Yuen Method

Treating children exposed to air pollution, toxic chemicals and other pollutants costs $76.6 billion dollars a year.

Chicago Healers Practitioner Dr. Martha Howard states that this is a big issue around the holiday season, with its chemically scented candles and potpourris, gifts of lotions, soaps and sprays that contain chemicals and dyes, plug-in or spray air “fresheners” made to smell like cinnamon or other holiday fragrances, new clothes with formaldehyde resin coatings, (wash all new clothing before wearing!) pajamas treated with fire retardants, toys with lead paint or toy jewelry with lead parts—it seems like there is no end to the “list that you have to check twice.”

According to a study sponsored by Kresge Foundation, done at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and reported in the May 2011 issue of the journal Health Affairs, cancer, asthma, autism, ADD and exposure to mercury are some of the pollution-related diseases that cost the most. And that does not even measure the physical, mental and emotional costs to the children themselves and their families. The study’s cost estimates included lost productivity of parents taking care of sick children, as well as the treatments.

Here is the cost breakdown:

-       Childhood cancer costs $95 million.

-       Lead poisoning costs $50.9 billion.

-       Autism costs $7.9 billion.

-       Intellectual disability costs $5.4 billion.

-       Exposure to mercury (methyl mercury) costs $5.1 billion.

-       Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder costs $5 billion.

-       Asthma costs $2.2 billion

What does this mean to allergic children and their parents? Children with existing allergies to common airborne allergens like tree pollens, grass, dust and molds, and foods are even more vulnerable to chemical pollutants than other children. Toxic chemicals in air, water and food act as poisons in themselves, and in addition increase allergic response to common allergens.

What to do?

Avoid exposure to indoor chemical pollutants, and chemicals in foods.  Here is a list of some of the important items:

Air fresheners, candles, potpourris, and other scented holiday items that have chemical ingredients.  Make sure they are naturally scented.  Airborne chemicals, oils and waxes can make asthma and allergies worse, and actually cause lung damage.

Formaldehyde in new clothes, carpet, wallboard and furniture made of particle board,or backed with particle board.  If you do purchase a piece of children’s furniture backed with particle board, it should be sealed with a no-VOC, water-based sealer.

Lead paint and other toxic paints. Children’s rooms should be painted only with nontoxic no-VOC paints. Even latex paints can emit toxic fumes over a long period of time, worsening allergies and asthma.

Painted metal toys and children’s jewelry–many of these have lead based paints

Permanent markers

Food dyes, additives, and artificial sugars. The so-called “generally recognized as safe” food dyes are made of coal tar. MSG and aspartame are neurotoxins.  See Russell Blaylock MD’s comprehensive book, Exitotoxins: The Taste that Kills.

Plastics that contain BPA

Fire retardant chemicals in pajamas and bedding

Shampoos, lotions and other body products that have endless lists of chemical ingredients.  Desert Essence makes a good line of chemical-free body products.

And, speaking of lotions, if you are going to enjoy a holiday vacation in the sun, remember to avoid sunscreens with “gender bending” chemicals like homosalate, octylmethoxycinnamate, octocrylene, oxybenzone.

Use California Baby hypoallergenic sunscreen, Desert Essence sunscreen, or Aubrey Organic Sunscreen on all children (and on adults too!)

Have a safe, joyful and chemical-free holiday!

This New Year’s, consider hypnotherapy as a resolution – now you can write the expense off in your tax credit, so there is no reason not to feel better in 2012.

Everyone has ailments that seem incurable, be it losing those last ten pounds or quitting smoking.
Hypnosis works at the root of the problem, instead of just trying to get you to eat fewer carbs or to stop buying cigarettes. This leads to long-lasting results and a happier life.

Dr. Funda Kahn, Chicago Healers Practitioner, Medical and Clinical Hypnotist and EFT Practitioner, offers some insights into this life-changing treatment and how you can access it for free.

Hypnotherapy programs that you can receive tax credit for include:

Stop-Smoking Programs

You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for a program to stop smoking. However, you cannot include in medical expenses amounts you pay for drugs that do not require a prescription, such as nicotine gum or patches that are designed to help stop smoking.

Weight-Loss Programs

You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to lose weight if it is a treatment for a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes or heart disease). This includes fees you pay for membership in a weight reduction group and attendance at periodic meetings. You cannot include membership dues in a gym, health club, or spa as medical expenses, but you can include separate fees charged there for weight loss activities.

