Sunday, November 13, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Medicines Of Peru: Maca
The increase in demand for the traditional herb of Maca in other countries has been on a huge rise. It has been cultivated in the Peruvian Andes by the indigenous people for thousands of years, with evidence of use as far back as 1600 BC.
Traditional uses include boosting of the immune system, balancing hormones in women, tuberculosis, sexual disorders and for boosting potency in men. It was used by both men and women for fertility. It was also used as a way to counteract exhaustion, both physical as well as mental.
In a similar situation to Ginseng, it has been used across the world for sexual dysfunction or enhancement but it is used for multiple other things. Memory, stamina and endurance is all enhanced with Maca and this is why it is so popular in Europe and the United States, alongside increasing sexual potency.
The plant grows only in high altitudes of approximately 3600 - 4200 meters in harsh conditions where other plants are unable to survive. The root has high nutritional in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Of the minerals, it is particularly high in iodine and iron.
Studies have also shown that the plant can help deal with the effects of aging on the mental and physical functioning of the body. It also helps the body to deal with the effects of stress.
Maca
Maca is another traditional herb that has undergone a huge increase in demand in other countries. It has been used by indigenous peoples in the Peruvian Andes for several thousands of years. There is evidence at one archaeological site of it being cultivated as far back as 1600 BC.
Traditional uses include boosting the immune system and balancing hormones in women. It was also used to treat tuberculosis and sexual disorders and for boosting potency in men. Women and men both use it for a fertility aid. It was taken as well as a way to counteract exhaustion, both physical and mental.
Although it was used traditionally for all these qualities, much like Ginseng, its primary use in other countries has been for sexual enhancement or dysfunction. In addition to using it for its effect on sexual potency, it is used in the United States and Europe for its ability to boost stamina, increase endurance and enhance the memory. Studies have also shown that the plant can help deal with the effects of aging on the mental and physical functioning of the body and to help the body to deal with the effects of stress.
The plant grows only in high altitudes of approximately 3600 - 4200 meters in harsh conditions where other plants are unable to survive. The root has high nutritional in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Of the minerals, it is particularly high in iodine and iron.
It was extremely valued in the Andes, particularly because there were so few things that could be cultivated at high altitude. For this reason, it was a product that was frequently traded. Another use of it was for treating animals. There are records showing that it was traded to the Spanish in great quantity because their livestock were doing so poorly at such a great height above sea level.
The powdered root comes in many different colors and each is believed to have different properties. The most commonly used are cream colored. Blue and black have been shown to boost energy and prostate size can be decreased with the red root.
Today, you can find Maca in many forms in the United States and Europe. It's also quite prevalent in Peru and in any tourist area you are sure to find Maca sold in powder or in an alcohol based decoction. As with any herbal supplement, the efficacy will depend on how it is processed.
Often added to foods like soups, shakes and baked goods, it is often exported in flour form. The effect is said to be best when it is ingested on a regular basis, a few tablespoons per day.
Machu Picchu luxury vacations are unique life experiences. When travelling to South America, make sure that you get the most from your vacation with a luxury travel agent.
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Friday, November 11, 2011
Reflexology - Love the Moment
I enjoy finding something new each week to bring to you. I love talking about the practical, the technical, the philosophical, but what I love the most are the moments in reflexology that bring me closer to spirit. I'm sure you know what I mean - when you realize in the midst of your reflexology session, there's just a quiet calm. These are very special moments. It reminds me of when I was an artist - a painter. I still am, but I say, "I used to be an artist" because I haven't painted a picture for a while. I remember my favorite part of that creative process - the part I loved the most was when I became one with the moment. And... all strung together they became hours, making it seem like time both stopped and flew by. I'm sure that's what kept me painting for almost 25 years. I'm just as sure I'll return to it someday, but not because I miss those moments.
Let me explain... I don't think about feet much when I'm not working on them, but when I start to work on my client's feet - it occupies my full attention. I like to tell my students that there are really many layers to a reflexology session. Two of them are:
1) The techniques - and we've got the best!
2) The "attention" and "intention" that goes into the session.
When I start my session, I take a moment at the beginning and at the end to" intentionalize" what I want my client to gain from the session. I usually weave this into the first point I hold- the solar plexus reflex. Now, we reflexologists know that this is a very intense and powerful reflex point. In fact, I believe that if we could do nothing else, by holding this one point we could help the body in its natural balancing processes... IN A BIG WAY.
So while I'm there for those few seconds, or maybe up to a minute, I let my mind clear and I bring my focus to the table - ATTENTION. I let my intuition tell me what thoughts to add, if anything, and intend that the reflexology - and safe compassionate touch - is "for my clients highest good" - INTENTION. Sometimes, a little blessing or a mantra, an image or a sound will emerge and I add it all into the mix.
I'm one of those folks who believe that intention sets up the vibration, or the energy, for the whole session. It can affect us right down to the cellular level... So, I always want to start from (and, I suggest that you NEVER underestimate the power of) these positive and powerful places - attention and intention. From the solar plexus point on, the sequence of events that unfolds in a reflexology session are nothing short of miraculous.
Not because anything theatrical is going to happen, but because I will be a witness to the nuances and the changes, the textures and their shifts for the next hour of my life on this planet. I sometimes think that reflexology, as great a tool as it is, is simply a vehicle for us to be present, fully present... for my client... and, for myself. It is written into the "stone tablets" of reflexology. BE... PRESENT.
And, what happens when you're fully present? It feels to me like I can tap into the whisperings of the universe. Sometimes I wonder why this occurs - what's so special about these particular moments? Is it really just the feet? (It happens with the hands, the face and the ears too!) There's a level of "conversation" that goes beyond the verbal or even the spoken word. That conversation is a parlay between client and practitioner, indicating that there is support, a deep listening and peaceful rest available.
I find that most clients drink deep from this well. I think of it as "holding the space for their healing to occur" (or, to continue or, to complete itself...) This is sacred ground. As my clients sink deeper and deeper into the layers of relaxation, I sink deeper and deeper into the surface of the skin. My thumb and finger walking pressures don't change much, but in my "mind's eye", I imagine the layers of tissue that I'm above and making contact with. Sometimes, I even count the layers... skin, connective tissue, muscle, bone. As my thumb walks steadily across the surface, every reflex point becomes a world unto itself.
I'll give you an analogy... from an artist's perspective. It's as if I was walking in a great museum (I like the Guggenheim Museum in New York City), and each reflex point is like a painting. There's a slow and steady pace you keep in order to get through all the rooms. Some rooms are covered at a glance, each painting quickly acknowledged and appreciated. But, some rooms are taken at a much slower pace... and one or 2 paintings simply drawing you in. There are even places where you stop altogether and just pause... for a moment... or two... struck with awe and wonder at the depth of this point. Time is suspended. By being there, by paying attention to what's before me, I notice that the whole world is in front of me.
I think this quote sums up what I'm saying:
"Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It effects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed." - Corita Kent
I'm sure I'll take up painting again, but for the moment, I'm in no hurry.
Common Constipation Remedies
In this article we are going to look at some fast, effective . Constipation is the name used to describe when we have a problem with our bowel functionality. It is the process where we can't go to the toilet, and it often leaves us in pain, irritated, stressed and bloated.
When you start to get constipation you'll often feel that you're alone and you will be very embarrassed of your situation, however it is best to understand that thousands of people suffer with constipation on a daily basis and it is the same form of embarrassment that stops sufferers talking openly about their problem. Due to this secrecy that comes with the problem many people often hold it inside and try to cope with their constipation until it naturally goes away, however this can seem like forever and your situation is probably going to get worse, leading to other diseases.
If you head down to the doctors they will offer you some form of medication to try and help relieve your constipation however this could not be the best solution. One thing you have to think about when looking for constipation remedies is whether you want to add some foreign, unknown substance to your body. We must take into account that with any medicine that the agents used may be rejected by our system.
Two of the main causes of constipation are often disregarded as it seems to hard to believe that something so simple can cause such a horrible outcome, this is our diet and exercise. The usual things we focus on in our diet are things such as carbohydrate intake, fat intake and protein intake for example, however it's rare we come across a diet that's rich in fiber and designed to help our digestive system. The facts are that fiber sole purpose within our system is to help our digestive systems work efficiently and as they are intended, and as soon as we start to starve it of this, we can start getting constipation. Exercise is also a big part of keeping a healthy system, not just in regards to our digestion but also the entire body. You will commonly see adverts or find people saying that we should exercise for at least a day, and if your doctor believes laziness is the cause of your constipation, he will also recommend this.
Constipation Remedies:
High Fiber Diet - Implementing a high fibre diet can be one of the best natural solutions for constipation, fiber can be sourced in some of our favorite everyday foods from cereal, pasta, rice, bread, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Implementing one of these consumables into each of your daily meals can really help relief that nasty constipation feeling.
Frequent Exercise - Much like any other muscle in our body, the muscles that are required for us to excrete need to be worked every now and again to stay in a healthy state. It is said that something as simple as a 15 minute walk daily can help relieve constipation noticeably within a week.
Laxatives - Earlier I recommended not using foreign substances, however if you are going to choose one it will more than likely be a type of laxative. Laxatives help the stool in many ways as there are various types available which can make them one of the best over the counter constipation remedies available. Be sure to know what you are taking and keep the dose at a minimum to ensure your body accepts the substance you are adding.
For those of you who are suffering from this health condition and are looking for more information to help eliminate this problem, you will want to take a look at, Remedies For Constipation.
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Thursday, November 10, 2011
Effective And Easy Home Constipation Remedies
Constipation has the ability to make some of us feel completely terrible; the thought of struggling to excrete and the pain and bloating in can cause in our bellies unbearable and often we can find ourselves running straight to the chemist and buying a selection of the last constipation remedies we seen on a television advert. The facts are that not many of understand what constipation is or how simple we can cause it ourselves.
