The openness of childhood

Did you grow up believing in magic, magical places, and beings?

Did the world seem like a place full of magic, wonder, a place where anything could happen, a world where anything is possible?

Living in the “Real(?)” world

Somewhere on the path of growing into mature functioning adults, we stop believing the world is place of wonder. For some of us the world becomes mundane, a struggle or a place full of dangers we need to manage or control.
Remember the first time you realized no santa, no tooth fairy, Easter bunny or unicorns.
No magic.

Magical vs. Mundane

Yet, how else can we explain the wonder of the simple act of breathing, seemingly inhaling nothing and animating your entire body, from nothing comes something. Billions of neurons firing through your brain connecting thoughts, feelings, emotions and memories. The intelligence that tells every cell to divide and multiply, creating you and the world around you. Intelligence that creates stars, planets, universes and galaxies. Quantum Mechanics tells us that through our attention, we create our reality. Not only is magic at play all round us, we are that magic.

So next time you find yourself wondering if there really is any magic in this world, think of the mythical unicorn, a one of a kind, magical creature.

You my friend are that unicorn.
Isn’t it time you galloped though magical fields?

I’m often asked by people who are moving, or who live too far away from the Center for regular visits, “what should I look for in an acupuncturist?”  My answer is usually along the lines of: you look for the same things that you would in a good mechanic, personal trainer, doctor and almost anything else.  A good practitioner is communicative, responsible and effective.  Sure, you have to make sure that they’re licensed, and hopefully they have some experience with the health conditions that you are dealing with, but that is the bare minimum.

It Is About the Relationship

I’ll always remember what our founder Dr. Ron Stram told me when I was a new practitioner many years ago.  “People expect us to be good at our job. That’s just the baseline. It’s about the relationship.” And what makes a good relationship?  Open and clear communication working in two directions, attentiveness to someone’s needs and the taking of steps to show that you are actively engaged in meeting those needs.  A good practitioner is responsive, actively listens to you and makes clear effort to help you achieve your goals.  Like any other relationship, it has to be a good match as well- find the provider that you “click” with.

Best of Both Worlds

Numerous times in my life I have heard people saying that if they had to make a choice, they would pick a doctor who was exceedingly skilled over one who was kind and pleasant to work with.  Especially in the field of Integrative Health, where practitioners must understand and address the entire person- there is no such distinction.  The care giver who is exceedingly skilled is the care giver that is attentive, comfortable to work with and reliable.  To understand a client well, an acupuncturist has to be more than just technically skilled.  They have to be actively interested in their client, who they are, what they are going through, and how, whether by well-placed needle, by herb or by compassionate gesture they can be supported and cared for.

Yes, But is it Covered by my Insurance?

Means, motive and opportunity.  The great majority of healthcare providers want to give the attentive and compassionate care that we all try to embody.  Clients want attentive and reliable care, and providers want to have the relationship and time spent with clients that help ensure the best and most appropriate care.  So why so much discontent, and why so many stories of sloppy care because an health concern wasn’t given it’s due time and consideration?

We find ourselves in this position because you are no longer the consumer for your own healthcare!  Your insurance company is the healthcare consumer.  The consumer demands to the healthcare industry are less time and less care (i.e. less money paid out).  Since no business survives without listening to its customers, healthcare providers must bend to the demands of their consumers- the insurance companies- in order to survive.

My practice exists outside of this system.  There is no mediator between myself, and my client.  The only demands, needs, wants and hopes I listen to are those of my client, and that allows me to be the responsive and active practitioner that I strive to be.  I bring this up just to suggest the fact that maybe “is it covered by my insurance” isn’t the first question to ask when seeking out the right practitioner for you.  Just food for thought.

There is much debate regarding whether red wine is beneficial for your health or not. The debate began with the observation that the French population has lower rates of heart disease compared to the American population, even though the French diet is higher in saturated fat consumption. This has been termed the “French Paradox”. The cause of this paradox is believed to be due to the higher consumption of red wine by the French. In the past 20 years, there have been many studies, including many animal studies, to investigate whether red wine is the main factor in this paradox. However, there have been very few human trials that have shown that there is a positive health benefit. More clinical trials are needed to explore these benefits.

Resveratrol is the main active ingredient in red wine that is thought to have cardiovascular health benefits. Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes, and also in blue berries and bilberries. Most supplement forms of resveratrol are made from the roots of Polygonum cuspidatum due to its high amounts of the active resveratrol. A 5oz glass of red wine contains about 0.3-1mg of resveratrol. The kind of grape also makes a difference, as Pinot noir has the highest amount of resveratrol. Grapes grown in warmer, dryer climates have less.

