The second trend, is also at least partly the result of baby boomers and the longer life span of the population in general. What are people going to do now to ensure that they have the money to enjoy their retirement — sometimes for the next 20, 30 or 40 years? With the breakdown of the old order (financial system) it’s becoming absolutely critical to generate a passive and residual income stream.

Thus, we get the birth of an industry — Health and Wellness.

Due to the reasons mentioned above, lots of people are thinking about launching a home based business.
With the economy the way it is, and unemployment rates growing, it’s no wonder some are turning to a home business as a way to make a living.

But how do you decide what to do? So many choices out there, so many “business opportunities” screaming “I am the best opportunity-make lots of money…fast…easy…overnight…” and on and on it goes.

Hopefully you’ve gone through our other articles to help you and guide you down the path that’s right for you.

When you’re trying to decide what type of home business you want to set up, of course it’s a good idea to take a look at what industries are hot – and will continue to grow.

We’re going to focus on an industry that has absolutely exploded – and is anticipated to continue to grow for years to come – the Health and Wellness Industry. Industry. People who have become involved in this industry are finding it Extremely Lucrative and are poised to do quite well financially in the future.

The Health and Wellness Industry is concerned with prevention of illness and disease.

This is different from Health industry which includes doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies. This industry focuses on treating the symptoms of illness, and not on prevention of sickness, and or helping people feel healthier.

The Health and Wellness Industry is expected to be a $1 trillion dollar industry by 2010. This industry includes nutritional supplements, juices, health/fitness clubs, chiropractic, naturopathy, homeopathy, and holistic health care. So what are the forces making the Health and Wellness industry so hot?

The economic downturn has affected peoples’ ability to spend money on insurance, doctor visits, and hospital stays. People are focusing on prevention of sickness and disease: According to cNMI (Natural Marketing Institute) President Maryellen Molyneaux:

“NMI research clearly shows that the current economic downturn is changing consumer behavior on many levels, including spending related to health and wellness. So while sales in each category continue to grow, consumers are becoming more discerning and are looking for real value in their purchases and not just the perceived value. This shift in behavior will impact manufacturers and retailers not just short-term but also in the future. With the economic future unclear, NMI projects that the health and wellness industry as a whole will remain relatively stable over the next five years at approximately 7% growth each year.”

More and more people are searching for ways to prevent illness and improve the quality of their life through better health. Many people feel that the nature of western medicine is treating symptoms, rather than preventing disease. They also feel that what traditional medicine does best is treating emergencies, not not keeping people from getting sick in the first place.

Many Doctors and scientists have dedicated their lives to finding natural “cures” for common “dis-eases” and have embraced a natural approach to treating peoples’ conditions.

Pharmaceutical concerns: There is growing mistrust in the general population towards the pharmaceutical industry. Side effects of medications are often serious, and sometimes even lethal.

Lawsuits and product recalls are making people leery of just taking a pill in hopes of getting better. The majority of prescriptions are merely to treat symptoms of sickness, not in curing or preventing disease.

This is creating lifetime customers. Pharmaceuticals are being designed to be taken for life — and people are becoming aware of the dangers of this to their health.

People are living longer. And they want to be healthy doing it. Life spans keeps getting longer, and people are willing to invest in their health more now than ever before. They are seeking ways to feeling good, staying well, and having health and vitality — and are turning to the Health and Wellness Industry for the answers.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Words As Healing Tools.

Knowing the right words at the right time can make a critical difference-sometimes the difference between life and death. Words, well-chosen, well-said, can facilitate rapid healing of burns, lower an elevated blood pressure, reduce pain and increase compliance. Conversely, words ill-chosen, thoughtlessly used, can cause great damage by encouraging hyperventilation, increasing anxiety and thereby pain response and bleeding, destabilizing heart rate and pulse, and over-stimulating the immune system.

Dr. Dabney Ewin, MD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry & Surgery, who teaches medical hypnosis to the students at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans, has said that words are influence our physiology. “Our pharmacopoeia in hypnosis is the dictionary. Just as you pick the right drug in practicing medicine, you pick the right words in practicing hypnosis.”

He has also warned other physicians, “Our patients are frequently frightened and we need to be careful what we say.” How do words have such a profound impact on our physiological processes? Let’s take a look at an example in an ordinary life: If you are embarrassed, point out and laughed at, blood would flood the capillaries in your cheeks, your heart rate would probably increase, gastric juices would rise, adrenaline would probably be released. That’s quite a marshalling of physical responses to a couple of words.

Consider another example everyone has at one time or another experienced: If you have a frightening dream, which consists of little more than images in your mind, you might wake up sweaty, your heart palpitating, your muscles tired and twitchy. Indeed, a special chemical is required during sleep to paralyze us so we don’t physically respond to our dreams as if they were actually occurring.

The point: What we think, see in our mind’s eye, the images we form in response to the words we hear have very distinct physical consequences. Where there is danger, the likelihood of an image or thought eliciting a strong physiological reaction is even higher.

People who are frightened are highly suggestible and are looking for guidance from a trusted authority figure. And if you’re the one helping, you’re the authority figure for the moment. What you say will most definitely have an impact on that person in ways you might not have ever imagined.

Some people have likened this response to herd instinct. A herd leader (either lioness, gazelle, or horse) that senses danger will run in a particular direction or take a specific action that the rest of the herd will follow by scent trail. For humans, words take the place of scent. While an antelope may emit certain pheromones that scream, “Hey, this way,” a human will express himself verbally.

A person in pain, fear, and trauma most often wants and needs the same thing. Biological processes can be marshaled towards a person’s survival and healing when we know what to say and how to lead them.

In 1919, in The American Review of Tuberculosis, Dr. Tohru Ishigami found that the prognosis for a TB patient depended more on what the “patient has in his head than what he has in his chest.” He was watching certain patients follow rather predictable paths to recovery when some suddenly became severely ill. What he discovered upon examining their histories was that those who died had almost all experienced some kind of trauma-a loss, a crisis-gone into despair and given up.

In 1971, a striking example of the power of mental images was documented by Dr. Carl Simonton, a radiologist at the University of Texas. He was treating a patient with advanced, terminal throat cancer. He weighed 98 lbs. and his odds for survival were only 50%. Weak and severely ill, he still needed radiation. But Simonton knew that it was very unlikely that he would survive it. Desperate, he turned to visualization, asking the patient to “see” or form a mental image of his immune system as white blood cells successfully attacked the cancer as he received the radiation. The patient saw it as snow covering a black rock. The result was a complete remission. To think, to feel, to be conscious, it seems is to practice brain chemistry. And the truth is, no one really understands fully how it works, although we know that it does.

What to Say and How to Say It.

Whether you are the helper, the loved one, the friend, the doctor or the helpful stranger, for the time that you are with the victim, you are the authority and your emotional state is contagious. Always take a moment to center yourself whether through a deep breath, a brief moment of prayer, or by collecting your thoughts. Your calm confidence may be just the medicine that’s needed. You’re there because you want to help. Remember that frightened people tend to focus their attention on the person who seems most sincere. Speak in a calm, clear, kind voice.

Praise any positive responses the victim or patient gives you and stay realistic. There is no better way to present insincerely than by diminishing, invalidating, or dismissing a person’s genuine discomfort or fear. Stay away from comments such as “Everything’s fine” (unless you are absolutely certain!) or “Oh, that’s nothing!” If you can think of nothing to say, hold the person’s hand (if you can safely do so) and tell them, “The worst is over. Help is on the way. I’m staying with you.” We want to be respectful, realistic, and confident. We want to project some authority (without being demanding) and keep our comments uncomplicated. A few examples are:

“I’m Jackie. I’m going to help you. Will you do as I say?” “You’re really scared, I can see that. I’m going to help you now.” Keep in mind that when in doubt, leave it out. If you’re not sure whether what you’re about to say is a good idea, forget it. You can listen, hold a hand, lend your support in many other ways. You don’t need to use words to be a compassionate and helpful presence. Although if you’re going to use them, it helps to know how. Unless you’re very sure of your medical knowledge, make no specific references to physiological processes. Keep your comments general and positive.

Once you have established a solid rapport with the person you’re helping, you’re ready to deliver a therapeutic suggestion. The first rule is to keep it simple. If you don’t know what to suggest, you can rely on a rather general healing statement, such as: “You can relax knowing the healing has already begun.” Know that imagination is more powerful than knowledge, particularly in a stressful time. The person’s responses will be coming from imagined possibilities, not from the facts. In The Worst Is Over we describe Verbal First Aid in more detail and explain how a person can imagine a burn injury being “cool and comfortable” and reduce scarring, inflammation and pain.

Every thought or image can cause a physical reaction. So, it’s up to us to make that reaction a healing one.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Fear of disease is a subset of Fear of Ill Health and may affect people in profound ways. Fear of disease produces physical symptoms when there isn’t the slightest cause for fear. The thoughts that you develop in your mind may lead to an inferiority complex that limits your performance in business. Hypochondriac are the main reasons why patent medicines is booming, the vast majority of people going to the doctor truly have nothing wrong with them. This fear manifests into very physical and mental repercussions. If you don’t feel like you are physically fit, then you might not push yourself to the limit to accomplish a major goal.

Fear of ill health leads to a physical and mental laziness that could impact your business in a negative way. If you are in the process of solving a problem, but just when you are close to solving it you stop to irrational fears. You must be present mentally in your business to accomplish your goals and objectives. If you have anything holding you back, then your business will not grow to its’ full potential. Napoleon Hill talks about definiteness of decisions as a leadership attributes that will help you improve your business but because of your fear of ill health you are respond slow in your decision making process. The successful leaders are quick to reaching a decision and slow to change it. Another attribute is unwavering courage and if you easily influenced by others which causing you to make plans that does not work. Your business will continue to suffer so you must eliminate the fear of ill health.

When you feel inadequate, and you become focused on what happens if death overtakes you, how do you overcome it? The best way to eliminate this fear is by taking care of yourself physically, mentally, eating right and using effective preventative medicine. We must enjoy our lives and we can’t go through life fearing everything. We must focus on the things that we can control and let go of those that we have no control over. The things that I can control are exercising regularly, eating right and going to the doctor for my annual checkup. I also will take the tests that are for my age groups even if it is uncomfortable. You must overcome thefear of ill health to make your business successful.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Channeling

Channeling is a unique tool all of us possess. It enables us to receive accurate, reliable information at any given time in our lives. The nature of channeling is making contact with ‘god’, ‘energy’, ‘essence’, ’spiritual guides’ or anything else we believe in, as opposed to making contact with the physical. (This is my definition based on my own personal knowledge and experience).

Today, there is still no scientific explanation as to the nature of the information received through channeling. Even modern physics has tried to understand the nature of matter and anti-matter, i.e. that which is not quite matter yet is visible, for example, electromagnetic waves. These behave like massless particles and in scientific experiments have been seen in several places at once (Ben-Dov, 1996). Experiments such as these can give us some idea about the information source, channeling. Since we are dealing with energies, senses, emotions and feelings that are not related to material, it can be concluded that the mystical sources of knowledge (channeling) are found everywhere. It is therefore not important who we make contact with or who ’sends’ us this information; what is important is the accuracy of the information and the person receiving it.

Bioenergy (or more accurately, biorgonomy)

Biorgonomy is a diagnostic and treatment method developed by Rafi Rosen. At its core lies the idea that everything in existence possesses energy or energetic fields (orgones). These fields are not dependant upon matter or time and are found everywhere. A biorgonomic diagnosis allows the cosmic or personal energy flow of people to be felt. Rafi Rosen developed a diagnostic method whereby the energy we are examining is sensed by the eyelids. We ‘call’ the energy to come to our hands, and then examine it. Biorgonomy helps us to examine the state of the energy inside a person, its being, whether it is growing or is still, and whether the person has an excess or a lack of energy. A biorgonomic diagnosis can provide the answers to almost any question. The organs of the body, cells, tissue, blood pressure, cancer growth, illness, and so on can be checked as well as emotional state, for example trauma and anxieties etc. Everything we undergo in life leaves a mark on our bodies. For instance, trauma leaves an area of weak energy on the body which can be sensed. When a person does something that feels good, his energetic fields become stronger and when he does something that feels bad or when he’s afraid, his energetic fields become weaker (Rosen, 1989).

Healing

Healing means directing energy, using relaxation or any other therapy technique the patient finds suitable. The choice is in his hands. Healing energy can strengthen specific areas of the body or all of it. Strengthening energy (healing) can give a push to the body to heal itself as it releases the flow of energy to the body to cure illness, relieve physical pain, and ease mental hardship and so on. During the healing process, it is possible to direct energy to strengthen other people if they are interested or to send healing out to the world. Directing healing energy may be done through words, touch, music, and dance or through many other options depending on our imagination and experience.

What is holistic mental therapy?

Holistic complementary medicine views the soul as a part of the body that is impossible to examine or measure separately from the whole. A complete human being is the sum total of his parts that are connected together from the time of his creation until his death.

When I examine a person’s ’soul’, I must remember that I am dealing with the specific energy or power connected to the body which influences and is influenced by every event in his life. From this, I have learnt that every one of life’s events has a strong impact on the body, soul, and spirit which constitute a person’s whole that is in a constant state of flux.

One of the ways to understand the concept of ‘the soul’ or ‘the connection between the body and soul’ is to view a person as a totality of emotions, feelings, energy, and a body then to try and examine how certain feelings and emotions are expressed within this totality. For example, if I feel sadness, what is its root? Where is it expressed in the body, and can I get in touch with it in order to examine its source? How can I assist it? What is it trying to tell me?

As another example we can use stomach ache. We would try and talk with the stomach area to find out what it is trying to tell us. Listening to the area that hurts can provide answers to the source of the pain: What caused the pain? How can we treat it etc.? In actual fact, listening prepares the gateway for healing. We are the body; we do not distinguish between the body parts. On the contrary, we create a therapeutic conversation which can reveal a great deal about ourselves and how we can treat ourselves. We discover that there is no single soul in any one place, rather there is a complex of feelings throughout our sensory organs creating one perfect totality which is constantly changing, every moment of our lives. It is therefore this that provides the possibility for change and recovery.

From my experience as a complementary medicine therapist, tools such as channeling, biorgonomy, and healing help me tremendously in locating the source of the problem in the body and ‘talking’ with it. Sometimes this conversation alone – the information I read to the person or the silent channeling, and the conversation about every spoken or written detail – is enough to produce great relief which strengthens the person’s overall energy. Sometimes, this is the beginning of a lengthier process in which the sources of the problem are investigated: past cycles or dimensions, childhood, adolescence, family etc. At each stage, using the diagnostic methods above, we can check which genetic effects or event created the ‘energy block’ (pain, distress, or fear), reach the source of the problem, and treat it using appropriate therapeutic methods, as well as medical intervention to administer suitable medicines when and where needed.

It should be remembered that this treatment requires a lot of sensitivity to oneself and the ability to cope with the weight of emotions or feelings that surface during therapy. It does not suit all people at all stages of life since there are times when it is difficult to cope with certain feelings and emotions. Consequently, the therapist must diagnose this and only use this method when he is certain the patient can be helped without any ill effects.

Example of a Treatment Case

Orit (not her real name) is 60 years old and divorced with three grown up children. She called me and asked to come for treatment. She complained of pains all over her body and feared she was suffering from fibromyalgia. She told me she was being treated with painkillers. When I met Orit, I noticed she was under a lot of stress. She confirmed this and told me she had the feeling that she should be helping everyone else all the time, especially her daughter, and that she had no time to herself. Orit explained that she felt most of her pain in the shoulders which was bothered her tremendously. The medication she was taking did not really help and she did not want to take medication all the time since it made her feel a bit drowsy.

I tried to diagnose her through biorgonomy and noticed straight away that all of her body parts were very tense, especially the shoulders. Such weak energy was an indicator that Orit obviously had gone through very traumatic events which ’caused her’ to become very weak.

Since it seemed obvious the problem was psychological with physical effects, I suggested an exercise in deep relaxation and Orit accepted the idea. I asked her to sit in a chair and not to do anything at all. Then I asked her to take deep breaths and to let me or the world help her. I told her she need not do a single thing except sit and let the world reach out to her (this is a relaxation exercise I developed which is the most powerful because none of us are taught to ‘do nothing’ – to just sit or lie down and let the world take care of us; it can therefore come as quite a shock when someone asks us to do this!)

When Orit began to relax and to see that nothing bad was happening to her, she allowed herself to enter the process and was amazed at what happened: suddenly the strong pains in the right shoulder were transferred to the left shoulder, then a few seconds later, they disappeared. Orit was very surprised. I asked her to stay seated so we could try and get rid of all the pains in her body.

During the process, I reminded her from time to time not to do anything, just to let us, the powers in the world, heal and strengthen her. A few minutes later, all of Orit’s pain miraculously disappeared. At the end of the procedure, Orit got up and excitedly said: “How did this happen? Will this continue at home?” I explained to her that she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, and the moment she does something for herself too, she will feel better and that the majority of the pain should go away. I gave Orit several suggestions on what to do at home before she left.

A few days later, Orit called me and said that most of the pain had disappeared and that she was trying to go out more, spend time with friends, and to think more about herself.

Of course, Orit’s case is an exceptional one with regard to the direct connection between the mental stress derived from certain behaviours, thoughts and physical pain and their disappearance during the process of deep relaxation. In most cases, pain can be alleviated from a mental source and even cured, but this demands the patient’s cooperation during and after treatment in order to strengthen the patient and reduce mental stress.

Conclusion

One of the most creative and efficient ways to treat mental health problems is by using complementary medicine to make direct contact, using appropriate diagnostic and treatment methods, with the ‘parts’ of the patient’s being (physical, mental, spiritual). The source of the problem is then reached, allowing it to be released and the way paved for healing. It is of vital importance to make a thorough diagnosis and examination of the patient’s condition to see whether or not he can stand up to this method of treatment which touches the depths of a person’s emotions and feelings.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Duct tape is an amazing creation that can keep a pipe from leaking, hold things together and do many other household tasks quickly and cheaply. It wasn’t designed to be a permanent repair for the most part, just to hold things together until something absolutely had to be repaired or replaced. It’s amazing how long some of us manage to delay making permanent repairs as long as there is duct tape around!

Prescription drugs are quick and easy to take but they certainly aren’t cheap. They also are a temporary repair to keep things working. They don’t cure your health problem because there is more money to be made in keeping you a drug customer for life. Unfortunately when you take one drug there is often a side effect that requires you to take a second drug, which causes an additional side effect in turn that requires yet another drug and the process continues.

America is only one of two countries in the world that permit direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. With only 4.3% of the world’s population we consume nearly 50% of the world’s prescription drugs. If we were the healthiest people on earth that would be fine but we rank #29 in the world for longevity today, much worse in many other categories. At the same time we spend more on health care than any other nation on earth at 16.3% of our GDP in 2007. Clearly America’s prescription drug based medical system isn’t working, except to profit the pharmaceutical industry.

Mainstream medicine used to prescribe mercury and other heavy metals to patients but we’re much smarter now. We know that those substances will kill you. One hundred years from now (hopefully sooner) we’ll figure out that the current crop of medications are also toxic. There are so many drugs on the market today with so many possible interactions and long-term effects that no one really knows what they’re doing to Americans. We are simply profitable guinea pigs for the pharmaceutical industry. The government is doing such a great job of protecting you that the number of serious drug interactions rose in the first quarter of this year (2008) to a new, record high that included almost 5,000 deaths. The 21,000 reports in the quarter were three times higher than any quarter in 2007.

Even when used properly according to current protocols drugs can have unintended consequences. A few years ago a patient checked into his local hospital with an infection and was promptly given antibiotics. Twelve weeks later he died from the infection. By studying the germs’s genetic development while he was in the hospital researchers have discovered there were 35 distinct evolutionary developments within that short time span which eventually made the germ completely drug resistant.

Antibiotic treatments can also have a negative impact on beneficial bacteria the live in our guts, especially with prolonged or repeated treatments, according to a recent study. We need good gut bacteria for nutrition, metabolism and immune responses. While taking antibiotics researchers discovered that 30% of the bacterial species and strains were significantly affected and it took up to four weeks for most of them to return to pre-treatment levels.

Maybe there are reasons so many doctors are using placebos? A study published recently in BMJ, formerly the British Medical Journal, found that 50% of doctors say they prescribe placebos for their patients and more than two-thirds believe it’s permissible to do so. The study was partly funded by our National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the results are similar to surveys of physicians in Israel, Denmark and in Britain.

Congress heard testimony this year that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) simply does not have the manpower to guarantee the safety of these products. There have been several reports in the news this year of biased studies being submitted to the FDA for drug approval which do not present the whole story on the drug’s dangers. In the case of BPA, which the FDA has ruled to be “safe”, their own review panel has said the agency ignored federal studies on the chemical and relied too heavily on industry research. While other countries like Canada have already ruled against BPA in products for babies and children Americans are still exposed to this dangerous chemical. Clearly the drug industry has lots of friends in Washington and the FDA.

The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study this year warning against a new generation of “biological” drugs. Nearly 1/4th of these drugs produced serious side effects that led to safety warnings soon after they went on the market. Originally everyone thought that a drug based on biological, instead of chemically artificial, ingredients would be safer. Clearly that idea has been disproven.

Americans don’t even know what incentives the pharmaceutical industry is providing to doctors to stimulate more drug sales. Numerous attempts to pass legislation requiring disclosure have been killed by industry lobbyists at both state and federal levels. There have been several cases making headlines recently about incredible payments to doctors to promote drugs. It’s reached the point that Eli Lilly and other drug companies are beginning to post the amounts they pay doctors for speeches and consulting because they realize it’s becoming a public relations nightmare. With more than two-thirds of professors and authorities at medical schools having direct financial ties to the drug industry the public sees what appears to be a too-close relationship between doctors and drug companies. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) continues to press for new sunshine laws to shed a little light on this cozy arrangement that puts the health of all Americans at risk.

You’re already taking drugs that your doctor never prescribed. That’s because hospitals and nursing homes currently are legally dumping more than 250 million pounds of prescription drugs into America’s water supply every year. USA Today and other publications have reported that these drugs are making it through the treatment process and into the tap water of millions of Americans. Again the FDA says the amounts are too small to be dangerous. In contrast to that opinion, homeopathy is a 100-year-old treatment used widely in Europe is based on the concept that even minute amounts of a substance can be biologically active. Again, how many years will it take for someone at the FDA or in Congress to realize the health of our nation is at risk because of prescription drugs?

Meanwhile the health of Americans continues to decline even while our drug use continues to climb. Obesity in our country has caused the rate of diabetes to double in just the last ten years. We have lots of drugs to treat diabetes but none to prevent it. How many of these drugs are causing the obesity that in turn results in diabetes?

Four hundred years ago the author of Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift, wrote that the three best doctors in the world were Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet and Dr. Merryman. Four centuries later we’re still discovering that what we eat and drink, the peace we find within ourselves and the joy we find within life are the foundation of our health. (Since they didn’t have cars and power tools back then I’d probably add Dr. Exercise today.)

To illustrate the importance of lifestyle to our health, this year Medicare approved the Ornish Program as the first lifestyle therapy to reverse heart disease. The therapy was accepted because it’s been medically proven to be more effective than drugs. Yet it’s still considered an alternative therapy because most doctors would rather write prescriptions for drugs or give angioplasty, stent or even by-pass surgery than talk about a lifestyle therapy with their patients. To be fair, most patients would rather pop a pill or have surgery than radically change their lifestyle to promote better health.

Instead of popping another dangerous drug maybe it’s time for Americans to take responsibility for their own health and look at the choices we make every day. Instead of putting more duct tape on their health problems maybe it’s time to repair the source of the problem properly. First of all you should give yourself time to heal naturally or try some chicken soup instead of running to the doctor for antibiotics or steroids ever time you have a sniffle. Try looking for a complementary or alternative therapy to treat the source of your health problem instead of simply covering it up with more prescription drugs.

Next time you use duct tape around the house remember that how you make a repair, and how you take care of your health, are choices you make for yourself.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Seems rather absurd, doesn’t it?

That is why it is so very hard for me to understand why there is even a controversy over health and fast food consumption having negative effects. If you look at your bodies requirements for the highest quality of life you can achieve and you understand that everything you consume is where all of these required elements come from, then it is very easy to understand if you want optimum health, then and only then, will you fully understand the real reasons fast food consumption has such negative effects upon your body.

Your health is a direct reflection of the daily choices you make about your diet, nutrition and fitness. Many people are now turning to holistic healing, natural remedies and alternative medicine to help them achieve their optimum level of health. These practices rely heavily on functional medicine, where the underlying cause is diagnosed and treated instead of the symptoms.

Because it is easier and much more effective to prevent than to cure for optimum health, you must examine your diet and make sure you are getting the proper nutrition along with a consistent fitness program.

The water you drink is the most important element to achieve optimum health. It should be as pure as possible and structured. Your body is over 75% water and your brain is approximately 80% water. The mid afternoon lull that most people feel is dehydration. You should drink water instead of sugar or caffeinated drinks, which only provide a temporary “pick me up.

With the amount of toxins in food, water and air today you must choose organic food as often as you can. Almost 80% of toxins come from meat and dairy, so if you must consume these always choose organic. Vegetables and fruits should be peeled if they are not organic or washed with a tsp. of vinegar in a gallon of purified water. Some vegetables and fruits like cucumbers and melons pull the toxins in, so your best choice is organic.

Until recently your choices for good health and fast food consumption were mostly negative. Even though many fast food restaurants now carry salads and healthier food choices, there is still a huge health risk and fast food consumption in a very negative way, because normally only one item that is ordered is healthy to accompany other very unhealthy over processed choices. Many times the salads are loaded with extra ingredients like cheese, croutons and salad dressings that have lots of calories and are highly processed.

The key to optimum health is a diet and nutrition program consisting mainly of organic vegetables with some fruits eaten as unprocessed and raw as possible, along with a fitness plan that is steady and consistent, like walking.

To enjoy good health your diet, nutrition and fitness program must be of number one concern to you.

Do you want to join the two thirds of America that is overweight and on the road to overall illness and early death? You have the power to change your future, because the choices you make today for your health on your diet, nutrition and fitness will greatly impact your future health. When food becomes nothing more to you than nutrition, these choices will be easy.

In the words of the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research

“If the doctors of today do not become the nutritionists of tomorrow,
then the nutritionists of today will become the doctors of tomorrow.”

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Osteoarthritis of the knee causes a roughening and thinning of the cartilage, the semi-hard tissue that sandwiches (cushioning) between the upper and lower leg bones. Knee cartilage is called ‘meniscus’ and forms a disk-like shaped cushion protecting the leg bones from impact during hinged movement. In the beginning stages of OA of the knee, and progression, the meniscus develops cracks and gradually wears away. Physical symptoms resulting in pain, stiffness, grinding noises are noticed as bone rubs against bone.

Recently, a ten year nutritional study was conducted on 300 healthy, middled aged adults, who had no physical signs of knee joint pain or injuries. The study participants amounts and frequency of fruit consumption, as they are high in antioxidant vitamin C nutrition, were estimated upon entry into the study period.

Ten years later, the study subjects were tested for cartilage volume, bone mass, cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The lead investigative author of this published study, Yuanyuan Wang, Dept. of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Central and Eastern Clinical School, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia used MRI as a reliable visual tool to measure the results. MRI is currently the best, and most non-evasive, method of viewing joint structure in normalcy or in stages of disease.

This decade-long study indicated the impact of increased vitamin C levels on OA disease of the knee, by a lessening of bone marrow lesions, and reduction of bone size, both are important predictors of this disease, by 50 percent.

In a similar study conducted by Dr. Timothy E. McAlindon, a rheumatologist at Boston University Medical Center, published the results of an 8-year dietary investigation performed on 556 elderly individuals. McAlindon found those, whose knee x-rays showed signs of early stages of OA, were not as likely to experience the full-blown progression of the joint disease eight years later if their dietary intake and blood levels of vitamin D were higher than the recommended daily amount. Most of the participants in this study supplemented with vitamin D.

Dr. McAlindon, and other colleagues involved in this particular study, theorized that vitamin C may help repair and maintain collagen, a major component of cartilage. They also maintain a recognizable fact, among medical researchers, of vitamin D’s positive, hormone-like affects on bone cells and growth, in that vitamin D may affect the surrounding bone material in joints as well. They agree that supplementation of vitamin D may be warranted for people who, geographically, live where they can not freely partake of it from the sun year round.

And, while I am in agreement with the importance of these promising new investigative studies, that focus on basic nutrient’s protective and slowing down powers in relationship to joint disease with their increased intakes, why does adequate hydration levels seem to be, largely, ignored?

According to Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., Author of “Your Body’s Many Cries For Water”, states, “that arthritic joints and their pain are to be viewed as indicators of a water deficiency in the affected joint cartilage surfaces. In some arthritis pain, a salt shortage may also be a factor. The cartilage surfaces of bones in a joint contain a lot of water. The lubricating property of this ‘held water’ is used in the cartilage from the two opposing surfaces to freely glide over one another during joint movement”.

While more dietary studies are certainly welcome, and would definitely be helpful in confirming earlier test study results, how might including the investigation of what most people drink every day have on the beneficial effects of nutrient therapy? Especially, as it is estimated that around three-quarters of the human population is walking around in a state of chronic dehydration. The reason seems to be because there are so many different types of home prepared (or manufactured) beverages competing with our voluntary choice in what to be drinking instead of pure water, and it is commonly considered unimportant knowledge by most people, medically educated or not.

When a certain individual may not seem to be benefiting from nutrient therapy, alone, in the prevention of joint disease, how might increasing their pure water intake level effect the overall out come? As Dr. B points out, in his wildly popular self-help book, in his simplistic, educated, and 20 plus years of clinical experience using water as a medicine, water seems to be the glue-like fluid substance that binds all this other stuff together. Without adequate water levels inside the body, the healing effects of nature’s basic nutrients will not be fully enjoyed or experienced.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A summary of the issue indicates that a higher than national average of people living in Texas, including those living in Houston, Dallas and Austin, remain without health insurance. Compared with the national average of 18% uninsured (in 2005), some 27% of Texas residents did not have health insurance, about 5.5 million people. Of that number, 20% of children 18 years of age or under were without health insurance and 31% of adults aged 19-65 were uninsured.

The definition of “access” to healthcare is having coverage available and affordable for each individual.
The Texas Health Institute report quotes the Kaiser Family Foundation in making the connection between health insurance and the relative health of an individual.

“Health insurance makes a difference in whether and when people get necessary medical care, where they get their care, and ultimately, how healthy people are. Uninsured adults are far more likely than the insured to postpone or forgo health care altogether and less likely to be able to afford prescription drugs or to follow through with recommended treatments. The consequences of reduced access to care can be severe, particularly when preventable conditions go undetected.

The Texas Health Institute report makes the point that having health insurance makes a difference in whether and when people get necessary medical care, where they get their care, and ultimately, in how healthy people are. “Uninsured adults are far more likely than the insured to postpone or forgo health care altogether and less likely to be able to afford prescription drugs or to follow through with recommended treatments,” said the Report.

When it comes to the real cost of not having health insurance, reduced access to care can be severe, especially in cases where an otherwise preventable condition goes undetected. In the case of cancers, the report states that being uninsured is associated with fewer cancer screenings and an increase in premature deaths for cancer patients, as well as fewer services for trauma and heart attack patients and an increased risk of death when they are hospitalized.

While 53% of Texans participate in an employer-sponsored health insurance plan, the remainder of state residents have limited choices for coverage. Individual policies from an insurance company account for just 4% of residents and public programs such as Medicaid cover another 12%. The Texas State Children’s Health Insurance Program has eligibility guidelines regarding income and other criteria.

The end result, says the Institute of Medicine, is that uninsured adults have a higher overall mortality risk of 25%. Extrapolated, there are more than 18,000 excess deaths annually among uninsured people ages 25-64.

Health insurance affects health status, and various studies show strong links between people with more education having better health, and people with less education and less literacy having poorer health. One national study estimated that $73 billion is spent annually in avoidable health care costs due to low literacy. Education affects job choices and future income, which, in turn, can affect health status.

For students who miss school or cannot concentrate due to temporary or chronic health conditions, the educational system is not as effective, which can lead to lower academic achievement. In addition, school absenteeism affects school district finances, as funding is at least partially based on attendance.
The high number of uninsured people has other consequences as well, including the issue of uncompensated care at hospitals. Those costs are typically passed to taxpayers in the form of higher property taxes for the hospital districts of the metropolitan areas of Texas, including Dallas, Houston and Austin.

In Texas, the cost of uncompensated care (bad debt plus charity care) for hospitals (which bear the brunt of uncompensated care costs) was estimated to be $7.7 billion in 2003. Even so, hospitals do not share equally in uncompensated care costs. Government and not-for-profit hospitals have the most. In a study examining 193 hospitals in Texas, the 53 that were categorized as safety-net hospitals accounted for 59% of the total uncompensated care in 2003.

While the nine Texas counties that lie on the border with Mexico have high uncompensated emergency care — about $393 million in 2000 — other areas of Texas also have high uncompensated care rates, especially Parkland Hospital in Dallas, one of the busiest hospitals in the U.S. In 2002, Parkland had $410 million in uncompensated care, of which about 20% was estimated to be due to emergency and non-emergency care for undocumented patients, those who are ineligible for most federal programs such as Medicaid, but must be treated if they come to hospital emergency rooms with an emergency medical condition.

The uninsured rate also affects Medicaid reimbursements due to the fact that the state loses the federal Medicaid matching funds for treating those patients.

What is clear is that not having health insurance is an issue that remains at the forefront of public concern in Texas, both from an economic and social perspective.

There are, however, solutions to some of those issues, especially if you’re a young individual who wants to look ahead with health in mind. If you’re in that category, you should take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive and highly affordable individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for you.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

As you already know, depression is a deadly disorder that affects millions of Americans each year. It arises because of imbalance of few chemicals in the brain. These chemicals are known as neurotransmitters.

Symptoms of anxiety are normally linked with depression. If you are suffering from depression not only you will be fearful of certain situations but physical symptoms such as tension, sweating, or increased pulse rate would also make their presence felt.

Coming to Lexapro, it is a member of the group of prescription drugs known as selective serotonin in medical parlance. According to one study, Lexapro has been prescribed to over 15 million patients in the United States. By the way, Lexapro is the fastest-growing medicine of its kind. The best part about Lexapro is that if you take just one 10 mg tablet a day, it can tremendously improves the symptoms of depression and anxiety for lots of patients in the initial week. What’s more, despite being a powerful medicine, Lexapro is well tolerated.

According to study, which was implemented on patients who were taking 10-mg a day of Lexapro, lots of people were of the opinion that not only there is improvement in terms of symptom control but also there is no side effect to be worried of. You may ask: Why Lexapro is so effective? Fact remains that Lexapro clicks because it restore the brain’s chemical balance, which in turn leads to increase in the supply of serotonin. Talking about serotonin, it is a substance that resides in the brain and has a significant bearing in influencing mood.

