Sheila Dobson:
Mineral - Microbe Interactions;
Minerals, Expanded;
Deeper Vitality;
How Retracings Help Us Heal

Sheila Dobson, B.A., N.C. is one of the most caring and talented healers I know. For 11 years, she worked as a practitioner with Dr. Larry Wilson. Since 2022, Sheila has been offering nutritional consulting independently at Ahava Health.

Sheila has come a long way herself in the course of the last few decades, in her recovery from from debilitating myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sheila is grateful for the foundation obtained through study and practice with Dr. Wilson, and yet, she knows that adjustments can be made to the basics of Nutritional Balancing to make it a more robust system of health recovery. Sheila has worked to develop and improve various approaches which she knows have great potential for helping us heal in the modern age.

Journey to Improve Microbial Balance

Sheila emphasizes how profoundly microbial balance affects our overall health and our mineral balance. She believes that if we can heal chronic microbial imbalance, we will find that balancing minerals and addressing nutrient deficiencies becomes much simpler.

The trillions of microbes inside us play an important, often overlooked, role. The microbes inside us are a whole layer underneath our nutritional needs, immunity, energy production, metabolic efficiency, and overall balance. These microbes include bacteria, fungi, latent viruses, mycoplasma, and parasites.

Sheila estimates that intestinal dysbiosis is a major factor in about 80 to 90% of the chronic illnesses we see so commonly today: conditions of heart and circulation, blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, cancer cells, autoimmunity, poor mental health, digestive impairments, and so many others.

Good microbes help us by synthesizing nutrients and beneficial compounds, so we require less from food sources. The good microbes protect the terrain and prevent the bad microbes from colonizing us.

Good microbes also have an important role to play in the constant regenerative process that takes place to produce the cells that line the entire digestive tract. The cells that line the GI tract completely replace themselves every 2 to 5 days (Darwich et al., 2014). The gut can be remodeled for better health within a matter of days!

The gut microbiota, or "microbiome", is responsible for regulating and training many components of our immune system. The bad "guests" of a disordered microbiome sabotage the host's immune system to their own advantage. These bad microbes also steal our minerals and vitamins, so that we require more nutrients to keep supporting ourselves. And, they make toxins that block or increase demands on our biochemistry and our organs of detoxification. They often cause tissue damage and inflammation. These processes allow more of the wrong visitors to gain traction.

Hence a vicious cycle develops in the gut ecology, from which it can take quite a bit of effort and strategy to return to normal after much degeneration has occured. Sheila has found that this "dysbiosis" is the process happening in virtually every person with chronic illness, and in many who do not yet have chronic illness!

Microbes and Energy Production

Microbial balance can determine the resources available for mitochondrial energy production. Nutrients reach the mitochondria only after passing through the microbial milieu of the gut, blood, and cells.

Bad microbes, in the gut or elsewhere, can drain the mineral and vitamin resources that our mitochondria need. Bad microbes also can produce endotoxins that damage mitochondrial energy-making. Once energy production begins to falter, the body's ability to address all its needs begins to fail, and the body begins to lose its capacity to heal itself.

Microbiome balance benefits us systemically. A healthy, balanced microbiome supports healthy mitochondria. In turn, healthy mitochondria protect us from aging. Healthy mitochondria improve our energy at every level: as a whole body/mind/spirit, as organs such as liver and thyroid, as individual cells and tissues, and even as organelles within each cell.

Thus, restoring good microbes can improve our overall mineral balance and energy.

This is where improving microbial balance becomes a crucial part of mineral balancing.

We each are feeding ecosystems inside us. Healthy ecosystems mean an easier job with nutrition. And, they also mean an easier time addressing most other concerns within the body.

Minerals and Microbes: Surprising Interconnections

Better microbial balance leads to better mineral balance. Good microbes help us utilize minerals better.

The converse also applies: better mineral balance makes us into stronger "hosts" and gives us better microbial balance.

Each mineral affects the internal microbial balance. In addition to their roles in our own biochemistry, the minerals also have effects on the microbes inside our bodies. At times, also, the gut microbiome and the host are competing for minerals.

Imbalances of iron, manganese, copper, and zinc can change the gut microbial balance. Each of these nutritional minerals affects our microbiome composition, and therefore also our nutrient availability, stress response, digestion, and immunity. (Pajarillo et al., 2021).

