Ebb & Flow Holistic Health

04/22/2026

🩸 ALPHA-GAL SYNDROME: When the Body Reacts to Mammal meats

Most people have never heard of this…
…but it’s becoming more common—especially right here in Missouri.

Alpha-gal syndrome is a type of food allergy triggered by a sugar molecule called galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), found in mammal products like:

* Beef
* Pork
* Lamb
* Venison
* Dairy (in some cases)

👉 It’s most often linked to bites from the Lone Star tick.

🧬 What makes it different?

Unlike most food allergies…
this one is delayed.

Symptoms typically show up 3–6 hours after eating, which makes it confusing and often misdiagnosed.

⚠️ Common Symptoms

Digestive:

* Nausea
* Diarrhea
* Stomach cramping
* Vomiting

Skin:

* Hives
* Itching
* Swelling

Systemic:

* Fatigue
* Dizziness
* Shortness of breath
* Drop in blood pressure

🚨 In severe cases, it can lead to anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction).

🧠 Why it matters

Many people struggle for months (or years) with:

* “Random” digestive issues
* Nighttime reactions
* Unexplained inflammation

…without realizing it’s tied to something they ate hours earlier.

🌿 From a holistic lens

At Ebb & Flow, we look at:

* Immune system overactivation
* Gut and microbiome balance
* Inflammatory load
* Nervous system response

Because this isn’t just about food—
it’s about how the body is responding, remembering, and reacting.

💡 What to do if you suspect it

* Pay attention to delayed reactions after eating meat
* Consider testing through your provider
* Track symptoms + food timing
* Support the body with anti-inflammatory and gut-supportive tools

You’re not crazy.
Your body is communicating.
And there is a path to understanding and healing.

✨ If you’re navigating symptoms like this, I can help you look deeper at patterns, triggers, and support options.

Alright USA… this is what we’re seeing so far.

This chart reflects the % of people in each state reporting Alpha-Gal based on our survey.

But here’s what the data is also showing:
👉 65% were misdiagnosed
👉 57% waited over 6 months for a diagnosis
👉 68% report neurological symptoms

This isn’t just an allergy — and it’s not being recognized fast enough.

Some states are showing up strong… others are nearly silent.
That doesn’t mean it’s not there — it means it’s not being reported yet.

👉 If your state is underrepresented, help us change that.
Take the survey: www.tickbitedata.com

The more data we collect, the harder this becomes to ignore.

04/15/2026

You can heal and I would love to help you unpack all you have been carrying! ❤️

04/13/2026

Interesting! Explains why many of my clients have few childhood memories.

Chronic exposure to high cortisol during childhood can directly alter how the hippocampus—your brain’s memory center—functions and develops.

The hippocampus is densely packed with glucocorticoid receptors, making it highly sensitive to stress hormones; when cortisol stays elevated for long periods, it can cause dendritic retraction (loss of neural connections), suppress neurogenesis (reduced formation of new neurons), and even lead to measurable reductions in hippocampal volume seen in imaging studies.

Under these conditions, the brain prioritizes survival over detailed memory encoding, so experiences—especially traumatic ones—may be stored in fragmented, non-verbal forms (sensations, emotions, body states) rather than coherent narratives.

This is where the concept of “dissociative amnesia” comes in: not that memories are erased, but that access to them is functionally blocked or disrupted as a protective mechanism. Importantly, these changes are not always permanent—when stress is reduced and the environment becomes safe, hippocampal function and memory integration can partially recover due to neuroplasticity.

03/29/2026

My Inner Child Healing Participants will begin a new journey this week and we will be doing some handwriting! So many benefits to journaling! ❤️

Writing by hand is more than a traditional habit, it’s a powerful brain exercise. Brain scans show that handwriting activates three times more neural circuits than typing, engaging areas responsible for memory, focus, and creativity. While typing allows speed and efficiency, the tactile process of forming letters strengthens cognitive pathways and improves retention.

Psychologists explain that hand movements create a multisensory experience. The coordination of hand, eye, and brain enhances learning, encodes information more deeply, and improves problem-solving. Handwriting stimulates both the motor cortex and prefrontal cortex, enhancing attention and mental organization. It also encourages slower, reflective thinking, which supports creativity and critical analysis.

Studies indicate that students, professionals, and investors who take notes or draft ideas by hand recall concepts better and generate more innovative solutions compared to those who rely solely on keyboards. The physical act of writing reinforces neural connections and aids long-term learning and mental clarity.

Choosing handwriting for important tasks, brainstorming, journaling, or planning, combines cognitive, emotional, and creative benefits. Even in a digital world, your pen remains mightier than your keyboard for memory, focus, and unlocking your brain’s full creative potential.

03/28/2026

Maybe we should schedule some sing alongs! 🎶

Psychologist says singing is more than just a creative or emotional activity—it has measurable effects on physical health. According to psychology and immunology research, engaging in singing can boost the immune antibody known as immunoglobulin A (IgA) by as much as 240 percent in under an hour.

IgA plays a crucial role in the body’s defense against pathogens. Psychologist says higher IgA levels improve the immune system’s ability to fight infections, reducing the likelihood of illness. According to psychology, the act of singing stimulates the brain and body simultaneously, triggering stress-reducing responses and enhancing immune function.

Singing also promotes emotional wellbeing, which indirectly supports immunity. Psychologist says joyful vocal expression reduces cortisol, lowers stress, and improves mood, creating optimal conditions for the body to regulate immune responses. According to psychology, group singing can amplify these effects through social bonding and shared positive energy.