You can take Lexapro daily along with wide array of other medicines. But before that it is recommended that you consult your doctor and clearly tell them what prescription medicines or as a matter of fact over-the-counter remedies you take on a regular basis. As already mentioned, Lexapro is well tolerated. Side effects are also minimal and with the passage of time and continued treatment it goes away.

The most common side effects associated with Lexapro is nausea, insomnia, ejaculation disorder, somnolence, increased sweating, fatigue, anorgasmia and decreased libido.

There is no hiding the fact that Lexapro has proved to be an effective treatment for depression. Lots of controlled studies are of the view that Lexapro play a pivotal part in improving the symptoms of depression. It just takes around 15 days for Lexapro to start making its presence felt. According to recent controlled study, it has come into notice that the control group may get no treatment, standard treatment, or placebo of major depressive disorder. This can be termed as a physician’s definition for a specific kind of depression.

It is worthwhile remembering that a person who suffers from a major depressive disorder must have either a depressed mood or in some cases a complete loss of interest in daily routines. It is very important that the person must have these kinds of symptoms regularly for at least 15 days.

Apart from that, this sort of mood must demonstrate a modification from the person’s normal mood.
In addition, it should also be having a negative impact on his or her daily routines such as in work place, family function and of course in attitude. Point to be noted here is that a depressed mood which has occurred because of drugs and alcohol, is not considered a major depressive disorder in the medical fraternity. But one thing is for sure; only a certified doctor can handle this or any other kind of disorder.

Lexapro can turn out to be very useful in patients who’ve previously used other depression medicines. As you already know, effects of medicines vary from person to person. Therefore, a medicine, which can be a boon for one individual, can have serious repercussion for other individual.

Taking this into account, it is not that surprising for doctors to advice patients to change medicines so that you can get better relief from symptoms. For example, in one study of patients with depression, patients who begin treatment with Celexa, Paxil and Prozac did not react properly to the treatment were switched to Lexapro. And they started feeling at ease after the switch. But that does not mean you stop taking dosage of medicine, continue your treatment as long as your doctor wants.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Fine, you might reply. However, is this the real situation?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there is a view point that the kidneys are the root of Qi. They store the pre natal Qi (our genetic heritage) and the post natal Qi (derived from the food we eat and the air we breathe).

The function of the kidneys is very highly regarded in TCM. A dysfunction in the kidneys and their channels can cause a multitude of problems throughout the body.

The kidneys produce the bone marrow. The brain is composed of marrow, so problems with the brain could be linked back to kidney dysfunction.

The kidneys control the bones. Arthritis can be treated via the kidneys.

The kidneys govern water by transforming and transporting fluids throughout the body.Frequent urination, excessive fluid, swollen limbs, urgency and diarrhoea can be traced back to kidney weakness. The kidneys control birth, growth, development and human reproduction. Kidney weakness is a big factor in infertility or underdevelopment. Also, having children weakens the kidneys, as does ejaculation in men. Excessive ejaculation diminishes the kidney essence. Problems with premature ejaculation and male and female infertility would involve kidney treatments. The kidneys control the two lower orifices – the anus and the urethra. Urinary leakage, incontinence, nocturnal emissions and prolapse of the anus can be caused by weak kidneys.

The kidneys house will power. If you have weak kidneys your will power and determination will suffer. The kidneys open up into the ears. Tinnitus, hearing and ear problems are often the result of poor kidneys. The health of the kidneys can be seen through the health of the hair. Kidney energy makes the hair thrive. However, the hair is dispensable. If the kidneys are weak they must first provide essence to the other major organs. If there is no essence left, then the hair misses out. This is why hair falls out when people undergo chemotherapy.

The kidney is under assault from the toxic chemicals in the chemotherapy and the first thing it releases is the hair. If you have a problem with your kidneys you may be having dreams about water. If you have been having dreams about shipwrecks or drowning, then consider your kidney health.The kidneys have a special relationship with the heart and lungs so weakness of the kidneys is often reflected in reciprocal weaknesses in these organs. You might not realize that asthma is attributed to kidney weakness. The kidney weaknesses I have been discussing are not necessarily able to be picked up by medical tests. The weaknesses are often in the kidney channels. The emotion that affects the kidney is fear.

If you have suffered from excessive fear in your life then there is a big possibility that your kidneys have been weakened. When you are really scared you can feel pain in your kidneys. You could also urinate more frequently. Stress has an impact on the kidneys too. The adrenal glands sit right above the kidneys and when you are under stress they produce adrenaline. Adrenaline is a toxic chemical which needs to be dispersed by a fight or flight situation. However, if we just sit still, then the adrenaline remains in our bodies and will damage internal organs, the first being the kidneys. The kidneys resonate with the color black. Try to eat black sesame seeds, black wood ear fungus, black mushrooms and black pasta that has been colored with squid ink. Asian supermarkets stock plenty of naturally black foods.

One food that might not take your fancy but which is extremely beneficial to the kidneys is Sea Slug. Black in color, Sea Slug is available in the frozen food section of Chinese supermarkets. It will definitely benefit kidney yang and I have heard amazing stories about how it has brought about cures in people with huge health issues.

Just eating a little each day would be adequate.Kidneys are also tonified by eating beans as, under the doctrine of signatures, beans are shaped like kidneys. If you eat black beans you will be doubly blessed! Eating kidney meat is also beneficial for the kidneys (under the rule of like cures like).Walnuts are shaped like brains and they are excellent for brain health. Also, acupuncture is a wonderful therapy for strengthening the kidneys. Good luck in bringing your kidneys back to optimal health.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The number of adults around the world suffering from obesity rose from 200 million to 300 million in the year 2000 according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Females are more likely than males to suffer from obesity, while males are more prone to being overweight. That said, gender is irrelevant when it comes to people being more likely to suffer serious illnesses and diseases through carrying too much weight.

Illnesses you may incur through being overweight can include:

Diabetes

People who carry too much weight are twice as likely to contract diabetes type 2. By being as little as 12 to 20 pounds overweight, a person is much more likely to contract type 2 of this illness. Diabetes is not only a life-threatening illness but can also impact negatively on quality of life.

Through losing weight and increasing levels of exercise a person can dramatically lessen the likelihood of contracting diabetes while anyone who already has diabetes can improve their condition by losing weight. People who lose weight but already have diabetes can also experience a significant reduction in the amount of medicine they need to take.

Strokes or Heart Disease

Your likelihood of having a stroke or suffering heat disease is greatly increased if you are overweight. Losing weight greatly reduces the chances of developing either of these two life-threatening conditions.

By being overweight a person is twice as likely to acquire hypertension, which is a big contributor to heart disease and people having strokes. Losing weight helps lower levels of cholesterol, which will impact positively by lessening your chances of contracting these illnesses. People are also less likely to develop angina, an illness which results from less oxygen getting to the heart, as well as arrhythmias, heart failure and heart attacks.

Lessening your weight by as little as 5 or 10% will make a big impact on levels of cholesterol, heart function and blood pressure, meaning that losing weight is a powerful ally when fighting stroke and heart disease.

Cancer

Cancer is linked to obesity, with overweight females at greater risk of contracting gallbladder cancer or tumors which affect the uterus, cervix, ovary, colon or breast. Males who carry too much weight with them are at greater risk of getting cancer of the prostate, colon or rectum. People wanting to avoid contracting these weight-associated cancers can lessen the risk by losing weight and exercising more frequently.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis impacts on parts of the body like the hips, lower back and knees. It is an illness which affects the joints and gets worse when pressure on the joints is increased. If a person maintains a sensible weight then they can lessen the pressure added to important joints and lessen the impact of the illness.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a major illness which is related to people being obese. Some of the indicators of sleep apnea can be snoring or shortness of breath, which can lead to heart failure. One of the commonest effects of this illness is feeling sleepy during the daytime, which can be a cause of depression and anxiety. People who have sleep apnea and are carrying too much weight can benefit from losing weight. Weight loss can reduce symptoms of the condition or even eliminates the condition entirely.

Gout

The main reason for people contracting gout is increased levels of uric acid in the system. Obese people tend to contract gout more regularly while people who keep their weight to a sensible level lessen their chances of contracting gout. It is worth speaking to your doctor to see what foodstuffs can activate attacks of gout.

Arthritis

The bones are also at high risk in people who are carrying too much weight, Being obese can increase the chances of you contracting arthritis. As such, shedding weight can lead to an improvement in arthritis.

Gallbladder Illness

There are tenuous links connecting gallbladder illnesses to being overweight or obese, which require further proof. However, the links between gallstones and other illnesses of the gallbladder are more common in people who carry too much weight. Losing weight too quickly can also lead to gallstones, so when losing weight it is advisable to do so at a sensible rate.

Get Going and Get Healthy Now!

There are numerous advantages to losing weight so it is merely a case of getting going. Changes in daily life which reduce weight and improve general health and fitness are the ways to go and it’s worth speaking to a doctor who can advise you on the best ways to go about this.

Lots of people today choose to get started on losing weight by taking a trip abroad to a luxury resort or a health spa. This leap in the amount of medical tourists has seen specialist medical tourism clinics and resorts crop up all over the world to help people get fitter and lose weight.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

As more consumers place priority on their health, health supplements are fast becoming a popular choice.This focus is reflected in the booming growth of the U.S. dietary supplement market, presently estimated to be valued at $24-25 billion. In spite of prevailing doubts about the integrity of health supplement manufacturers, the rising cost of raw materials and new regulations, the health supplement industry is projected to rise by 4-6% in the next year. By the year 2010 growth in the global nutraceuticals industry is projected to reach $187 billion.

According to NMI’s 2007 Health & Wellness Trends Survey, the top health categories for supplements are weight loss, cardiovascular support, digestion, arthritis or joint pain relief, seasonal allergy relief, vision and eye health, and diabetes.”Customers believe in the industry. A recent study found that 34% of consumers looking to lose weight first turn to a dietary supplement as their adjunct in the battle against obesity,” says Douglas S. Kalman, director of nutrition and applied clinical research at Miami Research Associates and chair of the Nutrition in Complementary Care Dietetic Practice Group (NCC-DPG).

According to an annual survey conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Washington, D.C. “Consumers’ use of dietary supplements remained fairly consistent in 2007, with 68% of American adults saying that they take dietary supplements.”Consider these statistics by the Office of Dietary Supplements:

* 31.8% of American children use dietary supplements (18 and younger).

* 47% of American men use dietary supplements.

* 57% of American women use dietary supplements.

The most commonly used dietary supplements are multivitamins and minerals (18.3%). A recent study conducted by the NCAAM, shows a list of why people use dietary supplements, the most common reasons are general health, arthritis, memory improvement, to prevent osteoporosis, for energy, recommended by physician, friend, family or through media, for immune health, to prevent colds/influenza, and as sleep aids.Health supplements most commonly purchased are:

* 40% vitamins

* 29% herbals & botanicals (ginkgo, echinacea, St. John’s Wort, ginseng, garlic)

* 10% sports nutrition

* 8% minerals

* 8% specialty supplements (melatonin, fish oil, amino acids, etc.)

(www.snac.ucla.edu)

The top supplements used by consumers in 2007, in order of frequency are multivitamins, calcium, vitamin C, fish oil, vitamin E, antioxidants, vitamin B/B complex and omega 3s. (NMI survey).Why are Health Supplements Gaining Credibility?

There are more than 20,000 products on the market. Many consumers believe that health supplements can support their bodies to fight disease or improve health. Exactly why are health supplements gaining credibility?One of the reasons is the advances in science and technology. Most credible health supplement manufacturers use strict manufacturing policies combined with a professional team of researchers who develop products based on evidence based scientific research.

Through clinical studies and systematic reviews scientist evaluate the health benefits and safety risks of health supplements. This has built consumer confidence.An example of this is omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. There is strong evidence from epidemiologic and clinical trials indicating the consumption of omega-3 fatty acid as being beneficial to people who are at risk of coronary heart disease. The American Heart Association validates this: “Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people, and those at high risk of – or who have – cardiovascular disease”Consumer interest in health supplements is now reinforced by doctors and healthcare professionals.

A report from CRN’s Healthcare Professionals Impact Study states that “more than three-quarters of U.S. physicians (79%) and nurses (82%) recommend dietary supplements to their patients.” As dietary supplements receive more support from clinical trials, there will be a rise in the number of recommendations of health supplements by healthcare professionals to their patients.

Another factor which will boost future sales is the recent finalization of U.S. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) rules and requirements for the manufacture of dietary supplements and the new Adverse Event Reporting (AER) law. “The burden of compliance is really key for consumer confidence,” says Daniel Fabricant, vice president of scientific affairs, Natural Products Association (NPA), Washington, D.C. Health supplements are the future in preventive medicine. With DNA diagnostics becoming more common, and the role of nutrition against disease gaining surer footing, the health supplement industry is poised to meet the challenges of the future health industry.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Suspending the current medical approach in curing diseases for the moment, there are a number of intriguing possibilities that surface in examining the nature of these life forms, and the presently accepted approach to dealing with them. Though microbes are definitely a variation from our own physical form, there are some similarities worth noting. It has been observed that all life seems capable of some sort of social structure beyond the scope of individual members of a group, and within the confines of a collective communication with members of like kind. Survival depends on adaptation to hostile environmental changes, and the instinct for survival is intrinsic even in the lowest forms of life. When any sort of life is threatened with eradication, it takes whatever measures are within its capacity to preserve as much of its own kind as possible. This sort of natural function is true for both plants and animals, and has certainly proven equally true for even the microscopic forms of life. For years, modern medicine has approached the cure of diseases by launching attacks against microbes with chemicals aimed at killing the disease without harming the host. As the battle for our own survival continues, medicines intended for controlling illnesses have moved into categories that just treat symptoms while our own natural defenses battle for supremacy, or introducing cures that cause side effects which can be more harmful than the disease.

Every year, people stock up on cold medicines and prepare for injections concocted to immunize against the latest mutations of flu viruses. The forces of human medicine continue forward with trying to discover new ways to kill our competition, and remain true to the seemingly intrinsic force of our nature. Though this approach has proven partially effective, there are many signs that winning battles will not result in an ultimate victory over the diseases that plague our existence. With the current facts confronting us, it is time to consider the possibility that we are using the wrong approach to a lasting solution. As higher forms of life, we realize that uncontrolled disease has the potential to kill us. If we die, all the other life forms that depend on our physical bodies will eventually die as well. As we share the confines of our bodies with all the microscopic life that occupies the same space, it is obvious to human logic that any form of harmful disease is ultimately self defeating, because if the germ wins the war with our natural defenses, they ultimately perish along with the host environment.

Some recent medical studies have discovered that certain types of microbes have the ability to communicate with each other by releasing chemicals that act as a crude form of “talking” to one another on a collective level. Taking this discovery to the next level, it is possible that microscopic life forms also communicate in other ways as well. In other studies, it has been demonstrated that the power of human visualization used in fighting disease has also had some curative impact in isolated cases, though medical practice tends to discount the benefit of such techniques, except in extreme circumstances. Putting all this information together, it is possible to hypothesize that bacterial and viral colonies may act together in concert to form a collective “brain” that communicates directives and actions which control the activities of individual members. If microscopic life forms communicate purposeful activity via chemical or energetic means, it may be possible for humans to find new ways to join in on the conversation.

Though it is highly unlikely that microbes communicate in sophisticated ways resembling human thought or language, it is possible that they do communicate in ways that coordinate collective activities like reproduction, recognizing like kind, and locating the resources that help them sustain life. If science can discover how microbes interact with each other, it is possible to find ways to modify these behaviors to alter or confuse microbes in ways that have an effect on how they use our bodies to sustain themselves. This new approach could focus efforts on changing the microbe reproductive cycles, interrupting the recognition of like kind, turning the bacteria or virus cultures against themselves, or altering the recognition of resources they use to sustain life. There is also the possibility of harnessing the adaptive mutation mechanism to create new strains that are harmless or even beneficial to the human system. The future of medicine may well depend on our own ability to use our superior intelligence to communicate a new way to win our age old war against disease.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

As with most diseases, illnesses or infections that have become common around the world today, we are always looking for a healthier, more natural way to treat them.

We seem to trust the “the establishment” less and less. This is probably due to the many documented cases of drugs that have been prescribed for years turning out to be highly dangerous for proportions of the population.

So, turning to alternative treatments, which have in some cases been safely used for thousands of years, seems to many to be a safer and more natural option.

Although, we should not forget or underestimate the amazing impact that modern medicine has had on our health and longevity.

There are certain practices that are recognized to treat candidiasis (when candida albicans yeast overgrows), but let’s just for a moment explain what candida is, as this will go some way to explaining the best alternative medicines available for relief.

A Candida infection is usually caused when the candida yeast, found in the human gastrointestinal(GI) tract increases, sometimes at an explosive rate.

It is normally kept in check by the good bacteria in the gut, which are a line of defense against candida running rampant. These good bacteria and a healthy immune system are normally our safeguard against candidiasis.

If you do suffer from a candida infection, modern medicine practitioners will often turn to the traditional ways of treatment to complement any prescriptions that they may have given you.

One of probably the best ways of helping to treat Candida is by adopting a Candida Diet. This particular form of diet is designed to create an environment in the digestive system that is “unfriendly” to candida, and helps promote the growth of good bacteria.

It does this by reducing the foods that the candida thrives on, which includes alcohol, sugar, baked goods and processed foods.

It aims to help reduce the amount of sugar and yeast that your body absorbs whilst allowing the body’s own natural anti-fungal and probiotics defenses to do their work.

Another great way of dealing with the problem of Candida by using alternative medicines is taking specific herbs, which have shown to be beneficial. Have a look at the list below:

Pau D’Arco Bark – This contains anti-fungal properties and is often taken as a tea. It may also be taken as a vaginal douche once it has cooled.

Garlic – This contains compounds that are anti –fungal and anti-bacterial, which can help with even chronic candida overgrowth.

Aloe vera juice – Can help heal the gut lining which can become “leaky” in a sufferer with a candida overgrowth.

Horopito Aniseed – Has powerful anti fungal properties, which in studies has shown to speed up recovery from a candida infection.

These are just a few of the alternative medicines for Candida which you can use to treat infection, but there are many more topical treatments you can try too. These include tea tree or lavender essential oils, which are to be applied to the affected area 2 to 3 times each day and it is often recommended to apply them without dilution.

Before embarking on any of the above natural alternative, seek the advice of a nutritionist or a medical professional, as they will understand better your personal circumstances and be able to tailor a solution for you.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Prescribed Medicines

If you suffer from clinical or more severe forms of depression, then it likely that you will be prescribed medication by your Doctor. There are several different types available and these include Tricyclics (TCAs), Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) and many others. All of them work in various ways to alter the activity of certain chemicals in the brain that have an impact on our mood and how we feel.

Just as depression affects each individual differently, so too does the effect of any medication. After an assessment of your symptoms and the possibility of undesirable side effects, your Doctor will identify the most appropriate one to begin with and will probably start you on a low dose and if there is no change after a number of weeks, a higher dose or perhaps an alternative medication will be prescribed.

Over the Counter Medicines

There are many preparations on the market that can be bought over the counter, which are probably more suited to milder forms of depression but it is always important to discuss options with your Doctor first as even seemingly safe medicines can carry risks, particularly if you have other health problems and are already taking some form of medication.

SAMe

SAMe or S-Adenosylmethionine to use its full name, is a naturally occurring substance in the body that is involved in many biochemical processes. Research has shown that some people suffering from depression have lower levels than those who are not. SAMe appears to work by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, for example, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, all of which play an important role in determining our mood. One advantage of taking SAMe is that it can start to work quite quickly and has the added bonus of having fewer side effects than conventional medicine.

St John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort or Hypericum perforatum has increasingly been recognised for the beneficial effect it can have on mild to moderate depression. It appears to work, at least in part, in much the same way as Prozac by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin. One of the main concerns with St. John’s Wort is that it does interact with many other drugs to produce some undesirable effects so it is particularly important to discuss the implications of taking St John’s Wort with your GP first.

5-HTP

The full term for this is 5-hydroxytyptophan, which is a type of amino acid produced by the body that can be converted into serotonin. As well as lifting mood by increasing serotonin levels, it also appears to improve sleeping patterns, aids weight loss, and exerts a positive influence on many other physiological processes. It has been used to help alleviate the symptoms of migraine, insomnia and Fibromyalgia amongst others, but is most commonly used to help treat depression.

Fish Oil

People suffering from depression tend to have lower levels of Omega 3 fatty acids in their blood and supplementing with fish oil has been found to be effective in reducing the symptoms of depression and other mood related disorders including bipolar disorder and post natal depression. The most important Omega 3 fatty acids are Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), however, DHA is important for healthy structure of the brain but it is EPA that appears the most significant for healthy brain function on a day to day basis. EPA has powerful anti inflammatory properties, can increase serotonin levels and improve blood flow to the brain. Research indicates that fish oil with a high EPA content is better than standard fish oil containing lower ratios of EPA to DHA.

Homeopathic Remedies

There are a number of Doctors and other health professionals who also prescribe homeopathic remedies. Although it is possible to purchase homeopathic remedies over the counter, it is wise to seek the advice of a trained homeopath that will be able to take into account many other factors in order to give the most appropriate preparation. Homeopathy works on the philosophy that “like cures like” so that whatever causes the symptoms of a particular condition can be cured by the very same thing if given in a much diluted form. Examples of homeopathic remedies include Veratrum album, Natrium muriaticum and Ignatia, all of which can be used to treat depression. One of the main benefits of homeopathic remedies is that they are safe to use and you don’t have to discontinue other medications whilst taking them. The Homeopathic Association keeps a register of qualified doctors, nurses and dentists who are also qualified homeopathic practitioners.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

When I later began practicing psychiatry I naturally became very interested in the impact that one’s beliefs and emotions had on one’s physical health.

During that time I began to employ hypnosis to plumb the depths of the unconscious mind and found like many of my colleagues that one could very easily and quickly have profound effects on normal physiological mechanisms. For instance one could easily begin to influence such things as pain thresholds, blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, blood flow to various parts of the body and so on.

So clearly what is now called the mind-body link emerged and is now well ensconced in modern medicine in areas now known as psychoneurology, psychophysiology, and psychimmunology.

After practicing in these areas I began however to find that there was a much deeper layer that was beginning to emerge. That layer was connected to what some have called the emotional heart.

The emotional heart is for all practical purposes the seat of what I call “true human emotions” i.e. peace, love, joy, contentment, sadness, happiness etc.

This is distinct from what I call “conditioned emotions” such as fear, worry, envy, anger, anxiousness and so on. The latter are conditioned as a result of past life traumatic events that then become imprinted in each of us as past “traumatic” memories.

We all have them in one way or another because we all have an experiential understanding of the “conditioned emotions” I outlined above which stem from them.

Such conditioned emotions along with their associated memories which are essentially part of what many call a post traumatic syndrome can now be released from the mind and body readily and permanently.

When this is done something very interesting happens. Not only do the memories and their associated beliefs and emotions disappear but an entirely new state of being comes into being.

This state consists of some of the following experiences: feelings of happiness, joy, inner peace, lightness, contentment, buoyancy, expansiveness, resilience, health, a feeling of radiance, feeling more energized, feeling rejuvenated and looking and feeling more youthful.

What’s more these feelings (that are in essence what I call the Life Force Energy of that person) seem to originate from the emotional heart, or the heart, region and “flow” or spread to the rest of the mind and body.

What appears to be happening is that as the traumatic symptoms are released the heart and its positive emotional healing energy is re-instated into and throughout the mind/body thus restoring it to its healthy and youthful state.

It has been my experience over the last 10 years that a powerful internal shift to wellness and spiritual enlightenment takes place when such a release occurs.

What, in my view, is emerging is a new paradigm of understanding how we are put together so to speak. It is time that we start to recognize the emotional heart and the human life force energy and their powerful influence on health wellbeing and spiritual integrity.

If you’d like to learn more or when you are ready kindly visit the web link below where you can also request a free 1 hour introductory telephone consultation.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Times are tough. Even the government acknowledges that we’re in a recession. So we scrimp where we can and keep a sharp eye out for new ways to save. But there’s one area where spending a little now can actually save a lot later on. I’m talking about your health.

According to the Milken Institute, an independent economic think tank in California, more than half of all Americans suffer from one or more chronic diseases – and, as a result, it’s costing all of us more than $1 trillion each year. That’s the big picture.

On a more personal level, fighting cancer, heart disease, diabetes, COPD, or mental illness can cost you thousands of dollars yearly in medication, doctor visits, and treatment. Wouldn’t it be more cost-effective to prevent these health problems in the first place? Adding supplements to a healthy lifestyle can help you do just that.

The Basics

When money is tight, it’s important to prioritize. Which supplements are most essential? While everyone is different, there are a few nutrients that can benefit everyone. In my opinion, there are four supplements that are absolutely essential for good health – a multivitamin, an omega-3 fish oil supplement, alpha lipoic acid and vitamin D.

Your multivitamin may be the most expensive product you buy, but it is definitely the most important since, tablet for tablet, no other supplement covers as many nutritional bases. There are many multivitamins on the market – basic one-per-day multis and more comprehensive formulas that require 3 or more tablets per day.

There is a trade-off between the nutritional potency of a multi and the number of tablets in a suggested dose. Lower potency one- or two-per-day formulas cover the basic vitamin and mineral needs, but only the basics. Because you can’t put beneficial amounts into one or two pills, most multivitamins leave gaps. Higher-potency formulas require that you take 3 or more tablets per day, but they provide higher amounts of key nutrients and fewer nutritional gaps. This is definitely a case where you get what you pay for.

Omega-3’s have gotten a lot of press over the past decade – and with good reason. Studies show that omega-3’s from fish oil promote heart health, discourage runaway inflammation, keep our brain in top form, protect against Alzheimer’s disease, guard against cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, help ensure healthy bones, and boost immunity. To get the most out of your fish-oil supplement, it’s important that you take 3,000 to 4,000 mg. every day.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is another must-have. This vitamin-like antioxidant is soluble in both fat and water. One of ALA’s most valuable qualities is that it can re-activate other heart-healthy antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and coenzyme-Q10. Research out of Canada shows that ALA can modulate blood lipids, protect against LDL oxidation, and help lower blood pressure. For general antioxidant protection, I recommend supplementing your diet with 50 mg. of ALA twice a day.

Vitamin D is another superstar. These are very inexpensive softgels and very easy to take. There is abundant research underscoring the importance of vitamin D – from boosting bone and heart health to protecting against a variety of cancers. Most experts are recommending 1,000 IU per day of vitamin D, an amount far above what most multis provide.

Consider Adding on

Co-Q10 plays an important role in providing energy to the cells, especially those in the heart, and low levels are implicated in virtually all cardiovascular diseases, including angina, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure. Unfortunately, Co-Q10 levels decrease as we get older. And statin drugs deplete stores of this critical nutrient, making it an indispensable supplement for anyone taking these medications. Take at least 60 mg. daily.

Green tea extract offers protection against everything from heart disease to cancer. The key to green tea’s therapeutic benefits comes from water-soluble antioxidants called polyphenols and catechins. These natural disease-fighters neutralize a broad range of free radicals that can damage cells and lead to premature aging and disease. You can get the goodness in green tea by either drinking several cups a day or by taking a green tea supplement. Opt for the equivalent of 1,000 to 1,500 mg. daily.

Vitamin C is important for cardiovascular and immune health. But it also guards against gingivitis, cataracts and glaucoma, seasonal allergies and premature skin aging. If that weren’t enough, this free-radical fighter accelerates muscle recovery in athletes. For optimal antioxidant protection, take 2,000 mg. of vitamin C daily.

Pinpoint Your Health Needs

As I pointed out recently, adopting a healthy diet, exercising at least 30 minutes a day, taking a multivitamin, and keeping a lid on stress can go a long way toward preventing chronic disease. But, if you are at an increased risk for certain health problems, you can target these conditions with specific supplements.

If you suffer from arthritis, you probably already know that taking glucosamine and chondroitin can help slow down the deterioration of your joints. Despite attempts by conventional medicine to discount the efficacy of these two nutrients, hundreds of studies confirm that glucosamine and chondroitin can ease pain and may even help boost the integrity of your joints.

If heart disease runs in your family, consider taking resveratrol to protect against atherosclerosis. According to a new review, Chinese researchers have confirmed that resveratrol regulates how well your arteries expand and contract, fights against free radical damage, quells inflammation, prevents the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and keeps blood platelets from sticking together.

It’s also smart to minimize your cardiovascular risk factors like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. If your cholesterol levels are slightly to moderately high, consider taking red yeast rice. In one recent trial, 74 patients with high cholesterol were given either red yeast rice and fish oil or a statin drug. At the end of the study, the researchers noted that both therapies worked equally well to lower cholesterol levels. The one difference they did note? Those taking the red yeast rice and fish oil combo also lowered their triglyceride levels. The participants in the statin group didn’t see any difference in their triglycerides.

Borderline high blood pressure responds well to supplemental garlic. According to one review, garlic reduced systolic blood pressure by 16.3 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 9.3 mm Hg compared to a placebo. Clinical trials have successfully used 600 to 900 mg. per day in two or three divided doses.

Cancer is another potentially catastrophic disease where prevention can be key. If you or a close relative has a history of cancer, consider taking a supplement designed to protect against the specific type of cancer risk you may have. For instance, if the men in your family tend to develop prostate cancer, taking selenium can lower your risk. A double-blind trial of 1,312 men given 200 mcg. of selenium per day or placebo found that those taking the nutrient had 63 percent less risk of developing prostate cancer.

Men over 50 should also take beta-sitosterol to protect against benign prosthetic hyperplasia (BPH).

Women at risk of breast cancer should take supplemental broccoli extract along with their other supplements. Broccoli is rich in indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane – both proven cancer fighters that target breast tissue. And don’t forget your bones! Older women (and some men too) are at risk of osteoporosis. Taking 600 to 750 mg. of calcium twice a day with meals can help keep bones strong – especially if you take it along with the vitamin D you should already be taking.

One Last Thing…

No matter what supplements you take, you may be able to save some money with shrewd shopping. First and foremost, keep an eye out for sales and specials. Sign up for newsletters and promotional emails from your online supplement supplier. If your online retailer lets you sign up to receive re-ordering reminders or announcements about special offers, definitely do that.

Signing up for an auto-ship program can also save money – and it prevents you from running out of important nutrients. If you don’t want your supplements shipped to you automatically at set intervals (for example, once a month or once every two months), make sure that you order well-enough in advance so that you can use the least expensive shipping method without running out of your supplements.

Once you get your supplements, it’s important to store them properly so they stay as potent as possible. That means taking them out of your medicine cabinet and keeping them in a cool, dark place like your linen closet.

Research Brief…

It’s no secret that obesity is quickly becoming an epidemic in America. But here is a startling prediction: According to researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 86 percent of Americans could be overweight or obese by the year 2030! But, if you are among the millions who want to lose weight, forget crash diets.

Taking calorie restriction too far actually works against you, not only by slowing your metabolism, but also by weakening your bones. A study conducted at the University of Missouri found that after putting middle-aged women on a very low-calorie diet for three months, followed by a weight-maintenance diet for nine months, the dieters’ bone-turnover rate was significantly higher when they were losing weight too quickly.

If you are planning to lose more than five percent of your total body weight, keep your calorie count to at least 1,200 calories a day and incorporate some high-impact, weight-bearing activities into your exercise routine to keep bones strong.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Even in the era of doctor making house calls, people had confidence in their doctor, who, back then, represented the health care system. Confidence was based on trust, that the doctor was offering the best treatment and advances possible.

Today, patient trust is dwindling. Yet, there is still a great deal of trust in doctors and nurses. In a recent poll, the professions that were most greatly admired and respected by the public, second to firemen, were doctors and nurses.

Lack of confidence stems not from the health providers themselves, but from the system that the doctors and nurses work for.

Let’s examine some potential areas eroding public confidence in our health care system:

1.) Speed: Our system has always moved quickly, but the current pace is nothing short of phrenetic. Oh yes, a doctor or nurse could move slower, but the price would be at the expense of patients who would not be seen or cared for that day. Quietly, health providers talk about feeling like they are part of a “conveyor belt” that treats paperwork more than it does people.

Indeed, the amount of paperwork has increased exponentially and the “system” doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Insurance companies, particularly managed care, has heavily contributed to this additional layer of bureaucracy taking time away from patient care. At the risk of offending managed care companies, this is the truth. Managed care was originally designed to contain costs. But the impact on care of patients is one that has yet to be determined.

2.) Commercialiazation of health care: commercials etc….erodes public confidence. Patients regularly verbalize an overwhelmed and distorted image of the role of medication from watching television commercials. This is not the patient’s fault! And it works both ways, commercials can be suggestive, or implant resistance in patients who might genuinely benefit from a trial of medication. Patient’s decisions are influenced by marketing, rather than medical facts, and that just doesn’t make good clinical sense.

3.) “Pill popping society” – stems in part from commercialization but also from a stressed society looking for ways to make it easier to cope

4.) Conventional health care has yet to accept natural modalities as part of its treatment regimens. Yet, public opinion on this matter is very evident. Annual spending on Complementary/Alternative modalities exceeds ______/year. Yet, a large reason for this lack of integration into conventional health care remains lack of scientific research. Without large funding sources like pharmaceutical companies, natural treatments have been left largely to a word by mouth market.

And the word has spread like wildfire. And most often from people with chronic health challenges whose health has been restored. Yet why haven’t these potentially life-saving remedies been studied? In fact, for many health providers in conventional medicine, caring for people suffering with these chronic health challenges, it is heart wrenching not to be able to offer people more hope.

5.) The U.S. Health care system is rated 37th in the world according to the World Health Organization. Clearly these dismal results becry the need for health care solutions and transformation for the sake of our people.

Health: not simply the eradication of disease but the concept of healing, restoration and rejuvenation, particularly for those with chronic health conditions. Included in this is the incorporation of preventative health care into mainstream medicine.

Transformation of health care = Hope for all

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The World Health Organization estimates three to five million severe cases of influenza worldwide annually with up to 500,000 deaths annually. The economic impact of influenza, including both direct and indirect costs, in the United States alone is estimated between $70 billion and $170 billion annually (2003 figures).

High risk groups include people over age 65, young children, and people with chronic or underlying diseases like heart disease. In the case of flu epidemics, high risk groups also include health care and emergency workers.

While most of the deaths occur among the risk group of people over age 65, some of the highest direct costs occur when children need hospitalization. Hospital stays and treatment for seriously ill children can cost from $7,000 U.S. to $40,000 U.S. (Keren, Pediatrics, 2006).

Preventing the flu is the best way to avoid this tremendous personal and economic cost. To help with flu prevention, the Center for Disease Control recommends a flu shot annually unless there are allergies, previous reactions to flu shots, or current illness. They do not recommend flu shots for children under the age of six months.

Additional preventive measures include washing your hands frequently, avoid touching your nose, mouth, or eyes when around people who have the flu, staying home when you are sick, and avoiding close contact with ill people if possible.

Basic healthy habits will also keep your immune system strong to help fight infections. Eat nutritious food, drink plenty of water, exercise daily, don’t smoke, get sufficient rest, and manage stress levels.

