An acupuncturist who has been treating Sri Lankan survivors of the
Asian tsunami is returning to the UK to set up a clinic in Bourne End.
Charlotte Brydon was part of a team of 28 trained acupuncturists who
volunteered for the Acupuncture Sans Frontières (http://www.acupuncture-sf.com) relief effort in
Colombo, Galle and Matara.
Source (http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.635433.0.acupuncture_for_tsunami_victims.php)
Acupuncture may be the newest therapy to treat tension headaches.
A study in the British Medical Journal shows this form of ancient
Chinese medicine can bring lasting relief for people who experience
frequent tension headaches.
Graphic artist Kirstin Stephenson blames endless hours on the computer
for her debilitating tension headaches. “Every day when I got…
Holistic Stress Management
Susan Dunn, MA, EQ and Life Coach
Stress is an inevitable part of life. Managing stress effectively is important for every person, but for the person dealing with chronic illness it is essential for optimal functioning.
There is good stress and bad stress. Even good stress can be difficult to deal with when one’s resources are limited due to chronic illness. Stress is an inherent component of chronic illness, arising from the inevitable challenges, loss and limits it creates, therefore adding more than the average level of stress to one’s life.
It is impossible to eliminate stress completely, nor would you want to, a certain amount of stress is healthy. The key is to find ways to minimize its negative impact on your life, cope effectively and reduce the excess.
Too much stress or stress that is not handled effectively can affect the immune system, therefore symptoms may become exacerbated or new symptoms may arise, keeping the immune system overwhelmed. It may also make you irritable and interfere in your quality of life.
Try to incorporate some of these stress busters into your life.
~Don’t take on too much at one time. Say no when you want to.
~Allow yourself to live within your limits. Don’t push yourself too
hard.
~Be patient, loving and forgiving with yourself.
~Take frequent breaks.
~Make adjustments in your life according to what your body needs.
~Pace yourself. Break tasks and chores into increments. Allow yourself adequate time to achieve tasks.
~Prepare ahead and plan resting periods after events you know will drain you.
~Make love or if you’re alone masturbate. Endorphins released during sexual activity are a great stress reliever.
~Limit your time on the phone and interactions. Constant talking and interacting can be draining.
~ Take a hot shower or bath without interruptions.
~Listen to soothing music. If music or sound is an irritant for you, then this suggestion is not for you.
~Take a day trip. A short trip to a peaceful place such as the ocean, lake, park, zoo, etc. can be very relaxing and soothing. If your health limits allow take a vacation.
~Make lists of chores, activities, tasks, etc. and do them one at a time.
~Participate in activities that are meaningful to you and give purpose to your life.
~Avoid drugs and alcohol. They only mask your symptoms and will intensify the problem in the long run.
~Eat a healthy well balanced diet. Avoid caffeine and sugar.
~ Get proper sleep- if you’re sleep deprived you can’t cope well with stress.
~Partake in deep breathing exercises. The breath is a great calming agent.
~Humor is great for the soul. Get regular doses.
~Regular exercise burns stress off and helps you cope better.
~Spend time with nature. It nurtures, soothes and feeds.
~Engage in prayer or meditation.
~Take frequent naps or resting periods- Naps can be very rejuvenating.
~Vent emotional stress. Talk it out, write it out or whatever it takes to release it. Don’t let it build.
www.medical-explorer.com - Medical research, reports and articles
About the Author
Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed. is an author and holistic health counselor helping individuals living with chronic illness or chronic pain to live life to the fullest and find holistic life management strategies
What Is A Holistic Practitioner?
Jennifer Shapiro
Holistic Practitioners are holistic healing professionals with a gift in one or more areas of healing. From bodyworkers to homeopaths to hypnotherapists, the term holistic practitioner has become one that is often challenging to describe or understand. Hopefully this article will provide you with some clarity on what a holistic practitioner is and how to find one that meets your individual needs.
Saying holistic practitioner is similar to saying doctor. While there are general practitioners that cross along many paths, most specialize in one or more holistic methods or areas. The main areas of specialization are body-centered therapists, energy-centered therapists, mind-centered therapists, soul and spirit-centered therapists, emotional release therapists, and coaches/counselors. All of these therapists strive to bring a greater quality of life to their clients. That may occur through inner balance, self-empowerment, physical ease, or even emotional confidence.