The research study by Pajarillo et al. focused its research on pigs; but also pointed out that similar mineral-microbe interactions occur in humans. They state: "environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle choices, nutritional deficiencies, treatment interventions, and exposure to pathogens and toxicants may either promote a healthy gut or induce intestinal dysbiosis in humans." (Pajarillo et al., 2021).

Even a lesser-known mineral like rubidium (found in coffee, tea, and vegetables) can change the gut microbiome. Mice given rubidium chloride showed significantly enhanced levels of certain groups of microbes and significantly inhibited levels of others (Chen et al., 2021).

Sheila wrote, shared with me, and gave me permission to share with you, the following fascinating and insightful comments about the Chen et al. study and about mineral-microbe interactions:

"Of note within this group of bacteria whose numbers were enhanced by higher rubidium levels were several types of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Sulfate reducing bacteria play a role in helping our bodies absorb sulfur and synthesize certain amino acids, notably methionine and cysteine, which are important ingredients for certain metabolic and detoxification pathways in our bodies.

Some of the modern epidemics today like autism are known to frequently coexist with defects in sulfur metabolism. Such defects can have many consequences downstream from simple amino acid deficiencies. Sulfur amino acids are very important starting ingredients for the liver so that it can perform detoxification. They also help us to regenerate connective tissues and tissues in the intestines. Interestingly, also, rubidium is known to be a very helpful mineral to use in some cases of depression and also in some cases of blood sugar imbalance (see Bioenergy Balancing Center, Rubidium, Unknown but Essential, n.d.).

Research done decades ago showed that toxins such as mercury and lead can cause a distortion of the microbiome, favoring the growth of pathogenic strains of bacteria and fungi. For this reason, it is very difficult to eliminate deeply rooted fungal and other infections in a person who carries a heavy toxin burden. Similarly, certain strains of bacteria are favored by higher calcium levels in the body. Others are favored when there are high iron levels. Iron in fact is a very critical mineral that must be carefully controlled by our bodies because too much circulating iron definitely predisposes a person toward overgrowths of pathogenic species. It can even promote cancers due to its effects on microbes.

As researchers continue to explore these connections we will undoubtedly discover many more ways that the body's mineral pantheon affects the scores of microbes inhabiting every surface, level and layer of the body."

(S. Dobson, personal communication, 2024, December 5.)

Minerals, Expanded: Sheila's Inclusive Vision of Nutritional Balancing

Sheila's independent work through Ahava Health has permitted her to include and balance additional minerals not usually addressed in her mentor Dr. Wilson's "Development" programs.

While Sheila still agrees with many concepts from Dr. Wilson, she also has proposed an expanded, more inclusive view of important minerals, which she explains as follows:

• Boron, Silica, and Iodine: These three interconnect. They affect calcium metabolism, thyroid health, bone health, immune health, glandular and hormone health, and more. All three are important, and have been at times poorly utilized or overlooked. Boron helps regulate other important minerals, and may protect us from radiation. Silica protects us from aluminum toxicity and neurodegeneration, and supports the brain. Iodine protects us from fluoride toxicity, and supports the nerves and organs throughout the body.
• Importance of Certain Ultra-Trace Minerals: including vanadium, lithium, rubidium, even strontium. Sheila believes it is important to provide sources of these ultra-trace minerals, routinely, not just on rare occasions. In her opinion, kelp is often not a sufficient source. Ultra-trace minerals supplementation is particularly important as the world's food supply becomes more and more bereft of these critical players in nutrition.
• Importance of Copper in Overall Mineral Balance: Sheila teaches about the benefits of copper, in balance with other minerals. Lots of zinc, if given without copper for extended periods, can cause copper depletion, resulting in potentially serious long-term problems. An amount of zinc may support detox and emotional retracings, and this is important. An amount of copper may be crucial to restore energy-making and mineral balance. Copper has many interactions with other critical minerals like magnesium and chromium. A careful balance must be maintained in order for the body to adequately uptake and utilize all these important minerals.
• Hazards of Running People Too Low on Copper: Sheila has great concern regarding the hazards of causing copper depletion within the human body. She believes that even some people with a "good" sodium/potassium ratio need supplemental copper.
• Need to Avoid Excessive Amounts of Zinc: Older versions of Nutritional Balancing recommend, at times, very high amounts of supplemental zinc. Supplementing too much zinc without balancing it with copper can be hazardous, particularly to fast oxidizers and to people who tend toward the four lows pattern, but really, to almost everyone.
• Slow Oxidizer's Diet: Many slow oxidizers actually need a higher fat diet than what is recommended in the traditional approach of Nutritional Balancing. Fats play a critical role in overall nutrition. Sheila believes that fats are far more critical to health than are dietary carbohydrates, which we are actually capable of living without (in ketosis). Healthy fats are absolutely essential for our health.
• Development Diet, Generally: Sheila sees a need for a broader and more inclusive diet than the Development diet advocated by Dr. Wilson. She believes there also are many more requirements for individualization of diet to meet people's needs far beyond those included in the standard Development diet approach.
• Herbs: Herbs are often excellent adjuncts to Nutritional Balancing plans, in Sheila's opinion. While it is true that herbs must not be used indiscriminately, they are often capable of bringing about healing that is not likely to happen any other way. Sheila carefully selects one or two herbs or perhaps a combination formula, in many cases, to help with specific concerns for clients, when the timing is right.
• Iodine: Iodine is way too important a nutrient to leave it to chance whether it is balanced and in adequate supply within our bodies. Sheila advocates managing this nutrient carefully because iodine is critical for whole body health, not just the thyroid. In particular, iodine is important for optimization of metabolism, reproductive health, mental health, immune function, blood sugar control, and so much more.
• Connection Between Copper and Magnesium: Sheila is intrigued by mineral relationships that she believes are impacting overall health for many people in today's mineral-deficient world. One of these that she is investigating is what she suspects is an important relationship between copper and magnesium. She suspects that when copper is deficient, an adequate magnesium level will be very difficult to maintain.
• Boron Supports Calcium and Magnesium: If not enough copper is present, a person won't be able to keep a good calcium level. For that reason, the body won't have a good magnesium level because it needs to have a balance between calcium and magnesium. When copper is insufficient (such as after a long period with too much zinc), boron may help to sustain the calcium and magnesium levels. Boron may be deficient, however, in individuals who eat little or no fruit, so supplementation at adequate levels may be very important.
• Sardines, Vitamin D, and Fish Oil: Dr. Wilson's diet encourages eating sardines or alternatively taking vitamin D and fish oil. Sheila believes some people, especially those with autoimmune and immune deficiency problems, may need to utilize both supplements and also food sources of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. This is both because their bodies have a higher need and because they potentially are starting with greater deficiencies compared with others. Sheila encourages blood testing to check vitamin D levels. She says, "You could actually easily need to do both: sardines + vitamin D + fish oil, depending on your issues. Anyone with autoimmune issues needs to get vitamin D into good range. You only really know if you tell people they need to test their vitamin D levels."
• Many People Need Lithium: Lithium often needs to be supplemented — especially when the physiology is pushed into a state that is speeded up more than the body wants to allow. Then the body will try to raise the cellular lithium, as long as enough lithium is available. That's a signal you may need to back off stimulating supplements such as glandulars. Additionally, lithium is critical for brain health and often needed when there are problems with oxidative stress, neurotransmitter imbalances, and tendency toward depression or fast oxidation.
• Chromium and Copper: Chromium enhances the oxidation rate. Therefore, chromium supplementation requires sufficient copper. Copper helps us sustain adequate calcium levels and therefore keep the oxidation rate balanced. Copper helps us support energy-making and antioxidant defense. Demand for copper increases once chromium is added. One can't absorb, keep, and utilize chromium without enough copper present. Therefore, when copper is insufficient, chromium cannot be aggressively supplemented.
• Chromium and Manganese: Manganese plays roles in joint tissue and connective tissue health, hormone production, and general metabolism and antioxidant defenses. For example, one form of superoxide dismutase, one of the body's major antioxidants, relies on an adequate supply of manganese. People with chronic viral infections sometimes may need extra manganese in order to keep replenishing levels of superoxide dismutase. Manganese, like copper, must be at adequate levels before chromium can be supplemented in substantial amounts; otherwise the body will reject the influx of chromium.
• Almost Everyone Needs Immune Support: This is another area in which Sheila has some strong beliefs about how to best help people in today's world. Critical factors she addresses include: helping heal leaky gut and food intolerances, judicious use of herbs to address microbial imbalances in some cases, and at times, utilizing the GAPS diet principles or other specific targeted dietary approaches such as the carnivore or keto or Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Sheila mentions as examples of some good approaches to immune support: colostrum, probiotics and prebiotics, cod liver oil, extra vitamin A, and various herbs including immune tonics like astragalus.
• Individualization: Sheila says individualization is the biggest key that distinguishes her approach from Dr. Wilson's. Individualization, with detailed analysis of each particular case, is critical for good results. Sheila likes to utilize all available information about a client. In addition to HTMA, blood test results often help provide important clues to a client's case and their needs.

