Holistic Physios

01/03/2026

🤓 If one of your intentions this year is to shed some puffiness, bloating, and/or excess body fat…. Give serious consideration to your lymphatics for a successful jump start towards your achieving this healthy goal.

🔥 There Are Tiny Flames Inside You — And Your Lymphatic System Helps Put Them Out

Most people think of inflammation as something you can see:
a red rash, a swollen joint, or a puffy face.

But beneath the surface, your immune system starts microscopic “fires” every single day — and your lymphatic system is one of the quiet systems responsible for clearing what remains after the response.

When resolution works well, you barely notice these fires.
When it doesn’t, they linger.

And that’s when inflammation stops being protective and starts becoming exhausting.

🧬 What Are These “Fires”?

Whenever your immune system responds to injury, toxins, pathogens, hormonal shifts, or prolonged stress, an inflammatory cascade is activated:
• Cytokines are released
• Histamine increases
• White blood cells migrate into tissues
• Heat and fluid rise locally
• Capillaries become more permeable

This response is intelligent and protective.
Inflammation is not the enemy — it is part of healing.

The challenge begins after the immune response, when inflammatory by-products are not cleared efficiently.

That’s when inflammation doesn’t fully resolve — it smolders.

💧 The Lymphatic System: Resolution, Not Reaction

Once immune activity has done its job, what remains includes:
• Cellular debris
• Inflammatory mediators
• Excess interstitial fluid
• Metabolic waste products
• Oxidative by-products

Your lymphatic vessels collect this material and transport it to lymph nodes, where it is filtered, processed, and prepared for elimination via the liver, kidneys, and gut.

The lymphatic system does not create inflammation.
It helps determine how efficiently inflammation is resolved.

When lymphatic flow is sluggish, overloaded, or compromised, inflammatory by-products may remain in tissues longer — increasing the likelihood of persistent or recurring symptoms.

⚠️ When the Fire Isn’t Fully Cleared

When inflammatory resolution pathways struggle to keep up, people may experience patterns such as:
• 🔥 Autoimmune flare activity
• 🔥 Chronic fatigue and brain fog
• 🔥 Widespread pain or tissue sensitivity
• 🔥 Digestive congestion, bloating, or discomfort
• 🔥 Puffiness, fluid retention, or fascial tightness

This does not mean the body is failing.

It means the body’s clearance systems are under strain.

🌿 Supporting the Lymphatic System (Supportive Care)

Supporting lymphatic flow does not treat disease directly.
It supports the body’s physiological capacity to resolve inflammation and manage metabolic load.

Common supportive strategies include:
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) – gentle stimulation of lymph pathways
• Castor Oil Packs – traditionally used to support circulation and inflammatory load
• Anti-inflammatory nutrition – reducing inflammatory burden
• Deep breathing and gentle movement – supporting thoracic duct flow
• Adequate hydration with electrolytes – maintaining lymph fluid dynamics
• Dry brushing or Gua Sha – superficial lymphatic stimulation

These approaches are adjunctive and supportive, not curative, and should always be individualized.

💡 A Key Insight to Remember

Inflammation is not only about how strongly the immune system reacts —
it is also about how efficiently the body clears what remains.

The lymphatic system plays a central role in that resolution phase.

📌 Important Note

Supporting lymphatic flow does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment.
It supports the body’s natural systems involved in inflammation resolution, fluid balance, and metabolic clearance.

Always consult a qualified healthcare professional when managing chronic or complex health conditions.

📚 Scientific Resources & What to Explore Further

If you would like to explore the science behind these concepts more deeply, the following reputable resources provide research and educational material. When reading, focus on resolution of inflammation, fluid movement, and immune clearance, not just immune activation:
• National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
Look for reviews on inflammatory pathways, cytokines, histamine, lymphatic vessels, and immune regulation in tissue health.
• PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Explore studies on lymphatic drainage, chronic inflammation, autoimmune conditions, and how impaired clearance contributes to persistent symptoms.
• Frontiers in Immunology / Frontiers in Pain Research
Read about neuroimmune inflammation, inflammatory mediators, and the relationship between immune activation, pain, and fatigue.
• MDPI – International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Focus on molecular mechanisms of inflammation, lymphangiogenesis, and cellular waste clearance.
• Cleveland Clinic
Useful for clear, patient-friendly explanations of the lymphatic system, edema, inflammation, and manual lymphatic drainage as supportive care.
• Physiopedia
Review lymphatic anatomy, manual lymphatic drainage principles, and the role of breathing and movement in lymph flow.
• BioMed Central – Inflammation and Regeneration
Explore how inflammation resolves (or fails to resolve) and the biological consequences of prolonged inflammatory signaling.

