Year: 2017

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10 Unique Ways to De-Stress During the Holidays

By Julie Revelant
Published December 21, 2015

If you feel like you’re going to have a panic attack just thinking about everything you have to do in the next few days, take a deep breath. Experts agree, the holidays can be stress-free with a different outlook and a few simple changes. Here, get their best tips to feel calm and relaxed— no meditation required.

1. Have a plan.
Set aside 45 minutes to write down exactly what you have to do, how much time it will realistically take to accomplish, and when you’ll do it. Then schedule the appointment with yourself on your calendar to ensure it’ll get done, said Paula Rizzo, New York City-based author of “Listful Thinking: Using Lists to be More Productive, Highly Successful and Less Stressed.”

2. Take a vitamin D supplement.
It’s easy to miss out on much-needed sunshine and vitamin D especially because the sun sets early and the shortest day of the year is December 21. Plus, since studies show that low vitamin D levels are linked to anxiety, depression and suicide, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough, said Dr. John Cannell, founder of the Vitamin D Council in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
You can eat vitamin-D rich foods like salmon, fortified milk and egg yolks, but people who live in latitudes above 32-degrees north take a supplement of 5,000 IUs a day during the winter, Cannell said.

3. Volunteer.
Think you have no time? Just an hour of opening your heart to help others can help you feel more open to life’s possibilities as well.
“When you give, you get so much back,” said Lisa Haisha, a motivational speaker in Los Angeles, Calif. and author of “Whispers From Children’s Hearts.”
Writing a check is worthy but your time will pay off tenfold.
“When you put yourself in a situation where you’re part of a community doing something good, that’s where the magic really is,” she said.

4. Sip some tea.
Tea is high in L-Theanine, an amino acid that relaxes the brain and brings calm and focus, said Zhena Muzyka, Ojai, Calif.-based founder of Zhena’s Gypsy Tea, author of “Life By the Cup,” and publisher of Enliven Books. Two to try: Oolong, which helps to balance blood sugar and reduce stress hormones and Yin Zen silver needle.
“Even though it has a tiny bit of caffeine, you’ll feel very relaxed and calm after you drink it,” she said.

5. Re-do your to-do list.
If you group similar tasks together and do them all at the same time, you’ll be hyper-focused and more productive.
“Writing things down is helpful but really being able to pull those things out into actionable items is the piece that will keep you sane,” Rizzo, who is also a senior producer at FoxNews.com, said.

6. Accept change.
If you’re recently separated or divorced, this year may not be the same, especially if you’re splitting up or alternating holidays with your kids. Instead of mourning traditions, make new ones that may turn out to be even better.
“It’s about embracing that different doesn’t have to be bad,” said Emma Johnson, a business journalist in New York City, author of WealthySingleMommy.com and host of the Like a Mother with Emma Johnson podcast.

7. Outsource.
According to a survey by ZICO Premium Coconut Water, more than half of Americans would pay $2,725 on average in return for an extra hour per day.
“If the time to do the things on your to-do list don’t serve you or you’re not the best person to do it, give it to someone else,” Rizzo said.
Ask a family member to help with some shopping, hire a virtual assistant to send out your holiday cards, or download an app that provides a service like delivering groceries or hanging Christmas lights, for example.

8. Focus on gratitude.
When you take time to appreciate what you’re grateful for, what the holidays really mean, and keep yourself grounded in the present moment, you’ll feel less stressed, Haisha said. So instead of worrying about what you’re going to wear to a friend’s holiday party, appreciate that you have people in your life who love and care about you.

9. Cut up your credit card.
Overspending or buying more than you can afford will inevitably create anxiety. What’s more, studies show people are happier with experiences that create memories over material things.
Rather of buying your spouse an expensive gift, plan a trip instead. Having a holiday party? Log out of Pinterest and make it a potluck or ask guests to bring wine or dessert.
“Make a conscious decision not to compete,” Johnson said.

10. Let it go
Holding grudges or stewing over past hurts will only perpetuate a negative cycle.
“If you come in with a smile and an open heart, you’ll see a shift in what transpires at that event,” Haisha said.
So instead of fretting that your mother-in-law will make a comment about a few extra pounds you gained, simply accept that it will happen, laugh it off, and say, “thanks for noticing!”

