March 2011: SUPPLEMENTS SHOWN TO HELP
PREVENT EFFECTS OF
RADIATION FALL-OUT
© Copyright
2011 Dr. Melissa Patterson, ND, all rights reserved
Dear Patients, Friends and
Colleagues,
Over the
last few days I have heard
great concern over the potential of radioactive fallout from the
nuclear power plant explosions in Japan. It is hard to tell definitively
what is going to happen, but from the research that I have done it
looks like there is a great chance that the Pacific Coast will feel some
nuclear fallout from the ongoing nuclear catastrophe that is occurring.
Therefore, I have made a list of different supplements, herbs and foods
that can help eliminate side effects of radiation.
Please feel free to send it far and
wide. Please read it carefully before you decide to take any
supplements. These supplements have been well-researched and can be
taken by most people. However, if you have a serious illness, are on
medication or are pregnant/breastfeeding please contact your healthcare
provider to make sure that these supplements/herbs are okay for you.
Also, only the adult dosages are given if you would like to give the
supplements/herbs to a child please do research to find the appropriate
dose for your child and find out if it is okay for them to take.
I begin with information on
radioactive fallout and the jet stream. Then, I offer my
recommendations in three sections: inexpensive supplements that you
should start taking now and continue taking if you are exposed to
radiation, supplements that are more expensive and hard to find, and
additional supplements that are helpful and not as critica.
Radioactive Fallout and the Jet
Stream
Radioactive
fallout is defined as
radioactive material that is carried by winds until it settles to earth.
Under some circumstances you may see the fallout; under others you may
not. The radioactivity it gives off cannot be seen. You can't feel it.
You can't smell it, but fallout doesn't come out of the sky like a gas
and seep into everything. It can best be described as a fine to coarse
sand carried by the winds. Because the wind direction varies at
different heights above the ground, it is not possible to judge from the
ground where the fallout will settle. It can settle in irregular
patterns hundreds of miles. Here are two websites for following the jet
stream and fallout pattern.
Accuweather says that
fallout could come to the Pacific Coast as early
as 10 days from the date of the explosion in Japan. There have been
several fires and explosions already at the Fukushima 1 plant which has
six reactors. Endtimes started tracking "hotspots" that
landed
in Oregon as early as Sunday, March 13, 2011.
Supplements
to Start Taking Now
The following are supplements that I
recommend that you start taking now to help your body prepare
preemptively for radiation. They are relatively inexpensive and
generally locally available: All of the following supplements in this
first section except rutin can be found at Whole Foods and other natural
food stores.
Herbal
Remedies
Here is
a list of medicinal herbs
that I recommend you take for radiation exposure. You can take them as a
tea, a tincture or as individual encapsulated herbs. You can get
individual herbal tinctures online at Herb Pharm or get a custom
combination tincture made
at
Farmacopia in Santa Rosa, CA.
Burdock
Root (Arctium lappa)
- removes radioactive isotopes from the
body.
Recommended Dose -
1-4
ounces/300-120 grams of cooked fresh root, up to a pint of infusion
daily, or several large spoonfuls of vinegar but only if made with fresh
roots. Tincture - 15-20 drops 3 times a day.
Contraindications - do not use
Burdock during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Cilantro
Leaf (Coriandum
sativum)
-
natural heavy
metal chelator (i.e. plutonium and cesium are heavy metals.) Therefore,
it helps to eliminate them out of the body.
Recommended Dose - Take 1-3
dropperfuls daily of tincture or eat large amounts of fresh cilantro
Eleuthero/Siberian
Ginseng
(Eleutherococcus senticosus)
- helps protect against the side effects of
radiation
exposure.
Recommended
Dose - 500-3000 mg. in
capsule form. Tincture: 15-20 drops three times a day.
Holy
Basil/Tulsi Aerial Parts
(Ocimum sanctum)
-
preliminary research shows evidence that Holy Basil protects against
radiation-induced peroxidation, thus helping to protect against the
detrimental effects of low-level radiation. It also increases
glutathione and superoxide dismutase which are important mediators in
the liver in helping the body deal with radiation.
Recommended Dose - Tincture: 40–60
drops, three times per day. Tea: add 1 tsp. dried leaf to 8 oz. hot
water, steep, covered, 5–10 minutes. Take 4 oz. of tea up to three times
per day. Capsules: various forms of capsulated products are available.
These include extracts in gelcaps, dried or powdered herb in capsules,
and standardized extracts (2 percent ursolic acid) in capsules.
Contraindications - Holy Basil
should not be taken while pregnant or nursing or for an extended period
of time. Use caution if you have high blood pressure or rheumatic heart
disease.
Reishi Mushroom Fruiting Bodies
(Ganoderma lucidum)
-
offers protection against ionizing radiation
Preventive Dose - 400 mg. take 2
caps or 1 dropperful of tincture up to 3 times per-day.
Dose Upon Radiation Exposure - take
the same dose up to 6 times per day
Contraindications – None.
Laminaria Japonica
- probably the most important seaweed in
helping decrease radiation in our body. This seaweed was the secret
weapon of Russian doctors that saved thousands of innocent people from
disease after nuclear fallout from Chernobyl. It can be quite hard to
find. Try Body Ecology. Recommended Dose - 1500 mg/day
Seaweeds are not only a great
natural source of nutrients, they are very effective at removing
radiation from the body as they contain sodium alginate. There are
literally thousands of different types of seaweeds but some of the most
popular seaweeds are arame, wakame, kombu, hijiki, bladderwrack,
rockweed, sea lettuce, and dulse. You can find them in your local health
food store and various oriental grocery stores in your neighborhood in
their natural form, or in flakes, flat sheets, and powders. They can
be mixed in soups and salads, or eaten by themselves. If you don't like
the taste of seaweeds, or you want something more convenient you can
find various seaweed supplements in capsules or tablets. One high
quality seaweed supplement made with four organic seaweeds in a capsule
is
?
by RegalLife™. It also contains organic
alfalfa which is
also found to be beneficial at removing radiation becomes of its rich
chlorophyll content.
The Atomic Energy Commission
recommends for maximum protection against radioactive poisoning for
humans, taking a minimum of 2 to 3 ounces of sea vegetables a week or 10
grams (two tablespoons) a day of sodium alginate supplements. During
or after exposure to radiation, the dose should be increased to two
full tablespoons of alginate four times daily to insure that there is a
continual supply in the GI or gastrointestinal tract. There may be a
rare problem of constipation but this can be avoided if the sodium
alginate is made into a fruit gelatin. Agar, derived from sodium
alginate in kelp, is a safe, nontoxic substance that can be used as a
thickening agent or gelatin. Sea vegetables are also high in natural
iodine. However, I recommend sticking to potassium iodide as discussed
below.
Other
Supplements
Rutin
-a bioflavonoid that can also be found in
lower doses in vitamin C supplements containing bioflavonoids. Rutin is
glucoside found in buckwheat that can help protect the body from the
effects of radiation. Itstrengthens the capillary walls and reduces
hemorrhaging caused by x-rays. In animal studies it was shown to reduce
the death rate caused by excessive x-rays by 800 per cent.
Preventive Dose - 100 to 200 mg a
day.
Dose Upon Radiation
Exposure - 800
mg. or more a day. I
Contraindications
– none
Selenium
- protects DNA from radiation damage and
helps prevent damage to the skin surface, too. Get plenty of selenium by
eating a daily dose of 2 cups/500 ml of nettle infusion, one-half
ounce/15 g kelp, 2 ounces/60 g cooked burdock root, or 1 cup/250 ml
organic yogurt daily. Shellfish, green and black teas, and garlic
contain significant amounts of selenium, as do many mushrooms. The best
sources however are nettles (2200 mcg per 100 grams), kelp (1700 mcg/100
g), Burdock (1400 mcg/100 g), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), American
Ginseng, and Eleuthero which is also known as Siberian Ginseng and
Astragalus.
Vitamin A
- In 1974, researchers from India found
that vitamin A, when taken internally by humans, hastened recovery from
radiation. In 1984, Dr. Eli Seifter and a team of researchers for the
Albert Einstein College of Medicine reported that vitamin A and
beta-carotene counteracted both partial and total body gamma radiation.
It also improved the healing of wounds; reduced weight loss, thymic and
splenic atrophy, and adrenal enlargement; and prevented
gastro-ulceration and an abnormal decrease in red and white blood cell
formation. For therapeutic purposes, 25,000 to 35,000 IU is the
recommended dose for adults. During emergencies or crisis situations,
intensive exposure may warrant higher amounts.
Contraindications - can be toxic if
taken too much over a long period of time. Vitamin A can also be toxic
to pregnant woman and their babies.
Vitamin
B-Complex
- many
B vitamins, especially pantothenic
acid, help to decrease the effects of radiation. One of its many
functions is that they normalize the red and white blood cell count
because the destruction of white blood cells by radiation can last for
extended periods of time. The various B vitamins have different effects
and should be taken together.Take the dose recommended on the bottle.
Vitamin C
with bioflavonoids
- this is a VERY IMPORTANT supplement as
it protects against intercellular damage from radiation.
Preventive Dose: 2-5 grams per day
Dose Upon Radiation Exposure - 2-5
gram per day
Contraindications
- when you start
having diarrhea back off 500 mg until you reach bowel tolerance.
Vitamin E
- can provide internal and external
protection against Cesium-137 which is a common component of fallout and
a reported component in the fallout from Japan. Vitamin E also helps
prevent the destruction of vitamin A and fatty acids by massive doses of
x-rays. If large doses of C, B and E are taken before exposure, the
terrible symptoms of radiation sickness can be reduced or eliminated to a
large degree.
Preventive
Dose - an adult
weighting 155lbs should take 900 IU per day of Vitamin E as
d-alpha-tocopherol.
Dose
Upon Radiation Exposure - up
to 1600 IU per day.
