keep the benefits going

not just a good anti-inflammitory - 20 reasons to use Turmeric

2008-10-17T09:19:00.005-05:00

20 Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric is one of nature's most powerful healers. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Tumeric has been used for over 2500 years in India, where it was most likely first used as a dye.

The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.

Here are 20 reasons to add turmeric to your diet:
1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.
3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.
4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.
5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.
7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.
9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.
10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.
11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.
12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.
13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression. (in combination with other herbs)
14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.
17. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.
18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.
20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.

Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis, it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes. My favorite way to use it is to add a pinch of it to egg salad. It adds a nice flavor and gives the egg salad a rich yellow hue.

Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.

to read more on this go to:
http://www.nutritional-supplement-educational-centre.com/turmeric-benefits.html

How the American Medical Association (AMA) Got Rich

2008-05-23T14:30:00.000-05:00

[Whatever Works Wellness] A Healthcare Issue that Politicians Don't Address

How the American Medical Association (AMA) Got Rich
http://mercola.com
- The American Medical Association (AMA) was dictatorially led for the first half of the 20th century by Dr. George H. Simmons and his protégé Dr. Morris Fishbein. Simmons and Fishbein both served as general manager of the organization and as editor of its journal, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
- Dana Ullman's book, "The Homeopathic Revolution: Why Famous People and Cultural Heroes Choose Homeopathy" describes how, in 1899, Simmons began his 25-year reign as head of the AMA. At that time, it was a weak organization with little money and little respect from the general public. Simmons came up with the idea to transform the AMA into a big business by granting the AMA's "seal of approval" to certain drug companies that placed large and frequent ads in JAMA.
- Advertising revenue increased substantially, from $34,000 in 1899 to $150,000 in 1909. Critics of the AMA have called their seal-of-approval program nothing but a form of extortion, since the AMA did no testing of any products.
- In 1924, Simmons was forced out of the AMA due to the many scandals swirling around him. One investigation revealed that:
* Simmons had no credible medical credentials
* He worked primarily as an abortion doctor for many years
* He had had sex charges brought by some of his patients as well as charges of negligence in the deaths of others
- When he left, he took home all his personal files and burned them.
- His replacement, Morris Fishbein, was a specialist in publicity and the media; he was a medical doctor who never practiced medicine. Shortly after he became head of the AMA, he wrote several books sharply critical of medical practices that were not AMA approved. He called chiropractic a "malignant tumor," and he considered osteopathy and homeopathy "cults." Fishbein also extended Simmons's idea for the AMA seal of approval to foods, and by including a significant amount of advertising from food and tobacco companies, he was able to make the AMA and himself even richer. By 1950, the AMA's advertising revenue exceeded $9 million, thanks in great part to the tobacco companies.
- Sources:
* AlterNet April 10, 2008
* The Homeopathic Revolution
- Dr. Mercola's Comments:
This should certainly make you think twice when you see something christened with the AMA’s “seal of approval.” From the very beginning, the people behind the AMA were not about protecting your health; they were interested in gaining power and getting rich. And yet, it wasn’t that long ago that the AMA was still in the minority.
- People didn’t trust this new conglomeration, because in the 19th century, most Americans thrived on more natural approaches like homeopathic medicine. Then, in 1847, along comes the AMA. They wanted control and they wanted money, so what did they do? They kept all homeopathic physicians out of their “club,” and proceeded to call all related remedies “quackery.” If you didn’t want to pay to join the club (by advertising in JAMA), anything you recommended would also be criticized.
- Note that none of this was based on scientific evidence, or even anecdotal evidence of what was really healthy. It was solely about money. If you could buy your way in, your products and your name would be endorsed, end of story. Yet, at this time, people were still questioning the allopathic model that the AMA was touting. If you haven’t yet read Medical Control, Medical Corruption by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr., please do, as it goes into great detail about the sordid events that followed.
- AMA: A True Medical Monopoly
The AMA claimed that the public did not know what was good for it and that the medical establishment must have total control. And they have since gained just that. “Thanks to this central committee of the medical cartel [the AMA],” Rockwell writes, “the number of medical schools and medical students is drastically restricted, state licensure further obstructs the supply of doctors, fees are largely secret and controlled across the industry, alternative treatments and practitioners are outlawed, pharmacists and nurses are hamstrung, and the mystique of the profession rivals the priesthood, although priests have a somewhat lower income. Meanwhile, the customer pays through the nose, even if he does not go to an otolaryngologist.”
- To put it simply, they took control of the medical schools and made it so that only those who graduated from one of them could practice medicine. Well, since they controlled the schools, guess what was largely taught? How to use prescription drugs. “The Rockefeller family had invested heavily in allopathic drug companies and wanted doctors to use their products,” Rockwell writes, and so they also gave grants to the schools that the AMA endorsed.
- This medical monopoly is largely responsible for the problems that exist in conventional medicine today:
* Heavy ties to the drug industry
* Reliance on drugs, surgery and hospital stays
* No competition, leading to outrageous prices that most Americans cannot afford
* Calling tried-and-true natural remedies and most all non-medical doctors quacks
- If this topic interests you, I would strongly suggest viewing the video about the 1988 book Murder by Injection. It explains how the Rockefeller Syndicate, U.S. government officials and the AMA formed an unholy triumvirate that successfully gained control of America's health care industry in the early part of the 20th century -- control that still continues to this day.
- Related Articles:
American Medical Association’s Secret Pact with the Federal Government
The AMA -- Murder by Injection
AMA Criticized for Letting Drug Firms Pay for Ethics Campaign
- Community Comments
DrScott
In October 1976, Chester Wilk, D.C. and four other chiropractors (one later dropped out) filed suit against the AMA. The Wilk suit also named many of the nation's other most prominenet medical groups as codefendants - groups such as the American Hospital Association, the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Physicians, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. In 1987 (1) , following 11 years of legal action, a federal appellate court judge ruled that the AMA had engaged in a “lengthy, systematic, successful and unlawful boycott” designed to restrict cooperation between MDs and chiropractors in order to eliminate the profession of chiropractic as a competitor in the United States health care system. On August 24, 1987, after endless wrangling in the courts, U.S. District Court judge Susan Getzendanner ruled that the AMA and its officials were guilty, as charged, of attempting to eliminate the chiropractic profession. During the preceedings it
was shown that the AMA attempted to:
• Undermine Chiropractic schools
• Undercut insurance programs for Chiropractic patients
• Conceal evidence of the effectiveness of Chiropractic care
• Subvert government inquires into the effectiveness of Chiropractic
• Promote other activities that would control the monopoly that the AMA had on health care
(This was upheld by the 7th United States Circuit Court of Appeals.)
- The AMA offered a patient care defense; however, data from Workmen's Compensation Bureau studies served to validate chiropractic care. Specifically, studies comparing chiropractic care to care by a medical physician were presented which showed that chiropractors were “twice as effective as medical physicians, for comparable injuries, in returning injured workers to work at every level of injury severity.” In short, the AMA was found guilty of Federal Crimes (sherman anti-trust laws) against the chiropractic profession.
- Tondelaya
I have released myself from the mindset that I need physicians. Have not been to one in years. I am my own best caretaker.
- Joan Courtenay