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7 Scientifically Proven Benefits Of Gratitude That Will Motivate You To Give Thanks Year-Round

It’s that time of year where many people begin thinking about everything they have to be thankful for. Although it’s nice to count your blessings on Thanksgiving, being thankful throughout the year could have tremendous benefits on your quality of life.
In fact, gratitude may be one of the most overlooked tools that we all have access to every day. Cultivating gratitude doesn’t cost any money and it certainly doesn’t take much time, but the benefits are enormous. Research reveals gratitude can have these seven benefits:

1. Gratitude opens the door to more relationships. Not only does saying “thank you” constitute good manners, but showing appreciation can help you win new friends, according to a 2104 study published in Emotion. The study found that thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek an ongoing relationship. So whether you thank a stranger for holding the door or you send a quick thank-you note to that co-worker who helped you with a project, acknowledging other people’s contributions can lead to new opportunities.
2. Gratitude improves physical health. Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and they report feeling healthier than other people, according to a 2012 study published in Personality and Individual Differences. Not surprisingly, grateful people are also more likely to take care of their health.  They exercise more often and are more likely to attend regular check-ups with their doctors, which is likely to contribute to further longevity.
3. Gratitude improves psychological health. Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, ranging from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression.
4. Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression. Grateful people are more likely to behave in a prosocial manner, even when others behave less kind, according to a 2012 study by the University of Kentucky. Study participants who ranked higher on gratitude scales were less likely to retaliate against others, even when given negative feedback. They experienced more sensitivity and empathy toward other people and a decreased desire to seek revenge.
5. Grateful people sleep better. Writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep, according to a 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.

6. Gratitude improves self-esteem. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology found that gratitude increased athlete’s self-esteem, which is an essential component to optimal performance. Other studies have shown that gratitude reduces social comparisons. Rather than becoming resentful toward people who have more money or better jobs – which is a major factor in reduced self-esteem- grateful people are able to appreciate other people’s accomplishments.
7. Gratitude increases mental strength. For years, research has shown gratitude not only reduces stress, but it may also play a major role in overcoming trauma.  A 2006 study published in Behavior Research and Therapy found that Vietnam War Veterans with higher levels of gratitude experienced lower rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  A 2003 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that gratitude was a major contributor to resilience following the terrorist attacks on September 11.  Recognizing all you have to be thankful for – even during the worst times of your life – fosters resilience.
We all have the ability and opportunity to cultivate gratitude. Simply take a few moments to focus on all that you have – rather than complain about all the things you think you deserve.  Developing an “attitude of gratitude” is one of the simplest ways to improve your satisfaction with life.
Amy Morin is a psychotherapist and the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.
These are wonderful and very powerful reasons to be grateful, but I think, and know there’s more to it than that.  At times, it’s difficult to get past those negative thoughts of jealousy, fear, self- doubt, confusion, etc.  When those thoughts/emotions are trapped in our body, it brings our overall frequency down to an unhealthy state.  This compromises the Immune System, and soon you will begin to see various symptoms linked to illness/dis-ease.
Clients can release multiple negative emotions with The Emotion Code and/or The Body Code.  When this occurs, they experience a sense of lightness as this negative baggage is removed.  They are strongly encouraged to hold LOVE and GRATITUDE in their heart, as these two emotions are the highest vibrating emotions that exist.  By releasing trapped negative emotions and elevating your frequency, you can help to rid the body of the symptoms of various illnesses, have stronger and more meaningful relationships and achieve the abundance you’ve only dreamed of.
The Emotion Code and The Body Code are very powerful forms of energy work that been used to treat thousands of people with great success.  Are you ready to take a step toward complete abundance in every area of your life – COMPLETE HEALTH, COMPLETE HAPPINESS IN RELATIONSHIPS, COMPLETE FINANCIAL SUCCESS?  There really is plenty of abundances to go around. All we have to do is ask.

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Massage Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients

By Alex A. Kecske

Breast cancer currently affects about one in eight women in the United States. In 2009, an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women throughout the U.S. In addition, 62,280 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer were diagnosed.  Sadly, about 40,170 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2009 from the disease. The good news is that, as of 2008, about 2.5 million women in the U.S. have survived breast cancer. Women with breast cancer can suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress, which can result in a decreased in natural killer (NK) cells. A drop in NK cell activity has been linked to increased tumor development.

Massage therapy has been shown to offer a number of benefits for breast cancer patients. Performed by a skilled and qualified therapist, the immediate benefits of massage therapy include reduced stress and anxiety. Long-term massage effects include reduced depression and hostility and increased urinary dopamine, serotonin values, NK cell number, and lymphocytes. Massage can also enhance one’s feeling of well-being. It can stimulate the nerve endings in the skin, release endorphins (the feel good hormone) and inhibit the stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline.

In a study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, the Touch Research Institute found that massage therapy reduced anxiety and depression. It also improved immune function, including increased NK cell number in breast cancer patients. Additionally, breast cancer patients have improved immune functions following massage therapy.

Another study* found that therapeutic massage reduced cancer pain perception by an average of 60 percent, decreased anxiety by 24 percent and enhanced relaxation by 58 percent. A Touch Research Institute study involving 20 children with leukemia found that daily massages by their parents increased the children’s white blood cell and neutrophil counts (neutrophils form a primary defense against bacterial infection).

One 2003 study of 230 cancer patients found that those who received one 45-minute therapeutic massage session per week for a month felt less pain and took about eight fewer doses of pain medication than those in the control group.