💭 How to Read This Research Without Overwhelm

You don’t need to understand every technical term. Instead, notice:
• How often clearance is discussed, not just inflammation
• The role of fluid movement in healing
• The difference between immune activation and immune resolution
• How chronic symptoms are often linked to systems being overloaded, not broken

© Lymphatica
Educational content for lymphatic awareness and physiological understanding.

12/31/2025

Case study: neck pain and tingling down arm

I often hear, “That’s weird,” in my treatments….

During a full body assessment, we found that if we altered the contralateral ankle with a wedge, the complaint pain practically vanished.😯 …to the confusion of the client. Fortunately, this image portrays it perfectly.

Time for movement training because we could adjust and try and hammer that neck into place, but just like in architecture, we don’t always see foundational issues at the foundation, but up in the corners.

12/31/2025

🤓 Literally, food for thought…

Have you ever noticed how two people given the same diagnosis of “depression” can respond completely differently to treatment?
Often, the difference isn’t psychological at all — it’s biochemical.

In The Serotonin Connection (Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, 1996), Dr. Robert Nash, MD outlined a clear distinction using what he called the Serotonin Index, separating serotonin-dominant patterns from norepinephrine-dominant patterns.

🧠 Low Serotonin Patterns
• Repetitive or obsessive thinking
• Compulsive behaviors and perfectionism
• Disrupted sleep and morning exhaustion
• Chronic pain syndromes, fibromyalgia, tension headaches
• Addictive tendencies or constant overworking
• Symptoms worsen with stress, caffeine, or missed meals

💥 Low Norepinephrine Patterns
• Genuine anxiety or panic states
• Low energy, poor drive, lack of motivation
• Lightheadedness or vague headaches (often with age)
• Poor concentration and emotional dullness
• Symptoms often improve with movement or stimulation

Low serotonin often presents as overcontrol, rigidity, and burnout.
Low norepinephrine presents as background anxiety, weakness, and collapse.

The Nash Index describes these systems as a biological see-saw — when one side drops, the other compensates.
Orthomolecular medicine focuses on restoring balance rather than suppressing symptoms.

🌿 Orthomolecular strategies may include
• Vitamin B3 and Vitamin C to support serotonin pathways
• Magnesium and B6 for neurotransmitter regulation
• Omega-3 fatty acids for neuronal signaling
• Adaptogenic support for stress and catecholamine balance

This framework allows neurotransmitter imbalances to be identified, measured, and corrected through targeted nutrient therapy.

👉 Learn how practitioners apply this model in real clinical settings:
https://www.instituteintegrativebiomedicine.com/link/yryprL

12/19/2025

🧠🚗 WHIPLASH & THE TECTORIAL MEMBRANE

Why a “neck injury” can become a brain–body integration problem

Most people are told that whiplash is just a neck strain.
Modern neuroscience and craniocervical research tell a very different story.

Whiplash is an acceleration–deceleration injury that can disrupt:
• Deep craniocervical ligaments
• Brainstem-adjacent structures
• Central neural pathways involved in posture, balance, and autonomic regulation

One of the most critical—and most overlooked—structures involved is the tectorial membrane.

⸻

🦴 THE TECTORIAL MEMBRANE: A CRITICAL STABILIZER AT THE BRAIN–NECK JUNCTION

The tectorial membrane (TM) is not just another ligament.

🔹 It is the superior continuation of the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL)
🔹 It runs from C2 (axis) to the clivus at the base of the skull
🔹 It lies directly in front of the spinal cord and brainstem, blending with intracranial dura

🧠 Why this matters:

The tectorial membrane acts as a protective barrier that:
• Limits excessive flexion/extension and translation at the craniocervical junction
• Helps prevent the dens (odontoid process) from migrating toward the brainstem
• Plays a role in brainstem stability, dural tension, and CSF dynamics

When this structure is stressed or injured, the consequences are neurological, not just mechanical.

⸻

🚗 WHAT WHIPLASH DOES TO THE TECTORIAL MEMBRANE

During whiplash, the head moves violently relative to the torso. This places enormous shear and tensile forces on the upper cervical ligaments—especially the tectorial membrane.