For most of us constipation will simply be "I can't go to the toilet" or "It's taking too long to go to toilet" and we neglect the fact to research realize that is caused because of the digestive system and our intestines not working as intended.
Constipation can be caused by many things and it's easy to miss the simple causes in everyday life such as not consuming enough fiber in our diets or just being too lazy and not exercising our bodies enough either way there are many natural solutions to help our system improve.
For most people the pharmacy will be the first place to hit, there are tonnes of constipation remedies advertised on the internet, television or in magazines and because they are marketed so well people really do use these as a first solution and tend to forget the fact they are adding a foreign substance to their body. In this case it can either have positive effects, negative effects or both; it is important to remember that whenever you add a foreign agent to your body there is always a chance it will reject, so surely it is better to try some natural, healthy remedies first?
As mentioned previously there are many natural causes of constipation - not enough fiber in the diet and lack of exercise two of the most noted, however these two especially can easily be our natural cure for constipation.
Not enough fiber can give us constipation and as you'd expect eating enough fiber reduces constipation. The amazing thing about fiber is that its sole purpose in the body is the aid the digestive system to ensure it is working properly. Fiber comes in many forms and these different forms help the stool in many ways; soluble fiber tends to take in more moisture wish as you'd expect means it can help lubricate the intestines more and make the stool softer allowing it to flow through the body and into the rectum with minimum effort. Insoluble fiber works by going into the intestines unchanged, this then helps bulk up the stool so there is a larger object to pass out of the body.
Exercise is known to help our bodies stay healthy in such a way that it makes us stronger and more durable. Much like any muscle in our body, if it is left relaxed and unused for a substantial period of time it can become weak and not function properly and the same can be said for the muscles and parts of our system required for excretion. Simple keeping a routine of walking for 15 minutes a day can decrease the risk of constipation heavily.
As you can see from the few points mentioned in this article there are some great natural ways which work as constipation remedies to stop you feeling the great discomfort that is caused by this horrible problem.
For more information about constipation, take a look at Constipation Remedies
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Simple Constipation Remedies
Finding constipation remedies can be horrible. Some you will find your problem embarrassing and won't be able to find the confidence to approach a doctor or pharmacist for advice however this is not necessarily required.
Many people think of constipation in the worst ways but it is actually surprising how many of us actually suffer with this. It shouldn't be seen as embarrassing as this feeling of embarrassment can make us disregard our problem and simply to try to cope with it and the best thing to do will be try to sort it as soon as possible.
The thing not to do is head to the local chemist, and end up purchasing every product you've ever seen on the television or read about in a magazine or paper. Although it's hard to believe the cure to our problem can often be found right under our nose or at a lot cheaper price at the local store instead of the pharmacy.
Probably one of the most common, yet highly disregarded constipation remedy is exercise. For some people exercise is taken for granted is a part of their everyday lifestyle, these people attend the gym a few times a week and make sure their body and functioning properly but for others this is a hard routine. Just like any other muscle or functioning part of the body, the digestive system and its muscular helpers need to be worked every so often to make sure it stays in good shape and can work as intended, if not it is likely to struggle.
For people who get constipation and don't take part in an active lifestyle it is recommended to try exercise as a cure before adding any foreign ingredients to the system. It is said that up to 15 minutes of walking a day can easy improve the digestive system with noticeable results in a matter of days.
One of the other simple yet so effective constipation remedies is our diet. It is unbelievable how many people suffer from constipation just because of the neglect in their diet, in some circumstances it's clearly underlined such as people who eat too much fast food, however the lack of fiber is something that can be very hard to miss.
Fiber is one of the key ingredients we add to our body to help the digestive system, in fact fiber main role in the system is to aid in digestion and make sure waste is passed through the body as it is meant to be. It costs in different forms and works in different ways such as taking in more water to lubrication the system or system adding to the waste to make a larger object to be passed through, either way it helps significantly.
Fiber can be found in a variety of foods that can easily be picked up from the local store or found readily in your cupboard. Some of the most common sources of fiber include wholegrain or whole wheat products (Bran flakes, brown rice, brown pasta and certain cereals for example) as well as nuts, potatoes, fruit and vegetables.
When we look at the two constipation remedies above, it is easy to see how simply changing your lifestyle and diet the slightest bit can help improve our problem significantly within a couple of days or weeks.
If you are interested in learning more about this particular topic, feel free to find it at, Constipation Treatments
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Wednesday, November 9, 2011
How To Improve Your Digestion With 3 Simple Steps You Can Take Today
If you're interested in maximizing your chances of living a long, vibrant, healthy life, then you'll need to implement steps to improve your digestion immediately.
Digestive health is responsible for our overall health to a significant degree because of the huge role good digestion plays in boosting our body's immune system. Our immune system, of course, is responsible for attacking such undesirable things as bacteria, germs and viruses that can make us sick.
Sometimes, however, some of these things that we normally think of as undesirable can be desirable if we get the right kind. For example, bacteria, which we normally think of as something yucky can be very beneficial for our digestive health.
And that's why I want to discuss 3 simple steps you can take today to improve your digestion.
Digestive Enzymes
There are certain enzymes that have been shown to be vital in boosting our digestive function. Look for lipase, amylase, bromelain and papain. These can be found naturally in certain foods but also quality supplements. For example, bromelain is naturally present in pineapple, a very healthy fruit that you should begin adding to your diet, but some digestive health supplements will include this enzyme in its product as well.
Exercise
OK, you know by now how important exercise is in so many facets of your health. Put good digestion on that list as well. You don't have to grunt and sweat for hours each day, either. Even just a bit of gentle exercise daily can help markedly improve your digestion. My recommendation here is to try and take a leisurely stroll after you eat dinner. The last thing you want to do is sit down or lie down, like most people do, so that the food has difficulty being digested. Even just a short, slow paced walk will help a great deal. Believe me, you'll feel the benefits.
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Here we come to the biggest category of foods and supplements that are made especially for digestive health. Probiotics are those beneficial bacteria we alluded to above. Think kefir. Think yogurt. Think kimchi, a korean fermented cabbage. Think sauerkraut. Including some raw apple cider vinegar in your diet, just dabbled on top of your salads is good, too. These beneficial bacteria can have pretty crazy sounding names: for example, bacillus coagulans or S. Boulardii. A rich probiotic product can literally contain billions of these beneficial bacteria in only one or two servings.
Although many of us have heard of probiotics, most of us have no idea what prebiotics are. First, let's draw an important distinction. Probiotics are not naturally occurring in foods. For example, yogurt and all of the fermented foods listed above are not found in nature by themselves. They are man-made foods.
Prebiotics, however, occur naturally. They also inhibit the growth of undesirable bacteria while promoting the good bacteria our gut needs for optimal digestive health.
Examples of beneficial prebiotics include: barley, raw onions, oats, raw honey, and kiwifruit to name just a few. Consuming more of these can improve your digestion along with all the other myriad health benefits that are associated with that: better immune system function, decreased inflammation, balanced bowel PH, maintaining a healthy weight, and much more.
Now that you're armed with this knowledge, you can begin to implement some simple steps that will go a long way toward improving your overall health. Visit my web site to learn even more fascinating facts about your body's digestion and what you can do to optimize it.
Candice J Hughes is an enthusiastic researcher of digestive health and natural products. Her findings are available at http://www.prebiotic-supplements.com. If you have indigestion, bloating, acid reflux, constipation or other symptoms of poor digestive health, including conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Crohn's disease, visit http://www.prebiotic-supplements.com now to learn about the product Candice recommends.
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How to Grow an Eat-Worthy Placenta
Expecting mothers are often motivated to improve nutrition during pregnancy to promote good health in their developing babies. As word spreads about the natural wellness that comes from eating placenta, moms are not only motivated to grow a healthy placenta for the benefit of their developing baby, but also for the natural health and wellness they will receive from ingesting it in the postnatal period.
Whether the plan is to eat a placenta stew, a placenta smoothie, or placenta capsules, naturally moms want to know how to grow the healthiest placenta possible. Growing an eat-worthy placenta will provide mom nutritional benefits and will help ward off postpartum baby-blues which affects up to 80 percent of new mothers. What then should prospective and pregnant mothers eat?
The ancient Taoists in their development of ancient Chinese medicine over 3,000 years ago based their 'science' on centuries of keen observation. Like modern science today, they surmised that what the mother ate at the time of conception as well as during pregnancy affected the health and well-being of the adult.
The Basics - What's a Placenta?
Placentas are one of the main players during pregnancy. In fact, a pregnancy cannot continue without a healthy placenta. The placenta is an endocrine organ that is both genetically and biologically composed of two equal parts from the fetus and the mother. It grows along the lining of the uterus connected to the baby through the umbilical cord. It receives nutrients and oxygen and filters out any waste from the mother's blood before delivering the blood to the baby through the umbilical cord. The placenta also produces multiple hormones essential to the maintenance of pregnancy.
What not to eat
Sometimes it's easiest to talk about what not to eat first. Avoid as much processed or refined foods as possible. Avoid trans-fatty acids (e.g., hydrogenated oils), junk foods, commercial fried foods, sugar, white flour, soft drinks, caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes and all drugs.
What to eat
The most reliable directive a pregnant woman has is, in fact, her own appetite. A woman's intuition about what she should and should not eat is very perceptive and heightened during pregnancy. An inadequate diet can lead to a difficult pregnancy. Some pregnancy complications, such as toxemia/preeclampsia are nutrition related.