Massage therapy is usually administered by a therapist using fingers and hands to manipulate the soft tissues of the body–muscles, skin and tendons. Administered by a trained professional, massage therapy is generally safe and has no negative side effects. Effective massage therapies include stroking, squeezing and stretching techniques on the head, arms, legs, feet and back.

During chemotherapy treatment, blood count for platelets and/or white blood cells may drop below normal levels. Also, during radiation treatment, the skin develops minor burns. A qualified massage therapist must be familiar with these treatment side effects before proceeding with massage.

Before attempting massage therapy, first consult a primary care physician. If he or she advises that massage may help, find a licensed massage therapist who is nationally certified through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (www.ncbtmb.org) or the American Massage Therapy Association (www.amtamassage.org). Note: Medicare and most private insurance do not cover massage.

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The Many Healthful Reasons You Should Add Epsom Salt to Your Bath

Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, is a naturally occurring compound of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen.  It has been used therapeutically since the 17th century.  Research has shown that bathing in Epsom salts increases magnesium levels in the body.  If you enjoy unwinding in a warm bath, adding Epsom salt to the water could have several substantial health benefits.

Here are 9 reasons to add Epsom salt to your bath:

  1. It will boost your magnesium.

Magnesium plays numerous roles in the human body.  It is required for muscle and nerve function, protein synthesis, bone development, energy production and blood sugar control.  Dietary surveys consistently show that most people in the US get less than the recommended amounts of magnesium.  Low intakes can increase the risk of several conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis.  Absorbing magnesium while bathing is a pleasant way to ensure that you have an adequate supply of this vital mineral.

  1. It could lower your blood pressure.

Magnesium plays an important role in regulating blood pressure by opening channels in cell membranes that relax the smooth muscle in blood vessels.  Researchers from the University of Hertfordshire analyzed data from twenty-two trials involving 1,173 people to assess the effect of magnesium on blood pressure.  The combined data indicated that magnesium supplementation lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and that the size of the effect increased with higher doses.  Anyone concerned about their blood pressure could benefit from the magnesium in an Epsom salt bath.

  1. It can help you feel less stressed.

Magnesium is an integral part of the stress response system.  When you are mentally or physically stressed, magnesium is released from cells into blood plasma.  The sudden increase in magnesium has an energizing and calming effect.  Following this process, the mineral is excreted in the urine.  Over time, stress can deplete the body’s stores of magnesium.  When your magnesium levels are low, you are more sensitive to stress and produce higher levels of adrenalin, the ‘fight or flight’ hormone.  An Epsom salt bath replenishes magnesium in the body, helping you to stay calm in stressful situations.

  1. It could improve your mood.

Magnesium is essential to the brain’s regulation of the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter serotonin.  It plays a vital role in the release and uptake of serotonin by brain cells.  A serotonin imbalance can negatively affect mood, libido, sleep, memory, and appetite.  In some cases, depression can be caused by a magnesium deficiency.  If you’re feeling low, relaxing in a warm Epsom salt bath could help raise your spirits.  It can also help prevent depression by ensuring that your body has sufficient magnesium.

  1. It could relieve migraine pain.

Magnesium deficiency is more common in migraine sufferers than non-sufferers.  A study published in the journal ‘Headache’, tested the use of magnesium sulfate to treat acute migraine attacks.  Half of the migraine patients received intravenous magnesium sulfate and the other half received a saline placebo.  The pain disappeared in 13 out of the 15 patients in the treatment group and diminished in the remaining two.  Accompanying symptoms disappeared in all 15 patients.  Only one patient out of 15 in the placebo group had a decrease in pain and only three were free from accompanying symptoms.  Since magnesium sulfate is absorbed through the skin, an Epsom salt bath may be as effective as an injection.

  1. It might help improve PMS symptoms.

Magnesium deficiency has been linked to some symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and several studies have reported lower magnesium levels in women with PMS.  In one study, women who suffered from PMS were given magnesium supplements over three menstrual cycles.  The women kept diaries recording the severity of their symptoms, and also completed a ‘Menstrual Distress Questionnaire’.  The magnesium treatment led to an average 34% reduction in PMS symptoms.  Frequent Epsom salt baths might raise magnesium levels enough to produce a similar effect.

  1. It could reduce your risk for stroke.

A meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reviewed seven studies examining magnesium intake and stroke.  Overall, there were 6,477 cases of stroke among 241,378 participants.  Risk estimates were adjusted for age, smoking, BMI and other factors.  The researchers concluded that an intake increment of 100mg of magnesium was associated with an 8% reduction in the risk of ischemic stroke.  The magnesium in Epsom salt could help to protect your brain.