📌 A Cureus study demonstrated that:
• Tectorial membrane injury is frequently present in adult trauma patients
• TM disruption is commonly found in cases requiring occipital–cervical fusion
• Injury may exist even without obvious fractures or gross instability on initial imaging

👉 This means ligamentous failure can occur silently, but still destabilize the brain–neck interface.

⸻

🧠 WHIPLASH IS ALSO A NEUROLOGICAL INJURY

Research published in Frontiers in Neurology (2019) adds another layer:

Key findings:
• Patients with mTBI + whiplash had worse postural control than mTBI alone
• Advanced diffusion imaging showed greater injury to the corticoreticulospinal tract (CRT)
• CRT is a central pathway controlling posture, axial tone, and balance
• These changes occurred even when standard MRI looked normal

🧠 Translation:
Whiplash can simultaneously injure:
• Peripheral sensory systems (neck proprioceptors)
• Central neural pathways
• Craniocervical stabilizing ligaments

⸻

🔄 THE SENSORIMOTOR CASCADE AFTER WHIPLASH

When the tectorial membrane and upper cervical structures are compromised, the brain receives distorted information from multiple systems:

1️⃣ Cervical Proprioception

Damaged neck receptors send inaccurate head-position data, creating sensory mismatch.

2️⃣ Vestibular System

The inner ear depends on stable cervical input. Distortion here leads to:
• Dizziness
• Motion sensitivity
• Balance loss

3️⃣ Visual System

Eye movements rely on neck–vestibular coordination. Disruption causes:
• Visual motion intolerance
• Tracking difficulty
• Visual dizziness

4️⃣ Brainstem & Central Pathways

TM injury and abnormal motion at the craniocervical junction can:
• Alter brainstem signaling
• Increase autonomic dysregulation
• Stress pathways like the CRT

⸻

🌀 WHY SYMPTOMS PERSIST

When these systems fail to reintegrate, the nervous system stays in a state of uncertainty.

Common symptoms include:
• Dizziness & imbalance
• Head pressure and headaches
• Brain fog & poor concentration
• Neck tension that never “lets go”
• Fatigue & stress intolerance
• Heightened fight-or-flight responses

These symptoms are not psychological.
They are the brain’s response to conflicting and unreliable sensory input.

⸻

🧠 A FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGY INTERPRETATION

From a functional neurology perspective:

✴ The upper cervical spine is a neurological gateway, not just a hinge
✴ The tectorial membrane plays a role in brainstem protection and sensory integration
✴ Whiplash can disrupt ligaments, sensory receptors, and central pathways simultaneously
✴ Symptoms reflect integration failure, not just tissue damage

This explains why:
• Imaging can look “normal”
• Pain-focused care alone often fails
• Patients feel dismissed despite real dysfunction

⸻

📌 KEY TAKEAWAY

Whiplash is not simply a neck strain.

It can involve:
🔹 Injury to the tectorial membrane
🔹 Craniocervical instability at a micro level
🔹 Altered brainstem and sensory processing
🔹 Central pathway disruption (e.g., CRT)
🔹 Long-term neurological adaptation

Understanding this shifts care from pain suppression to restoring brain–body integration—the foundation of true neurological recovery.

⸻

🧠 Knowledge changes outcomes.
At The Functional Neurology Center, we evaluate whiplash through the lens of neurology, not just orthopedics.

https://www.cureus.com/articles/53894-tectorial-membrane-injury-frequently-identified-in-adult-trauma-patients-who-undergo-occipital-cervical-fusion-for-craniocervical-instability #!/

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Coronal-illustration-of-the-craniocervcial-junction-from-a-posterior-orientation-with-cut_fig1_358874140

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2019.01199/full

TheFNC.com
📞 612-223-8590
DC DACNB

12/18/2025

If Your Vision Comes and Goes, Causes Migraines, or Can’t Be Fully Corrected, It Might Not Be “Just Your Eyes” Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Can Be the Missing Link

12/12/2025

The Optic Nerve, CSF Flow & Brain Pressure: How New Research Is Changing the Way We Understand Dizziness, Vision Problems, Head Pressure & Neurological Dysfunction

A groundbreaking 2022 article titled “Cerebrospinal fluid dynamics along the optic nerve” (Frontiers in Neurology) is reshaping how clinicians understand vision, brain pressure regulation, headaches, dizziness, and autonomic dysregulation.