Additional
Recommended Supplements That Are More Expensive and/or Difficult To
Find
Beta-1,3 glucan
- In a controlled study done at the US
Armed Forces Radiobiology Institute, 70% of rats given a lethal dose of
radiation were completely protected from radiation effects when given a
dose of yeast beta glucan by mouth after the radiation exposure. Beta
glucan is a free radical scavenger. It is able to protect blood
macrophages from free radical attack during and after the radiation
allowing these cells to continue to function in the irradiated body and
release factors important to the restoration of normal bone marrow
production. This supplement is very expensive, but worth it. Reishi
mushroom is high in beta 1,3 glucan if you just want to take that.
Recommended Dose - 500 mg cap/1
time a day
Additional
Recommendations Upon Exposure
Here are some additional
recommendations if you think you have been exposed to radiation. First
and foremost, don’t panic.
Potassium Iodide
- take this as soon as you can once you
know you have been exposed. This is a VERY IMPORTANT supplement that
helps protect you if you are exposed to Iodine131. It does not help
with exposure to any other isotopes. Because it is such an important
supplement I recommend IOSAT only FDA approved potassium iodide that is
in sealed containers. IOSAT is available online.
Potassium Iodide Recommended Dose
from the FDA and the CDC:
According to the FDA, the following
doses are appropriate to take after internal contamination with (or
likely internal contamination with) radioactive iodine:
- Adults
should take 130 mg (one 130 mg tablet OR two 65 mg tablets OR two
ml of solution).
- Women
who are breastfeeding should take the adult dose of 130 mg.
- Children
between 3 and 18 years of age should take 65 mg (one 65 mg tablet
OR 1 ml of solution). Children who are adult size (greater than or
equal to 150 pounds) should take the full adult dose regardless of
their age.
- Infants
and children between 1 month and 3 years of age should take 32 mg (½
of a 65 mg tablet or ½ ml of solution). This dose is for both
nursing and non-nursing infants and children.
- Newborns
from birth to 1 month of age should be given 16 mg (¼ of a 65 mg
tablet or ¼ ml of solution). This dose is for both nursing and
non-nursing newborn infants.
Contraindications - do not
take if you are not exposed and take as little as possible, i.e. only
when you know that you have been exposed.
Oil
- ½ cup of any cold pressed oil if you are
exposed will help protect the cell membranes. Extra virgin olive oil is
preferred.
Bentonite Clay
- helps to eradicate toxins
radiation/toxins. It is generally advisable to start with 1 tablespoon
of bentonite clay daily, mixed with a small amount of juice. Pay
attention to the results for a week and then gradually increase the dose
to no more than 4 tablespoons daily in divided doses.Make sure you
drink plenty of chlorine-free water throughout the day. You can also use
other forms of edible clay such as French green clay.
Sea Salt
and Baking Soda
Baths
- add 1
pound of
sea salt and 1 pound of baking soda and soak in chlorine-free water for
20 minutes. Then rinse with cool water. You can also 1 pound of
betonite, or other clay, to the sea salt and baking soda when soaking
which increases the removal of radiation. Some specialists who work with
radioactive isotopes use this method to remove radiation from their
body. If you have been exposed to an abnormally high level of radiation
you can use this method three times a week for one month.
Dimethylsulfoxide
(DMSO)
- good
for preventing cell nicking from
ionizing radiation.
Recommended
dose - 5-10 ml per day
Milk Thistle (Silybum
marianum)
-
helps the
liver deal with the effects of toxicity of radiation poisoning.
Recommended dose -1-3 dropperfuls
of tincture per day
Melatonin
- helps protect the brain against
radiation
Recommended
dose - 1-2 mg
Caution - only take Melatonin at night!
Lecithin
- helps protect the cell membranes
Recommended dose - 2-3 tbsp. a day
Chlorophyll
- a number of studies found that
chlorophyll-rich foods can decrease radiation toxicity. Spirulina and
chlorella are two micro-algae that are rich in this substance, as are
leafy greens, celery, parsley, the sprouts of any grain or bean, the
young shoots of any edible grass, such as wheat and barley, and
sunflower greens. Chlorophyll is similar in structure to hemoglobin.
Guinea pigs on a diet rich in chlorophyll showed increased resistance to
lethal X-rays. Organic alfalfa is a good source of natural chlorophyll.
Miso
- has been used to treat radiation
sickness. It is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting
rice, barley and/or soybeans, with salt and the fungus kojikin, the most
typical miso being made with soy. Miso is widely available in most
natural food stores and many grocery stores.
Other
Foods that help the
body decrease the effects of radiation
- garlic, onions, beets, kale, brewer’s
yeast/nutritional yeast, green tea/black tea, brussel sprouts, broccoli,
cabbage, watercress, apples, guavas, quince, plums, gooseberries,
oranges and other citrus fruits, pineapple, seaweed (see above).
In the light of the catastrophe at
hand I invite us all to stay calm and focused, knowing that this too
shall pass one way or another. May we use this opportunity to realize
the beauty and fragility of life, as well as, to give thanks for what we
have. And, may people finally awaken to the fact that nuclear power
does NOT work in any form no matter what the benefits.
Note on
taking supplements:
The above supplements have been shown
through research to be effective in decreasing the detrimental effects
of radiation on the body. There is a lot of information here. If you
only want to do a few supplements, I recommend sticking with the
supplements in the first half of the document, since they have the most
scientific evidence supporting their use. The doses given are what is
determined as safe for an average adult. If you are breastfeeding,
pregnant or want to give the supplements to a child, please do further
research to see if they are safe for you or your child and what the
specific dose would be. Also, if you are sensitive to medications or
supplements, please stick to the lower dose. Lastly, some supplements
are recommended in higher doses after exposure. If you choose to do
this, please note that some side effects might occur with some of these
supplements. Please do further research on what you are taking before
you take the maximum dose. If you have any serious illnesses or are on
medications please talk to your healthcare provider to get more detailed
information to ensure these supplements are safe for you prior to
taking them.
References
DISCLAIMER:
This article contains general
information about medical conditions and treatments. The information is
not advice, and should not be treated as such. Without prejudice to
the generality of the foregoing paragraph, Dr. Melissa Patterson does
not warrant that the medical information in this article is complete,
true, accurate, up-to-date, or non-misleading. You must not rely on the
information in this article as an alternative to medical advice from
your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any
specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your
doctor or other professional healthcare provider. The medical
information in this article is provided “as is” without any
representations or warranties, express or implied. Dr. Melissa
Patterson makes no representations or warranties in relation to the
medical information in this article.
Martin Luther King Day Message
January 2011
Earlier
this morning I was listening to the Martin Luther
King
speech, "I Have a Dream" on the radio. It moved me
to tears
and reminded me of the significant influence
that he had on our
nation.
It also reminded me of my time
working as the director of
the
Consciousness, Healing and Ecology
program at New
College of
California.
In
this program I taught a section called Spiritual Activism;
which
is the study of how consciousness has and can
change the world.
As part of this inquiry we studied the
impact that both
Martin Luther King and his predecessor
Gandhi had on the world by using
the power of love to
address
injustice.
If
you have ever been a teacher you will know that
to teach anything
well that you must first completely
understand it yourself. Understanding
this
concept I spent
several weeks immersing myself in
the
work
of both of these amazing human beings. And, I
came
out of that time completely changed.
The
essence that I received out of their work is this:
Love
conquers all and heals all. If you want to change
anything
in a deep and significant way; touch the persons
heart
with love; even if they are your enemies and want
to
hurt (or even kill) you. In doing so you will touch the
soft spot
in their heart which has ability to hear clearly and
have
compassion. That in and of itself completely changed
me.
I
then started pondering what it must have been like
to
be on the front lines as an activist in this time, see your
fellow
activists being hurt by police brutality, knowing that
you
might be next and having the deep intention to love
your
enemy no matter what. That completely broke me
open.
In this inquiry I realized
that in
order to fully step into love you must relinquish the fear that
underlies the desire to
protect
yourself. In essence it is
about letting go of the
voice of protection and completely
trusting in the power
of
love. This
way of being has the power to completely
change humanity.
Even
though most of us aren't activist on the front line,
the core
of this teaching can be easily translated to today's
world.
We are in the midst of great change and fear is
rampant
in our society and underlies all survival issues. It
is
this core fear that runs the voice that wants to protect. It
is:
fear of violence, fear of poverty, fear of death, fear of
loss, fear
of fear. It is the fear that I see time and time
again when
working with people who have physical issues
due to survival
fears and contractions, a core issues that I
see with many
patients.
In this time of change, we have the
choice of how we
move
forward. This fear is a significant weight that
holds us
down. In order to
truly step into who
we are we must let it
go
and that requires every ounce of courage we have.
The
civil rights activists who stood up against incredible
police
violence, while not attacking back and loving their
enemies have
something to teach us.
In Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream"
speech he
says, "Again
and again we must rise to the majestic
heights of meeting physical force with soul force." Soul force
is the force that comes from deep within our core. It
is the feeling and knowing that what we are doing is in
right alignment with the beauty of the universe. It
gives us the courage to feel the fear and do it anyway even if we
are shaking in our boots. It is the knowing that we are
an intricate
part of the web of the universe and the part that we
are playing is significant. It is the knowing that no matter
what happens that ultimately we are more than our physical body.
Soul
force is the only energy that I know of that can give
us
the capacity to meet this fear full on. And, in doing so
we
find the courage to step fully into who we truly are; to
let
go of the ropes, chains and ballasts of fear and
surrender
into the healing power and freedom of love.
Happy
Martin Luther King Day. May we honor his
memory with our
courage to face our fears and step into
the healing power and freedom of
love!
January 2011:
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
As we move deeper into the energetic shift
that is shaping our
world, I
want you all to know how deeply committed I am in helping you step into
true health and your true self.
In this year ahead I pray
that our
work together continues to
unfold in healing and beauty.
I pray that we allow the
opening
humanity is walking through
to unfold us into deep trust, and a
remembrance of who we truly are.
I am incredibly grateful
that I have
the opportunity to serve
those on the healing path, who are willing to
open themselves so deeply to their true nature.
Thank you for letting me
be of
service to you. Thank you for
your trust, openness, willingness to
change, and the beautiful moments of healing I am constantly a witness
to. I am deeply grateful for the magic and beauty that comes into my
life from holding deep space for such courageous souls.