Incorporating singing into daily routines is a simple, enjoyable, and science-backed method to strengthen immunity. Psychologist says even short singing sessions can provide measurable benefits for physical and mental health. According to psychology, consistent practice supports resilience against infections and enhances overall wellbeing.

03/26/2026

If you are experiencing shut down symptoms, I would love to support you! These is not your brain failing.... it's signals you need to shift. Shoot me a message and let's connect!

We’re often told the brain’s only job is survival.

But survival is not always about pushing harder.

In neuroscience, the nervous system is understood as a regulator. It constantly adjusts between activation and shutdown depending on what it perceives as safe, manageable, or overwhelming.

When stress, pain, or threat becomes too intense or prolonged, the brain does not always increase effort.

Sometimes it reduces it.

This can show up as emotional numbness, dissociation, mental fog, or a feeling of “going blank.” These responses are not failures. They are part of the brain’s protective strategy to prevent overload when it cannot resolve the situation directly.

Systems within the brain and body, including autonomic pathways, can shift from high alert into a more withdrawn state. This reduces conscious awareness of distress and limits further strain on the system.

In extreme medical conditions, similar mechanisms are studied in terms of loss of regulation under severe physiological stress. In everyday life, these responses are more subtle but follow the same principle:

Protection through reduction.

Understanding this reframes the experience.

Shutdown is not weakness.
It is the nervous system trying to keep balance when demand exceeds capacity.

And like other brain patterns, it can be gradually retrained with safety, stability, and consistent regulation.

Source
The Lancet Neurology – Research on autonomic nervous system responses and regulation under extreme stress

Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical or psychological advice.

03/25/2026

There are a lot of “science-y” words in this… but here’s the truth:

Your brain doesn’t know the difference between what was… and what is.

Especially the brain of a child who grew up in chaos, stress, or conflict.

So it adapted.
Not because you were broken…
But because you were brilliant at surviving.

That heightened alertness?
That overthinking?
That feeling like you can’t fully relax or trust peace?

That’s your nervous system doing exactly what it was wired to do.

But here’s the part I need you to hear…

✨ You are not stuck this way.
✨ Your brain can change.
✨ Your body can learn safety again.

Healing is not about “fixing” you.
It’s about gently teaching your system… that it’s safe to soften now.

This is my passion. My purpose. My life’s work.

To help you understand:
• where your patterns came from
• how they’ve been protecting you
• and how to finally release what no longer serves you

So you can feel:
peaceful… present… and fully yourself.

If this resonates, I would love to walk alongside you 🤍
Message me to learn more or schedule a session.

When a child grows up in an unstable or high-conflict environment, the brain adapts for survival rather than development.

Neuroscience research has shown that repeated exposure to conflict, neglect, or unpredictable caregiving can alter how key brain regions function. These changes are not about weakness or personality. They are adaptive responses to stress.

One of the most affected areas is the amygdala, the brain’s threat-detection system. In these environments, it becomes more reactive, making a child highly sensitive to potential danger, even in neutral situations. This heightened vigilance is similar to patterns observed in individuals exposed to prolonged high-stress conditions.

The anterior insula, involved in emotional awareness and anticipating discomfort, also shows increased activity. This reflects a brain that is constantly preparing for what might happen next, rather than feeling safe in the present moment.

At the same time, the prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate emotions and decision-making, may become less effective under chronic stress. This makes it harder to calm down once the stress response is triggered.

Over time, these patterns can shape how a person experiences relationships, stress, and safety. What once helped the brain adapt to a difficult environment can continue to operate long after the environment has changed.

The important part is this:

These changes are not permanent.

The brain remains capable of adaptation throughout life. With supportive environments, awareness, and consistent regulation, these patterns can gradually shift.

Source
International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) – fMRI research on the impact of early-life stress and abuse on brain function

Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical or psychological advice.

03/25/2026

📰🚨 NEWS FLASH! Chemical sunscreens are NOT SAFE! In fact, they are probably one of the most toxic products we use on a regular basis during the summer months.☀️🌊🚤🏖️👙

🧴Traditional sunscreens work by literally soaking into the skin (epidermis layer). With this method, the toxic ingredients that soak into your skin can also seep into your bloodstream.🩸

In one study released in 2019, 7 toxic ingredients (avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, ecamsule, homosalate, octisalate, and octinoxate) were found to be absorbed into the bloodstream after just ONE SINGLE DAY of use! 🤯🤯🤯🤯

Two of the ingredients— homosalate and oxybenzone — were STILL PRESENT AFTER 21 DAYS!! 🚨🚨🚨

🦀🐙🌊🐡🦑 Not only are they HORRIBLE for our bodies, these toxic ingredients are destroying ocean life. Once in the bloodstream, they enter our waterways via wastewater 💩 🚿🛀🏽 & threaten the coral reefs 🪸 & aquatic life.

Know someone who needs to see this?
TAG THEM! Friends don’t let friends use toxic sunscreens! 🥰👯‍♀️💓

☀️
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Snag our Sun Shield here!
Available in original or tinted! 🤍🤎

https://www.rowecasaorganics.com/?sca_ref=7911327.eD6PnFwxfw

First time client of mine? Use EBBANDFLOW for 20% off.

03/25/2026

Share something good in your life today for a chance to win a session of your choice:
Infinity PEMF Mat
Infinity Rain
Infrared Sauna

I will go first today. The good thing in my life is my husband, James. I had a flat tire and he took it off to the tire shop and brought it back home and put it on for me so I could go about my day.💕