One thing to realize is that many holistic practitioners work in many areas. In fact, it is usually challenging to limit a practitioner to one area. For example, a hypnotherapist may also be a chakra therapist, a bodyworker could also be a spiritual counselor, etc. Also, since the mind-body-soul connection is just that, connected, wherever you begin, be it in energy work, bodywork, or even the mind, you will find that all of you is affected by the work.
Use this article as a guide to explore the realms of possibilities, rather than limiting your choices to an area.
Body-centered Therapists
Samples of body-centered therapists are bodyworkers, massage therapists, pilates and yoga therapists, rolfing professionals(often termed rolfers), acupressure therapists, myofascial release and sports massage therapists, reflexologists, thai massage therapists, watsu practitioners, feldenkrais and alexander method professionals, and movement therapists (this list is provided to offer an overview as there are at least 50 types of body-centered therapists).
While each body-centered therapist has their own way of working with clients, many use a combination of movement, the breath, and physical pressure (from massage to trigger points) to allow the body to release tension. This release of tension then allows the mind to also find a relaxing state. Sometimes the relaxation state is the goal of the sessions, other times, it is the true starting point.
Energy-centered Therapists
Samples of energy-centered therapists are integrative energy workers, reiki practitioners, healing touch practitioners, breathwork therapists, jin shin do and jin shin jytsu therapists, matrix therapists, applied kinesiologists, orgone therapists, polarity workers, cranial sacral workers, qigong and tai chi masters. Acupuncturists and homeopathy practitioners could also be deemed energy workers.
Energy workers often work with energetic ‘maps’ of the body. They look at where the energy is stuck, depleted or overtaxed in the body and work with the individual to bring a level of balance to the body’s energetic system. This balance also affects the mind and the overall body, enhancing ones state of being on many levels.
Mind-centered Therapists
Samples of mind-centered therapists are hypnotherapists, neuro-linguistic programming practitioners (NLP), integrative release therapists(IRT), regression therapists and metaphysicians.
Mind-centered therapists look at the structures of one’s belief systems and how they may be conflicting with and/or not supporting a client’s quality of life. Mind-centered therapists often find the original cause of what the stuck states are and work with the unconscious mind to reframe limiting patterns and beliefs which provide greater resources and confidence for the client to live the life they desire.
Soul and Spirit-centered Therapists
Samples of soul and spirit-centered therapists are shamans, angelic masters, psychic mediums,
intuitive guides and spiritual counselors(who would also fall into the coaching/counseling category).
Soul and spirit-centered therapists work with clients in a variety of ways. A shaman may work with a client using soul retrieval to regain a part of their soul that has been ‘lost’ due to trauma. A psychic may offer an individual information on what will happen on their current path if they don’t make changes. An intuitive may assist a client in talking with a deceased loved one. As with the other categories, there are many ways soul and spirit-centered therapists work with their clients.
Emotional Release Therapists
Samples of emotional release therapists are integrative release therapists, somato-emotional therapists, psych-k therapists and amanae therapists.
Emotional release therapists work with patterns of emotions that are stuck in the body/mind and assist a client in moving through these blocks into greater joy and emotional freedom. Many other therapies, including neuro-linguistic programming, yoga, shamanic work and energy work employ emotional release methodologies.
Holistic Coaches and Counselors
Samples of coaches and counselors are life coaches, empowerment coaches, spiritual and intuitive counselors, holistic psychologists, and nutritional counselors.
Coaches and counselors assist clients in designing and manifesting the life, career, business and health situations that they truly desire. A holistic coach or counselor often works with a client 1-4x per month setting goals, opening belief systems and partnering with the client to provide the support they need to move forward in their lives.
As you can see, the term holistic practitioner can be used to mean a holistic profession trained in any number of areas. Usually, a holistic practitioner will list their areas of expertise in any of their advertising to assist you in determining if they would be a fit for your unique situation.
For information on locating a holistic practitioner, please see my article on ‘Choosing a Holistic Practitioner’ or see Holistic Hometown (www.HolisticHometown.com) for holistic resources in your hometown, and beyond.
Blessings on your journey.
About the Author
Jenifer Shapiro, MBA, CHT, CNLP, CYT, CHC, IRT is a Professional Coach, Holistic Entrepreneur Coach, Web Designer, and Holistic. She is the founder of Holistic Hometown, Holistic University and The Empowerment Centre, and the consultant for various holistic entrepreneurs, local colleges, and wellness centers. She may be reached at www.TheEmpowermentCentre.com or (610)213-1010.