Another way you might prevent the flu is gargling with green tea. Japanese researchers studied elderly patients, a very high risk group, confined to nursing homes (Yamada, Journal Alternative Complementary Medicine, 2006). After all nursing home residents received a flu vaccination, half gargled three times daily with green tea extract and half gargled three times daily without green tea extract. During the three winter months of testing, the green tea extract gargle group had only 1.3% infection and the water gargle group had 10% infection–a reduction of 87%. There’s more information on flu prevention at http://www.green-tea-health-news.com/flu-prevention.html.

Preventing the flu, not only with vaccinations, but also healthy habits, including green tea can help us all to lower the suffering, excessive costs, and economic impact of influenza.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Why is it that many men look at rope skipping as effeminate, or a fluffy form of exercise as my father always used to put it? I mean, the great boxers of the world use skipping as part of their rigorous exercise regime, and I don’t think anyone would dare to call them effeminate. I guess the problem is because we don’t see men skipping in public places, only girls, and kids at that.

Well, there are many health benefits to be had from skipping. In fact, rope skipping is a brilliant cardiovascular exercise and that’s according to the U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Council. You’re probably wondering what can be so great about skipping right? Ok, let’s outline the benefits of this underrated form of exercise.

I’ll start by comparing it with other, more common exercises. Take running or jogging for example. Each foot absorbs up to 5 times the body weight from the force of the impact as the foot hits the ground. Over time, this impact can cause reversible and irreversible damage to the feet, ankles, knees, and hips. We’re kind of used to seeing athletes suffering such injuries. The only difference between them and those of us that jog for fitness, is that their extreme fitness regimes speed up the process due to over exertion.

Now with rope skipping, the shock of hitting the ground is absorbed by both feet. This is much better for the exerciser as it allows the calf muscles to control and absorb the impact, so you can see that it puts much less strain on the bones and muscles that jogging or running.

Aerobic exercise, that it any kind of exercise that increases the need for oxygen, has skipping included among its recommend activities. To get any benefit out of skipping, or any other form or aerobic exercise, it must be performed between 3-5 times a week for about 20 minutes per session. You don’t need to do all twenty minutes at once though, as 4 sets of 5 minutes or whatever you’re comfortable with will suffice. Mind you, you must exert yourself as you need to get that heart racing and show a bit of sweat to show for you efforts.

Additionally, aerobic exercise is great for improving heart and lung health, not to mention shedding a few pounds in the process. I’ve outlined below a well known formula for working out your training range:

220 – (your age) = Max HR (in beats per minute)

Max HR x (.55 to .85) = 55% to 85% of Max HR

For example:

220 – 35 (years old) = 185 (beats per minute)

185 x .55 = 101.75 (beats per minute)

185 x .85 = 157.25 (beats per minute)

Now round off these numbers.

So, 102 to 157 beats per minute is the training range of the 35 year old in this example.

Here are a few more useful tips on the benefits of rope skipping:
By jumping through a rope at about 130 revolutions per minute is about the equivalent of running at 6 miles per hour or cycling 12 miles per hour. Just 10 minutes of rope skipping is equal to a one-mile run.

How to choose the right skipping rope?

Hold the rope and stand with your feet on the middle of it. If the length of the rope is correct, then the handles should just about reach your armpits. Also, make sure the handles are thick and feel comfortable when you grip them.

When skipping, you should look for a cushioned surface to skip on. A good sized carpet remnant is perfect. Try to avoid hard surfaces like concrete whenever possible, as hard surfaces can increase the impact on joints.

Make sure you have well-cushioned athletic shoes just as you would for walking or running.

As with all new exercise make sure you start slowly and gradually increase session time over the course of a few weeks. It’s important to allow your leg muscles get accustomed to the exercise.

Good luck.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Like the word ‘colon’, the water closet (WC) is not a conversational subject to have in a social event and definitely not at the table over meals. Many prefer not to talk about it. But it does has a HUGE impact on us – the most modern and civilized species. The fact that we use it daily, it would not be complete if this is not mention as part of healthy living.

I have read an article by Dr.William on the WC entitled “The Importance of Squatting” (Dr Welles, a chiropractor/nutritionist/ kinesiologist . had studied with and supported the work of the late Dr. Bernard Jensen on colon management) whereby he mentioned how the squatting toilet was evolved to the current sitting WC.

Our forefathers were using the squatting position for elimination long before sitting toilet existed. But how many people know the story of the toilet? What is the impact it has on us – our body and our health – changing from the squatting to sitting position for elimination?

History recorded that the sitting WC was actually designed by a cabinet maker and later improvised upon by a plumber. Both men had no knowledge of human physiology, anatomy and medicine. What is your reaction or response to this?

The chair-like WC was built for the royalties in England. It gained popularity during the Industrial Revolution in the 17th century. It spread very quickly to other “civilized” countries simultaneously with the arrival of plumbing which improved sanitation, provided clean disposal instead of the awkward use of chamber pots and/or the unhygienic way of dumping in the streets. It soon became a symbol of “progress” of western civilization, and “creativity” that Man could “upgrade” Nature and transcend the primitive practices of the natives in the colonies. The “White Man’s Burden” typified the condescending Victorian attitude toward other races and cultures.

By 1900s, doctors raised concerns with the increasing number of chronic ailments, especially the colon. Many leading medical authorities then had already questioned the faulty design of sitting toilet and its impact on health and wellbeing.

The sitting position exerts much strain on the rectum and cecum. This leads to hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, prolapse of the pelvic floor, any many other diseases. Dr. Berko Sikirov, an Israelis, has published a clinical research on squatting to cure hemorrhoids. He said that only the genuine squatting position, with the body’s full weight on the feet, has the advantage over the conventional sitting position

Dr Welles said, “Uncivilized societies have always squatted. In the natural squatting position the bowel is supported and aligned by the thighs’ contact with the abdominal wall and many significant health benefits result.” “The design of the modern-day toilet was created with absolute disregard for the anatomy of the human body.” Dr Welles was inspired to research into the dynamics of elimination. His findings led him to several discoveries and a solution to our civilized problem.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

You may not even realize that your stress has progressed to something more serious. Stress and hectic lifestyles are very common in our society. Unfortunately this means many people ignore the warning signs that stress is evolving into the next stage. Be sure to know the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. Stress medicine (this isn’t a medical term; just a simple reference within this article) is one of the best forms of treatment for these mental health conditions.

There are four major categories of medications for psychiatric symptoms; two of which correlate closely to stress: Antidepressants (covered in another article with a very similar title) and anti-anxiety medications. The remaining two categories will only be touched on.

Anti-anxiety and sedative medications: These help reduce anxiety and feeling overly stimulated. Some of these meds also help people sleep.

These particular meds are unique because they take only one or two hours to take effect. Also be aware some of them can be addictive and long-term use should generally be avoided. As always, work closely with your doctor.

They generally fall into a class of drug called “beta-blockers” or “benzodiazepines.” The beta-blockers are best for people with event-related anxiety. For example: extreme stage fright. They block the physical symptoms (rapid heart rate, sweating, tightness in the chest) without affective mental function.

Inderal is one of the more common beta-blockers. Side effects include weakness and cold hands and feet.

Benzodiazepines act as sedatives on the nervous system. Some of the more common ones are Ativan, Benadryl, Buspar, Centrax, Klonopin, Noctec, Restoril, Serax, Valium, and Xanax. Again, not everyone experiences side effects but they include: over-sedation, fatigue, and problems with memory or other cognitive abilities.

The other two categories: Just so you know what they’re called, the other two major categories are “anti-psychotic medications” and “mood stabilizers.” The anti-psychotic medications are designed to reduce symptoms of psychosis. This includes false perceptions (hallucinations), false beliefs (delusions), and confused thinking (thought disorders). Mood stabilizing medications help treat mood extremes. These include mania and depression.

There are many types of stress medicines available to combat stress and the depression or anxiety it may cause. Discuss your condition thoroughly with your physician. Share your symptoms and any other medications you may be taking. It generally takes time to find the best drug and dosage for you. There’s some trial and error involved.

Ask plenty of questions so you understand how the medication may affect your health. They all have potential side effects and some are serious. Again, keep in close contact with your doctor.

And any successful treatment program includes many actions you can take on your own. These activities include self help programs, exercising, maintaining a healthy diet, and avoiding stressful environments. Chosen correctly and when used correctly stress medicine can have a wonderful impact on your quality of life.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

After studying many dietary theories, I’ve come to the conclusion that Chinese dietary theory makes the most sense of any approach to healthy eating. Chinese medicine have been utilized for thousands of years and has much to teach us about feeding our kids.

Prevention is key to our health and well being. It is so much easier to stay well than it is to get well once we’ve become sick. The Chinese have a saying that treating a disease is like digging a well after you’ve become thirsty. We might think of it closing the barn door after the horse has run off! Consider this approach with feeding your children. We’ve all heard lots about the skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity, food allergies, asthma, behavior problems and many other disorders. What can we do on a daily basis to make sure our children won’t have to suffer from these problems?

Here are some pointers from the wisdom of Chinese medicine that will help to make sure your baby/ toddler gets off to a good start.

Introducing solids

Your baby’s first foods are essential and will determine the health of your baby for the next couple of years.

Here are some common mistakes parents make when starting solids:

* Don’t start too early- make sure your baby is ready. There is no advantage to pushing solids earlier, there is no proof that your child will sleep thru the night if you start solids early- its simply not true. Introducing solids too early may cause food allergies, digestive problems and a host of other issues.
* Do not introduce too many different foods too rapidly. Take at least one week for each food. PAY ATTENTION! Are your child’s poops affected? Signs of indigestion: gas, loose stools, constipation, increased mucus, skin eruptions. Discontinue that food and wait a few weeks or longer before re-introducing it.
* Don’t introducing the wrong foods Which foods are the wrong foods? Foods that make the foundation of the Standard American Diet: Baked flour products, cheese, sweets, ice cream, chemicalized processed food products. !If you introduce these food products too early before the digestive system is ready to handle them, you’ll end up with dampness, phlegm, and stagnation. in the digestive tract. According to Chinese medicine, these can result in allergies, skin problems and chronic upper respiratory issues.

Growing children’s digestive systems are cold by nature so they need WARM food.

Babies do not have molars to grind food! Therefore, food should be pureed like a thick soup use a blender or a food mill. Serve food warm, mashed, pureed and cooked, Never raw. Introduce one single food at a time, this way you can see if the child can truly digest that food.

Think of introducing foods as a very important form of an elimination diet! This is most important action you can take to avoid the creation of food allergies.

Here are some ideas for first foods:

* Start with well cooked rice, pureed into a congee- a soupy rice porridge.
* Follow with cooked pureed carrots, roasted butternut squash
* Mashed sweet potatoes
* Mashed regular potatoes
* Mashed cooked peas or beans.
* WAIT until way later to introduce animal protein, cheese, wheat, corn
* GO ORGANIC! DO NOT TAKE YOUR CHANCES WITH GMO FOODS Kids are not just small adults. Pesticide residues do have an impact on growing babies.

Here’s a list of foods to avoid in the first years:

* Fruit juices. The sweetness of juice can be especially harmful for small babies and toddlers AND can create a sugar addiction! Stick with room temperature or warm water. There is NO nutritional benefit in giving any child juice! Everyone is much better off eating fruit and drinking water instead. Starting kids on juice will not only create unnecessary mucus/ upper respiratory infections, it will help to create picky eating behavior into the toddler and preschool years.
* Bread and all baked flour products do not supply significant nutrition and can act the same way that refined sugar does.
* Raw veggies- very indigestible for small children.
* Cheese- super phlegm/ mucus forming.
* Sweets/ Ice cream wait as long as possible to introduce these completely unnecessary foods.

We all love sugar and sweets. Some of us love them too much! This is not a perfect world and sugary food products are everywhere. As parents, it is up to us to monitor and limit the amount of sweets that our kids eat. We do have to step in and set limits when sugar intake becomes excessive to the point of setting up disease mechanisms.

The list of foods to avoid looks like the standard American diet that so many of us feed our toddlers and small children. No wonder we see so many food allergies, skin eruptions and drippy snotty noses! All of these foods are damp and mucus causing according to Chinese medicine!

Most importantly, feed your children real food, not food products. It’s easy to mash a bit of roasted butternut squash as you make some squash or other real food for the rest of your family. No need to be a short order cook, feed your baby/ toddler what the rest of the family eats. Just make sure you and the rest of your family is walking the real food walk! It really is more convenient in the long run to have your kids healthy, introducing the right foods at the right time is the secret formula for success.

Think of the digestive system as a stove, food needs to be warm to be effectively digested. Think body temperature around 100 degrees for all food and drink. If you think about it, breast milk is delivered at the ideal temperature for babies. Do not serve food to baby at room temperature, warm it up a bit to support digestion. Never give a baby or toddler cold, chilled or frozen foods. This will cause dampness/ stagnation which results in digestive tract complaints, mucus and skin problems.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Diabetes is a disease that is rapidly getting out of control in the United States. The incidence rate is approaching 15 to 20 percent in certain population groups such as the elderly. Non-insulin dependent diabetes is the most common form of the disease. It is characterized by low sugar levels in the body and its cause is often related to lifestyle issues. It is interesting to note that the earliest mention of a condition that appears to be non-insulin dependent diabetes in ancient Chinese texts referred to it as a disease of the rich. It suggested that the rich would not be willing to give up the excesses of their lifestyle.

The disease is far more prevalent in the United States and Europe than in the Orient, but it is on the increase there. This is thought to be the result of the modernization that is bringing the same harmful diet and lifestyle choices as are available in the United States. This idea of the effect of lifestyle on the onset and course of the disease suggests the first approach of Traditional Chinese Medicine to its treatment. First comes diet and improved lifestyle. Any of the twenty or so herbs that have been used in the treatment of diabetes for centuries would come next.

Acupuncture is the third step. It has been said that an acupuncturist is going to be better able to treat diabetes simply because he will tend to spend more time with the patient than most busy Western doctors. This is because the acupuncturist is interested in the lifestyle of the patients. He needs to know factors about his life and condition that the doctor would not deem important. This is because the acupuncturist is going to see even the diabetes as a symptom of something amiss in the body, and not the problem itself.

For example, although many patients showing the onset of diabetic symptoms are also suffering from weight problems and might even be obese, this could be misleading. Overweight people are thought to have an excess of yin and a deficiency of yang. Closer examination will often reveal a deficiency of yin. This deficiency causes excessive heat that further stagnates the yin until the qi is impacted. The patient suffering from advanced diabetes will end up with deficiencies in qi, ying, and yang.

There are as many as twenty good energy points for the treatment of low blood sugar. Usually, a dozen of these points are selected in each treatment depending on the patients overall situation. Many Western doctors have begun to give a cautious recommendation to the consideration of Chinese medicine. They have not been able to argue with the results. Although they do not accept the premises of why these treatments are successful, they will still suggest that it might be attempted as long as the more conventional treatment methods are retained. There is actually much common ground. Both disciplines recognize the impact of diet and lifestyle and their recommendations for maintenance are generally the same.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Many people today have a renewed interest in the whole area of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. This is a very good thing because Conventional Medicine cannot always provide a cure for any illness that comes along

You may have heard the saying “after [some illness] he or she was never the same again”! The patient may have received some kind of “cure” but it left their lives ruined by some combination of the experience and the drugs/ therapies involved.

Illness Really Is Preventable

The single most important thing to understand about your own health is that illness is preventable.
Now I don’t mean things like the common cold – although even this can be preventable to a certain point. I am talking about lifestyle changes, that can improve your health significantly and more importantly can prevent many of the deadly time bombs that are ticking away inside all of us.

Now of course none of us can prevent every illness – all of us will become ill at some point or other. However we can all look after our bodies to such a point that we are in a condition to recover, when that illness strikes.

Its a simple fact of life that if your body is kept in peak fitness, then you will always recover from any illness much faster, than people who are basically unfit, overweight, living on junk food, not taking sufficient exercise, having a poor diet etc.

In addition if you keep your body in a good condition, you will automatically be avoiding many of the illnesses that may strike.

Its All In The Mind!!

Many medical tests have been done over many centuries to show that merely giving someone a pill, which they think has some wonderful healing properties, will have a noticeable impact on someones’ health and their overall medical condition.

This of course is well known as the “placebo” effect, but it illustrates very importantly the power of the “mind” in the psychology of wellness. If you really believe that you will get better then there is a good chance you will!!

Jesus The Master “Mind” Healer

Whether you have any religious belief or not, you cannot but be amazed, by the power and hypnotism of a religious teacher, telling people they will be healed if they can but believe it.

We should all take on board this strong belief in the mind that we will be well, that we will avoid illness, that we will live a strong healthy lifestyle, good diet etc.

You Have To Walk The Walk!!

To prevent illness you have to consider all the time your health and your lifestyle, your diet etc.

When you are hungry and away from home and thinking of getting a “bite to eat” – do you consider whether what you are about to eat, is healthy or not?

I believe you should always be thinking about your life, every day. This way you are alive to the fact that we all get old, and that life is in fact very fragile.

Conclusion – Yes You Can Prevent Illness!!

Always remember you are responsible for your own health. Its not your parents fault you get ill or someone else that just passed some illness on to you. In the end it’s your responsibility.

Use you mind to educate you body against illness, listen to what that voice in your head tells you. Maybe you need a break, maybe you just need to go and lie down for a while to help your body recover. Go on a Sabbatical out in the middle of nowhere with no radio and no TV just to unwind, and allow your body to recover itself.

Be aware of the value of diet and exercise, always be asking yourself what the consequences for your body and your health are of what you are doing
If you take these simple steps you will prevent much of the illnesses that may come your way. You will put your body in such a strong position that illness if it comes, will not be able to rob you of your life and your enjoyment.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

What’s astonishing is that these natural medicines haven’t been dented by the gradual increase of modern medicines. In fact, these cures are moving from strength to strength. Natural health therapies such as homeopathy, traditional Chinese and Oriental methods are worldwide famous for their positive impact. And that is the reason why more and more modern medicines are investing their research and interest in natural medicines. The one potent reason for this lies in the fact that these naturally solutions have no possible side effects. Add to that, the medicine tends to work better once the cause is known or addressed.

Within the genre of botanical medicines, one of the most famous and effective practice marks its arrival in the form of aromatherapy. It is still used to treat certain body ailments and helps in relaxing your mind and body. Ancient Chinese and Indian medicines are well known examples of any such practices and are still doing great. Now-a-days, people are falling pray to foods with processed ingredients, pesticides and other harmful ingredients, thereby putting their health at the maximum risk. In order to cut this maximum risk into half, one of the most common natural remedies is the inclusion of herbal plants.

Very rarely a medicine comes that symbolizes almost all cultures around the world with a potential mix of herbal extracts. Herbal medicines may also be taken in the form of tea, tablets, capsules and other possible means of extracts. There are many proven benefits of these herbal medicines that are listed as under:

* Meditation, massage, mind and body exercises (such as Yoga and Tai Chi) are some of the important techniques performed by these herbal wonders.
* Includes non-medicinal based healing and treatment such as sufficient exposure to sunlight.
* Besides everyday herbal remedies, herbal medicines can treat many health problems and diseases such as high cholesterol, arthritis, weight loss, flu and cold.

In the real sense, the idea is to strengthen and heal your body to lead a healthy life. These herbs remedies are aimed towards treating common health disorders and for this, nature has endowed us with limitless arrays of herbal cure such as lavender, eucalyptus oils, green tea and lemon oils to name a few. Green tea, for example, is quite effective in reducing cancer and certain heart diseases. Similarly, eucalyptus oils deal with complicated respiratory ailments.

However, it’s a case of tragic satire that some people born of the nature are averse to these natural medicines. In other words, they are reluctant to reap the benefits of natural cure; reasons cited being laziness, drug addiction, racism, anti-Christ factor and other apprehensions or skeptic thoughts.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

If this scene sounds familiar, the problem is clear: your talk is missing the element of “relatability.” The concept of chiropractic sounds great, but your audience members are not transitioning the idea into a reality that will actually improve their everyday lives. In the end, they’re leaving your talk without setting appointments.

It Happened To Me

Here’s a quick story for you. A few months ago, I needed some dental work. I asked my dentist how this procedure would prevent my problem from returning. I love my dentist, but his answer quickly spiraled into a lengthy explanation of enamel, roots and nerves. His passion for dentistry was evident… and as much as I wanted to care, my mind was starting to wander.

The problem is, my dentist was talking too much about “features”. He wasn’t addressing what was on MY mind, about the results I’d experience. You may be doing something similar in your health talk. It’s an honest oversight, but as chiropractors, we take for granted what we know. The fact is, you may need to do a better job of connecting the dots for people. And people want you to connect the dots for them. They want to understand.

What’s the solution then, without having to focus on headaches and back pain?

The below 3 tips will show you the most effective ways to touch upon symptoms in your presentation- to add that “relatability” factor- while remaining true to your philosophy.
How do I know this works? As the “Get Past The Gatekeeper Specialist”, my expertise is “getting into the minds” of laypeople, to learn how they’re perceiving what you say.

Top 3 Ways To Help Your Audience “Get It” (So They REALLY See The Value!)

1. After defining the subluxation, are you showing your audience exactly HOW it can cause the symptoms they’re experiencing?

It’s the difference between people thinking, “Oh, that subluxation stuff is pretty interesting,” versus “Ah, so THAT’S why my headaches won’t go away!”

You can accomplish this by adding: “Now that I’ve defined subluxation for you, here’s how having one will actually impact your life, on a day-to-day basis.” Follow this with a simple visual and an easy-to-understand, brief discussion on how a subluxation causes the nerve changes that lead specifically to inflammation, symptoms, immune problems, pain, etc.

2. When defining the adjustment, I’m guessing you’re saying, “The purpose of an adjustment is to take pressure off of your nerves so your body can function properly.”

A good definition, yes. But it falls short if you want people to say, “Chiropractic is what I need, now!” At this point, you may be thinking that people should understand why getting adjusted would help them. But again, you have to connect those dots. Your audience may still be missing the big picture.

Follow your definition with something like, “When you remove the interference, you’re actually undoing the damaging effects of a subluxation- specifically, the inflammation and imbalances that lead to everyday symptoms and disease.”

3. Perhaps you explain that medications and surgeries are devastating to the body. You present alarming statistics on medication-related deaths, side-effects and the pharmaceutical industry.

But, the memory of you stating, “X people per year die of drug-related deaths,” may go out the window in face of a throbbing headache and a bottle of Tylenol nearby. Or, people may not even associate over-the-counter medications with serious health dangers. To make it more identifiable for your audience, add statistics on Tylenol, cough medicine, Tums and other commonly purchased drugs.

Explain how each of these medications will wreak havoc upon the body and will impact daily life. Mention how migraine medicine often causes even worse “rebound” pain. Or, how just one single aspirin causes 1 tsp. or more of stomach bleeding. Discuss that over time, the body needs a higher dosage of a drug to receive the same effect.

Then, Zip It!

Don’t feel like you have to explain every point in an elaborate fashion! If you try, you’ll wind up confusing people. Keep it basic. All in all, if your talk is more identifiable to your audience members, they’ll spend less time trying to “get it”, and more time having the “Ah-ha” chiropractic thoughts that result in new patient appointments.

They’re after her… chiropractic marketing companies aren’t pleased with Dr. Jen, the “Get Past The Gatekeeper Specialist”, because she’s let the cat out of the bag. She’s telling you exactly how to get onto speaking calendars of your local schools and businesses, so you can use your lay lecture to skyrocket your new patient numbers, and save oogles of money on marketing expenses.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The Gallup Organization Well Being Index, the country’s largest poll of health and well-being, polls at least 1,000 adults daily. Here are some of their recent findings:

-Almost 40% of those polled said they were significantly stressed the day before.
-Two- thirds reported at least one chronic health problem, including hypertension and high cholesterol.
-28% claimed they were not well rested.
-Two-thirds of working adults are overweight or obese.

Based on responders’ answers, the impact of negative work environment alone results in 12.3 million sick days a month nationwide amounting to about $14 billion a year in wages.

In addition to these statistics, The American Psychological Association published an online study reflecting the responses of 1,848 adults. Their findings include the following:

-77% experienced physical symptoms during the last month as a result of stress
-73% experienced psychological stress during the last month
-74% find work a significant source of stress
-48% of adults lay awake at night because of stress
-43% overeat or eat unhealthy foods because of stress
-55% reported varying degrees of lost productivity while at work during the past month
-7% have sought professional support during the past year

To help us evaluate the financial impact of these findings, let’s consider one chronic illness, diabetes.

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing, partly as a result of obesity. According to the American Diabetes Association, the total annual economic impact of diabetes in 2007 was estimated to be $174 billion. This figure includes medical costs, indirect costs related to increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, disease related unemployment disability, and loss of productive capacity due to early mortality. According to the ADA, 20% of health care dollars is spent caring for someone with diabetes.

The impact of stress on diabetics is well documented. Not only does stress directly impact blood sugar control, but, when stressed, people use unhealthy coping mechanisms such as overeating, smoking and drinking alcohol. Stress also directly impacts the immune system which inhibits healing.

Wounds heal much more quickly in the absence of stress as shown by Janice Kiecolt-Glaser , Ohio State University School of Medicine, who observed that a pencil eraser size wound took 9 days longer to heal in a group of care givers who were under stress.

If we were to integrate stress management techniques and lifestyle changes into the care of diabetics, the savings could be astronomical.

Let’s consider more facts from “Stress in America”. People are losing sleep as a result of stress. People overeat and experience cravings when they have too little sleep. Sleepiness can lead to disruption of family life, an elevated rate of auto accidents (as much as 7 fold increase) occupational accidents, impaired immune function and increased cardiovascular events.

Forty-three percent of those surveyed reported overeating in response to stress. We see the cycle continuing ad infinitum: people experience stress, overeat in response, become obese, are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues and orthopedic issues.

What do we do with this information?

Employers are paying a large portion of these costs in the form of absenteeism, presenteeism (employees who come to work ill, share that illness with others, and are less productive), health insurance premiums and Worker’s Compensation premiums. They are also in a position to reduce the stress reported by 74% of the APA survey who say that work is a significant source of stress in their lives.

If you are an employer, please consider becoming pro-active in implementing changes. Consider the following interventions personally and for your company’s wellness program:

1. Schedule time to meditate daily.

The Wall Street Journal, November 5, 2004, Scan of Monks’ Brains show Meditation Alters Structure and Function, talks about Neuroplasticity ” the brain’s recently discovered ability to change its structure by expanding or strengthening circuits that are used and by shrinking or weakening those that are rarely used. Just as aerobics sculpts the muscles, mental training sculpts gray matter in ways scientists are only beginning to fathom.”

For those who find it difficult to meditate, consider starting with a relaxation CD. It is simple, easy to use and cost effective.

2. Develop a culture of empowerment and responsibility.

3. Provide encouragement and opportunities for employees to adopt healthy habits.

4. Mediate differences of opinion.

5. Ask employees for input and hear their response.

6. Create a comfortable and peaceful work environment.

Incorporating these simple and cost effective actions can and will have a huge impact on personal lives, productivity and ultimately costs associated with health care.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

* Asphyxiation

* Burns

* Crush injury

* Drowning

* Environmental exposure

* Fractures

* Group infections

* Historically poor health

* Impale

* Jolts

* Knucklehead

* Laceration

* Mental health

* Nutrition

Asphyxiation covers everything from smoke inhalation to oxygen-poor environments to noxious gasses to chemical weapons.

Burns may be thermal burns, such as those found in fires and explosions; chemical burns, as found in chemical weapons and inadvertant chemical releases; as well as radiation burns from criticality and non-criticality events alike.

Crush injuries include everything from motor vehicle accident related injury to entrapment under a fallen building and cave collapses.

Drowning is quite obvious.

Exposure includes exposures to hot, cold environments as well as radiation in both the criticality and non-criticality type event.

Fractures are not limited only to bones, but to any body tissue or shock sensitive organ system.

Group infections deal with the events of the sanitation that impact evacuees, refugees and even the rescuers (everybody has heard of the “FEMA flu”). Group infections also include epidemics, pandemics and biological weapons.

Historically poor health deals with that 97% of all medical care rendered after the disaster. It is the exacerbation of pre-existing medical conditions that is inherent when chronically ill people are exposed to austere medical environments.

Impalement is again as obvious as drowning. It includes not only falling upon an object, but being thrown against a penetrating object or having a penetrating object thrown through you. Thus, it includes bullets as well as shrapnel.

Jolts are simply electrical injuries.

Knuckleheads represents all of the group events that culminate in the social anarchy like that which surrounded Hurricane Katrina. It was the knuckleheads who threw there fellow evacuees from the tops of parking structures and shot at the rescuers and rescue helicopters that attempted to come to the aid of survivors.

Lacerations are again obvious.

Mental health issues are often difficult to differentiate and are only now being recognized as the largest portion of healthcare surge after and event.

Finally, nutritional issues are perhaps the most difficult to deal with. A poorly prepared citizenry who themselves have not yet stocked sufficient amounts of food and water for even three days begin the problems while amassing large numbers of refugees and evacuees are a challenge for even the most organized of government agencies.

The predominant theme in “all hazards” preparedness is to develop resilience around the mechanisms of injury and ensure that there are sufficient resources to mitigate any stress along any mechanism.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

But what about the common everyday problems that many of us suffer from, in particular back pain. Sure, in most cases it isn’t serious and rarely life threatening, but it can severely impact on the quality of your life. The failure of traditional medicine to treat or cure back pain is mainly due, in my opinion, to not recognising the possible causes. Back pain is invariably treated as literally…. a pain in the back. This means either prescribing painkillers or muscle relaxants – neither offering a real cure (or even effective treatment).

When to consider alternative medicine

I would always advice you to see your own doctor before you take any other course of action. Your back pain may be a symptom of a serious condition that conventional medicine can treat very effectively. But if your doctor cannot find an obvious cause and prescribes pain relief drugs then perhaps it is then worth looking into alternative medicine for back pain treatment.

This is where I believe an alternative approach really can provide the better option because they won’t see it as a pain in the back – it’s a problem relating to the whole person. When you visit an alternative therapist (after checking first they are professionally qualified and have the right insurance) they will ask many questions before carrying out a thorough physical examination. This may cover aspects such as your diet, lifestyle and previous health problems. Then, depending on the discipline the practitioner will take a different course of action.

But does it really work?

Whilst there are many alternative ways to treat back pain only a few have been the subject of serious research. More doctors are now prepared to recommend other treatments outside of the usual conventional approach where clear evidence of their effectiveness has been demonstrated.

Osteopathy and chiropractic treatments are well established with over one hundred years of practice and numerous studies showing some benefit.

More recently acupuncture has been shown to be successful for treating back pain and a growing number of studies agree. One claim against the usefulness of alternative medicine has been it’s purely down to the placebo affect. Doubters claim that anyone spending an hour with a therapist will feel better due to the attention they receive. However, recent research using acupuncture can refute this claiming that when ‘dummy’ needles were used in treatments it had no effect.

Many have their own personal preferences when is comes to treating back pain. I would suggest that you try a few to find one that works for you. In addition to the manipulative approach there are a growing number of alternatives including CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and the always controversial homeopathy.

In the last ten years in my role as an Alexander Technique Teacher I have seen thousands of people who have benefited from conventional, the distinctly unconventional and alternative approaches. I have also seen many hundreds who have not benefited at all from any until they have recognised and rid themselves of the poor habits that often underlie back pain – that’s where a method such as The Alexander Technique can help.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Natural Herbal Remedies

Thankfully, there are a number of natural remedies for ADHD. Despite their relative low profile, these herbal treatments have a solid track record for delivering highly positive results.

Hyoscyamus – This is a natural plant extract that was commonly used as a calming agent for those that suffered from excess fidgeting and restlessness. In a way, you could consider this herbal supplement the ADHD treatment of ancient antiquity. Then again, that would not be a completely accurate assessment since it is still used to this day.

Arsen Iod – This could be considered an “anger management” herbal supplement since it is commonly employed to relieve stress and anger. Through taking this herbal ADHD alternative medicine, much of the more agitation based outbursts of ADHD can be reduced.

Tuberculinum – One of the main symptoms of ADHD is a feeling of boredom which yields the need for perpetual stimulation. Of course, this can lead to disruptive behavior and other such problems. For those in need of a treatment that can alleviate the onset of such behavior, tuberculinum can provide the reprieve needed. It is one of the most successful brands of alternative medicine for ADHD in terms of its ability to curtail such behavioral problems.

Verta Alb – When one must contend with high anxiety or anxiousness, a great deal of restlessness can occur. This is where a number of the disruptive physical behavior patterns of ADHD start to manifest. Through the use of Verta Alb, much of this extreme anxiety can be reduced to manageable levels. And, of course, this is achieved without the negative consequences of sedatives and other mood altering drugs.

While we have mainly discussed the ability of alternative medicine for ADHD to curtail a number of the serious physical manifestations of the condition, some may wonder about the value of these treatments towards the psychological ones. Actually, the two go hand in hand. That is, if the physical restlessness of ADHD is curtailed, the negative psychological energy contributing to the restlessness is dissipating as well.

In short, these herbal remedies are not numbing agents designed to restrict movement. They are well rounded herbal treatments that can blunt the impact ADHD can have on a child or adult’s life. As such, alternative medicine for ADHD can allow the person afflicted with the condition to once again live a complete and free life. That alone makes the use of these remedies infinitely valuable.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Stem cells. Boy, does this topic raise some debate! Embryonic stem cells are looked to at least as a potential cure for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and possibly other neurological disorders as well. But if we were to routinely start using stem cells as treatment, the moral implications would be that we are essentially aborting a fetus, taking one life to save another. Of course, stem cells aren’t quite a fetus yet, and that’s where the debate is raging in this gray area between what we know, what we think we know, and what we have yet to find out.

The scientific research of stem cells is currently hogtied by the political debate. The science is way ahead of the money, with research labs having a difficult time getting funding for such a controversial field. One thing many have pointed out is that no matter what laws the United States passes, some country, somewhere, will eventually start exploring the uses of stem cells anyway. That kind of forces our hand, reducing our choice to either leading the way in the field where we can at least establish oversight to apply standards to the research that we can all agree are fair, or be left out of the game and have to deal with developments in other countries that might be even less comfortable for us to deal with.

Stem cells can help sufferers of neurological disease by producing dopamine, a neurotransmitter whose deficiency in the brain is a symptom of diseases like Parkinson’s. For that matter, stem cells can be encouraged to grow into fresh replacement brain cells altogether. That’s just scratching the surface of what we can do with stem cells, and it’s that potential power that makes some people nervous.

Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. Vietnam veterans returned with their Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the effects of Agent Orange. The first Iraq war gave us Gulf War Syndrome. Now with the war in Afghanistan and Iraq war number two, the health care field is holding it’s collective breath waiting to see what impact the war will have on health care resources in the future. It is not a question of “if”, but a question of “how much” and “how long”.

Soldiers who have been exposed to depleted uranium in Iraq have already been diagnosed with cancer. Busloads of returning veterans are showing up at hospitals with psychological problems severe enough to pose a suicide risk. A comprehensive study done in 2004 estimates the likelihood of soldiers to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to be 18% in the Iraq war and 11% in the Afghanistan war. In addition, PTSD is more likely to develop in repeated heavy combat exposure, and with the number of times soldiers have been sent home and called back we would be fooling ourselves if we expected them to survive without some stress damage.