Excellent advice. A scientist and medical doctor whom I greatly respect once told me that conventional medicine, as it is being practiced in North America, is not a science but a religion. I would highly recommend a one hour PBS special I saw a couple weeks ago called Sick Around the World. A journalist from the Washington Post visited half a dozen countries around the world to see how their health care system worked compared to that in the U.S. You can check it out at pbs.org where you can buy the DVD or find full transcripts of the interviews he did with experts and ordinary citizens in these countries. It will astonish you and give you some ideas about how we in North American are being hoodwinked about "how it's too complicated and impossible to change our health care system."
- It opened my eyes and I thought I knew about a lot about how other countries medical systems worked. For example, several of the countries have taken legislated steps to prevent doctors from being gate-keepers. In other words you can see any doctor or specialist you want simply by making an appointment with them directly. No referral needed. Taiwan is one such country. Taiwan also has a state-of-the-art electonic health care card, their health care is universally provided to all, etc. etc. Other countries have various versions of the same thing. These countries are leading the way and we are falling further and further into decay. We need people to wake up. This PBS program did it for me.
- HealthCoachSandraG
It gets worse. In the book "When Healing Becomes a Crime" a detailed description of how the AMA had a vandetta against natural therapies that they could not purchase and patent. Hoxsey had a better record of healing skin cancer than meds or radiation, won any case brought against him, but still have a 30-40 year battle with the power of the AMA, was eventually driven out of the country.
- Coconut123
I had and now have a back injury so I went to a paid worker's comp doctor. This was 1999. His report was not truthful but his assistant doctor wrote a more truthful report of what actually was wrong with my back. I also never got an MRI from him. He just read from a general x-ray. I had so much edvidence against him that I decided to report him to the AMA. Well, I phoned the AMA and I asked about this doctor and I was told he was the President of the local board in this area. I gave up of course. I knew it was a waste of time. Later, I went to a presurgical doctor and I was told that this worker comp doctor was paid $3,000 to 4,0000 in fees not to treat me so I would go away. I got a lawyer and I am now with disabilities of 40%. Also, this presurgical doctor I saw for 6 visits told me that she would think of something to get me 6 more appointments, which I didn't want. You can't trust worker's comp. I can tell you more stories about worker's comp. Nightmare!
- EQ
Bummer about the worker's comp nightmare. I had to go to a worker's comp doc about 2.5 years ago. I got really lucky. She was a very cool, and very open minded D.O. She was so amazed at how quickly I healed that she asked me to refer her to the other techniques I was learning. Amazing when a health professional is human & humble enough to learn from their patients at the same time they are trying to help. I wish there were more doctors like her.
- TCarmichall
I too suffered from a work related injury a few years back. Upon talking with my chiropractor I decided to let him treat it. When I spoke to the gal in Human Resources for my company, she told me quote "Chiropractors aren't real doctors" and that they wouldn't allow me to use one for my treatment. Upset and discouraged I told my chiropractor this and he responded with "Who is your company's Worker's Comp insurer?" When I told him the name he told me he was a preferred provider for them. So I called the Insurance Agency myself and needless to say they were more than happy to let my chiropractor treat me!!! I am so glad I did this. I know so much more about being healthy now, I'm glad I didn't go to some allopathic doctor who would have just drugged me! I am 100% "healed" through adjustments, massage and ultrasound therapy. Amen.
- trishaspring50
My Mother had a saying after living 14 years, by refusing conventional slash/burn/poison for lung cancer: "You go to a Allopathic Doctor, You get what you deserve." That was after she was given 2-6 months to live and went to a "homeopathy cult" who cared truly for her.
- Avery Marie
A chiropractor was able to do to my arm what no doctor could. As far as homeopaths, although my physician told me that I will have a thyroid problem for the rest of my life and that there is no cure, four days after receiving a remedy from a homeopathic physician, much to my surprise, I am experiencing changes indicating that reversal is taking place.
- KelleyEidem
Morris Fishbein played a central role in destroying the reputation of Dr. Emanuel Revici. The story is told in the book "The Doctor Who Cures Cancer." Fishbein singled out Revici in a famous speech he gave when he said, "Of all the ghouls who feed on the bodies of the dead and dying, the cancer quacks are the most heartless. Heaven speed the day when the advances of medical science against cancer, most dreaded of diseases, will deprive these ghouls of the sad soil on which they nourish themselves." Fishbein bragged about enlisting the aid of the IRS whenever he wanted to destroy one of his targets. Few people are more responsible for the suffering cancer patients have faced in the last 50 to 60 years than Morris Fishbein.
- herbprof
If you combine the AMA with the FDA you have a real two headed monster loose. Here is a huge tragedy dropped on the American public by this monster that few people know about. The 3M Company developed Tambocor an antiarrhythmic heart drug in 1989. A great deal of money and pressure was applied and this drug was pushed through quickly and released on the market. Within less than 2 years over 50,000 Americans were dead before the drug was pulled. That is equal to all the war dead in Vietnam. You would think that this would be enough to destroy or change this monster or at least get a legal handle on it. But the whole horrible mess was swept under the political rug. It was hushed up and the American public is unaware that this ever happened. Read the book Deadly Medicine, by Thomas J. Moore.
- tomalex
We need to educate our neighbors.The more people on our side, the larger the bulwark against this monstrosity. Unfortunately, many people want to be ignorantly bliss and are a large reason for the success of the ama and the system surrounding it. It's a battle for the minds of the people and unfortunately the people are losing miserably. Even when we want to do the right thing it's very difficult in the world we live in. For the dolts who don't even care, it's impossible unless the system is completely overhauled.
- Dana Ullman
I am truly honored that mercola.com choose to excerpt from my writing (I really love this site and respect Dr. Mercola). For people interested, the above article is a shortened version of the one at http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/81659,and this is an excerpt from my new book, "The Homeopathic Revolution: Why Famous People and Cultural Heroes Choose Homeopathy". More info about the book is at: www.homeopathic.com, www.HomeopathicRevolution.com
- imahomeopath
Homeopathy is not a cult, rather a scientific system with a 200+ year history, well proven in clinical practice and trials. The evidence is readily available, although one must be careful not to be misled by those who would have us believe otherwise.
- MITCHIND
WHEN ARE YOU PEOPLE IN THE USA GOING TO START USING THE " DEMOCRACY" YOU PrIDE YOURSLEVES ON. DO A CALIFORNIA RECALL AND GET RID OF FEW SENATORS, CONGRESS PEOPLE, ETC. THEY WILL START TO HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOU. INUDATE THEM WITH MAIL SO THEY KNOW THE GAME IS UP. IN AUSTRLIA THEY HAVE TO WRITE A REPLY. SPEND YOUR MONEY AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE WITH THESE PEOPLE. IF YOU TRAVEL BUY YOUR DRUGS WHSILT OVERSEAS. TAKE UP A BETTER LIFESTYLE AND DOnt GET AS SICK AND SCREW THEM BY DEFAULT. YOUR MOST IMPORTANT VOTE IS WITH WHOM AND HOW YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY
- health nut
Dr Fishbein's name has been read of before in a book titled "You 'Don't Have to Die". What a shame that one person could have such power that he awarded himself. My husband went to Tijuana, Mexico 20 years ago and was treated for melanoma cancer at the Bio Medical by Mildred Nelson with the Hoxsey treatment. The doctors here, in the US, told us if he had surgery and a skin graft and even IF they got it all that it would be back in 3 years and he probably would not be here in 5 years. Thanks to being told of Mildred taking this treatment to Mexico in the 60's we were able to travel there for treatment. My husband has never had surgery, chemo, radiation nor has he EVER been sick. We go back every year for check-ups and he has not had a recurrence since that time. How sad it is that everyone cannot know of the success of this treatment available at the Bio Medical Center today!
- saynotoquacks
This reminds me of how the American Psychiatric Association's very first chairman, Ewan Cameron, presided over MKULTRA, the CIA's Cold War brainwashing project. Very evil stuff.
- dar/
Morris Fishbein was instrumental in ruining Royal Rife and his machine to cure cancer which was filmed and documented killing cancer. Fishbein wanted a financial interest and Royal Rife who had been supported by interested parties who supported his research could not sell any interests in his machine. Per usual he was impoverish from litigation of the AMA. The Rife story is well documented in a video showing this remarkable machine as well as results using this machine.
- laurellee
Forbidden Cures http://www.wovoca.com/controversies-forbidden-cures.htm

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The Daffodil Principle

2008-05-17T12:58:00.001-05:00

The Daffodil Principle

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, 'Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over.'