The Tibetan and Chinese health Secret: If you read one health report a year, this should be it!
by: Paul Brelin
It seems as if the health of America is failing. One million Americans will die of circulatory disease this year. Six hundred thousand lives will be cut short by cancer as well. How did we get in such a mess? I’m not sure. But there is a way out that is starting to generate a real buzz! Since CNN and the gang won’t talk about it I decided to write is article.
Dear readers, I want to introduce you to the most nutrient dense food on the earth; wolfberries, or more specifically Lycium Barbarum.
The western scientific community have verified what Chinese and Tibetan health practitioners have known for thousands of years. Wolfberries are the healthiest known food on our planet.
In this report I will be talking specifically about wolfberries. In my research on the subject I found that not all wolfberries are created equal. The three most potent berries in the wolfberry family are Tibetan Goji berries, Chinese Xinjiang wolfberries and Chinese Ningxia wolfberries which all belong to the Lycium genus.
Wolfberries, a national treasure in China, have been used in traditional Chinese folk medicine for over 5,000 years. Ancient Chinese medical texts celebrated wolfberries for their wide range of health benefits including strengthening the ‘chi†or life force of the body. The people who consumed this fruit apparently lived free of common diseases like arthritis, cancer and diabetes. Moreover, their life expectancy has reached over 100 years!
In 1988, the Beijing Nutrition Research Institute conducted detailed chemical analysis and nutritional composition studies of the dried wolfberry fruit. Hold on to your socks, this is what they discovered. In addition to being packed with vitamins B1 and B6 (which is needed by the body to convert food into energy), and vitamin E (which has never been found in fruit before), wolfberries contain more protein then whole wheat, 18 amino acids (8 of them essential for life), 21 trace minerals (including significant amounts of zinc, iron, copper, calcium, selenium, phosphorus and germanium; a very rare anti-cancer agent almost never found in food), more beta carotene than carrots, 500 times more vitamin C by weight than oranges, essential fatty acids (required for the production of hormones and smooth functioning of the brain and nervous system) and is the richest source of carotenoids (natural fat-soluble pigments that play a critical role in vitamin A activity in humans) of any food on the planet. That’s not all.
Here is a short list of other health promoting compounds found in Lycium Barbarum:
Beta Sitosterol: An anti-inflammatory agent found to lower cholesterol, and used to treat sexual impotence and prostrate enlargement.
Zeaxanthin and Lutine: Valued for their role in protecting the eyes.
Betaine: Used by the liver to produce Choline which assists detoxification reactions in the liver. Betaine is known to protect DNA, enhance memory, promote muscle growth and protects us from fatty liver disease.
Cyperone: A sesquiterpene used in treatment of cervical cancer. It is also known to benefit heart and blood pressure problems as well as menstruation problems.
Solavetivone: A powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent.
Physalin: A natural compound that boosts the immune system. Found to be effective in treating leukaemia, hepatitis B and cancer.
A laboratory procedure was recently developed to measure the amount of antioxidants the foods we eat contain. The procedure known as ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) was developed by Dr. Guohua Cao at USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, USA. ORAC is one of the most sensitive and reliable methods for measuring the ability of antioxidants to absorb free radicals. It is the only test to combine both time and degree of inhibition of free radicals.
According to Tufts University, the average person needs approximately 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units per day to have a significant impact on plasma and tissue antioxidant capacity. Three servings of fruits and vegetables per day provide approximately 1200 ORAC units. This means the average person is short by up to 3800 ORAC units each day, depending on the fruits and vegetables they are choosing and their body’s requirements. To make up the difference, experts recommend supplementing our diet with high ORAC foods to become and stay healthy and slow down the aging process caused by free radical damage.
Lycium Barbarum was rated the food with the highest antioxidant ability coming in at an amazing 3,472 ORAC units per fluid oz. Some of the other notable mentions are vitamin E oil at 3,309, pomegranates at 3,037, blueberries 2,400, raspberries 1,220.
Furthermore, wolfberries have been found to have extremely high levels of immune-stimulating polysaccharides. What are polysaccharides? Polysaccharides are very large, long-chain sugar molecules that are nourishment for macrophages (large white blood cells) in the gut wall. The macrophages are then transported to other immune cells, setting off a chain of defensive events in our bodies.
Several years ago German researchers isolated polysaccharides from Echinacea purpurea (often used in medicinal formulations) and mixed them with macrophages in test tubes. They found that the polysaccharides profoundly activated the macrophages, stimulating them to effectively kill tumour cells! Also it was found macrophages increased their production of interleukin, a chemical which spurs the immune system to greater activity, and the polysaccharides also enhanced the activity of B lymphocytes, immune-system cells which fight bacterial infections.