Many studies using mice have found that resveratrol has cardiovascular benefits including lowering LDL cholesterol and raising HDL cholesterol, preventing atherosclerosis, and blood thinning effects similar to aspirin. Resveratrol has also been found to be anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and estrogenic.

Resveratrol has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity. Since insulin is a fat promoting hormone, and insulin-resistance increases fat deposition, then increasing insulin sensitivity works to lower fat deposition and improve metabolic efficiency. Resveratrol also directly stimulates lipolysis and decreases the amount of fat cells.

Resveratrol also has very weak estrogenic effects. It is unknown whether this is protective or not, similar to other phytoestrogens such as soy, and is therefore not recommended as a supplement for those with hormone sensitive cancers.

In general, it is my recommendation that small amounts of red wine, not more than 1 glass daily, along with a balanced diet low in processed foods, can have an overall positive effect on all aspects of your health.

The search continues for the “one” pill that will cause weight loss. In July the FDA disapproved Qnexa for the market, a new diet pill that combines an amphetamine and an anticonvulsant. And not just drugs, but natural products are constantly being marketed as the next “fat burner”.

The problem with developing a weight loss pill or supplement is that weight gain is multi-factorial and can be different for each person. Drug companies investigate ways to suppress the appetite, decrease gut absorption of fats, and increase metabolism as quick fixes. However, there are many other factors that cause increased weight gain. And we all know the main factor, and that is high calorie processed and restaurant food. Now that New York has passed a law to put calories next to menu items, it’s no wonder why the most recent government data reports that more than 2/3 of the American population is obese or overweight. There are often very few meals under 1000 calories, and there are many that are closer to 2000 calories! For most of us, that is considered an entire days worth of calories in one meal.

The other most common factor to weight gain is lack of activity or exercise.  Walking is great exercise and perhaps one of the most common forms of exercise. However, it is not the best calorie burner. Walking for 30 minutes at a rate of 3-4 miles per hour burns about 150 calories.  Walking for 1 hour at 20 minutes per mile (3 miles per hour) burns about 240 calories. One Grand Latte from Starbucks is 272 calories, and that is without any sugar, syrups, or whipped cream. Some activities burn many more calories, for example 30 minutes of cross-country skiing burns about 390 calories, 30 min of rock climbing burns 373 calories, and playing golf while walking with bag 18 holes burns almost 2,000 calories! So as Americans, we are fighting high calorie foods with not enough activity to burn these calories. Not everyone can do these activities every day, but find an activity, preferably outdoors, that you can do at least once per week, and make them different every week. The body does better with change, rather than doing the same routine all the time. Before starting any rigorous activity, please consult with your health care provider first.

In my next blog, Part 2, I will discuss other factors of weight loss when diet and exercise alone are not working.

We can eat all of the healthy food we want; we can exercise until our feet drop off; we can do all of the right things to have us live a full healthy life but if we do not do this one thing, we are bound to live life at half throttle…..This one thing is often the last thing we think of- maybe  many of us never think of it.

It is called mastering oneself. We are either dictated by our circumstances and allow each thought of our mind to throw us off balance or we are in the moment watching ourselves and creating on a momemt to moment basis who we are going to be just because we say so, not because of any outside source.

Many illnesses breed from the negative thoughts that trample on the possibility of a great life.  Meditation, yoga, mindfulness, art: these are all tools in the belt for supporting us in being the great beings that we already are but maybe have temporarily forgotten. The only way to start living the life you truly want is to start taking action. Start today. Start right now. 

Here’s to living a full, happy and healthy life!

I just read a research study on Craniosacral Therapy’s beneficial effects on people suffering from fibromyalgia.  The results of this study were very clear and significant.  Craniosacral Therapy definitely and significantly reduced the body pain, anxiety and depression experienced by the participants of the study, all of whom had fibromyalgia.  It improved their overall quality of life – there were clear improvements in physical function, general health and vitality, and therefore the ability to take part in social activities.  Craniosacral Therapy also improved the quality of their sleep in the participants.

This was a scientific study published in 2009 in the reputable Oxford Journal on-line edition (http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/nep125).  One group received 2 Craniosacral Therapy sessions a week for 25 weeks.  The other group – the control group – received a fake ultrasound treatment twice a week for the same 25 weeks.  The control group experienced no changes in their fibromyalgia symptoms, while the Craniosacral group had significant improvements in all the above categories. Now here’s the exciting part – the improvements continued to last for over a year even though the sessions had ended!