I am also very thankful for
your
financial support this year,
which assists me in my calling to be of
service. Lastly, thank you for the numerous referrals you have given me
this year.
I received this blessing
and want
to send it on to you; may all of these things and more be true for you.
A New
Year's Blessing
Unhurried mornings, greeted with gratitude;
good work for the hand, the heart and the
mind;
the smile
of a friend, the laughter of children;
kind words from a neighbor, a home dry and
warm.
Food on
the table, with a place for the stranger;
a glimpse of the mystery behind every
breath;
some time
of ease in the arms of your lover;
then sleep with a prayer of thanks on your
lips;
May all
this and more be yours this year
and
every year after to the end of your days.
- Larry
Robinson
December
2010:
Welcoming
the Solstice
Welcoming the Winter Solstice
I
feel winter in my being as we transition into the dark time of
year. For one, I feel my body and soul
responding with the need for increased
sleep and in dream space. The other night as I pondered this deep need
for sleep and the darkness, I was left with the question, "How can I use
the dark time of year in service to the greater good?"
In response, I
remembered a conversation I had with a dear
friend about the difference
between going into the light versus going into the darkness. Both are
needed on our journey of healing the self. The light is needed to point
us in the right direction, to help us know we are not alone, to show us
how to embrace the love of all that is. On the other hand, going into
the darkness is embracing what the Bible refers to as "the shadow of the
valley of death." By facing the darkness, we no longer let our fears
dominate us. When we don't let our fears dominate, us we are able to
connect to the light, love, and expansion of our being.
We
all have fears. When we don't know what they are, when
we don't
acknowledge them or turn to face them, then the fears control us.
However, when we face our fears, hold and befriend them, we allow the
light of love to penetrate into the very core of what we fear. Then,
like magic, the power the fear had over us disintegrates- it's as simple
as that. Yet, the process is not easy, it requires great courage,
constant awareness, and a deep desire to be free.
More
than ever, I feel the truth of these words. For me, the
past year has
been an immense healing journey. I have walked the path of healing very
old karmic wounds, past life darkness, releasing many core attachments,
and breaking my heart open again and again. Although this journey has
been very difficult, I see the fruits of my labor in my life, and in the
ever-deepening space that I hold for you, my patients. I remember a
very wise medicine woman and teacher once told me, "It doesn't matter
how much knowledge you have or how much you have studied. What matters
is that you keep deepening your relationship to spirit and to your true
self. The depth of space you hold for others is equivalent to the depth
of work you have done on yourself."
I am very
grateful for this
teacher; because of her, I see that
as I increasingly realize the light
living inside of me, I am able to more clearly see the light living in
you and in our world. As I do so, I see your transformation as you in
turn realize the light that radiates from deep inside of you. It's a
beautiful circle completing itself, like the Uroborus, the snake that
bites its tail and thus eternally completes a circle.
I
have seen amazing healings this year in working with all of
you. I give
great thanks for your presence in my life, your courage, and your deep
desire to heal and to be a light in the world. Thank you; I honor you
all in your healing journey.
Many
Solstice Blessings,
Melissa
Our Bodies
Response to Stress...Slowing Down
The other day I had a conversation with a
colleague of mine
about
how certain syndromes, such as Multiple Chemical
Sensitivities, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Lyme's
Disease, often display a hyper-stimulation of the sympathetic nervous
system (the fight-flight aspect of the nervous system), while at the
same time there is also a suppression (or putting on the brake) of this
hyper-stimulation. Imagine a car that is revving up and has the brake
on at the same time.
It is my theory that the hyper-stimulation is present in
these
cases because the
body is undergoing a threat to its survival
because of the symptoms of the illness, as well as, the deeper ingrained
emotional patterns that could be the causation of the illness.
Simultaneously the mind is attempting to calm this threat or
hyper-stimulation of the nervous system down.
To use an analogy, I liken this situation to
someone dealing
with a
deeply ingrained fear by using only positive
affirmations. The positive affirmations are working to soothe the
exterior fear, yet the fear, because it is deep in the psyche, is still
there.
In the above situations there is an attempt to
soothe deep underlying issues, yet the only way to truly heal these
issues is by directly looking and accepting the deeper underlying
issues.
If this is not addressed what often occurs is a
deep level of
exhaustion
and anxiety, which wrecks incredible havoc on
the nervous system, immune system and endocrine system; additionally,
this situation can cause a hyper-inflammatory response, hormonal
dysfunction, and general abnormal physical reactions of the body on a
cellular level. Meanwhile, the suppression forces the body into a
pseudo-relaxation that takes an incredible amount of energy to manage-
think of a lid on a pot that is forced to stay on while the water inside
is boiling over.
When the core causation stems (either entirely or
partially)
from emotional
issues such as this, then mind-body medicine
is truly important in helping to bring the body back to equilibrium:
I've personally seen it work time and time again.
Cold and Flu
Season
As the
flu season approaches it's important to keep your immunity performing
optimally. The most important thing you can do for yourself is getting
enough rest - at least 8 hours per night - and to keep your stress level
low, as mentioned above. In addition, here is a list of
immune-stimulating, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial supplements.
My most
favorite immune-stimulating supplement is New Chapter's Lifeshield
Immunity. It builds up your immune system, specifically by
increasing your T-cells. Take 2 capsules once a day throughout the cold
and flu season. At first sign of flu or cold take 2 immediately then
take 2/2x-day while sick. This will either prevent you from getting
sick or shorten it immensely.
Echinacea
is always a great immune-stimulating herb, as it
increases B and T
cells. However, it must be taken at the very first
signs of a
flu or cold. I recommend the tincture form. Take1 dropperful once a day
during cold and flu season; at first sign of cold or flu take 3
dropperfuls the first 2 days. If you take it throughout the season make
sure that you take a week off for every 3 weeks you take it so that
your immune system utilizes the echninacea optimally.
This
herb is also found in the following combination:
Sambucus
Immune Syrup: This is a combination of elderberry, Echinacea, zinc,
propolis & Vitamin C. An adult dose is 2 teaspoons daily, and for
intensive use take 2 teaspoons four times daily. Children can take 1
teaspoon per day.
Indian
Cherry bark cough formula: This is a great remedy for when a cold
gets down into your lungs. Take at first sign of cough. Take hourly as
needed. Adults: 1 tablespoon (approx. 14 ml), Children: 1 teaspoon
(approx. 5 ml), Toddlers: 1/2 teaspoon (approx. 2.5 ml).
If you
prefer herbal tinctures I recommend getting a good
combination of
anti-bacterial and anti-viral herbs for when you actually get a cold or
flu. My favorite combination is: goldenseal, lomatium, pau d'arco,
echinacea and baptisia (equal parts).You can have an herbal tincture
combination created for you at Farmacopia in Santa Rosa (their phone
number is 707-528-4372). Take 2-4 dropperfuls per day. (Please note:
dose depends on the acuteness of the illness, and more is recommended at
onset and climax of symptoms. Decrease the dosage as you recover.)
Also,
don't forget Vitamin C. I recommend at least 1,000
mgs daily
throughout the cold and flu season. When you have a cold or flu, take
up to "bowel tolerance," which means take the supplement to the point of
getting soft stools, then back off 500-1000 mgs the next time you take
it.
Too
often a cold or flu is our bodies way of telling us to
s-l-o-w
d-o-w-n. Invoking a conscious choice to change our pace is
always better than having an illness force us to. So, here are a few
ideas on how to slow down, nurture you and reduce the stress that can
cause a cold or flu:
-Sleep
in late at least once a week (one of my favorites).
-Go to a
yoga class at least once a week (or another form of
physical/energy
based movement such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong.) If you can't afford a class
or if you are unable to go to a class, buy a DVD or two. Rodney Yee's
yoga videos are great.
-Meditate
as often as possible. You don't have to meditate for an hour every
day. 10 minutes every day works better than nothing!
-Exercise
3-4 times every week. Do anything that you love that gets your heart
rate up and muscles working. However, refrain from strenuous exercise
when you are sick or getting sick.
-Go to
your local hot springs and stay as long as you can, preferably
overnight. Harbin, Orr and Wilbur Hot Springs are all good choices.
It's a great way to treat yourself and relax in the process.
-Have
deep meaningful conversations with your loved ones. Conversations like
this allow you to express held-in emotions that can create tension and
anxiety in your body. Research shows that our immune systems react
positively when we are deeply relating to others.
-If you
are feeling anxious or afraid, define what is happening for you and find
someone to help you process it, such as a friend, partner, loved one,
or a professional such as myself. Research shows that when negative
emotions are processed and tension is released, the immune system, and
specifically T-cells, increase.
-Come up
with new ways you would like to nurture yourself.
Upcoming Classes
I will
be offering a workshop on Engaging Your Power as A Healer in the
spring. If you are interested here is a little blurb about what it's
going to be about:
What
does it mean to be a healer? What does it mean to be in one's power as a
woman? What does it mean to be in one's power as a woman and healer?
These are all questions that we will explore deeply and find our own
meaning to in this dynamic weekend workshop.
We will incorporate the
age-old technique of sitting in circle with other women, incorporating
ritual, group work, meditation and engaging dialogues. You will be lead
to your own true understanding of what it means to engage the core of
your power as a woman and as a healer, as well as how to integrate it
and bring it out into the world. The world needs us now more than ever
before. It's time to engage our true power and to take our place in
midwifing the evolution of our clients, our community and our world.
It will
be a two-day weekend workshop in Sonoma County in the mid to late
spring. Let me know if you are interested.
Tele-Classes
Tele-Classes:
I will be
offering a 6-week tele-class on
Medical Intuition for Healers
also in the spring. Once again stay tuned and I will be informing you
of when it begins if you are interested.
Interesting Solstice
Astrology
There
will be both a full moon on the day of the solstice
and a
lunar eclipse the
day before, as well as other alignments that
haven't happened in a long time. The bottom line is that it's worth
paying attention to if you are interested at all in astrology.