The best foods for preconception and for pregnancy are whole, natural, organic, nutrient-dense and easy to digest. To obtain such foods, an easy rule-of-thumb is to avoid the center aisles at the grocery store. This is where most of the packaged and processed foods are located. The perimeter of the store has the most whole, natural and nutrient-dense foods including meats, eggs, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. Buying organic and locally grown foods from farmer's markets in your area is ideal. Meats should be grass-fed, eggs should be free-range on open pasture without soy-based products in their feed, dairy products should be whole, full-fat and organic; and fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes should be organic.
For optimal digestibility of foods, a pregnant woman can benefit greatly from foods that are high in enzyme content as well as beneficial bacteria. This includes the tradition of soaking grains and legumes overnight as well as the inclusion of bone broths, sprouted grains and lacto-fermented grains, beverages and condiments in the diet.
Christina Gabbard, CPES AKA Carolina Placenta Lady, is a Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist Mentor serving health minded women who have an interest in the TCM properties of encapsulated placenta in the Charlotte, NC Metro Area and SC. She resides in Charlotte NC with her daughters and Yorkies.
Website: http://CarolinaPlacentaLady.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CarolinaPlacentaLady
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Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Holistic Approach to Healing and Wellness
Alternative medicine is based on the belief that the body and the brain can heal themselves and prevent illness. Alternative medicine focuses on the use of natural means to build up one's energy and immune system for wellness and prevention. Alternative medicine focuses on improving brain chemistry through natural means. It focuses on getting the body to take care of itself.
Alternative medicine is based on the premise that health is impacted by the energy body, the conscious and subconscious mind and the physical body. Thoughts, energy and emotions affect health. They impact the health of the body. Thoughts, energy and emotions drive physical reality toward disease or wellness. Disease or wellness then becomes a choice - much like happiness or unhappiness.
So, any approach to healing and prevention that does not deal with energy, thoughts and emotions will not prevent or heal disease.
Conventional medicine views s the individual as a physical machine. It uses pharmaceutical drugs and surgery to alter the mechanics of the physical body.
Alternative medicine views the individual as energy and consciousness connected to matter (the body). The cells and atoms that comprise the body are primarily empty space and energy. Alternative medicine provides that there is nothing solid about matter. There are particles in cells and atoms, but even these particles are essentially frozen energy.
Alternative medicine is based on Einstein's view of reality - i.e., that all is energy and consciousness. Conventional medicine is based on Newton's view of reality - ie., that solid objects are matter connected to each other through energy. Conventional medicine views the body as an elaborate, physical machine. Conventional medicine focuses on using synthetic means to manipulate the "machine" to make it function better.
Alternative medicine views the body as energy and consciousness first. It believes the body can heal and prevent illness by focusing on energy, lifestyle and thoughts. It looks to natural means to prevent and heal disease, because natural means interact better with energy and consciousness.
Many people live on pharmaceutical drugs. These substances are not natural. They are chemical compounds that often imitate natural ingredients found in plants. These drugs have many known and unknown side effects. They are not tested for use over long periods of time. They are not cross tested for how they interact with other drugs. For the most part, chemicals do not cure disease. They do help stabilize the symptoms of disease. But, there is a cost. They have known and unknown negative side effects.
Pharmaceutical drugs can be very helpful to jolt diseased bodies back on track. But, great care must be exercised before you live on them or use them in conjunction with other drugs.
Because they are chemicals, pharmaceutical drugs can be toxic. Alternative medicine focuses on natural, homeopathic remedies.
Alternative medicine gets to the root cause of disease. The goal of alternative medicine is to heal and prevent disease. The goal of conventional medicine is to treat the symptoms of disease.
Alternative medicine works with the energy body - i.e., the energy that infuses each cell of the body. It views the free flow of life force energy and oxygen through the body (through the bloodstream) as critical to good health. This requires us to reduce stress, achieve and maintain peace of mind and inner peace and raise one's vibrations. This requires inner peace, optimism and happiness. Techniques to achieve these mental and emotional states include Reiki, meditation, yoga, dance, exercise, massage and acupuncture. Good posture is also important. Good posture is critical to the flow of energy and oxygen throughout the body.
Alternative medicine views negative energy as the first cause of disease. Most negative energy comes from our own negative and rigid beliefs, negative thoughts and emotions. It comes from ego and from hurting and deceiving others (the energy we generate is the energy we get back).
Negative energy blockages and energy attachments prevent the free flow of life force energy in the body. They prevent the high vibrations needed for good health. So, it is necessary to remove these blockages and attachments. This requires meditation and visualization work. It requires us to live in balance and harmony and enjoy our lives. It requires us to reduce stress and avoid negative and toxic people and environments. It requires us to avoid conflict and drama and seek ongoing peace of mind and inner peace. It requires us to focus on what makes us feel positive and happy and not what gets us upset or stressed out. It requires us to focus on our blessings and not on problems and what we want or lack. It requires us to focus on the moment, on tasks and on the details of process and plans - not money, people or things.
Alternative medicine requires us to focus on a feeling of health and wellness and not illness. Alternative medicine works with the conscious and subconscious mind. Good health and prevention require positive and open beliefs and positive thoughts. This is achieved through meditation (especially directed or seed meditation that develops mental focus) along with mindfulness meditation, white light meditation and emptiness meditation.
The alternative approach teaches us to be mindful of our thoughts and emotions. It teaches us to move them from negative to positive. Negative thoughts lead to negative emotions, acts and speech. Negative and rigid beliefs lead to negative thoughts. So, we need to get rid of rigid and negative beliefs. We need to change our beliefs from negative to positive. Many rigid and negative beliefs are held at the subconscious level. They were adopted as part of our response to traumas and life experience. So subconscious and conscious beliefs must be changed to change thoughts and thought patterns. This will improve our mental and emotional state and our energy and reduce stress. We must let go of rigid beliefs and open our minds and hearts. Rigid beliefs lead to stress. The stress occurs when reality meets our beliefs. This is mental stress. It leads to thoughts, acts and speech that keep us in a state of stress.
Subconscious beliefs can be changed from negative beliefs to positive beliefs through positive affirmation exercises. Brain chemistry can be adjusted with sound, music, light, and color therapy. Alpha, beta, delta and theta brain wave meditation music with binaural beat will help improve brain chemistry. This will have a positive impact on physical and mental health.
Alternative medicine focuses on the need for nutrition for good health. Good nutrition consists of vitamins and minerals that replenish the body. Alternative medicine views food as medicine. The optimal diet in the alternative world is a high nutrient diet (mostly fresh, non-starchy vegetables and some fruit, berries, nuts and seeds). Fresh vegetables, fruit, berries, nuts and seeds have the fiber our bodies need as well. Some protein is fine, but animal protein should be limited. At least 80% of your diet should consist of whole, fresh vegetables, fruit, berries, nuts and seeds. Organic is best because it does not have as many chemicals in it. Non-organic (non-GMO) is OK. Fresh and raw is best to maximize consumption of nutrients. Lightly cooking and steaming vegetables is fine.
You can get protein from beans, legumes, eggs, fish and lean meat. For starch, eat whole grains, whole potatoes and whole yams along with whole grain pasta, because they contain fiber and nutrients (unlike refined grains - i.e., white bread, white rice, chips and white pasta). The alternative approach advocates that we do not eat prepared, packaged and junk foods. These foods contain toxins (chemical preservatives), sugar and sodium. They do not contain much nutrition or fiber. The alternative approach recommends that we greatly reduce our consumption of refined sugar and starches.
So, the alternative approach advocates that we focus on natural, whole food and greatly reduce our intake of chemicals.
A multi vitamin is good, but it is not enough to give you the vitamins and minerals you need for good health even if you are on a high nutrient diet. This is because the nutritional value of fresh and frozen vegetables, fruits and berries has been depleted. This is due to depletion of nutrients in the soil.
So, on a daily basis, take a multi vitamin, but fortify it with a large dose of additional vitamins including vitamin A, B-Complex (B-6 and B-12 and Folic Acid and Niacin especially), C, D (D3 especially), E and K.
Take trace minerals daily. You can get trace minerals in liquid form. Some of the essential trace minerals include iron, zinc, manganese, potassium, magnesium, copper, iodine, selenium, molybdenum, chromium, calcium, sulfur, cobalt, nickel, boron, beryllium, sodium, copper, tin, silicon, vanadium, fluorine.
Also, on a daily basis, take (i) antixoidants (Co Q 10, green tea and green tea extract and resveritrol are good), (ii) adatogens (such as cordyceps, reishi and shitaki mushrooms), astragalus, (iii) anti inflammatory supplements such as fish oil and (iv) protein/amino acid supplements. These will help prevent and repair the damage to your cells done by oxidation/free radicals and inflammation and help build more muscle tissue.
When your energy is low, take Echinacea and Asian Ginseng, Astragalus and Asian Mushrooms and Asian Mushroom supplements (i..e, reishi, cordyceps and shitaki mushrooms).
Drink plenty of filtered water. Some prescribe at least eight, eight ounce glasses of water per day. Many recommend that you boil and filter tap water before drinking it. This is because there are chemicals in tap water. The body needs exercise. So, get plenty of exercise. At the very least, walk two to three miles a day. When sitting for long periods, stretch your legs and body and get up and move around or exercise. This helps distribute oxygen and life force energy through your body.
Breathe more deeply and take a lot more deep breaths to draw the maximum amount of oxygen into your lungs.
Alternative medicine views nature as the primary source of prevention and healing. It focuses on reducing our consumption of chemicals and boosting our consumption of natural products such as food and herbs. This will help boost your energy and immune system to heal and prevent disease.
Herbs are natural. The alternative approach advocates the use of herbal supplements for good health and prevention. Herbal supplements help calm, balance and heal the body. They help boost one's energy and immune system. They help boost one's vibrations.
