Dr. Brian Clement is the medical director of the Hippocrates Health Institute, which is one of the world’s oldest complimentary health centers. Dr. Clement started with the organization in 1975, and has been a director since 1980. Here he shares his considerable knowledge of how to improve your health. The primary focus of this interview is on detoxification, because this is an area that Dr. Clement has great experience with. The full program that Hippocrates offers is called the “Life Change Program,” and runs for 21 days.

“The main thrust of what we offer is not all of the nice things I spoke about. It’s education,” Dr. Clement says. “My objective as a director is to get people to not need me, the Institute, or you. We want people to be educated, to be totally responsible for their life and lifestyle. And in doing so, one of the primary biological factors is you have to eliminate waste from your body.

… [A]ll of us live in an invisible cesspool, and we don’t know it. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the clothing we wear…[O]ur latest book, Killer Clothes, tells you about how we have direct scientific evidence that clothing causes cancer and a wide array of other diseases. It’s the petrochemicals. So all of these is taken into account here…

Not only are we cleansing the body through large amounts of raw food, but also through infrared technologies, Vibrason units… lymphatic massage, deep tissue technology, psychotherapy… and colonic therapy…”

There can be little doubt that toxic heavy metals and chemicals in our environment contribute to the vast majority of cancers we see today. Ditto for other chronic debilitating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

“We know that… for every 17 micrograms of lead in your body, your IQ is reduced by 10 points. Now, think of that. How many of us would have been much brighter if we didn’t grow up in a time where they used lead paint or lead in the automobile fumes? So, we are detoxifying disease-causing elements from the body,” Dr. Clement says. Lack of exercise also compounds the problem, as exercise is a natural form of detoxification.

For more info, go to http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/03/21/dr-clement-on-detoxification.aspx?e_cid=20120321_DNL_art_1.

*This article was reprinted with permission from www.mercola.com.

We all know what it feels like to be doing well and experiencing good health. As we age it seems that it becomes more challenging to stay in this place or experience this place for extended periods of time. Because of our fast speed of life we tend to take care of the “squeaky wheels” in our life. The symptoms of “disconnect” begin to become manifest and result in that sense of feeling off, low energy, constantly anxious, and a slew of other problems reflective of a health-in-crisis state.

Let’s talk about the chemistry of stress for a moment. Your body chemistry changes fundamentally every time you react stressfully. Stress often times starts in the mind and travels directly to the adrenals to initiate the fight or flight response. Heart starts pounding, breathing changes, glucose is released into the blood, the muscles tense, the eyes dilate, and the blood thickens. The average adrenaline rush of a commuter stuck in traffic releases enough glucose into the blood to keep her running for one mile. And where does all of this extra energy and increased alertness come from? The answer is from a diversion of energy from the body’s normal repair and maintenance jobs such as digesting, cleansing, and rejuvenating. So every moment you spend in a stressed out state speeds up the aging process in your body. It’s stressful just thinking about it. And unfortunately what ends up happening is the body goes out of balance and symptoms of fatigue and aging begin to show up in larger and more troublesome ways.

Symptoms are the bodies attempt to communicate that something isn’t right. The more we refuse to listen or acknowledge the needs of our bodies the larger volume of our symptoms turn up. Symptoms are a blessing in disguise and offer the pathway necessary to better care for ourselves. Most people would rather ignore the symptoms than listen to what their body is trying to express. So many of us are addicted to stress and have forgotten how to relax and be fulfilled at the same time. Mindfulness techniques like meditation can be instrumental in breaking this cycle of stress addiction.

Every choice made to build our health and vitality acts as an investment to our health reserve. Our health reserve is what allows us to stay healthy through stressful times and reflects how much we’ve invested into it via our attitudes and action steps. Establishing a health reserve can be thought of as creating a 401(k) for our well being and insuring a quality aging experience. As one ages it becomes more important to be able to adapt and recover from the demands of a stressful lifestyle. These faculties are naturally strained as we go through life but there’s no reason that they shouldn’t be in good working order.

Change is an inevitable consequence of being alive. A Taoist once remarked that change is just gushing life. Sometimes the gush is welcoming like friendly rapids and other times its intense like spring run-off through a steep canyon. Life happens and things don’t always go our way. Part of the challenge is learning to live with grace so that when we encounter resistance we don’t add to it with our own attitudinal friction.

There are several areas that work symbiotically to create a health reserve that has enough staying power to withstand the tough, stressful times of our lives. Exercise, nutrition, a positive mental attitude, spiritual practice, detoxification, and body work all work in concert to enhance your health reserve.

As we embark upon another year in our life we can prioritize a commitment to our own health and well-being with the intention of increasing the quality of our own lives and those lives that are intimately connected to our own. None of us exists separate from each other though the world likes to paint a picture of fragmentation. Get connected, be inspired, and enjoy the experience of being human.

Male vs. female death figures due to heart disease are pretty interesting. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, males are always ahead of females in heart disease deaths. However, after age 25 the ratio goes up to 1.5 times as many men are afflicted. By age 64, the ratio is up to over 2.5 times as many deaths for men vs. women.

Why would this be? One major explanation is that estrogen, the dominant women’s sex hormone, is protective against heart disease. When estrogen falls after menopause female heart attack rates start to approach that of men’s. Anatomically men’s and women’s hearts are different. Men’s coronary arteries tend to be more like hard pipes where as women’s coronaries are softer. Men tend to build up more calcification in their arteries (90 percent) than women (30 percent) who have heart attacks.

African American women are at a greater risk of dying from heart disease

African American women are 1.69 times more likely to die from heart attacks than Caucasian women. If an African American woman has a heart attack, she is 69 percent more likely to die of that heart attack than a Caucasian woman. By the time African American women are in their late 60’s, 79 percent will have developed high blood pressure, according to Dr. Judith Reichman.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women

It is estimated that one out of every two women will die from heart disease. Heart disease kills ten times more women than breast cancer each year, and more than all other cancers combined. One in ten women aged 45 to 64 already suffers from some form of heart disease. Nearly one fourth of women who died of heart disease were between the ages of 35 and 44.

