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Epigenetics

Nature vs. Nurture: Introduction to Epigenetics

New scientific research from Harvard University shows that environmental influences can actually affect whether and how genes are expressed. Old ideas that genes are “set in stone” (or that they alone determine development) have been disproven. Nature vs. Nurture is no longer a debate—it’s nearly always both! During development, the DNA that makes up genes accumulates chemical marks that determine how much or little of the genes is expressed. This collection of chemical marks is known as the “epigenome.” The different experiences people have rearrange those chemical marks.

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This explains why genetically identical twins can exhibit different behaviors, skills, health, and achievement. Until recently, the influences of genes were thought to be set, and the effects of children’s experiences and environments on brain architecture and long-term physical and mental health outcomes remained a mystery. It is now known that genes inherited from one’s parents do not set a child’s future development in stone. Variations in DNA sequences between individuals certainly influence the way in which genes are expressed and how the proteins encoded by those genes will function. But that is only part of the story—the environment in which one develops, before and soon after birth, provides powerful experiences that chemically modify certain genes which, in turn, define how much and when they are expressed.

 

While genetic factors exert potent influences, environmental factors have the ability to alter the genes that were inherited. The epigenome can be affected by positive and negative experiences. which leave a unique epigenetic “signature” on the genes. These signatures can be temporary or permanent and both types affect how easily the genes are switched on or off. Recent research demonstrates that there are ways to reverse certain negative changes and restore healthy functioning.​

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Early childhood experiences can—and do—lead to physical and chemical changes in the brain that can last a lifetime.​ The brain is particularly responsive to experiences and environments during early development. External experiences spark signals between neurons, which respond by producing proteins. These gene regulatory proteins either attract or repel enzymes that can attach them to the genes. Positive experiences, such as exposure to rich learning opportunities, and negative influences, such as malnutrition or environmental toxins, can change the chemistry that encodes genes in brain cells — a change that can be temporary or permanent. This process is called epigenetic modification.

 

 

Research has shown that specific epigenetic modifications do occur in brain cells as cognitive skills like learning and memory develop, and that repeated activation of brain circuits dedicated to learning and memory through interaction with the environment.  Injurious experiences are not “forgotten,” but rather are built into the architecture of the developing brain through the epigenome. The “biological memories” associated with these epigenetic changes can affect multiple organ systems and increase the risk not only for poor physical and mental health outcomes but also for impairments in future learning capacity and behavior. On the contrary, reciporal “serve and return” interaction with adults, facilitates positive epigenetic modifications. Sound maternal and fetal nutrition, combined with positive social-emotional support of children through their family and community environments, will reduce the likelihood of negative epigenetic modifications that increase the risk of later physical and mental health impairments.​​​

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​​Working Paper: Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development

This in-depth working paper explains how genes and the environment interact, and gives recommendations for ways that caregivers and policymakers can effectively respond to the science.

Consciousness, Meditation, & Epigenetic Expression

 

Consciousness, at its simplest, is sentience or awareness of internal and external existence.

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Meditation is the delicate and effortless art of simply existing. Beyond all the chatter and noise in our mind, there is a silent, peaceful, blissful, beautiful space that exists in all of us, a place of pure consciousness. Turning our attention to this silent chamber within is meditation; this silence cleanses the mind, and makes room for better perceptions and new ways of looking at life and its challenges.

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Many studies have consistently demonstrated an epigenetic link between environmental stimuli and physiological as well as cognitive responses. Epigenetic mechanisms represent a way to regulate gene activity in real time, allowing the genome to adapt its functions to changing environmental contexts. Factors such as lifestyle, behavior, and the practice of mindfulness have been shown to be important means of environmental enrichment. Practices such as mindfulness meditation, Vipassana, Yoga, Tai Chi, and other such practices have been reported to positively impact well-being. In fact, they can be considered emotional and attentional regulatory activities, which, by inducing a state of greater inner silence, allow the development of increased self-awareness. Inner silence can therefore be considered a powerful tool to counteract the negative effects of environmental noise, due to its power to relieve stress-related symptoms. Since all these positive outcomes rely on physiological and biochemical activities, the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms influenced by different mindful practices have recently started to be investigated.

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Epigenetic Healing - Restructuring DNA via Energy Therapy

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Energy therapy works by restructuring, clearing, and re-coding DNA with consciousness, allowing new DNA strand fabric to be built through light and geometry, creating new holographic projections and reality stabilizations. Certain types of meditation may be implemented as well, especially Kundalini Yoga Kriyas such as Sudarshan Kriya.



Tetrahedron lattice DNA structures create heat (light) signatures (the electric scanning micrograph shows the distribution of a 3D graph of annealing energy). Annealing is heating. When you create a piece of glass for a window you anneal it, you heat it, the bonds solidify with the heating process and when it cools it trains the shape. Consciousness is the annealer in these realms, the crystals in your DNA are the window, and what is being projected is the Holographic information of light in one's DNA. This could be a thought forming itself into an intention that gives rise to these suddenly cascading lattices of stored holographic information. They start out with one seed geometry in the middle, random, chaotic and entropic. It's stored there as potential energy, but as soon as it organizes itself into bonds, it creates connected thought expressions of one's consciousness. The energy exists in various dimensions, waiting for an opportunity to have connection, just like cymatics (sound made visible). Cymatics beautifully demonstrate the deeper multidimensional connections of phasing in and out of realities, just like DNA.