I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead 'I will come next Tuesday', I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.

'Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!'

My daughter smiled calmly and said, 'We drive in this all the time, Mother.'

'Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!' I assured her.

'But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks,' Carolyn said. 'I'll drive. I'm used to this.'

'Carolyn,' I said sternly, 'Please turn around.'

'It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience.'

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, ' Daffodil Garden .' We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.

It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue.. There were five acres of flowers.

'Who did this?' I asked Carolyn. 'Just one woman,' Carolyn answered. 'She lives on the property. That's her home.' Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. 'Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking', was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. '50,000 bulbs,' it read. The second answer was, 'One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain.' The third answer was, 'Began in 1958.'

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.

That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world .

'It makes me sad in a way,' I admitted to Carolyn. 'What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!'

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. 'Start tomorrow,' she said.

She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, 'How can I put this to use today?'

Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....

Until your car or home is paid off

Until you get a new car or home

Until your kids leave the house

Until you go back to school

Until you finish school

Until you clean the house

Until you organize the garage

Until you clean off your desk

Until you lose 10 lbs.

Until you gain 10 lbs.

Until you get married

Until you get a divorce

Until you have kids

Until the kids go to school

Until you retire

Until summer

Until spring

Until winter

Until fall

Until you die...

There is no better time than right now to be happy.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
So work like you don't need money.
Love like you've never been hurt, and,

Dance like no one's watching.

Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!

Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

2007-11-11T17:18:00.000-06:00

Healing touch: A new patient outreach program
By Phil Galewitz, Special for USA TODAY

Susan Iliff was out of the hospital within four days after open-heart surgery and never needed any pain medication.
She credited her speedy, painless recovery not just to her doctors, but also to an unconventional type of therapy she received at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, Calif.: a daily dose of healing touch therapy.
Every day, a nurse slowly guided her hands along Iliff's legs and feet and then lightly touched her elbows, wrists and forehead, stopping at each point for about a minute. By the end of the 30-minute session, Iliff would fall asleep in her hospital bed.
"It just put me into a deep state of relaxation," says Iliff, 58, a retired nurse who received the therapy in 2002 and 2005 at the hospital.
Scripps Green is one of at least 100 U.S. hospitals that have started offering the service in the past 15 years. Although there are no large clinical trials that prove its worth, hospitals offer healing touch based on strong anecdotal evidence that it works and the fact that there are no safety worries with this non-invasive procedure, says Diane Wardell, an associate professor of nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and a healing touch provider.
"Hospitals are being motivated by patients asking for complements to traditional care," Wardell says. "It's always a step forward for patients when alternative care is integrated into hospital settings."
Not just a rubdown
Healing touch is not a massage. Sometimes the practitioner's hands hover above the body and don't actually make contact. Healing touch is an "energy therapy" that uses gentle hand techniques purported to help re-pattern the patient's energy field and accelerate healing of the body and mind. It is based on the belief that people have fields of energy that are in constant interaction with the environment around them, Wardell says.
More than 86,000 nurses and other health professionals use healing touch in hospitals and in private practice, according to Healing Touch International, a non-profit Colorado-based group that certifies practitioners. Many hospitals offer the service at no extra cost —largely because insurance doesn't pay for it. Outside the hospital setting, healing touch costs about the same as a massage therapist — or between $80 to $100 an hour.
The limited studies suggest its effectiveness in a wide variety of conditions, including speeding wound healing following heart surgery, reducing the impact of osteoarthritis and migraine headaches, and reducing anxiety and depression for women undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer.
At Scripps Green Hospital, healing touch is offered to all open-heart surgery patients. "This is so safe and there is no risk," says Erminia "Mimi" Guarneri, a cardiologist and medical director of Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine.
Guarneri became a believer in healing touch a decade ago when a viral infection knocked her out of work for the first time in years.
"After the treatment, I felt like I had so much energy and I felt better almost immediately," she says. "I felt if this can help me this much, it can help my patients."
Many concede that when they first heard about healing touch they thought it was weird. "I thought it looked a little kooky," says Karen Lynch, a pain management nurse at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. That was her reaction when she saw nurses provide the therapy in the hospital's coronary care unit.
But when Lynch showed up for work with abdominal pain a few years ago, she gave healing touch a shot. "In a few minutes, the pain was completely relieved," she says. "That's when I started wondering what was going on with this stuff and began getting trained in it."
Doctors support treatment
Lynch says most doctors don't fully understand how healing touch works, but they believe it when they see patients improve. "It's difficult for me to understand, but it works and there's nothing to lose, and it shows we are treating patients in a caring manner."
Arthur Katz, a heart surgeon in Boca Raton, Fla., says he's convinced healing touch has helped re-energize his patients who were struggling after surgery. "Every time I have used it on one of my patients, I have had a favorable outcome," he says. "The body is more than a machine. It has a mechanical component but also an emotional and psychological component and an energy component."
Last year, he did coronary bypass surgery on a woman in her mid-50s. Although the surgery went well, she was depressed after the procedure and was not motivated to get out of bed or to do other things to help her recovery.
"I tried everything I know. A firm approach, the nice-guy approach to encourage her, but nothing worked," Katz says. "After a healing touch session, she was like a different person with a smile on her face."

Winterize Yourself Against Colds and Flu This Year!

2007-11-05T07:46:00.001-06:00

Hello to you all - Sorry I haven't posted in awhile but I thought this would be good to know for this time of year. this article comes from Matthew Loop DC

Winterize Yourself Against Colds and Flu This Year!
November 5, 2007

Fall and winter blow in a horde of new flu strains, not to mention the common cold and the so-called "stomach flu." What's the best way to protect yourself and your family against this year's onslaught? Winterize—or strengthen—your immune systems by following a healthy lifestyle that includes the right nourishment, regular exercise, enough sleep, healthy stress management, and targeted nutrients and herbs.

Cold and Flu Basics

Colds are minor infections of the nose and throat caused by several viruses. Colds can last a week, but some last longer, especially in children, the elderly, and those in poor health. According to the American Lung Association, adults in the United States get an average of two to four colds per year, mostly between September and May. Symptoms can include:

* Runny nose
* Congestion
* Sneezing
* Weakened senses of taste and smell
* Scratchy throat
* Cough

The flu, or influenza, is a respiratory infection caused by many viruses that pass through the air and enter your body through your nose or mouth. Between 5% to 20% of the U.S. population gets the flu each year. The flu can be serious for elderly people, newborn babies, and people with certain chronic illnesses. Symptoms come on suddenly and are worse than cold symptoms. They may include:

* Body or muscle aches
* Chills
* Cough
* Fever
* Headache
* Sore throat

The "stomach flu" may be gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the lining of the intestines caused by a virus, bacteria, or parasite.

How to Help Prevent Colds and the Flu

While science hasn't yet discovered a magic bullet to prevent all the viruses your family may be exposed to, bolstering your immune system with the right nutrients may significantly reduce your risk. Consider the following daily recommendations:

* Take a high quality, buffered vitamin C.
* Make sure you're getting enough zinc; half the people in the U.S. don't. Zinc supports the integrity of your stomach lining and helps boost immune function.
* Take medicinal mushrooms such as reishi, shiitake, and maitake to provide aggressive support for a healthy immune response.
* Add selenium for additional immune system support.

Other Lifestyle Factors that Aid Prevention

* Whenever possible, avoid close contact with someone who's infected.
* Wash your hands frequently, particularly if you've come in contact with an infected person or have touched an object they've touched.
* Avoid touching your nose and eyes, which serve as easy pathways for virus particles to get into your body.
* Put up a second hand towel in the bathroom for healthy people to use.
* Monitor the humidity in your room so your sinuses don't dry out.
* If you do come down with a cold or the flu, avoid contact with others.

