Class Notes from Lesson 3-7 Constitutional

 Lesson 3-7: Upper GI Defined 2

Upper GI, top half of digestive system, breaks down food. Small intestine absorbs. Digestion begins with CNS - conscious act of making or seeking food, preparing. Then senses. Senses induce secretions.

Autonomic Nervous System. Secretions and swallowing caused by parasympathetic. Peristalsis, wave contractions in tubular tissue. Carries food down. Parasympathetic nerve ganglia communicate with CNS. CNS ignores much nerve stimulus. Many nerve endings triggering at the same time demand response. All pain from gut and organs is referred pain.... which is why my ex-girlfriend nearly dies of appendicitis and thought it was menstrual pain. It requires repeated pain events to be able to identify the source. Parasympathetic nerves cause secretions, sympathetic nerves stop secretions. Always opposing forces to control functions - usually more than one antagonistic force. Spasms like in asthma attack or irritable bowel are oscillations between sympathetic and parasympathetic caused by not having enough antagonist to stop function. Inhalation and exhalation is example of balanced oscillation. Heating hurriedly, mindlessly, or bland food doesn't stimulate the parasympathetic enough for good secretions. The ore you enjoy the act of eating, the better digestion. Necessary to enjoy eating to help GI deficiency. Saliva contains proteins that heal nerves and cells - heals mouth,, esophagus or a cut if you lick it - minerals to strengthen teeth and enzymes to digest starch. Digestion of whole grains begins, complex carbohydrates, and legumes in mouth. If you don't chew well, you don't get the nutrition. Refried beans are easier to digest.

Stomach is divided into parts by sphincters. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stomach The top collects gas. Food should gradually enter the bottom of the stomach, where the acid is, lowly - about 4-6 ounces at a time. Pepsinogen becomes pepsin, which breaks down proteins. Acid and pepsinogen in pyloric section of stomach. Acid turns pepsinogen into pepsin. Food should sit in top of stomach and enter lower part gradually. The first volume empties quickly - 3 to 4 minutes. Subsequent emptyings are dependent on rate of digestion.

Info in B12 absorption, milk digestion, etc.

Eating under stress causes acid to mix with food in the upper stomach, causing layered stomach.. Acid and fats will float to top. Causes acidic burps, indigestion.

Eating should be calm, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed. That is the bottom line. It really should not have taken an hour an 15 minutes, with film references and sound effects to explain this.

Here is the link to the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine Course

https://www.swsbm.com/school/