Michael E. Goldberg is a Reiki Master and Life coach and Author of The Road to Healing, Good Health and Wellness (available on Amazon.com, Kindle and Barnes and Noble.com), The End of Mood Disorders (available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com) and The Road to Happiness, available for free at http://www.theroad2happiness.com and the Facebook Page entitled The Road to Happiness.
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Kidney Cleanse Is Good For Your Health
Kidneys are vital to the body, and it's essential to keep them healthy. The kidneys have a very important job. They filter your blood to eliminate and cleanse it of any harmful substances. The kidneys additionally stimulate the formation of red blood cells, support regulate blood strain and keep hormones and electrolytes balanced.
There are a variety of homeopathic cleaning possibilities. Here are a few
Lemonadecranberry juiceHorsetaildandelion rootoat strawuva ursimarshmallow rootGinger rootcelery seedbuchusarsaparilla roothydrangea rootTea produced with corn silk can assist urine excretion from the kidneys
Parsley is outstanding for the kidneys. A cleansing tea will be produced from the leaves and the roots. Parsley seeds can assist in getting rid of kidney stones. Watermelon seeds can be brewed as a therapeutic tea, or you may eat an enormous amount of watermelon by itself.
Getting rid of all the unwanted chemical compounds, minerals and toxins in our our bodies is vital for sustaining happiness and wellness. When a cleanse is carried out it cleans all methods of the body and individuals started to actually really feel so much better!
Even although are our bodies are designed to excrete many toxins, some they simply can not. A kidney cleanse can help get rid of toxins that get into fatty tissue area's of our body!
Cleansing your kidneys will eliminate calcium deposits, eradicate unseen infections, and some have even observed reductions in blood pressure. Just like a liver cleanse or colon cleanse, a kidney cleanse is developed to remove toxins from the body, and by dissolving the dangerous kidney stones so the urinary tract can operate like it's suppose to and carry out waste properly, this is vital to keeping healthy and having the kidney's function properly!
A kidney cleanse can also boost your skin's texture and your total complexion. Purifying the blood is wonderful for the heart and your blood pressure!
We tend to do a kidney cleanse twice a year. Some cleanses work very quickly depending on what what you choose to do. There are couple of unfavorable effects from a kidney cleanse. You may experience some fatigue and very light dizziness maybe even a little bloating. All of this is quite normal when doing a cleanse. This is why it's important to do a cleanse when you have plenty of time to relax. If you do get any of these symptoms they are usually short lived.
Before you start and type of cleanse it's a good idea to ask you doctor or health care provider if it's OK for you to do.
To learn more about Kidney Diet simply visit our Kidney Diet Website
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Monday, November 7, 2011
Remedies for Leaky Gut Syndrome
No matter how the symptoms may be seriously affecting you physically, emotionally and psychologically there is still hope and . These remedies are all natural and risk free when applied cautiously. You need to make sure that the remedies will not negatively interact with any other conditions you may have. Therefore talk to your doctor first if you have other conditions or are taking any medications. The body detoxification process is also well known as cleansing, purifying, etc. It is vitally importance for every curing and prevention program to wash away the toxins in your body before actually entering any medication or diets. Leaky gut syndrome started when your body took in too many toxins and other substances that are very harmful to the body. It is now time to cleanse and take out all that poison inside you and make you healthy. You can start your body detoxification by following these steps, bowel cleanse (parasite cleanse), dental cleaning, kidney cleanse and liver cleanse. These cleansings can be accomplished by having a detoxifying diet and seeing your dentist twice a year for regular cleanings. This is an all natural diet that can be followed easily.
A detoxifying diet is not expensive and not risky thus it is a very healthy way of cleansing your body. Physical activity and healthy eating improves the function of the organs in the body. It also helps enhance immunity, vigor and stamina. When you are physically occupied by exercise, sports and other hobbies, you are performing a needed activity for your body and it also relieves stress, pressure and deterioration of your body and mind.
Meditation doesn't require you to learn fancy ways in diverting your mind. You can do this on your own without depending much on other techniques like yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Etc. Meditation is achieved when you are focusing your thoughts to hope, love, peace and thankfulness while exercising proper breathing techniques. A free hour alone and a silent room with mild and soothing music playing softly is all you need. If you don't have an hour than make it 30, 20 or even 15 minutes but please do it and you may get hooked on it. Be yourself and allow your mind to let go of its negative thoughts by concentrating on the good things in your life no matter how small. Meditation can also be achieved spiritually. Get in touch with your higher power and allow your spirit to be lifted up. If you believe in God or you are part of a religious group it will be best to reconnect with your faith or belief but that is not necessary. Find comfort by releasing your negative thoughts and negative energy by following your spiritual guidance.
A very important factor in facing a condition is finding other people who are experiencing the same circumstances. The internet is a vast universe of communication in finding groups and people with like interest. You can find a forum where you can join and interact with other people who have gone or are still going through the same things that you are. This will enhance your awareness and knowledge about your own condition. It will also serve as your support system.
To know how to avoid Leaky Gut Syndrome, read more free articles at my website: http://www.leakygutscures.com/.
Find out more about detox at my site http://www.detoxifydiets.org/.
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Some Herbs Help Your Kidneys
Kidney disease is a serious health problem, but there are some things you can do to help yourself. While prevention is always better, once your are suffering from kidney disease, it is important to do all you can to retain kidney function, and if possible, improve your kidneys health.There are several herbal treatments available, so let's take a look at some of the best ones.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Spinoza For Therapists - Part Two - Adequate Explanations of Craniosacral Therapy
Fiona is finishing up her certification as a craniosacral therapist. She has completed three 3-day trainings from a teacher named Karma. To be certified, Fiona needs to do a number of sessions and write up the results. I volunteered to receive a few sessions. Fiona has given me five craniosacral sessions in the last three months.
Definitions:
Craniosacral is a technique where the therapist is guided by, and assists, the cranial motion coming from the recipient's body. The therapist places her hands very gently on the patient; not the full weight of her hands but about the weight of a nickel. Her hands cover a joint, feeling the bones on either side of the joint, in order to detect motion at that joint's hinge. Before any therapy is done, the therapist must sense how the body is moving on its own.
Cranial Motion is the very slow motion of the body. You can't see cranial motion because the motion is very small and weak. But a patient practitioner can feel it. It feels like a boat floating in calm water near the dock. If you had one hand on the boat and one on the dock, at first you would think they are together. But soon your hands would note the subtle differences-the boat is moving in relation to the dock.
Normal cranial motionis when the body is moving in a normal rhythm; say, every twenty seconds flexing, then for twenty seconds extending. When the therapist finds a joint in normal cranial motion, she knows nothing needs to be done here.
Pathological cranial motion is when a joint flexes more than it extends, or it flexes away from neutral but stops there.
Craniosacral Therapy is simply to assist the joint in the pathological direction. This assistance uses no more force than the weight of a nickel. Then she patiently waits.
Stillpoint is the duration of time in which the recipient's body is not cranially moving. In a minute, more or less, the body responds to her assistance, perhaps first with a muscle twitch, then by resuming cranial motion back toward neutral.
Though I don't teach craniosacral, Fiona has attended some of my muscle therapy classes where I refer to cranial motion. Fiona probably considered me a competent craniosacral practitioner, so she was anxious to share her concerns with me.
I worry that I don't get it, Fiona told me after each of the first three sessions. I just don't feel what the craniosacral teachers tell me I should be feeling. Is it me? I don't feel the wave. Am I just dumb? Or are they teaching a bunch of unnecessary complexities that don't really help people heal? Is the way I'm doing it healing? And what is healing, anyway?
These are good questions, I told her. I said that her sessions feel very much like the sessions of her teacher, Karma. I had received one session from Karma only a couple of months prior to Fiona's, so I had a good basis of comparison. I said I felt similar results to those of her teacher-peacefulness, happy floating, ease of mind. She thanked me for the feedback but the next time I'd see her, she'd have the same worries.
How does craniosacral work? Since 1930 craniosacral has been presented as a hydraulic model. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is created in the ventricles of the brain. The cranial bones squish the fluid, which is pumped under pressure to all parts of the spinal column, to account for motions that can be felt as far as the sacrum. Hence the name, cranial-to-sacrum. Later practitioners noticed that cranial motion can be felt in the feet as easily as the sacrum. How does the motion get to the feet? The fluid is pumped through microtubules in the connective tissue, is the standard answer. This is the model I was given when I took my craniosacral training in 1995.
But the hydraulic model is inadequate, a word Spinoza uses to say, it does not explain the results. I have operated many hydraulic machines including backhoes and zoom-boom forklifts. I have worked on many hydraulic systems including brake master and slave cylinders and Datsun 280z clutches. Here are a few reasons why the hydraulic model cannot explain cranial motion:
CSF is water based. Water can never be allowed in a hydraulic system because it compresses. If even a teaspoon of water gets into your brake lines, they dramatically fail.
micro-tubules of connective tissue would never do as hydraulic lines. a) they are flexible, b) there are multiple paths, c) there would be too much heat from the constant friction, d) the system is not sealed but new fluid is always being secreted in and old fluid is filtering out.
the human body has no master cylinder. There is nothing like a stainless steel cylinder with a steel plunger in the brain. It's all soft. Any pressure in the ventricles would press equally outward into the brain.
If the head were designed as a pressure pump, it would be obvious, like a heart. You'd see circular muscles around the head to squeeze it into a smaller volume, or a big hinge somewhere. Whether the bones of the skull articulate is still a matter of debate.
cranial motion would be weaker or nonexistent at the feet, since the fluid must travel through miles of flexible tubules to reach the feet, but in fact therapists can feel the motion at the feet just as easily and strongly as at the head.
Cranial motion simply cannot be caused or explained by hydraulic fluid under pressure.