  1. It could help to prevent inflammatory diseases.

Most Americans eat a diet high in inflammatory omega 6 fatty acids.  Diseases associated with chronic inflammation include arthritis, asthma, dermatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s.  A study involving 3,713 postmenopausal women has shown that magnesium helps to prevent inflammation.  The researchers assessed the women’s diets through a food questionnaire and tested their blood for particular substances.  They found that the more magnesium the women ate, the lower their levels of inflammatory indicators.  Taking regular Epsom salt baths could provide a source of magnesium to lower your risk for several health conditions.

  1. It can help detoxify your body.

We are all exposed to over 21,000 toxins on a regular basis including medications, herbicides, pesticides and PCB’s.  Over 80% of our food have genetically modified ingredients and more than 80,000 metric tons of carcinogens are released into the air in North America alone.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average US citizen has residues from over 400 toxic compounds in their body.  Epsom salt contains sulfates that help flush toxins and heavy metals from the body.  What is even more staggering, is that there are 82,000 chemicals in use today in the United States but only one-quarter of them have ever been tested for toxicity.  The skin is a highly porous membrane, and when Epsom salt is added to a warm bath, toxins are pulled out by a process known as reverse osmosis.  This also strengthens the immune system as it no longer has the burden of all the toxins.

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When Life Gives You Lemons…Drink Hot Water with Lemon

Are you looking for another way to detoxify your body, quench your thirst and boost your energy?  Here is a tried and true method to do just that and then some.  Adding fresh squeezed lemon juice to water not only quenches your thirst more than any other beverage, it nourishes your body with vitamins, minerals and trace elements which are so desperately needed.

Each morning when we wake up, our bodily tissues are dehydrated and are in need of water to push the toxins out and revitalize the cells.  This “homemade lemonade” can help eliminate internal toxins, regulate proper kidney and digestive tract functions by forcing them to work as smoothly as possible.  And if that’s not enough reason to begin your day with a cup of warm water with lemon, here are many more reasons to do so.

  1. Create a healthy internal environment in your body. Drinking water with lemon provides the body with electrolytes such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and Vitamin C and B-complex, which hydrate your body. Drinking this on a regular basis will help your body become more healthy, having provided it with a good portion of the nutrients needed, and allow you to spend time doing what you want to do, rather than fighting off illness due to toxic overload.
  2. Benefits joints and muscles. Water with lemon is good for the joints. It can help reduce pain, both in the joints and in the muscles. Uric acid is a by-product of urine.  A build up of this can lead to a very painful condition known as gout.   Drinking water with lemon can help dilute uric acid and reduce the risk of gout.
  3. Improves digestion naturally. Warm water with lemon helps digestion. Lemon contains citric acid, and when it interacts with other enzymes and acids, it easily stimulates the secretion of gastric juice to aid the digestive process.  It is a natural way to reduce bloating, regulate natural bowel movements and relieve constipation quickly.  Lemon stimulates the bowels, and helps the intestines produce mucus, which is needed for optimal functioning.  It also hydrates the colon and adds moisture to dry stools.  Drinking warm water with lemon is crucial for maintaining a normal metabolism and aiding in the entire digestive process.
  4. Cleanses and strengthens the liver. Water with lemon cleanses the liver. Lemon juice stimulates the liver to produce more bile, release stored toxins and allow it to function properly.
  5. Antioxidant and Immune System booster. Lemon is a powerful antioxidant, has anti-inflammatory properties and protects the body from free radicals. It strengthens the entire immune system.  Drinking water with lemon helps fight respiratory tract infections, sore throats and inflammation in the tonsils.
  6. Maintain a healthy Lymphatic System. Warm water with lemon can help cleanse and hydrate the lymphatic system. Some practices of medicine believe that a dehydrated lymphatic system is a major cause of illness.  If, or when this happens, it can make you feel tired, constipated, and just plain sick.  Maintaining a hydrated lymphatic system, will improve your immunity and prevent the first sign of illness.
  7. Boost your mood. Lemon has a high amount of potassium, and drinking warm water with lemon will aid in the proper functioning of the nervous system. Depression and anxiety are often the result of low levels of potassium in the blood.  The nervous system needs a sufficient amount of potassium to ensure sustainable signals to the heart.
  8. Cleanse the Circulatory System. Water with lemon aids in cleansing the blood, blood vessels and arteries to ensure its overall proper functioning.
  9. Reduce blood pressure. Water with lemon can help reduce blood pressure. Daily intake of one lemon can reduce high blood pressure by 10%.
  10. Increase the Alkaline environment in your body. Water with lemon added can help create a more alkaline environment in the body. Even if you drink it immediately before a meal, it can help your body maintain a higher level of pH.  The higher the pH, the more your body is able to fight disease.
  11. Improve the quality of your skin. Water with lemon is great for the skin. Drinking water with lemon daily (every morning), high in Vitamin C, and antioxidants, will improve the condition of your skin, reduce wrinkles and blemishes and rejuvenate your entire body.  When used topically, lemons can help diminish scars and dark spots.
  12. Pregnant women can benefit from water with lemon, too. Since lemons are loaded with vitamin C, it acts as an adaptogen, helping the body cope with viruses, such as colds. Vitamin C helps the formation of bone tissue of the unborn baby.  At the same time, due to the high content of potassium, a mixture of water with lemon helps the baby’s forming cells of the brain as well as the nervous system.
  13. Relieve heartburn. Mix a teaspoon of lemon juice in a half glass of water and drink.
  14. Maintain healthy organs. Water with lemon helps dissolve gallstones, kidney stones, pancreatic stones and calcium deposits.
  15. Lose weight easily and naturally. Water with lemon can help with weight loss. Lemons contain pectin fiber, which helps suppress hunger cravings.  Studies have proven people with a better alkaline diet have lost weight faster.
  16. Improve oral hygiene. Tooth pain, gingivitis and bad breath will be reduced when adding water with lemon to your routine. Be sure to hold off on brushing your teeth for at least a couple of hours after drinking lemon water as the citric acid in lemon can erode tooth enamel.
  17. Reduce the risk of cancer. Water with lemon prevents cancer. This is due to lemons being a highly alkaline food.  Multiple studies have found that cancer cannot thrive in an alkaline environment.
  18. Kick the caffeine cravings. Drinking water with lemon can help you cut the need for caffeine and energy drinks. Drinking this first thing in the morning, rather than a cup of coffee, may just diminish your desire to grab a coffee or latte later on.