Deep,
unmasked truth lies at the heart of this eclipse. Whatever darkness
remains within our own hearts will be revealed. Within the interplay of
shadow and light, secrets from the individual and collective unconscious
are exposed in tones of raw emotion. Suffering is transformed by the
caress of perfect love.This
is likely to be an uncomfortable passage through the heart of darkness
and into the ultimate bliss of self-realization, the galactic
consciousness that awaits our embrace.
YES!
October Edition 2010:
Sense of Home
I am grateful for this
time of year. The fall light is so incredibly
beautiful against the
turning leaves. As hard rain fell here this last weekend, I felt as if
the earth opened up and inhaled. I went for a drive to the coast on
Saturday in the rain and gave thanks for this place, a place that I feel
is home for me, for the first time in my life.
"Home" has been a
reoccurring
theme in my work. I have a
patient who is recovering from a chronic
illness, and who has recently moved to a place that she considers home.
Interestingly, as she made the transition, moved, and settled into her
new home, the symptoms of her illness started to decrease. It's
interesting how "home" can give a sense of peace in our bodies, allowing
us to come to equilibrium.
For me and my life, I
have recently re-discovered my sense of home through reconnection with
my internal sense of home, to this land in California and also my long
lost connection to Scotland, a place that feels like home to me in my
bones. I have a familial connection to Scotland, but more importantly, I
have a spiritual connection to the land as well.
The connection between
myself and Scotland revealed itself to me a little over a decade ago, as
I started to have past-life memories arise, unbidden. I had never
experienced anything like these memories before and they were extremely
confusing. Not knowing how to work with them, I finally threw my hands
up in the air and realized that these memories were coming up to be
healed.
As part of this healing
process I have had many memories arise of living numerous lifetimes as a
healer of one form or another. In several of those memories I lived
and was killed during the Burning Times, the time of the genocide of
witches (most of whom were innocent) in Europe from the 1500's through
the 1700's. One of the most ominous memories takes place in Scotland.
Before this time period, it felt like Scotland was home to me; after
this traumatic lifetime, it felt as if my connection to the land was
severed. In all of my past-life memories - including this lifetime up
until recently - I haven't felt a deep sense of home anywhere since this
traumatic lifetime in Scotland.
This weekend I realized that it's time
to go back to Scotland to
re-claim what has been lost for myself, as
well as for the thousands of women who were killed there, and for the
female collective unconscious. I will be going back this spring and
will keep you updated on my travels. Thank you for your support in this
reclamation. May we all know and understand Home
deeply in our
bones.
Celebrating
Halloween, Samhain, and All Saints Day
Halloween is a holiday
that originally was first celebrated over
2,000 years ago by the Celtic
people, who called it Samhain. Samhain is considered to be the Celtic
New Year or the Witches' New Year. During Samhain the Celts celebrated
the fall harvest and the coming of winter with huge bonfires. They would
often celebrate by wearing animal skins and heads, which is where the
Halloween tradition of wearing costumes comes from. Christianity became
involved when the Pope declared Nov. 1 to be All Saints
Day in the 600's AD to replace the pagan Samhain festival. Whatever you
call it, many feel that this is the time of the year where the veils are
thinnest and we have the ability to connect with those loved ones who
have departed.
But,
for any of you who
have children this holiday to them
(even if we don't like it) often
revolves around "candy". If you have children, take some time to
explain to them the heritage of this holiday and what it is really
about. Also, help them monitor their candy intake. It has become a
tradition with my daughter to allow her to have 10 well-selected pieces
of candy, allowing her to have one piece a day, and then she gives away
the rest. We started with this tradition when my daughter was young, so
she is now used to it. If you have kids, I highly recommend doing
something like this so that they won't overdo it. You will be grateful
in the long run to not have to deal with your child being wired on
sugar.
Eating for Life
Speaking of sugar, this
is a great time of year to look at how we are eating. I've noticed
that as the seasons change and it gets cooler outside, people tend to
start eating heavier foods, especially around the holidays. If we focus
on eating well now, it will be easier to continue eating well as we
move into the colder seasons.
I have
been working with the
acid-alkaline diet a great deal,
with patients and myself, and it is a
great rule of thumb to live by. Just remember that even though this
diet calls for eating a great deal of vegetables, make sure that as the
season cools to eat warm food that is either cooked or has warming
spices in it, such as cayenne or cinnamon.
The following is an
excerpt on the acid-alkaline diet from the
website:
"Your health depends on the balance of an
alkaline environment, created by eating foods such as tomatoes, avocados
and green vegetables...striking the optimum 80/20 balance and
regulating your body's acid/alkaline chemistry through simple changes in
diet can result in weight loss, increased stamina and strength, a
stronger immune system and a greater sense of wellbeing."
-Dr Robert O. Young
This practice is not as
difficult or as technical as it sounds.
When we talk about eating
alkaline foods or starting an alkaline diet, we are referring to
consuming those foods and drinks, which have an alkaline effect on the
body. This effect is based upon the mineral content of the food and
therefore the ash residue that remains after our foods are consumed.
Some foods leave an acid ash, whereas others leave an alkaline ash.
Conveniently
for us, it just so happens that the foods that
contain
alkaline minerals and leave an alkaline ash are all the foods we already
know are good for us: low sugar foods, fresh alkaline vegetables, etc.
And the foods that contain minerals that leave an acid ash? You guessed
it, sweets, alcohol, saturated fats, meats, dairy etc.
Of
course, everybody
is different - but most of us should aim
to eat 70-80% alkaline
foods anda maximum of 20-30% acid forming foods.
Here is a link to a
great site that has a list of Alkaline and
Acid Foods:
On 11-11, 2010, one
million people across the globe will mentally project a unified vision
of a new paradigm for our species... a new reality. The very real
physics that connects human consciousness with molecular structure will
be harnessed en masse during the largest scale simultaneous
manifestation transmission in recorded history.
This is led by a group
of scientists and mathematicians who are wanting to gather/organize at
least 1 million people to visualize and believe in "a calm and
harmonious world blossoming after a planet-wide awakening takes place."
Please
check out this link to find out more:
This is definitely a
form of conscious action that is worth adding our energy to.
September Edition
2010:
Awakening
to our True Power
Down the
Rabbit Hole
When I was young, there
was a large oak
tree in our backyard; I could often be found playing under the oak
tree with my neighbor, who was a couple of years older than me. One
day as we were playing she said, "Did you know, if you stick this
key into the tree a hole will open that will lead to Wonderland?"
I was fascinated. I looked at the
key,
a very large golden one, and wanted so badly to go to Wonderland.
"Let's try it," I said.
"Oh no," she said, "we can't try
it now, it's not the right time."
Just then her mother called her
in. As
she was gathering her things I saw the key on the ground and grabbed
it while she wasn't looking. I really wanted to go to Wonderland!
After she left I tried desperately to insert the key into the tree,
but it didn't work, no hole opened up. "I must be doing something
wrong," I thought. Later on that night it was found out that I had
the key and got in trouble for taking it.
I tell this story because for me
Wonderland represented a fascination with the underworld and magic,
and ultimately a desire to understand a deeper part of the self. The
other day I had an experience, my own personal rendezvous with the
Rabbit Hole. I was working with a colleague, Jenn Rothman, who among
other things is an amazing Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. In
the session she led me deeper and deeper into my body and myself.
At
one point it felt like time stood still and I made a leap into
another dimensional part of myself, a part that had been longing for
home for a very long time. With this experience, a shift happened,
helping me to call in a true sense of home within myself. This was
more than home in the traditional meaning of the word, but the
deepest sense of home: of truly welcoming me back home to myself, as
well as connecting me to the greater sense of home in the universe.
It felt like I was stepping back into my being after being gone for a
very long time.
For the past decade, and
especially
this last year, I have been intensely focused on evolving a body of
work to help myself and all women step into our true and innate sense
of power. I have started writing a book on this topic, and I am now
ready to start teaching it. I offer to you, my community, my first
class on this work. The class begins at the end of October. I offer
it with the intention that it will help us as women- as well as the
men that touch our lives- understand what it means to not only step
into the essence of feminine power, but more importantly what it
means to welcome ourselves back home.
August
Edition 2010:
Healing
and Freedom
Welcome to the August edition of Vital
Times. We are in deep summer, my favorite time of year. However, in
Sonoma County it doesn't feel too warm; I don't think I ever quite
warmed up as much as I wanted to this summer. On the other hand,
many parts of the world are experiencing drastic increases in
temperatures, yet another symptom of our changing world.
As always, I like to
bring current
events back to how it relates to the self:
how
is the self mirroring what it lives in, the external and internal
realities? Unfortunately, in today's world there are so many events
that we can go into fear or anxiety about, global warming being just
one of them. Most of us- dare I
say all of us- have a voice that
constantly wants us to look at our circumstances from a negative
perspective. When this negative voice is in charge of our psyches,
it doesn't have to look far to find something to loop its energy
around. For many patients I work with, an illness or a healing
crisis may be an easy target for negativity to grasp onto.
How can we,
individually and
collectively, shift this focus on negativity? Eckhart Tolle, modern
day spiritual teacher and philosopher, offers us wisdom:
"Whenever anything negative happens to you, there is a deep
lesson concealed within it, although you may not see it at the time.
Even an illness or an accident can show you what is real and unreal
in your life, what ultimately matters and what doesn't."
~Eckhart
Tolle
One key to unlocking
our negative
self-talk is asking ourselves, What is the lesson within this
experience that I am perceiving as negative? And underneath this
first inquiry is the deeper question, What part of this story that
I am telling myself is real and what is unreal?that More often than
not we find that the "story" itself is just a story, and is not
what is really present. When we engage with this process, we can
find our way out of pain- physical,
emotional,
and mental-
by
addressing and healing these patterns of negativity which cause
suffering.
Ultimately, when we can become aware of
what is true for us, of what is real and what is unreal, we realize
that it all comes down to being present with what is, being present
to this moment. I deeply connected with this truth when, as many of
you know, I took a solo retreat last month. The one overarching
lesson I took away from that time alone in the mountains: There
is
no suffering when we are in the now, there is only suffering in
the presence of time, past and future, because this is where our
"stories" live.