The Stress Connection

Recent articles have shown that high levels of cortisol (made in the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys) produced when under stress increases the amount of plaque in the coronary arteries. Cortisol is also associated with perivascular inflammation, which causes inflammatory heart disease. Clearly, stress reduction techniques and supplements are a key in managing heart disease.

Heart Disease Prevention

Healthy lifestyles are a very important beginning to avoid or postpone heart disease. Eliminating Trans fats (such as margarine and  fried foods), sugar, smoking, excessive alcohol intake and damaged cholesterol (burned fat) reduces cardiac risk.    Maintaining regular exercise and sleep pattern, blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring, stress reduction techniques, such as meditation and Yoga, and taking nutritional supplements are all important to reduce heart disease risk.

There have been great advances in Western approaches to heart disease learned from the study of biochemistry and plant biology. Vitamin C  is necessary for collagen, (blood vessels and ligament) formation and is most concentrated in our adrenal glands and brain. It is a must for vascular health. Remember, man is one of the only animals that does not make his own vitamin C. Magnesium is the most important mineral for vascular health and you cannot get enough from a standard American diet. Low magnesium levels can cause the spasm of arteries that lead to heart attacks and strokes. Removing the toxic heavy metals including lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, aluminum and others via chelation is very important.  Supplements that relax the lining of the arteries (endothelium) such as arginine, citruline, elagic acid which increase nitric oxide (arterial dilatory) are very important. Coenzme Q10 gives the heart energy and is used around the world for heart failure and for recuperation after heart operations. There are specific herbs that are heart friendly including Hawthorne berry, Cactus grande, Convallaria, Spigelia, Aesculus, Avena sativa and many more.

References:

1. www.cdc.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1997.

2. Dekker MJ, et al  Salivary cortisol is related to atherosclerosis of carotid arteries.  J. Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Oct, 93 (10):3742-7

For more info, contact the Gerber Medical Clinic at (775) 826-1900.

Start Focusing on Known Processes for Improved Health

Written By June Milligan, M.Ed., CCHt |

This is the first of three articles having to do with self-empowerment in the areas of health, finances and relationships.

Currently Americans are suffering from a health care crisis of tragic proportions. Over one hundred thousand deaths each year are caused by prescription medications. That’s 270 every minute, more than twice as many as are killed in car accidents each year. The book Our Daily Meds: How the Pharmaceutical Companies Transformed Themselves into Slick Marketing Machines and Hooked the Nation on Prescription Drugs by Melody Petersen explains how the pharmaceutical industry has taken over our faltering health care system by cleverly hawking every kind of drug imaginable. Even the American Medical Association, in a 2000 study, found that one third of all deaths in America are caused by medical errors made by doctors in diagnosis, surgery or prescriptions.

Our Daily Meds explains how the prescription med industry is in bed with doctors by paying physicians to be their so-called consultants, to sit on corporate advisory boards and to lecture other physicians. The prescription med industry pays for up to 80 percent of the continuing medical education doctors need to maintain their licenses. Doctors are no longer independent gatekeepers who keep us safe from drugs we don’t need, because far too many of them are financially tied to the industry.

We are the only country that doesn’t control prescription drug prices. We are one of only two countries in the world that allow the drug companies to market directly to the public. So is it any wonder that we have such a huge illegal drug problem in this country, with prescription drugs being hawked in print advertisements and constantly on TV? Children grow up with this programming, hearing from a very young age how you need this or that pill to feel good and be happy.

More drugs are prescribed for children in this country every year, even though we know little about the long-term effects of prescription meds on kids. More drugs are being prescribed for conditions unrelated to what they were originally designed to “help,” although this is illegal. Ms. Petersen’s book covers many more current topics and is well researched and documented, a real wake-up call for Americans who do no research regarding their meds.

As a result of drug companies being able to market directly to the consumer, we are bombarded daily with programming to use drugs or to actually tell our doctor which drugs we need. They try to frighten us by implying that, “One in three people will get the flu this winter and you’re the one.” They try to appeal to our conditioned fear and resultant need for instant advice on every little twinge; they try to convince us that we need to go in for checkups for every body part. The idea is promoted as “prevention,” which really is an effort to find something wrong with us, which financially aids the local specialist receiving the referral, the rest of the medical profession down the line, as well as “Big Pharma.”

Allopathic (conventional) medicine is very big business. As a result, our conditioning is to run to a doctor for every symptom. We have not been taught to believe that our own bodies actually do the healing. Instead, we’ve been programmed to believe that doctors and drugs are the answer. Actually most drugs simply affect the symptom, not the cause. That’s like erasing the skid marks after a traffic accident, or repairing the crashed cars, thinking that the auto repair and removal of the skid marks will stop future accidents. Go to www.mercola.com, the most popular natural health website in America, and watch the video entitled The Town of Allopath.

We are in this mess because we didn’t grow up with the idea that our thoughts and emotions have any effect at all on our bodies. However, the new biology of epigenetics shows that our thoughts, beliefs and expectations have everything to do with our health. If we engage in chronic negative thoughts about anything, or suffer constant stress, those anxieties affect all 50 trillion of our cells. Each thought has a vibrational frequency, like a radio signal, and as we send out toxic thoughts, we damage our cells and get breakdown results.

We each have our own pharmaceutical company in our body, which knows exactly how much of each chemical and hormone we need in order to be healthy. Working in concert with our positive thoughts, beliefs and expectations, that pharmacy creates what we need when we need it. But it cannot override negative, fearful or worried thoughts forever. It can repair the damage caused by toxic thoughts, beliefs and stress for many years, but finally the barrage is too much, and the cells begin to break down or begin multiplying in an unnatural way.