If you are like most people and have concerns about staying healthy through the fall and winter seasons, please stop by my office. We can discuss an easy-to-follow nutritional and lifestyle program that is tailored to your individual health needs.

Laureli's personal note: something I've taken for years now and find very helpful. "Vita Biotic" it is made by Eclectic Institute. It is a vitamin, mineral and botanical combination. it is has been very effective to stave off the nasty cold for me. you can find it online or at central market and probably other health stores.

........

WANT TO FEEL GREAT TODAY?

2007-07-12T13:33:00.000-05:00

WANT TO FEEL GREAT TODAY?

Try this little experiment:

Wherever you're sitting, lower your head and look down. Let your shoulders droop. Say to yourself quietly "I'm really depressed. I feel awful." How do you feel?

Now try this. Sit up straight, or stand up if you want. Look up toward the sky. Put a big smile on your face and say out loud with excitement "I feel GREAT today! I am alive with excitement and enthusiasm." Now how do your feel?

Do you notice a big difference? It's all due to your physiology. By changing your posture and your voice, you have changed your attitude.

Is it realistic to say "I feel great today" when life is full of problems?

Well, you have a choice.

You can choose to be depressed and despondent about your problems. You'll probably get some sympathy, but it's difficult to make your house payment with sympathy (unless you stand on the street corner with a "Will work for food" sign).

OR you can choose to attack them head-on with a positive attitude. Now a positive attitude won't change your situation. But if you hold your head high and look toward the stars, you'll see a lot more opportunities than if you're looking down and depressed. You'll have more energy and more success with other people.

You're in complete control of the way you act and the way you feel. Use that to your advantage every moment.
~ Ralph Marston

Get on the Ball!

2007-07-07T07:24:00.000-05:00
A Fitness Buzzword
In case you haven't already heard, the latest trend in getting fit is core conditioning. Introduced to the public by physical therapists, core conditioning is all about strengthening and stabilizing the muscles of your midsection.
Core conditioning will help you improve your performance in many sports (skiing and tennis are two prime examples) as well as strengthen you for everyday tasks, such as carrying a 20-pound toddler, or three big bags of groceries.

Get on the Ball!
Here's how to perform a basic trunk curl (like a sit-up) on a fitness ball.

*To start, place your lower back on the ball and your feet on the floor, about hip distance apart.

*Cross your arms over your chest or place your fists at your temples.

*Next, slowly curl your trunk, allowing your shoulders and upper back to lift off the ball.

*Return slowly to your starting position, and that's it!

(If your neck gets tired, it's okay to place one or both hands behind your head for support. Try not to pull on your neck when you come up for the trunk curl - this can continue the strained feeling on your neck).

The key to doing the trunk curl is to use the trunk of your body & waist - feel the burn there not else where - keep the neck as straight as possible - you're not doing a neck curl....

**this was sent to me from a client who receives daily tips from Sonoma Diet.com
Thank You….

Walk This Way

2007-06-18T12:44:00.000-05:00
You know you should exercise every day, but sometimes it just doesn't seem feasible — it's too overwhelming to sign up for individual classes, too hectic to try and work out at home, and too expensive to join a gym. On the other hand, there isn't much to prevent you from walking. It's free, easy to start, can be done almost anywhere and for any distance, and, well, you already know how to do it. Plus, the health benefits are amazing. A regular walking program can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, improve cardiovascular stamina, and burn calories. Here are some tips to get you started:

Dress for success: Dress in layers that can be removed or added as needed. Even on a chilly day, walking can increase your body temperature. And wear comfortable walking shoes that support your arches and ankles.

Loosen up: Before your walk, be sure to stretch your hamstrings and calf muscles. Also, do a few neck rolls, and stretch your back and shoulders. The looser you are, the better and more invigorating your walk will be.

Start slow: If you're just beginning a walking program, take it slow at first. Maybe you'll only walk 5 or 10 minutes the first few weeks. Gradually build up to about 30 minutes a day as you feel ready.

Have fun: Swing your arms naturally while you walk and don't be too concerned with how fast you're going. And be sure to breathe normally. You should be able to have a conversation. If you feel short of breath, slow down until you return to a normal breath and heart rate.

10 tips to reduce your stress, anytime, anyplace

2007-06-17T21:50:00.001-05:00
Feeling overwhelmed?

Here are 10 tips to reduce your stress, anytime, anyplace.

1.Turn off your cell phone for 1 hour a day. [Don't listen to the news]

2.Create rituals for yourself. Rituals help ground us, especially when we feel out of control. A ritual can be as simple as going for a morning jog or enjoying an evening bath.

3.Call a friend and let off steam. Friends are one of the great joys in life, You can share your feelings, cry when you need to, laugh and have fun with a friend. And there is growing scientific evidence that meaningful involvement with others actually buffers the wearing and tearing effects of stressful situations.

4.Get your priorities straight. Think about what's really important - family, friends, good health - and make them the focus of your attention. Put unnecessary distractions at the very bottom of your to-do list. This will keep things in your life from spiraling out of control.

5.Reconnect with nature. Take a walk in the park. Fill your life with flowers. There is a peace, a connectedness, a sense of balance and justice we get through nature that is vital to our emotional and mental health.

6.Improve your lifestyle habits. Regular physical activity and a healthy diet can improve weight, energy levels, self-confidence and overall health and well-being, making it much easier for you to handle daily stressors.

7.Breathe deeply. Inhale through your nose. Pull the air all the way down, deep into the lungs. Hold the breath for a count of six. Exhale slowly through the mouth to the count of six. Do this for several minutes.

8.Smile. Have a good belly laugh. Watch funny movies, Read funny stories. Laughter is a great way to relieve stress. It dissolves tension and seems to help brighten the situation. Another plus - laughter seems to help boost your immune system, in turn making you less prone to developing colds and other infections.

9.Do one thing at a time. One of the best ways to cope with feelings of being overwhelmed is to pick one urgent task and finish it. Once you accomplish that task, choose the next one, The positive feeling of "checking off " tasks is very satisfying and will motivate you to keep going.

10.When the world closes in on you and your head feels a size too small, reach for some Peace of Mind. Practice some massage onto the back of your neck, temples and earlobes melts away tension and tightness - in nature's gentle, non-habit forming way.

PLUS: get regular massages to expel the natural (and added) stresses and tensions of life. Remember to call you therapist and make the appointment for the natural drug free way to release tension.

Go to www.massagebylaureli.com to find out more info or to make an appointment

to find more like this post go to - www.lifeofhope.com

Is Chronic Inflammation Making You Hot and Bothered?

2007-06-06T18:58:00.000-05:00
Put Out the Fire with an All-Natural Approach

If you've ever stubbed your toe or suffered a minor paper cut, then you're familiar with the effects of inflammation. The heat, redness, and swelling you experienced following that minor injury was the result of acute inflammation, which is part of your immune system's natural response to trauma.

But there's another kind of inflammation with which you may not be aware. Unlike acute inflammation, which usually involves pain and is short lived, chronic inflammation can be a "silent fire" and last for weeks or even years.

# In fact, most people don't even realize they're "on fire" until they're diagnosed with a serious disease. This may be why chronic inflammation has been identified as a factor in such diverse disorders as: Autoimmune diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis)
# Alzheimer's disease
# Type 2 diabetes
# Cardiovascular disease

So, what is chronic inflammation? And more importantly, what can you do if you are suffering from it?

The Connection Between Inflammation and Your Immune System

Inflammation is an integral part of your body's natural defenses.
When threatened by harmful substances, such as a bacteria or viruses, your immune system sends wave after wave of white blood cells and chemicals to seek and destroy the offending organisms. This "inflammatory cascade" produces the heat, redness, and swelling which characterize acute inflammation. Once the offenders are destroyed the inflammatory cascade stops and healing begins.

