Understanding and regulating metabolism

An article by Petra Ottmann,
published in the German professional journal for naturopathy AKOM (issued 03/2025)

The topic of metabolism, and related issues such as weight control, is omnipresent. Many therapists have specialised in this complex field, as the health consequences of a disturbed metabolism are manifold and affect numerous areas of life. But what exactly lies behind these complaints, and which approaches can provide lasting help? This article explores the factors and consequences of poor metabolism and demonstrates how psychosomatic energetics (PSE) can help restore balance.

Metabolism and its key role in the organism

Metabolism refers to the conversion of nutrients from food within the cells. This process not only generates energy but also produces vital substances such as enzymes, hormones, and proteins that sustain our bodily functions.

Digestion — and thus the intestine — is often equated with metabolism, but in fact it merely provides the basis for it. The intestine breaks down nutrients from food, transports them through the intestinal wall into the blood, and delivers them to the cells. From this alone, two main causes of metabolic disorders can be identified:

• The gut microbiome and intestinal mucosa
  Only an intact microbiome and a healthy intestinal mucosa can absorb carbohydrates, proteins, and nutrients from food and transfer them into the bloodstream.
• Cell health and its regulation
  The ability of the body’s cells to take up nutrients from the blood and process them in line with vegetative and hormonal regulation is crucial.

The ability of the body’s cells to take up nutrients from the blood and process them in line with vegetative and hormonal regulation is crucial.

Which organs play a key role when metabolism is out of balance, and what diagnostic options are available?

Nutrition and the microbiome – an interaction

Our diet has a direct impact on the composition of the microbiome. At the same time, a disturbed microbiome influences eating behaviour. In my experience, an unbalanced microbiome often “demands” unhealthy foods: harmful bacteria or fungal overgrowth in the gut can manipulate appetite and thereby contribute to their own survival. This vicious circle makes it difficult for many patients to adopt healthier eating habits.

But how can you tell whether your microbiome is healthy? Stool tests conducted by specialised laboratories are a reliable way to find out. They provide valuable insights into microbiome disorders and often come with therapeutic recommendations. In addition, sound nutritional counselling is essential — a change in diet is frequently necessary.

The key role of the thyroid gland in cellular metabolism

The thyroid gland is a key organ in regulating cellular metabolism. Its hormones, especially the active fT3, control energy production within the cells and thereby determine nutrient requirements.

In general medical practice, thyroid assessment often relies solely on measuring TSH. Although this serves as a basic orientation, it offers limited information about the fT3-to-fT4 ratio, which is critical for thyroid function. Prescribing practices also require caution: thyroxine (fT4) is frequently administered in isolation, yet its effectiveness is restricted if peripheral conversion to the active fT3 is impaired.

Proper thyroid function depends on a sufficient supply of essential micronutrients. Key among these, for both the synthesis of fT4 and its conversion into fT3, are vitamin D, iodine, zinc, selenium, and iron.

A thorough diagnostic work-up should, therefore, routinely evaluate the supply status of these micronutrients.

Women feel the effects of hormonal changes most strongly during menopause. Declining levels of sex hormones such as oestradiol and progesterone often lead to changes in fat distribution and weight gain. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with bioidentical hormones has proven effective both during and after menopause. Studies show that HRT initiated early can help mitigate weight gain.

Men are also affected: with advancing age, the production of testosterone, DHEA, and oestrogen declines, often accompanied by the classic accumulation of fat in the abdominal area.

Connection between metabolism and mental state

Chronic stress, emotional strain, and unresolved conflicts significantly affect hormonal balance and, in turn, metabolism. Our hormone system is closely connected to our mental state. It not only shapes eating habits but also directly regulates cellular functions and energy balance through the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

But this is precisely where the challenge lies: there are hardly any diagnostic options for mental health beyond questionnaires. Moreover, emotional triggers and unconscious motivators often operate beneath the surface and are difficult to address therapeutically.

A holistic approach is needed to support healthy cellular metabolism and a harmonious sense of well-being. The following aspects should be considered: organ and cell functions, hormonal balance, and mental equilibrium.

Naturopathic therapy – more than standard treatment

The first step in treating a metabolic disorder is to ask patients detailed questions about their lifestyle and eating habits. Everyday issues such as lack of exercise, an unbalanced diet, or stress should be addressed openly. Blood tests then provide important information on possible thyroid dysfunction, disturbances in fat metabolism, or imbalances in insulin levels.

When patients consult a naturopathic doctor or alternative practitioner, the diagnostic and therapeutic spectrum broadens considerably. Metabolic blockages — such as mesenchymal congestion or disturbances in the intestinal microbiome — are often identified through comprehensive blood and stool analyses.

Therapies such as targeted detoxification programs or intestinal cleansing with probiotics frequently yield good results. An example of this is the Sanguinum metabolic treatment, which combines individually tailored nutrition, detoxification, and homeopathic support. Such approaches help to resolve fundamental blockages and promote healthier metabolic function.