How to Report

To claim the credit, complete Form 8885, Health Coverage Tax Credit, and attach it to your Form 1040 or Form 1040NR. Report the credit on Form 1040, line 67, or Form 1040NR, line 62, and check box c. You cannot claim the credit on Form 1040A or Form 1040EZ.

You must attach invoices and proof of payment for any amounts you include on line 2 of Form 8885 for which you did not receive an advance payment. If you file your return electronically, attach the invoices and proof of payment to your Form 8453. Proof of payment may include a pay stub if insurance is through a spouse’s employment, a bank check, or bank statement for premiums that are automatically deducted from your account.

If you claim this credit, you cannot take the same expenses that you use to figure your health coverage tax credit into account in determining your:

- Medical and dental expenses on Schedule A (Form 1040)

- Self-employed health insurance deduction, or

- Archer Medical Savings Account (MSA) distributions.

This process is very simple, and after following these easy steps you can receive hypnotherapy for virtually zero cost.

Here’s to a new year!

For more information on Dr. Funda Kahn and receiving IRS Tax Credit for hypnosis please visit: www.chicagohealers.com.

About Chicago Healers:

Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy.  Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website.  With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications.  For more information, visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

###

Media Contact: Paramount Public Relations, Inc.

Jessica Prah, 312.544.4190, jprah@paramountpr.com

Amanda Kaiser, 312.544.4190, amanda@paramountpr.com

We’re in the thick of the holiday shopping season and we’ve all got gifts on the brain.  All this leads up to the “most wonderful time of the year”.  Yet for many of us, this season of giving is spoiled by the stress of overspending.

Though the economy is still pretty fragile, many of us will still fall prey to spend, spend and spend over the next few weeks.  In the face of financial insecurity and job instability, we continue to allow both external pressures –Gifts!  Parties!  Kids! – as well as our own internal crabs to guide how we spend our own money.

Chicago Healers Practitioner Julie Murphy Casserly shares tips to reel in spending during the holidays:

Avoid charging every credit card to the max – Take a load off by not racking up too much debt.  Lay off the credit card by not charging things you can’t afford.

Use cash – Try to use cash as much as possible, within reason.  Studies have shown that when people spend cash they are most likely to think twice about purchasing something major.

50/50 split – Try setting aside 50% of your holiday spending to cash and putting the rest on credit cards.

The goal here is to lessen the load on you financially and emotionally during the holiday season.  During this season of giving, give to others what you can.  But give to yourself the gift of less stress and more holiday love.

For information about holiday spending and Julie Murphy Casserly visit www.chicagohealers.com.

About Chicago Healers:

Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy.  Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website.  With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications.  For more information, visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

###

Media Contact:

Jessica Prah, 312-544-4190, jprah@paramountpr.com

Amanda Kaiser, 312-544-4190, akaiser@paramountpr.com

The end of the school semester means one thing for students: finals.  Students are bogged down with papers, presentations, exams and it can be tempting to reach for those fatty foods and high-caloric energy drinks to fuel long study sessions.  Though seemingly innocuous, these food choices can have detrimental effects on student’s cognitive performance.  Chicago Healers practitioner Ian Wahl, LaC suggests natural remedies to boost comprehension and information retention.

Skip the fast food – Fatty foods are detrimental to brain cells as the trans-fatty acids harm the blood flow in the brain.  Grab something healthy like an apple with peanut butter or toast with hummus spread, instead.

Take a rest- Relaxing and taking breaks from studying are excellent ways to regain focus and productivity in studying.  Don’t be afraid to take a little time off.

Drink up –  Drinking water is a simple way to revive brain functions and regain your focus.  The brain is 85% water which lends to smooth and consistent brain function.

Tea – Teas have just enough caffeine to give you a buzz of concentration, with the added bonus of hydration.

Using these tips, students can have a less stressful finals season.  If you are interested in learning about more natural stress remedies or Ian Wahl visit www.chicagohealers.com.

About Chicago Healers:

Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy.  Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website.  With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications.  For more information, visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

Media Contact:

Jessica Prah, 312- 544-4190, jprah@paramountpr.com

Jeff Lucas, M.A., LCPC, (630) 664-7251, Naperville
I practice a unique, life-transforming style of holistic, integrative therapy including potent visualization and computer-assisted technology for the brain. My approach is universal and holds much hope for personal and spiritual change for every person who meets me.
profile

Dr. Martha Howard, MD, Dipl. Ac. NCCAOM
Treating children exposed to air pollution, toxic chemicals and other pollutants costs $76.6 billion dollars a year.