During chronic inflammation, however, the inflammatory response is continual. Any number of factors can cause chronic inflammation.

* Hereditary and environmental factors. Both may have a causal effect on autoimmune disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatoid arthritis. In an autoimmune disease, your immune system mistakes its own tissues as "foreign," unleashing the inflammatory response.
* Typical Western lifestyle. Excess fat and cholesterol, the products of sedentary lifestyles and diets rich in sugars, fats, and cholesterol, may promote the production of inflammatory chemicals.

The "Fire" in Your Belly

Most people aren't aware of the major role our gastrointestinal (GI) tract plays in our immune health. Besides digestion, our GI tract is home to nearly seventy percent of our immune system. It is a major source of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that plays a large role in defending the body against disease, and mast cells, which release histamines and other chemicals as part of an allergic response.

Calming the Flames—A Natural Approach

As home base for the majority of your immune system, your GI tract plays a vital role in your inflammatory response. By paying attention to your gut, you can minimize the effects of inflammation naturally. The following natural approaches can help:

1. Omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA may help decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease and support a healthy immune response. Although the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines, non-fish food options include flaxseed, flaxseed oil, walnuts, canola oil, soybeans, and soybean oil.
2. Ginger and rosemary have been shown to support the healthy metabolism of inflammatory chemicals.
3. Turmeric extract inhibits the activities of a wide range of enzymes implicated in pain and inflammation.
4. Rice protein has been shown to have a lower allergy potential than other protein sources, making it a safer alternative.

You can also minimize chronic inflammation by eating a healthier diet and getting regular, moderate exercise. Both will reduce the amount of fat in your body, which research suggests may incite the inflammatory response.

Massage therapy is also a proven and quite effective method of relieving muscular pain due to the various causes of these inflammatory diseases. please don't hesitate calling me to set up some appointments to address these issues and help you get some relief.

Herbs That Repel Bugs

2007-05-26T21:43:00.000-05:00
By: Judy Barrett

There is something about herbs that is repellant to most insect pests. They don't like to eat herbs and they don't like to smell them. You can take advantage of this by inter-planting all your gardens with herb plants. Almost all herbs are good for discouraging insect pests, because almost all herbs have strong scents. Some are particularly repellent to particular insects.

Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis: One of the most popular herbs, rosemary leaves that are dried and powdered are used as a flea and tick repellent. Dust the powder around where your pet sleeps.

Tansy, rue and anise are good at repelling aphids, a perennial garden pest. Chamomile and hyssop will help discourage cabbage moths on your cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Basil and dill planted near your tomato plants will help keep tomato hornworms away and encourage your tomatoes to grow steadily. Dill and fennel are also good food plants for butterflies, particularly the swallowtail. They lure the caterpillars from other plants you'd rather not have gnawed.

English Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium: A small-leaved herb that has spikes of lavender flowers, pennyroyal is a member of the mint family and tends to sprawl rather than grow upright. Ground pennyroyal is one of the most effective tick deterrents available. Dust powder made from the leaves around areas where the pet sleeps and plays. The plant makes a good ground cover and grows well in hanging baskets.

If you're having problems with beetles and squash bugs on your squash and cucumbers, plant mint, oregano or tansy nearby. Catnip and savory will discourage flea beetles and bean beetles on your bean plants and parsley and rosemary will keep carrot flies away from your carrots.

Inside the house, you can used dried herbs to make fragrant potpourri or sachets that will repel insects in the closet or storage chests. Mint, rosemary, rue, tansy, thyme, wormwood, southernwood, lavender, pennyroyal and lemon geranium are all excellent at repelling moths that would get into your winter clothes. Put the dried herbs in a cloth bag that is loosely woven enough to let the air circulate and let it hang from a hanger in the closet or tuck it into a drawer or chest for the summer. When it comes time to get out your winter clothes, they'll smell good and be moth-free.

Epazote Chenopodium ambro-siodes. This annual plant is used in much Southwestern cooking, particularly in bean recipes, but you can also make a strong tea from the plant and use the water to wash floors and porches to repel insects and larvae.

If you thought herbs were just for soup, think again. They serve a variety of purposes in every room of the house and throughout the garden. They are easy to grow and a delight to enjoy. Add more herbs to the garden today!

Homegrown, P.O. Box 524, Taylor, TX 76574

512-365-5154

Email: judy@hoegrowntexas.com

A Bicycle Built For You

2007-04-05T07:36:00.000-05:00
As we begin to have the kind of weather to out cycling here are some tips to consider.

A Bicycle Built For You

Without doubt, the single most common cycling injury is the overuse injury, and the most common cause is an improper bike fit. Men in particular need to take special care in fitting their bikes properly, as they can not only sustain neck, back and knee pain from overuse, but they can also risk serious injury to the groin area. Overuse injuries usually occur gradually, so the most important thing you can do for injury prevention is to get your bike properly fitted by a well-trained professional as soon as possible. Don't wait for the pain of a long ride to discover that your bike was not fitted properly. Keep in mind that as you train, you will probably need to use trial and error in making minor adjustments to achieve your optimal fit. In doing so, you may find the following guidelines helpful.
The right bike and helmet

Generally, for long distances, a touring or racing road bike is ideal. However, many people have comfortably completed long rides on mountain or hybrid bikes by switching to a thinner, smoother road-type tire. A lighter helmet may help to reduce neck pain.
Proper frame size

To size a frame, straddle the crossbar. For a properly fitted road bike, allow one to two inches between your crotch and the top frame tube. When using a mountain bike, the clearance between the crotch and top tube should be three to six inches.
Seat height

A seat that is too high may lead to pain behind the knee. If it is too low, pain may develop at the front of the knee. Several methods have been developed to determine proper seat height. For instance, while on a bike, place your heels on top of the pedals and pedal backwards. The proper saddle height is the point where the heels maintain contact with the pedals, but the hips do not rock side to side. Also, when your heels are on your pedals and the pedals are positioned at the six and twelve o'clock positions, the seat should be adjusted until the leg is nearly straight. Note that a mountain bike used off-road should have the seat lowered slightly.
Saddle tilt

Your seat should be level. A seat tipped forward may cause neck, shoulder and hand pain or numbness. A seat tipped up can cause unique problems for men: saddle sores, numbness of the groin region and even erectile dysfunction. Consult your chiropractor if these problems develop. They usually resolve on their own, but an exam and treatment may be indicated.
Handlebar position

A line drawn straight down from the nose should fall one inch behind the handlebar stem. Your back angle should be less than 45 degrees, with no sharp bends. Beyond that, look for just the right balance: while an overly upright position places more stress on the low back and hamstrings, elevating the handlebars may reduce neck and shoulder tension as well as hand numbness. Also try to avoid a cramped forward position -- it may inhibit normal breathing and cause increased neck stress. Keep in mind that your upper body position is the least exact part of the bike fit, and may require the most experimentation on your part to get it right.
Foot position

The widest part of your foot should be directly over the pedal axle. Cleats should be adjusted so that the angle of the foot on the pedal is neutral. The best way to get an accurate measurement of foot placement for cleats is to use a special instrument at a quality bike shop called a RAD (rotational adjustment device). If you're using a floating cleat system and are experiencing knee pain, restrict the rotation to five degrees.

If these preventive measures fail, consult a chiropractor. He or she can determine the exact nature of your problem, and explain various treatment options which may include: spinal manipulation to correct abnormal biomechanics; rehabilitative exercises to stretch tight muscles and strengthen weak ones; nutritional therapy; electrical muscle stimulation; ultrasound therapy and massage to decrease inflammation and speed tissue repair; and acupuncture for pain control and to reduce numbness and tingling.