Add to this a factor that munitions technology is constantly pushing forward, and Governments don’t always have time to analyze the affects on soldier’s health when they are exposed to chemicals and residue on the battle field. We may have just handed out health care system a bigger burden that it can handle, by the time the wars are over.

Microbubbles. Take any oily solution, froth it into a frappe with a high concentration of tiny bubbles, and inject those into your bloodstream. Now you hit them with ultrasound and a nearly perfect image of your internal organs will bounce back. Cleared by the FDA in the late 1990’s for use in imaging applications, microbubbles are starting to be an attractive alternative to traditional methods of internal imaging, being both cheaper and faster than an MRI.

But wait, there’s more. Researchers have discovered another use for microbubbles, as tiny little carriers for targeted doses of medicine. For instance, drugs can be delivered directly to a tumor using microbubbles; once at the target location, the microbubbles can be induced to pop, releasing their medicine payload and reducing the need to bombard the entire body with radioactive material, for instance. Sometimes it’s the simple things that change our methods the most!

Medical marijuana. Separating ourselves from the image of hippies toking a bong-load, the active ingredient in marijuana is cannabinoids, which is a unique group of secondary metabolites found in the cannabis plant – which just happens to be where the plant’s peculiar pharmacological effects come from. Cannabinoids have been explored here and there over the years, but recent research has produced a staggering array of applications.

Cannabinoids have potential to treat Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, diabetes mellitus, dystonia, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders, gliomas, hepatitis C, hypertension, incontinence, osteoporosis, pruritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea, and Tourette’s syndrome. More than the past meek suggestion by the scientific community that cannabis has some uses, it is rapidly becoming apparent that we may have been turning our backs on a miracle drug the entire time.

The autism epidemic. One of the most mysterious neurological disorders of recent times may have finally gotten a break. Research into the causes of autism has revealed some intriguing clues – if anything, autism may yet be a path to increasing our understanding of how the brain works. We already know that children with autism have characteristic abnormalities in the cerebellum, the brain structure responsible for coordinating complex voluntary muscle movements.

New research points to a possible culprit: a newly discovered class of nerve cells in the brain called mirror neurons. These neurons appear to be involved in mental functions such as empathy and the perception of another individual’s intentions. It has been suggested that a dysfunction of the mirror neuron system could result in some of the symptoms of autism.

Autism has seen a sharp rise in the past two decades, but there exists the possibility that previous cases were simply undiagnosed. Moreover, there may be present misdiagnoses of autism where in fact there are other related disorders that only share some of the symptoms. Progress in this field is slow and tedious, but small amounts of progress are now at least providing some hope that we will eventually be better equipped to treat this disorder. Dare we even hope for an eventual cure?

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Many motivational and inspirational authorities of today share the view that individual success is determined by one’s ability to connect to particular positive emotional states. Successful accomplishment requires possession of a strong desire and an ability to hold focus. Executing tasks in a certain way and making daily decisions in alignment with a constructive desire will perpetuate movement towards success. All of these capabilities are dictated by the emotional state of the individual. The “emotional charge” provides the strength behind the “motor of action”.

Our emotional state can be profoundly affected by our environment. There is a greater opportunity now than ever before to harness the benefits of creating environments conducive to effecting and maintaining healthy emotional states. One simple and effective way to support our emotional health is through the combined use of color, light, sound and aroma.

“The universe is filled with color.”- Sir Isaac Newton

Color exists in the form of oscillating light waves which are visualized as colors of the light spectrum. The patterns and qualities of color have an undeniable effect on energy. The factual evidence described in Dr. Masaru Emoto’s work, “The Message from Water”, have helped us understand the dramatic impact that vibrational energy has upon the molecular structure of water. Given the human body is composed of 75% water, it is therefore easy to extrapolate from Dr. Emoto’s work how the energetics of different color frequencies can significantly impact our physical well-being.

Sound is the result of movement of atoms and molecules within the air that vibrate the eardrum and travel through nerves cells to the brain. Nearly all the cranial nerves lead to the ear which explains why sounds can be so impacting and relaxing. Sound can change molecular structure and create form ¬- according to cymatic studies, it has been demonstrated that physical patterns are produced through the interaction of sound waves in various mediums like water. The higher the frequency, the more complex the shapes produced, with certain shapes having similarities to traditional mandala designs.

These visual demonstrations of sound only add to the growing body of physical evidence of the potential effects of vibrational energy upon even our body’s very cellular structure. Listening to music for health, relaxation and meditation has been practiced for centuries. Through the use of music specifically engineered to help shift our energy and balance our brave wave patterns, the field of mind-body medicine is only now beginning to fully capitalize upon the benefits of sound upon our well-being.

Smell is a potent stimulant to our central nervous system. As aroma is inhaled, the molecules of scent travel up the nose. Nasal sensory cells are stimulated and a signal is then sent to the olfactory center, located in the limbic system of the brain, for the interpretation of smell. The limbic portion of the brain is also the emotional control center of our nervous system ¬- the emotions of anxiety, depression, fear, anger and joy all originate from this portion of the brain. It directly activates the hormonal center of the brain, the hypothalamus, which releases chemical messengers that can affect everything from energy levels to sex drive. Because of the close association between olfactory function and the limbic system – smells can, thus, directly stimulate the brain to trigger beneficial physiological and mood changes.

It’s easier then you may think to take advantage of the effectiveness of blending these elements into your daily routine. Start experimenting with the combined power of color, light, sound and aroma – it can be as simple as wearing colors which invigorate you, while inhaling your favorite scent and listening to soothing music that relaxes your entire being – you may be surprised at how these simple actions together can help to improve how you feel! The greater the understanding we have of ourselves and our bodies, the easier it becomes to support our own health and well-being.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

While it is true that prescriptions and over-the-counter medications do contain chemicals and compounds that may prove to be potentially dangerous to the body, it is essential to understand that the Federal Drug Administration, or “FDA”, has approved these treatments. When weighing the consequences to the benefits of the individual that partakes in these treatments, this drug enforcement agency has determined that the benefits are more productive than the consequences that may occur as a direct result of engaging in these treatments. You should know and understand that many herbal medicines have yet to be approved.

If you are considering implementing the use of herbal medicine, it is essential that you allow your doctor to play a role in your decision. While herbal remedies and treatments are “natural”, we have all heard the saying “too much of a good thing, can be bad for you”. This is especially true when using herb based medicines. There are side effects and consequences that may result from consuming these medications. Basic caution and using these medicines in moderation is considered to be the most appropriate course of action.

1. Massage Oils – There are a number of herbal medicines that are marketed as massage oils. These oils often contain aromatherapy benefits that can help to reduce pain and tension in various areas of the body. In addition to this, massage oils play a large role in assisting the body in the area of simple circulation and relaxation. Many different types of essential oils are used to create these types of medicine. If you are prone to allergies, or have a skin condition, it is important to use these items cautiously.

2. Supplements – Naturally, many medicines that are herb based are created into capsule supplements. While it is rare to discover pure herbs in this form, supplements can be a very effective means of introducing the body to herbal ingredients, vitamins, and various types of minerals that are essential to good health. The main concern to this type of remedy is that these supplements may not interact well with individuals who take other types of medications, or have allergies.

3. Teas – Many herbs are used in the creation of teas in order to benefit the health of an individual. It is not uncommon for individuals who suffer from anxiety to experiment with chamomile and/or catnip tea. It is important to make certain that you understand the precautions associated with the herbs that you elect to use in creating beverages to be consumed prior to actually consuming them.

4. Whole & Raw – Many individuals elect to bypass all the technicalities and go directly for whole herbs and consume them raw. While there is the advantage that the body receives the full amount of benefits from these herbs, it is also possible that the body may receive too much.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a number of herb type medicines that can be used by those who seek natural remedies. However, prior to ingesting herbs in any form and of any type, it is essential to include your doctor in on the decision and to be certain that you know and understand the complications that may result as a direct impact of your decision.

Gaetane Ross is a Certified Natural Health Consultant who has spent over 4 years focusing on Nutrition and Health. She also specializes in Alternative Medicine, Spiritual Healing and Healthy Lifestyle.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

What are essential fatty acids?

Essential fatty acids are unsaturated fats typically found in the oils of vegetables, certain nuts and seeds and some fish. They’re said to benefit health more than the saturated fats found in meat and dairy products and may even have a positive impact on cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Essential fatty acids are referred to as “essential” because they must be obtained through diet and are essential to the normal growth and function of muscles, nerves, cells and organs in humans. There are two families of essential fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids – the fatty acids found in fish oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat present in many coldwater fish including trout, salmon, sardines, anchovies, herring, mackerel, tuna and cod. The two most potent forms of omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), both known as “good fats” – unlike saturated fats, which when consumed in excess can lead to cardiovascular problems, neural and brain disorders.

EPA helps to produce the prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) which help control blood-clotting and arterial functions. EPAs may also help to lower serum triglyceride levels.

DHA is a major component of human brain and retinal tissue and aids the transmission of nerve impulses.

The term “omega-3 essential fatty acid” has become synonymous with “fish oil” in modern American marketing literature.

Sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids other than fish oil include, but are not limited to:

• Avocadoes (whole or oil)

• Brazil nuts

• Flaxseed

• Flaxseed oil

• Fortified milk products

• Hempseeds

• Hempseed oil

• Omega-3 eggs

• Pumpkin seeds

• Sesame seed

• Soybean oil

• Walnuts

• Wheat germ oil

Omega-6 fatty acids – not found in fish oil

Omega-6 EFAs are found in animal products such as dairy and meat and are common in cooking oils such as safflower, olive, sunflower, hemp, soybean, pumpkin, sesame, walnut and flaxseed oils. Too many omega-6 EFAs, say nutritionists, can throw off the balance of prostaglandins and lead to health problems. Experts recommend a ratio of three parts omega-3 essential fatty acids to every one part omega-6 fatty acid in the diet. Research indicates that Americans consume far more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 as a result of overindulging in fried foods, red meat and cheese.

Omega-6 fatty acids are dependent on interactions with omega-3 essential fatty acids in order to benefit good health, which is why a balance of the two is crucial in the diet. The American Heart Association cautions against a high dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids as it can lead to the development of gallstones and promote tumors.

Prostaglandins

Prostaglandins encompass a number of hormone-like substances found in every cell in the body. They’re critical to the dilation and constriction of blood vessels, the contraction and relaxation of muscles, the regulation of blood pressure and the modulation of inflammation. Prostaglandins are needed for overall good health and maintenance and must be replenished constantly. It’s easy to understand why having a good balance of prostaglandins in the body is essential to well-being.

Where does fish oil come from?

Most fish oil is extracted from the fatty flesh of the fish, unless a product specifically states otherwise, as is the case with cod liver oil or shark liver oil – extracted from fish liver. Nutritious fish oil is usually derived from deep, coldwater fish and those swimming in the wild (wild fish eat other fish and marine animals and vegetation to survive, whereas farm-raised fish are typically fed some type of less nutritious, less expensive, commercial-grade pellet). Some experts say the best fish comes from the deep Atlantic of Norway and other Scandinavian countries: the deeper and colder the water, say experts, the less chance of toxins such as mercury, lead, dioxins, furans and PCBs occurring in the fish oil. Fish from eastern Pacific waters is known to contain elevated levels of mercury.

Fish oil supplements – good ones / bad ones

“Product disclosure” is the operable phrase when seeking out nutritious fish oil supplements. From what kind of fish is the oil extracted and from where is it extracted naturally through pressing or with a centrifuge; or are petrochemical solvents such as hexane used to extract the oil from the source? How is the fish oil refined? Is it molecularly distilled, which to date is the most reliable form of fish oil purification, or does the label read something like “extra-distilled” or “super-distilled?” Such terms have no bearing on quality or safety. Because the hundreds of thousands of fish oil supplements on the market remain unregulated by the FDA, the safety, consistency, efficacy and strength of these products varies immensely among brands.

When reading fish oil supplement labels:

• Make sure the type of fish from which the fish oil is extracted is listed.

• Look for terms “coldwater,” “deep water” and “wild” as opposed to “farm-raised.”

• In what ocean or hemisphere was the fish caught? North Atlantic, deep, coldwater is said to be the most nutritious.

• Make sure the fish oil is molecularly distilled, which better ensures the absence of PCBs, heavy metals and other contaminants.

• What parts of the fish were used? Fish oils extracted from fish liver may be higher in heavy metals and contaminants.

• What fish oil extraction method was used? Cold or modified expeller pressing means that the oil was produced without damaging temperatures or unnecessary pressure.

Marketing claims that have no defined meaning in relation to fish oil supplements, and which often mislead consumers, include:

• Ultra-pure

• Professional grade

• Pharmaceutical grade

• High-potency

• Super-distilled

• Natural

• Extra-distilled

• Best

• Finest

• Highest quality

• Pure

• Purest

• Purified

Essential fatty acid health benefits and risks

Few argue the benefits of fish oil and essential fatty acids in the diet. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the omega-3 fatty acids can benefit cardiovascular health and that “good unsaturated fats” derived from vegetables and fish are far more nutritious than “bad saturated fats” which come from red meat, animal products and dairy. The cardiovascular benefits to balancing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet include lowered serum cholesterol, decreased serum trigylcerides and reduced platelet aggregation. Although many fish oil supplement companies claim that fish oil supplementation may aid brain function and strengthen the immune system, a complete body of evidence has yet to be produced.

Along with the health benefits of fish oil come some risks, most associated with taking too high doses of fish oil or having dangerously high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids in the blood. Some of these risks can include:

• Thinning of the blood and reduced ability of the blood to clot.

• Increased risk of bleeding.

• Too large doses can increase glucose levels in persons with already elevated blood sugar levels.

• In excess, fish oil may suppress the immune system.

• Increase the occurrence of nosebleeds and easy bruising.

• Upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea and belching.

• Poisoning from heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins and pesticides.

Experts and nutritionists are convinced that the health benefits of fish oil far outweigh the risks. However, many warn that fish oil shouldn’t be taken with blood-thinning medication such as warfarin or aspirin and shouldn’t be taken by anyone with bleeding disorders or uncontrolled hypertension. It is highly advisable to consult a physician before supplementing a diet with fish oil.

EPAs, DHAs, efficacy and the FDA

In September of 2004, the FDA announced they would allow a qualified health claim for reduced risk of coronary heart disease for conventional foods that contain EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids as outlined in FDA’s “Interim Procedures for Qualified Health Claims in the Labeling of Conventional Human Food and Human Dietary Supplements.” Notwithstanding inconclusive research at the time of release, the FDA said it would exercise its enforcement discretion with respect to the following qualified health claim:

“Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of [name of food] provides [x] grams of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. [See nutrition information for total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol content.]”

In 2000, the FDA announced a similar qualified health claim for dietary supplements containing EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids and the reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The FDA recommends that consumers not exceed more than a total of three grams per day of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, with no more than two grams per day from a dietary supplement.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

But what is Tai Chi, why do people practice it, and can anyone do it?
Tai Chi was originally a deadly art, guarded by a few families and used for killing. Traditionalists believe that it is important for students of this ancient art to remember its roots, because the techniques of relaxation and breath control were developed for the express purpose of injuring the opponent in an efficient, scientific manner.

Today, of course, we no longer need to practice this martial art for the purpose of killing our enemy. However, some say that now we can use this practice to fight the enemy of fatigue, stress, overwork or lack of understanding of oneself and one’s body. Daily practice of Tai Chi promotes mental clarity and a healthy body, assists with balance and helps the circulation of the blood.

Someone doing Tai Chi (pronounced “tie chee”) will move slowly and gently, while breathing and meditating. This is why it is sometimes called “moving meditation”. Many practitioners believe that Tai Chi helps the flow throughout the body of a proposed vital energy called qi (pronounced “chee,” it means “air,” “puff,” or “power”). In the United States, Tai Chi for health purposes is part of complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. People who practice Tai Chi do so to improve their health, yet it is not fully known what changes occur in the body during Tai Chi, and whether it does, in fact, influence health.

Over the years, several styles and variations have been developed. Taoist Tai Chi was introduced to the US by Master Moy Lin-shin, which emphasizes more elongating and stretching movements. Tai Chi Chuan is descended from the Lang family, but has several family variations. Someone doing Tai Chi for health moves in a slow and relaxed and graceful way, either on one’s own or in a group. These movements make up forms (or routines). Some movements are named for animals or birds. The simplest style of Tai Chi uses 13 movements, while more complex styles can use dozens – Taoist Tai Chi has 108 basic moves. Each of these movements flows into the next. The whole body is in motion, with movements performed gently and at the same speed. It is important to keep the body upright.

Like other CAM approaches, there are aspects of Tai Chi which everyone does not agree. Since there is little known scientifically about it, accepting its teachings is a matter of faith rather than evidence-based science. Also, in addition to more traditional styles, some blends of Tai Chi styles have evolved, such as those mentioned above. This creates a differing of opinion of which styles represent “true” Tai Chi.

Other important elements in Tai Chi are breathing and meditation. It is important to concentrate, breathe in a deep and relaxed manner. The benefits of this breathing and meditation include massaging the internal organs, helping with the exchange of gases in the lungs, helping the digestive system, increasing calmness and improving balance.

Health benefits of Tai Chi:

People practice Tai Chi for several health reasons, such as:

• To gain benefits from exercise. It is a low-impact form of exercise. It’s also weight-bearing, which is beneficial to the bones. Additionally, it is an aerobic form of exercise.

• To improve muscle strength, coordination, and flexibility.

• To improve balance. To have a lower risk for falls, beneficial for the elderly.

• To easy arthritis pain and stiffness.

• For health benefits from the meditation.

• To improve sleep and overall wellness.

Although Tai Chi for health is considered a safe practice, it is always recommended to check with your healthcare provider before beginning any type of exercise.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• If your body is improperly positioned while doing Tai Chi, you could not only end up with sore muscles, but even sprains.

• Instructors recommend not practicing Tai Chi after eating, when tired, or when you are ill.

• Caution should be used if you have any of these conditions: Pregnancy, hernia, joint problems, back pain, sprains, fractures or osteoporosis.

In the US, people do not have to be health professionals or licensed to practice or teach Tai Chi. It is not regulated by state or Federal governments and there is no standard training for Tai Chi teachers. If you are considering learning Tai Chi, ask about your teacher’s training and experience. Learning Tai Chi from a teacher is encouraged over learning from videos or books. This will help you to know if you are practicing the movements safely and correctly.
The idea that sickness and disease arise out of imbalances in a vital energy field is part of some other CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies, such as Reiki and homeopathy. Within CAM, Tai Chi is a type of mind-body medicine. Mind-body medicine focuses on the interactions among the brain, body, mind and behavior, and the ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual and behavioral factors affect health.

Tai Chi has been around for centuries, but practicing it as a healing activity is relatively new. If it’s something you have ever had an interest in, find someone educated in the practice and give it a try! I’ll look forward to seeing you out in the park one day, totally focused on balancing your qi.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Harvard researchers admit it now; so do the ever-increasing number of once-skeptical, now-surprised patients. “It works,” they say. “By god, it works.” Such statements, uttered by influential professionals, is helping usher in a new era of modern medicine. The Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, which includes such prestigious universities as Harvard, Duke, Stanford, and the University of Texas Medical Branch, released a report announcing — once and for all — that certain “alternative” practices do, in fact, have solid scientific backing.

The fact that a group of respected American medical scientists has come to an agreement on a broader scope of treatments once considered “alternative” could change the healthcare industry, and have important implications for the health insurance industry. The number of complementary clinics has been growing in even typically conservative cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston; it’s only a matter of time before naturopaths, hynotherapists, herbalists, and acupuncturists are common nationwide.

Though numerous studies have been conducted confirming the efficacy of particular complementary treatments, most of them have been on isolated practices and conditions. To a certain extent, this is necessary — meticulously and slowly separating variables from controls — in order to determine what works from what doesn’t. Brian Berman, director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, for instance, led the longest and largest randomized, controlled Phase III clinical trial of acupuncture’s effect on osteoarthritis of the knee. An ancient Chinese practice, acupuncture has been used for more than two millennia to relieve pain, boost the immune system, and treat a variety of ailments via the insertion and stimulation of tiny needles at particular locations on the body. Patients’ pain and knee function were assessed at regular intervals, and final results revealed that acupuncture patients reduced their pain by forty percent, and improved knee function by the same margin.

Other promising analyses on the efficacy of acupuncture include the recent German study that evaluated how well the discipline worked on 1,200 patients with back pain. Like Berman’s study, it was the largest and most extensive attempt to document acupuncture on a certain condition. Half of all patients receiving genuine acupuncture experienced significant pain relief, and only fifteen percent, versus fifty-nine percent receiving conventional treatments, required pain medication.

Commenting on his study, Berman remarked, “These results…indicate that acupuncture can serve as an effective addition to a standard regimen of care and improve quality of life for knee osteoarthritis sufferers. The [National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine] has been building a portfolio of basic and clinical research that is now revealing the power and promise of applying stringent research methods to ancient practices like acupuncture.”

Evidently, the Consortium believes — not only in a few treatments, but also in several different types of them. At the top of the Consortium’s list, perhaps not surprisingly, is acupuncture, one the oldest medicinal methods on the planet. Other favorites on the Consortium’s list were calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B6 for pre-menstrual syndrome, St. John’s Wort for depression, guided imagery for pain and anxiety, and glucosamine for joint pain.

Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B6 “can have a huge impact on moodiness, bloating, and on heavy periods,” said Dr. Tracy Gaudet, executive director of Duke Integrative Medicine at Duke University Medical School.

While the herb St. John’s Wort has been studied with mixed results over the last several years, it is still one of the most commonly prescribed remedies for depression in Europe, and was ranked as the third best alternative treatment by the Consortium. “It’s worth a try for mild to moderate depression,” said Andrew Weil, founder and director of the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. “Remember it will take six to eight weeks to see an effect.”

And glucosamine as a remedy for joint pain has shown remarkable results, as well. Dr. Frederick Hecht, director of research at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, thinks so. “It’s safe and it looks effective. It may be the first thing that actually reverses cartilage loss in osteoarthritis.”

“Well, we knew that,” said Darryl, massage therapist and long-time advocate of complementary medicine. He sighed. “Why is it that no one listens until it’s almost too late? We’ve been telling people that [glucosamine works on joint pain] for years, and how many have suffered, thinking it didn’t work?”

In fact, one of the major obstacles to the efficacy of many complementary practices may not be the disciplines themselves, but the quality of products and practitioners used. Herbs, for instance, must be sourced from a quality plant and grown in the proper environment, with the proper care, to ensure all components are of the highest potency. They must be stored properly, which includes accounting for materials, light, and temperature, manufactured carefully to preserve the delicate chemical balances, and taken at the right time, at the right dosage. Picking up a low-quality glucosamine supplement, for instance, may not yield the same positive results a better quality product would.

“The biggest mistake people make is they don’t get a good product,” said Mary Hardy, medical director of the Sims/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology. The Consortium’s website provides a resource for finding certified practitioners from reputable schools.

Hardy’s statement raises an interesting question. Could previous studies on herbs and other complementary practices be influenced by the quality of the product? Could some analyses’ negative results be a result of low-grade sources? Controlling for quality, rather than for just consistency alone, may provide different outcomes.

“Well, we’re getting there,” said Darryl. “It may not be entirely accurate to try to test non-Western practices with Western techniques, but at least they’re trying to validate what most of us already know. It’s just too bad they didn’t do it years ago.” He smiles. “I might have been making a better living if they had.”

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Now, without further adieu, let’s delve into alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in regards to natural substances.

Become acquainted with the fish in the sea. Fish oil has shown favorable effects to help partially relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Fish oil harbors omega-3 fatty acids that have inflammation-fighting actions. However, it’s important to note that positive results can take three months to become evident. On the other hand, fish oil is often recommended by leading experts as one of the natural substances that may help rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and, as such, we have listed it as a consideration for alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, fish oil harbors many other powerful health enhancing benefits.

Get aid from India. Turmeric, the yellow spice from India, harbors anti-inflammatory compounds that appears to ease inflammation and has no side effects. More specifically, test-tube and laboratory studies have confirmed turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity. Turmeric’s chief constituent is known as curcumin. However, it also contains volatile oils, which also harbors medicinal effects.

According to the well renowned tome “The New Healing Herbs” written by Michael Castleman, an award-winning health journalist who states:

“Several Indian studies have tested turmeric and curcumin as treatments for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, with positive results. In one study, the herb relieved the morning stiffness and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis as well as a prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
(NSAID). But unlike NSAIDS, turmeric caused no significant abdominal distress.” (Page 395-396.)

Actually, in India, curcumin is considered a standard anti-inflammatory medication. Indeed, turmeric as an alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis deserves a discussion with a physician.

Get more aid from India. Boswellia comes from the Boswellia serrata tree that grows in the dry hills of India. For centuries, Ayurvedic healers used the tree bark’s gummy resin, called salai guggal as a natural anti-inflammatory. Modern science has verified what ancient Ayurvedic healers knew all along: clinical studies using boswellia have shown good results in rheumatoid arthritis as well as osteoarthritis. More specifically, it is believed that boswellic acids, active compounds in boswellia, can block leukotriene synthesis. Leukotrienes are hormonelike compounds that can cause pain and inflammation, which could explain why it may be helpful in medical conditions involved in inflammation. Indeed, this herb is one of the most ancient and respected herbs in Ayurvedic healing and deserves a spot on your list of alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis considerations.

Put out the pain with this burning flame. Cayenne, commonly known as red pepper, cayenne chili pepper, and capsicum is a native to Central America. Cayenne owes its hot fiery taste and its hot healing powers to its active ingredient capsaicin. When applied to the skin as a cream, apparently it blocks the action of the neurotransmitter substance P, a nerve chemical responsible for carrying pain signals to the brain. As such, cayenne is often recommended for topical use to alleviate joint and muscle pain by many alternative medicine experts. For this reason, it is often used to help ease the pain associated with arthritis. Therefore, it too is considered an alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Meet Ginger. Ginger has long been recommended for many types of arthritis, including rheumatoid because it can have a powerful anti-inflammatory impact on the body. According to the well known reference book called “Prescription for Herbal Healing”, written by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC who states:

“A three-year study of fifty-six people with rheumatoid arthritis found that about 75 percent of the subjects achieved relief from pain and swelling by taking powdered ginger.” (Page 71.)

Zap pain with bromelain. Bromelain is the name of a group of powerful protein-digesting enzymes derived from the pineapple plant. It harbors powerful anti-inflammatory effects and its been used successfully to treat a number of disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Kick in vitamin E. Often found deficient in arthritis sufferers, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects the joints from free radical damage.

Discover other natural powerful substances that may be helpful: Cat’s claw, devils claw, willow bark, and borage oil.

Become familiar with other alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: Vegetarian/vegan diet, acupuncture, magnets, and mind-body therapies.

Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre’s opinion on alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in regards to supplements

We believe you may want to consider a comprehensive formula specifically designed to combat arthritis. In fact, a comprehensive formula using carefully selected ingredients can offer more therapeutic benefits, often better than taking a single nutrient or herb on its own.

Therefore, it’s important to understand the how and why of what makes some these comprehensive arthritis products useful — an important factor in making an informed choice. Moreover, mixing and matching nutrients and herbs on your own can be very dangerous to your health as well as expensive.

However, make sure that the product is professionally and scientifically formulated by a highly-credentialed scientific team that can ensure the proper blending of ingredients, to maximize the therapeutic benefits needed to combat rheumatoid arthritis.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Now, without further adieu, let’s delve into alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in regards to natural substances.

Become acquainted with the fish in the sea. Fish oil has shown favorable effects to help partially relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Fish oil harbors omega-3 fatty acids that have inflammation-fighting actions. However, it’s important to note that positive results can take three months to become evident. On the other hand, fish oil is often recommended by leading experts as one of the natural substances that may help rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and, as such, we have listed it as a consideration for alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, fish oil harbors many other powerful health enhancing benefits.

Get aid from India. Turmeric, the yellow spice from India, harbors anti-inflammatory compounds that appears to ease inflammation and has no side effects. More specifically, test-tube and laboratory studies have confirmed turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity. Turmeric’s chief constituent is known as curcumin. However, it also contains volatile oils, which also harbors medicinal effects.

According to the well renowned tome “The New Healing Herbs” written by Michael Castleman, an award-winning health journalist who states:

“Several Indian studies have tested turmeric and curcumin as treatments for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, with positive results. In one study, the herb relieved the morning stiffness and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis as well as a prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
(NSAID). But unlike NSAIDS, turmeric caused no significant abdominal distress.” (Page 395-396.)

Actually, in India, curcumin is considered a standard anti-inflammatory medication. Indeed, turmeric as an alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis deserves a discussion with a physician.

Get more aid from India. Boswellia comes from the Boswellia serrata tree that grows in the dry hills of India. For centuries, Ayurvedic healers used the tree bark’s gummy resin, called salai guggal as a natural anti-inflammatory. Modern science has verified what ancient Ayurvedic healers knew all along: clinical studies using boswellia have shown good results in rheumatoid arthritis as well as osteoarthritis. More specifically, it is believed that boswellic acids, active compounds in boswellia, can block leukotriene synthesis. Leukotrienes are hormonelike compounds that can cause pain and inflammation, which could explain why it may be helpful in medical conditions involved in inflammation. Indeed, this herb is one of the most ancient and respected herbs in Ayurvedic healing and deserves a spot on your list of alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis considerations.

Put out the pain with this burning flame. Cayenne, commonly known as red pepper, cayenne chili pepper, and capsicum is a native to Central America. Cayenne owes its hot fiery taste and its hot healing powers to its active ingredient capsaicin. When applied to the skin as a cream, apparently it blocks the action of the neurotransmitter substance P, a nerve chemical responsible for carrying pain signals to the brain. As such, cayenne is often recommended for topical use to alleviate joint and muscle pain by many alternative medicine experts. For this reason, it is often used to help ease the pain associated with arthritis. Therefore, it too is considered an alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Meet Ginger. Ginger has long been recommended for many types of arthritis, including rheumatoid because it can have a powerful anti-inflammatory impact on the body. According to the well known reference book called “Prescription for Herbal Healing”, written by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC who states:

“A three-year study of fifty-six people with rheumatoid arthritis found that about 75 percent of the subjects achieved relief from pain and swelling by taking powdered ginger.” (Page 71.)

Zap pain with bromelain. Bromelain is the name of a group of powerful protein-digesting enzymes derived from the pineapple plant. It harbors powerful anti-inflammatory effects and its been used successfully to treat a number of disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Kick in vitamin E. Often found deficient in arthritis sufferers, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects the joints from free radical damage.

Discover other natural powerful substances that may be helpful: Cat’s claw, devils claw, willow bark, and borage oil.

Become familiar with other alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: Vegetarian/vegan diet, acupuncture, magnets, and mind-body therapies.

Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre’s opinion on alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in regards to supplements

We believe you may want to consider a comprehensive formula specifically designed to combat arthritis. In fact, a comprehensive formula using carefully selected ingredients can offer more therapeutic benefits, often better than taking a single nutrient or herb on its own.

Therefore, it’s important to understand the how and why of what makes some these comprehensive arthritis products useful — an important factor in making an informed choice. Moreover, mixing and matching nutrients and herbs on your own can be very dangerous to your health as well as expensive.

However, make sure that the product is professionally and scientifically formulated by a highly-credentialed scientific team that can ensure the proper blending of ingredients, to maximize the therapeutic benefits needed to combat rheumatoid arthritis.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

One of the most important concepts involving integrative concepts is that of stress. Interest in stress can be traced back to the 1920’s when Walter Cannon’s work revealed the direct relationship between stress and neuroendocrine responses in animals. He coined the phrase “fight or flight” to describe the primitive reflexes of sympathetic and adrenal activation in response to perceived danger and other environmental pressures such as cold and heat. Hans Selye further defined the deleterious impact of stress and destress on health. It is noteworthy that these findings went on the “back burner” as simultaneously technological advances in the identification of specific pathological changes and new pharmaceutical discoveries were advancing at a rapid pace.

During World War II, stress again emerged as a health care issue. In response to the shortage of morphine in combat zones, Henry Beecher, M.D. discovered that when injecting a saline solution soldiers could obtain pain relief just as if they had received morphine. This belief factor, which he coined as a “placebo response”, is now generally considered the cause of approximately 30-35% of cures within the allopathic medical community. While I recognize the roll of the placebo effect in medicine, I have seen too many cases in which positive results exceed the 30% placebo threshold. For instance with psychosomatic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and dermal disorders, I have read voluminous results highlighting credible scientific research supporting an 80-90% cure rate or significant symptom reduction. In my clinical practice I have been able to duplicate or exceed these results. Furthermore, I have seen interesting research investigating stress reduction and guided imagery with other, non-psychosomatic illnesses.

If I were to give justice to the issue of stress in medicine I would have to cover several topics. However, in the interests of space I wish to give an example of the relationship between stress and wound healing. Medical doctors have long recognized the differences in wound healing. Clinical observations have suggested that negative moods or stress is associated with slow wound healing. Basic integrative medical research is now confirming this observation. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), whose expression can be controlled by cytokines, play a role in wound healing. Using a blister chamber wound model on human forearm skin exposed to ultraviolet light, researchers have demonstrated that stress or change in mood is sufficient to modulate MMP and TIMP expression and presumably, wound healing. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and sympmathetic-adrenal medullary (SAM) systems can modulate levels of MMPs, providing a physiological link among mood, stress, hormones, and wound healing. This line of research suggests that patients even in the normal range of depressive symptoms, could alter MMP levels and change the course of wound healing in blister wounds. Furthermore, this would then lead to the possible conclusion (or at least a series of relevant theories and hypotheses) that by controlling what we think, how we handle stress, and what we allow our senses to absorb (i.e., environment — such as watching too much CNN) can and will affect our health. Then, this leads us to a logical question of the ability of the mind to affect the health of a specific organ, cholesterol level, blood pressure, etc. Frankly, I don’t feel that we are too far from the ancient Tibetan beliefs of being able to move subtle energies in our body through the use of our thoughts and our awareness.

I have a hard time answering such as question about stress and the mind body nexus without throwing in a mention of the latest research proposed by one of my teachers, Ernest Rossi, Ph.D. of San Diego, California. In his latest work, The Psychobiology of Gene Expression (2002), Rossi discusses the role of arousal, a significant component of stress, as a factor in the “reprogramming” of our DNA. Surely, this must be a significant factor in understanding any integrative concept. He admits that this is merely a hypothesis at this point. However, it is based upon his extensive research into breakthroughs derived from the recent mapping of the human genome.

Also, consider the research documented by E. L. Santacangelo and L. Sebastini in 2004 in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis when they stated that there is a relationship between highly hypnotizabiity (e.g., susceptibility) people and their ability to protect themselves against cardiovascular hazards due mostly from an onset of stress. Another significant research was presented by Catalina Lawsin, M.D., of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 2007, when she recognized that the use of stress reduction techniques were a major factor in the survival of colorectal cancer, especially among the younger patients. And lastly, I wish to cite the recent findings of a recent Italian study (University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy), in which the researchers found that certain specific emotional numbing suggestions were the main factor in the hypnotic modulation of the experience of fear. They found that the suggestions were manifested in a reduction of heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood pressure.