This is a big issue around the holiday season, with its chemically scented candles and potpourris, gifts of lotions, soaps and sprays that contain chemicals and dyes, plug-in or spray air “fresheners” made to smell like cinnamon or other holiday fragrances, new clothes with formaldehyde resin coatings, (wash all new clothing before wearing!) pajamas treated with fire retardants, toys with lead paint or toy jewelry with lead parts—it seems like there is no end to the “list that you have to check twice.”

According to a study sponsored by Kresge Foundation, done at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and reported in the May 2011 issue of the journal Health Affairs, cancer, asthma, autism, ADD and exposure to mercury are some of the pollution-related diseases that cost the most. And that does not even measure the physical, mental and emotional costs to the children themselves and their families. The study’s cost estimates included lost productivity of parents taking care of sick children, as well as the treatments.

Here is the cost breakdown:

Childhood cancer cost $95 million.
Lead poisoning cost $50.9 billion.
Autism cost $7.9 billion.
Intellectual disability cost $5.4 billion.
Exposure to mercury (methyl mercury) cost $5.1 billion.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cost $5 billion.
Asthma cost $2.2 billion

What does this mean to allergic children and their parents? Children with existing allergies to common airborne allergens like tree pollens, grass, dust and molds, and foods are even more vulnerable to chemical pollutants than other children. Toxic chemicals in air, water and food act as poisons in themselves, and in addition increase allergic response to common allergens.
What to do?

Avoid exposure to indoor chemical pollutants, and chemicals in foods. Here is a list of some of the important items:

• Air fresheners, candles, potpourris, and other scented holiday items that have chemical ingredients. Make sure they are naturally scented. Airborne chemicals, oils and waxes can make asthma and allergies worse, and actually cause lung damage.

• Formaldehyde in new clothes, carpet, wallboard and furniture made of particle board,or backed with particle board. If you do purchase a piece of children’s furniture backed with particle board, it should be sealed with a no-VOC, water-based sealer.
• Lead paint and other toxic paints. Children’s rooms should be painted only with nontoxic no-VOC paints. Even latex paints can emit toxic fumes over a long period of time, worsening allergies and asthma.
• Painted metal toys and children’s jewelry–many of these have lead based paints
• Permanent markers
• Food dyes, additives, and artificial sugars. The so-called “generally recognized as safe” food dyes are made of coal tar. MSG and aspartame are neurotoxins. See Russell Blaylock MD’s comprehensive book, Exitotoxins: The Taste that Kills.
• Plastics that contain BPA
• Fire retardant chemicals in pajamas and bedding
• Shampoos, lotions and other body products that have endless lists of chemical ingredients. Desert Essence makes a good line of chemical-free body products.

And, speaking of lotions, if you are going to enjoy a holiday vacation in the sun, remember to avoid sunscreens with “gender bending” chemicals like homosalate, octylmethoxycinnamate, octocrylene, oxybenzone.

Use California Baby hypoallergenic sunscreen, Desert Essence sunscreen, or Aubrey Organic Sunscreen on all children (and on adults too!)

Have a safe, joyful and chemical free holiday!

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Julie Murphy Casserly, CFP® , CLU, ChFC

We’re in the thick of things in the holiday shopping season, and we’ve all gifts on our brains. Macy’s has had holiday displays up for a while, and pretty soon we’ll start hearing Christmas music. All this leads up to the “most wonderful time of the year.” Yet for many of us, this season of giving is spoiled by the stress of overspending.

It’s easy to the stresses of this time of year turn us into Scrooges, but so many of us allow those low moments take a turn for the less positive for a longer time. Maybe, the overwhelming list of gifts to give and parties to end has turned you into a crab in your own bucket.
Though the economy is still pretty fragile, many of us will still fall prey to spend, spend and spend some more over the next few weeks. In the face of financial insecurity and job instability, we continue to allow both external pressures – Gifts! Parties! Kids! – as well as our own internal crabs to guide how we spend our money.

Many finance journalists and experts say to save a little bit each month so that the holiday season doesn’t present such a problem money-wise. Putting away a little bit each month or pay period is a good way to avoid a lot of stress. But, with us already approaching mid-December, saving money now if you haven’t already may be a challenge.
So in this season of giving, give what you can…but not too much. And that means not allowing the crabs in your own bucket to make your financial decisions for you.