Dr. Richard Ezgur is a chiropractic physician in Chicago.
http://www.meta-ehealth.com/site/office/print.jsp?path=chiropractic_and_you&id=18

massage .... it's real medicine

2007-03-09T07:54:00.000-06:00
by Kristyn Kusek Lewis

Having your honey rub your back is sweet, but it's tough to compete with the hands of a pro. A good massage therapist can make you feel like a new person. And now research suggests massage can ease insomnia, boost immunity, prevent PMS, and more. Maybe that's why hospitals are making it a standard therapy.

"All of our surgery patients are offered the treatment -- I call it 'service with a smile' -- and it's a mandatory weekly prescription I give myself," says Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., director of the Cardiovascular Institute at New York Presbyterian Hospital--Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and a member of the board at LLuminari, a health-education company.

Our advice: Enjoy your hands-on time with your sweetie, but set aside some time for a real massage, too. Here are some feel-good reasons:

Goodbye, pain

It sounds like a no-brainer, but rubdowns are especially effective for aches like low-back pain. Researchers at the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, Washington, found that massage works better than common treatments including chiropractic therapy and acupuncture. It's not clear why, but several studies show massage reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol while boosting the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine. Those changes slow your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and block your nervous system's pain receptors. Massage also increases blood flow to the muscles, which may help them heal. (Health.com: Frequently asked questions about massageexternal link )

A bonus: Massage also seems to ease distress from migraine, labor pain, and even cancer, as well as the body tenderness seen with fibromyalgia, says Tiffany Field, Ph.D., director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Plus, the benefits may last as long as a year after just a few treatments, says Partap Khalsa, Ph.D., a chiropractor and a program officer at the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the agency funding many major studies on massage.

Hello, dreams

Fluctuations in several types of brain waves either relax you or wake you up. Massage increases delta waves -- those linked with deep sleep -- according to a study at the Touch Research Institute. That's why it's easy to drift off on the massage table, Field says.

Nice to have you back, brain power

The Touch Research Institute study that connected massage to sleep also found that a 15-minute chair massage boosted alertness. "Subjects reported that it felt like a runner's high," Field says. Tests also show that brain-wave activity stimulated by massage is linked to improved attention.

Take that, colds

Massage helps ward off bugs by boosting your "natural killer cells," the immune system's first line of defense against invading illness. "We know that cortisol destroys natural killer cells," Field says. "Therefore, since massage decreases cortisol, your immune cells get a boost." Massage even seems to boost immunity in those people with severely compromised immune systems, such as breast-cancer patients. (Health.com: Which massage is best for you?external link)

Blues, be gone

Less cortisol and more serotonin and dopamine in your system may also mean less stress, anxiety, and depression. "We know that the right side of the frontal lobe of the brain is more active when we're sad, and the left side's activated when we're happy," Field says. "Our studies have observed that massage decreases activity in the right lobe and increases functioning in the left." The well-being people feel after a massage is a big reason why some hospitals offer it to anxious patients preparing for surgery and cancer patients going through chemo.

Shove off, PMS

A small study of 24 women with severe PMS found that massage reduced symptoms such as pain, water retention, and mood swings. Try it with proven remedies such as exercise (and who-cares-if-they-work solutions like a little dark chocolate).

BEFORE YOU GET FIT, GET FUNCTIONALLY FIT

2007-02-22T15:22:00.000-06:00
By Bob Greene

Functional fitness works to strengthen and support key joints and muscles groups that protect the body in basic day-to-day movements and your exercise routine--such as bending, lifting, twisting, and walking. You use the same muscles and joints to safely lift a dumbbell without injury as you would a bag of groceries.

The muscle groups you need to improve include your abdomen, back and shoulders, and lower legs (quads, hamstrings, calves). The following exercises condition these muscles by working to improve their flexibility, strength, and endurance.

1. Stretches: hamstring, quads, upper calf, lower calf. Stretching your lower leg muscles improves your flexibility as it helps your muscles and joints move through their normal range of motion.

2. Abdominal crunches: basic, twisting trunk curl, upper abdomen. Crunches help to develop a strong core, which stabilizes your body and protects your back, whether you bend over to pick up a piece of paper or a dumbbell.

3. Back and shoulder: middle and low back stretch, arm and leg raise, shrug roll. Strong back and shoulders improve your posture and help you perform walking and running exercises safer and more efficiently.

4. Lower leg: heel raise. It's important to strengthen...

It's important now, as we enter into Spring and enjoy the warmer weather, that what ever our activities we be mindful of a fitness level and not over do it and cause undo strain or injury.

the water remedy

2007-01-22T11:14:00.000-06:00

The remedy for your medical problems may be as close as your faucet! Pigs will fly before the medical establishment will disclose something simple and free in lieu of costly (and frequently dangerous) medications; but they do tell us to do this, they just don't know, or don't tell us the great benefit.

In forty years of practice I have seen many apparent miracles produced solely by plain water. You won't believe what 8-10 eight-ounce glasses of water per day will do for many maladies.

There is one major problem: People won't drink that much due to the inconvenience of frequent urination; a small price to pay for better health. If your urine is not a very pale yellow or even clear, you are not getting enough water (does not apply to those taking B- complex vitamins as these can turn the urine bright yellow).

When I speak of water I do NOT refer to coffee, sodas or tea. Distilled or spring is best but tap water will work just fine for most people. Some places have water, which has an odor and is not at all that tasty. Put a jug in the fridge for a few days and it will taste better. In addition, much of the chlorine will vanish. Prior to drinking, shake it vigorously for a while. This will oxygenate it.

Cure #1: Dump the Tums and cure heartburn. Heartburn may be a signal of water shortage in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. It is a major thirst signal of the human body. The use of antacids or tablet medications in the treatment of this pain does not correct dehydration, and the body continues to suffer as a result of its water shortage.

Tragedy: Not recognizing heartburn as a sign of dehydration and treating it with antacids and pill medications will, in time, produce inflammation of the stomach and duodenum, hiatal hernia, ulceration, and eventually cancers in the gastrointestinal tract, including the liver and pancreas.

Cure #2: Water may prevent and cure arthritis. Rheumatoid Joint Pain - Arthritis - may be a signal of water shortage in the painful joint. It can affect the young as well as the old. The use of pain-killers does not cure the problem, but exposes the person to further damage from pain medications. Intake of water will cure this problem.

Cure #3: Back pain.
Low Back Pain and Ankylosing Arthritis of the Spine may be signs of water shortage in the spinal column and discs - the spinal cushions that support the weight of the body. These conditions should be treated with increased water intake - not a commercial treatment, but a very effective one.
Tragedy: Not recognizing arthritis and low back pain as signs of dehydration in the joint cavities and treating them with pain-killers, manipulation, acupuncture, and eventually surgery will, in time, produce osteoarthritis when the cartilage cells in the joints have eventually all died. It will produce deformity of the spine. It will produce crippling deformities of the limbs. Pain medications have their own life-threatening complications.

Cure #4: Angina.
Heart Pain - Angina - can be a sign of water shortage in the heart/lung axis. It should be treated with increased water intake until the patient is free of pain and independent of medications. Medical supervision is prudent. However, increased water intake may be your cure for angina.

Cure #5: Migraines.
Migraine Headache may be a sign that the brain and the eyes need water. Migraine may be prevented by keeping dehydration from establishing in the body and may be totally cleared up by treating for the condition of dehydration. This particular type of dehydration might eventually cause inflammation of the back of the eye and possibly loss of eyesight.

Cure #6: Colitis.
Colitis Pain is a signal of water shortage in the large gut. It is associated with constipation because the large intestine constricts to squeeze too much water from the excrements - thus the lack of water lubrication.
Tragedy: Not recognizing colitis pain, as a sign of dehydration will cause persistent constipation, which can result in fecal impacting, verticulitis, hemorrhoids, polyps, and appreciably increase the possibility of developing cancers of the colon and rectum.

Cure #7: Asthma.
Asthma, which also affects 12,000,000 children and kills several thousands of them every year, is a complication of dehydration in the body. The drought management programs of the body cause it. Free passage of air is obstructed so that water does not leave the body in the form of vapor – the winter steam. Increased water intake will prevent asthma attacks.