It is clear to me that we are still only starting the see the beginning of a revolution of health care. This revolution will fully recognize that all medicine must have a mind-body, integrative quality. While I fantasize daily that someday medical doctors and psychologists will actually converse in the same language as partners in the healing process, I recognize that this dream has a long way to go. Indeed, there are too many “professionals” in both fields that have achieved premature closure about the role of the other. (For instance, those qualified medical professionals that still insist that “hypnosis has its place, but not in modern medicine.” This is despite the fact that the American Medical Association approved hypnosis in 1958; the American Psychological Association did so in 1959.) I am committed to the prophecy that allopathic medicine will be revolutionized within the next 25 years. Even though the “profit motive” of the pharmaceutical-medical complex appears to have a strangle hold of medical evolution, recent surveys by the National Institutes of Health are reflecting that medical consumers are demanding alternative modalities. Ever since iatrogenic illnesses (that is, illnesses resulting from medical malpractice) were determined to be the leading cause of death in America in 2003, it has been obvious that a change is in order and long overdue.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

In sweet innocence, Laura replied, “Because they don’t know you?”

Ba-da Bing, Ba-da Boom!

Indeed, I often wonder why God puts up with us as His children given the way we often think and act. No, I am not speaking about holiness, though holiness is certainly an element of faith. Rather, I am referring to the way Christians walk in step with the world when it comes to their health and lifestyle.

Based on health and lifestyle, most people would be hard pressed to single out a Christian in a crowd of unbelievers. Christians eat the same junk foods, drink the same soft drinks, get just as obese, come down with the same diseases and get treated by doctors trained in the same medicine, take the same drugs and often die from complications following the same medications and treatment.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not questioning anyone’s faith, their Church attendance, worship, church activity, or none of that stuff. No, rather what I’m questioning is the spiritual disconnect I see in the operation of our faith with our own physical health and well-being. I mean it’s as though many Christians consider food and medicine as being irrelevant to the practice of their faith.

Oh sure, we pray over our food and we pray for healing when under the care of a doctor. I am not talking about that. What I’m talking about is not giving consideration to food and medicine as being a weapon of Satan. Crazy, you say?

Let me give you a word of knowledge from God’s Word. It is our responsibility as Christians to “test everything” and to “avoid every kind of evil” (I Thessalonians 5:21). Everything certainly includes food and medicine, two large parts of our life.

Time and again, God’s Word tells us to; “live a life worthy of the calling” we received (Ephesians 4:1), to not be “conformed to the pattern of this world” (Romans 12:2), “not to be yoked together with unbelievers” (II Corinthians 6:14). “For what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever” (II Corinthians 6:15)?

We typically relate those verses to avoiding sin, and rightfully so. But there’s more than holiness at stake here. There is a matter of righteousness in how we care for our fleshly body as well.

For “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’…Therefore, come out from among them and be separate…Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” ((II Corinthians 6:16 to 7:1).

So now: If I tell you that eating a diet high in saturated fats creates heart disease, would a steady diet high in saturated fats be something that contaminates the body? Would it matter to you?

If I tell you that monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer found in many processed foods, may cause obesity and creates adverse reactions in many people, could MSG be something that contaminates the body? Would you care?

If I tell you that your body must be alkalized to remain free of disease, would having an acidic body be something that contaminates the body? Would this information cause you to want to test your body’s pH level?

If I tell you there are safe and effective alternatives to prescription drugs, which often cause adverse reactions, including death, would taking those drugs be something that contaminates the body? Would it matter to you?

My point is that the world could care less about your well being, it only wants your money. So the world is full of lies and “feel goods” to keep you coming back. That is how the world works. For instance: To get you to buy processed meats, meat packagers inject sodium nitrite into the meat to make it look fresh and to preserve it. Never mind that sodium nitrite when heated forms nitrosamines, extremely powerful cancer-causing chemicals. Does that matter to you? It matters to God who knit your body together in the womb of your mother. He has something to say about that.

Or suppose you are diagnosed with cancer. Never mind there are safer and more effective alternatives then the surgery your physician recommends. He thinks a surgeon should cut you open from front to back to remove the tumor. If you survive the surgery, you would be given toxic and often lethal drugs. Your doctor gives you no other viable options. Does that matter to you? It matters to God who knit you together in the womb of your mother. He has something to say about that as well.

Here’s the point. God receives no glory in you getting sick with a disease. He receives no glory in disease and suffering period. God receives glory in healing, and through sacrifices we offer to Him in body, spirit and soul. That word sacrifice refers to how we live our life, which includes the welfare of our body.

Since food and medicine are high on our list of life”s priorities, it is in these areas that we must be on guard and cautious about the most. Why food and medicine? Well, if you were Satan, could you think of a greater way to inflict more harm than through food and medicine? People need to eat and people need medical help. Satan acting through the world works 24/7 in both the food and medical industry to put and keep you down, to keep you from glorifying God in body.

It sickens me to see so many Christians in physical suffering brought on by their own neglectful lifestyle. Trust me, this has a huge impact. Others looking in the Church from outside observe there is nothing going on there different from the world. There is nothing to make them want to seek God. If only Church leaders would understand God”s laws do not stop at the Church door; if they would only begin to educate Christians about the holiness of their body as it relates to food and medicine, life as a Christian would become much healthier. Many people outside of Christ would begin seeking Him.

I believe the local Church has a responsibility to educate believers in the righteous manner they should treat their bodies. No, not just warn them about the misuse of sex and drugs, but to teach them the difference between good and bad food and medicine. Church leaders should teach us how to “purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit,” But here is where things get fuzzy and blurred.

Many Church leaders, ignorant themselves of the connection between physical and spiritual health, are fearful of getting into trouble with the law or fear being outcast as false teachers. Even worse, some Church leaders just don’t get the connection between obeying God’s natural laws and spiritual healing.

They have an “eat, drink and be merry” attitude toward the body. This is the disconnect I spoke of earlier. The mindset they carry is that Church is where one goes for salvation. The world is where one goes for health and healing. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). Our body is a member of Christ’s Body (I Corinthians 6:15). Our body, spirit and soul have all been redeemed. There is no earthly reason why we should leave responsibility to the world for our health and well-being, anymore than we should leave our souls to the world for salvation.

Churches conduct classes on almost any Bible related topic you can imagine. Why not a healthy lifestyle class? Topics could include such things as learning how to read food labels and what to watch out for, identifying known food chemicals suspect for poor health, identifying physicians in your area trained in holistic health, Bible study on the subject of health and much more. Not only would such classes be popular, they would serve to draw more visitors.

Food and medicine are the issues of our time. The more a Church is willing to involve itself in educating its flock on the topic of food and medicine as a spiritual act of worship, the more we will see a healthier Church.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Women’s sexual health is a hot button topic, and it’s also a Gordian knot. Right now leading pharmaceutical companies are desperately trying to capitalize upon the success of sexual enhancement drugs for men, like Viagra and Cialis, by getting approval of a similar enhancement drug for women. No longer just the domain of men, women want help with sexual performance too!

But improving women’s sexual health with a drug will not be so simple. In fact, it may never be possible. Because, whereas men simply need help achieving and maintaining an erection during intercourse, there is really no precise definition for female sexual dysfunction.

Our inability to diagnose and solve female sexual problems will haunt women’s sexual health, as long as women are looking for a quick fix in the form of a libido enhancing drug. Women’s sexual health is affected by pain while having intercourse, problems having an orgasm, trouble with arousal and desire, and a deeply rooted dislike for sex. With this vast array of possible causes, we are left with one undeniable fact: women need to look elsewhere than pharmaceutical companies to address their sexual health.

Do not make the mistake trivializing this topic – human beings are sexual creatures by nature. In fact, after our sense of humor, we are driven by our sense of sexuality more than any other human trait. When women’s sexual health suffers from lack of libido or an inability to perform and/or enjoy healthy sexual activity, her mental and physical health and wellness suffers as well. While only you can decide what is a healthy level of sexual activity, we know that falling short of that level has a pervasively negative impact upon your sense of well-being.

A Solution for Improving Women’s Sexual Health without Drugs

Luckily for women, we have identified a natural medicine that is so much more powerful than any drug yet created in a laboratory. When you learn to harness this incredible natural medicine’s power, you will not only find yourself having more frequent sexual activity, but you will also find yourself capable of high levels of sexual arousal and enjoyment. I am, of course, describing the natural medicine of humor. I have spent the past two decades perfecting a prescription, which will unfailingly unleash humor’s over-the-top energy, that I call The Fun Factor.

Once only available to my patients, I was finally persuaded to make my Fun Factor prescription widely available. Since my medical practice focused on patients with chronic, or fatal, diagnosis, I created my prescription out of my patient’s sometimes horrific, but always immediate, need for relief. I found that, when used properly, the natural medicine of humor provides a reliable and extremely powerful respite from pain, stress, anxiety, depression, and fear – as well as presenting a superb adjunctive medicine that made my patient’s conventional treatments all the more effective (and sometimes superseded their conventional treatments).

The natural medicine of humor has powerful ramifications for improving women’s sexual health. Sexual dysfunction is common with a diagnosis of cancer, depression, and chronic pain (three common women’s health ailments I treat), so the application of my prescription for improved sexual functioning and enjoyment was a regular occurrence in my medical practice. My patient’s feedback helped me forge the three step formula I am sharing with you now; you can rest assured that this formula has worked for many, many women with a wide variety of symptoms and causes.

How to Achieve Optimal Women’s Sexual Health

Step One: Go the Extra Smile

My first Fun Commandment has a profound effect on women’s sexual health because it is a fabulous introduction to the the natural medicine of humor, in general: Go the Extra Smile. Smiling, as simple as it sounds, is a key to improved sexual appreciation because of its simplicity and almost constant appropriateness. A smile almost never offends and it is completely controllable, regardless of your circumstances; smiling is the easiest way to infuse yourself with the natural medicine of humor!

Smiling enhances your sexuality because it immediately decreases stress and fills you with energy and creativity. The best news about the positive effects of smiling is that these benefits are measurable even if you are wearing a “fake” smile. If you are thinking that lowering your stress level, while simultaneously snowballing your energy level and creativity, will add rocket fuel to your sexuality…you are absolutely correct!

Smiling has multiple benefits for your sexual health and wellness because it turbo-charges both your mood and your physiology. But smiling does another thing that accelerates your sexual satisfaction. It attracts reciprocal attention from your mate because a smile is an open invitation. Think of a smile as a happiness virus and you’ll soon realize that your improved sexual health, your reduced stress, and increased energy can be easily shared with your partner.

Step Two: Laugh with Yourself

Another of my Fun Commandments that allows the the natural medicine of humor to soup-up your sexuality is: Laugh with Yourself. Laughing with yourself is the epitome of self-acceptance, not self-denigration as you might’ve been led to believe. You cannot take yourself too seriously when you’re willing to laugh with yourself because you’re embodying the philosophy of taking yourself lightly.

Let’s face it, we are funny creatures and that’s how we’re supposed to be! Looked at objectively, our bodies are both fun and funny; the physical act of sex forces us to conjoin in some awkward and, almost, impractical ways. Giving ourselves permission to see the humor in our funny bodies and their functions eases the pressure we place on ourselves to perform sexually and our humor adds further fuel to our commitment to take ourselves less seriously.

Why wouldn’t we laugh out of sincere appreciation for our perfect imperfections and the funny physicality of sex? To not see the gentle, and sometimes obvious, humor in these things means we are taking ourselves, and our sexuality, way too seriously. It’s really all quite hilarious, in my opinion…we spend so much time, energy, and resources focusing on an act that takes less than 1% of our waking time. If we’re not careful this teeny, tiny portion of our day can dominate our culture and our personal thoughts! Not that you don’t have some good reasons to think about sex, but give yourself permission to gently laugh at your obsession and you’ll find some additional stress released.

Step Three: Let Go Frequently

The last Fun Commandment we’ll apply to women’s sexual health today is: Let Go Frequently. I always say that in life, as in juggling, success depends on how quickly you are able to let go. Also in life, as in juggling, we all have a tendency to hang on to things too long, even when they are no longer working for us. In this case, hanging on to our harsh expectations creates stress that deflates our sexuality because we are unable to measure up.

Society deluges us with images of youthful sexuality; it’s easy to imagine that everyone except us is engaged in passionate, daily sexual activity and we begin to feel that there is something wrong with us when our sex lives don’t match the Madison Avenue fantasies. Let go of those images today, because no one except you has the authority or knowledge to decide what your optimal sexual habits and practices should be. Your sexual expectations regarding frequency, sensation, and/or duration are only placing unneeded pressure on yourself and that pressure only creates more stress.

Let go of your expectations of performance too. Many of my patients and clients imagine they must achieve a certain level of sexual performance for their mates to be pleased. Nothing could be further from the truth. When you set expectations regarding outcomes, you set yourself up for failure because you are putting even more pressure on yourself. Let go of the end results; concentrate on the fun, joy, and love inherent in sex because that is where the true pleasure is found.

Let go of sexual frequency and performance expectations, smile, laugh with yourself, and go along with whatever unfolds as a result of your footwork today. If you can do these things you will be a very sexual, passionate creature and sexy in the most important eyes of all – yours! Remember that you are already perfect (perfectly imperfect) and you don’t need fixing. Instead of fixing yourself, enjoy your sexual health through the The natural medicine of humor …relax, smile, and enjoy the ride!

By the way, according to Greek legend, Gordius was a king so grateful to Zeus that he dedicated the wagon responsible for his ascendancy to the powerful god by tying it to the temple of Zeus with an incredibly complex knot. Zeus than proclaimed that anyone who could undo the Gordian knot would rule all of Asia. Many tried, and failed, to untie the Gordian knot until Alexander the Great succeeded – by cutting the knot with a single stroke of his sword!

Create a quick, thorough solution to the apparently insoluble problem of women’s sexual health today by using the the natural medicine of humor. Cleave through the Gordian knot of sexual dysfunction, in whatever form it is appearing, by learning to use humor’s amazing power – as many women before you have done.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Most skepticism of alternative health modalities is fueled by the unfortunate fact that modern medicine tries to discredit alternative means of healing because it is much more profitable for them to use surgery and pharmaceuticals, not on any real grounds for concern. The topic of alternative health always brings out the doubting Thomas’s who scream quackery and voodoo. You may hear that they tried a holistic method without any success or that they had some weird side effect or even felt worse.

Here’s a couple important points to keep in mind. Their experience may be true but that does not mean it is true for everyone and there could be other reasons that contributed to their experience. We can very easily find another group of people who had great success and no side effects with the exact same treatment method they used.

This is because not everyone’s body responds to a particular treatment or healing approach in the exact same way. Even though you may share the same health condition with someone else, each of you has a unique body chemistry and genetics and the same disease can have a different process or impact from person to person. Each of these factors influences the results that will be achieved. In addition to that, someone with a liver, lymph system, endocrine system or other organ or system that doesn’t function optimally may have a very different response than someone who has healthier organs and systems.

Just because one treatment approach is ineffective for one person, does not meant it will be ineffective for you or others and that doesn’t mean that “all” holistic health care is ineffective. Results can be completely different from individual to individual. A lot of times it requires some trial and error to find what works best with your biochemistry and specific circumstances.

Additionally, this is true whether we are talking about a holistic health method or traditional pharmaceuticals. Regardless of whether we’re talking about natural remedies or prescription drugs, what is effective for one may not work at all for another, but overall holistic health is much more effective and a lot safer. We can find hundreds of thousands of people who have severe side effects, get worse, develop more serious health conditions or even die from prescription drugs. On the other hand, these events are rare within the field of natural health.

Holistic health or alternative health has actually been around longer than prescription medication or so called “modern” medicine. Plants and herbs have been used successfully to heal by many civilizations for centuries and most pharmaceutical drugs have their roots in herbal medicine. For example, the common and popular aspirin originated from an herb called white willow bark.

However, a crucial fact that many are not aware of is that just because something is natural does not mean it will automatically be free of side effects, complications or risks. Many people doctor themselves before first doing their homework and having a thorough understanding of the method they are using.

Herbs, plants, vitamins, minerals, or any alternative treatment method can be just as potent as a prescription and requires a great deal of education and research to be sure you achieve the desired results. They should be taken or performed as prescribed by a knowledgeable health care provider. For example: some holistic remedies that are effective for depression can have a negative effect on someone with Parkinson’s.

Too much or too little of a particular herb can be ineffective, while too much of a vitamin or mineral can be just as bad as not enough. There can be complications or interactions even within natural substances, as one herb or even treatment modality such as massage or acupuncture may counteract or rev up another treatment approach and vitamins and minerals work in conjunction with one another

Additionally, herbs and other natural substances can interact with prescription medication and reduce it’s effectiveness and vice versa. Its extremely important that you consult with a holistic health care provider and disclose all medications and conditions prior to medicating yourself.

Another important issue that may impact results of a holistic health remedy is the quality of the product or service you use. It’s vital to do your homework in this area as well and only use products and services from reputable companies. The natural health field is not immune to sales hype and scamming. You must be a diligent and informed consumer regardless of what path you follow.

Breaking free from the old way of thinking that conditions us to believe that drugs and surgery are the superior method of treatment can be frightening and difficult. It may seem foreign, threatening or strange at first, but when you get the facts about holistic health, you realize that it makes a lot of sense.

Holistic health offers us an abundance of wholesome, non-toxic, affordable approaches from herbal remedies and nutritional supplements to massage, acupuncture, yoga, detoxification, changes in lifestyle, environment and diet or colon cleaning, chiropractic manipulations, meditation and many more that attempt to not only restore balance and harmony in the body, but to society and the planet as well.

It’s an empowering approach where the patient works with the health care provider as a team and is encouraged to be an active participant in the health care plan, educate themselves about their condition and engage in a variety of self-care techniques and practices.

Unlike modern medicine, which only attempts to suppress symptoms, holistic medicine attempts to correct the health condition by finding the underlying cause. Instead of stuffing everyone in a cookie cutter treatment plan, holistic health care is a whole body/mind approach that is individualized according to each person’s specific needs.

The ultimate goal is to enable each person to reach their highest sense of well-being, function as optimally as possible and live life as fully as possible regardless of the presence or absence of disease.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Unfortunately, there is no miracle food and most medications only address the symptoms of disease; they rarely cure. Sure, you may feel better for a while, but more often than not, your symptoms return, or you need to continually take greater amounts of medications to obtain the same effectiveness.

What if there were a way to treat the source of your health problems? To make them go away and never come back. This may sound like a tall order, but it happens every day, and has been happening every day for thousands of years. An effective system of healing has been helping people like you feel their best for centuries. That system of healing is Chinese medicine.

When we think about Chinese medicine, most of us think about acupuncture, which is an important component, but acupuncture isn’t the only thing that Chinese medicine has to offer. The ancient Chinese sages believed that the best way to stay healthy is through lifestyle and proper diet. Even when someone became sick, the first treatment would often be food therapy and lifestyle changes. Only if those measures failed, would they turn to acupuncture and herbs for a cure.

There are a number of life habits and dietary guidelines based on the teachings of Chinese medicine that are available to each of us. The following guidelines are simple enough, but can impact your health dramatically.

1) Eat according to Chinese food theory. Most people who are trying to improve their health give a considerable amount of thought to what they should eat. Unfortunately, as a culture, we tend to label foods as either good or bad, which has us eliminating whole food groups from our diet.

The Chinese look at food in a different way. Rather than getting bogged down in which food is good and which food is bad, they look at digestion as the key to healthy eating. The healthiest food in the world is useless if your digestion is poor.

Think of your digestive process as a pot of soup simmering over a low heat, say 98 degrees, the temperature of our body. If you add a 24 oz. frozen drink or ice cream to that pot of soup, it stops simmering, and it takes a long time for the soup to get back its warmth to continue cooking. The same is true of your digestion. When you eat or drink very cold foods, it slows your digestion and takes a lot of your internal energy to warm it up again. Eating lots of raw vegetables and fruits have a similar effect. Your energy is consumed in the digestive process.

According to Chinese theory, if you “predigest” foods by cooking them a little bit, they will be better digested and as a result, will be more easily absorbed and converted into the nutrients your body needs for good health. Ideal meals include soups, stews, and stir fries.

As for exactly what to eat, you don’t have to look any further than your neighborhood Chinese restaurant for the answer. Eat lots of vegetables, a little protein, a little carbohydrate in the form of whole grains, a little fruit and small amounts of everything else. Drink warm tea or room temperature fluids with your meal.

2) Get moving. If such a thing as the fountain of youth existed, it would probably be in the form of physical activity. The benefits of a regular exercise program are endless, from improved cardiovascular health, better strength and balance, improved immunity, and relief from stress.

According to Chinese theory, moving your body also helps to move energy, which can get blocked, causing pain and illness. There is no one best way to exercise, but in order to avoid overdoing it, try to combine some vigorous movement that makes you breathe hard with one or more of the gentler forms of exercise. Yoga, stretching, Tai Qi, Qi Gong, or simply walking are all considered gentle and relaxing ways to move your body.

3) Get your stress control. There are really only two kinds of emotions: the positive kind that enhance your health, and the negative kind that drain your energy and make you susceptible to illness. The Chinese believe that the emotions are the cause of all internal illnesses. They may have something here, especially when we look at the negative impact of stress on our bodies.

Stress causes chemical reactions in your body, where certain hormones are released that can affect everything from your immune system to your digestion. Inflammatory conditions, arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even weight gain can be caused by the hormonal changes brought on by stress.

So how to get a handle on stress? We’re all aware of the many methods, classes and exercises available to relieve stress. However, when you’re overwhelmed with all the things on your “to do” list, one more class or exercise just becomes another stressful thing to do. The good news is that you can benefit from as little as three minutes of some kind of meditation. A couple of simple (and quick) fixes

-Breath in by expanding your rib cage and belly to a count of four. Hold to a count of seven and release by flattening your belly towards your spine to a count of eight.

-Visualize yourself in a favorite and relaxing place, which can be real or imagined. Spend a few minutes filling in all the details: what you see in every direction, sounds, smells, etc. By doing this, your brain releases the same “feel good” chemicals as if you were actually in that place.

4) Preserve your Essence. In Chinese medicine, your health and the length of your life is determined by something called Essence, or your essential life force. The strength of your Essence is determined by a combination of genetics, your physical constitution, and lifestyle.

One of the smartest ways to stay healthy is to preserve your Essence by living wisely, and not becoming run down. Some of the ways you can deplete your Essence is by overworking, not eating well, skimping on the sleep, and trying to do too many things. Also considered depleting is too much partying, having too many children and having sex too often.

Wise living means getting enough sleep to rejuvenate your body. It means working, but not too hard. Exercising too much, studying and long hours in front of a computer screen are also considered overworking. Eating adequate amounts of the right kinds of food (see above) also protect your Essence.

5) Explore Acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient healing system that originated in China thousands of years ago and is still successfully in practice today. It works by addressing the source of your health problem–not just by relieving symptoms. Acupuncture works by balancing energy within your body, which may sound out there and new age. However, every cell in your body produces energy in the form of ATP. The Chinese just operate on the premise that your energy moves in pathways throughout your body. When people become ill or have pain, it’s because that energy is blocked in some way or it’s depleted. The goal of acupuncture it to restore or maintain health by unblocking or increasing the flow of energy.

The World Health Organization has identified over sixty health conditions that acupuncture can treat, from pain to mental health conditions to digestive problems. In addition, acupuncture is a great way to maintain your good health, too. Give it a try!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

If you have to pay for your health care consultations and full price for your prescriptions, most if not all natural medicine is highly cost effective.

But you can’t just compare the cost of the consultations plus the prescriptions. For a truly accurate assessment of cost comparison, you must also take into consideration the overall efficiency of the consultation – ie how good or effective is the prescription.

As a body, natural health practitioners tend to look at your overall health care, including diet, relationship issues, work environment as well as individualising you as a person, to find those ’specially for you’ remedies. So the consultation tends to be quite long – usually upwards of half an hour, depending on the modality.

Straight away you can see what value you’re receiving. The practitioner is truly interested in you and wants to find out your particular ‘achilles heel’. Rarely will a natural medicine therapist treat you dismissively, giving you just a few minutes to hear your story. After all, how can you pour out a life into a few minutes?

Natural medicine tends to work far better when the cause is addressed. It’s no good treating the effect, as that tends to make it worse, with more furious attacks later. Take anaphylactic shock, which can occur from a variety of causes. Lets take an allergy to bee stings to illustrate my point.

Those allergic to bee stings can suffer seriously, with swelling going far beyond the sting site, possibly even to your throat making breathing difficult, taking days or even weeks to reduce the swelling and pain. If you’re used to taking antihistamine, you know full well, that each time you have a sting, the condition worsens.

If, on the other hand, you treat the bee sting with a homeopathic remedy such as Ledum or Apis, you will not only resolve the problem more easily and quickly, but each time you are bitten, the reaction will lessen, until it becomes what is considered normal.

So when you are weighing up the cost of natural health versus western medicine, take into consideration the long term view.

As a natural medicine practitioner, I know I don’t get the right remedy 100% of the time. That used to bother me. I used to be concerned that I was wasting my patient’s hard earned cash if I didn’t deliver.

Now I realise that it’s not just me at fault. Apart from the fact I’m human and so do make mistakes, if the patient isn’t forthcoming, I can’t do much.

But what I really admire about natural medicine is that when I do make a mistake, it doesn’t have any real impact on you, the patient. I didn’t take the wrong kidney out, or give you too large a dose of a dangerous drug which pushed you close to or over the edge.

And when you consider the cost of surgery, you can have many, many natural medicine consultations to the same value. Somewhere within them, one natural health practitioner or another will be able to help you.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Alternative medicine can be a holistic or whole mind/body approach to healthcare that should complement, rather than compete with, conventional medicine. When diagnosing and treating a patient, an alternative medicine practitioner considers not only the patient’s physical health, but also his or her mental and spiritual condition as well. Many different alternative treatments exist, including some that are becoming accepted by practitioners of conventional medicine:

· Acupuncture — commonly used for pain relief

· Herbal medicine — used for swelling, indigestion, or muscle tension relief.

· Mind/body techniques — relaxation, visualization, talk therapy, hypnotherapy, yoga, and meditation

Most people who use alternative medicine believe that good health is not just the absence of disease; it’s also being physically, mentally and spiritually healthy. You may be a candidate for alternative medicine if you believe that:

· It’s important to use the best or most promising treatment available, whether it’s conventional or alternative medicine

· The conventional medicine you are using has been unsatisfactory

· No two people are the same — one person may respond differently to a medication or a treatment than others

· Prescription or over-the-counter drugs have unknown long-term side effects

· Many of the major causes of disease, including stroke and heart disease, can be prevented through simple lifestyle changes that include diet, exercise and stress reduction

· Prevention is better than a cure

· Meditation, deep breathing, yoga, and tai chi can promote physical, mental, and spiritual health

No matter which school of thought you follow, conventional and alternative medicines share the same goal — curing patients. However, they go about treating a patient’s symptoms differently. Alternative medicine treats the whole patient by considering the patient’s physical, mental, and spiritual health. Alternative medicine will often stimulate the body’s natural recuperative powers — the immune system — to assist in the healing process.

Conventional medicine often uses medications that have an immediate impact on the patient’s symptoms. Many medications are manufactured drugs with well-known, short-term and lesser-known long-term side effects. Alternative medicine is more apt to treat using natural substances, for example zinc, to activate the immune system. The side effects of these medications are often less severe than those of conventional medications.

Alternative medicine often works best when combined with conventional medicine. In some cases, you may have little choice — although alternative medicine may work well over time, your condition may require immediate treatment, and more conventional methods of medicine may be your only option.

If you’re looking for an individual health insurance plan in Dallas, Houston or anywhere in Texas, why not go with a company that’s a true advocate for your health interests? Take a look at the revolutionary comprehensive individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for young, healthy individuals. Precedent not only offers affordable, individual health plans, but we also work with you to help you keep informed of the latest in healthcare treatments. For more information, visit us at our website, www.precedent.com. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly competitive HSA-qualified plans, and an unparalleled “real time” application and acceptance experience.

The following are ways to make using alternative medicine safer:

· Look for a practitioner who is licensed by the state of Texas or is recognized by a medical association. If the practitioner is licensed, the licensing board can provide information about this practitioner’s education, training, and background, as well as disciplinary background.

· Choose a practitioner who practices several alternative therapies or who is trained in both conventional and alternative medicine. The practitioner should listen to you and be sensitive to your needs. As with any other healthcare practitioner, you should be able to communicate comfortably and develop a good working relationship.

· After you have chosen a practitioner, ask him or her about the safety and effectiveness of the proposed treatment. Also mention any therapies and treatment you are already receiving.

You may think alternative medicine has no long-term track record, but it’s actually been around for a number of years. Many of the medications and practices considered alternative or non-traditional find their roots in traditional African, American, Asian and European medicine. Because of their widespread popularity overseas, some alternative medications used in the U.S. may have already been tested abroad, even though the federal Food and Drug Administration has not yet tested nor approved them here. Also keep in mind that medication is just one small part of alternative medicine. Physical, spiritual, and mental therapies that are noninvasive and don’t require you to take medication are just as popular.

Tips for using alternative medicine

· Do not treat yourself — seek the advice of a physician.

· To find an alternative medicine practitioner, talk to your current doctor. Your health insurer may also be able to provide referrals.

· Do your homework before trying alternative medicine. Libraries, bookstores, health food stores, and the Internet are good places to find information. Your physician or insurer may also be able to provide you with information.

· Continue gathering information even after you have selected an alternative practitioner and/or alternative treatment — this can help you practice the treatment and monitor its effectiveness.

Although alternative medicine may have an important role in maintaining your health, don’t forget the need for quality traditional-medicine health insurance. Traditional medicine has a role, particularly with respect trauma and other acute care. And the traditional-medicine cost of an unexpected health event can be financially devastating.

If you’re looking for an individual health insurance plan in Dallas, Houston or anywhere in Texas, why not go with a company that’s a true advocate for your health interests? Take a look at the revolutionary comprehensive individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for young, healthy individuals. Precedent not only offers affordable, individual health plans, but we also work with you to help you keep informed of the latest in healthcare treatments. For more information, visit us at our website, www.precedent.com. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly competitive HSA-qualified plans, and an unparalleled “real time” application and acceptance experience.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Astronomer-mathematician Ptolemy (85-165) devised a theory of planetary motions that placed the earth at the center of the universe. The sun, moon, and planets revolved around the earth in the Ptolemaic universe. This notion was accepted for approximately 1,500 years. More on this in a moment…

Shelly was in such need of stress management that she was unhappy much of the time. Shortly after she became my patient, I was able to help Shelly see that, just like Ptolemy’s theory, she was casting herself as the center of the universe, thereby causing unmanageable stress levels in her life. We began a regimen from my Fun Factor prescription that afforded Shelly proper stress management, reintroduced joy and happiness, and brought her life back into balance.

Shelly’s problem was common; I see more and more people each day who suffer from unhealthy levels of stress. Whether it is sleeplessness, weight gain, mood changes, hair loss, worry, agitation, or any other of the myriad symptoms commonly associated with stress, stress-related illness and suffering is at an all-time high in America and increasing every year. Luckily for you, my work with the powerful natural medicine of humor has uncovered the primary culprit behind your unhealthy stress symptoms, as well as the solution to simple, healthy stress management.

My medical practice, involving decades of work with chronically and fatally ill patients, has clearly identified the cause of our painful stress symptoms – seriousness. Seriousness means taking yourself too seriously; seriousness means over-reaching – taking responsibility for things beyond your power, such as the outcomes and results of all your hard work. Consequently, you’re positioning yourself incorrectly as the “center of the universe.” Seriousness causes so much pressure that effective stress management, which I will teach you in this article, becomes impossible.

The antidote for your seriousness, and your foundation for healthy stress management, is the natural medicine of humor. Humor’s incredible power is harnessed to maximum impact through my unique Fun Factor prescription. Based upon my Fun Commandments, which were forged in unison with some incredible patients of mine, my Fun Factor prescription is capable of producing such profound positive change to your health and personal success that you will soon have people whispering, “Is she always this happy?”

In this article, I will explain how my Fun Factor prescription can be directly applied to your stress. You will be amazed at how much lighter and happier you feel, with each passing day, as you put the following Fun Commandments to work in your life. You are about to discover that the natural medicine of humor produces flawless stress management, putting an end to your painful stress symptoms.

The Fun Factor Stress Management Formula

Step One: Laugh with Yourself

My first stress management Fun Commandment is: Laugh with Yourself. This Commandment is not about humiliation or self-denigration, it is the ultimate in self-respect because it teaches you to appreciate your “perfect imperfection” and to find gentle amusement in your foibles. And, when it comes to stress, there is plenty of amusement to be found which will greatly aid your stress management.

Here’s the first amusing thing about your stress: you can’t live without it, yet too much is bad for your health. Like many of the essential things in life: we need a certain amount of stress to survive, yet too much can kill us. For example, we die if we are without water for more than a few days; but submerge us in water and we die a lot sooner.

It is said that we can die from boredom. I don’t think there is any scientific evidence for that theory, but one thing is certain – stress relieves boredom. Ending boredom, indeed, could be considered a form of stress relief. An amusing paradox, no doubt!

Without stress, also, we might not eat. Hunger is a form of stress our body needs occasionally to remind us we need food. Stress causes the adrenal glands to work. Athletes would not perform at their best without stress-induced adrenaline. Every activity causes a certain amount of stress. So does inactivity. In fact, to be completely stress-free we would have to be dead – not a highly recommended stress management technique!

The idea that stress is a killer is exaggerated, which is also humorous. Too much stress can be a killer, and it is against too much stress in our lives that we need to guard. Fortunately we are equipped with the finest possible stress management mechanism: the natural medicine of humor and the ability to laugh with ourselves. Far better and safer than Valium, it is our built-in stress management system.

As you learn to laugh with yourself you will become like an athlete – who can have fun running the mile or the marathon and still turn in peak performance. In fact, since too much seriousness can tighten muscles through negative tension, laughing with yourself may even enhance performance. This Fun Commandment works wonderfully on many levels.

Step Two: Choose To Motivate Yourself With Fun, Not Fear

Step two in my Fun Factor stress management formula is one of my newest Fun Commandments. Motivating yourself with fun rather than fear is a crucial step that allows your commitment to laugh with yourself to fully impact your healthy stress management.

This brings us to the only true choice you have in life. Will you be inspired by fear or by fun? One choice is all we have for our health, wellness, and fitness – fear or fun. It all boils down to that. It is your responsibility to choose one or the other.

The question is, which is the responsible choice? Which of the two is a powerful medicine, which will give you health and motivate you greater success, sustaining you over time? The natural medicine of humor gives us the answer.