The genius of our system is that if we start changing our thoughts right now, even after years of negative thinking, our bodies can begin to heal. Every organ and tissue in our body has its own vibrational frequency. After many years of vibrational abuse, those frequencies may have changed from normal healthy frequencies to dysfunctional frequencies. Scientists in Germany have developed a machine called Ondamed (pronounced on-da-med), which beams healthy frequencies into the body; thereby entraining the dysfunctional frequencies back to healthy ones. Professionals in sports medicine were the first to see the value in this therapy because of the need of fast healing for professional athletes. It is now being used for all kinds of ailments, and serves as proof of the effectiveness of vibrational medicine.  To learn more and to find a professional in your area who understands vibrational healing, go to www.ondamed.net

To watch an informative video of Dr. Bruce Lipton, author of The Biology of Belief, and Dr. Wayne Dyer explaining the science behind vibrational medicine and giving pertinent examples, go to www.youtube.com and type in their names. The videos entitled “You Can Heal Yourself” parts 1 and 2 will pop up. This is important information for anyone wanting to know the latest research. I recently learned from Dr. John Veltheim, the developer of the BodyTalk System, that it takes 22 years for new facts to be included in college textbooks. That’s a whole generation! With the pharmaceutical industry standing guard at the elbows of conventional medical school decision makers, why would they allow books that explain the power of thoughts and beliefs to be included in the curriculum? There’s no money in it for them if people learn to heal themselves.

This new science shows that the vibrational frequencies from our thoughts, beliefs and expectations, as well as the electromagnetic frequencies from our hearts, affects not only our own bodies but things that are happening around us. See www.heartmath.com for more info on this. Millions of people are waking up, and will no longer be interested in the old ways of looking at things. Nor will we continue to be willing to give away our power to outdated ideas of healing, nor be financial or life-style victims of greedy multi-national corporations who have a vested interest in keeping us ignorant.

References:

1. Petersen, Melody. Our Daily Meds. Farrar, Strauss and Girous Publishing. 2008.

2. Lipton, PhD., Bruce. The Biology of Belief. Mountain of Love Publishing. 2009.

3. www.mercola.com

4. www.heartmath.com

5. www.ondamed.net

For more info, contact June Milligan, specializing in helping people learn how to let go of dysfunctional thinking, at (775) 786-9111 or visit online at www.joyfulchanges.com

The word constipation is derived from the Latin word “constipatus,” meaning “to press or crowd together, to pack or to cram.”  So to be constipated means difficulty moving the bowels due to packed accumulation of feces. However, constipation can also exist while the bowels seem to be moving normally despite an accumulation of feces in pockets of the colon.  Celebrities that have reportedly used Colon Hydrotherapy to combat constipation, loose weight, improve physical appearance, boost emotional well-being and sharpen mental capabilities include Ben Affleck, Courtney Love, Andie McDowell, Janet Jackson, Cindy Crawford, Alicia Silverstone, Liv Tyler and Paris Hilton.

Autointoxication is one result of impacted fecal matter decaying in the colon.  Symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, intolerance, lack of endurance and frequent illness are all signs of autointoxication. The stress of today’s lifestyles and diets requires the body to function at peak capacity. In order to do this, the body requires optimal nutrition. Sadly, our diets do not support the type of lives we lead. Processed food, although cheap and easy, is nutritionally void and leaves the body in a state of perpetual want. Our stomach is full, but there is not enough nutrition in what was just eaten to get the body through the rest of the day. No wonder we crave sugars for energy and salt for proper electrolyte balance and absorption. The body is trying to tell us something.

Unfortunately that afternoon snack is usually just more empty calories and chemicals. Since we are not eating enough raw, unprocessed food, the body is not only deficient in nutrients, but the colon does not receive enough fiber and liquid to move matter efficiently and this is a recipe for constipation. A constipated bowel is a breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria, which can easily multiply and eventually over run friendly bacteria creating an imbalance in the gut. The thick mucoid lining of the colon becomes compromised and the blood capillaries to the colon begin pulling toxins into the blood stream and voila – autointoxication!

People are often amazed at the fact that they can “seem” to be having normal daily eliminations, yet during a Colon Hydrotherapy session they witness a dark, rock-like stool (impacted matter) moving through the waste tube. As the water softens and loosens decaying matter impacted in the bowel, abdominal bodywork helps to stimulate peristalsis in the colon and encourage the body to cast off that which it had previously been holding on to. In normally functioning alimentary tracts (the system between your mouth and anus), enzymes in saliva signal the colon to evacuate its contents in preparation for the incoming food, which means, that if you are functioning properly you will have a bowel movement within an hour or two of each meal.  Therefore, if you are eating three meals a day, you should be having three healthy bowel movements a day!

A healthy bowel movement is when peristaltic action produces the urge to eliminate, and the evacuation produces a long, formed stool of medium brown color. Having to force the elimination to come, feeling that the elimination is incomplete and/or hard, dry looking stools are all signs of constipation. Slower transit times can be the result of many factors, but some of the major ones are; dehydration, poor diet, stress, medications, poor bowel habits (denying the urge to eliminate) and electrolyte imbalance, which leads to mal absorption. A series of colonic irrigations done within days of each other to prevent re-dehydration will thoroughly soak and saturate impacted fecal matter so that it can be dissolved and removed effectively and comfortably. One Colon Hydrotherapy session can be equivalent to having 20 normal bowel movements and following a session many people report a sense of “lightness,” renewed vitality and an increased sense of well-being.

Constipation is of epidemic proportions in the United States, as evidenced by the million dollar laxative industry. Most people are not even aware that their bowels are irregular, even though the body sends signals that things are going awry, such as constipation, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, uncontrollable cravings and persistent weight gain. In 2010 colon cancer was the third most diagnosed cancer in the nation, with over 102,000 new cases diagnosed. Past generations, throughout the world, have used the state of the bowels to determine overall health of the body. With the rebirth of consciousness in respect to what we put in and on our bodies, it would behoove us to also pay close attention to what is coming out!