Since I learned craniosacral sixteen years ago, the technique has come under scrutiny. A nonprofit organization called Quackwatch warns consumers to steer clear, citing evidence that there is no physical model. But even without a physical model, craniosacral is still taught today.
If you ask a large number of massage therapists today what craniosacral is (as I have), most will say it is energy work. Energy work is a broad category of therapies that involve the aura, the chakras, chi, ki, prana, the spirit, the soul, or other intangible influences. Current scientific methods cannot detect or measure any of these energies. Nor does science care to try. Science views energy work sort of like fortune telling. It's just so silly, in their view, there is no point in trying to prove it wrong. Craniosacral today is mostly taught as an intangible, unmeasurable, undetectable influence.
The benefit of an intangible model to craniosacral therapist is that they are now left alone. While craniosacral operated under a physical model, it counted as something that needed proof. But when craniosacral is presented as energy work, it avoids the peer-review that a physical model would have to undergo.
Perhaps this situation is well enough and I should leave it alone. But Fiona's complaints rekindle my own concerns. In her classes, Karma teaches that craniosacral is an energy technique. To do it, the giver vibrates her chakras in a specific way. Soon the recipient's chakras resonate in the same way. An hour of this is very healing. That's the model. I have received a session from Karma and I can testify that it feels really good. And I have spoken with many others who have learned and received from her, who all hold Karma in very high esteem. What's wrong with Fiona?
As I explained in part one of this series, Spinoza taught us that physical phenomena may adequately explained only by other physical phenomena. Teachers who say craniosacral's effects are caused by undetectable, unmeasurable influences, can make no claims that measurable changes occur to the body. In fact, when I received from Karma, she never said my body changed, but my energy. I think Karma would be fine with the idea that what she does has effects that are undetectable and unmeasurable. She does not see craniosacral as something that affects the bones and joints and fluids of the body. And so she is congruent with the model she believes in. Spinoza would approve of her practice....with one slight modification. If the energies manipulated have no weight, mass, or any other measurable qualities, then it is unnecessary for physical hands to touch a physical body. Nor waving the hands above the body, or any other instruments that can be seen, felt, heard, smelled, or measured. Hands are physical quantities. The hands' touches have measurable force and direction and duration. Therefore, practitioners who explain craniosacral as work with undetectable influences, would be true to their word by doing their work without touching the body.
I bet Karma can do her style of energy-craniosacral without her hands. I bet if you asked her why she uses her hands, she'd say it is for the benefit of the recipient, who would be freaked out if she didn't. Also the recipient would wonder why he had to pay for something that the giver didn't actually do. This sounds like it is in the client's best interest but it also promotes beliefs that are not accurate.
(Spinoza and I will examine the difference between energy healing and physical healing in the next essay in this series.)
Karma's way is not a problem. The reason craniosacral is listed on Quackwatch is the claim of changing the body. It's the therapists who claim craniosacral realigns the bones, balances the joints, restores circulation of fluids, restores nerve conduction, and other physical effects. Spinoza and Quackwatch agree that physical effects demand physical explanations.
Just because the hydraulic model did not work out, does not mean that no physical model is adequate. We just need a better physical model. I am one who believes the bones do move; that we therapists are actually feeling measurable movement that originates in the recipient's body. I could be wrong about that. Still, let's trudge on.
An All-Physical Model of Cranial Motion
Before I tell you my idea for a physical model, I'd like to remind you of a game you might have played as a kid, called the ouiji board. It had only two parts: a hard board like a chess board, which had the alphabet printed on its face, and a hard disc with a cutout in the center. You also kept a pencil and paper nearby. Players asked the board a question, then together they put their hands on the hard disc, expecting it to spell out an answer. The disc began to slowly move around the board... When the disc moved over a letter and stopped there, you wrote down the letter that was circled by the disc. Anticipation grew as letters spelled out sentences. The sentences were surprising because they seemed to contain knowledge that none of the players were aware of.
How did it work? None of the players were deliberately controlling the disc. Is it powered by an invisible being or a ghost? Note the models proposed are unmeasurable and undetectable.
Could it be that the players' brains move the players' hands without their minds being aware of this? Brains do move hands. Brains send electrochemical signals down the motor nerves, and these contract and relax various muscles in the arms and hands. Brains move hands. Brains know where to stop the hands over the letters, because brains sense the photons coming in through the eyes and coordinate this estimated position with muscle firing. Spinoza reminds us that minds are not aware of what the brains are doing. Or more accurately, minds have their own sequence of events, and brains have their own sequence of events, and all you can say is, they both have the same number of events in their sequences. Minds are not aware of sensory nerves arriving from muscles, nor of motor nerve signals going out to muscles. To the mind, all that is machine language, which it does not speak.
Now let's return to cranial motion.
A fellow lies on the soft massage table. The craniosacral practitioner walks around to the foot-end of the table and gently cups her hands under his heels. (You could try this at home and I bet you would feel it). She closes her eyes in order to amplify the sensations in her hands. She takes a deep breath and relaxes, so she can discern her own fidgeting from his gentle motions. Soon enough she can feel both of his feet twisting ever so gently outward, or duck-footed, in unison. Then she feels the feet turning pigeon-toed for a time. She feels this normal inward-outward pattern for a minute, and thinks to herself, normal cranial motion. But a minute later she realizes the two legs are not quite synchronized. She realizes his left leg's rhythm turns further outwardly, and less far inwardly. Then she feels his left leg turn outwardly then stop. Pathological cranial motion, she thinks. She opens her eyes, looks down at his feet. His right foot is definitely turned further duck-ward than his right foot.
Could this difference in position be caused by his brain? Could his brain be firing the gemelli and obturator muscles more on his left? Yes, very likely.
Muscles are the new model for cranial motion.
It wouldn't be difficult to measure. Experimenters would need a few things; an EEG machine capable of discerning small differences in motor signal traveling from the brain to the muscle, and ways to measure joint angle and muscle contraction force-little protractors and spring scales. It would be easiest to detect with a very big strong muscle pair like the knee flexors and extensors of a hurdler. If she were floating in water and sleeping, or in antigravity at the International Space Station, you might even see the motion with the naked eye. I predict that the angle detectors will prove each knee slightly bend and slightly extend in rhythms that make nice sine-wave graphs. And that corresponding variance will be found in the muscle contraction forces on the little springs, and in signals sent to the muscles down the motor nerves. This will prove cranial motion is purposely sent by the brain and enacted by the muscles.
But why?
Why would the brain vary muscle contraction in regular patterns? I can think of two good reasons. The most obvious is to circulate fluids. Another reason might be to keep an up-to-date map of all the angles of all the joints in the body, even during sleep, so that if it needed to fight or flee, it would be able to quickly and accurately leap up, kick, punch and run. This function would increase survival of animals, which means we should be able to trace normal cranial muscle motion in other primates, other mammals, and perhaps in birds and reptiles--anyone with a brain, muscles, and joints could be tested.
Testing might also clear up pathological cranial motion. Experiments could measure differences on the left and right sides, and differences in antagonist muscle pairs (flexors and extensors). Perhaps the right leg moves further in flexion. Why? Either the brain actually sends more signal to the right hamstrings (my bet) or the signal is the same but the muscles act differently. The next two paragraphs explore both options.
If it is muscle that causes pathological motion, why would it do so? Perhaps its annulospiral receptors are functioning poorly. These proprioceptors compare signal coming from the brain with actual contraction in the muscle, and report the difference back to the brain. The brain needs this information to keep the body safe, for example, by calculating how much signal will be needed to safely walk up and down stairs. Perhaps the increased contraction in the flexors is because of over-exaggerating annulospiral receptors in the flexors, or because of underreporting annulospiral receptors in the extensors. To prove this model, we'll need the EMGs not only on the motor nerves but also on the sensory nerves from annulospiral receptors headed up toward the brain. We'll need to see how accurately the annulospiral receptors are correlating the downward signals with the joint angle and the muscle tension. Treatment might include pressing on these muscle receptors.
If it is the brain that causes pathological motion, why would it do so? Perhaps it is simply displaying its guarding map. Guarding is when the brain increases its signal to a muscle, and the muscle contracts day and night, in order to protect something. Any region that reports pain or endangered joints to the brain, the brain will necessarily react by guarding the nearby muscles. Muscle guarding increases survival of species, for example, by allowing someone with a sprained ankle to amble back to safety. Muscle guarding is seen in all animals. My bet is that pathological cranial motion is simply the increased contraction of muscles the brain judges to require guarding. In this case it is not the muscle that needs help, but the brain needs help to change its guarding map. This is accomplished with a safe practitioner, holding the joint safely in a position that is not triggering any danger proprioception, for long enough for the brain to recalculate what is now the safest setting for the muscle. When the brain does change its calculation, the practitioner feels this as motion, return toward neutral balance.
I could be wrong. Spinoza inspired me to invent a physical model for physical movement. If all this research finds no correlation of motor signals with cranial motion, that's okay. Spinoza will urge someone else to come up with a better physical model. We are certain there exists a physically measurable explanation.
Now that I have a physical model I can believe in, I find several very welcome consequences. Recipients feel more satisfied with their measurable results. I feel more satisfied with the measurable physical results. I feel more confident having an all-physical model for explaining what I am doing. Recipients feel more comfortable and safe having an understandable, all-physical model being applied to their bodies.
If you're with me this far, would you help me in changing the term "cranial motion" to one I have just coined for this article; brainial motion:
Brainial motion is the slight, but measurable variance in motor signals the brain sends to the muscles. This variance causes the muscles to slightly contract more and less, which makes all the joints of the body slightly open and close.
Normal brainial motion is a rhythmic variance in flexors and extensors.