For best results:

Use warm purified or spring water.  Into a half cup of warm water, squeeze the juice of half lemon or lime.  It is best to use a juicer to get all or most of the juice with little effort.  Do not add sugar.

If you do not have lemons on hand, you can substitute Young Living Therapeutic grade Lemon Essential Oil. You can find this and other favorite oils at www.YanaBalance.com   and click on ‘Essential Oils’.  Lemon oil is cold pressed from the rind of the fruit.  It takes 3,000 lemons to produce 1 kilo of oil.  Add 1-2 drops of Lemon Essential Oil to warm water and enjoy.

Drink your water with lemon first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.  Some health professionals recommend drinking a cup of water with lemon before each meal for maximum results.

So…grab a bag of lemons (or a bottle of Young Living Therapeutic grade essential oil), give them a squeeze, and enjoy all the healthy benefits of drinking a nice cup of Hot Water With Lemon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THE MIND-BODY WELLNESS CONNECTION

THE MIND-BODY WELLNESS CONNECTION

For generations, mothers have been warning their children that going outside in the cold with wet hair will make them sick.  Although it has been scientifically proven to be incorrect, many of us have disobeyed Mom by going outside on a cold day with wet hair – and indeed have gotten sick.

In a very crude way, this is an example of psychoneuroimmunology, or the study of how these outside emotional stresses and conditions impact not only our mind, but also our immune system.

The Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is dedicated to studying how psychological, neural and immunologic processes interact and shape human health and behavior.  The doctors with the Cousins Center believe that external, physical and social environments can strongly influence immune-system activity by affecting neural and endocrine processes that regulate immune system dynamics.

“The Cousins Center is very interested in the interactions between the brain, the body and the immune system, and the science behind that,” says Dr. Michael R. Irwin, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the Cousins Center.

These external influences that are negatively impacting the immune system include insomnia, prolonged stress and depression.  Uncontrolled stress is one of the greatest factors in shortening our lifespan, just behind smoking and poor diet.

Dr. Irwin says that stress produces a complex physiological response that, under fight-or-flight conditions, such as being chased by a lion, would be very helpful.  The inflammation in the body caused by that stress primes the immune system in the event that we are injured by the pursuing lion.  But, when we are stuck in an office dealing with stress on a daily basis, that same inflammation response puts us at risk for chronic diseases.

“We’ve been very interested in how stress impacts health outcomes,” Irwin sys.  “One of the most striking areas of research is how stress leads to infectious disease.  We’ve been really at the forefront, showing that major depressive disorder and sleep problems lead to changes in the immune system which make us vulnerable to infectious disease.”

To help the body and mind combat these stresses, the researchers at the center have conducted numerous studies on the practice of mindfulness-paying attention to thoughts, emotions and physical sensations without judging or reacting to them.  One such study tested mindfulness strategies in older adults suffering from insomnia.  One group of elders was given a six-week course on sleep and stress reduction.  The other group meditated daily for 15 minutes before bed.  After six weeks, the meditating group showed significant improvement in sleep quality and had less fatigue and depression.

“The way our research informs the mind-body link is to map out the molecular mechanisms, the specific biological gears and pulleys that allow our experience of everyday life to change the way disease unfolds in our body.” Says Dr. Steve Cole, PhD., research scientist and Semel Institute Professor of Medicine, UCLA.  “Part of the reason it’s important to do this kind of work is that it helps us understand what’s going on in the black box of epidemiology (the branch of medicine that deals with incidence, distribution and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health), how differences in life’s circumstances can turn into differences in disease and why that actually makes sense given our evolutionary heritage.”