References:

1. http://www.lumana.com/2006issues/January/coloncleansing.htm, “Colon Cleansing Celebrity Style,” Yaiazi, Selma. January 2006.

2. Walker, Norman W, D.Sc., Ph.D. “Colon Health: The Key to a Vibrant Life.” Norwalk Press, August, 1995.

3. Jensen, Bernard, D.C., Ph.D., Nutritionist. “Tissue Cleansing Through Bowel Management.” Bernard Jensen Publisher, June, 1981.

4. www.cancer.org

For more info, contact Shelby Molchan at Island Rainbow Wellness Center at (775) 762-2463 or visit online at www.IslandRainbowWellness.com

Heart Attach Warning Signs

-Chest Discomfort

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

-Discomfort in Other Areas of the

Upper Body

Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

-Shortness of Breath with or without chest discomfort

-Other Signs

May include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

More about heart attack

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help.

Immediately call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for you. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number.

Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment.

Great health requires balance and one of the foundations of great health is an efficient digestive tract. However, maintaining the delicate microflora of the gut can be quite a juggling act of diet and lifestyle. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that reside in the colon. It is estimated that 100 trillion microorganisms of more than 500 different species inhabit a normal healthy bowel. The body works hard to maintain a balance between these helpful and harmful microorganisms. Poor diet, a weak immune system and prescription medication are just some of the things that can ‘throw off’ intestinal function.

Antibiotics are one of the biggest culprits since they kill not only the harmful but also the beneficial bacteria. The standard American diet (SAD) also wreaks havoc with friendly bacteria as the over use of sugar, wheat, dairy and processed food feeds candida, which then overruns the bowel without the proper balance of probiotics to keep it in check.

For people with allergies, irritable bowels, systemic candida, constipaton, and compromised immune systems, might consider colon hydrotherapy followed by a rectal infusion of probiotic is the answer. Implantation directly into the rectum greatly increases the absorption and effectiveness of probiotics since they are deposited directly into the sigmoid region of the colon and they do not have to survive the acid bath of the stomach in order to reach their destination.

Refloristation with probiotics fortifies the intestinal mucosa, which is an important factor in maintaining good immunity.

Probiotics can attach themselves to the bowel wall and help weaken intestinal decay, thereby enhancing the productivity of a colon hydrotherapy session. Removing toxins from the bowel with colon hydrotherapy and re-establishing a friendly balance with a probiotic implant enhances the immune system and improves digestive function. Systemic candida, chronic fatigue and other autoimmune conditions can be reduced by using these methods.

Friendly intestinal bacteria keep harmful microorganisms in check by improving digestive function and absorption, and strengthening the immune system. According to MayoClinic.com, research suggests that probiotics may help treat and prevent vaginal yeast infections, shorten the duration of intestinal infection, and treat irritable bowel syndrome. As a by-product of their metabolism, probiotics produce Lactoferrin, an iron binding protein needed to extract iron from the food we eat. Increased Lactoferrin may improve iron-assimilation defiencies. Probiotics help the body increase the production of enzymes and the absorption of vitamins and nutrients especially Vitamin B, Vitamin K, fatty acids and calcium.

A diet high in soluble fiber and phytonutrient rich food enriches the effectiveness probiotics. Combining proper diet with probiotic implants at the end of Colon Hydrotherapy sessions is a fabulous way to bump up the digestive and immune systems and can help to gain control over many unpleasant conditions.

References:

1. www.health.harvard.edu
2. www.mayoclinic.com
3. www.upwardquest.com
4. www.cnn.com
5. Carlson, Gary. The Candida Yeast Answer

For more info, contact Shelby Molchan at Island Rainbow Wellness Center at (775) 762-2463.

Rethinking a new recovery means moving out of the problem and into the solution. In today’s world, it is important that we ask questions that inspire our innate strengths, to transcend the mindset of “problem, powerless, and victim.” We shoulder heavy burdens, and we are not prepared. There is a foreboding sense that this is a condition of our culture and our collective consciousness. We may struggle to pay the bills and worry. We may fight and grieve for what once was and is no more. We aren’t sleeping well. Hope is in short supply. In scanning our surroundings we read that Reno has a huge drinking problem. Looking closer, we discover 2 highly disturbing statistics about the state of Nevada’s mental health as it relates to the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. How might these numbers indicate the relatedness to the reality that for many these are hard times?

Nevada Statistics:

• According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 90% of all suicides are committed by individuals who are affected by Substance Abuse, Depression, or another mood disorder.
• Nevada holds the distinction of having the nation’s second highest suicide rate in the country. Nevada’s rate of suicide is double the national average.

We believe it is time to abandon the problem-focused, powerless victim approach and to imagine a new recovery, one that is grounded in strengths and solutions.

The purpose of this article is to respond to these harsh realities and to ask ourselves as providers, “what is standing in the way of progress?” What has to happen in order for us to imagine a new paradigm of hope and self responsibility? We see that over the past 40 years we have evolved into a culture of “powerless victims”. No one wants to take responsibility for their own behavior, so we say we have a “disease” over which we are told we are powerless. This phenomenon traces its roots directly to the Twelve Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous and its various offspring from which was born “The Recovery Movement”. We acknowledge that the message of Alcoholics Anonymous did, at one point, instill hope in a community that society had judged as “morally flawed”. We also see that the “Recovering” worldview of the 80s and 90s has perpetuated a “victimized”, “entitled”, and “powerless” mindset; that we have to “hit bottom”, admit being powerless, spill our guts, and expect that a higher power is going to “remove our shortcomings”. We believe that these notions are outdated and serve no purpose in healing a hurting culture. But before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, we begin by examining the flipside of the “recovery” mindset and what we can salvage as we rethink what it could mean to be “In Recovery”. We believe that Solution –Focused Therapy can combine with the foundational recovery work to form an evolved treatment program that may offer a client more power and successful outcomes.