Tragedy: Not recognizing asthma as the indicator of dehydration in growing children not only will sentence many thousands of children to die every year, but will permit irreversible genetic damage to establish in the remaining asthmatic children.

Cure #8: High blood pressure.
Hypertension is a state of adaptation of the body to a generalized drought when there is not enough water to fill all the blood vessels which diffuse water into vital cells. As part of the mechanism of reverse osmosis, when water from the serum is filtered and injected into important cells through minute holes in their membranes, extra pressure is needed for the "injection process." Just as we inject I.V. "water" in hospitals, so the body injects water into tens of trillions of cells all at the same time. Water intake will bring blood pressure back to normal!
Tragedy: Not recognizing hypertension, as one of the major indicators of dehydration in the human body, and treating it with diuretics that further dehydrate the body will, in time, cause blockage by cholesterol of the heart arteries and the arteries that go to the brain. It will cause heart attacks and small or massive strokes that paralyze. It will eventually cause kidney diseases. It will cause brain damage and neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Cure #9: Adult-onset diabetes.
Adult-Onset Diabetes is another adaptive state to severe dehydration of the human body. To have adequate water in circulation and for the brain's priority water needs, the release of insulin is inhibited to prevent insulin from pushing water into all body cells. In diabetes only some cells get survival rations of water. Water will reverse adult-onset diabetes in its early stages.
Tragedy: Not recognizing adult-onset diabetes as a complication of dehydration may, in time, cause massive damage to the blood vessels all over the body. It may cause eventual loss of the toes, feet and legs from gangrene. It may cause eye damage, even blindness.

Cure #10: Blood cholesterol.
High Cholesterol levels are an indicator of early drought management by the body. Cholesterol is a clay-like material that is poured in the gaps of some cell membranes to safeguard them from losing their vital water content to the osmotically more powerful blood circulating in their vicinity. Cholesterol, apart from being used to manufacture nerve cell membranes and hormones, is also used as a "shield" against water taxation of other vital cells that would normally exchange water through their cell membranes.

Cure #11: Depression, Loss of libido, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Lupus, Multiple sclerosis, Muscular dystrophy. These conditions may be caused by prolonged chronic dehydration. If so, they will clear up once the body becomes well and regularly hydrated. In these conditions, exercising one's muscles should be part of the treatment program.

The doctor who wrote this is unknown although the knowledge is rather common. Is it ALL completely true? Will simply drinking enough water eventually cure all of the above conditions?

The point is, it WILL improve your health, it IS free, and it IS the right thing to do. And as long as you don't ignore your doctor's advice (which by the way is to drink 8-10 8oz glasses of water per day) there is absolutely no risk.

No risk, no cost, no travel, definite improvements.

So what are you waiting on?

Drink up!

ENJOY

dietary help through the holiday

2006-11-23T20:09:00.000-06:00

thought we could all use a little help with the release of our dietary intake over the holidays

Acupressure
for Weight Control

Apply steady, penetrating finger pressure
to each of the following points for 3 minutes.

1. Begin with 'Appetite Control' ear
point. This appetite control point can help you avoid overeating.
Begin your acupressure session stimulating this point. We suggest
that you end your session by stimulating these point
again.

Appetite control point is located in your
ear. While looking in a mirror, place your fingers on your
jaw, in front of your ears. Open and close your mouth a few times
until you feel your jaw bone moving underneath your fingers. Put one
finger where you feel the most movement of the jaw. Your finger
should be right next to a little fleshy protrusion of the ear (not
the ear lobe). Grab this part of the ear with your thumb and index
finger and press with steady pressure.

2. Spleen 6 (Sp 6) has a strengthening
effect on the digestive system.

This point is located on the inside
portion of your leg, above the ankle bone. From the center of the
ankle bone, slide up four finger widths. The point is just off the
bone, toward the back of the leg. When you find it, press with your
thumb or knuckle. Increase pressure until you are pressing quite
firmly, hold about a minute, and gradually release.

Caution: Do not press this point if you
are pregnant.

3. Stomach 36 (St 36) is the best point
to nourish the chi and blood. It has a beneficial effect on the
digestive system.

St 36 is located four finger widths below
the lower border of the kneecap and one finger width off the shin
bone to the outside. You've found the point correctly if you feel
the muscle move under your fingers when you flex your foot up and
down. Using moderate to firm pressure, hold for about one
minute.

4. Spleen 9 (Sp 9) This point is a close
neighbor of St 36. After pressing St 36, slide your finger across
the shinbone until you are just off the shinbone on the inside side
of the leg. Now slide your finger upwards along the shinbone towards
the knee about an inch, until you fall into a natural depression. Sp
9 is in this depression, right below a rounded prominence in the top
of the leg bone (tibia). This point is involved with the regulation
of water metabolism in the body.

5. Stomach 40 (St 40) An important point
for clearing excess damp and phlegm. It is also useful for
eliminating excess weight.

St 40 is located

6. Large Intestine 11 (Li 11) is useful
for clearing excess heat and damp from the body and to regulate
intestinal activity.

Li 11 is located at the outer end of your
elbow crease on the thumb side. Hold your arm in front of your
chest, as if holding a cup in your hand. The point is at the outside
end of the crease on your arm at the elbow joint. Another way to
find it is to note the length of your thumb from the tip to the
first joint, then move this distance up from the outside tip of the
elbow bone toward the crease lines at the elbow joint. Hold your
left hand close to your chest and use firm pressure with your right
thumb; press for about a minute, then switch arms.

7. Liver 3 (Lv 3) prevents chii
stagnation in the body and is the most important point for combating
stress.

Lv 3 is situated on top of your foot in
the webbing between your big toe and second toe. Start at the web
margin of skin between the two toes, and slide your index finger up
between the bones until you feel a depression about 1/2 inch up.
Still using your index finger, press between the bones (in the
direction of the root of the second toe). Start with light pressure,
as this point can be sensitive, and increase as much as you can
until you are using moderate to firm pressure. Press for about 1
minute.

The following two steps (8 and 9) are
optional.

8. Four Gates relaxes the nervous
system.

9. Neck and Shoulder Release will help to
relax and calm you as you make the transition to a new dietary and
exercise regime.

10. End your Acupressure session by again
stimulating the appetite control point on both ears.

Home Remedies for Muscle cramps and spasms

2006-11-13T03:21:00.000-06:00
One of the easiest ways to deal with muscle spasm is to have a hot bath or shower. You can also do some simple stretch exercises. This will improve blood circulation and help the connective tissue around the muscles. Before you pump up those muscles, hit the showers, it can prevent any occurrence of muscle spasm. But make sure you also do a good cool down after the workout.

Muscle spasm mainly happens due to calcium deficiency, so include calcium in your diet. You can find good source of calcium in low-fat dairy products such as yoghurt, skim milk and ricotta cheese. Before eating and drinking calcium rich diet, consult your doctor.

If you are prone to muscle spasms it may be because of the acids that interfere with the body's ability to absorb calcium. Lessen the intake of acidic foods like tomatoes and vinegar. Inadequate supply of potassium to your body is another reason for muscle spasms. Increase your intake of potassium, eat good amount of bananas, potatoes, soya flour, bran wheat, ready-to-eat apricots, tomato puree and such.

Do not exert yourself by overusing your muscles. Take it easy for while and relax. Too much of physical exertion takes its toll on the body. Frequent muscle spasms could be the manifestation of this over exertion. If while doing some activity you get a muscle spasm, take a 15 minute break. This prevents muscle spasm in the long run.

Celery seeds have anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce arthritic pain and relieve muscle spasms. Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus) can be used to treat muscle spasms. Hot and moist herbal packs are very useful in increasing blood circulation. It can treat painful areas by consuming tea or juices to soothe muscles and nerves.