Along with meditation, other mindful practices like yoga and tai chi have helped combat the body’s inflammatory response to stress and other mind-body conditions.  This inflammation in the body leads to a wide variety of chronic health conditions including cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, depression and even cancer.

The findings at the Cousins enter are also working their way into general-medicine practices across the country.

“One of the things that we’re beginning to do is to move what we know into the primary-care setting and export it into the global community,” Dr. Irwin says.  “Over 120,000 people are taking our online courses.  Our research is really pointing in the direction for the use of these interventions to prevent disease and to promote health and wellness.”

Article written by Chad Eiler

Originally printed in Healthy Living – March/April 2016

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WHAT IS SOUND HEALING?

Sound Healing, through various techniques and technologies, is the educated and conscious use of the energy of sound to reach identified goals and promote wellness in the human system – including the expansion of consciousness. Sound Healing is founded on the premise that all matter is vibrating at specific frequencies. Science has proven that sound, or vibration, has a strong impact upon substance. For example, the study of Cymatics has shown how sound creates geometric patterns in matter. Dr. Emoto has proven that sound changes the molecular structure of water. However, more importantly, sound changes consciousness. Many ancient civilizations and modern indigenous cultures have used sound to heal and access higher levels of consciousness for thousands of years.

The universe is always in a state of vibration, and each thing generates its own frequency including you. Nikola Tesla stated “If you want to find the secrets to the universe think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” Vibration, frequency and energy effect us all. Learning to tap into which frequencies and vibrations effect us for our benefit is vital to our well-being. Our thoughts, emotions, physical body, mental body, and spiritual body all vibrate at different levels that are unique to us. Keeping them at balanced levels will allow you to stay in a constant state of wellness when you understand these ancient teachings. This is no new information. Since the beginning of man’s creation, they have been taught these concepts and implemented them into their everyday life.

There are a wide range of techniques that utilize sound as a tool for change. The most common and basic use of sound is for meditation and relaxation. Chanting, toning and overtone singing are some of the most powerful methods for resonating sound throughout the body. The use of nature sounds and natural instruments, such as crystal or Tibetan bowls and tuning forks, have specific healing frequencies and harmonics. Drumming and rhythm are now used by corporations to release stress and build team consciousness. Shamanic drumming takes people into altered states of consciousness. Sound is now being used by clinical psychologists to help children with certain learning disabilities. Binaural beat frequencies are used to entrain people into very specific states of consciousness. Sound is used to alter brainwave states to help people with sleep disorders and facilitate creative expression. Listening to one’s own root frequency enables an individual to create a more centered and grounded awareness within their life. Sound and music are also used to help with difficult life transitions, including birth and death. The medical community also uses sound and music in a variety of applications such as during surgery to minimize the use of anesthesia, and to break up kidney and gall stones. Doctors are now finding the resonant frequency of organs in order to help vibrate them back into a healthy state. More exciting is cutting-edge research that shows how sound might be used to disintegrate diseases such as cancer.

Perhaps most exciting is the use of sound and music to transform consciousness – First, to release deep emotional issues; then, to more consistently resonate the vibrations of love and light — including gratitude, compassion, joy and Universal Love. Ultimately, to use sound to bring us into a state of oneness with everyone and everything in the Universe.

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Raindrop Technique Massage

Raindrop Technique Massage is a very powerful healing tool using a series of 9 different therapeutic grade essential oils.  It originated from the research of D. Gary Young, ND and a medicine man named Wallace Black Elk of the Lakota Indian Tribe.  The routine is based on the theory that many viruses and/or bacteria lay dormant along the spine.  Over time, they can cause multiple problems in the body, such as Fibromyalgia, spinal misalignments, and scoliosis, or other viral conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis.

A growing amount of research shows that certain microorganisms lodge near the spinal cord and contribute to deformities.  At the University of Bonn, researchers found that the varicella zoster virus can lodge in the spinal ganglia throughout life.  Research in 2001 further corroborated the existence of infectious microorganisms as a cause of spine pain and inflammation.  Under the guidance of Alistair Stirling, colleagues at the Royall Orthopedic Hospital in Birmingham, England found that 53 percent of patients with severe sciatica tested positive for chronic, low-grade infection by gram-negative bacteria, which triggered inflammation near the spine.