I know in my
heart of hearts that
this truth can bring healing and freedom to the human race. May we
all find true healing and freedom!!
Supplements
on the way
Many of
you have spoken of
your desire
for me to carry supplements in my office for your ease and
convenience; I am happy to oblige so that you do not have to make an
extra trip to acquire them or wait for them to come in the mail. I
have just placed a large order of supplements that I frequently
recommend to my patients. So, the next time you have your visit, you
will be able to obtain a good selection of supplements from my
office. If it's a specialty supplement, or if I do not have an item
in stock, you will of course still be able to order it from Emerson
Ecologics or other suppliers as needed.
Interested in
classes/workshops for the fall?
There are a
couple of classes/workshops
that I am considering running and would love to find out if you are
interested in attending one or both of them.
The
first
class would be a class
entitled:
"Engaging your Innate Intuition,
Using
your Intuition
in Everyday Life."
This class would run for eight weeks on a
weekday evening. In this class you would learn to:
- Discover
and engage your intuitive
guidance system, so you can live more in the flow of spirit and your
intuitive guidance.
- Learn
how to deeply feel grounded,
so that you may increase intuition and feel more present in your
life.
- Understand
how to discern other's
energy from your own, and how to clear others' negative energy by
learning and engaging in easy and effective energy techniques.
- Increase
your natural healing
ability so that you may heal yourself and others.
- Increase
your life force, giving
you more energy to live your life to the fullest.
- This
class is for those who
already have a general understanding and utilization of intuition as
well as those who are new to using it.
The other
workshop will be offered on a weekend in either October or November
and is called:
"Awaken to your
Feminine Power:
Reclaiming
Yourself and Your Psyche"
This
workshop is
for women to help tune into and reclaim their authentic power,
especially in relationship to the masculine.
This workshop is for you
if:
- Your
relationships with men are
difficult, perplexing and/or painful.
- You
find that you change yourself
around men, consciously or unconsciously, to win their approval.
- You
find yourself undermining your
power and invalidating yourself.
- You
find that emotions such as
anger, grief, blame or resentment block your ability to be truly
intimate with men.
- You
feel limited and stuck in your
life and can't get ahead as a woman.
In this workshop you
will have the
opportunity to:
- Understand
how you may have
subconsciously adopted patriarchal beliefs.
- Explore
the emotional and
psychological imprint that the patriarchy has had on humanity's
consciousness, specifically how it has affected the feminine psyche.
- Gain
clarity of the subconscious
voices that have been limiting and belittling your true power as a
woman.
- Understand
how to be free of these
limiting beliefs that have had control over you.
- Understand
how to choose yourself
again and again over these voices.
- Have
the opportunity to step into
your true power and essence.
- Leave
with a solid practice of
choosing freedom and your true essence so that you may create a life
of your choosing.
Interested?
I have not
definitively decided if I am going to be offering these classes yet,
it depends on your feedback. Therefore, if you are
interested please let me know-
via
phone, email or in person- by
the end of this month!
Pre-Pay
Policy for Phone Appointments, Credit Cards:
A few
weeks ago I had a large majority
of appointments via phone. Unfortunately, no one had pre-paid for
these appointments and most of the payments were backlogged for a few
weeks. If I was operating a big office this would be no big deal,
but since I am a one-person-practice, this was a big financial hit
for me.
Therefore,
I have decided to put into
place a pre-pay policy policy for phone appointments. If you have a
phone appointment, I request that you send a check in the mail before
your appointment. If you have not paid by the time of the
appointment, I will ask for you to pay via credit or debit card.
Thank you
for your understanding of
this new policy, and please feel free to contact me about it if you
have any questions or concerns.
July
Edition 2010
Clearing
the
Cobwebs
I just
watched a video of the oil slick in the Gulf- it is quite
sobering. I saw pods of dying dolphins,
a sperm whale covered with
oil, and miles of oil slick on top of the ocean. It's undeniable
that we are living in incredibly challenging times, and that this oil
slick is an immense sign of our troubled world.
Yet,
when
we look to what we
can do, it's difficult to find an answer. Our culture is steeped in
the use of oil and the trappings of consumerism. How do we make the
shift on both a physical, emotional, and mental level? I just read
an article by Daniel Pencheck on the Gulf situation and his answer to
this question stirs the deeper implications of how the oil spill is
awakening us as a species. He said:
"It is now
agonizingly obvious that humans do not change their ways until they
are far outside of their comfort zone. It is only at the point of
death (literal or metaphorical) that transmutation becomes possible.
Perhaps the rampant desecration of the physical world is going to
force the more conscious subset of humanity to purify their
intentions, clearing cobwebs from the shadowy corners of the psyche,
to access extrasensory capacities on a regular basis."
Interestingly,
when I sit with what I am here to do as a healer, I see this quote
accurately defining my deeper intentions. I am here to help heal the
physical body: but it is the physical body that reflects the deeper
emotional, mental, energetic, and spiritual aspects of who we are.
These aspects are now being asked to quickly evolve in these times.
As
some
of you might know I taught at the New
College
of California
for five years in the Consciousness,
Healing
and Ecology
concentration. Through this experience, I realized that my role as
"healer" is much more expansive than what I had previously
thought. I am here to help the forward movement of conscious
evolution in anyway I can, and I am deeply committed to this goal.
Honestly though, at times I don't know what this means, and I keep
looking for inner guidance to point the way. But I do know one thing
for certain- I am totally committed to being with you and helping you
in any way I can: to help you heal, to awaken, and to step into your
true essence. And with that I leave you with a final word from
Pencheck.
"I pray
this is the universe's wager for us: that we will go beyond our
current ruts and limitations, that we will manifest a future of
imaginative joy by stepping into our potential, becoming the wizards,
warriors, and initiates that the world needs so desperately now."
Dealing
with Stress on Our Bodies
Conscious
evolution can be stressful on our body. Our egos don't like
expansion, evolution and change- exactly what we are being called to do.
I am working with so
many patients these days who are going through huge internal changes,
who have high levels of stress that translate into a variety of
physical symptoms.
For
those of you interested in astrology, we are in one of the most
intense and extremely rare configurations (a Grand Cross) of planets,
which can offer magnanimous change, yet can also be quite chaotic. To
top it off we have just had
a Lunar Eclipse
on June 26
(for more information go to: URL:http://wp.me/pfrZL-3g)
and will be
experiencing a Solar Eclipse this Sunday, July 11(for more information
go
to: URL:
http://wp.me/poRT9-6v).
All of this means that people are being asked to look at parts of
themselves that have been deeply buried. I have never seen so many
people doing such incredibly deep work on themselves in my time as a
naturopathic doctor. When
emotions
are activated (consciously or subconsciously) the body will
often react, and over time stress
can take its toll on our bodies.
Here are some great ways to deal with stress:
- Look
to the cause-this is key.
So often we feel stress from an external event that is stirring
something deeper inside of us. Maybe we are ignoring something,
denying a feeling, or are in resistance to a new way of being
because it's too scary. Whatever it is, stress can show us what
we are not looking at, if we have the wherewithal and courage to
turn toward it.
- Get
lots of rest. I know many of you have heard this from me before,
but it is vital! The more stress you are under the more sleep you
need to help the body come back into a place of balance.
- Meditate.
It doesn't matter which kind of meditation, just pick one and
practice it as often as possible. My favorite mediation these days
is a somatic meditation where one tracks tension, emotions and/or
stuck energy in the body. Total awareness is then brought into that
part of the body, and with keen awareness the tension will dissolve
within the duration of a few breaths. I am teaching this to many
patients these days; if you are interested please let me know and I can
lead you through it.
- Eat
Well. With stress it all too often seems that eating well goes down
the drain. Yet, this is when the body needs healthiest food the
most in order to stay in balance. Make sure to eat 5 servings of
vegetables/fruit a day, plenty of protein and enough fat. Fat is a
primary constituent of stress hormones and is needed to keep us in
hormonal balance.
- Drink
plenty of water. Staying hydrated takes the stress off of your
body and helps maintain homeostasis. For most people drinking 8 oz.
glasses 8 times per day is optimal.
- Take
the appropriate supplements for you. Below are a few that I
recommend for dealing with stress:
- PhytoADR:
An adaptogenic combination of herbs that helps the adrenals come
back to a place of balance. You can get this supplement at
www.emersonecologics.com;
(if you haven't ordered from them before you will need my access
code, which is: nature and my zip code, which is: 95472.)
- *GabaCalm:
A Gaba supplement that will help dramatically decrease stress and
anxiety. I recommend starting at a very low amount ½ sublingual
tablet (can increase to 1 sublingual tablet) taken as needed.
- *Valerian/Passionflower
tincture: Great for helping one "chill out", especially before
bed.
- Various
flower essences. If you are interested please talk to me. You can
get these custom formulated at Rosemary's Garden in Sebastopol or
you can buy them individually.
*The
asterisked supplements you can get at Whole Foods.
Voice
Dialogue:
A
New Method in My PracticeIf you
have not yet experienced the newest modality in my practice, I would
like to take a moment to describe it to you. It has been a life
changing method to myself and I am delighted now to offer it to my
patients.
Voice
dialogue is a process by which one identifies an inner part of
themselves that is limiting (i.e. an inner belief or voice), and then
dis-identifies from it so that they may have more internal freedom
inside of themselves. In this process the limiting voice is first
identified, and then a dialogue with that "voice" occurs so that
the patient has a clearer experience of the nuance, tone, emotion and
energy of that specific "voice". With the help of guided
facilitation, the patient will then move into adult consciousness.
From the perspective of adult consciousness, one can get a clearer
differentiation of the limiting voice and understand how to
dis-identify with it the next time it comes to the surface. In
essence it helps establish a practice of dis-identifying limiting
beliefs and patterns so that one can choose ones true self over the
limiting thought forms.
I have
had significant results already with many patients in helping them
free themselves of that which no longer serves them or their body.
Please let me know if you are interested in experiencing this
modality.