We begin with “The Miracle Question”. “Suppose that while you are asleep tonight, a miracle happens and your problem is solved just like that! But because you were sleeping, you didn’t know that there has been a miracle. What is the first thing that will let you know that your problem has been solved?” (Miller and Berg, 1995). At this moment we are invited to take the first step toward being fully empowered to manage our lives. The Miracle inspires examination of our strengths and how we are already using our own inner and outer resources to solve problems. The process of the Miracle affirms that we are the authority, the expert on what will work for us. We use the past only to identify “what has worked” to solve our problems and not to reinforce our limitations. We discard the notion that Alcoholism and other Addictions are diseases. We embrace the belief that our clients are empowered to make choices and that whatever motivates a client to change that is good enough.

How valuable is a map that leads to where we don’t want to go? As therapists we value our client’s ability to chart their own course utilizing their unique strengths, even in dealing with problems resulting from the abuse of alcohol or other drugs. As therapists, our role is to assist clients to identify what drives them forward. When we are acquainted with our clients’ beliefs and strengths we can assist them to establish a foundation for achieving their goals. As therapists, we yield to our clients’ expertise in determining desired outcomes. From a therapeutic standpoint, we have come to understand that “Denial” is in the theory of the therapist, and not in the client.

In summary, we are in the “Hope” business. The processes and thoughts of the past are not enough to take us toward the future envisioned by our clients. The Problem-focused disease based paradigm of the “Recovery Movement” is adept at finding sickness; a concept whose time has come and gone. A Solution-Focused-Strengths-Based therapeutic partnership is based in optimism, a powerful concept, a New Recovery. When we have a program of hope we activate from within and without whereby any change is possible!

References:

1. Miller, S.D. & Berg, I. K. (1995). The Miracle Method. New York: Norton and Co.
2. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. (2007). Twelve steps and twelve traditions. New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
3. Makela, Klause, et al. (1996). Alcoholics Anonymous as a mutual-help movement. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
4. Anthony Robbins: www.ted.com and youtube-anthonyrobbins; retrieved 1/23/10.Berg, I. K. & Reuss, N.H. (1998). Solutions step by step. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

For more info, contact JoAnne Krumpe, PhD at (775) 233-0717.

by Cathy Johannsen |

The perfect Valentine for loved ones who have made the “lose weight” New Year resolution is the gift of Healthy chocolate. There are so many ways Americans try to lose weight. The most tried and true are dieting and exercising. Most people assume that chocolate (candy, that is) contributes to weight gain, and that certainly appears accurate. However, raw unalkalized chocolate that is cold processed, high in natural cocoa nutrients contains no sugars, hydrogenated oils and artificial ingredients, is actually beneficial.

Chocolate’s affect on weight control has many components. Cocoa provides nutrition the body needs, reducing the need for “empty calories”. People feel full while eating less. One of the active compounds in unalkalized chocolate is anandamide which helps block the brain’s appetite center. The mind believes something sweet has been consumed which satisfies cravings.

Cocoa and dark chocolate help stabilize blood sugar levels, reducing binging and hypoglycemic episodes. Fiber…in chocolate? Cocoa contains fiber, which helps to block fat absorption and helps people feel full. Dark unalkalized chocolate is a great way to substitute high quality chocolate made with cold-processed cocoa for high calorie, unhealthy sugar and fat loaded chocolate candy.

Chocolate has several positive effects on the brain, seratonin levels increase, which helps promote a balanced mood. The Cocoa and dark chocolate stimulates the dopamine and norepinephrine pathways in the brain, lessening depression, which helps reduce appetite and aids in weight loss. Phenythylamine (PEA) helps one feel euphoric and excited. It may also stimulate the production of dopamine in the brain’s pleasure center. This helps counter the depression, often accompanied with dieting. Finally, Theobromine is similar to caffeine, but not as strong, may produce a pleasant stimulatory effect.

Cocoa helps to reduce inflammation. Increased appetite is affected by low leptin level resulting from chronic inflammation. Cocoa improves energy levels helping increase motivation to exercise and lessen the dependence on unhealthy foods for energy.

References:

1. Sabelli H, et al. Sustained antidepressant effect of PEA replacement. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, 1996 Spr, 8:2. 168-71.
2. Matsui N, et al. Ingested cocoa can prevent high-fat diet-induced obesity by regulating the expression of genes for fatty acid metabolism. Nutrition. 2005 May:21(5):594-601.
3. Macht M, Mueller J. Interactive effects of emotional and restrained eating on responses to chocolate and affect. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2007 Dec:195(12):1024-6.
4. Macht M, Mueller J. Immediate effects of chocolate on experimentally induced mood states. Appetite. 2007 Nov:49(3):667-74.

For more info, contact Cathy Johannsen at (530) 412-4221

submitted by Carol Christian for American Heart Association “Go Red for Women” |

Six years ago the American Heart Association made a decision to create a specific focus on women’s cardiovascular health and the Go Red for Women movement was born. In the relatively short time since that decision, hundreds of thousands of women have joined the movement and have been made aware that the number one cause of death for women is heart disease and stroke. Thousands of medical providers are also more informed about the different symptoms and risk factors for women with heart disease.

Heart Disease Facts – America’s Heart Disease Burden
Heart disease is incorrectly assumed to be a male disease. True, it is a serious health issue for all Americans. In 2006, 631,636 people died of heart disease. Heart disease caused 26 percent of deaths – more than one in every four – in the United States. However, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2006 were women. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first heart attack. In 2009, heart disease will cost the United States $304.6 billion. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.

Early Action Is Key
In a 2005 survey, most respondents – 92 percent – recognized chest pain as a symptom of a heart attack. Only 27 percent were aware of all major symptoms and knew to call 9-1-1 when someone was having a heart attack. About 47 percent of sudden cardiac deaths occur outside a hospital. This suggests that many people with heart disease do not act on early warning signs.