(S. Dobson, personal communication, 2024, August 16.)

Silica, The Stealth Defender

The important mineral silica provides one example of how Sheila has expanded Nutritional Balancing's focus on minerals.

Sheila calls the mineral silica "The Stealth Defender" due to its under-appreciated role strengthening the immune system for better microbial balance.

Sheila believes that silica acts in many ways to enhance and protect the body, including:

• strengthening cell membranes and connective tissues,
• regulating cell permeability,
• nurturing organs rich in connective tissue (bones, joints, ligaments, teeth, gums, arteries, thyroid, spleen, kidney, heart, stomach, intestines, etc.),
• providing structure to the lymphatic system,
• utilizing calcium in bones and teeth,
• protecting from aluminum toxicity, and,
• improving brain electrical signaling and brain communication with the immune system.

The Broader View: A Deeper Meaning of "Vitality"

Vitality is a most important concept in Nutritional Balancing.

Vitality provides the wherewithal for us to do healing; healing that spans mind, body, spirit, microbes, minerals, and more.

High vitality reflects an empowerment of the innate wisdom of our bodies and our built-in capacity for healing.

Sheila has learned from her training and experience with Dr. Lawrence Wilson that "vitality" means more than just a high energy output at the surface level. True vitality spans both "inner" mitochondrial energy production and "outer" energy output for engaging vivaciously in life's activities.

A high energy output for physical activity can be obtained with hormones or stimulants, or with certain toxins or with excesses of certain nutrients that act as stimulants. However, increasing a person's energy level with these substances often does not improve, but rather interferes with, underlying vitality and health in the long term.

In contrast, there is a true vitality that arises from a deeper harnessing of universal life force energy. True vitality includes optimal energy production, a balanced oxidation rate, and well-functioning enzymes with proper mineral and vitamin cofactors in place.

This kind of vitality gives us adequate life force energy inside for the body to repair and regenerate itself. This kind of vitality allows uncompromised performance of crucial life processes such as digestion, assimilation of nutrients, immune function, and detoxification. In addition, vitality allows us to develop spiritually, mentally, and emotionally:

"An important teaching within Nutritional Balancing Science, as taught by Dr. Lawrence Wilson is that when we raise the vitality of the body, this allows us to develop not just physically, mentally, and emotionally, but it lays a most important groundwork for the process of spiritual development. Furthermore, an important concept in Nutritional Balancing is that it is best not to interfere with the body's own innate wisdom. The body has its own priorities as to what it will heal and when. Often we think we know what should happen first, but there may be latent conditions within the body we know nothing about, which the body deems most critical to heal first, and so for us to try to direct the process is often a mistake.

If you believe that we are spiritual beings having a human experience, then this last is of utmost importance! But, even if you do not, you can still get your best physical healing with a method that takes into account this more accurate view of what real health actually is."

(S. Dobson, personal communication, 2024, December 5.)

Higher Vitality Leads to Healing Through the Retracing Process

Sheila teaches that, as better nutrition begins to work within the body, a person becomes stronger and undergoes "healing crises" or "retracings".

Sheila learned, and now teaches others, the retracing theory of Dr. Larry Wilson, which she finds critical for people to understand if they wish to allow for true, deeper levels of healing to unfold in their bodies and lives.

In retracings, emotions and traumas that had been trapping a person in poor physical, mental, and/or spiritual health may resurface and then clear, as part of these healing events. Symptoms may flare temporarily, perhaps as skin eruptions, flulike symptoms, or fatigue, among many other possibilities.