December Holiday Issue 2009
Winter
Solstice: Opening to the Darkness and the Light
As I sit and listen to
the rain gently fall out my window I am
reminded that we are moving deep into the dark and cold time of year and
the holidays are right around the corner. I find
it fascinating that as we transition into a natural semi-hibernation of
our bodies (due to the cold and dark) that we are at the same time
gearing up for a busy and active holiday season. Don't
get me wrong I love a good Christmas carol and it's always such a joy
to look into my daughter's eyes on Christmas morning. Yet
it also seems a little illogical on a somatic/body level to have so
much hectic holiday activity and go against the natural tide of slowing
down.
During this time of year I see many busy patients, friends
and colleagues experience what I call a "forced slowing down." I define
this as any experience (external or internal) which forces one to take a
step back, slow down and reassess how they are living. I
believe that occurrences like this happen for a reason to teach us, to
help us understand the deeper currents of our lives and to help us
evolve into fuller human beings.
Traditionally
the winter solstice (which is on December 21)
is a time of acknowledging the deep dark time of the year and the
return of the light. It asks the question, "In
the longest night will the light return?" We know
that in actuality that the sun will rise again, but do we know it
metaphorically? It asks us to deeply look inside
and to reassess what needs to happen to bring more light into the shadow
places of our lives and into the world. It can
be a hard time of looking within at our fears, our shadow, and the
places that are contracted and protected.
In my own
personal life I have found that in the deepest, most contracted places
when I feel that I have no where else to turn that this is where I find
the deepest ability to surrender to the light of a higher power. It
doesn't really matter what you want to call this
higher power: God, Goddess or Universe. The fact is that this faith
and surrender brings us
closer to the divine and that is where the true light lives within us
and around us. Understanding this we begin to
realize the smallness of our own individual story and we gain a larger
perspective that we are a part of something much bigger...a web of life
filled with profound light. Our job, through all
of the ups and downs of living this life, is to find our way back to
shining this light...it is our birthright it is who we are.
So, for this holiday
season may we all take the
teachings of the winter solstice to heart and ask the hard question of
how can we each bring more light into our life? It
takes courage to look into the dark and what we find there we don't
always like. But, the truest essence of healing
is to bring light into the darkest, most hidden places. Each time we do
this we shine brighter and brighter.
From
the deepest part of my heart I thank you in doing your part in shining
light into this world...we need it now more than ever.
Starting in January Class on Eating
Intuitively How many of
you are planning to put "lose weight" on your up and coming New Year's
Resolution list? How many years have you had it
on your list? And, just out of curiosity, how
many of you have lost that weight and regained it sometimes in the same
year? Are you tired of diets
and the
yo-yo cycle they cause: feelings of
starvation/deprivation, rebelling, then overeating and winding up back
at the same place you started? Are you an emotional eater? Is it hard to tune into your
body and it's true needs? If you answered yes to any of
these questions than Eating Intuitively is for you.
In this class you will
learn how
to once and for all find your way to healthy eating and find the weight
that is right for your body. You will uncover
and work towards healing the voices/feelings that keep you in the cycle
of overeating. And, you will finally gain a sense
of what your body wants and how to feed it from listening to your inner
body wisdom and not from outside sources. This class will utilize the book
Intuitive Eating and will also incorporate group dialogue,
visualization, meditations and weekly awareness practices. Dates: 1/18,
1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22 (All Monday evenings)Time: 6:30-9:00
pm.
Fee (Sliding
Scale): $325-$400
Price includes
2/1-hour private sessions with Dr.Patterson
If you are interested
please
call soon to register, space is limited.
HEALTH
CORNER:
Flu and
Cold Season
We are in full swing of the cold/flu season and fortunately the
Swine Flu is for the most part proving to be merely a very contagious
form of flu that stays a long time, but not as serious as what was once
feared. (However, it's importnat to note that
special caution needs to be taken for those that already have lung or
heart conditions. If you fall into this category
please take extra time to read and follow the below immune
recommendations.)
I want to do all that I can to ensure
that you all are in the best health possible so that if the bugs come to
visit, they don't overstay there welcome. So,
with that in mind here is what I recommend to keep you and your immune
system in the best health possible this winter season:
My
most favorite immune-stimulating supplement is: Maitake
Mushrooms, which increases natural killer cells (the Green Beret's
of the immune system) by 300%. It also has a potent anti-cancer
effect. New Chapter has a great product. Take 1-2 capsules once a day
throughout the cold and flu season. If you want something a little
stronger I have a superior formulation of Maitake mushroom in my office,
it's more expensive then the one by New Chapter, but very powerful. I
am giving it to my daughter this cold/flu season in lieu of getting
a Swine Flu vaccination. Let me know if you are interested in it. Echinacea
is always a great immune-stimulating herb, it increases B and T cells.
However, it must be taken at the very first signs of a flu or cold. I
recommend the tincture form. Take 1 dropperful once a day during cold
and flu season; at first sign of cold or flu take 3 dropperfuls the
first 2 days. If you take it throughout the season it is most effective
if you take a week off for every 3 weeks you are on it. I also
recommend getting a good combination tincture of anti-bacterial and
anti-viral herbs for when you actually get a cold or flu. My favorite
combination is: goldenseal, lomatium, pau d'arco, echinacea and
baptisia
. Take 2-4 dropperfuls per day. (Dose depends on the
acuteness of the illness; more is recommended at onset and climax of
symptoms and decrease the dosage as you recover.) Let's not
forget Vitamin C, it's also a very powerful immune
stimulator. I recommend at least 1,000 mgs daily throughout the cold
and flu season. When you have a cold or flu, take up to "bowel
tolerance," which means take the supplement to the point of getting soft
stools, then back off 500-1000 mgs the next time you take it.
Sambucus is an
elderberry extract that works well as an anti-viral. The adult dose 2
teaspoons daily for intensive use take 2 teaspoons four times daily
Other important things
to keep in mind:
-Keep sugar intake at a minimum (Yes,
this is hard to do this time of year, but important!)
-Get lots of good rest
minimum 8 hours
(Good rest can be as good or better than any supplements that you are
taking to ensure immune system health)
-Decrease stress:
there is a proven correlation to increased
stress and decreased immune function. So, when
you are at your wits end...breathe, do some yoga/meditation, slow down.
Taking 30 minutes out of your hectic schedule to
relax is better than being sick for a few days.
-Go to a yoga class at
least once a week (or another form
of physical/energy based movement such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong.) If you
can't afford a class, buy a DVD or two. Rodney Yee's yoga videos are
great.
-Meditate as often as possible. You don't have to
meditate for an hour every day. 10 minutes every day works better than
nothing! -Exercise 3-4 times every week. Do anything that you
love that gets your heart rate up and your muscles working.
-Go to your local hot
springs and stay as long as you can
(overnight preferably.) Harbin, Orr and Wilbur Hot Springs are all good
choices. It's a great way to treat yourself and get really relaxed in
the process.
-Have deep meaningful conversations with your loved
ones. Conversations like this allow you to express held-in emotions
that can create tension and anxiety in your body. Research shows that
our immune systems react positively when we are deeply relating to
others.
-If you are feeling anxious or afraid, define what is
happening for you and find someone to help you process it, such as a
friend, partner, loved one or a professional such as myself. Research
shows that when negative emotions are processed and tension is released,
the immune system (specifically T-cells) increase.
September 2009 Edition
Greetings patients,
colleagues and friends! Welcome to Vital Times! We are in
the last days of summer. The season is almost turning; do you feel the
change in the air? Labor Day is usually bitter sweet for me, but this
year I am looking forward to the change in seasons: the cooler days
and the rains coming. And as always a heightened awareness of taking
good care of myself and others around me as we go into the cooler
season. In this issue I cover how we can take care of ourselves
as we change seasons: emotionally/spiritually, physically and
energetically. Emotionally and spiritually I ponder the power of love
in healing; energetically I discuss my latest workshop:: "Engaging Your
Innate Intuition" and physically I discuss how you can prepare for the
upcoming flu season and I review the latest data on the Swine Flu. So,
welcome aboard the latest edition of Vital Times I hope you enjoy.
The
Power of LoveAs I was pondering what to write
in this newsletter I came across a dialogue in a book that I am reading,
"Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert that gave the answer. In the
dialogue below the author is lamenting about her difficulties in
meditation to a friend "Richard from Texas" whom she met in an ashram in
India.
"All I seem to do is argue with myself when I try
to meditate."
"That's just your ego, trying to make sure it
stays in charge. This is what your ego does. It keeps you feeling
separate, keeps you with a sense of duality, tries to convince you that
you're flawed and broken and alone instead of whole."
"But how
does that serve me?"
"It doesn't serve you.....right now, your ego's
scared to
death because it's about to get downsized. You keep up this spiritual
path,
baby, and that bad boys days are numbered. Pretty soon your ego will
be out of work, and your heart will be making the decisions. So your
ego's fighting for its life, playing with your mind, trying to assert
its authority, trying to keep you cornered off in a holding pen away
from the rest of the universe. Don't listen to it."
"How
do you not listen to it?"
"Ever try to take a toy
away
from a toddler? They don't like that, do they? They start kicking and
screaming. Best way to take a toy away from a toddler is distract the
kid, give it something else to play with. Divert his attention.
Instead of trying to forcefully take thoughts out of your mind, give
your mind something better to play with. Something
healthier."
"Like what?"
"Like love...Like pure
divine love."
I
don't know about you, but from all of my years sitting on the
meditation cushion, I could totally relate to this dialogue. I laughed
hard. I can't even count how many times I've had similar situations
such as this with my ego. But, it also spoke to me in a much
deeper way. It spoke to me of the deeper fight that the ego does when
it's being put up against the wall (such as what happens in
meditation.) In fact the deeper you go into yourself the worse the
fight gets before you surrender and something else takes over. And even
more importantly it spoke of what avenue to take to help open to this
surrender, the avenue of love. In the next chapter of the book
it described this concept even more in a paragraph of a monk talking to
the author.
"The resting place of the mind is the
heart. The only thing the mind hears all day is clanging bells and
noise and argument, and all it wants is quietude. The only place the
mind will ever find peace is inside the silence of the heart. That's
where you need to go." The power of love is necessary in all
aspects of healing. It softens the raging voices that come to us
unbidden and intense. It heals tissues that are crying from old
traumas. It allows us to find peace within ourselves.