There is no doubt that both fear and fun are potent stimulants to behavior over the short run. So the question becomes one of sustainability. Will fear or fun best help us sustain our excellence over time? Which of the two is a powerful alternative medicine that you can learn to use for your greatest health, wellness, and fitness? (That’s a trick question, by the way)

Let’s Encounter A Man-Eating Bear!

The fear of being eaten alive motivates us to run as fast and as far as we can when chased by a bear. There is little to no fun in that experience. It is purely fearful, but the energy it provides maximizes the possibilities of sustaining life for that moment. For the moment, in such a life-threatening situation, fear seems to be an efficient and productive choice. Though full of stress, it relieves us of the immediate threat!

But let’s take it a step further. Having survived my wilderness encounter with the bear, I return to my home in an urban environment. The next morning, as I start out for work, I run desperately for the car, quickly jumping inside and locking the doors.

When I arrive at my workplace, I race into the building. Before I get down to work I suspend my bagged lunch high above my desk, roping it to the light standards. I insist upon all doors being locked and secured. When asked why, I answer, “I’m merely doing what got me through my wilderness experience over the weekend. I don’t want to be eaten by a bear.”

You’d think I was over-reacting just a wee bit, and you’d be right. You could say that my stress relieves my anxiety, but my anxiety is based on a lie conjured and sustained by my fear! Not exactly the greatest of stress management techniques.

The Three Biggest Dangers Of Our “Run-From-a-Bear” Stress Management Techniques

1. We live our lives as though every day was an emergency; as though a bear is chasing us all the time. This is unfortunate for three reasons:

2. We now know that such a constant state of “wariness” or agitation breaks down our coping mechanisms over time. It is impossible to sustain the fear-based behavior without breaking down or burning out.

3. Of all the stress management techniques, this is the absolute worst to choose because it only increases our stress! It reduces the effectiveness of humor’s natural medicine to zilch.

A more pernicious error occurs. We begin to think that the avoidance of whatever we fear is the same as having fun. Joy becomes synonymous with the avoidance of fear.
The Absence Of One Thing Does Not Indicate The Presence Of Its Opposite

If this sounds ridiculous to you let me put it in more familiar terms that have become acceptable where your health is concerned. With rare exception we have agreed in our society that health is synonymous with absence of symptoms. Do you really believe your health is merely the absence of your symptoms? My Fun Factor prescription teaches you that, not only is the absence of symptoms not synonymous with health, but also that you never have to fall for that lie again.

You never have to settle for second-rate health! You can use your powerful natural medicine of humor to stave off seriousness’ debilitating effects.

Therefore the issue becomes balance. Fun balances fear. The ultimate question is not, “Are you without fear?”, but “Is your fun in balance with your fear?” If you’re not 100% certain of a “yes” response to the later question, then you need to STOP – RIGHT NOW – and take the last step in my Fun Factor stress management formula to ensure that your life is as healthful as it could be.

Step Three: Tell the Truth

The final step in your Fun Factor stress management formula is the Fun Commandment, Tell the Truth. This Commandment refers more to self-integrity than it does “cash register” honesty. Getting in the habit of telling yourself the truth will cement humor’s powerfully positive effect over your stress. Your stress management becomes second nature when you are honest with yourself each day, because you can then immediately, easily, and simply apply steps one and two to your life.

Telling yourself the truth, for our purposes, focuses on knowing when your stress levels are rising. As we noted in step two, everyday activities normally produce a baseline level of stress and this stress is usually alleviated by your daily routines (for example, when you experience the stress of hunger, you eat). Step three in my Fun Factor stress management formula teaches you to recognize the signs of unhealthy stress and take corrective action immediately.

Here are some simple stress management techniques to apply when your self-honesty reveals rising stress levels:

1. Start your day off by singing in the shower at the top of your voice. Make up your own song that incorporates the idea that you are embarking upon a glorious day in which great things are going top happen to you. Can’t sing? Good! Can’t rhyme? Who cares? The words are for you alone. This is not a contest. Be as off-key as you need to be…unless you are Placido Domingo.

The important thing is to be loud (your inner ear has to hear it), upbeat and convincing. The subconscious believes what it is told. Start your day by telling it that it will be a great day and you will be more than halfway to producing exactly that result. Think of your singing not as singing but as a stress relief game played before stress has a chance to rear its ugly head.

2. Travel to work alone, along the same boring route every day? Make up a game to play as you look out the window of your car, bus or train. For example, how many dogs will you see on the way to work?

Try to guess before you set out and see how close you are when you arrive. Reward yourself every time you guess correctly to within a certain number. Drivers: limit yourself to dogs (or green elephants) you see through the windshield only. This game does not work well in subways; there are no green elephants in subways.

3. Have a routine job? One that you find boring? Does it produce stress symptoms, such as drumming your fingers or tapping your toes? Perhaps you need to introduce fun into your workday.

For example, if your job is to make identical widgets each day, how could you do something different to give variety to what otherwise could become a monotonous task? Could you, for example, place each new widget relative to the others so that together they make a pattern, or spell the name of your sweetheart? How many do you make an hour? Could you make one more than that the next hour, safely and with the same excellent quality? Make a stress-relieving game out of your work and it will feel less like work and more like fun.

4. Smile. You feel stressed? Smile. It is a simple activity, so simple that even infants can do it. Just for kicks, count how many times you smile in an hour. None, you say? Then this stress relief game is even easier for you, and more important than it is for those who smile all the time. (No wonder they don’t feel the same degree of stress that you do!)

Your smile doesn’t need to be a broad grin that suggests to those around you that they need to call the men in white coats. But it should be more than a mental smirk; your facial muscles should be aware that they are smiling.

It is possible simply to paste a smile on your face without any reason other than you want to smile. After a while, your subconscious will take over, lighten your mood, and the smiles will come easily and naturally.

It’s best, if possible, to think of something that can give you a genuine smile, a reason you can talk about if called upon to do so. Each of us, no matter how depressed, has something in life to celebrate.

5. Recognize that stress is a choice. We can accept it and put up with it, and the damage it can cause our bodies. We can avoid it, but that could be a difficult choice; especially if it means quitting the only job we know in a tough job market. That choice might easily create worse stresses. Or we can deal with it and defeat it.

That is not as difficult as it might sound if you make up your mind to use my Fun Factor prescription in everything you do. That doesn’t necessarily mean, laughing, joking and playing the village idiot – though all those activities can relieve stress too. You can have fun without ever cracking a single joke.

A game of tickle with the children or grandchildren can be fun and bring energetic screams of delight from them and you. Touch football or, for the less energetic, lawn darts or horseshoes can be fun. For others, it’s a walk, socializing with friends, admiring the beauty around us or following a hobby – especially if it is an engrossing one.

Attitude Is Everything

The key is to recognize stress symptoms when they occur, recognize what’s causing them, and use my Fun Factor formula for healthy stress management. Since fun is the best natural stress reliever known, it makes good sense to incorporate my Fun Factor stress management formula into your daily life.

But don’t get obsessive about it. Don’t be stressed by removing stress. Be content with removing some of your stress, and with taking the edge off it so that you function as a healthier, happier and more productive humor being. After all, perfectionism produces stress.

Shelly, by the way, has learned to take herself much more lightly now and she does not suffer nearly as many stress symptoms. The paradox she loves is that taking herself less seriously actually permits her to take her responsibilities more seriously than ever before! The natural medicine of humorr, supercharged by my Fun Factor prescription, has allowed Shelly to easily and simply manage her stress and enjoy a life others have started to envy.

Just as Polish astronomer Nicholas Copernicus disproved Ptolemy’s earth-centered universe in the 16th century, so the natural medicine of humor disproves that you must suffer from being the center of your universe. Remove yourself from the pressure and stress of a life where everything revolves around you…start using my Fun Factor stress management formula, and the rest of my Fun Commandments, today!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Not until recently did modern Western medicine begin to recognize the dynamic relationship between the mind and physical illness. Now, there is “psychoneuroimmunology” which is the study of how the mind, the brain, and the immune system affect one another in terms of overall health.

There is strong evidence that your thoughts, feelings, and moods affect the production of your brain chemicals, which directly impact the physiological system in your body. In other words, there is scientific evidence in body and mind interactions in human diseases, or the efficacy of body-mind medicine.

To illustrate body-mind medicine, your heart is more than just a circulatory pump. To the Chinese, the “heart” is an organ of “thinking” (”think with your heart”), which means your heart is a storage of your thoughts and emotions, and therefore is responsible for any positive or negative impact on the beating of your heart, or more specifically on your heart health.

William Harvey, the first scientist who established a link between the heart and the mind, or body-mind medicine, said: “Every affection of the mind that is attended with either pain or pleasure, hope or fear, is the cause of an agitation whose influence extends to the heart.”

Your emotions can have a significant impact on your heart health, in terms of regulating your blood pressure and heart beat and rhythm, through the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. In addition, your negative emotions, such as anger and anxiety, can adversely affect your cardiovascular system through the release of hormones, such as adrenaline and non-adrenaline, which can cause blood clotting and hardening of arteries.

In Chinese medicine, there are seven emotions: joy, anger, worry, contemplation, sorrow, fear, and anxiety. These emotions can cause diseases and disorders, or they may be a result of distress of the internal body organs. Chinese healing focuses on the body-mind medicine.

Your mind may also increase your cancer risk. Depressed individuals have a higher risk for cancer. The reason is that if you are depressed, your immune system is impaired, and weakened immunity may be a contributing factor to abnormality of cells and tissues. As a matter of fact, several studies have been conducted to determine if personality characteristics may predispose an individual to cancer.

In one study, for example, women after undergoing breast biopsies and being diagnosed with malignancy were found to be less capable of expressing their anger openly than those whose biopsies were negative. In other words, repressed and suppressed emotions adversely affect the immune system, which in turn may provide a breeding ground for cancer development. In another study at UCLA, findings indicated that emotional counseling and education not only improve immunity from cancer but also reduce the risk of cancer relapse. This attests to the significance of body-mind medicine.

Your mind may also have an impact on your diabetes because your emotions have a direct influence on your blood sugar and insulin production. In animal studies, it has been demonstrated that a stressful environment is conducive to elevation of blood sugars.

Body-mind medicine should play a pivotal role in modern medicine. The mind and body are two fully integrated features of life. Therefore, diseases in the mind are reflected as diseases in the body. So, to stay healthy, take care of not just your body but also your mind. Negative emotions may play havoc with your overall health.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Let’s start with the vitamin. You need to take one of these every day. There are many types out there, but at the least you need to take the one a day type. This will ensure you are at least provided with the basic recommended daily allowances of vitamins and minerals. Further down the road you can decide if you need more.

Next, we need to look at the weight loss diet. Do not think that starving yourself will work. It will only make your body slow down its metabolism even more. Follow these 3 guidelines to help you out:

1. Balance-A balanced diet must contain carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamin, mineral, and fiber in well proportionate quantity. Carbohydrates are the source of energy so these play an important role in balanced diet. Low carb and low fat diets do not work. Just look around you. See what I mean?
2. Moderation- portion control, small quantity at regular intervals. You can eat the same overall amount of food as before, but break it down into 5 meals throughout the day. You almost need to look at food as a medicine for your body
3. Variation – Just for fun, try to eat every color in the rainbow during the day. It is actually harder than you might think

Last, take a look at a few of the requirements for your weight loss diet and fitness program:

1. Have a wide variety of foods– wholegrain breads and cereals for vitamins and minerals, leafy green vegetables for iron , fruit for fiber as well as the sweetness, lean meat and Fish (lowers cholesterol and helps prevent cancer) and low fat dairy products (try to cut out all of the dairy you can)
2. Supply enough fluids to have maximum hydration. It is recommended to drink at least 8 glasses of water
3. Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. This can be simple things such as mowing the grass, gardening, chopping wood (very good workout), and even just walking. You just need to be doing something

With just a few changes in the dieting and the fitness, you can make a huge impact in your well being and health. And if you follow the basic guidelines above, you will have a good foundation for your weight loss diet and fitness program.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Autoimmune diseases: A group of disorders in which the primary cause is the anti inflammatory reaction caused by the bodies own immune system attacking tissues. Autoimmune diseases tend to cluster in families and in individuals (a person with one autoimmune disease is more likely to get another), which indicates that common mechanisms are involved in disease susceptibility. Autoimmunity is not contagious, but the genes a child inherits from parents can influence whether a child will develop autoimmune conditions. In autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, scleroderma, pernicious anemia, myasthenia gravis, and Hashimoto’s disease, specific cells uncontrollably attack the body’s own tissues. Approximately 75 percent of autoimmune diseases occur in women, most frequently during the childbearing years and do not spread to other people like infections. Women have fatigue, stiffness and weakness when suffering from a autoimmune disease. There is a higher incidence of autoimmune diseases is seen in winter months as people stay indoors and the air is dry, stale & exposure to viruses indoor.

Autoimmune diseases are workable in day to day activities to make you feel better. First, eat a healthy diet. Give your immune system a boost and be as healthy as you can be! The list of nutrients that you need for a healthy immune system is long. The body is made up largely of proteins, so its health depends upon its freedom from damage (as through oxidation or glycation) and upon its timely removal as part of normal protein turnover. Always consult your own doctor if you are in any way concerned about your health.

Your body’s immune system protects you from disease and infection. One of the ways your immune system rebuilds itself is through sleeping and is a great way you can help both your body and mind. Rest allows your body tissues and joints the time they need to repair. The immune system is the body’s most specialized defense mechanism. In a healthy body, circulating antibodies attack and destroy pathogenic invaders. The goals of treatment are to reduce symptoms and control the autoimmune process while maintaining the body’s ability to fight disease. Most patients need supplements to replenish a hormone or vitamin that the body is lacking. The body’s antioxidant system and other lines of defense cannot completely protect proteins. Nature’s second line of defense is the body’s system for repairing or removing damaged proteins. While some protein repair mechanisms exist, it is difficult for the body to repair most protein damage. It can be compared to a piece of metal rusting and results from the action of damaging molecules known as free radicals that are a natural byproduct of the body’s metabolism.

It has also been suggested that the slight exchange of cells between mothers and their children during pregnancy may induce autoimmunity. Overexposure to pesticides and toxins may also induce autoimmunity. Your immune system can be boosted by changes made in eating and exercise routines.

Nutritionists recommend a diet high in fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains, brown rice, low-fat dairy products, fish and poultry. Nutrition and nutritional status can have profound effects on immune functions, resistance to infection and autoimmunity in humans. Alternative treatments including natural medicine and nutritional therapy have been shown to have an impact on the activity of the disease. As patients with scleroderma sometimes develop gastrointestinal problems and are needed intravenous nutrition of long duration, they should be paid attention to lack of trace elements that can be a cause of hematologic complications.

What we come back to is that we need to take care of our health in every way possible. Anybody can take supplements whether you are sick or not. Good nutrition is a necessity for every human being on this earth!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Detoxification

I know that I have talked about the practice of detoxification in articles on diet, fasting, and cleansing your digestive system. In the society we live in, we are constantly bombarded by pollutants that directly affect our body. Right now, most drinking water contains over 700 chemicals; over 10,000 chemicals are used in food processing and storage; and over 3000 chemicals are added to the food supply. We directly ingest all of these toxins and they can remain in our body for years. The only way to cleanse the system is through a detoxification process.

There are several different systems to detoxify the body; the length of time for the various systems lasts from one week to several months. A thorough detoxification will address clearing all areas through which the body releases toxins — the intestines, the bladder, the lungs, and the skin. In addition, each system will have a special program of nutrition to help rebuild the body’s healing system.

In order to do a proper detoxification, you should consult with your physician regarding dietary changes, reduction of stress load, massage and skin brushing (stimulates nervous system and lymphatic system), herbal supplements, and nutrients such as antioxidants and probiotics to boost your immune system function.

Biological Dentistry

The practice of Biological Dentistry involves removing dental toxins such as mercury-based dental fillings and root canals that can harbor unidentified infections. This practice has been developing since the 1940s, and focuses on using nontoxic dental restoration material instead of mercury dental amalgams.

Practitioners believe that the mercury leeches out from dental fillings and travels into the body tissues. This process weakens the immune system, providing an opportunity for cancer growth. They also believe that root canals can contain hidden infections, which can directly contribute to the development of cancer.

The removal of amalgam fillings must be followed by any detoxification of the body in order to eliminate any residual mercury that may still be in the body tissues. This is a dietary process similar to the one described above and lasts roughly three months.

Water Therapy

The technique of Water Therapy or Hydrotherapy uses water, ice, steam, as well as water at hot and cold temperatures to assist the body in removing toxins. Techniques included steam baths, hot and cold compresses, sitz baths, colonic irrigations, and full-body immersions.

Water Therapy is used for detoxification as well as for the relief of stress and pain. This is achieved by increasing the blood circulation and heightening the immune response to the application of water techniques at various temperatures.

Heat Therapy

Hyperthermia or Heat Therapy is beneficial to individuals battling cancer because cancer cells are vulnerable to high temperatures. Methods of raising the temperatures include saunas, hot packs, steam baths, or wrapping oneself in hot blankets. Common medical approaches include ultrasound, shortwave or microwave diathermy, radiant heating, and extracorporeal heating.

Ultrasound increases the body temperature by the frictions of the sound waves as they pass through the various body tissues. Diathermy causes the body temperature to rise by electromagnetic energy delivered at certain radio frequencies. Radiant heat is the application of infrared heat to areas of the body. Extracorporeal heating is the practice of removing the blood, heating it outside of the body, and returning it to the body at a higher temperature.

Hyperthermia has been shown in studies to change the structure of cell membranes. It makes tumor cells, easier to attack with radiation or chemotherapy, while protecting the normal cells.

Bodywork

The term Bodywork refers to a wide range of practices such as Therapeutic Massage and Exercise. These techniques provide physical relaxation, stimulation of the circulatory system, reduction of pain, stimulation of the lymph system, and enhancement of the body’s immune system.

Massage helps to relax muscle tension as well as speeding the removal of toxins from the system. Prolonged muscle contractions contribute to pain and interfere with the elimination of chemical wastes in the muscles.

Exercise helps with digestion, weight control, detoxification, and immune system function. Yoga, low-impact aerobics, calisthenics, stretching and flexing exercises are all good ways to strengthen the body’s healing system. The benefits of exercise for people with cancer are as follows:

· Increased blood supply to cells — cancer cells cannot survive in an oxygen rich environment.

· Lymph system stimulation — muscular contractions help the lymph system remove toxins more rapidly.

· Increased immune system function — exercise increases the activity of the body’s Natural Killer cells.

· Increased body temperature — exercise elevates the body temperature to a level that is destructive to cancer cells.

Qi Gong

Qi Gong (pronounce chee-GUNG) is a therapy of slow movements used to develop deep relaxation, enhanced oxygen supply, increased lymph circulation, and to reduce symptoms associated with cancer. This system has been used in China for centuries as a preventive measure. Qi Gong directs the production and flow of qi or vital life force throughout the body. This life force is considered an essential component of Traditional Chinese Medicine and determining the flow of qi is an important part of the analysis of any disease.

The main ways that Qi Gong aids in resisting cancer are by:

· Supplying additional oxygen to the body cells – this is helpful because cancer cells cannot survive in an oxygen-rich environment and unlike vigorous exercise the oxygen is distributed throughout the body instead of being concentrated in the muscles.

· Improving the balance in the autonomic nervous system – this is beneficial because the autonomic nervous system controls our ‘fight-or-flight’ response and dumps stress-related hormones into our system that suppress our immune system. Balancing this system decreases blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels, which helps the oxygen supply and boosts the immune function.

· Increasing the function of the lymph system – this is advantageous because the lymph system acts as the body’s sewage system, taking toxins from all the body’s cells. Improving the circulation of the lymph system rids the body of toxins more rapidly and transporting immune system cells to areas of need.

In the next article, we will complete our five part series on cancer as we explore the use of Energy Support Therapies for cancer therapy. These methods include Electrodermal Screening, Magnetic Therapy, and Light Therapy. If you would like more information on any topic discussed in this article, you can contact me through my website. As always, I hope that you have found this information helpful and educational. Remember that you are the one in charge of your health.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Archeologists have been unearthing copper jewelry for now over 200 years and yet so little has been said about them.

Why were they worn?

Why are they universal (seen in all ancient societies, even Island ones)? What do they do for the wearer?
All these questions are answered and more below. The fact is copper bracelets have a direct medicinal
effect on the human body.

Copper Bracelets and History

Worn by Pharaohs, Indian Rajas, Chinese Emperors, Persian Kings, Alexander the Great, and so many others, the copper bracelet has had more than just a cosmetic purpose.

In fact, it cannot compare even to brass (which is copper and zinc), let along Gold or Silver. Why has copper bracelets been so popular then?

Copper has been used by every civilization that had access to it as a medicine and preventative.

The history of civilization is also the history of the use of copper. The bracelets have literally been worn in every major civilization.

What Does a Copper Bracelet Do?

In a study done in the Mayo Clinic (Bratton et al., 2002) it was found that in general (over 75%) of all people with arthritic and rheumatoid arthritic pains found the symptoms decrease and sometimes disappear by the simple wearing of a pure copper bracelet.

It is no secret that copper is a most excellent conductor of electricity, and besides that, the skin is as much an entry point in the body as a barrier.

Micro doses of copper enter the body and bolster the immune system, and as it’s on the skin, it enters as and when needed (not as in dietary copper).

The copper bracelet seems also to emit elemental and molecular vibrations and other physical phenomena such as a corona effect of the ends of the bracelet.

These vibratory emissions appear to convey some medicinal benefit. In the case of body pains due to some rheumatoid arthritic condition, it appears to be very effective indeed.

Other Benefits of Wearing a Copper Bracelet.

There are several other benefits gained by the wearing of a copper bracelet, allowing absorption directly from the skin. They are:

• Copper binds to enzymes and aid the formation of hemoglobin in erythrocytes, help form collagen for wound healing, and otherwise improve the body’s functioning.

• Copper can be absorbed differentially by infectious microorganisms and thereby poison them (such as Staphylococcus aureus bacteria),

• Copper is known to optimize the use of iron and zinc in the immune system.

• The absorption of copper through the skin can correct hidden copper deficiency can help optimize the body’s resistance to disease.

• Copper competes with toxic minerals for absorption and physiological use, thus reducing their harmful impact and making them more likely to be eliminated.

• Copper has shown that in certain anemic and sick individuals, there is a trans-dermal feeding response that conveys a powerful tonic and immuno-protective effect.

Side Effects of Wearing A Copper Bracelet

It is true that wearing a copper bracelet can discolor the skin as the blue-green copper deposits there.
However, this discoloration can be washed away with soap and water over the course of a day or two, and there is no evidence that it harms the skin.

Otherwise, there are generally no side effects (except positive and desired ones) in the wearing of a copper bracelet.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A sick person down with flu may manifest early symptoms of cough, runny nose, fever and body aches. Likewise, there are usually ample warning signs for a company. Prescription without diagnosis is malpractice, and thus carrying out corporate restructuring without knowing the ailments is disastrous. The key is early diagnosis as it increases the chances of curing most diseases.

Principle 7: An annual health check is fundamental

Many companies have annual medical examinations and health screening for their employees, but are negligent when it comes to their own check-ups. Poor management and financial information systems typically get blamed for management’s inability to ‘see it coming’.
Usually, there are ample warning signs or symptoms of impending trouble. However, these warning signals are often ignored or suppressed; hence the onset of a crisis comes as a surprise.

It is also tragic that many companies fail, not solely due to the irrevocable downward spiral of their financial health, but because of management’s inability or unwillingness to face those serious
problems squarely and take appropriate timely action. Sometimes, top executives fall into the denial trap as acknowledging a problem is tantamount to an admission of failure, exposing them to criticism by the company’s shareholders.

It is important to pre-empt any problems from arising by looking out for warning signals. Therefore, a proverb that says: “The superior doctor prevents sickness. The mediocre doctor attends to impending sickness. The inferior doctor treats the actual sickness.”

Principle 8: To understand the disease, learn to be the patient

There is an old Spanish saying: “To be a bullfighter, you must first learn to be like a bull.” in business, a manager needs to be on the ground — to talk and interact with the various people: staff, suppliers, customers, business partners and even competitors. Through these channels, the manager is able to acquire a better knowledge of the industry and feel of the market, and be better equipped to make sound decisions and take timely action as he does not operate in a vacuum. This will not only check or halt declining trends, but also hopefully improve them in the near future. This is why the worst place for a manager to be in is his air-conditioned room, where he is cut off from the marketplace.

Lou Gertsner, the turnaround CEO of IBM, became IBM’s most hardworking salesperson — logging thousands of miles to visit key customers and prospects. His approach sent an unmistakable message to every employee to be hands-on and gave IBM a new image. By staying in contact with the market, Gertsner was able to make the right decision to turn troubled IBM around.
Sun Tzu, in the art of war also advocated a ‘staying on the ground1 policy. “Generally, in the case of armies you wish to strike, cities you wish to attack, and people you wish to assassinate, you must know the names of the garrison commander, staff officers, ushers, gatekeepers and bodyguards. You must instruct your agents to inquire into these matters in minute detail.”

Principle 9: Do not block the flow of internal energy or ‘qi’

In traditional Chinese medicine, ill health is often associated with the blockage of one’s internal energy, qi. If one is ill, such clearance will result in the normalisation and re-establishment of the optimal functioning of one’s body and most diseases should disappear, if one is not ill, the free flow of qi will further enhance the existing sense of wellness and well-being.

In the corporate context, qi is the human spirit, drive, passion and energy. It is the same qi that keeps you awake when you are watching the world Cup matches or your favourite television programme. It is also the same qi that impelled wait Disney to risk his reputation by creating Disneyland and Epcot Centre without any market data on their viability, it is the same passion and drive that saw Bill Gates give up his Harvard university studies in pursuit of his dream of establishing Microsoft.

You do not create Disneyland or build personal computers because the outside environment demands it. These things arose out of an inner urge for progress: the drive to go further, to do better, to create new possibilities without any external justification.
Jack Welch, the former chairman of General Electric US recognised the power of energy in his later years, in early 1980, when he first took over the helm, his emphasis was on maximising market share, a directive for all CE’s affiliates to be Number 1 or 2. Subsequently, it was a case of maximising market-value through productivity programmes such as ‘workout’, ‘6 sigma’. in the later years, Welch indicated that he would hire people with the two energies: those with energy and the ability to energise others.

To compete effectively in the future, companies need to maximise the energy of their staff, as well as exploit and tap the energy of their customers.

Principle 1O: Knowing the type of viruses is half the cure

The troubled company usually gets attacked by two types of problems — internal and external viruses. Many of the internal viruses are generated by the company and are actually within the company’s control. They are usually associated with weak management and a poor financial system. The onslaught of this form of viral attack can lead to bad or untimely business decisions, poor financial control and other related problems. The medical analogy for eliminating internal viruses may merit the use of surgery such as downsizing, restructuring or change of management.
External viruses being macro in nature are often beyond the company’s control.

The entire industry or marketplace or even the whole country may be stricken by the same type of external viruses. The attacks can be silent, swift and often appear non-threatening at the beginning. Examples of external viruses can include economic recession, changes in consumer behaviour, natural disasters, political turmoil and terrorist attacks.
Such external viruses are harder to eliminate and predict. Sometimes, even having a strong management team is inadequate to cope with external viruses because the corporate culture is not able to manage change.

The remedy is to foster a strong and healthy corporate culture, which is the immune system of the company. The immune system produces antibodies to get rid of viruses, which is even better than taking drugs, as drugs sometimes create negative side effects. Similarly, a strong and healthy corporate culture can help to respond quickly to changes and shocks in the marketplace.
The best prescription is to know the viruses, predict and eradicate them before they attack your system.

Principle 11: Just as heart ailment is a major killer, competition is the major cause of corporate failures

The management mantra in the 1970s and 1980s was product quality, and activities involving Quality control (QC! circles, Total Quality Management (TQM! and ISO 9000 were the order of the day. Back then, consumers were willing to spend enormous sums for quality products. However, product quality has improved and today, having a good quality product is a mandatory requirement for any company to participate effectively and survive in the marketplace.
Subsequently, the management slogan in the 1980s and 1990s embraced technology as the cure-all, companies then tried to distinguish themselves from their competitors through the use of technology to offer better and more sophisticated features, and the use of the internet and other communication systems. Huge sums were channeled into technology to build a better mousetrap with more superior state-of-the-art features.

Today, the world does not beat down the door of the better mousetrap developer. The collapse of the high-tech stocks on Nasdaq in the early part of 2001 shows that technology is not foolproof.
The thrust in the new millennium is competition, competition intensifies with the emergence of a better range of products that are often of more superior quality with even more attractive pricing. in such a scenario, many products become marginalised, and like commodities, pricing becomes a key determinant in a shrinking market.

Competition is a silent and sudden killer like a heart attack which creeps up on you. It is however also a highly preventable disease — for the individual through a healthy lifestyle, and for the company, to be always alert and have strategies to combat competition. When you are faced with increasing competition, you may still survive, prosper and succeed, but it cannot be business as usual.

Principle 12: Past business assumptions may be the anaesthetic that dulls business sense

For a troubled company, it is prudent to challenge all ‘sacred cows’ or sacrosanct and old business assumptions, it is probable that some of these old ‘sacred cows,’ which were based on some erroneous perceptions and assumptions, got the company into trouble. Traditions and past business assumptions underlying the old ways of doing business, especially those that have become irrelevant and obsolete, may be the root cause of the disease afflicting the ailing company.

In times of rapid change, a strategic failure is often caused by an incorrect or false perception, we console ourselves by telling ourselves that we have gone through the present problem before, or falsely assuming that this change is temporary, or the impact would be limited and hence could be ignored.

Many of these old and obsolete assumptions happen in large and well-known companies whose traditional cash cow businesses have become sacred cows that end up as sacrificial cows or mad cows when market forces overwhelm them.

Time and again, some wrong business assumptions and perceptions by experts have led many companies astray. For example, Ken Olson, president of Digital Equipment, said in 1977: “There is no reason anyone would want a computer in his or her home.” Because of these erroneous assumptions and perceptions, it is no wonder Digital Equipment was late in entering the personal computer market.

To ensure the effective and successful implementation of its business assumptions, a troubled company must critically re-examine and re-visit every single one.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

One Dollar Saves Three

The federal government doesn’t keep track of statistics on how wellness programs can impact healthcare costs but some businesses have found that promoting wellness reaps handsome rewards. According to the Wellness Councils of America, a non-profit group that promotes healthy lifestyles, companies can save three dollars on healthcare expenses for every dollar they spend on wellness programs that teach employees to lead healthier lives.
Source: Wellness Councils of America

Lifestyle Could Reduce Diabetes by 87 Percent

The combination of losing weight, moving more, cutting out trans-fats, saturated fats and excessive alcohol, and eating more fiber could reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes by a staggering 87 percent. A modest 5-percent weight loss can lower risk significantly. The incidence of type 2 diabetes increased by 60 percent in the United States between 1990 and 2001. Treatment for diabetes and its complications consumes 10 percent of America’s healthcare dollars.
Sources: British Journal of Nutrition and American Diabetes Association

The Aerobic Cure

Aerobic exercise alone cured metabolic syndrome (sometimes called syndrome X) in 30 percent of people in the HERITAGE Family Study in Canada. The syndrome is a combination of elevated blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and high waist circumference that significantly raises the risks of diabetes and heart disease. People in the study rode a stationary bike three times per week for twenty weeks.
Source: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

The Obesity-Cancer Link

Researchers have found 37 percent more cancer among obese women and 25 percent more among obese men, compared to people of healthy weight. Death rates for all cancers are 62 percent higher among obese women and 52 percent higher among obese men. Among obese women, risks for specific cancers increase as follows: breast 150 percent; uterine 200 to 400 percent; kidney 200 to 400 percent; pancreatic 200 percent; and colon 46 percent.
Source: Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource

Weight Gain Explained

Americans’ per capita daily calorie consumption increased by roughly 300 calories per person between 1985 and 2000. Grains (mainly refined grains) accounted for 46 percent of the increase, added fats for 24 percent, added sugars for 23 percent, and fruits and vegetables for 8 percent, while meat and dairy consumption declined by 1 percent.
Source: American Heart Association

Multivitamins Could Cut Medicare Costs

Medicare could save at least 1.6 billion dollars in the next five years by providing multivitamins to people over the age of 65. Cost savings would result primarily from fewer admissions to hospitals and nursing homes as a result of heart disease and infections such as pneumonia.
Source: Multivitamins and Public Health: Exploring the Evidence Conference

Calcium and Folic Acid Could Save 15 Billion Dollars

A study commissioned by the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance shows that the use of daily calcium supplements could prevent 734,000 hip fractures annually, saving 13.9 billion dollars in healthcare costs. Daily use of folic acid supplements could prevent 600 cases of neural tube birth defects, saving an additional 1.3 billion dollars. Foods fortified with calcium or folic acid offer an alternative to supplement pills.
Source: Dietary Supplement Education Alliance

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on July 18th, the study focused on over 3,000 women successfully treated for early-stage breast cancer. Average age of participants was fifty-three, and ten percent died within the course of the study, mostly due to a recurrence of the disease. The cancer returned for approximately the same number of individuals in each group.

Diets assigned to 1,537 of the participants exceeded the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of five fruits and vegetables per day, and consisted of five daily vegetable servings, three fruit servings, sixteen ounces of vegetable juice, and thirty grams of fiber. A “serving” was to equal one-half cup, French fries and iceberg lettuce could not be counted, and only fifteen to twenty percent of calories could be derived from fat. Control groups were given educational literature on the importance of eating at least the RDA of fruits and vegetables.

But the study is already undergoing criticism from healthcare professionals and researchers, many of whom believe the causes of serious diseases like cancer are multi-dimensional, and that studies focusing on a few macronutrients or food groups — with few other controls — may be unable to yield the intended data with accuracy. Previous studies on the link between healthy diet and the prevention of breast cancer have returned mixed results at best.

Susan M. Gapstur, of the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, is one of those asking pointed questions. “Should we really have focused on dietary components like fruits, vegetables, and fat? Or should we be focusing, in addition to diet, on lifestyle factors including physical activity and weight?”

The call to approach nutritional studies differently from studies on pharmaceutical medicines is growing stronger. Steve Mister, President and CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, urged colleagues during this May’s symposium, The Workshop, to consider alternative methods for studying nutrition and the effects of dietary supplements. “…nutrients have beneficial effects on multiple body tissues, and interact in a dynamic fashion with other nutrients,” said Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and a Workshop attendee.

In other words, simply linking one nutrient — let alone entire food groups — with a particular outcome, without taking into account this complex interaction, may yield inaccurate or incomplete results. The government study did not control for organic, versus conventionally-grown foods, nutrient levels, source of nutrients (which have been linked with osteoporosis in studies focusing on calcium), or lifestyle factors (including physical activity, weight, calorie consumption, other food consumption, and stress). Nor did it control for environmental factors, or other variables associated with breast cancer, including obesity and exposure to certain chemicals linked with breast cancer.