If you get a muscle spasm while you are lying in bed, stretch your leg straight out, bend the toes back towards the head. Hold this position for 30 seconds, relax and continue till the cramp is gone. This stretches your calf muscle. This can also be done while you are standing.

Spasms usually occur when your body is exerted, mainly in the gym. Keep yourself hydrated as you tend to lose valuable electrolytes, which is required to prevent cramps. Before exercising you can take calcium, magnesium and potassium supplements daily.

Chamomile tea helps in relieving muscle spasms. Glycine, an amino acid present in the tea, help relax the muscles. Magnesium deficiency is usually caused due to alcohol, renal disease and diabetes mellitus. This tea is always nice to have before going to bed.

To stop muscle spasms use this ayurvedic solution. Soak your feet in a large tub of hot water, steeped with homemade tea bag of black or brown mustard seeds, for 15- 20 minutes.
You can use an herbal oil massage by using 1 cup extra-virgin oil or almond oil, add herbs in tincture form like 1 ounce Cramp bark, 1/2 ounce Lobelia, 11/4 ounce of Willow bark or Wintergreen ( wintergreen tincture is not available you can use 30 drops of wintergreen oil). You can store all these in a jar or bottle and use it as massage oil.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.Article Source: http://info.chinaitgi.com/Information/Natural-Remedies/131956872.html

soothing pain relief

2006-11-05T18:54:00.000-06:00
As the weather becomes more fall like and we spend more time in activities that extend our muscles in ways that let us know we're not kids anymore, the need arises for some immediate relief.

Using ice is the best natural pain reliever that we can put on those aching muscles. Most muscles are sore because of friction and swelling from over use. To reduce friction &/or swelling use ice. This is good for during our busy day's.

More soothing is using heat. Heat is not often recommended with out alternating it with ice. I have found that taking a nice hot bath/soak in Epson salt for a good 15-20 minutes is absolutely wonderful. Then crawl into bed. This is very important in allowing the muscles to release naturally. You will feel very good coming out of the warm water and will want to take advantage of this loose feeling. Don’t. just get into your bed and let your body relax. If you do too much with heated muscles you will cause the friction to increase and possibly do more damage.

Another soak you can put into the bath water is grated ginger. This is often used in Chinese Medicine. Ginger is a warming herb whether taken internally or used externally. Grate about ½ cup and put it in a nylon sock or cheesecloth tie closed and place it in the bath water. Also soak for 15-20 minutes and do as in the above soak.

Of course adding some really nice warming cider or ginger tea while soaking just adds to the overall benefits.

These are old time remedies that still work and are simple to do. The best part of these are that we take time for ourselves. That is the most important thing in maintaining proper health & well being.

Take to your feet to treat SCIATICA

2006-10-13T21:05:00.000-05:00
This information is taken from 10/2006 pulication of "Alternative Medicine"

If your leg cramps and you feel pain, burning, tingling, or discomfort that runs from your lower back down the back of either leg, a disk low in your spine may be pressing on the nerve that runs through that area. Called sciatica, this condition can last for weeks, although most people eventually recovers with rest, massage, and in some cases chiropractic care maybe in order. The ancient technique of reflexology offers an easy, effective method to loosen sciatica's grip and your recovery.

Reflexology, which traces back 5000 years to its roots in China and Egypt, applies the mystical notion of "As above, so below" to the human body. The basic idea: Various areas onthe feet, called reflexes, mirror anatomical patterns throughout the body, so applying different types of pressure to them stimulates the relaxation response in their corresponing body parts. Dubious? Devote a few minutes to focused footwork and see how good you feel.

Kevin Kunz, coauthor of reflexology: Health at Your Fingertips (DK penguin, 2003) recommends the followingtreatment for sciatica:

Roll it out. To lessen tension inthe foot itself, roll the foot over a tennis ball, a foot roller, or a special foot massage ball while standing (sitting if standing feels too sensitive)
Unwind you ankles. Cup the ankles with you thumb resting just below the outside anklebone, and rotate the foot a full 360 degrees a few times in either direction. This exercise loosens the ankles, which function as chock absorbers for the entire body - and any reduction in the amount of ankle stress might also ease a tight back.
Knead your heel. The heel holds the reflexes for the tailbone-lower back region, the origin of sciatica. The reflex for the sciatic nerve runs horizontally across the heel. Make a loose fist and knead your heel with your knuckles to stimulate the nerve and our lower back.
Follow your crease. The region around the outside anklebone also relates directly to the sciatic nerve. Walk one or two fingers in the crease below the outer ankle located between the Achilles tendon and the anklebone itself. Using the finger walking technique just under the anklebone on the inside of the foot also helps alleviate hip problems.
The trick to reflexology is consistency. Practice these several times a day, and you just might say goodbye to your sciatic woes. But even if it doesn't provide an instant cure or the relief you're hoping for, your feet will certainly appreciate the attention. - Elizabeth Margin

resume'

2006-09-18T11:48:00.000-05:00
Resume of Laureli Latimer, RMT #101329
1401-B Collier Street Austin, TX. 78704
512-563-5860
L5Lati@gmail.com
www.massagebylaureli.com

Summary
I am a professional massage therapist with experience with salon clientele and patients in a clinic setting. Providing massage therapy that focus on the various needs of the individual client/patient.

§ Swedish Massage
§ Deep Tissue - Trigger point, Neuromuscular, Myofascial Release
§ Medical Massage (neck & back)
§ Integrated Shiatsu massage - acupressure work
§ Integrated Stone Massage
§ Aroma Therapy
§ Healing Touch – energy work (level 3)
§ Chair Massage

Experience

Massage Therapist
Hoffman Chiropractic
Shoal Creek Blvd. Austin, TX. 512-346-5164

Clinical massage therapist for patients - current

§ specific injury massage
§ 20 min. Deep Tissue spec. area massage
§ PNF stretch therapy
§ Muscle Release Techniques

Massage Therapist
A Place of Mindfulness at he Essential Herb Cottage
652 E. Railroad St. Long Beach, MS. 39560 228-822-0501

rented space for private massage practice – 5 years

§ 30-90 min. massage therapy for private clients
§ assisted with Herb business
§ lead classes on self massage therapist
§ did chair massage for herb cottage when at festivals

Massage Therapist
Stanek Chiropractic Centre
Memorial Blvd. Picayune, MS. 601-799-2225

Clinical massage therapist for patients & assisted in other Chiropractic therapies – 6 years

§ specific injury massage
§ 20 min. Deep Tissue spec. area massage
§ PNF stretch therapy
§ Muscle Release Techniques

Massage Therapist
Trendsetters Salon
Hwy 90 Bay St. Loius, MS. (was destroyed in hurricane Katrina)

massage therapist for salon clients – 1 year

§ 30 – 60 minute massages

Education

Master of Divinity
Beloved Community Ashland, Oregon 2005

§ Ordained Minister of Peace

Master of Theology
Loyola University New Orleans, LA 1991

· Campus Minister in a Catholic High School
· Theology Teacher

Certified Massage Therapist
Blue Cliff College of Massage Therapy Gulfport, MS. 2001

Bachelor Degree in Sign Language and Theology
Madonna University Livonia, Michigan 1986

Continuing Education

Healing Touch (levels 1,2,3)
Colorado Center for Healing Touch Inc. Lakewood, Colorado

Medical Massage (neck & back)
LMT Success Group Deerfield Beach, Florida

Muscle Release Technique
Repetitive Use Injury Therapy Evergreen, Colorado

References for Laureli Latimer can be received upon request

Welcome to continued well being

2006-09-12T18:48:00.000-05:00
Hello

I'm so glad that you have ventured to view my website.

My hope is that information will be posted regularly which may benefit you in managing your life in a more healthy way.

Please visit my page regularly for the most current update.