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When we look at the refraction pattern through a crystal, a projection occurs similar to a laser focused through a crystal. This refraction pattern reveals the structure of DNA in great detail. When one communicate with their cells' DNA blueprints, they are communicating with their soul. Their complete genome is a continuous thought expressed as cellular fractalization through dimensions, facilitating the blueprint of matter into physical experience. We are refining dimensional awareness into singularity points of presence as communication of the soul's establishing Omnipresence. The sonoluminescence of holographic projection are frequencies branching fractals throughout the space-time continuum.

Scientific Research - Dr. Joe Dispenza & Quantum Neuroscience


In the last ten years, Dr. Dispenza's scientific team has made great strides to demonstrate to people that true lasting change is possible, using evidence compiled from thousands of brain scans and HRV testing, as well as testing gene expression, immune regulation, cellular metabolism, and longevity measurements. Through their work, they have created a formula that shows how to induce, predict, and replicate certain states, and that once learned, these states can be applied to greater depths of human potential. (Read more about Dr. Dispenza's scientific research here).

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Scientific Research - Sudarshan Kriya Yoga Breathwork Meditation
 

Sudarshan Kriya (and accompanying breathing practices, referred to collectively as SKY and taught through the Art of Living Foundation worldwide), have been found to enhance brain, hormone, immune and cardiovascular system function. SKY uses specific cyclical, rhythmic patterns of breath to bring the mind and body into a relaxed, yet energized state. Its effects have been studied in open and randomized trials, both in healthy and health-compromised populations. Research demonstrates that the effects of SKY reach to the molecular level (DNA), shown to impact gene expression at short and long-term periods, aiding in reducing depression, anxiety, addiction, PTSD, and stress, as well as significantly increasing well-being, optimism, mental-focus, and emotional regulation. In addition, SKY is associated with enhanced cardio-respiratory function, antioxidant status, and immune system function.  The wide range of documented benefits suggest that SKY may be an efficient tool for rapidly strengthening the mind-body complex.

Image by Jared Rice
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Improvement of Mental Function, Immune Function, Cardiovascular/Respiratory Function, and Biochemical Status:

Increased biomarkers of well-being [38]:

• Increased levels of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) [6, 35, 39]
• Increased levels (33%) in the well-being hormone prolactin levels in depressed patients with low prolactin levels from the 1st session
• Reduced blood pressure, and reduced heart rate in both healthy and health-compromised individuals [42-44][6]
• Improved cholesterol and triglyceride (lipid) profiles [36][6, 21]
• Improved respiratory function [3, 43-46]
• Improved immune cell counts in apparently healthy individuals [21, 25], some documented within 3 weeks (neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets) [21]
• Improved immune cell counts in health-compromised individuals seen in 12 weeks [25]


• Rapid changes to genes (the building blocks of DNA) expression [39-41]
o SKY induced changes in the expression of genes in white blood cells (immune cells) within 2 hours of starting the practice.
o Long-term effects of SKY on expression of 11 genes related to oxidative stress, DNA damage, cell cycle control, and cell death suggests that the long-term benefits of SKY may be mediated in part by regulation of gene expressions [39].

Reduced biochemical markers of stress: cortisol [2, 33, 34], corticotrophin [2] blood lactate [35], ACTH [2], and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) [2, 36, 37]


• Blood lactate levels in participants who did not learn SKY were 4x higher than their classmates who were randomized to learn SKY, suggesting a greatly increased resilience to stress in SKY practitioners. Since stressful physiological responses negatively impact immune systems, cardiovascular systems, and endocrine systems, as well as mental health, this has significant implications for wellness [16]
• Relieved anxiety [1-10] & depression [2, 4, 8-19], PTSD symptoms [3, 15, 16, 20], and stress levels [4, 6, 17, 18, 21-23]
• Significant reductions in anxiety found in many populations, including a 73% response rate and 41% remission rate in individuals for whom medication and psychotherapy treatments had failed [1].
• Depressed patients who learned SKY experienced a 68-73% remission rate within 1 month.
• Significant reductions in PTSD symptoms were found in 4-6 weeks and were sustained at 6 mo. [15] and 1 year [3, 15].

  • Improved emotional regulation [1, 17, 18, 26-28]

  • Increased levels of self-esteem, optimism, joviality (e.g. joy, happiness, energy), serenity, life satisfaction and quality of life [4, 5, 15, 18, 28-30]

  • Enhanced brain functioning - increased mental focus/heightened awareness [31], faster recovery from stressful stimuli [22], [13, 14]

  • Improved quality of sleep - restoration of time spent in deep restful stages (stages III and IV) of sleep. [32]

  • Reduced impulsivity and addictive behaviors [24, 25]
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Epigenetic Healing - Honey

Honey has been used as a natural medicine for over 5,000 years, and has many healing properties, including wound healing, antibacterial properties, antifungal properties, anti-inflammatory benefits, and digestive benefits. Honey can be utilized to help wounds contract, re-epithelialize (reduce scarring), boost the immune system, promote debridement, and stimulate tissue regeneration.

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A study published in the Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Journal found that â€‹honey supplementation enhanced DNA repair activity in a residential population chronically exposed to pesticides, which resulted in a marked reduction of pesticide-induced DNA lesions. Honey extracts efficiently reduced DNA damage by upregulation of DNA repair through NFR2.

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Another study published in the Journal of Food Biochemistry found that Sundarban honey (South Asian honey), a wild multifloral honey produced by Apis dorsata bees, confers protection against oxidative stress-induced damages to the DNA, particularly observed in the liver and kidneys.

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Lastly, a study published in the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal found that honey is a natural anti-cancer agent.

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Image by Anita Austvika
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