The essential oils used in this routine are all highly antimicrobial, designed to reduce inflammation along the spine and rid the body of the viral agents that have triggered the initial response.  The sequence is designed to allow the oils to enter the body and begin to clean up and detoxify the cells, re-oxygenate and then reprogram at the cellular DNA level.  The oils used in the Raindrop Technique Massage are:

  • Valor- a blended essential oil containing Spruce, Rosewood, Blue Tansy and Frankincense in an Almond Oil Base. Valor promotes feelings of strength, courage, and protection and has been found to support energy alignment in the body.   Ancient stories tell us that soldiers applied Valor to their bodies before going into battle for these same reasons.
  • Oregano – a powerful essential oil for helping to support healthy immune and digestive systems.   Recent research at Weber State University has shown that Oregano has a 99% kill rate against in-vitro colonies of Streptococcus pneumonia, even when used in one percent concentration.
  • Thyme – one of the most highly antimicrobial and antiseptic essential oils and can be used to assist in a healthy immune and cardiovascular system.
  • Basil – has many anti-inflammatory properties also, and can be used to support a healthy immune system. When used topically, Basil can be used to bring normal circulation and support healthy skin properties.
  • Wintergreen – can be used to help support normal circulation and a healthy cardiovascular system. It has been used for decades to support healthy oral hygiene.  The primary constituent, Methyl Salicylate, has long been added to liniments and ointments for multiple musculoskeletal problems.
  • Marjoram – was known as the “herb of happiness” to the Romans, and “the joy of the mountains” to the Greeks. Marjoram can assist with normal digestion.
  • Cypress – can be used for supporting the cardiovascular system as well as the lymphatic system.
  • Peppermint – one of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for helping to soothe and support healthy digestion. In addition, it is an anti-bacterial oil and can help support the immune system.
  • Aroma Siez- a blended essential oil containing Basil, Marjoram, Lavender, Peppermint, and Cypress. It has the potential to help support a healthy immune system.

A Raindrop Technique Massage begins with the oils being applied to the feet with a specific reflexology technique called Vita Flex.  This same sequence of oils is then drizzled and lightly dropped onto the spine.  Very light massage is applied, which allows the body to elicit responses, typically goose bumps.  With the nerves now awake, the body can absorb the oils much deeper, and allow healing to begin at the cellular level.   These oils have been chosen for their specific healing properties in combating the viral infections that lie dormant along the spine.  This particular type of massage takes approximately one hour, and the client is asked to turn their thoughts inward and reflect on the specific healing needed in their own body.  Although some may not notice immediate results, the effects of a Raindrop Massage will last at least one week.

Raindrop Technique Massage is a wonderful tool to add to your health and wellness routine.  As the oils are applied topically, they will help to restore a sense of balance as your body begins to heal from within.   It is one of the safest, most non-invasive techniques available for spinal health.  It is the most powerful and helpful broad-spectrum applications of essential oils.  Due to the wide variety of essential oils applied, there may be a benefit for almost every condition within the Raindrop Massage.

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BRUSH YOUR TROUBLES AWAY WITH SKIN BRUSHING

Many skin care experts believe that daily all-over dry brush massage is essential for lasting vitality and health.  Dry brushing for 5 minutes each day helps to open pores, promotes blood circulation and lymph flow to help your body excrete toxins and invigorate the nervous system by stimulating the nerve endings.

 

Skin brushing can help enhance immune system functions, promote muscle tone and help break down cellulite.  Skin brushing also helps to exfoliate the dead skin cells.  This becomes increasingly important as we age, as inactive aging skin does not shed dead cells as easily as does youthful skin.  “Older” skin is susceptible to cellular build-up which accounts, in part, for the dry, thick, leather-look that comes with aging.  In addition, skin brushing can help to stimulate sweat and oil glands, and help you restore your skin to a more supple state, and regain a more youthful appearance.

Skin brushing can be very relaxing, as the skin is impregnated with nerve end-fibers, which play an indispensable role in nervous system activity.  Brushing provides a relaxing effect, including decreased muscle tension, improves lung capacity, digestion and clearer thinking.

Cellulite is a structural disturbance of fat tissue and can also be impacted by skin brushing.  The fat content of cellulite containing tissue is normal, but fibrous nodules surrounding the fat cells give affected skin areas their typical orange-peel appearance.  Cellulite formation is related, in part, to local vein and lymph congestion.  With regular skin brushing, you can help to restore proper circulation to the troublesome areas and potentially decrease cellulite.

Daily Dry Brush Routine

  1. Begin by brushing your hands and fingers in any direction seven or eight times.
  2. Brush in long strokes from the wrist to the elbow, and then from the elbow to the shoulder. Brush toward your torso and toward your heart.
  3. Brush across the tops of your toes, then the soles of your feet, toward your ankles. The soles of your feet will eventually become desensitized to this ticklish feeling.
  4. Now, brush the entire surface of your leg, from ankle to knee, then knee to thigh, remembering to always brush with light upward strokes. Repeat on both legs.
  5. Gently hold the brush against your neck, keeping it in place, and gently vibrate the bristles. Next, brush down your neck, back and front and swing the brush gently across the top of your shoulders.
  6. To stimulate lymphatic circulation, hold the brush under your left armpit and rotate it back and forth several times. Repeat on the other armpit. (This is not easy if you are extremely ticklish, but persevere!)
  7. On the front, sides and back of your body, use long sweeping single strokes, always upward in the direction of your heart.
  8. To help with ridding cellulite from the tops of your thighs and buttocks, brush upward in circular strokes.
  9. Try a high quality salt or sugar scrub after dry body brushing your skin, and continue the exfoliating process.