Just
today I was having a conversation with a patient who suffers from
chronic pain. In her situation there is a chronic pattern in the nerves
that causes pain to travel up her body. Toward the end of the session I
was describing things that she could do at home to help decrease her
pain. One of the things that I saw would help her was to send love to
the chronic pattern in her nervous system, "to distract it, to give it
something else to play with", as Richard the Texan said. Meanwhile, the
actual presence of love is healing the tissue itself. It is
also what I have found that ultimately heals the voices that make us
small; the voices that feed our fear, anger, or insecurity. These are
the voices of the ego that ultimately are trying to keep us safe, but
hurts us in the long run. The process of loving these voices (and the
parts of ourselves where these voices originate) is a long and
meandering journey so we need all the help we can get. In the latest
September edition of the "O Magazine" there is an article by Martha Beck
that gives some great pointers in how can we know if we are loving (all
parts of ourselves and others) or not.
If you need to
distinguish between acts of fear and
the power of love, here's a quick guide:
FEAR Always feels bad
LOVE Always feels good Motivates
grasping Motivates
liberation
Seizes
control
Relaxes
control
Insists on
certainty Accepts
uncertainty
Needs
everything Needs
nothing
The process of spotting fear and refusing to obey it is
the source of all true empowerment." That last sentence says it
all, and now for the practice!
Engaging
Your Innate Intuition This
workshop is coming right up Saturday and Sunday September 26 &
27 If
you haven't already signed up there are still spaces left. This workshop is for
you if:-You
want to live your life with more flow and grace
-You want to tune
into your intuitive guidance system, making those tough decisions in
life easier.
-You feel that you are intuitive, but have a hard time
trusting it.
-You pick up others peoples energy easily and don't know
how to get rid of it.
-You want to understand how to go deeper
in
your ability to heal yourself and help others heal themselves as well.
In this workshop you
will learn how to:
-Increase your life force, giving you more energy to
live your life
to the fullest.
-Learn how to deeply feel grounded so that you may
increase intuition and feel more present.
-Learn how to engage
your
intuitive guidance system
-Increase your natural healing ability
so
that you may heal yourself and others.
-Understand how to
discern
others' energy from your own, and clear others' negative energy by
learning and engaging in easy and effective techniques.
This
class is for those who already have a general understanding and
utilization of intuition as well as those who are new to using it. The
workshop will take place at my office 10:00-5:00 both days (with an
hour break for lunch each day)Before 9/15 tuition is $200; after
9/15 tuition is $235
Creative financing available as needed
Call now at to hold your
space with a $75 deposit.
707.829-8137
SPACE IS LIMITED CALL NOW TO HOLD YOUR PLACE!
Preparing for the flu season and
Swine Flu
UpdateI am hoping for a mild
flu season
ahead. However, at this point predictions are difficult. Even though
there has been a few serious cases reported of the Swine Flu in our
area, it has been overall a mild illness, although very contagious.
This is what other doctors have also reported around the country. The
New England Journal of Medicine reported that this Swine Flu strain has
been become more mild over the decades. The following are the
guidelines for flu prevention (both regular flu and the Swine Flu) and
information in general on the Swine Flu
1. Keep yourselves
healthy in general. This means getting enough rest, watch your stress
and take down time if it is increasing, do things that nurture you:
yoga, meditation, walks in nature; eat a healthy nutritious diet, take
your vitamins, including Vitamin C, D, and fish oil.
2. If
you need to sneeze or cough please do so with your face pointed toward
the inner side of a bended elbow (my daughter calls this her cough
pocket) and then wash your hands afterward.
3. Make a
practice of washing your hands often.
4. Avoid touching your
eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
5. Try to avoid
close contact with sick people.
6. Influenza and Swine Flu
specifically is spread person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of
infected people.
7. If you get sick, the CDC recommends that you
stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep
from infecting them.
8. The swine flu can be caught by being around pigs that are sick
it, but not by eating well-prepared pork cooked at 160 degrees, the
temperature that kills off all viruses and bacteria.
9. Above all. Don't
get stressed by the fear of getting the
swine flu. As stated before the immune system is undermined by stress.
Remember not every infection becomes a full blown disease. Many
infections are taken care of by your body even before you know that you
were infected. Most infections only become serious for those who were
already sick. So instead of panicking stay calm.
10. Adults or
children with histories of chronic colds/flus, wheezing, asthma, heart
conditions or pneumonia should consider having a wellness check or
follow-up visit in the early fall to develop a winter wellness plan.
11.
If you or someone in your family gets sick with a fever over 101, or a
fever with respiratory symptoms (congestion, cough, runny nose, sore
throat) please call the office so that I can be a part of your
healthcare team and make recommendations for you. Acute homeopathic
remedies have been used for many decades in cases of pandemic flu
viruses with amazing effect.
12. Please go to these websites
for the latest updates on the Swine Flu: CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm
Sonoma County:
http://www.sonoma-county.org/health/ph/news/20090424flu.htm San
Francisco County: http://www.sfcdcp.org/swineflu.html
California:
www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/news/Pages/SwineFluLndingPg042409.aspx
13.
The following are a list of supplements that I would recommend starting
now at the preventative dose or at the very least have on
hand.
Elderberry: an herbal remedy available in
syrup,
capsule and liquid forms. This comes in children and adult varieties.
Sambucus is a good liquid brand. Preventative and acute doses are on
the side of the bottle.
Oscillococcinum:
a homeopathic remedy. Family members can each take a 1/4 vial
once a month for general prevention. If you have been exposed to
flu or are feeling ill, take a 1/4 vial several times a day. Same
dose for all ages.
Host Defense:
a mushroom combination created by New Chapter. For prevention take 1
cap/day, for acute illness take 2-3 caps/day. You can also give this to
children by opening a capsule and mixing with food, i.e. applesauce,
etc. The amount given varies by the weight of the child. Call for
guidance if needed. (I got my daughter to eat this for a while last
winter and it worked great until she caught on.
All of
these remedies, work best if started in the first 48 hrs of the illness,
so I recommend keeping them on hand. Homeopathic remedies do not
expire.
14. Allopathic Treatment options: There is a
test
for the virus, but it is apparently only 50% accurate. There are
anti-viral prescription medications for the Swine Flu, which should also
be started 48 hours in advance. Both the test and the prescriptions
are available through an M.D.
*Thanks goes to Pediatric
Alternatives Clinic in Mill Valley, CA, Tina Green and Dr. Wieslaw Rocki
for sharing vital information on this topic.
Summer
2009
Greetings
patients, colleagues and friends! Welcome to Vital Times!
Happy summer everyone! I am so delighted for the sun to be pouring
its rays down upon us. It's time for vegetable gardens, summer
vacations, getting in the water and fun in the sun.
Have a wonderful
summer, make sure to use your common sense on your
big adventures...and of course I wouldn't be a good doctor if I didn't
remind you to wear sunscreen (the natural kind is of course preferable!
:)
Chop
Water, Carry Wood This email I find
myself coming down from the mountain, literally. A few days ago I
returned from spending the last 8 days on a Vision Quest in the Inyo
National Forest. For those of you who are not familiar with the Vision
Quest Ceremony, it is a Native American based ritual which intends to
bring one closer to spirit, to heal and to clarify ones personal vision
for their life. It begins weeks before the actual ritual in which you
prepare yourself mentally, spiritually and physically through rituals
and cleansing to clarify your intention of purpose. It finally leads up
to a solo time in the woods in which you go out alone and fast for
several days praying and meditating in solitude.
I found everything
and more of what I was looking for and now find myself in the process
of incorporating my experience into my life. Thus the title to this
article, "Chop water, Carry Wood." For those who do not know the story
associated with this title, it goes something like this. Once there was
a spiritual seeker who found an enlightened master to study with. He
was so excited because he always wanted to know the answer to a burning
question.
"Master, master", he said, "please answer this one question
for me." The master agreed. And the seeker asked, "Master, what happens
after enlightenment?" And the Master said,
"Chop wood, carry water."
Talking to a
friend and fellow companion who also did the vision quest brought this
idea into a clear correlation with my experience. As we were speaking
of how to incorporate the Vision Quest experience into our life she
said something to me that resonated deeply.
"Melissa", she said, "This
is the time when the real Vision Quest begins." And with that I
realized that now it is time to bring the visions down from the mountain
and to start walking them. Time to allow the deep restructuring of my
life (from how these visions affected me) to come into manifestation in
my daily life, even as I go about the mundane tasks of answering emails
and paying bills .
Part of this
incorporation is bringing the visions (and the inevitable way they are
shaping and changing my life) into my practice, to you my patients. For
I know that I can only lead you into the deep places of your healing if
I have walked that path before you. I make no claim of enlightenment
or perfection only that I have the determination to continue the ever
deepening path of spirit in my life to serve the greater good, and that
my friend includes how our lives intersect and how I aim to serve your
greater good!
May we all know and live the deep
visions of our spirit.
And, with that I leave you with an excerpt of a poem from David Whyte.
"...Time to go into
the
dark
Where the night has eyes
To recognize its own.
There
you can be sure you are not beyond love.
The dark will be
your womb Tonight.
The night will give you a horizon
further
than you can see. You must learn one thing.
The world was
made to be free in.
Give up all the other worlds
Except the
one to which you belong.
Sometimes it takes darkness and the
sweet
Confinement of your aloneness
To learn
Anything or anyone
That
does not bring you alive
Is too small for you."
May we all know
the sweet freedom of our aliveness!!
First
Aid Kit for Traveling and Camping
The last time I had the honor of being a part of a Vision Quest I
was on the leadership team and part of my role was as medical first aid
person. This is a partial list of the first aid kit that I prepared
then in hopes that it will serve you in your summer excursions.Echinacea/Goldenseal
tincture to be used for any sign of flu or cold. Can add a Tincture
of Lomatium/Pau d'arco if you would like to add a supplement
that has more anti-viral effects in your first aid kit. (Can get a
tincture with all of these herbs together at Farmacopia in Santa Rosa.)