In the retracing process, old symptoms, emotions, or memories may return temporarily and make a person feel as though they have been transported back in time to an earlier point in life. We may become aware of past traumas, past stressors, and/or past internal pollution. However, with new perspective and greater vitality, people frequently resolve previous conditions, beliefs, and behaviors. They heal old traumas and problems, release continuing stress reactions, and reemerge in a better place after the retracings.

According to Sheila, these transient healing reactions indicate improvements in microbial balance, mineral balance, glandular function, and also better function of the body's energy system. Mineral balancing indeed can impact and heal all these areas, through retracings, because the body's mineral system is so integral to the functioning of the whole human organism.

Sheila describes how vitality improvements lead to the process of retracing and healing:

"If done well enough, an NB [Nutritional Balancing] program always increases a person's vital force but this may be only briefly sensed, because soon the body proceeds with a healing episode and symptoms flare up obscuring the feeling of higher vitality. Hence, the Nutritional Balancing journey is sometimes a bit of a rollercoaster ride, but the general direction is always toward higher vitality and better function. After a few years, the higher vitality is felt more continuously, but it may be a more subtle feeling than what one had imagined. Often it is simply a feeling of wellbeing, calmness and happiness that was never there before."

(Dobson, February 2023.)

Thus, better balance of minerals improves not only a person's energetic engagement in life, but also strengthens the deeper innate universal life force, called vitality, that heals and develops mind, body, and spirit. Vitality is involved in all true healing. It is a subtle, deeper layer of strength than outward appearance of energy alone. Mineral balance has a profound impact on a person's vitality.

The Importance Of Healing Our Traumas, and Our Ancestors' Traumas

Raising the body's vitality will lead to the healing of many physical conditions through retracing. Still, sometimes deeply-rooted traumas, wounds, beliefs, conflicts, and other internal programming can be very difficult to resolve, but nevertheless they must be addressed in order for complete physical healing and optimization of energy to occur.

These unresolved internal programming patterns may accumulate intergenerationally — especially in times of weakening vitality, such as what we may be seeing in the modern age of internal pollution. These patterns almost certainly play a pivotal role in all the major chronic health concerns so prevalent in these times.

A physical memory of stress and trauma, whether arising from ourselves or from our ancestors, induces biochemical changes in you and me. These changes may be trapping our bodies in an unneeded long-term biochemical emergency response that may be depleting our resources and health.

At another layer, biochemical changes of stress and trauma also affect the composition of the microbiomes inside us. And, our microbial balance can influence our long-term stress response.

If we truly wish to heal ourselves (and our children and descendants) at the deepest levels, we must not ignore how signals of stress and trauma or of peace and resilience may pass down intergenerationally. For example, signals can pass from one generation to the next:

• via inheritance of epigenetic biochemical markers,
• via learning of habits, behaviors, and emotional patterns,
• via transfer of the microbiomes, and,
• via inheritance of mineral balance.

Cultures, as well as families, may pass along and share these biological signals of experiences of stress and trauma or of peace and resilience, from one generation to the next.

Our ancestors' stories remain real, integral parts of our own bodily environment.

Thus, we may at times retrace and heal our ancestors' stress and trauma, as well as our own.

We may not always be aware consciously of exact sources, causes, and experiences of our ancestors. Nonetheless, with increased energy, we can release any continuing stress responses.

At times when our vitality increases, the retracing and healing of old stressors and traumas may become one of a human being's top priorities, in our body's own intelligence.

Even while some of the healing work can only take place on an emotional, energetic, and spiritual level, and may not be totally conscious, it is still important to continue to address the physical body's need for outstanding mineral and microbial nutrition. This physical foundation forms a basis for the inner strength and awareness needed to bring forth these critical retracings.

In a long journey like Sheila's, there have been rounds of retracings and healings. This has helped her to become an experienced teacher and guide in this important aspect of healing.

Though it is painful at times to re-experience and become more aware of traumas, the retracing process often leaves us with a sense of emotional release and spiritual clarity. We commonly feel better afterward physically too. Retracings make up part of Nature's beautiful healing methods built into all of us.

Sheila's Individualized Approach to Nutritional Balance

Sheila's journey to heal herself from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other deep-rooted chronic illness has illuminated many aspects of how to heal from complex systemic imbalances.