Texas has a particular interest in the accuracy and proper portrayal of such studies, as breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Texas women. An Ecological Study of the Association of Environmental Chemicals on Breast Cancer Incidence in Texas by Y.M. Coyle and colleagues, found that twelve toxicants released into the environment by industry were positively associated with breast cancer in that state. Those twelve were Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) “chemicals designated as carcinogens or had estrogenic effects associated with breast cancer risk.” The release of these chemicals, furthermore, was “consistently reported to EPA TRI for multiple counties in Texas during 1988 – 2000,” which included years for which the study used data.

Some of the chemicals associated with breast cancer rates were formaldehyde, methylene chloride, styrene, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, chromium, cobalt, copper, and nickel. Styrene was the “most important” chemical linked with the disease, affecting men and women of all ages, commonly used for food storage and preparation, and released from building materials, tobacco smoke, and industry.

The government study has been further criticized for not highlighting the many beneficial effects of better eating habits, including fewer incidences of other cancers, and improved overall wellbeing. One fear is that consumers, including breast cancer survivors, will read abstracts of the report and begin to believe that high intake levels of fruits and vegetables are simply unimportant.

If these fears were to come to fruition, and the study was to have a negative effect on the population’s eating habits, the healthcare and health insurance industries of Texas could be devastated with higher incidences of diseases already at epidemic levels in the state, including obesity and diabetes. Even a slight increase in rural, uninsured residents seeking care in the larger cities of Dallas, Houston, and Austin, could add enough weight to functionally collapse those cities’ healthcare systems.

What many don’t know, but should, is that the release of such results must be analyzed within their appropriate context, not sensationalized by high-impact headlines or incomplete reports. Common sense, overall, should take hold. Fruits and vegetables have always been good for the human population — throughout cultures, throughout technological eras. In other words, until we can alter our very DNA, keep eating those salads.

Without a doubt, how nutritiously you eat affects your health. How you take care of yourself will certainly affect you as you age, and eventually your wallet, as well. If you’re a young individual who tries to keep informed and maintain a healthy condition and lifestyle, you should take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive and highly-affordable individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for you. Visit our website, http://www.precedent.com, for more information. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly-competitive HSA-qualified plans, and an unparalleled “real time” application and acceptance experience.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A big symptom of depression in many people is the inability to get proper rest. This lack of sleep only compounds the other symptoms and makes you feel completely “wiped out” from top to bottom. Here are a few ways that some people use to combat this problem.

Medications – There are several medications available that can be prescribed through your doctor. Some of these would be multi-purpose in order to help reduce your depression and to help you sleep at the same time. There are others that are designed just to help you rest. Either way, consult with your doctor and work together to find an option that is best for you. Never EVER take anyone elses medication! What may be helpful for one person may work the opposite way for another and end up in catastrophe. Don’t do it!

One problem with taking medication to help you sleep is that, even though most of these medicines are not habit forming, you can build up a need for them as time passes in order to get to sleep. In other words, you may start off by taking one and then gradually increasing the dosage, according to whatever your doctor prescribes. The problem is that, for some people, they’ll need to gradually take more and more in order to get the same result. In other words, they build up a tolerance to the medication. Also, there will come a point when you may want to stop taking the medicine and it will then take time for you to get back to normal. Note: Some doses of medication must be decreased gradually and stopping them “cold turkey” can be potentially very dangerous. Always consult with your physician before you stop taking prescribed medication.

Exercise – I realize how difficult that this can be when you’re feeling so listless, however, if you can just manage to “suck it up” and do some good stretching followed by some sets of calisthenics, wind sprints or a good and long brisk walk, you’ll have much more success in getting a good nights sleep. Working up a good sweat by exercising or doing some type of hard manual labor can be extremely helpful to release that tension and tire you out so that you may have a peaceful night of sleep.

Many people that suffer from loss of sleep and depression tend to dream more than they normally would, mostly bad dreams or dreams of high tension and excitement. Have you ever woke up hitting, kicking, screaming, crying, ect? These types of dreams are common in depressive people and seem to be very real. They could be brought on by an obvious problem such as their living conditions, relationships, ect. or possibly from a traumatic event such as an abusive past. They could also be pent up feelings of frustration that the person has difficulty expressing or releasing while awake.

This type of aggressive behavior should be addressed by seeking counseling. This doesn’t mean that you are “crazy” in any way, shape or form, it only means that there are issues that are subconsciously troubling you and the only way that they can be brought out into the open is to seek the help of a professional so that you may work through it together confidentially.

Don’t take naps – Taking naps during the day can be detrimental to getting a good nights sleep. Although you may be feeling tired, you really must fight it off until you condition your body to only rest itself at night.

Depression can be a serious medical problem. Please seek medical attention if these problems continue for more than a few days.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

While it is painfully clear that we may find such toxic chemicals as fire retardants in the breast milk of Americans who unsuspectingly ingest these and unhealthy levels of many other of toxins form the air they breath, the water they drink, and the food they eat, then it is obvious that our drive for cultural, technological, and scientific advancement has taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way. The chemicals we have produced and utilized in the modern era have had many negative effects upon various human body organ systems and have caused many health problems that will have serious implications far into the future. Data from recent explorations into these issues suggest that all of us are at risk of developing serious diseases from long-term exposure to these chemicals that we had hoped would improve our lives. Our synthetic chemicalization of planet Earth, in the past 60 years, is showing up as a body burden that is a physical tragedy and a fiscal catastrophe. Nowhere are these terrifying results more evident than in today’s battles with breast cancer.

The link between toxins in our environment and diseases like breast cancer showing up in our populations is one about which there is little debate as to the cause and effect relationship. While media, political, and health watch organizations warn of the danger associated with large doses of synthetic chemicals within the living environments of human populations, it is apparent that even very low doses of certain chemicals can harm a developing fetus or newborn infant. Small amounts of lead, mercury or PCBs in amounts that would not harm adults readily damage the developing nervous system, causing defects that appear later on. While the general health of an individual is a factor in who is more susceptible to developing diseases from the exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment, the fact that breast cancer is claiming its victims from women both young and old, makes this situation all the more deplorable. We need to take a fresh look at not only the disease itself, but also at what may be alternatives to the current treatment of this abomination.

Since it is obvious that government, with its bureaucratic pace of environmental protection reform and industry with its millions of dollars spent lobbying against regulations that would impact the manufacture of their toxic products despite the obvious health concerns, will not solve this problem in the immediate future; we then, must take responsibility for our own health and wellness with education and pro-active prevention and treatment strategies. Since the current treatment methods, which have produced little to indicate real progress over the past thirty years, are the very essence of barbarism, we must seek out alternative ways of prevention and treatment, and help to bring them into the accepted mainstream of health care practices. We must also work to help ban dangerous chemicals and take immediate steps to protect ourselves from unnecessary exposure to those chemicals that we know to be harmful and contributory to the development of chronic and degenerative diseases.

The current medical practices to treat breast cancer seem more like torturous mayhem that therapeutic intervention. And is it any wonder when doctors and medical students alike get most of their primary, secondary, and continuing education funded, to a large degree by the megalithic pharmaceutical industry, the very authors and purveyors of drastic and toxic medical intervention procedures. This situation is all the more dreadful when it is pointed out that these increasingly toxic and experimental measures lead to future complications and the susceptibility to the premature development of other chronic diseases. This preoccupation with burning with radiation, poisoning with toxins, and slicing and dicing cancer is an appalling state of affairs that must end now. If you believe that current medical interventions do anything but dehumanize cancer victims, then perhaps you will want to go to your local video rental store and check out a movie by the name of “WIT”. That our bodies are nothing more than test tubes to those involved in the current cancer treatment methodologies is dramatically illustrated by this fine film. And just when current medical practitioners will leave this seemingly medieval torture seen behind is not immediately apparent.

Imagine if you will that a woman is called into her doctor’s office to review the results of her previous examination. The doctor looks at the images on the films that were taken and declares that he sees the shadow of something that could be deadly cancer and as a result has scheduled surgery within 24 hours. Before she even has a chance for the shock and terror to take hold, she is reeling with the realization that she will be going under the knife in less than a day and will never be the same again. Don’t kid yourself. This has been and is happening. This is a strategy designed to prevent you from stepping outside of the box of current medical interventions for the treatment of cancer, taking a deep breath, and processing this information in the new light of other possible courses of action. You may, after all, discover that you have other viable alternatives to choose from in this instance. The probable fact of the matter is that a health care provider, who rushes to execute such measures, would not be quite so eager to cut off the breast of his wife or of his daughter without considering less drastic options first. And, not to put too fine a point on the matter, but bringing it closer to home, I also do not believe that your doctor would be as eager to part with one of his testicles should a comparable diagnosis for him be pronounced.

It is imperative that we, as consumers, prevail upon our service providers to consider alternatives should we find ourselves in a similar circumstance. In fact, it may speed things along if, when confronted with a situation like this, we would graphically drive the point home by saying something like: “OK doctor, if you want to take away from me one of these (gesturing to the appropriate area of your body), then I think you should have to part with one of those, (pointing with your finger at his “family jewels” location). I will wager that a lively discussion of alternatives for this problem would ensue with little hesitation.

There are alternative remedies out there. Find them. It is known, for example, that certain foods, including many vegetables and fruits, may offer some positive effects in the fight against cancer. Dietary suggestions such as choosing most of the foods you eat from plant sources, limiting your intake of foods high in fat, particularly from animal sources, becoming physically active, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and limiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages, will add to your efforts to achieve a desired state of wellness and avoid diseases. One approach which has not had wide spread acceptance to date but has become quite intriguing, is the dietary use of certain carbohydrate containing plant materials to either prevent or treat certain cancers. There are numerous references which underscore the importance of a diet obtained primarily from plant sources as a major step in preventing cancer, or at least benefiting cancer patients. There are literally hundreds of reports supporting this concept.

Today the prevention of cancer with proper nutrition is widely accepted. It is believed, that in time, the efficacy of these materials in the fight against cancer will be firmly established, and that alternative choices for treatment will be included in the accepted resources for the treatment of cancer. This will help to negate the current propensity to pressure cancer patients into surgery or toxic therapies causing them to agree for fear that they have few, if any other viable options. Cancer cells and the means to deal with them effectively are located within our bodily systems. Those systems need but to be catalytically activated by the proper raw materials. If we are functioning properly at the cellular level, then the growth of cancer can be controlled and held in check from within by natural mechanisms that were in place long before modern medicine dreamed up its current toxic and drastic strategies. So, educate yourself about prevention and alternative options, move your body, eat well, supplement wisely, and TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Digestion begins in the mouth – enzymes in your saliva mix with our food and begin to work on it, particularly on carbohydrates. Chewing increases the surface area of our food making it easier for our enzymes to do their job further down the digestive tract. Chewing also alerts the digestive system further down the line, getting the pancreas and gall bladder ready. So if you chew your food well it gives your whole digestive system a better chance.

Here I should mention about chewing gum – chewing gum alerts your digestive system and certain things are set into motion, but the digestive system is fooled, no food! I have come across many people who constantly chew gum and have digestive problems. Once they give up chewing gum, more often than not their digestive problems disappear.

Many people confess to gulping down their food, hardly stopping to chew or taste their food. Often paying little attention to what they eat or how much they eat. It is a difficult habit to break and will need a conscious effort.

The health of your mouth and teeth is so very important at any age, as it is vital to be able to chew our food properly. As we get older it is even more important that we look after our teeth and gums. Find a dentist you like and trust. going to the dentist for regular visits is very important; I would say that you need to do this at least every 6 months. A good dentist can even alert you to any health problems just from the state of your gums.

Many people have over the years got into the habit of not chewing well, for many different reasons. You are not going to chew your food properly if you have painful or sensitive teeth, sore gums or indeed if you have broken or missing teeth. You could be making poor food choices, purely due to the state of your teeth.

Grinding your teeth at night, many people grind their teeth and have no idea. The dentist can detect the tell tale signs of wear and tear. This grinding can cause people to have jaw aches, headaches, neck aches or many times just have sore teeth and gums making them sensitive to everything you eat or drink. Having a mouth guard can eliminate this problem for some people. Get a mouth guard made especially to fit your teeth and mouth it’s much more comfortable if you do, so when you grind your teeth there is a cushioning to reduce the impact and pressure. Calm your anxieties with herbal teas and try to avoid caffeine as it can heighten your anxieties.

However, for most people the problem isn’t their teeth – it’s too being busy, or distractions, eating on the run etc. These are some of the things you need to consider. Do not eat -

a) while standing
b) while reading
c) if you are angry
d) while watching television
e) while on the phone
f) while driving

Concentrate on what you are eating, chew well and savor your food. In truth few people pay much attention to how much they have eaten or to what they have eaten, as they are too busy doing something else while they eat. The small amount of extra time needed is well worth the investment, it will make a big difference to your digestion and ultimately your health.

Drinking lots of water with meals is not a good idea as you dilute your digestive juices, but drinking water 20 to 30 minutes before a meal is really good for the digestion.

Saliva also helps to neutralize acidity in the mouth (protecting teeth) from acid in foods and drinks that most people consume most of the time. Then saliva also prevents infections by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth. A dry mouth can be very uncomfortable, disturbing sleep, causing a sore throat all having a direct or indirect effect on your digestion. There are several causes of dry mouth could be due to a certain diseases, however, the most common cause is the side-effect of medication in particular anti-histamines and diuretics (in simple terms these drugs dry up the body). Other causes are dehydration, from chronic (more than short lived) vomiting, chronic sweating, chronic diarrhea and fever. If you have a dry mouth you need to consider making some life-style changes.

Herbs – Sage or Thyme, the herbs found in your or dried from supermarkets can be made into a natural mouth wash. Take 1 tablespoon of sage or thyme per mug of boiled water – allow it to stand for 10 minutes then strain, do not swallow. This strong infusion can be used for bleeding gums, infections, and mouth sores. Once the infusion is made keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days only. The fresh leaves of sage can be rubbed into the gums for gingivitis.

Vitamins – take 1000mg of vitamin C each day, to prevent infection and bleeding gums, maintaining healthy blood vessels.

Foods – sugary foods and drinks as we all know are detrimental to your teeth and general health. Foods that strengthen your teeth and bones, and at the same time maintain a good acid-alkaline balance – any dark green plants/herbs/vegetables.

Buckwheat is a seed that is used like a grain. It contains a compound called rutin. Rutin is an antioxidant, vitamin-like substance that protects against capillary fragility and bruising (typical of many people with high blood pressure), as well as bleeding gums. Buckwheat flour can be used to make great pancakes. ‘Crepes’ made in Brittany where traditionally made from buckwheat. This flour is gluten-free.

Avoid drinking black tea with food as it will hinder the absorption of minerals like calcium, iron etc due to its high tannin levels.

Taste and smell are extremely important to digestion as they alert the organs to excrete digestive enzymes and hormones. People who are short of zinc do not taste and smell their food particularly well, and should consider taking Zinc with a B complex. A common reaction to lowered sense taste and smell, is an increased use of salt and sugar.

Once we swallow our food it ends up in our stomach, where the lining of the stomach secretes hormones, enzymes and hydrochloric acid. Have you ever wondered why the stomach doesn’t digest itself? This is due to the fact that it has a very thick layer of protective mucus. In the stomach Pepsin – breaks down proteins. The stomach lining produces several types of pepsinogens, which lay dormant until they are mixed with hydrochloric acid. If you do not have enough hydrochloric acid, the pepsinogens cannot be activated into pepsin, making protein digestion very much more difficult. Hydrochloric acid is produced by the parietal cells in the stomach lining. Besides helping to break down proteins, it’s vital in the break down and ultimately absorption of minerals, especially calcium and iron. Having enough hydrochloric acid is important to our general health, as it kills bacteria, fungus etc. Generally, our hydrochloric acid levels drop as we get older. Gastric lipase splits down fats. Amylase continues to break down carbohydrates. Instrinsic factor, without it we could not absorb vitamin B12, causing pernicious anemia. Pernicious anemia is not the same as the anemia that is caused by iron shortages. Food will stay in your stomach anything from 1 to 5 hours, depending on what you have eaten.

Some people get heart burn, what does this mean? This means they suffer a lot of pain and reach for antacids that may or may not work, have side-effects and only treat the symptoms? Heart burn can have several causes – a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES for short), the muscle (valve) that rings the base of the esophagus and the top of the stomach. Swallowing opens the valve allowing food to enter the stomach and is supposed to prevent the stomach acid seeping back up into the esophagus, called “reflux”, causing burning and pain in the esophagus. Some antacids reduce the stomach’s acidity so it burns less. Others reduce the stomach acid secretion so there is less in the stomach. Both of these do nothing to encourage the valve to function better, and certainly hinder digestion and absorption.

There is a huge problem with this sort of treatment, as we need normal amounts of stomach acid to digest our food properly, lowering it sets up all sorts of health problems in the long run. There are foods and drinks that contain compounds that encourage the body to increase the production of a hormone that relaxes the LES valve. These include chocolate, tea, coffee, alcohol, and greasy foods (from processed fats). Being overweight increases physical pressure on the stomach, and can force acid up into the esophagus. This is why heartburn is so common amongst pregnant women.

Some people are in pain and take regular pain-killers, needing antacids to counteract their side-effects, but they too have side-effects! Get help changing some aspects of your life and diet, you will suffer less pain, take less medication, your body will naturally have less inflammation and will start absorbing more nutrients, which has a positive knock-on effect.

The stomach’s contents empties into the duodenum where its acidity needs neutralizing immediately. The pancreas produces about 2.5 liters of pancreatic juices/enzymes a day. The first thing that must happen is the production of a substance rich in sodium carbonate, neutralizing stomach acid, as the lining of the duodenum cannot cope with such high acidic levels. If this doesn’t happen you will be prone to duodenal ulcers.

The pancreas releases digestive enzymes – amylase, lipase and three proteases, digestive enzymes that further break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

There is a direct relationship between our enzyme reserve and the health of our immune system. The better our enzyme reserve, the better our immune system can cope with everyday battles, of which there are many, including your eating habits.

White blood cells are responsible for seeking out and destroying foreign invaders that manage to infiltrate our blood and lymph. Studies have shown that these white blood cells have proteolytic, amylytic and lipolytic enzymes similar to that produced by the pancreas for digestion. These enzymes break down larger molecules of proteins, fats and carbohydrates that have managed to get into the blood stream. These substances are dealt with before they cause too much havoc or destruction in our system. Interestingly, studies show depending on what you eat, directly affects your white blood cell activity.

Eating dead processed foods causes your immune system to use up large amounts of its vital enzyme reserves. Eating live natural foods doesn’t use up such reserves, and even adds to this the reserve. As your enzymes become depleted over the years and as you continue to eat dead food your digestive system struggles more and more (even if you are not aware of it). The gradual depletion of enzymes means most of our food is not being digested properly. This situation along with eating nutrient poor foods can lead to all sorts of chronic problems. Dead food is not just void of enzymes but more often than not also co-enzymes (vitamins, and minerals) that enable the body to manufacture more enzymes.

Studies have shown low levels of enzymes in diabetics. The pancreas has another function besides producing digestive enzymes, it also produces insulin. People suffering from liver problems have also been found to have low levels of digestive enzyme activity.

All food must be broken down into simpler molecules by enzymes. The more enzymes we get from your food the less your system has to manufacture, borrow or steal from other activities within your body, like the immune system. The enzymes provided by the food we eat, aid in their own digestion, leaving the body’s own reserves in tact to get on with other metabolic jobs that are so vital to your health.

Enzymes are the key to life, needed for every reaction in our bodies, otherwise we are like a machines without batteries. Vitamins and minerals are also known as co-enzymes, the building blocks to enzymes, sure our bodies can make enzymes providing we are absorbing enough co-enzymes (all the vitamins and minerals needed), this is not always the case.

After a cooked meal our white blood cell count goes up considerably, they would appear to aid in the process by providing much needed enzymes. However, when we eat raw foods there is no such substantial increase in our white blood count. Raw foods bring with them plenty of their own enzymes and co-enzymes, reducing our immune system’s involvement.

The gall bladder releases its stored bile salts, which break down fat into smaller parts allowing lipase to do its job more efficiently. Bile is a greenish yellow colored fluid that contains cholesterol, fatty acids, lecithin, bilirubin, and bile salts, produced by the liver. It’s the bile salts that are important to digestion as they help to emulsify fats, by lowering the surface tension it allows large particles to be broken down into tiny ones. Bile salts also help with the absorption of fatty acids from the intestinal tract. Bile gets its color from the pigment called bilirubin, which come from spent and worn out red blood cells that are removed from the blood stream for disposal.

A good working liver and gall bladder are very important to the digestion and absorption of fat. I hear some of you say, I don’t want to absorb fat. Oh, yes you do. Some fats are essential to our health and weight maintenance, so much so they are called ‘essential’ fatty acids. The liver and the production of bile is a very important part of controlling your cholesterol levels. Spent hormones and cholesterol are broken down by the liver and released into the gall bladder, from there cholesterol ends up in the large intestines.

Put simply, if your diet has enough natural fiber (from whole foods) and enough nutrients it will bind with the cholesterol and will be removed from the body via the bowels, thus maintaining good cholesterol levels. However, a diet void of enough fiber and nutrients, will allow cholesterol to be reabsorbed back into the blood stream, for the liver to deal with again.

In the jejunum and ileum is where most of our absorption takes place. Enzymes play a vital role in the process of absorption from the small intestine into the blood stream. To encourage maximum absorption the lining has microscopic finger-like protrusions, called villi. These villi give our intestines an enormous surface area to ensure maximum absorption of nutrients.

How to ensure your body has enough enzymes? At first you could take digestive enzymes in the form of capsules/tablets, these are only a temporary solution while you change your diet and your digestion improves. Take more live foods that are full of enzymes – fresh fruit, vegetables, natural plain yogurt etc. However these should be eaten raw or lightly steamed. Too much cooking easily destroys enzymes.

By the time the food has reached the large intestine (bowel or colon), a lot of what was worth absorbing will have already been absorbed by the time it reaches here. Though the entire digestive tract contains bacteria, here in the large intestine is where the majority of bacteria exist, the good, the bad and the terrible. These guys produce enzymes that continue to work on the remains of digestion. At this point water is re-absorbed and the longer the waste remains in the large intestine the more water is removed, and reabsorbed into the blood stream. This is called auto-intoxication. The more constipated a person is the drier their stools become.

Somehow, many people think that they can eat what they like and the digestive system just sorts it all out. I often hear people say – a little of this or a little of that, and a little of the other, will do no harm, not really stopping to think of all the accumulative effect it all has. Bit by bit, week by week, year by year!

The large intestines should contain a large abundance of the correct bacteria ‘the friendly bowel flora’, in order for these good guys to survive and flourish, they need the correct nourishment. These beneficial bacteria, contribute to our immune defense system, and help to produce some nutrients.

Modern eating habits and certain medications contribute, encourage and feed the unfriendly flora. Antibiotics are an example – disrupting the balance. Antibiotics should be taken as a last resort, they do undoubtedly save lives, but too many people are taking them for minor reasons. This approach really isn’t a good idea especially if you are not in a high risk category – being elderly, very young or have asthma etc. Just because I am a Naturopath doesn’t mean I am against pharmaceutical medication, however they are not a good idea for simple conditions or first resort (if the condition is not life threatening). Worldwide scientific news has been reporting for many years that antibiotics are being overused and misused, which is causing ‘drug resistant bugs’ and health problems.

Yeast or fungal infections are more prevalent as the bowel flora becomes out of whack. Symptoms are varied – including headaches, aches and pains, skin problems, respiratory problems and mucus problems, tiredness, more susceptible to infections and so on.

As a practitioner of natural medicine it is impossible not to think of the body as a complete entity, everything you do has a knock on affect on every single cell in the body.

Feed the bad guys – eat plenty of white rice, plenty of white flour products like white bread, when throw in some sugar for good measure, from so many foods like cakes, cookies and sodas. Plenty of products contain something worse, ‘High Fructose Corn Syrup’. This is not to be confused with the fructose that comes packaged in whole fresh fruit, is not the same thing at all, far from it.

Feed the good guys eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (remember 5 a day is a minimum recommendation), plus garlic, beans, lentils, brown rice, quinoa, millet, plain yogurt, ground flax seeds also know as linseeds or psyllium can be found in the supermarkets, add a teaspoon or two to a glass of water.

It is important that your bowel are functioning well, constipation is not good for your overall health. To prevent auto-intoxication, to balance cholesterol levels and hormones you need to consume enough natural fiber from whole foods, which will bind with cholesterol to successfully remove it from the body before it is reabsorbed back into the system. Hence why the adverts on lowering cholesterol extol the virtues of the soluble fiber found in oats. However, fiber from all sorts of natural whole foods will enhance your health, ensure a good working digestive system, feed the correct bowel flora, balance/lower cholesterol and so much more.

Be kind to your digestive system its your foundation to health.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

“I can’t meet with you because I have so many things to do”.

“And now, I am sick because I have so many things to do, and can’t take off from (fill in the blank)”.

“Plus, I can’t even think straight because of my phone, blackberry, pager, laptop, etc.”

“And, now I have even more things to do…”

This “endless spiral” lifestyle makes it hard for anyone, super-human or otherwise, to stay motivated.

And, how about you?

How do you really feel when you wake up each day? Do you lack energy and as a result fear facing the new day ahead?

And, how do you feel throughout your day? Do you feel exhausted by 9:30 in the morning? Even more drained in the afternoon? Are you unable to concentrate or think clearly?

Are you feeling run down from high levels of stress at work, in traffic, at home and from life? Do you get frequent headaches? Frequent colds and sickness? Experience shortness of breath even from the slightest physical exertion? Did you put on a few extra pounds this year?

I’ll bet that you can probably answer YES to one or all of these. (And, come up with a few others on your own if you take some time to think about it.)

So, what can you do to beat stress, be healthy and stay motivated?

Here’s my solution – Qigong. And, with continued practice of Qigong you can start on a journey to better health and well being!

WHAT IS QIGONG?

Qigong, also known as Chi Gong or Chi Kung, has been practiced throughout China, Korea and other Asian countries for thousands of years and continues to be practiced daily in parks, schools, gyms and at home. In my visits to Asian countries, I always see groups of people, young and old, women and men, congregating at sunrise to do their Qigong exercises.

Qi means “breath or gas” in Mandarin Chinese and is the energy produced by breathing that keeps us alive; gong means “work or technique”. Qigong is then the “breath work” or the art of managing the breath to achieve and maintain good health and to enhance the energy mobilization and stamina of the body in coordination with the physical process of respiration. Unlike other physical exercises, such as weight lifting, aerobics or running, Qigong can be, and should be done everyday.

Qigong involves the coordination of different breathing patterns with various physical postures and motions of the body. The gentle, graceful movements, combined with controlled breathing and meditation make Qigong an ideal health and fitness program for women, men and children of all ages.

As we age, we lose a little of our energy and health, year after year. But there’s good news – you don’t have to. With Qigong exercises you can balance and enhance your mental, physical, and metabolic functions – your mind, body and spirit. You can learn to concentrate on and control your breathing which is an important component of the relaxation response; so very critical in combating and managing stress. And, you can strengthen your immune system for a longer, healthier life.

THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IS EMBRACING IT!

Recent scientific evidence has proven the power of the mind and its thoughts on the health of the body; in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, recuperation from injury and in lessening pain. In fact, a recent programs on PBS, NBC and others, have established that the mind, body and spirit are all active “ingredients” for overall well being and good health, and critical in preventing disease or living well with chronic disease. Leading medical institutions, such as the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas and Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in New Jersey, now provide and teach Qigong. The University of Arizona and Duke University also offer courses in Integrative and Alternative Medicine to physicians.

WHAT WILL YOU GAIN FROM CONTINUED PRACTICE?

There are many Qigong exercises that can help specific areas of your body, mind and spirit. Here are three that target some of the key health issues today.

STRENGTHEN YOUR CIRCULATION AND IMMUNE SYSTEM:

Circulatory system diseases are a significant burden in terms of morbidity, mortality, and use of health care services. According to the National Center for Health Statistics and the CDC, expenditures for circulatory diseases total nearly 20% of all personal health care expenditures.

Ongoing practice of Circulation Qigong provides the following health benefits:

1) It directly stimulates the organ meridians to strengthen blood circulation

2) It also strengthens the lymphatic system that protects the body from being infected by cancer cells, fungi, viruses and bacteria

3) Circulation Qigong also detoxifies your tissues

4) When the function of these systems is improved; the health and wellbeing of all your internal organs, your immune system, and your brain function will be improved.

RELEASE STRESS AND TENSION:

Stress Relief Qigong controls high blood pressure and releases tension. Evidence suggests that reducing your blood pressure by only 5-6 points can decrease the risk of stroke by 40%, of coronary heart disease by 15-20%, and reduce the likelihood of dementia, heart failure, and mortality from vascular disease.

Some of the other benefits you gain are:

1) Release of your stress

2) Improvement and control of your breathing

3) And calming and strengthening of your internal organs.

INCREASE YOUR MENTAL POWER:

The exercises for Concentration are important in that they increase your mental power and all of your senses, including the sense of smell. The inability to identify the smell of lemons, lilac, leather and other smells predicts which people will develop Alzheimer’s Disease, according to a study presented at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology’s annual meeting. It is estimated that world-wide the number of people with Alzheimer’s will increase 238% over the next 30 years! In the U.S. alone it is the third costliest disease after heart disease and cancer! So, it is very important to consistently practice these exercises to improve our concentration.

With consistent practice of Concentration Qigong exercises, you can improve:

1) Your ability to concentrate

2) Mental capabilities

3) Your probability of a longer, healthier life.

In summary, Qigong is an excellent addition to improve your health regimen and keep you on track for a healthy lifestyle. Through continued, diligent practice you will reap the many benefits of Qigong and help your mind, body, and spirit heal naturally, so that you can stay motivated and on top of your “game”.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

In 2005 there were 48695 malls across North America (that is large shopping centers that have large food stores in them). The American population in 2006 is 300 000 406, equating to 6160 people per shopping mall, not including all the stand alone stores. And each of these malls is filled with food that is enhanced and wrapped in cellophane wrap. Of the money spent on food by Americans 90% is used to buy processed food.

Yet are American’s happy with their food choices? Every day 1207 people search on line at google alone for “healthy eating”. It seems that many Americans are struggling to understand how to eat a healthy balanced diet. Statistically 3.8 million Americans are over 300 pounds and 400 000 people are heavier then 400 pounds. The average weight of women is 163 pounds. Figures suggest that most of this obesity is lifestyle related, rather than due to medical causes. This bares out the fact that people in America no longer know how to eat healthily anymore. Obesity is not the only indicator that our food choices are not healthy. Given that 90% of US household food budget is used on processed food, it should perhaps be a subject of concern that the FDA keeps a list of 3000 chemicals that are added to processed food and not all of these chemicals have been properly tested.

For those not happy with the standard diet and diseases of North America, other cultures can offer some interesting alternatives, both as regards to food and health care. Although “traditional” cultures, such as American Indians in the past and Africans in the present do face their own nutritional problems (limited variety, famine) adopting their reliance on fresh food into our situation of plenty could have decided advantages. Foods from the garden and the hunt – are better for the body than those which are processed. It is with devastating results that the American Indians are finding this out again as diabetes and other traditionally white American nutritional and life style diseases become the norm and not the exception.

The body can let us know when it is craving certain nutrients. Most pregnant women experience cravings or at least aversions to certain foods. Is it necessary to wait for an unborn embryo to remind us that the body can be a well balanced machine capable of self diagnosis.

Those Americans committed to healthy eating will still have to face the ever present push of advertising that aims to sell processed food to us. This has a particularly profound impact upon our children who are known to be more susceptible to advertising messages. In a study by National Bureau of Economic Research it was found that a ban on fast food restaurant advertising would decrease childhood obesity in 3-11 year olds by 10% and in 12-18 year olds by 12%. The effectiveness of advertising was seen when the U S Department of State ran ads about integrating Muslims in to the community and being more tolerant. There was a marked trend toward acceptance of Muslims between 2002 and 2003 while these ads were being displayed. There is nothing to suggest that food advertising is any less powerful.

As well as laying out large amounts of money on advertising, some global food corporations are involved in “bio-prospecting”. This involves the “discovery”, patenting and introduction of certain foods or food traditions from other countries into America. India has recently fought a $30 million court battle to have patents reversed which saw Global corporations steal traditional Indian health and cuisine knowledge and patent it. This bio prospecting has led India along with nine other countries including China and Brazil to start compiling the “Traditional Knowledge Digital Library” which will include 20 million pages of traditional knowledge to stop bio- prospecting, by proving that the knowledge was in prior existence and there fore cannot be patented.

A recent set of articles in the Public Library of Science Medicine raise further questions about multinational companies and their attitude to public health as opposed to private profits. The articles talk about pharmaceutical companies which are creating “diseases” out of the normal conditions of ageing, such as menopause, as well as pushing certain diseases to be much more prevalent than they are, for example male and female sexual disfunctionality. The net result is that more medications are sold than in the past, but with sometimes ambiguous results for the end user, as in the case of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for menopausal women

With these things in mind, it may benefit the American consumer to evaluate carefully their sources of knowledge when it comes to health and nutrition, and to endeavor to make the most reasonable unprocessed choices we can.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

1. Don’t smoke – if you do, try to quit
2. Get active – at least 3.5 hours a week
3. Stay away from junk food and follow a diet rich in fruits and veggies, whole grain breads, with limited amount of lean meat.
4. Watch your weight – keep the BMI under 30

Not altogether surprising suggestions – public health officials have been saying these things for years. The startling news is the benefit some recent research has found to doing all four things at the same time. Living this way cuts your risk of developing some pretty serious chronic diseases by almost 80%. The result holds even after adjusting for things like age, sex, education and occupation status.

The recommendations come from a report in this month’s Archives of Internal Medicine that analyzed the lifestyle, diet and health of 23,513 German adults who were from 35 to 65 years old and part of the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition-Potsdam study. Begun in the mid 1990s and covering an eight year period, the work found that subjects with healthy habits were far less likely to be diagnosed with conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. The team analyzed each person’s body weight, height, disease history, food frequency and how well they stuck with the four healthy lifestyle tips. Only 9% of the subjects followed all four recommendations, but most of the participants practiced from one to three of these good-for-you habits.

All in all, following all four healthy habits combined was linked to…

- 93% lower risk of type 2 diabetes
- 81% lower risk of heart attack
- 50% lower risk of stroke
- 36% lower risk of cancer

These findings reinforce the idea that making simple, everyday changes to a healthier lifestyle is worth the effort.

It’s clear that healthy habits can have a huge impact on your health over the long term. If you’re concerned about living well into your later years, this study points out things you can do today – stopping smoking, keeping your weight under control, being more active – to keep your body healthy. Healthier, disease free living starts with you. All you have to do is commit yourself to these four totally natural lifestyle choices to keep your body in shape. If you smoke, you probably know it’s time to stop. Luckily there’s help quitting from support groups, nicotine replacement therapy, hypnosis or with medication – talk with your doctor to see which option is right for you.

All it takes is a simple change, like cutting down on junk foods is a painless but practical first step. Before you know it you’ll have dropped a few pounds, maybe discovered some healthy foods you actually like. Once you’re eating better you’ll be more inclined to get up and exercising, which will show rewards almost at once in how you feel.