I find this very exciting and plan to implement more craniosacral work with my clients who are challenged with fibromyalgia.  I don’t expect anyone to do the twice weekly sessions for 25 weeks – that was for the structure of the study.   I do feel, with something as debilitating as fibromyalgia, that getting some regular sessions for a bit, in a schedule that fits the client’s time and finances, can really make a big difference, and this study proves it.   

If you’re living with the challenge of fibromyalgia, consider giving Craniosacral Therapy a try.  There is truly nothing more relaxing (I get a session every month without fail).  It’s a time, just for you, to rest and heal on a very deep cellular level.  I’m very excited to have a research study show how well it works for this!

We often think of Spring as being associated with house cleaning, but it is also important to cleanse the body. Removing environmental, processed food, and everyday accumulated toxins is important for maintaining overall health.  Detoxing can help speed recovery and keep our systems in good working order.  Fasting is an excellent method for detoxing.

While most of us eat 3 square meals a day, limiting our intake can start to take toxins out of our systems and increase energy.  A weekly fast can be helpful for cleansing on a regular basis.  It may seem impossible to do, but going slowly can ease you into a routine.  Here are some ways you can work a weekly fast into your routine:

WEEK 1:  Pick one day of the week and skip one meal.

WEEK 2:  On the same day, skip two meals.  You can replace the meals with fruit or juice.  Drink  lots of water to flush impurities out of your system.

WEEK 3:  Skip all meals for the day only,  replacing meals with juice or fruit.

WEEK 4:  Leave out the fruit and simply have juice or water for that day.

It is essential to try not to jump in to the whole fast at once, rushing in has been the cause of many failed diets and cleansing routines.

If you get cravings, drink liquids; water, cranberry juice, or a naturally sweetened fruit juice. Coffee should be avoided as it can cause cravings, as well as deplete the body of nutrients.  Green tea is a good coffee substitute.

Let your body adjust to going without a meal before moving to the next level. It may take several weeks, and several stops and starts to get into a positive fasting routine, but the benefits can be well worth the work.

The day after fasting you will wake up energized, you will be able to deal with the temptation of snacking and resist foods your body naturally knows are not healthy. The brain/thoughts will be clearer and the senses heightened.

A cleansing fast helps to maintain or lose weight, and keeps the body running like a fine tuned engine, burning fuel efficiently.

There are many ways and types of fasting/cleansing methods you can use for different results. The practitioners here at the center can help you to choose a cleansing method that works for you. If you are on any medications or special dietary restrictions always consult your physician before starting a fast.

Recently there was a study published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) that concluded that women need to exercise 1 hour per day 7 days per week  to MAINTAIN weight, let alone lose weight. I have since heard on multiple T.V. and radio broadcasts about the study, and the reaction from women has not been positive, for obvious reasons. Women lead very busy lives and finding the time for 1 hour of exercise every day sounds more like burden than anything else.  So I’m writing this blog to shed some light on this study, and to clarify what the study actually concluded.

The study was published by the Department of Medicine in Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School. The group was comprised of 34,079 women with an average age of 54 years old over a 15 year period. The diet was described as a “usual” diet. Three groups were followed, those exercising less than 2.5 hours per week, those exercising 2.5 to 7 hours per week, and those exercising over 7 hours per week. The exercise was defined as moderate-intensity activity.

The study concluded that all women in the group gained an average of 5.7 pounds over a 15 year period. There were only slight differences in weight gain among the groups taken in 3 year intervals, about ¼ pound. And activity level correlated with successfully maintaining weight only for those with a Body Mass Index, or BMI, of less than 25, but not for those with a BMI of greater than 25 or 30.

 So what does all of this mean? There does not seem to be large enough differences in weight gain between the different exercise groups. And the only group who actually maintained weight, defined as <5 pounds over 15 years, were those who already had a normal BMI of less than 25.

 As far as exercise is concerned, some activity is better than no activity. So don’t feel that you need to exercise 1 hour per day every day to maintain your weight. Plus in this study moderate-intensity activity was defined as brisk walking, dancing, or gardening. Higher intensity exercises typically require less time, because they burn more calories. And we all know that the more weight loss equals calories in minus calories out. What I have found is that many of us are not exercising with enough intensity, and eating too many high calorie foods. So my recommendation is to find an activity you like to do (it doesn’t always mean going to the gym) like hiking, swimming, kayaking, golfing, biking, running, etc. and do it often. The more you enjoy your activity, the more likely you will actually do it