Prevention: What you can do

• Eat a Healthy Diet: Fresh fruits and vegetables, foods low in saturated fat and high in fiber are important. Limit sodium to lower your blood pressure.
• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Being overweight increases risk for heart disease. Determining a healthy weight range, use the body mass index (BMI). Doctors also use waist and hip measurements of a person. You can calculate your BMI at CDC’s (Center for Disease Control) Assessing Your Weight Web Site.
• Exercise Regularly: Maintains a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The Surgeon General recommends moderate-intensity exercise for 30 minutes on most days of the week.
• Don’t Smoke. Smoking increases risk for heart disease. So, if you don’t smoke, don’t start. Your doctor can suggest ways to help you quit.
• Limit Alcohol Use. Drinking too much alcohol causes high blood pressure. For more information visit CDC’s Alcohol and Public Health Web Site.
• Prevent or Treat Your Medical

Conditions

• Have your cholesterol checked.
• Monitor your blood pressure.
• Manage your diabetes.
• Talk with your health care provider

How Do I Know I’m Having A Heart Attack?
The pain of a heart attack can feel like bad heartburn. You may also be having a heart attack if you:

• Feel a pressure or crushing pain in your chest, sometimes with seating,
• dizziness, nausea or vomiting.
• Feel pain that extends from your chest into the jaw, left arm or left shoulder.
• Feel tightness in your chest.
• Have shortness of breath for more than a couple of seconds.
• Feel weak, lightheaded or faint.
• Have sudden overwhelming fatigue.

Do not ignore the pain or discomfort. If you think you are having heart problems or a heart attack, get help immediately. The sooner you get treatment, the greater the chances that the doctors can prevent further damage to the heart muscle.

Risk Factors For A Heart Attack

• Smoking 20.8 percent
• Diabetes 10.1 percent
• Age – Risk increases for men older than 45 years and for women older than 55 years (or after menopause). About 83 percent of people who die from heart disease are 65 years of age or older.
• High cholesterol level 15.6 percent
• High blood pressure 30.5 percent
• Family history of heart attack
• Race – African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans and Native Hawaiians are at greater risk
• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Lack of exercise 39.5 percent
• Stress
• Obesity 33.9 percent
• Sex (Gender) – More men have heart attacks, although heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women.

Have A Heart-to-Heart Talk With Yourself
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S. but you can do much to help protect yourself from this deadly enemy. Be your own best friend. Take charge of your body and your life. Look into your heart. See what changes you can make now for a healthier future by including your health care provider in your heart healthy plans.

References:

1. www.Healthcentralcom
2. www.Infectionsdisease.com
3. www.Goredforwomen.com

For more info, contact Carol Christian at the Reno Alternative Health Clinic (775) 827-6888.

If you answer “Yes” to any of the following questions then this article may speak to you:

• Do you have trouble reaching your health goals?
• Do you feel like you don’t have control of your health?
• Do you feel tired or stressed out?
• Do you have an ailment that you have difficulty with?
• Do you want to just FEEL GOOD?
• Do you need help designing an exercise program?
• Do you want to stop procrastinating?
• Do you want to build up your immune system?
• Do you need help with meal planning, and nutrition?

A Health Coach can help!

It is astounding when you look at health care expenditures in the United States, which is currently 2-trillion dollars per year. Many doctors have little training in preventative medicine and there are currently millions of people with diabetes, heart disease, cancer, auto-immune diseases, hypertension, and the like, and at least 30 percent of our population suffer from these chronic conditions. With new technologies and advances in research, we would hope to be getting healthier. Since the opposite appears to be true, the need for Health Coaching arises.

According to many doctors and researchers, the root causes of most illness is stress, lack of proper nutrition, lack of exercise, toxins, and just “being out of shape”. Most people do not know where to begin when taking control of their health and preventing illness. Some people who may already be diagnosed with a chronic disease or illness are overwhelmed when they are asked by their doctor to make simple changes to their lifestyle. A Health coach can help keep you on track.

Health Coaching began in the 1990’s initially treating people addicted to alcohol; it has evolved to guiding people to “self manage” their own health, and well-being. A health coach can easily identify issues that derail them from achieving goals, producing tangible results to reaching their final objectives. Coaching effectively motivates behavior change, and is one of the most powerful forces in reaching your goals and experiencing success.

Many people also make too many goals or difficult goals, and get discouraged when they do not succeed, and give up. A Health Coach will help you define your goals and make small steps to reach them. Health Coaches do not accept failure as an option, and are committed to helping you every step of the way. They provide encouragement, motivation, help you establish realistic goals, and are supportive and understanding. Health Coaches can also work with your doctor in dealing with your illness or disease; helping you in reaching optimum health results.

Health Coaches have specific strategies and techniques to help direct you in the areas of your life that need attention and improvement. Many may be specialized and have resources on certain topics to help achieve your goals.

If you answered yes to any of the questions at the beginning of this article a health coach may just be what you need.

References:

1. Health Coaching for Healthcare Providers, by the National Society of Health Coaches
2. Health Coach Training by Hilton Johnson Productions Christian Mickelsen, Coach
3. “The Autoimmune Epidemic” by Donna Jackson Nakazawa
4. “Instinct Based Medicine”, by Dr. Leonard Coldwell
5. “Natural Cures They Don’t Want You to Know About,” by Kevin Trudeau)

For more info, contact Deanna Mandichak at Vibrant Health (775) 223-6904.

by Dinny Evans |

What part of this is mine? Consider, ALL OF IT!

It’s the first of a new year and it seems so natural to want a fresh beginning. Weight reduction programs, athletic clubs, all find a thriving new business full of customers who have vowed to turn over a new leaf and commit to a change of some sort. It is a good feeling, clearing the clutter of the mind and the body by finding a new path to follow, one that will bring a long desired self-improvement.

Sometimes there is success in this process and other times we find ourselves slipping back into old patterns and habits and ways of thinking that are familiar. This seems perfectly natural when so much of our days are spent doing the same thing over and over; it isn’t easy to institute a change.