Pathological brainial motion is when the brain has been triggered to guard a particular region of the body. Pathological brainial motion provides a diagnostic tool. The direction of motion implicates a particular muscle that is contracting more than its neighbors.
Branial therapy is simple; helping the joint move in the same direction of the guarding, shortens the contracting muscle. In the shortened position, the annulospiral receptors report the safest signals back to the brain. The brain is then most likely to change the signal to contract less.
Three weeks ago Fiona attended an upper level craniosacral class from Karma's teacher, Dr. Randy. He had flown from another state to teach here. The following Friday Fiona and I met for another session, and she looked confident and relaxed. Unlike previous sessions, she did not need to talk before we started. That made me curious and I asked how her class went.
I went up to Dr. Randy during the first break, she said,and told him my concern--that I don't feel what I am supposed to feel, according to his book. He said to ignore the book! He wrote it twelve years ago and he doesn't do it that way anymore himself. I was mad! At first, anyway. I told him I do not feel the wave, but instead I see these stories with me and the recipient always going places. He said that is fine. Now he teaches that it's all about being present with people.
I nodded and smiled. When she worked on me that day, I felt that she was more present. His class helped her. Fiona was even more present in last Friday's session.
Dr. Randy erased Fiona's anxieties. How? By removing the inadequate model. The oddest thing is, he didn't replace it with a new model. He taught that all you have to do is be present with the recipient. And having received her treatments, I can vouch that it does feel better than when she was struggling with inadequate models. I would go back to her.
Fiona told me that at the end of Randy's class, the other students asked when he would be coming back. Why do I need to come back, he asked. He must have felt that, now that he told them presence was all they needed to know, there was nothing more to teach. Fiona agreed. She seems content without a model. As long as she makes no claims about physical results, she is safe from the complaints of Quackwatch.
Conclusion:
Therapists advertising a nonphysical model are most truthful when they use nonphysical means to apply their nonphysical influences to the nonphysical attributes of the person. Therapists advertising bodywork are most truthful when they work within an all-physical model. Strangely enough, some therapists can get by with no model.
Patrick Moore, L.M.T., B.A. (math) is a teacher, curriculum developer, novelist, poet, photographer, inventor, lifecoach, and massage therapist
In 2001 Patrick rediscovered a technique that is now called, "Melting Muscles," which you can see at http://meltingmuscles.com Specializing in the brain-muscle connection, he continues to develop fresh technique, publish new perspectives, and maintain a small healing practice in Tucson.
As an NCBTMB educator, he offers 43 innovative workshops for credit.
His articles have appeared in Massage & Bodywork magazine and Massage Therapy Journal.
Patrick has been receiving training from Stephen Bruno since 1996.
Married to author Traci Moore
In his spare time Patrick reads Presocratics, Plato, Cicero, Euclid, Augustine, Boethius, Gerbert of Aurillac, Aquinas, Copernicus, Bruno, Spinoza, Franklin, Poe, and Wells.
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Advances In Cognitive Therapy
Normally, people love to be engulfed, surrounded, and entertained by words used in stories, speaking, and tales expressed in books. That is why advertising and the media are such booming industries. That is why people read newspapers, and why people love reading about stories they've experienced themselves. And the more the person can become a confident story teller, the more people will become attracted to that voice, that personality, that therapist, or that entertainer.
Words, when delivered positively, are the life-blood of communication! When things feel positive, everything falls into place. The sounds of a ticking clock, metronome, musical instrument, animal call, running water, ocean waves, and singing voices, are all very effective means of soothing us. All these sounds have the ability of summoning the capabilities of the subconscious mind. A great example of this is when a mother sings her child to sleep. The short, soothing song, classified as a "lullaby" has pacified many a baby to the point of falling asleep in its mother's arms.
Reprogramming The Subconscious Mind:
Holding The Elephant Captive - In a sense, our minds can hold us captive. Because of conditioning, our beliefs can become set, depriving us of all hope, of even attempting to change our ways. Conditioning can go both ways - it can either hold us captive, or it can release us from our bondage. And one way to become released from bondage is to practice repetition so positive, that the mind will come to believe it is so.
When wild elephants are captured in Africa they are fenced off and left there for a certain period of time. After a form of brainwashing, they become tamed. Then, upon being taken to a circus, for example, they are shackled to the ground by one leg for long periods. In time, they grow accustomed to it, with the understanding and acceptance that they cannot break loose from the chain that held them for so long. Through repetition, they come to believe they cannot escape their bondage. Weighing in at several tons, it is obvious to anyone, that with one simple tug the elephant could be off and running. But these elephants don't know this - they have become conditioned to believe it is not possible, so they give up trying. And so, we too, tend to give up when things seem fruitless - when we cannot seem to break away from the chain that binds us. That chain can be broken; the chain that holds us down is our belief system.
Edward J Longo - Board Certified Hypnotherapist
503 East 78th Street
New York, New York 10075
Cell phone: 212-737-8538
AUTHOR: http://WWW.AFFINITYZONE.COM
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Saturday, November 5, 2011
The Top 3 Herbal Yeast Infection Remedies
TThe fungus known as candida is a stubborn sort. Million of U.S. citizens visit the doctor every year in an effort to alleviate the itching, burning, and rashes that result from yeast infections.
Rightfully so, it is always a great idea to visit a physician with health concerns. They know what has been giving you difficulty, and do a great job of knowing what will work well with your body's chemistry and current medications. That said, be sure to ask about these remedies at your visit if you suspect you have a candida infection. Herbs are like medicines in and of themselves, and it might surprise you how well they fight off infection and save you from your suffering.
Black Walnut. When candida takes root in the digestive system a common side effect is constipation. Black walnut is a mild laxative that not only knocks out a fungal infection, but also serves as a powerful agent against parasites. This herb should not be used regularly as a preventative measure as it is extremely strong. However, compared to an unstoppable internal candida infection, it is valuable to know that black walnut makes an unstoppable adversary. Brew this as a tea, and take internally or use in the bath. Note that this herb has a black quality that stains easily, make sure it does not stain your tub by diluting it heavily.
Geranium. As an essential oil, geranium does a whole lot more than smell like fresh cut flowers. Its antifungal properties make it an exceptional topical solution to fight yeast infections. Adding one drop of geranium oil per ounce of carrier oil or aloe is a great start. The strong fragrance from even one drop illustrates how strong the antifungal properties are of the herb. With any essential oil, be sure it is properly diluted as a concentration is too strong it can absorb into the bloodstream having negative effects on your internal organs. Used in moderation, however, the medicinal effects are miraculous.
Lavender. This herb has the amazing quality of being harsh on ailments and gentle on the human body. In the world of alternative medicine, lavender is considered to be one of the safest essential oils to use. Three drops for every ounce of carrier oil or aloe can have amazing effects for combating candida. Apply to the problem area, and within hours symptoms begin to subside. Within days the infection is greatly reduced. Using loose lavender blooms as a tea is beneficial to the digestive system and works to alleviate fungal, viral, and bacterial invasions.
Suzanne Graham is the owner and operator of the Yeast Infection Cure Center. She has been an avid alternative medicine enthusiast for over 15 years.
Learn more, click: herbal yeast infection remedies.
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12 Benefits of Practicing Qigong on Daily Basis
Qigong is an ancient Chinese system of exercises and meditation that many people have experienced a more tranquil mind and spirit. It can improve performance in sports, and cultivates health, well-being, and long life. This was inspired by ancient Chinese shamans, Taoists, and Buddhists; all who were seek harmony and peace with nature. T
here are three major types of Qigong consisting of spiritual, sports, and healing. Evidence has shown that Qigong may be an effect in the treatment of many illnesses including cancer and heart disease. There are a remarkable twelve benefits of Qigong and as follows.
1) Well-being and improved health. Qigong emphasizes the whole body, a true whole system of health. This system has been to cure specific ailments; this is not the primary reason for practice. It is not only about adding years to your life, but adding life to your years.
2) Clear and tranquil mind. When your mind is at peace, the whole universe seems to be at peace. It's about finding a peaceful heart and soul which begins internally. Other people will notice your presence and wish to know more. If you have a tranquil mind, you will make better decisions and have the skill to know when to act and when to be still.
3) Deeper and more restorative sleep. Qigong will help you find the sleep relaxation that is necessary for a quiet sleep.
4) Increased energy, including sexual vitality and fertility. Qigong can give you more energy and restore youthfulness.
5) Comfortable warmth. Qigong is excellent for cold hands and feet. Your circulation improves and the body will generate more internal warmth when it is cold.
6) Clear skin. The skin can become clearer because Qigong helps eliminate the toxins stored in the body.
7) Happier attitude. Practicing correct and moderate Qigong usually creates an optimistic and joyous character. 8) More efficient metabolism. Digestion improves. Hair and Nails will grow more quickly.
9) Greater control over one's body. This entails that aspects of the body that were imbalanced will begin to normalize again. For example breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and hormone levels will feel more in control.
10) Vibrant eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul and if one is at peace and heart is open, the reflection will be seen by others.
11) Intuition and creativity. Qigong will awaken the brain and being, this will promote the ability to think with the gut and to feel with mind. All this will generate intuition and creativity.
12) Spiritual effects. As you become more advanced in Qigong a variety of spiritual experiences will become more common, such as meaningful coincidences. When the Qi (Chi - energy) is abundant, clear, and flowing, the senses are more in tune with the universe.
Any of those twelve will benefit your life in a manner that you did not anticipate or thought possible before. In our busy, post-recession and stressful world, having a way to calm down your mind, ease stress, think clearer and make decisions on thoughtful and less emotional way is something that will decide simple things like how much money you bring in, how successful you are at your job and in marriage or relationship, and most importantly, how healthy are you.
Qigong will improve your health and this one is most important of all, since having a healthy body will allow you to have all the other things in your life.