In addition, metabolic activity may be enhanced with phytotherapeutic agents, including milk thistle, choline, zinc, and various other plant-based or mineral substances.

My approach – Psychosomatic energetics

As a holistic gynaecologist, I ask myself: what additional options can I offer my patients? Alongside traditional naturopathic methods, I use Psychosomatic Energetics (PSE) as both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool to uncover deeper connections and resolve blockages in a targeted way.

PSE is a holistic method based on the assumption that an adequate supply of vital energy is the foundation of physical, mental, and spiritual health. A deficiency of this energy inevitably results in a loss of self-regulation in cellular functions and imbalances in the autonomic and hormonal systems.

The cause of such a lack of energy often lies in unconscious psychological conflicts. These act like “viruses” in the body’s software, disrupting cellular, nervous, and metabolic processes and thereby leading to disharmony, dysfunction, and ultimately illness.

A special testing device called the RebaPad can be used not only to measure a patient’s energy level but also to identify the underlying psychological issues responsible for the energy loss. These conflicts often arise from past traumas or experiences and block specific energy centres, known as chakras. Therapy is carried out with individually determined homeopathic complex remedies — the Chavita and Emvita preparations. These remedies act on several levels:

1. They stabilise and harmonise the affected energy centre along with the associated glands and nerve plexuses (e.g. chakra 2 – adrenal gland).
2. They support the resolution of the related emotional stress issue and thereby help remove the blockage.

With regard to metabolism, blockages most often occur in the following energy centres (chakras):

• Chakra 2 plays a central role in metabolic processes, as it is closely linked to the adrenal glands and the intestines. On an emotional level, blockages in this chakra are often associated with stress perception and stress processing. People who constantly live “in the fast lane,” have lost touch with their bodies, or ignore their body’s signals are frequently affected.
• Chakra 3, also known as the solar plexus chakra, is the central metabolic chakra. It is connected to the digestive organs — pancreas, liver, gallbladder, stomach, and duodenum — and plays a crucial role in both physical and emotional digestion. On an emotional level, this chakra represents the ability to accept and integrate life’s challenges and to release what is burdensome or no longer useful. When this capacity is impaired, emotions such as anger or frustration may arise, often manifesting as physical complaints, for example in typical “liver–gallbladder issues.” A “hunger for good feelings” may also be expressed through eating disorders or emotional eating. Another key aspect of this chakra is the establishment of healthy boundaries; if this ability is underdeveloped, it may contribute to excessive weight gain (obesity).
• Chakra 5, the throat chakra, represents self-expression and the ability to communicate authentically. Blockages in this area often stem from unresolved traumatic experiences associated with conscious or unconscious fears. In our society, which is still marked by war-related trauma, it is hardly surprising that thyroid dysfunction is so widespread. While deficiencies in iodine and vitamin D are common causes, psychosomatic factors can also provide an explanation.
• Chakra 6, often referred to as the head chakra, is a central control centre of the body. It encompasses important structures such as the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus and the pineal gland and plays a crucial role in hormonal and vegetative processes. This chakra is considered the second ‘stress chakra’ and is particularly affected by mental stress or ‘mind movies’. Disturbances or blockages in the head chakra often lead to hormonal imbalances, vegetative disorders such as sleep problems or a persistent sympathicotonic state (overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system). The connection to the second stress chakra (lower abdomen) causes the hormonal stress axis and intestinal function to become unbalanced.

Recognising mesenchymal stress

Psychosomatic energetics offers a unique opportunity to view body, mind, and soul as a unified whole. The PSE testing procedure also enables precise analysis of mesenchymal stress, including the associated intracellular hyperacidity. Stress in the mesenchyme (intercellular space) impairs the absorption of substances vital for cellular metabolism. The resulting intracellular hyperacidity induces an anaerobic metabolic state and constitutes a significant metabolic blockage.

In my experience, the main cause of this problem is a disturbed microbiome. Specific organ ampoules can be used to identify affected sections of the intestine and to select suitable therapeutic agents for targeted intestinal rehabilitation. Test ampoules can also support monitoring of therapeutic progress and help reduce hyperacidity.

In approximately 1,000 intestinal cleansing treatments, it was observed that almost all patients with metabolic and weight problems suffered from severe hyperacidity caused by small-intestinal dysbiosis and, in 90% of cases, fungal infection. These conditions often lead to:

• Food cravings triggered by fungal overgrowth (“the fungus craves sugar”).
• Unsuccessful diets that result in muscle loss and increased fat accumulation.

After successful intestinal cleansing and normalisation of the cellular environment, patients often report an entirely new bodily sensation.

Conclusion

As with many health issues, metabolic disorders are best approached holistically. It is important to consider not only the physical and biochemical processes but also to recognise and address the underlying psychoenergetic issues.

Psychosomatic energetics provides a valuable tool for this purpose, uncovering blockages and disturbances that are otherwise difficult to detect. It broadens the therapeutic spectrum and offers therapists an extremely helpful means of achieving lasting success in treating metabolic problems.