Taking this one step further, how often do other factors of life keep coming up in recurring patterns? An example of this might be breaking up a relationship only to find out the new relationship has the same issues. We shift from one thing to the next hoping for change but not taking the time to consider that the new environment, though having a different appearance, will be the same experience if the change doesn’t come from within. Looking outside of ourselves, analyzing the behavior of others to find the reason that we don’t feel the way we want to feel is not a solution for change. “What part do I play in this experience?” I suggest that a major personal change occurs when the answer given is: “All of it!”

Is it a stretch to begin thinking this way? Absolutely. A comment made so often to a spouse, partner, and co-worker, when in the middle of a disagreement comes down to an almost helpless exclamation of “you make me feel.” But when looked at from a slightly different perspective, it is impossible for someone else to have control over your feelings. You are the one that feels and you can control what those feelings are. When finally taking responsibility for those feelings there is a shift that occurs that at first can be frightening, because blaming someone else is a habit and a pattern that is not easy to break.

There is an empowerment discovered with the thought that only you can find how you feel and if you make the choice to take ownership of that, then your inner spirit can wake up, rise to the challenge and find a freedom for the first time that will finally put you in the drivers seat of your life.
The first step is being willing to make the decision to stop looking at others for your unhappiness, and to take it even further, your happiness.

It is not a difficult decision to make, but it can make a big difference in what you bring into your experience. And the next step is finding ways to put this willingness into action through the use of certain tools and processes, which are aids to help you shift those old ideas you have been hanging on to. It can be like anything, practice, practice, practice and soon the old habit is replaced with the new. When we stop looking outside to find the change that will bring happiness and realize that the path to happiness lies within, the word that comes to mind is “freedom.” This is also a new path to that long desired self-improvement, one that has the potential to move through this year and into the years ahead.

“Do you know that you are the creator of you? Do you know that you are the product of your own creation? You are the creator of you. You are the creator and you are the created. You are what you are creating; it is your state of being it is your state of life. That is what you are creating, you see.” —Abraham, Orlando 5/23/09

References:

1. “Ask and It Is Given, Learning to Manifest Your Destiny” by Esther and Jerry Hicks
2. “Radical Forgiveness, Making Room for the Miracle” by Colin Tipping
3. “The Astonishing Power of Emotions” by Esther and Jerry Hicks

For more info, contact Dinny Evans at (530) 414-1420.

Written By Robert Ayres |

The Sun enters Aries on March 20. The movement of the Sun into Aries marks the Spring Equinox. The Ram is the first sign of the zodiac and the solar orb’s passage through this constellation begins a new 12-month cycle. The equinox initiates the beginning of the spring season. Rebirth and new beginnings are the major themes now. Nature comes alive with new life. The plant and animal kingdoms are enlivened with new vegetation and baby animals of all kinds.

In the human kingdom, we feel a quickening of the life force and a sense of exhilaration. There is excitement at the prospect of new possibilities and adventures. A new cycle is moving us into the unknown.

The primary keyword for Aries is I Am. Of all the signs of the zodiac it is the most dedicated to self-discovery. Our sense of individuality forms the foundation of our lives. If we don’t have a strong and correct sense of self, then we will inevitably struggle in life. We should have a feeling for who we are and be able to give expression to it in a natural way.

This defining of self should not be determined by society, friends or family. It should not be the result of outer definitions but rather an inner process of awakening and discovery. Inherent within a true sense of self is an awareness of purpose in our lives. This purpose gives meaning to our lives and is in an ongoing process of unfoldment. This will become a source of revelation as we mature. It is our inner compass that gives us direction in our life’s journey and is essential to keep us on the right track. It leads us to the fulfillment of our destiny.

Each of us is a totally unique expression of divine will, love and wisdom. This manifests as our personal thinking, feeling and action. The conscious ongoing unfoldment of our individuality is what life is really about. Self-realization is the goal of human evolution. Aries rules this adventure of self-discovery.

Mars, the planetary ruler of The Ram, is at its strength now. It embodies the archetype of the warrior and expresses through action. It is the source of our motivation, initiative, pioneering spirit and courage. Courage is one of the primary virtues of Aries and we need it in order to deal with life’s challenges. We live in interesting times and we all need to call on our inner resource of courage to effectively embrace and work through our fears.

Physiologically, Aries rules the head. The brain is contained within the head and is the master control for the nervous system. The nervous system is the foundation for our consciousness. Our physical senses receive input from the outer world and we respond through mobility and action. Our head directs us in life.

Aries and Mars also express through the adrenal glands. These potent endocrine glands supply us with the energy to be aggressive and competitive. Life demands that we express ourselves in dynamic action. One of the ways that we discover who we are is through what we do. If we do not have a zest for life, we will find that we do not accomplish much. If we don’t achieve much, we will have a minimal degree of self-discovery and self-realization. Strong, healthy adrenal glands are necessary for a fulfilling life.

Iron is the metal through which Aries and Mars manifest. Iron is an important element of the blood. The blood is the carrier of the spiritual I Am at the level of the physical body. The blood is also the vehicle for the hormones and secretions of the endocrine glands. It is important that we have plenty of iron and purified blood to live life effectively. Some herbs that may be helpful in this regard are burdock root, red clover, fo ti, sassafras and yellow dock. Now is the time to use these herbal supplements to tone up your system. Check with your health practitioner to see if they are appropriate for you. Enjoy!

THE ABOVE IS NOT MEANT TO BE TAKEN AS MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL.

2009 All Rights Reserved, Robert Ayres

Robert Ayres is an internationally known astrologer with over 40 years of experience. He can be reached for personal consultations at (530) 550-1118.

Written by Tony C. Jensen, Doctor of Chiropractic |

What is Health – is it the absence of symptoms? Lets take the time to investigate that. If you don’t have symptoms right now are you completely healthy or is your body just setting on the edge ready to fall into symptoms?

