the heart, lungs and digestive organs.

Research also suggests the vagus nerve plays an important role in how the body responds to stress and inflammation.

Bowen Therapists work with an awareness of these communication systems, recognising that the body is always gathering information and adjusting in response.

Because the body isn’t just a collection of parts.

It’s an ongoing conversation.

📸 Polyvagal Institute

18/03/2026

14/03/2026

The Diaphragm–Psoas–Core Connection: Deep Biomechanics of Spinal Stability

This anatomical cross-section highlights one of the most fascinating relationships in human biomechanics—the connection between the diaphragm, psoas major, quadratus lumborum, and transversus abdominis. These deep structures form a functional unit that contributes not only to breathing but also to core stability, spinal control, and load transfer through the trunk.

At the center of this system is the psoas major, a deep hip flexor that originates from the lumbar vertebrae (T12–L5) and inserts into the lesser trochanter of the femur. Because it attaches directly to the lumbar spine, the psoas plays a crucial role in spinal stabilization during movement and posture. When functioning properly, it acts like a dynamic support cable that helps control lumbar alignment while the body moves.

Above the psoas sits the diaphragm, the primary muscle of respiration. The diaphragm attaches to the lumbar spine through structures known as the crura of the diaphragm. These attachments connect breathing mechanics directly with spinal stability. During inhalation, the diaphragm descends and increases intra-abdominal pressure, which stabilizes the spine and supports the lumbar vertebrae.

Surrounding these structures is the transversus abdominis, often referred to as the body’s natural corset. This deep abdominal muscle wraps horizontally around the abdomen and connects with the thoracolumbar fascia, creating a tension system that stabilizes the spine during movement.

The quadratus lumborum (QL) also contributes to this system by stabilizing the pelvis and lumbar spine during standing, walking, and lateral movements. It works together with the diaphragm and psoas to maintain balance between the rib cage and pelvis.

Biomechanically, these muscles work together to regulate intra-abdominal pressure, which acts like an internal support system for the spine. When the diaphragm contracts and the abdominal wall engages, pressure builds within the abdominal cavity. This pressure reduces compressive forces on the lumbar spine and helps maintain spinal alignment during lifting, walking, and other movements.

This integrated system is often referred to as the deep core stabilization mechanism. Dysfunction in any part of this chain—such as poor breathing mechanics, weak abdominal control, or tight psoas muscles—can disrupt spinal stability and contribute to lower back pain, postural imbalance, or inefficient movement patterns.

Understanding this relationship shows that the core is not just about visible abdominal muscles. True spinal stability depends on the coordinated function of breathing muscles, deep spinal stabilizers, and pelvic support structures working together as one biomechanical system.

13/03/2026

04/03/2026

19/02/2026

This pragmatic randomised controlled trial compared homeopathic and conventional primary paediatric care for acute illnesses in children from birth to 24 months, with conventional medicine used as a safety back-up in the homeopathic group when medically indicated.

Among 108 infants in India, those receiving homeopathic care experienced significantly fewer sick days, fewer illness episodes—particularly respiratory infections—required fewer antibiotics, and incurred lower treatment costs than those in conventional care. Children in the homeopathic group were also taller, though not heavier, over the study period.

Overall, the findings suggest that homeopathy, integrated with conventional medicine for safety, may be a safe, effective, and cost-efficient primary care approach in the first two years of life.

Read the study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39425766/

07/01/2026

Most people believe meditation means stopping thoughts.
That’s why they sit down, close their eyes… and feel like they’re failing within seconds.

The mind starts racing.
Plans appear.
Memories surface.
Worries knock loudly.

And people conclude: “I can’t meditate.”

But here’s the truth 👇

Meditation is not about forcing the mind to go blank.
It’s about changing your relationship with your thoughts.

At first, the mind is noisy — and that’s not a problem.
That noise was always there; you’re just noticing it for the first time.

Then something subtle happens: You stop fighting the thoughts.
You stop chasing them.
You stop believing every story they tell.

You begin to observe without reacting.

Thoughts still arise —
but they no longer own you.
They pass like clouds, while you remain the sky.

With time, the mind naturally settles.
Not because you controlled it,
but because you stopped interfering.

And in that quiet awareness: • Clarity replaces confusion
• Peace replaces restlessness
• Presence replaces overthinking

Meditation is not about thinking less.
It’s about being less controlled by thinking.

Sit.
Breathe.
Observe.
Let go.

The calm you’re searching for
isn’t something you create —
it’s something you uncover.

29/12/2025

I hope everyone enjoyed a lovely Christmas - best wishes for the New year!

A New Year doesn’t have to be about reinvention or resolve.

It can simply be a moment to acknowledge what’s been carried — and what doesn’t need to come along.

What would you like to leave behind?

15/12/2025

Sunlight is more than Vitamin D