Below are the results of a 2002 study on the effects of a Ningxia wolfberry product on phagocytes. First, why should we care about phagocytes? Phagocytes are a crucial component of the immune system and are found in the spleen. They digest foreign substances that invade the body including bacteria and other disease causing organisms. Having large numbers of phagocytes in the spleen will enable the body to more quickly eliminate foreign substances and thus prevent the development of potential illness.
The effects were astounding. Spleenic phagocyte cell counts (immune cells) increased by 81% and the ORAC (antioxidant capacity) the subjects’ whole blood increased as well. Essentially, you could say the subjects’ blood became younger.
I believe this little fruit can change the health of the world. Tell your friends about it. If more people knew about wolfberries maybe CNN would stand up and take notice too!
Thank you for spending the time to read my article. My hope is that you have learned something useful and will put that knowledge to use for your own sake and the ones you love.
Sincerely,
Paul Brelin
About The Author
Paul Brelin is an alternative health care consultant and teacher of budhist meditation. You can reach him at pbrelin@feelingtoinfinity.com or at www.wolfberryscience.com.
Holistic Is Not A Four-Lettered Word
by: Edgar Cisneros
If you*re anything like me, then you*ve got a certain picture in your mind of what *holistic* is supposed to be. For me, it*s conjured up pictures of holy men, or shaman, doing a ritual dance while chanting mantras, and rubbing *energy crystals* in an effort to remove evil spirits from your life. It wasn*t until I started doing research for my new book, *5 Keys To Health: A Holistic Approach* when I realized that my preconceptions couldn*t have been more further from the truth.
I had originally planned to write a book on fitness. I know that*s a pretty general term, but I intended it to be about how one can achieve health through physical fitness. It wasn*t going to be anything fancy. It was going to be a guide for the busy person, and how they can get fit, and stay that way while still being able to live a busy lifestyle.
I’ve always been interested in health and fitness. As a matter of fact, I think I’m in pretty good shape. I work out with weights at least 3 days per week, and I engage in some sort of cardio- vascular activity at least 2 days per week. I eat right; I stretch after every work out. I don’t smoke or drink excessively. I thought I was doing pretty well.
That is, until through the course of my research I came to realize that there’s a lot more to being healthy than being physically fit, and eating right. That’s when I ran into the word *holistic.* In the past, it’s always had a negative connotation for me. I’ve always thought of it as something used by metaphysical crackpots trying to sell snake-oil. As it turns out, holistic is not what I thought it was.
The real meaning of holistic is looking at the whole system rather than just concentrating on individual components. So, when it comes to being healthy, it looks at every aspect of health instead of just the physical. Do you realize that when we consider health, we usually look to see if our diet is right, or how often we exercise? There’s so much more to consider.
I found out that there are several aspects you must work on in order to consider yourself truly healthy. Among them are the obvious physical, but there’s also the mental and the spiritual to consider. If any of these is deficient, it could have serious repercussions in your life.
Ask yourself this, *Am I really healthy?*
Yes, you work out religiously. Yes, you eat chicken breasts, and egg whites, and you take your vitamins, and do everything else a *healthy* person is supposed to. But is there anything you’re missing?
Let me ask you this: how often do work on relieving stress from your life? How often do you work on building positive relationships? How often do you seek to build spirituality in your life?
These are just some of the aspects you must work on if you’re searching for true, and total health. Holistic doesn’t have to have a negative meaning. It can simply mean a philosophy of well- being that considers the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life as being closely interconnected and balanced. I cover all of these points, and several more in my book, *5 Keys To Health: A Holistic Approach.*
I show you how to apply the holistic approach to health without any of the metaphysical mumbo jumbo. You can check it out at http://5keystohealth.com .
Take it from me, a one-time skeptic. *Holistic* doesn’t have to be a four-lettered word. It can be something positive that will help you create a fuller, healthier life.
About The Author
Edgar Cisneros is a health and fitness author. His articles and ebooks can help you achieve your personal fitness, and health goals faster and more efficiently. He can be reached by sending an email to mailto:echealth@5keystohealth.com, or by visiting his website at http://5keystohealth.com.
“Whether gastric distension triggers TLESRs through tension or stretch receptors remains controversial. Nevertheless, because the distension volume [in the experiments] was kept constant and because acupoint stimulation did not affect gastric pressure, it seems unlikely that it was acting through alterations in gastric motility. The mechanism of inhibitory effect…