Symptoms start after our body has been pushed past its threshold of normal and so it creates symptoms as warning signs. The most overlooked body systems are the brain and nervous system. Your nervous system consist of two parts: the Central Nervous System or CNS = the Brain, Brain stem and the Spinal Cord; and the Peripheral Nervous System or PNS = the spinal nerves and all the nerves that go to every tissue and organ in your body.

It is fair to say the brain and nervous system are the most important systems we have next to our soul. It’s the master computer for your body and the wiring that makes it possible for your heart, stomach, digestion, reproductive, skin, immune system and cells to all work 100 percent. Without the brain and nervous system, we’re dead!  So if you take one of those delicate nerves and pinch it, what do you think is going to happen to the communication between the brain and that organ/tissue/cell?  That’s right, it won’t be able to work at its optimal function.

Your threshold of pain depends on how fast you might feel pain symptoms but by then the nerve and surrounding tissue has been irritated for some time causing more problems, similar to waiting until you feel a cavity and have a swollen face and pain. It takes more work to fix it at this stage. Prior to the pain stage things have been slowly building. This is the same in the nervous system. You could be having mild symptoms that don’t seem that bad but they are slowly building for bigger problems.

A Subluxation is where one of the joints of the vertebrae get stuck or jammed up – like when you jam your finger. It hurts so you pull it or grab it and rub it, but lets say you jammed your finger and you left it that way. In time your body would adapt around it, leaving you with a less than normal function of that finger.

You cause a subluxation or pinched nerve at one of the joints and you leave it because it’s not that bad. Your body adapts around it trying to get out of pain or symptoms setting yourself up for future problems.

Most people have an injury or problem that didn’t properly get taken care of earlier, that is now coming back to haunt them. These people are the one’s that state   “I just bent over to pick something up” or “I just reached for something” or “I just woke up like this.”  These are all “Silent Killers” because you have been running on less than 100 percent nervous system function.

So what has been happening to your body along the way? If that nerve goes to your stomach, your digestion and acids haven’t been working properly either. If the nerves go to your heart or lungs, legs, hands, immune system or muscles etc., you could have the beginning of some serious problems.

The options now are to either cover up these problems with medications or try to get down to the cause and fix it before it is too late. It’s having a pebble in your shoe; at first you try and move it around by tapping your shoe, then finally you stop and take your shoe off and take the pebble out.

References:

1. Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

For more info, contact Jensen Chiropractic at (775) 323-1222.

Integrate Your Awareness For Making Clear & Powerful Choices

Written by Cheryl Blossom MA, EdT |

Most traditions agree that the soul is timeless; yet our experience tells us that time is of the essence. The plane of the earth is a four-dimensional reality, and we experience multi-dimensions of our soul.

How do we deal with these apparent discrepancies between time and timelessness, and living in the four dimensional space of earth while knowing and sensing the multi – dimensions of our being?

What does this have to do with living at choice?

When we cut off our perceptions of the timelessness and multi-dimensions of our soul we narrow our ability to see change and transitions from an expanded state – fear and resistance set in. Choosing from this four-dimensional space and limited time perspective. We may deal with this threat by avoiding consciously choosing. If we are not willing to consciously make choices or take the consequences of our choices we stiffen and contract. Soon life becomes difficult, automatic and painful, and we resist change.

Change can be experienced as the need to choose and move; wherever we resist choice we limit our potential and inhibit our creativity. If difficulty is present at any level of consciousness, whether mental, physical, or emotional, it is usually the result of refusing to choose, thus opposing change.

The cosmic joke is that we are always choosing. Every moment of our lives involves choice – yes, no, maybe, later – all of our choices are made in this moment of now. We can’t choose in the future – we choose now for a future.

From our timeless and multidimensional soul’s perspective, choosing is the juice of life; a universal constant, we are always choosing whether we are deliberate or not. So why is there so much suffering around choosing?  If making choices is such an integral part of living how do we build self – trust and ease in making our choices?

There is a mathematical parable from the 1930s, which teaches that the ability to perceive any specific number of dimensions requires that the consciousness of the observer be operant from at least one dimension higher.

To perceive a square you must view it from three dimensions. To perceive a cube you must view it from four dimensions. To observe ourselves we need to be in a higher dimension than the forth dimension of “reality.”

To experience the illusion of causality, to have memories, to project into the future all require that our awareness needs to expand into a higher dimension. Looking at your life from an expanded state instead of being inside the drama gives you more choice of what to do next. Choices made from an expanded perspective have more congruency – we see more of what is going on; we have more information. When we expand our consciousness we have more of our Self; we have more of a profound sense of identity, partnership and alliance with our soul.

Our soul or spiritual level of consciousness links us in an instant, like the synapses of nerves to times and places beyond the here and now. This linkage provides us with a profound sense of knowing and our choices are made with clarity and power. All parts of our self come together in the present.

When all parts of our self are in the present we experience unconditional acceptance, and peace. Our consciousness has no part of it somewhere else wishing that it were different than the way it is.

Integrating our awareness of expanded dimensional realities into our personality’s awareness of this life provides for presence. Presence is that state where time and space disappears; peace, acceptance and love are present. All aspects of our self are available to us and we are congruent. This is the place in meditation where we experience the perfection of the universe.

Expanding our perceptual net and perceiving from this expanded dimension is a method used in Integrated Awareness® therapy. The experience of our life is small compared to our whole self, and since we don’t live in meditation we need a way to provide us with this state of expanded presence as we go about our life. Integrated Awareness® is a way to provide this connection.

Integrated Awareness® is a therapy that provides tools to shift your awareness, transform the meanings that you have assigned to your life experiences, heighten your perceptions and allow you to choose and direct your intentions powerfully.

Integrated Awareness® has you harvest from your life experiences in a profound, intentional and sacred way, so that you can shape your future on a present and expanded path. It aligns you – to have the divine you – shine through!

References:

1. Gelbard, Silvia. Convergence

2.Rutter, Diane. Soul Medicine

For more info, contact Cheryl Blossom, MA, EdT, Director of Institute for Inspired Living at (775) 338-8617.