Take 2-3 droperfuls 2-3 times a day at first sign of cold or flu.
Lavender
Essential Oil and/or Calendula Comfrey Beeswax Based Ointment
to be used as an antiseptic and skin healer for wounds. Make sure to
clean wound thoroughly and wash with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol
wipes before applying oil or ointment then bandage.
Arnica
Essential Oil or cream to be used for any sprains/strains or
bruises
Slippery Elm Powder to be made into tea (hot
or cold) can be used for cough, symptoms of a urinary tract infection
or nausea (best to made into a tea with ginger for nausea; boil ginger
root...or use ginger powder then add slippery elm.)
Homeopathic
Eye drops in case of eye irritation due to dust or allergies,
important to have in desert areas.
Throat spray for
soar throat. Gaia brand makes a great one.
Activated
Charcoal for diarrhea especially important to have in third
world country.
Probiotics especially while
traveling
in third world countries. Jarrow makes a good probiotic that doesn't
need to be refrigerated.
Ibuprofen yes
there is a
time and place for it, especially while traveling. If you are
completely opposed to it can substitute White Willow Bark tincture
or capsules (has the active ingredient in it that is in aspirin)
Typical
first aid kit supplies: band aids, tweezers, gauze, etc. Can
find at camping supply stores pre-packaged and in first-aid bag.
The
Healing Power of Mind-Body Medicine
Part II: Emotions, Peptides and How They Affect the Body
The
body is a system of well-defined connections from one organ system to
another. For example peptides (also known as neurotransmitters when
found in the nervous system or hormones when found in the rest of the
body) carry information to the cells and cause a certain action to
happen within the cell, each action is different according to the
specific function of the peptide.
When we feel emotions a
cascade of different peptides are made in
the nervous system, especially from the limbic system (the area of our
brain which has been called the seat of emotions.) Different ratios (or
recipes) of neurotransmitters are made according to the specific
emotion that we are feeling. For instance, different types of
neurotransmitters will be made for the feeling of love as compared to
anger. The immune system has cells that have receptor sites
for nearly every peptide made. These peptides tell the immune cell what
to do and how to do it.
Therefore, because
different neurotransmitters
(peptides) are made according to the emotions that you are feeling,
your emotions via the neurotransmitters are directly affecting the
immune system. For example if you are feeling joy, happiness or other
positive emotions your immune system becomes more balanced and healthy.
However, if you are feeling depressed your immune system
down-regulates and doesn't function as well. An example of one
of these neurotransmitters that powerfully affect the immune system is
called cytokine.
It has
been found that when there is slight stress in
the body cytokine production is increased and affects the immune system
by increasing it's reactivity, therefore working harder and more
productively. However, with long term chronic stress cytokine continues
to be high and will actually overwhelm the immune system, causing it to
be fatigued and not work as well. When one feels depression production
of cytokine decreases and its stimulation on the immune system also
decreases, therefore decreasing its functioning. This finding holds
true that a little stress on the body increases the immune systems
function, but chronic stress decreases it just as much as depression.
Other
hormones (which are also in the category of a peptide) increase during
stress and affect the immune system (among other systems in the body) in
a negative way. The hormone cortisol is released due to chronic
stress. Adrenaline (also known as epinephrine and norepinephrine) is
released in response to acute stress. Both have been found to cause
havoc in the body when stress is present. Unfortunately the yo-yo
between the constants of acute and chronic stress is all too often the
present in our society. However, chronic stress through the release of
cortisol has especially been found to decrease the functioning of
numerous systems over the long-haul. It decreases the immune system,
gastrointestinal function, has been linked to obesity, diabetes, heart
disease and many other illnesses.
The bottom line is that
emotions and stress are very connected to how our body functions. So,
know you now that next time you are in my office and I ask you about how
you are feeling and what your level of stress is...I am not only asking
because I care (which I do), but I am also asking because I want to get
a larger picture of how your body has been functioning in the broadest
most holistic way possible.
Remember from the last article that
emotions not only come from current events in our lives, but also how
the current events can stir up subconscious memories and "trigger"
emotions from our past, especially if there was a traumatic event was
associated with. Therefore, stay tuned for Part III of the Mind-Body
Series: The Physiological Response to Trauma and How to Heal it.
Spring
2009
Greetings
patients, colleagues and friends! Welcome to Vital Times!
Happy spring everyone!!
Spring is busting out all over. The
flowers are shooting up and bathing us in beauty. Renewal of life is
everywhere. As we welcome the warming rays of the spring sunshine may
we take this opportunity to renew and revive all parts of ourselves.
This newsletter is focused on doing just that, reviving and renewing
ourselves to live our best life ever!!
My Work in the World
Recently I have been sitting
with the question, "What am I here to
do?" I am clear that I have had a calling to be a healer, but I've been
questioning what does that mean right now? Does it mean have a
full-time practice, write a book, teach workshops...or what? There is
so much happening in our world that is calling for healing, for
change. And, ultimately the question came down to this, "Am I serving
my community and myself in the highest way through this practice?"
As I was sitting with this
question I started having patients come
in and talk to me about how their lives were being positively changed
by our work together. The stories I heard were amazing. One women who
had been on 14 medications, had safely dropped down to 4. Another
woman who has had chronic pain for 12+ years had 6 weeks pain free and
counting. I felt incredibly overjoyed at their successes. It was as
if my questioning was being answered by the wonderful and positive
feedback I was getting.
As I started thinking about the people I had talked to one
thread
was made clear in all of these patients, they were all on a spiritual
journey. The symptoms they previously had in their bodies
were correlated to a spiritual awakening that they were experiencing. I
realized that they were getting better because I was both focusing on
their physical body, as well as, leading them into their deep emotional
and spiritual process. It was through all of these experiences that
they were getting better.
This day culminated with a student coming to me and telling me
about an acquaintance of hers who is in extreme physical pain. After
telling me a little bit about her acquaintances experience with
allopathic medicine she looked at me and said, "I think she is going
through a spiritual awakening and her body is reacting from it." All of
a sudden I felt my spirit take over my consciousness and without any
hesitation I said, "This is my work in the world to help people,
especially women, evolve consciously. To help those that are walking
the cutting edge of spiritual awakening to navigate healing on all
levels and to step across the threshold into their true selves." And,
with goosebumps all over my body, I realized that I was speaking my
truth.
So, with that I move forward with my work in the world. I am
right where I need to be and am honored to have you in my life.
I am committed to helping you find health on all levels and to hold
your hand while you take that step across the threshold into your
true self!
Time for Spring Cleaning
As with spring
cleaning of our homes, we also need to clean our
real home, our bodies. Spring is the perfect time to do a
detoxification. Living in our society it is easy to get inundated with
toxins. Our bodies need a chance to cleanse, detoxify and
rejuvenate.
Cleansing can help your
body in many ways, including the following:
-Increased energy-Weight loss-Greater motivation and
creativity-Reduction of allergic symptoms
-Clear skin and eyes-Anti-aging
-Clearing
of old emotions and thought patterns
Detoxification Group: I
will be leading a 2-week detoxification group at the beginning of
June. This group will include facilitated and group support, as well
as, all supplements and informational materials to help you cleanse your
body. It will include 3 Monday evening meetings, June 1st, 8th
and 15th from 7:00-8:30. The first session will be focused on
preparation, the second support and the third re-integration into a
healthy new eating regime.
A
20-minute individual session will
also be included in the package. The price for each
individual who would like to join (which includes $200 worth of
detoxification supplements), is $300.
Since
there will be a
limit to the size of the group call now to reserve your spot with a $75
deposit.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS! If you
have a friend or love one join
and they mention that you recommended them you will receive $50 off your
fee.
The Healing Power of
Mind-Body Medicine
Part I
*This is part one in a series
on mind-body medicine that I will be continuing in upcoming newsletters.
I teach a class every
spring on Anatomy and
Energy at the Academy of Intuition Medicine in Sausalito. My favorite
part of that class is a section I teach on mind-body medicine. Below
are excerpts from that class. The body is an integrated
system of networks, which are constantly exchanging, processing and
storing information. The mind holds the network together often acting
below our consciousness. This network links and coordinates the major
systems and their organs and cells in a coordinated orchestra. Emotions
effect this network and play a part in the body like an instrument in
this orchestra. Nuances like tempo or high and low notes make a
profound effect. Emotions like anger, fear, sadness, joy, contentment,
courage, pleasure and pain all have a different resonance or sound it
makes in our biology. "Emotions are cellular signals that are involved
in the process of translating information into physical reality,
literally transforming mind into matter," says Dr. Candace Pert past NIH
scientist. It has been proven that chronic negative emotions
such as depression, loneliness, hopelessness and long-term bereavement
suppress the immune system. But repressed emotions have an even more
detrimental effect on one's health. Repressed emotions from
trauma if not dealt with will be stored in the body and over time cause
chronic degenerative illnesses. Research shows that when
people express emotions from past traumatic events their immune system
improves. In one-study college students who had been sexually or
physically abused as children spent fifteen minutes a day writing about
their early traumas, emphasizing their feelings. After only four days
they had higher white blood cell (lymphocyte) activity than the control
group. Pert says, "All honest emotions are positive emotions. Health
is not just a matter of thinking "happy thoughts." Sometimes the
biggest impetus to healing can come from jump-starting the immune system
with a burst of long-suppressed anger...The key is to express it and
then let it go, so that it doesn't fester, or build, or escalate out of
control." However, only 5% of our awareness is conscious of
itself at any given time, while the remaining 95% of awareness lies in
the subconscious mind out of reach of our awareness. This is where the
beauty of hypnotherapy and intuitive medicine come into play. Using
these modalities one can go beyond the conscious mind to tap into the
subconscious memories and energy stored in the cells and tissues of the
body. These memories can then be brought to conscious awareness so that
the energy of the memory can be shifted. The memory will always be
stored as a memory. However, one can clear the traumatic energy
patterns of this memory, which allows for an increased flow of vital
force to the organs, tissues and cells of the body thus returning it to
health.
