Melatonin is marketed in the US as a sleep aid, but its role in human health extends far beyond regulating sleep cycles. It serves as one of the body’s most potent neuroprotective agents and antioxidants, safeguarding against oxidative stress, inflammation, and systemic damage. Melatonin influences cellular repair, immune regulation, and the prevention of chronic diseases Read More
© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. Autonomic dysregulation, often referred to as dysautonomia, reflects an imbalance within the autonomic nervous system (ANS) that disrupts its ability to fluidly transition between activation (defense) and rest (return to homeostasis). This imbalance manifests with a range of clinical symptoms, including heightened vigilance, muscular tension,
© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture® The fight-flight (FF) response is a short-term survival mechanism mediated by the adrenal glands and regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This endocrine cascade bypasses neural pathways, such as the vagus nerve, to prioritize immediate survival. In TCM, this dynamic is represented by the relationship
Yang-Type Sympathetic Dominance and Adrenal Fatigue The ANS can become dysregulated in various ways, with two primary Yang-type subtypes: Yang-Type Sympathetic Dominance Adrenal Fatigue. Both represent different stages of yang overactivation within the sympathetic system, but their effects and characteristics differ. Understanding these two subtypes provides insight into how prolonged sympathetic activation influences physical and
© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture® The development of the ANS, including proper vagal tone and a healthy fight/flight/freeze response, is dependent on primitive reflexes that are present in the earliest life stages. Primitive reflexes are innate, instinctual, and involuntary movements that initially offer protective movements to sensory stimuli (Pryor). More
© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. Parasympathetic Dominance: The Dorsal Vagal Freeze Response: The dorsal vagal freeze response is an extreme parasympathetic state in which the body enters a shutdown mode in response to overwhelming stress. Unlike typical parasympathetic activation, which restores balance, the freeze state represents pathological yin—a state of hypoactivity
© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. The Neuroscience of Uncertainty and Threat Anticipation Uncertainty is inherently threatening to the nervous system. The brain is a predictive organ, constantly constructing models of reality to anticipate and control the future. When faced with uncertainty—whether waiting for test results, encountering an unpredictable environment, or