Before you know it, you’re living better, you’ve cut disease risk to the minimum, your feeling better, and on your way to a healthier, happier life.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Most people know about the vitamins A, C and E. Studies concerning the ability of these common antioxidants to prevent or treat various types of cancer have been mixed. As someone that reads a lot of research studies and subscribes to the New England Journal of Medicine, I can tell you that all scientific studies have mixed results.

There are so many different issues that come into play when using human volunteers or animal models. The most consistent results are seen using cell cultures and lines in controlled laboratory settings. But, major health organizations do not consider those studies “credible evidence” when it comes to claims concerning human health. In the US, in order for a supplement or food manufacturer to make a health claim on their label, they must petition the FDA.

While the FDA has stated that claims concerning a reduced risk of gastric, lung, colorectal, throat, pancreatic and ovarian cancers are not “qualified”, they have approved claims specifically relating to green tea and cancer of the breast or prostate.

Most health care professionals believe that prevention is the key to wiping out or decreasing the number of cancers. Early detection is the key to successful treatment, which is why regular physical check-ups are so important.

For prevention, there are two important things that a person can do. Avoid foods, beverages, body lotions and other products that contain known or suspected carcinogens. The list of these items is long.

The second important thing to do is to take a complete nutritional supplement that provides a number of different antioxidants and natural anti-inflammatories. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are two of the factors that contribute to cancerous growths and health threatening diseases of all kinds.

Is it possible to prove a connection between the consumption of green tea and cancer prevention? Researchers have noticed a decreased incidence of several types of cancers among people that consume large amounts of the tea on a daily basis.

However, there may be some negative side effects to drinking these teas, due primarily to the caffeine content. The best possible way to get the benefits is with a good supplement. But, you have to shop with care.

The connection between green tea and cancer is not the only benefit that has been studied. The extract has become a popular weight-loss aid. For someone that is interested in the health benefits of regular catechin consumption, those weight loss aids are not a good choice. In fact, they aren’t really good for anyone, because they contain additional amounts of caffeine.

The average person will see benefits from 60-100mg per day of a standardized extract, with 80% catechin content. Those with various health problems may want a higher dosage. The green tea and cancer prevention connection may never be proven to the satisfaction of major health organizations. But, there is no doubt that the catechins are good for you.

A better way perhaps is to take a multi-nutrient supplement that I have discovered after extensive research, a powerful nutritional supplement which contains over 70 carefully blended natural ingredients that includes decaffeinated green tea extract that work in synergy with other amazing vitamins, minerals and other herbal extracts.

If you would like to read more about this cutting edge multi-nutrient supplement I take that can have a maximum impact on your health and well being, go to my website now. Your body will thank you for this smart choice.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

1.Utilize preventative medicine and tests to determine health risks early, and fend off future health and financial burdens. Recommended tests include body mass index, blood pressure check, gynecological exam, and physical exam.

2.Men and women over age 40 and 50, respectively, should talk to a doctor about taking a daily dose of aspirin to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. It can cost as low as 10 cents a day.

3.Flossing helps to prevent gum disease, which can add 21% more to your healthcare costs than someone with healthy gums.

4.Try to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night, and try to develop a routine of going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Lack of sleep increases your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. You’re also less likely to catch a cold if you get more sleep.

5.Exercise for 30 minutes a day to reduce risks of obesity, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and many other illnesses. Even a brisk walk or a jog can help.

6.Quit smoking to save up to $5 a day and live long enough to see retirement.

Just as your health can affect your financial life, so can your financial problems affect your health. When you’ve got less money, you’re more likely to think about your personal finances than your health and fitness. Stress and depression can occur in tough financial times, making it hard to get motivated. Situations like these make it all the more important to stay active, healthy, and in a positive frame of mind to dig yourself out of financial hardship. A healthy diet, home workouts, and running/jogging are excellent and affordable ways to stay in shape. Some healthy choices will cost you, like better food or a gym membership. If you choose to spend in those areas, try to reduce spending on other frivolous or unhealthy habits. This way, you can invest in your health and wealth at the same time.

Before starting any health and exercise regimen, you should consult your physician.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Back before everything was so easy, we had to power our own way around town. That meant burning calories instead of gas. We had to do a lot of manual labor and as a result, there were few environmental and health problems. Granted in those days, modern medicine and technology couldn’t help extend our lives like they do today.

After the industrial revolution, we began to invent machines for every difficult situation we faced. Cars took us where we needed to go, combines harvested our crops and food processors grated our cheese. These advances have definitely helped us over the years but they’ve also lead to an increased dependence on fossil fuels and a decreased need to do any hard physical activity.

Anytime you use a machine to do work that you would normally have to do yourself, (regular vs. sit-lawn mower, bike vs. car) you’re creating two big problems. First, you’re burning some kind of fuel which pollutes the environment and second, you’re not engaging in any form of physically demanding work.

On average, Americans eat over 3,500 calories per day. For most people who have an office job, a calorie intake over 3,000 isn’t needed. When you eat that many calories, you’re increasing your own risk of becoming overweight and obese while at the same time harming the environment. How does eating too much negatively impact our surroundings?

All the food we eat needs to be grown somewhere. That somewhere is usually nowhere near your home and takes a lot of energy in the form of gasoline to transport. In addition to energy, food requires pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals that drain off into nearby rivers and lakes which can eventually infiltrate the fresh water supply. If you’re big into meat, hormones are used to quicken the growth of livestock and the long term health effects on humans aren’t fully understood.

While eating too much puts a strain on our planet, exercising too little can make us sick. Study after study has shown that exercise has the same effects as some of the most expensive medicines we pay for. It can lower blood pressure, increase insulin sensitivity (good for those with diabetes), lower cholesterol, decrease the risk for cardiovascular disease, decrease the effects of depression and help us lose weight.

The bottom line is that we’re burning more fuel (bad for the environment) so we can conserve more calories (bad for our health). This is the exact opposite of what we need to do in order to solve some of our own health problems as well as clean up the planet. Burning calories to do tasks such as mowing your lawn, biking to the grocery store or grating your own cheese will either save you energy or cause a machine in a factory to do less work. Either way, you’re helping yourself and working to give your kids a cleaner future.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

You have to pay very close attention to understand the costs and consequences of your health care decisions. For example, with a $20 co-payment, you can get a cholesterol-lowering prescription drug that actually retails for $100 per month, compared to changing your diet or increasing the amount you exercise. But if you had to pay full price for your medical care and prescriptions, most everyone would think more carefully before shelling out their own money.

Even though the line is blurring between consumer-driven and defined-contribution health plans, there are differences. Under a defined contribution scenario, your employer pre-screens and pre-selects a variety of health plans and then gives you cash, or vouchers, to buy a policy. Your employer then bows out. If you choose a plan costing more than your employer’s contribution, you must pay the difference.

With the consumer-driven approach, your employer still contracts with insurers for group health insurance and still retains some measure of control over your health insurance purchasing decisions. What these plans do is give you more choice in terms of benefit levels — you choose your own deductible — and you can see any doctor you want without a referral. However, the plans also increase your share of the costs and risks.

Plans such as these are still relatively new — many only a few years old — and there’s no immediate way to judge their impact on health insurance costs or how popular they will be with employers. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), less than one percent of all employer-sponsored health insurance is currently comprised of consumer-driven and defined contribution plans. But it’s clear from the growing popularity of consumer-drive plans that employers are looking for relief from skyrocketing health insurance costs and are expressing increasing interest in this benefit design.

Depending on how your employer sets up your consumer-driven health plan, you may be able to choose your deductible and that choice will determine your portion of the plan’s premium. A higher deductible generally means you’ll pay less in premiums, a lower deductible generally means you’ll pay more. But estimating how much medical care you will need in any given year can be tricky — particularly when you’ve always plunked down a small co-payment and you’ve never bothered to look at your doctor’s itemized bill.

Let’s say you’re a young, single, healthy individual and you know you’ll have one routine physical exam during the year. Even if you figure in the costs of treatment for an ear infection and add an unexpected minor injury such as a cut on your head that necessitates stitches, you figure you’ll still be way under the $500 your employer puts into your personal health care account. You’ll probably never have to spend a dime of the $1,000 deductible out of your own pocket, right?

Well, not necessarily. According to the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education, the average doctor’s fee for stitches to close a minor cut on your head — not including anesthesia, hospital, or laboratory fees — is $334. Add a routine physical exam ($175) and a doctor’s visit for an ear infection ($32) and your total is $541. And that’s without paying for any laboratory tests or prescription medicines. Even if your health insurer has negotiated discounted fees with your provider, these charges can still quickly add up. So, if you can’t afford to pay $1,000 out of your own pocket, you might be better off opting for a lower deductible, if there is that option, and paying a little more up front in monthly premiums.

Just as it would be difficult for you to plan your food budget for a year if none of the items in your supermarket carried price labels, it would likewise be hard for you to choose your consumer-driven health insurance plan and your deductible level if you’re not sure up front how much your medical providers charge for certain procedures.

Some critics of health insurance plans also fear consumer-driven plans punish the sick because the sick visit their doctors more often and need more expensive treatments. But think again if you define “the sick” as only those who suffer from life-threatening illnesses. The sick also include the one in four Americans who have common chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or mood disorder. According to the Yale School of Medicine, these five conditions cost Americans more than $62 billion a year in treatment costs alone. Critics are concerned that “consumerism” will cause employees to skip needed care, both necessary and preventive, in order to save money.

Another big question is trying to define just how well employees understand their new consumer-driven health plans. There is plenty of evidence that shows that many employees don’t understand how health insurance works at all. According to D.S. Howard & Associates, in a June 2001 survey, 100 large employers — those with 500 or more employees — reported that 54 percent said that most or some of their employees think the rules about health insurance coverage are difficult to understand and 48 percent say most or some find health plans too complex and hard to understand.

Complicating matters further is that HMO plans are heavily structured; so most people don’t really need to understand how they work in order to use them. Consumer-driven health plans have much less structure — requiring you to understand how they work, how much you pay and how you can reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Consumer-driven health insurance plans are often accompanied by Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

If you’re interested in reducing your healthcare costs by getting more engaged as a healthcare consumer, you should take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for young, healthy individuals. For more information, We offer highly competitive HSA-qualified plans, together with other unique and innovative individual health insurance solutions and an unparalleled “real time” application and acceptance experience.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Take the United States and Canadian systems. Both offer high-quality, high-technology, high-cost health care, but they pay for it very differently. In the United States, individuals pay for their own care, at least indirectly, through insurance or HMOs (health maintenance organizations). In Canada, the government pays for health insurance (which means individuals pay for it through taxes). The system doesn’t use HMOs, which are central to U.S. medical care. Because Canada’s coverage is so straightforward, their doctors have far less paperwork. Because it is a far less litigious society, their doctors don’t practice medicine with lawyers looking over their shoulders.

These differences have some impact on international students. The biggest is that students in the United States may need to choose between an HMO and health insurance. In Canada, insurance is the only option. Other than that, international students find the two systems very similar. Even Canada’s single payer health insurance has little effect, because it rarely includes international students. An article “Studying in Canada: A Guide for Foreign Students,” section on health insurance stated that provinces and territories have the option of covering international students, but they avoid it because of the cost. International students in Canada, like those in the United States, must pay for their own health insurance. It’s not cheap.

In discussing health coverage for international students, it helps to distinguish between short-term issues -the ones you face when you arrive and longer-term issues.

The first stage is preparing yourself properly before you leave your health-care system at home. You need to collect your medical records, prescription medications, and proof of vaccination and bring them with you. These records will ease the transition to your health-care provider here.

The second stage is arranging your health care here. You need to sign up for an HMO or health insurance and then find the right doctor, pharmacy, and dentist. The two stages are closely linked, of course, but they are not identical.
Medical records are important enough to take in your carry-on luggage, if there’s room. If you are already here and don’t have your records, ask your doctor at home to send you a copy.

You should also pack a couple of month’s supply of prescription medications. It might take that long before you see a doctor and have your prescription renewed or replaced. (Your prescriptions might be changed for two reasons. First, your new doctor might think there are better treatments. Second, your old medications might not be approved for use in the United States or Canada.

Finally, before you come to the United States or Canada, check on the immunizations you need. Different jurisdictions and universities have their own requirements. California, for instance, requires all university students to be immunized against mumps, measles, and rubella, and requires students under twenty-one to be immunized against hepatitis B. Washington, D.C., has a much longer list of requirements.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The first case of positive ionizer health effects which we will discuss is of a 72 year old man with the last name of Lee. The man had suffered of diabetes and constipation for over 20 years of his life. Due to the complications of diabetes, he was currently awaiting the amputation of his foot. He than began drinking ionized water. His story has been told on the KBS TV show “Secret Behind Sang Ro Byung Sa” (that’s Korean television), because of the miraculous change that occurred. Not only did Mr. Lee not only regained a fully functioning and healthy foot (avoiding amputation) he also regained a health and vitality he had not had for years. Positive Ionizer Health Effects? I think so. But, keep reading. The stories get better!

In 2004, a 36 day case study was done on two groups of volunteers who had diabetes. One group was treated with no normal medicine, but only ionized water. The other group was treated with standard diabetic medications and treatments, as per medical doctors standard practices.

The Ionizer Health effects were staggering.

A 56-year-old woman named Ms. Lee who had been a diabetic for 14 years saw her blood sugar level go from 324 to 210, stating that “friend and acquaintances are remarking that I looked healthier and prettier.”

Another member of the group who drank nothing but ionized water as treatment had similar results. Mr. Hwang, a 69-year-old diabetic of 20 years stated that his blood sugar went from 254 to 144, stating “In the past, my blood sugar levels were erratic, but after drinking that water, it became stable and I began to feel better.”

While these ionizer health effects are staggering, there is one other case that really just blows these out of the water in terms of impact on somebodies life. This is a life changing case of a 9-year old who regained a normal, healthy life, simply because of the health effects of ionized water.

Ms. Yoon, a 9 year-old girl, was suffering from atopic dermatitis. This caused her to have sores all over her body, so painful that even the tag on her underwear would cause painful irritation. She was unable to wear shoes because of the watery discharge from the sores on the bottom of her feet. Needless to say, her school work and social life suffered greatly as a result.

Treatment consisted of 2 liters of alkaline water a day, as well as all food being prepared with ionized water and being bathed in acidic water. Following this treatment, the child’s sores disappeared and even the spots from her body faded. After about 1 year, the scars on the child’s body had completely disappeared and the dark spots on her skin were now a healthy flesh color. She had been completely healed by the ionizer’s health effects!

Now, while the benefits of water ionizers have not been evaluated by the FDA, it’s tough to deny the evidence of stories like those above.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Some of the innovations that emerged during the Civil War include the development of field hospitals, the discovery of the link between immediate treatment and survival rates, and establishment of the connection between sanitation and infection prevention. World War I brought recognition of psychological damage resulting from war, along with the first blood banks and common use of blood transfusions. During World War II field doctors implemented widespread use of penicillin in wound care, and advances in orthopedic devices and procedures were significant. And, who would have thought of the helicopter as a medical device? The Korean and Vietnam wars brought air ambulance services into use, decreasing mortality due to war wounds, an application that has had a great impact in civilian emergency medicine.

Recent wars in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq have brought advancements in orthopedics, trauma transport and surgery, and wound management. There have been – and continue to be – significant improvements in prosthetics and surgical instrumentation. As military and civilian doctors from previous conflicts say, “Medical innovations are born in days rather than in years.”

Developments from Current Conflicts

To treat extensive wounds on the front lines, innovative mobile units have been developed, and smaller, lighter medical devices of all types for these mobile units are undergoing continual modification and improvement. During Desert Storm I & II, for example, Integrated Medical Systems, Inc., developed Life Support for Trauma and Transport, an integrated system of devices in a portable intensive care unit. It includes a defibrillator, ventilator, and patient-monitoring subsystems. With history as our guide, we can expect to see these new devices in civilian use in the future.

Novel bandages have been developed to stop even severe bleeding almost instantaneously. One, the Hem-Con bandage, is made from an extract of shrimp cells. It was developed by a retired U.S. Army colonel, Dr. Bill Weismann, with military trauma use in mind. Also, devices facilitating the vacuum-sealing of open wounds have been perfected to minimize the amount of “work to get by” before patient transport. While the focus until now has been on meeting military needs, it’s easy to see how innovative wound care products will eventually enhance emergency trauma treatment in among the civilian population.

High volumes of orthopedic injuries have stimulated rapid development of devices such as the Disc-O-Tech. Inventors Lewis Pell, Motti Beyar and Oren Globerman saw a need for expandable implants for traumatic injuries requiring minimally invasive orthopedic surgery in recent conflicts in Israel.

With higher survival rates, particularly after roadside bombings, comes a greater need for artificial limbs. Today’s soldiers expect better prosthetics than those currently available. There has been increased activity in the development of lighter, more flexible prosthetic hands and arms; and these are expected to be military and civilian markets within four years.

Trauma Care Improves

Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 45, making the strides in knowledge and procedures during the most recent wars particularly relevant. The caseloads in today’s field hospitals, where the development of diagnostic and therapeutic methods and devices is accelerated, exceed the busiest American trauma units. In this environment, practitioners quickly gain extensive experience and can effect rapid improvements. For example, physicians in Afghanistan and Iraq have advanced the practical knowledge of sternal intraosseous devices, which are the most novel and effective method of fluid administration for trauma situations.

Highly efficient transport systems have been extremely important for improving injured soldiers’ survival rates. Technological advancements ensure that the injured are not only transferred more quickly, but are also receive better monitoring and treatment during transport. Improvements in medical transportation have carried over to the civilian world: the Air Force applied battlefield transportation lessons during the evacuation after Hurricane Katrina.

Further Improvements in the Future

New medical devices will continue to emerge from the battlefield, from wound dressings to improved prostheses. Civilian emergency responders can expect to see innovations such as laptop-sized diagnostic equipment, dehydrated blood products for longer-term storage and improved transportability, and a host of new medical devices.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Defense invest in significant research and development to translate battlefield innovations into medical devices and procedures that save the lives of civilians and soldiers worldwide.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

First and easiest to notice is that the law and controlling professional bodies are creating more peril and paperwork for health practitioners every year. By adding thousands of new laws and professional requirements every year (from every state and federal legislators), regulators and legislators impose increasingly heavy legal burdens on the practice of healing. Litigation drives the cost of practice through the roof when insurance costs (including the cost of specialists in most practices to handle insurance claims) are based on the probability of malpractice suits. The two parts to that cost are a public who feel less and less personally important to their caregivers, and more and more just “cases”, without individual worth and identity. There’s a huge and widening lack of trust in medical systems that are managed by accounting principles rather than by medical ones.

The second part of the “peril and paperwork” problem is the increasing willingness of people to sue their caregivers. Lots of reasons are blamed for this and probably there are many real ones, but without assessing the why of it, it’s still very clear that most medical doctors and many other types of therapists have to assume they will be sued by a patient at some time in their practice. The worst part of that for the professional is not just the skyrocketing costs of insurance, but that cases are almost always won on the basis of the quality of the attorney rather than the quality of care in question. That’s very hard on a professional who is trying to stand on the moral high ground in his or her practice, and it’s a big part of why many MDs are choosing to just give up and seek other careers. (Yes, this is happening.)

All that is just part of the back story. The story here is energy therapies, or energy psychology, or alternative therapies, where change is occurring with breathtaking speed. Most readily credible are those therapies that are based — at least somewhat — on Chinese medicine and acupuncture, which claims a history of at least 2,000 (some say 8,000) years. And there are quite a few of those. Lines get a little blurred, even here, because some of these energy therapies are attuned to physical issues while others are more directed to emotional or psychological issues, and some work with both. Moreover, the escalating popularity of them is partially related to speed; they all work faster than conventional psychotherapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and its two or three offshoots.

So what are we talking about here, medicine or psychotherapy? Well, both, but not so finely distinguished as we are accustomed to.

From early in the last century, medicine has recognized that some diseases are caused by the mind (they are referred to as psychosomatic) and it has been increasingly accepted that many physical conditions could be helped by mental therapies, or by energy medicines (acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy and others). Energy therapies and energy psychologies push the envelope even further by succeeding in healing some physical conditions by addressing the underlying emotional issues. The idea is that all (or certainly most) physical dysfunction rests on an emotional structure, and that if the emotional structure is taken down (released, resolved, collapsed) then the related physical issues will just go away. Of course, they are not one hundred percent successful, but neither is conventional medicine. And cost is a huge factor, considering that end of life healthcare (is that a misnomer?) exhausts most peoples’ financial resources.

It’s a bit messy to work your way through all the details, and we’ve only touched the surface here. Nonetheless, many people are doing it and their numbers are increasing. One interesting model is Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) developed by Stanford Engineer Gary Craig. His website, http://emofree.com is among the most popular alternative healthcare sites on the Internet; it’s full of endorsements and success stories from around the world. His advisory board includes more thatn a dozen physiciansand PhDs, some very well known. He is clearly creating a bridge between energy practices and conventional medical practice. Maybe it’s the beginning of a trend; maybe he’s being instrumental in creating a direction for this big change in healthcare. One thing’s certain: the practices of healthcare are changing and they will never again be what they were.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

This research paper will explore the mind-body relationship and how it affects the immune system and overall health and the life coaching implications.

Immune system

The function of the immune system is to protect our body from infection and disease. The immune system accomplishes this by recognizing “self” from “nonself” cells. These “nonself” cells can be from the outside world (viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi) or abnormal cells from within our body (cancer). These “nonself” cells are commonly called antigens.

Our immune system is comprised of bone marrow, spleen, tonsils, thymus, lymph nodes and lymph vessels. All of these organs and tissues are involved in production, maturation and activation of our white blood cells. White blood cells, also known as the lymphocytes, are “soldiers” that fight infection and disease. There are three main types of white blood cells: T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes and natural killer lymphocytes. There is a constant communication going on between lymphocytes – they chatter about antigens they encountered; stimulate or suppress each other and regulate how our immune system functions. This communication is facilitated by small bio-molecules produced by the cells of the immune system.

T and B-lymphocytes need to be sensitized by an antigen in order to be able to destroy it. In other words, the immune system must recognize the existence of an antigen, transmit the detailed information about the antigen to a particular T cell called “helper” which in turn will stimulate either a production of an antibody or sensitize the T or B lymphocyte directly. Once sensitized, the lymphocytes have “knowledge” about the antigen they are looking for. They know what it looks like and they seek it out and destroy it by engulfing it or bursting it using its biochemical warfare at hand.

Antibodies have a similar function. They also know the detailed information about the antigen and create anti-sequence on their own surface that will fit only with the sequence of the antigen they are looking for – like your car key that will fit only the lock of your car. Once antibodies bind to the antigen, they either neutralize it using its own biochemical set, or they become beacons for the other lymphocyte, telling them where the enemy is and helping them home in on it and engulf it. Imagine a missile that has received coordinates and is on its way to destroy the target.

Natural killer cells do not need to “know” an antigen in order to find it and destroy it. They have an innate knowledge, a library so to speak, of what is “self” i.e. normal in our body. Natural killer cells patrol our body and analyze cells they encounter. When they find a cell that does not match their library, they destroy it.

So how do we get sick? We get sick when the immune system is defeated by the challenger. This may happen either due to being challenged by a novel antigen that our body has never encountered before, or if the immune system is not functioning properly. In our lifetime we encounter a number of novel antigens and since our body does not have “knowledge” of its existence, it defeats the immune system. However, this victory is only temporary, and the immune system will identify the novel antigen and mount an immune response against it. A good example would be flu. Every number of years there is a new flu strain that will cause an epidemic. By receiving a flu shot we give our immune system a jump-start. We inoculate with a small particle of a flu antigen giving our body the knowledge it needs to mount an immune response to this novel flu strain and by doing so to protect us against it.

Our immune system gets turned on and off by a complex system and when this system malfunctions and doesn’t turn immunity on or off, it manifests as illness.

Stress

Stress is the emotional and physical strain caused by our response to environmental demands. In general, when environmental demands exceed your ability to cope, it creates stress. Stress generally refers to two different things: situations that trigger physical and emotional reactions (stressors) and the reactions themselves (stress response).

The body responds to stress by what is called the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS). The GAS occurs in three stages – alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. The fight or flight response is the most common type of alarm stage. When our brain perceives something as threatening or challenging it signals an alarm and a series of events occur in the body: increasing heart rate, fast breathing, alertness, muscle response and increased metabolism rate. These actions get the body physically ready to confront a threat (fight) or escape from it (flight). During resistance, the body’s systems return to normal, but remain alert. Following resistance, the body enters exhaustion, at which point it can no longer resist the stressor. Exhaustion state allows the body to recover from stress.

Stress affects the immune system in a very powerful way. There are two types of stress – acute (short term) and chronic (long term). Acute stress lasts for several minutes to a week. Acute stress, under most circumstances, boosts immunity. Chronic stress is caused by a long term stressor that lasts for a year or several years and does not have any clear end point (injury resulting in permanent disability, caring for spouse with dementia etc). Chronic stress could also be caused by the cumulative effect of prolonged serial instances of acute stressors. Chronic stress is unhealthy and it has harmful effects on our body. Chronic stress can suppress immunity and cause illness.

Negative thoughts and emotions, (anxiety, fear, anger, sadness, pessimism, feeling overwhelmed etc.) have the same effect on our health as stress so when we talk about stress and its effects we are also referring to those negative feelings as well.

Not everyone reacts the same way to a stressor. Some people have a more profound reaction when exposed to a stressor then others. Those who easily get physically and psychologically stressed are termed “high reactors” and they are significantly more affected by stress than those that are “low reactors”.

Stress, brain and the immune system – what is the connection?

The pivotal player in communication between the brain and the immune system are hormones and biochemicals produced by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands commonly referred to as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA axis). The HPA axis coordinates a cascade of events between the brain and the immune system. This communication goes both ways: brain to immune system and the immune system to brain.

When the HPA axis is activated by an alarm sent by the brain a number of hormones and biochemicals are produced. Most of them are secreted by adrenal glands: glucocorticoids, catecholamines and peptides. The glucocorticoids and catecholamines are responsible for fight or flight reaction – they prepare our body to survive a threat. And they do the same when we encounter a stressor.

We will concentrate on the effects of cortisol – one of the corticosteroids produced by the adrenals. Cortisol has been known to have immunomodulatory effects. It is given post surgically to suppress the immune system and prevent rejection of transplanted tissues. However, cortisol at normal levels is essential for the proper functioning of the immune system. An optimal concentration of cortisol is necessary for normal recovery from infection. At normal (optimal) levels of cortisol our immune system is stimulated – this is how our immune system gets turned on. When immune response is no longer needed, the level of cortisol rises and it shuts off the immune system. On the other hand, if the level of cortisol is low, the immune system keeps on working. So cortisol affects the immune system in three ways, depending on its concentration in the body:

- Low concentration causes the immune system to keep on running even when not necessary and this can lead to an autoimmune inflammation disease such as rheumatoid arthritis
- Optimal concentration stimulates the immune system and the immune system functions well
- High concentration will shut off the immune system, which is good when we get over an illness and the immune system is no longer needed to be on high alert, but bad when it happens outside of this scenario.

It has been proven in a number of studies that stress causes cortisol levels to rise and this is one of the reasons why cortisol was named “the stress hormone”. In acute stress, this rise is short lived where as in chronic stress this rise persists causing immune system suppression which increases our susceptibility to disease.

Scientific findings

The function of the immune system can be measured by quantitative analysis and so can the level of cortisol. Many studies have been done and they established the correlation between stress, cortisol and the immune system and its effects on overall health.

There are a number of viruses that live in our body but no longer cause any symptoms of the disease. They are called latent or dormant viruses. Studies have shown that individuals experiencing stress are significantly more likely to experience an onset of these dormant viruses – the virus will “wake up” and cause a disease. Several good examples of these dormant viruses are herpes virus (HV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and herpes zoster virus (shingles). Many studies have also found consistently elevated cortisol levels just before or at the beginning of the onset of HV or shingles proving that cortisol at high levels suppresses the immune system and allows for dormant viruses to cause illness. [Pikel, JL. et al. Chronic life stress alters sympathetic, neuroendocrine, and immune responsivity to an acute psychological stressor in humans. PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE: 9251165]

In one study the levels of EBV were measured in a population with chronic stress (caregivers) and compared to that of a control (normal) population. The EBV levels were significantly elevated in the chronic stress group. This group also had lower amounts of T-lymphocyte and the lymphocytes’ ability to multiply was greatly diminished. [Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Dura JR, Speicher CE, Trask OJ, Glaser R. Spousal caregivers of dementia victims: longitudinal changes in immunity and health. Psychosom Med 1991;53:345-362.]

In another study, prevalence of acute infectious respiratory illness was compared between the group that was exposed to chronic stress and the group that did not experience stress. It showed that stress was associated with the increased risk of illness and the association was dose-related i.e. the more stress the more chance of illness. [Cohen S, Tyrrell DA, Smith AP. Psychological stress and susceptibility to the common cold. New Engl J Med 1991;325(9):606-656]

In a study done by Frances Cohen et al. the effect of long term unemployment as a chronic stressor was examined. The unemployed group had significantly lower natural killer cell cytotoxicity (the ability of natural killer cells to neutralize antigen) as compared to that of the employed group. After some of the participants of the unemployed group gained employment, this new subgroup showed a recovery in their natural killer cell cytotoxicity as compared to their own unemployed period. This study successfully documented immune function recovery after the definable end of a chronic stressor. [Frances Cohen, PhD, Margaret E. Kemeny, PhD, Leonard S. Zegans, MD, Paul Johnson, MPhil, Kathleen A. Kearney, PhD and Daniel P. Stites, MD.

Immune Function Declines With Unemployment and Recovers After Stressor Termination. Psychosomatic Medicine 69:225-234 (2007)]

Boost your immune system – get a life coach!

From the studies examined above, it is clear that chronic stress and the prolonged negative predisposition adversely affect our immune system and by doing so we become prone to illness. The removal of the stressor improves the function of our immune system and positively affect our overall health.

Are there ways to put mind over matter? The answer can be found in life coaching. Life coaching is intended to help people manage their lives, get support they need, align values with goals and improve their outlook. So, life coaching can significantly lower the level of stress and improve health.

Due to the fact that life coaching is a partnership between the coach and the client, clients have a stable nurturing and supportive relationship. This type of relationship is essential in lowering stress in life. Clients become aware that they are no longer alone in their daily trials and tribulations, and this knowledge gives them the strength to move forward in life. A nurturing and supportive life coach is now just a phone call away. What a wonderful safety net!

The life coach also becomes the client’s wise confidante. Dr. Charles Raison MD of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta suggests that “People who have one person they can talk to are known to live longer. It doesn’t have to be a health care professional. But if you can talk to someone about your emotional baggage, it can help your physical pain too.” What a wonderful application and endorsement of life coaching.

In order to improve life and minimize stress, it is important to incorporate into ones life events and people that one enjoys. Life coaches help clients align their own goals with their own values. By identifying, incorporating and prioritizing goals and values connected to events and people that bring happiness, enjoyment and satisfaction to the client’s life, life coaches help clients achieve better life balance and develop an optimistic, realistic and hopeful attitude which will improve the immune system function.

According to Robert Emmons, a psychology professor and researcher at the University of California, grateful people – those who perceive gratitude as a permanent trait rather than a temporary state of mind – do much better when it comes to health than not-so-grateful. By utilizing the life coaching technique of reframing we can help clients develop more positive attitude towards many life events and by doing so improve their overall health. By encouraging clients to keep a gratitude journal or a list of benefits in their life, we can help clients shift towards gratitude which will in turn improve their immune function and lower incidents of illness. Another tool in life coaching that will help develop gratitude is celebrating. Encouraging clients to always celebrate their milestones, victories and even failures will help them become grateful for good and not-so-good on their life journey.

During the life coaching journey, the coach helps clients develop self-awareness, become self-empowered and live within the boundaries of their own truth which enables clients to become realistic optimists. Researchers at Harvard found that this optimism seasoned by reality can substantially boost the immune system.

In a recent study two groups of cervical cancer patients were observed – a group that received weekly psychosocial telephone counseling (PTC) as a means of combating stress and the group that did not receive counseling. Quality of life (QOL) and immune function were compared between the two groups. The PTC group yielded significantly improved QOL. Improvements in QOL were significantly and consistently associated with a particular shift in T helper lymphocyte population resulting in stronger immunity. These findings suggest that PCT has a positive impact on QOL and in improvement of overall clinical outcome including survival. Dr. Esther Sternberg, director of INIM program at National Institute of Mental Health points out that women in support groups for their breast cancer have a longer life span than women without this type of support. These data strongly suggest that life coaching could be applied in cancer patients to help them overcome stress and negativity and improve their QOL and possibly overall survival.

The evidence is overwhelming that stress and our state of mind greatly influence the immune system and through this connection, overall health. Life coaching techniques and tools help manage life and minimize the effects of stress while at the same time it empowers clients to assume a realistically optimistic attitude. Coach-client partnership provides a strong support system that is most needed for successful stress management. For mentally healthy individuals who are looking to improve their physical health and well being, life coaching is a key to success. Life coaching is also affordable, works fast and it is extremely efficient. Boost your immune system – get a life coach!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Observations backed with research work have thrown considerable light on the nutritional value of spices. India being a sub tropical country favors the growth of a great variety of spices. It alone produces spices in tune of 3 million tones approximately and earns noteworthy income of $5 billion annually from their export. Spices are not only capable of stimulating taste buds but also enthrall spirits by their natural flavor and fragrance. These refreshers are store house of vitamins, essential micro elements and antioxidants. Their medicinal use includes

• Cardamom is the queen of spices and is use to treat diseases of gums and teeth. It helps clear chest congestion, digestive disorders and inflammation of eyelids. Traditional medicine use cardamom as antidote for snake as well as scorpion venom.

• Cinnamon barks are known to increase shelf life of cooked food due to its inherent antimicrobial properties. It is mildly used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

• Cloves are widely known for its essential oils used in aromatherapy to relax from body fatigue and pains. It also finds use to relive from toothaches.

• Regular consumption and application of curry leaves prevents graying of hair.

• Black pepper finds a wide variety of uses. Its essential oil mixed with any vegetable oil is used in aromatherapy to relieve of fatigue, body stiffness, arthritis and pain. Steam inhaled in combination with eucalyptus oil cures flue and cold. Black pepper in cooked food helps correct digestive disorders pertaining to flatulence, nausea, loss of appetite, heartburn etc. Black pepper is a tonic and its vital component called piperine strengthens immunity and propels the functioning of heart and kidney.

• Turmeric is a wonder spice and finds much use in medicine. It enhances the tissue sensitivity to hormones besides receptivity to many drugs. An active component curcumin inherently contained in turmeric prevents the accumulation of beta amyloids in the brain patients of Alzheimer’s disease. This ingredient is known to have anti-carcinogenic properties and is instrumental in curing pancreatic cancer, venereal diseases, colorectal cancer and multiple myeloma. Furthermore curcumin prevents tumor formation in human body by enabling degradation of human protein p53. Intake of turmeric in combination with the anti-cancerous taxol makes its