And at The Functional Neurology Center, this research directly validates what we see clinically every single day:

✨ Vision symptoms, dizziness, headaches, and autonomic issues are often tied together because they share the same fluid pathways, pressure systems, and brainstem regulation mechanisms.

Let’s break down why this matters — and how we address it with technologies like Ciatrix, visual-vestibular therapy, cervical stability training, and autonomic rehabilitation.

⸻

👁️ THE OPTIC NERVE ISN’T JUST A “VISION CABLE” — IT’S A CSF-FILLED EXTENSION OF THE BRAIN

The article emphasizes a critical anatomical fact:

📌 The optic nerve is literally an extension of the brain.

It is surrounded by:
• Dura mater
• Arachnoid membrane
• Subarachnoid space filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

This means the optic nerve is not isolated — it is directly exposed to brain pressure dynamics, CSF pulsations, and cranial fluid movement.

❗ And this subarachnoid space is a cul-de-sac

The CSF around the optic nerve must move in and out through the same narrow channel.

So any disruption in:
• CSF flow
• Intracranial pressure gradients
• Venous drainage
• Dural tension
• Cervical mechanics
• Posture
• Autonomic regulation

…can influence the optic nerve’s metabolic environment, health, and function.

This explains why so many neurological patients present with:
• Blurry vision
• Eye strain
• Difficulty shifting gaze
• Motion sensitivity
• Light sensitivity
• Eye pressure
• Visual fatigue
• Convergence dysfunction
• Reading intolerance

These symptoms aren’t “eye problems” — they’re CSF + brainstem + autonomic problems affecting the optic nerve and visual pathways.

⸻

💧 CSF FLOW ALONG THE OPTIC NERVE: WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT

The article highlights several key points about CSF movement in the optic nerve:

✔ CSF must circulate smoothly to support optic nerve metabolism

✔ Abnormal CSF flow may contribute to optic neuropathy, headaches, and pressure disorders

✔ CSF exchange assists in clearing metabolic waste from visual pathways

✔ Irregular CSF pulsations can stress the optic nerve head and retinal ganglion cells

✔ The optic nerve sheath responds directly to intracranial pressure changes

These findings support a new model where visual symptoms reflect deeper cerebrospinal and dural mechanics.

This aligns perfectly with the complex patients we treat:
• concussion
• post-whiplash
• dysautonomia / POTS
• hypermobility / EDS
• migraines
• post-COVID neuroinflammation
• chronic dizziness
• “visual vertigo”
• optic nerve fatigue
• brain-fog with visual overload

All of these often involve altered CSF dynamics, abnormal pressure gradients, and impaired brainstem integration.

⸻

🧠 THE NECK, DURAl TENSION & OPTIC NERVE FLUID DYNAMICS

This is where the ocular CSF article connects beautifully with the myodural bridge / neuraxial biomechanics paper:

📌 Cervical mechanics influence dural tension

📌 Dural tension influences CSF flow

📌 CSF flow influences optic nerve pressure

📌 Optic nerve pressure influences visual-vestibular stability

When the neck is unstable — as in many of our patients with hypermobility, prior injuries, or poor posture — this can create:
• abnormal traction on the dura
• altered CSF flow at the cranio-cervical junction
• disrupted fluid exchange near the optic nerve
• increased pressure sensitivity
• changes in venous drainage

This can lead to symptoms such as:

👁️ “Vision goes blurry when I stand up.”

👁️ “My eyes feel pressured or full.”

👁️ “Reading makes me dizzy.”

👁️ “Screens trigger headaches.”

👁️ “My vision shakes when my neck hurts.”

👁️ “My eyes fatigue instantly.”

These are not “eye issues” — they are neuro-mechanical issues affecting the optic nerve’s CSF environment.

⸻

🔄 THE EYE–BRAIN–AUTONOMIC LOOP

The optic nerve is plugged directly into brainstem autonomic centers.
Pressure or flow abnormalities around the optic nerve can trigger:
• headaches
• light sensitivity
• nausea
• dizziness
• heart rate changes
• sympathetic activation
• blurred vision
• difficulty stabilizing gaze

Why?

Because vision and autonomics share the same functional space — the brainstem.

When CSF flow near the optic nerve is altered, the brainstem often compensates with:
• increased sympathetic tone
• altered eye movement control
• impaired vestibular integration

This explains why patients often describe symptoms like:

✔ “My dizziness is worse when my eyes get tired.”
✔ “My heart races when my vision overwhelms me.”
✔ “Vision + neck pain + dizziness hit all at once.”