Her work alongside Dr. Lawrence Wilson for over a decade also provided a wealth of knowledge in the field of mineral balancing.

Now that Sheila practices independently, she has expanded the scope of nutritional balancing — with an in-depth approach fine-tuned to each individual client. This newer, more personalized approach usually includes immune support and microbiome support as well as attention to the expanded set of minerals and ultra-trace minerals not usually utilized in older versions of nutritional balancing.

Sheila believes that nutrition involves much more than a checklist of individual components. There is a great degree of interconnection among minerals, microbial balance, physical, mental and emotional, and spiritual factors, and all the other various realms of human health.

In Sheila's words:

"The best way to serve people in this endeavor as healing facilitator is to look at each person as an individual, taking into account multiple levels of functioning from the basic biochemical to the more esoteric energetic and epigenetic, and carefully craft an approach that evolves over time and takes into account these factors — ultimately leading to personal transformation for those individuals who are willing to commit to this process."

(S. Dobson, personal communication, 2024, December 5.)

References

1. Bioenergy Balancing Center (n.d.). Rubidium, unknown but essential. Meridianlink Conference Circle. https://web.archive.org/web/20231207183222/https://balancingcenter.com/rubidium-unknown-but-essential/
2. Chen, Q., He, Z., Zhuo, Y., Li, S., Yang, W., Hu, L., & Zhong, H. (2021). Rubidium chloride modulated the fecal microbiota community in mice. BMC Microbiology, 21(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-021-02095-4
3. Darwich, A. S., Aslam, U., Ashcroft, D. M., & Rostami-Hodjegan, A. (2014). Meta-analysis of the turnover of intestinal epithelia in preclinical animal species and humans. Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 42(12), 2016-2022. https://doi.org/10.1124/dmd.114.058404
4. Dobson, S. (2023, February). Vitality. Ahava Health. https://ahavahealth.com/spring-is-a-good-time-to-detoxify/. A deeper meaning of "vitality": Sheila's thoughtful reflections.
5. Dobson, S. (2023, December). Diet Guide for Nutritional Balancing Plans. Ahava Health. https://ahavahealth.com/healing-diet-guidelines-2/. Sheila's comprehensive diet guide, with detailed info about many specific foods.
6. Dobson, S. (2024). About me. Ahava Health. https://ahavahealth.com/#about. Sheila's amazing healing journey.
7. Dobson, S. (2024). Articles and updates. Ahava Health. https://ahavahealth.com/articles-and-updates/. Many interesting articles and linked videos on Sheila's website.
8. Dobson, S. (2024). Silica — The stealth defender. Ahava Health. https://ahavahealth.com/silica-the-stealth-defender/. How the underappreciated mineral silica protects our bodies.
9. Dobson, S. (2024). Testing for iodine sufficiency in the body. Ahava Health. https://ahavahealth.com/testing-for-iodine-sufficiency-in-the-body/ Sheila's article on how to gain insights from iodine testing.
10. Pajarillo, E. A. B., Lee, E., & Kang, D. K. (2021). Trace metals and animal health: Interplay of the gut microbiota with iron, manganese, zinc, and copper. Animal Nutrition, 7(3), 750-761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2021.03.005
11. Wilson, L. D. (2011, September). Vitality or adaptive energy. The Development Science and Nutritional Balancing Website. https://drlwilson.com/Articles/VITALITY.htm. Dr. Wilson's info about vitality.
12. Wilson, L. D. (2018, July). Vitality and brain health. The Development Science and Nutritional Balancing Website. https://drlwilson.com/ARTICLES/BRAIN-VITALITY.htm. More about vitality.
13. Wilson, L. D. (2023, September). Retracing and healing reactions. The Development Science and Nutritional Balancing Website. https://drlwilson.com/Articles/retracing.htm. Dr. Wilson's article about retracings and healing reactions.
14. Wolynn, M. (2017). It didn't start with you: How inherited family trauma shapes who we are and how to end the cycle. Penguin. https://www.amazon.com/Didnt-Start-You-Inherited-Family/dp/1101980389/. Book with info about how stress and traumas may pass intergenerationally, and how we may heal our ancestors' stress and traumas, as well as our own.