Balancing Body and Brain

by Carrie Jackson

When our body and our brain are out of balance, our health suffers. The human body was designed for self-regulation and healing, but lifestyle, environmental stressors and genetics can affect that process. As the founder and director of Health His Way Inc., in Wheaton, Kristin Klocko, Pharm.D, RPh, PSc.D, utilizes alternative health approaches to help bring equilibrium and healing to the body. “Comprehensive testing allows me to assess the body’s current imbalances and utilize natural methods to help a person maintain or regain their health,” she says.

Klocko launched her medical career when she received a doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Illinois. She then began pursuing education in functional medicine, becoming certified in reversing cognitive decline with Dr. Dale Bredesen’s ReCODE program, functional genomic analysis and nutrition, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), neurofeedback, immunology, herbal medicine and the causes of illness. “I utilize homeopathy, whole food nutrition, herbs and supplements to help bring balance to the body,” she says.

Klocko uses her extensive background in testing to discover what is out of balance, toxic or not functioning properly at the cellular level. “No two people have the same cause of their health problems, so you have to know what to test for to find what needs to be worked on and supported. Often, it is a multipronged approach that brings healing,” she explains.

Klocko will often assess brain waves if the person is struggling with neurological issues or mood disorders. If there are significant variances there, then neurofeedback can be used with excellent success to help with these conditions. “Neurofeedback has emerged as a non-surgical, non-invasive option to medication, yielding positive results for many people with debilitating neurological symptoms,” says Klocko. The treatment is a type of biofeedback which uses quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) to provide a signal used to measure information about brain activity, and essentially rewards the brain for adjusting its behavior for the better.

During a session, the computer monitors brainwaves while the patient watches a movie and sends an alert when they are outside the normal ranges. The cues are received by the brain, which subconsciously adjusts itself back to a normal pattern to make the cue stop. With enough repetition of this feedback process, the brain eventually learns to stay in the normal ranges on its own without the computer, and the person’s complaints or symptoms will resolve.

The brain’s ability to change and become regulated again through neurofeedback is especially effective for people struggling with anxiety, depression, learning problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), memory issues, recovering from a stroke or traumatic brain injury, or other neurodegenerative disorders.

In order for the brain and body to heal, it requires oxygen at the cellular level. The hyperbaric chamber is used to increase that. “The human body is highly energetic and depends on a constant supply of oxygen to help generate enough cellular energy called ATP for all of its metabolic needs. The human body cannot be expected to heal properly without adequate oxygen,” Klocko explains.

During a treatment session, which lasts about an hour, the person enters a private chamber fully dressed. They are encouraged to listen to music or just relax as the chamber floods the tissues, brain and essential organs with filtered, pressurized air. HBOT sessions can be used to help with cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, arthritis, autism, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke, traumatic brain injury, chronic fatigue syndrome and ALS. “HBOT helps increase tissue oxygenation and decrease inflammation, and enables the body plasma to absorb additional oxygen in the cells, tissues, glands, organs and every other part of the body,” says Klocko.

There are numerous toxic factors to which we are exposed on a daily basis that are responsible for many chronic health issues. “I encourage people to find ways to manage stress, get quality restorative sleep, reduce inflammation and decrease their exposure to electromagnetic frequencies and toxic substances. These simple steps help support functionality on a cellular level and significantly helps the body balance and heal as it is programmed to do. My goal as a wellness and healthcare provider is to help people maximize the vehicle God has given them to accomplish what he has for them in this world,” says Klocko.

Health His Way is located at 1492 Pebblestone Cove, in Wheaton. For more information, call 630-254-0766, email [email protected] or visit Health-His-Way.com.