For more questions please ask Irina Benoitt:
Friday, November 4, 2011
What Is Hypnotherapy and What Does It Do?
Hypnosis, also known as neuro-hypnotism, is an ancient technique that is used to induce some effect on a person through suggestibility. The hypnotist uses a mixture of mental power and conversational technique to influence choices and perception of the person being hypnotized. This influence over the subject can be used for various purposes like helping to cure a disease or removing anxiety and panic disorders.
The process using hypnosis for treatment is known as hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is an unique treatment that has the potential to help a person achieve control over their mental and physical functions while uncovering unknown qualities in their personality. The person being hypnotized, or subject as he is commonly called, is introduced into a state of such extreme awareness and focus that they become completely oblivious to their surroundings; but they are completely aware of the practitioner's suggestions. The practitioner then utilizes this influence to guide the subject's focus in the right direction which can cure various mental trauma and diseases.
Hypnosis therapy can be done on its own or in relation with other type of treatments such as psychotherapy. During the process, the hypnotherapist makes contact with the subconscious mind of the subject and unleashes the hidden thoughts, ideas and abilities of the person. While the conscious mind is unaware of its surroundings, the subconscious mind opens up to new suggestions and ideas; hence the practitioner can suggest to the subject to create some new perceptions, ideas or memory.
This power of suggestion is such that it can not only cure a person of age-old habits, mental trauma and phobias but also remove unpleasant bits of memory from the mind hence helping to alter perception and opinion. People with anxiety, disorders, depression, stress and compulsive behavior have been treated by using hypnotherapy. Sometimes hypnotherapy is used only to judge or analyze the reason of a particular habit or disorder; while the treatment for the disorder is done by using conventional psychological treatment.
In this modern age the field of hypnotherapy has developed into a proper technique known as clinical hypnotherapy which is a completely regulated and certified treatment procedure. The hypnotherapy practitioners are trained, licensed or certified by government regulated standards and institutions. Schools, licensing and other regulators get input from psychiatrists and clinical psychologists.
Research about this therapy is being done by certified clinical hypnotherapists throughout the world and is producing amazing results and advancements. At the George Washington University Medical Center there is a Center for Integrative Medicine which offers hypnotherapy for its patients under supervision of trained and certified therapists. It also conducts research in the field of hypnotherapy. Nearly all hypnotherapists are required to complete a medical degree after which they can choose to pursue hypnosis certification for further studies. Hence majority of the hypnotherapists in USA are doctors and nurses; or have had proper medical education from an accredited institution.
There are numerous hypnotherapy training institutes throughout the world that offer certified training courses for hypnotherapists. To name a few some internationally well renowned hypnotherapy training institutes are 'HTI' and 'UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy' in the UK, Hypnosis Motivation Institute and ' Colorado Coaching and Hypnotherapy Training Institute' in USA. All of these institutions offer completely certified hypnotherapy training courses, diplomas and workshops.
In 1980 the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners was formed which regulates and standardizes the quality of hypnotherapy education in the institutions. Some institutions accredited through them are Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Arizona, Hypnosis Career College in California and Hypnosis Institute International in Georgia. If you are looking for a hypnotherapist in the USA, contact the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis on their website http://www.asch.net.
There's more great information about hypnotherapy including hypnosis therapy for weight loss at http://www.GoodAlternativeMedicines.com. There are additional articles about alternative medicine treatments on that blog.
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Your Cure Has Been Discovered: Coconut Oil Candida Cure
It seems like you're always sick these days. It started off when you got a cold and went to your doctor. After a cycle of antibiotics you feel better for a short time, only to discover days later that you have developed a case of candida that just won't go away.
Unfortunately, antibiotics are a key culprit for enabling yeast infections as they kill off much of the helpful bacteria with the bad. This can result in an imbalance where harmful yeast and bacteria can be introduced into your skin and tissue. So your sneeze might be gone, but now you have itching, redness, and burning to worry about.
Coconut oil use is on the rise and for good reason: it has been found to be a miracle cure for candida, fighting off harmful yeast and bacteria inside and outside the body. Even better, it seems that this oil does not harm the healthy bacteria found in the vagina, mouth and digestive system. This is great news, as it can actually help restore the natural balance of the human body and prevent future infections.
Be sure to purchase extra virgin coconut oil. Some companies add hydrogenated oil to extend shelf life and save money, but hydrogenated oils are harmful to the human body and prolonged use can cause weigh gain.
On the other hand, extra virgin coconut oil actually can reduce excess weight in the body by stimulating your metabolism. In fact, this oil has been found to balance thyroid function and boost your immune system making you stronger and healthier than ever before.
Begin with two teaspoons of oil per day and gradually work your way up to four tablespoons per day. Please be aware that you should not consume coconut oil for any reason if you are allergic to it. Discuss all home remedies with your physician first.
Keep in mind that yeast goes through a "dying off" phase in which it releases toxins into your body during the process of it's demise. This can cause you to feel generally ill, with anything from a simple headache to diarrhea or flu-like symptoms.
If you start to experience "die-off" reduce or stop taking coconut oil all together. Bear in mind that with any of the internal yeast infection cures out there, you will experience a "dying-off" reaction. It seems to be an unfortunate part of the process of eliminating yeast contamination inside the human body.
Of course when you apply coconut oil topically, you should not experience any type of side effect, other than the yeast visibly going away, and the healing of your skin. Coconut oil dissolves the cell walls of yeast and harmful bacteria causing it to weaken and eventually disappear, while your tissue remains intact and revitalized.
Suzanne Graham is the owner and operator of the Yeast Infection Cure Center. She has been an avid alternative medicine enthusiast for over 15 years.
Learn more about curing yeast infections and coconut oil.
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Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy can help many conditions through the release of restrictions (or limited movements) found throughout the body. These restrictions can be created by physical, emotional, and mental factors and result in an imbalance in the craniosacral rhythm. Because our mental and physical bodies are connected, supporting a release in the physical body can affect the mental sphere and vice versa. For instance, many people who have depression may have restrictions in their sphenoid bone, the butterfly-shaped cranial bone. Upon releasing the sphenoid restrictions, their depressive symptoms may start to lift. Other physical conditions, such as migraines or headaches, may be caused by restrictions in the sphenoid and other cranial bones such as the frontal, occipital, parietal, and or temporal bones. Ringing in the ears or vertigo may also be caused by restrictions of different cranial bones such as the occipital, temporal, and parietal bones and can decrease after treatments. Many other conditions are caused by different restrictions and can be helped through craniosacral therapy, including sinus problems, TMJ syndrome, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, chronic pain, and more.
The cranial rhythm is a very subtle rhythm that can be felt by a practitioner in a place of near stillness or meditation. The rate is generally around 6-10 cycles per minute, and in a healthy person, the rhythm is wide and balanced on both sides of the body. Fascia, a dense, fibrous tissue, surrounds all bones, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, connecting the whole body together. Because the body is connected, an even rhythm should be felt in the paired bones in all areas of the body. Due to the mind and body being connected, both physical and mental symptoms can manifest in restrictions in this rhythm. This can be felt by the practitioner as an imbalance - a bone on one side of the body may be moving less than the bone on the opposite side, or a bone may be moving in a different direction than the opposite bone. Upon feeling this restriction, the practitioner can gently help guide a person's body back into balance and resynchronize the rhythm. With bringing balance back to the body, a person's mental or physical symptoms can be relieved.
During a treatment, people can experience different releases from their restrictions that can be physical or mental-emotional when their body is brought back into balance. Physical sensations may include warmth or a change in breathing when a restriction is released. Emotional releases may also be experienced, with different emotions bubbling to the surface and resolving as physical imbalances are corrected. Following the treatment, people are usually very relaxed, have less pain, have a greater sense of wellbeing, and sleep better at night. In general, craniosacral therapy is very helpful for a variety of conditions by releasing different tensions, increasing relaxation and circulation, and helping people reconnect with themselves.
Dr. Corrine Wang is a licensed Naturopathic doctor that graduated from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. As a Naturopathic doctor, she is committed to assisting others achieve balance and wellness in their lives. She believes in treating the whole person and supports each individual's healing process with the most effective, least invasive methods possible. Dr. Wang treats a variety of conditions using therapies that include clinical nutrition and dietary therapy, herbal and nutritional supplements, homeopathy, detoxification, and physical medicine including craniosacral therapy. She believes in mind-body medicine and supporting mental health along with physical health and also has experience with biofeedback, meditation, and other counseling techniques. She has a practice at Pacific Naturopathic in Mountain View. To learn more about Dr. Wang and how she can be of service, please visit her website at http://www.drcorrinewang.com.
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Benefits of Drinking Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass juice has been a popular method for improving health and vitality for over 30 years. The have recently become well known, making it popular for some time now. As the name suggests, wheatgrass is a wheat grass. Putting the grass through a juicer or the juice in a smoothie is so much fun and outrageously healthy!
Wheatgrass can often be purchased in small containers at organic grocery stores or local farmers markets, but anybody who really gets a kick out of wheatgrass should give growing it at home a go!
Anybody who wants to try wheatgrass easily can if they have a juicer, by taking a trip to their local store and purchasing a mini-flat of it, or by visiting their local juice bar. The method for extracting the juice is the same.
A whopping handful of wheatgrass is grabbed and cut off as close to the roots as possible, lightly washed, and then ran through the juicer. One good sized handful of grass is what it takes to produce about 2 ounces, or a shot of juice. With just this amount, you can already gain several health benefits of wheatgrass.
HEALTH
By far the best rewards for juicing wheatgrass are the health . It supplies a strong dose mainly of minerals and chlorophyll. Chlorophyll can be thought of as the blood of plants, it is responsible for giving plants its green color, and chlorophyll is the one obtaining energy from the sun and then is transported throughout the plant. It is essential to the solar panel like systems which support plant life.