 

Turn Your Shower Into A Spa

With one bottle of high quality, therapeutic grade essential oil, a body brush and 15 minutes of spare time, you can transform your shower into an all-over aromatherapy treatment that will keep you feeling energized all day.

  1. Select a skin-friendly essential oil, such as mandarin, grapefruit, lavender, ylang-ylang, or one of your own personal favorites.
  2. Add several drops of oil to a dry skin brush, and exfoliate as outlined in the steps above.
  3. Close the drain, pour a few drops of essential oil onto the shower floor, and run the water as hot as you can tolerate for a minute or two. You want to create a steamy environment. Slowly inhale the healing essential oils.
  4. Stay in the hot water for at least two minutes. Turn down the water temperature to get a blast of cold. Ending a shower with cold water can strengthen the circulation and close the skin pores.  Alternate between hot and cold water several times if you like – the greater the difference between the two temperatures, the greater the health benefits.

When you begin your morning with intention, pleasure and natural body care, you can reap health-giving benefits for body and mind.  What a way to start the day!

 Wash your brush with warm soapy water and allow to air dry.

Contact me for natural bristle brushes and therapeutic grade essential oils … just for the health of it.

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Massage Can Be Beneficial For Your Heart

Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, affects one in three adults in America, the majority of who are aged 65 or over.

Hypertension is defined by the consistent measurement of a systolic blood pressure exceeding 140mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure exceeding 90mmHg.  The systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure in the arteries during a heartbeat and the diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries in between beats.

It is normal for individuals to experience high blood pressure during exertion.  However, if a person’s blood pressure is consistently high, they are at an increased risk of stroke and heart disease, two leading causes of mortality in America.  Hypertension often goes unnoticed, as no apparent outward symptoms are associated with the disease.  The condition is commonly diagnosed in the physician’s office when a physician measures a patient’s blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer during a routine medical examination.

Many lifestyle factors contribute to hypertension, including cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of regular exercise, an unhealthy diet and being overweight.  Anti-hypertensive drugs are the primary treatment for hypertension and oftentimes, multiple drugs are used to achieve a final satisfactory blood pressure reading.

Quitting cigarette smoking, reducing alcohol intake, regular exercise, changing unhealthy dietary habits, and reducing body weight may help hypertension that is caused by lifestyle factors.  Adults with hypertension should aim to reduce their experience of stress, in order to prevent rises in blood pressure.  For this reason, massage can be beneficial for hypertension.

A study on the effects of myofascial trigger point massage therapy for people with hypertension showed that significant decreases in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure resulted following massage.  The study, conducted by Delaney, J.P., Leong, K.S., Watkins, A., and Brodie, D. in 2002 at the Wirral Metropolitan College, Department of Medicine in Liverpool, United Kingdom, also reported that patients experienced decreases in muscular tension and heart rate as a result of massage therapy.

A study conducted by Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Krasnegor, J., Theakston, H., Hossain, Z., and Burman, I. reported by the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies in the year 2000, also asserts that hypertension and its associated symptoms were reduced through massage therapy.  The subjects in this study were provided with ten 30-minute massage sessions over the course of five weeks.  The subjects, all of who suffered from hypertension, experienced reduced blood pressure, reduced feelings of depression, less hostile behavior, and reduced levels of cortisol in their urine and salivary samples.  Hernandez-Reif concluded that massage for hypertension may be beneficial to reduce diastolic blood pressure and lessen the symptoms associated with hypertension.

Research by Mieko Kurosawa, Thomas Lundebert, Greta Ogren, Irene Lund and Kerstin Uvnas-Moberg, conducted in 1995 at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, reported that massage-like stroking of the lateral and ventral sides of the abdomen lowered arterial blood pressure in anesthetized rats.  Research by Boone, T., Tanner, M., and Radosevich, A., conducted in 2001 and reported in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine, showed that subjects with hypertension who received a ten-minute long back rub, experienced decreased cardiac output.  The study, which took place in the Department of Exercise Physiology at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, USA, supports the findings of the aforementioned studies.

Massage is a safe, non-invasive, and soothing treatment for hypertension, particularly for people that experience stress on a frequent basis.  If treated regularly, massage patients demonstrate long term improvement in stress levels and heart rate.

Before attempting massage therapy, first consult a primary care physician. If the doctor advises that massage may help, find a licensed massage therapist who is board certified through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (www.ncbtmb.org) or the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (www.abmp.com) .

Note: Medicare and most private insurance do not cover massage.