⸻

🌟 HOW CIATRIX SUPPORTS OCULAR + CSF FLOW DYNAMICS AT THE FNC

Ciatrix technology plays a major role in supporting patients with altered optic nerve CSF mechanics.

By improving:
• global CSF flow
• rhythmic cranial and spinal fluid movement
• venous drainage
• brain oxygenation
• autonomic regulation
• cervical mechanical stability
• dural tension patterns

…we see meaningful improvements in:
• visual endurance
• convergence
• motion sensitivity
• head pressure
• headaches
• visual balance integration
• optic nerve comfort
• dizziness triggered by visual environments

Ciatrix doesn’t treat the eye —
it treats the fluid + pressure system the eye depends on.

⸻

🎯 HOW THE FNC APPROACH INTEGRATES THIS RESEARCH

Our protocols support optic nerve and CSF dynamics through:

🟦 Visual-vestibular integration training

Stabilizing gain, saccades, pursuits, fixation, and VOR reflexes.

🟦 Cervical proprioception + stability rehab

Reducing stress on the dura and myodural bridge.

🟦 Ciatrix CSF flow and brainstem regulation sessions

Improving fluid movement before doing higher-load neural tasks.

🟦 Autonomic nervous system retraining

Because vision + autonomics share the same brainstem control networks.

🟦 Oculomotor endurance training

For patients with screen fatigue or reading intolerance.

🟦 Optic nerve pressure symptom monitoring

Especially in those with head pressure, migraines, and optic sheath sensitivity.

⸻

💬 THE TAKEAWAY: VISION SYMPTOMS ARE OFTEN BRAINSTEM + CSF SYMPTOMS

Patients often come to us saying:
• “My eye doctor says my eyes are fine.”
• “My MRI is normal.”
• “Why does my vision shut down when I’m dizzy?”

This new research makes the answer clear:

✨ Vision problems in neurological patients are often caused by altered CSF flow, dural tension, autonomic imbalance, or cervical instability — not mechanical eye issues.

When we address:
• CSF dynamics
• cranio-cervical mechanics
• autonomics
• brainstem integration
• ocular motor control

…vision symptoms finally start to improve.

⸻

🌟 If you have vision-triggered dizziness, headaches, pressure, motion sensitivity, or visual overload — you’re not alone. And there is a reason.

Want to explore this deeper or schedule an evaluation?

📩 Message us
📧 info@theFNC.com
📍 Minnetonka, MN
🌐 theFNC.com

There is HOPE.
— The Functional Neurology Center

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.931523/full

10/31/2025

10/25/2025

Citric acid…. A common ingredient in SO MANY foods.

Manufactured citric acid - made from aspergillus niger mold.

“The woman developed severe joint and muscle pain in the upper and lower extremities with associated joint swelling, abdominal bloating with cramping and feeling enervated within 6–12 h of ingesting foods that contain added citric acid.”

“She sought consultations with rheumatologists, immunologists and allergists, none of whom found an explanation. Over a five year period, she underwent extensive work-ups for auto-immune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, vitamin deficiencies, as well as adrenal and thyroid imbalance, all of which were negative.

She attempted to eliminate gluten, dairy, and yeast, symptoms were minimally altered. She fenally noted that her symptoms followed ingesting certain pre-prepared foods, the commonality being presence of citric acid in the listed ingredients.

By age 47, she began avoiding all foods with added citric acid and noted a remarkable absence of her symptoms.

Subsequently, when she would feel the symptoms reported above after consuming pre-prepared foods or beverages, she would check the listed ingredients and always find that at least one of the foods consumed within the previous 12 h contained added citric acid.

The extent of her joint pain, abdominal discomfort and enervation was directly correlated with the amount of added citric acid ingested at a given time. If she consumed a meal in which a food item contained added citric acid and consumed a drink in which added citric acid was one of the leading ingredients, her symptoms were worse and lasted longer than if she consumed a single food item in which added citric acid was listed as a more minor ingredient. Even pre-prepared organic foods that were free of all additives except added citric acid would elicit her symptoms.”

From: Potential role of the common food additive manufactured citric acid in iciting significant inflammatory reactions contributing to serious disease states: A series of four case reports

10/25/2025

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10/23/2025

🤨🤓🤔🤔🤔 Who’s taking NAD? Here’s something to consider.