Wheatgrass nutritional value contains a rich amount of chlorophyll, which is renowned for having a positive effect on the human body. Plants high in chlorophyll have had positive effects on those suffering from depression, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel disorders and more. Interestingly, the chemical makeup of chlorophyll is thought to be similar to the aspect of human blood which provides the cells with oxygen.
Chlorophyll is known to have anti-inflammatory powers. Because of this, wheatgrass is often used externally as well as internally. Advocates of wheatgrass use wheatgrass in healing wounds, externally on acne and other lacerations or irritations of the skin.
The oxygen promoting role of chlorophyll may actually play a role in preventing carcinogens from binding to DNA!
Aside from chlorophyll, wheatgrass nutritional value also contains lots of essential vitamins and minerals. Wheatgrass contains magnesium, which about half of Americans are deficient in. Magnesium can prevent heart disease, is known to reduce blood pressure and relax the muscles in the heart.
Wheatgrass is a dense source of nutrients. Having some regularly can have a holistic effect on health.
Wheatgrass is a valuable source of amino acids, which are essential for the body to build the protein in the muscles, skin, nails, hair and more. Any depletion of amino acids can lead to a lack of energy and vitality. This high quality source of amino acids provides your body with the amino acids it needs to support vital functions and also boost your energy.
Many people feel an improvement in energy and mood after consuming wheatgrass for extended periods of time. This comes from the improved foundation of health from the considerable supply of nutrients found in the plant.
The vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids in wheatgrass optimize digestion and have a myriad of other affects. People claim that wheatgrass is anti-aging, immune boosting, beauty promoting and energy enhancing.
To sum it all up, is focused in improving natural health, nutrition, and overall well-being.
Discover more of the best ways to boost your health by visiting Vegan Diet Success. Learn what is a vegan, the benefits, and how to become a vegan in the most practical, hype-free, and easy ways.
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Stop The Suffering: Cure The Yeast Infection in Your Urinary Tract
When bacteria or yeast gets into the urinary tract via the urethra, it causes an infection. In the United States, over four million people visit the doctor's office each year in an effort to cure their urinary tract infection.
Many different things can cause this type of infection including a drop in estrogen, intercourse, or a fluctuation in immune system function. Though women are more likely to get a urinary tract infection, approximately 12% of men get one at some point or another during their lifetime.
Regardless of the odds or the cause, the irritation is clear: a person with this infection suffers from the frequent sensation of having to urinate. The frustration is that the sensation is just that--and relief does not come with a simple trip to the restroom. The sensation is always there and it does not subside until the infection does.
There are several ways to solve the frustration that comes from an infection in the urinary tract.
5 ways to alleviate the infection:
1.) Antibiotics. Seeing a physician is not a bad idea when you have a urinary tract infection, because the symptoms can often be similar to having a sexually transmitted disease. A person may believe they have a urinary tract infection but in fact have an STD or vice versa. Seek peace of mind first. Note that antibiotics work well for a standard urinary tract infection, but not one induced by yeast.
2.) Cranberry juice. Cranberry juice boosts the acid content in urine making it difficult for invasive organisms to survive. It takes a bit to alter the pH to a level where organisms begin to struggle. Make sure you are consuming real cranberry juice. Have 3-4 sixteen ounce glasses per day.
3.) Fresh garlic. Consuming large amounts of fresh garlic can do wonders for an infection. Try using a food processor and puree garlic with some cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and olive oil. This will not only taste awesome as a spread on toast, but will do wonders for your urinary tract.
4.) Tea tree oil. A rule of thumb with essential oils: if it stings, it's way too strong. Make sure you are diluting tea tree oil with mineral or jojoba oil before using. About 10-15 drops of tea tree oil per five ounces of carrier oil would be a good start. Test on your arm, the oil should be fragrant but refrain from producing a tingling sensation. After urination, apply tea tree oil to a tissue across your urinary opening. Do this each time you feel like you need to use the restroom. In a few hours, the false need to frequently urinate will subside significantly.
5.) Apple cider vinegar. Add several cups of apple cider vinegar to a shallow bath. The alteration of the pH makes it difficult for bacteria and yeast to thrive, and will cause noticeable relief for the area of discomfort.
Be sure to pursue home remedies only under the care of your healthcare practitioner.
Suzanne Graham is the owner and operator of the Yeast Infection Cure Center. She has been an avid alternative medicine enthusiast for over 15 years.
Check out her website at http://www.yeastinfectioncurecenter.com/.
Learn more, click:
urinary tract infections.
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4 Fantastic Tips to Cure The Yeast Infection Under Your Breasts
You've tried several remedies but nothing seems to be working. The rash under your breasts, a candida infection, is causing you pain and discomfort. Each time you move to the left, right, up or down, your breasts shift and the rubbing of your breasts is causing you pain. Wearing a bra causes an agony you never imagined it could.
As a woman, I empathize. Women with large breasts have deeper folds beneath them, giving moisture an opportunity to accumulate. This is unfortunately an ideal environment for the candida fungus to thrive.
The good news is there are several home remedies to try that can bring you a great deal of comfort.
Coconut oil. Taken internally, it does wonders for internal yeast infections. Topically, it is a great relief to the skin. Coconut oil has a miraculous property: it dissolves the cell walls of bacteria and fungus. Candida is a fungus, and chances are if you have open, inflamed sores under your breasts, you probably have bacteria hanging out there too. Dissolving the cell walls of bacteria and yeast means that these pests are doomed to die, giving you some relief in a few hours, and a more rapid healing process over the coming week.
Tea tree oil. Tea tree oil also has powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. It also has a refreshing, earthy fragrance. Before applying to the skin, make sure you place it in a carrier oil to dilute. You never want to apply essential oil directly to the skin or an open wound. This is because essential oil is so refined, it absorbs quickly into the bloodstream. When using essential oil, use about three drops for every ounce of carrier oil.
Oregano oil. Oregano oil is another powerful agent for knocking out pesky bacteria and fungus. When taken internally, it boosts the immune system and makes a great home remedy for the common cold. If you purchase as an essential oil, show caution: oregano oil really stings if you do not dilute it. Since it is so strong, I recommend starting with one drop of oregano oil per two ounces of carrier oil. Do not take the essential oil internally - there are food grade drops and capsules available at natural foods stores.
Garlic oil. Notice a theme here? If you use oregano and garlic oil, you will begin to smell like pizza or a pasta dish. Depending on how comfortable you are with this idea, you may want to apply the garlic oil before you sleep, then wash it off in the morning during your shower. Garlic oil is also available online or in a natural foods store. Some people do rub cloves under their breasts as well, but I find that this stings quite a bit. However, using garlic oil (diluted if it is an essential oil) has a more tingling, calming effect.
As with any health questions, consult your physician. This includes the undertaking of any home remedy.
Suzanne Graham is the owner and operator of the Yeast Infection Cure Center. She has been an avid alternative medicine enthusiast for over 15 years. Check out her website at www.YeastInfectionCureCenter.com.
Learn more about under breast yeast infections: click here.
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Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Resonance, Dissonance and Entrainment With Sound Therapy: Part 2
Using sound to assist with meditation, healing and relaxation has been used thousands of years by all cultures. The reason it works is because of resonance, dissonance and entrainment as I mentioned in my last post.
We know that all things vibrate. We also know from the definition of sympathetic resonance that if you tap a tuning fork, another fork with the same frequency will be activated and start vibrating. The vibration of one object causes another object to start vibrating. When I play a recording of a singing bowl loud enough, all the singing bowls in my sound room start to ring. Even though the bowls are all different frequencies, the recording was strong enough to set them all off.
So what does this have to do with you? Imaging parking next to a truck with its diesel engine rumbling (vibrating) in a steady rhythm. How does it feel after a few minutes? You may start to feel tension, anger, frustration or however you respond to strong vibrations that are dissonant to you. Sit next to that truck for a long time and eventually the feeling of dissonance may not feel as uncomfortable, you may actually like it. The truck, having a stronger vibration can cause you to sympathetically start resonating or vibrating at the same frequency as the truck. At that point, you and the truck are in resonance.
That's what will happen if you are not paying attention to the truck. Most people recognize that this rumbling is not comfortable and leave the area. That's an important point. We encounter "good" and bad" vibrations every second of every day and react accordingly. We either stick around if we like it or walk away before it has a long-term effect. When we are not aware of unhealthy vibrations, we unknowingly begin to take on that same unhealthy frequency. That is how we become ill. Vibrations, not resonant with our natural healthy state, will cause you to become out of balance physically and emotionally if you are not paying attention.
Fortunately, the opposite is also true. The Solar Harmonic set of tuning forks for example create great tones or harmonics. These harmonics help you to relax so completely that very often people ease in to that place of silence, also known as a still point. This happens because the tones created by this set are healing, meditative tones. When your body senses this it will begin to vibrate at the same frequencies and as a result, you begin to fall into a silent or meditative state. When the body and mind are at ease, healing naturally takes place.
The effect Solar Harmonic tuning forks may last a few hours or a few days until some other vibration comes along that gets your attention (stress at work or home, traffic etc.). If you work with the Solar Harmonic on a regular, steady basis, eventually that vibration within you will be stronger than anything else that comes along and you will remain in that calm, relaxed state. It becomes permanent. That's entrainment.
So that's resonance and sympathetic resonance, dissonance, entrainment and how it is directly related to sound therapy and healing in general.
Michael Kopel is a sound therapist and sound therapy educator. His focus is on the use of musical instruments to create a healing environment through the use of tuning forks, crystal singing bowls, gongs and other traditional tools. There are free whitepapers on tuning forks and other tools available for download at omnivos.com.
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