What does giving too much look like?

It’s charging every single credit card to the max. How many winter holidays have you spent more time stressing than feeling the seasonal happiness? We want to give the best to our kids, siblings and spouses. We need to be in the spirit for the Secret Santa or grab bag at work. And we can’t forget about our friends.
Take a load off by not racking up too much debt. Lay off the credit cards by not charging things you can’t afford. Yes, it’s the holidays, but that does not mean you need to go broke to be everyone else’s personal Santa Claus. The need to please everyone, especially during this time of year, is hard to resist; it’s the biggest crab in your bucket.

So this holiday season, try to use cash as much as possible – within reason, of course. Studies have shown that when people spend cash, they are more likely to think twice about purchasing something major.
I’m not expecting you to go cold turkey on the credit cards. Maybe you could start out with a 50/50 split; 50 percent of your holiday spending is available cash with the rest going on the credit cards. Or a different percentage – whatever works best for you.
The goal here is to lessen the load on you financially and emotionally. During this season of giving, give to others what you can. But give to yourself the gift of less stress and more holiday love.

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Money Habits formed at Age 6: Tips on Teaching Your Child about Money before it’s Too Late

The average American’s amount of debt is $10,000 (Money Talks News). With such a staggering number, we should take as many preventative measures as possible to avoid being buried in a mountain of debt. Surprisingly, though, your finance classes in college are not enough to nip overspending and under-saving in the bud. Our subconscious is almost completely formed by the time we are six years old, and it is around this time when most of our notions about money are formed.

As adults, during those moments when restraint goes out of the window, we tap into our subconscious and our deepest feelings – the ones that shaped us as youngsters – come to light. For example, pretty much all of us are taught from a young age that setting personal boundaries is selfish. When was the last time your coworkers went for post-work cocktails and pressured you into going, even though you knew it was over your budget? These types of scenarios have been happening to you your entire life, and it takes practice and acceptance of these feelings to overcome these poor money habits.

ChicagoHealers.com practitioner, Dr. Julie Murphy Casserly, CFP, provides some tips to help reflect on your own financial upbringing and find ways to outgrow your more immature money habits:

Dig in your piggy bank. Maybe as a child you saved all your lemonade stand money diligently in an increasingly hefty piggy bank, or maybe you blew it all on candy at the grocery store. Either way, childhood experiences dealing with money can subconsciously impact your spending habits as an adult. For example if kids called you “poor” at school because your parents couldn’t afford brand-name clothes, you may justify splurging on designer clothes now because you still have that deep-rooted insecurity about being singled out when you were younger. Write down any experiences that come to your mind about money as a child so you can start overcoming these scarring situations.

Set personal boundaries. As a child peer pressure plays a big role in how we react to situations – even if you wouldn’t normally drink before prom, your friends teasing you could be incentive to go along with it. These familiar situations are replicated in our adult life, and the only thing we can do is be aware of this and change ourselves. Next time a friend asks you out to a dinner you can’t afford, recognize your behavior patterns and hesitate before you say yes. Can you really afford this? Is it worth it? Chances are your friend will respect your honesty if you politely decline or request a less pricey alternative for a social gathering.

A penny for your thoughts. This week, while your kids are doing homework, spend some time reflecting on your own childhood experiences with money. Did your parents encourage you to use your money a certain way? Did you have a job babysitting or mowing lawns as a kid? Journal about the things that come to mind.

Take a personal inventory. What were some of the things you wrote down? Did you quickly spend your allowance or did you tightly hold on to it? What do you feel when you remember those childhood experiences? And how does that feeling shift when you think about how those experiences affect you today?

Set an example. Now that you know these things about your own childhood, make sure your child has a healthy view on finances from a young age. Discuss the importance of generosity and being grateful for what you have and the fact that happiness does not come from material satisfaction.

The deep-rooted anxiety many of us feel about money is hard to kick, especially if your financial situation as a child wasn’t as sunny as The Wonder Years. So why is this anxiety so hard to let go? Most unhealthy behaviors are the result of two types of internal emotional conflict: having needs that aren’t met or having trouble setting personal boundaries. When you look over the things you wrote down, you can take the knowledge that these insecurities stem from your monetary past, which makes it easier to accept and move past it.  Whenever you feel financially insecure, take a deep breath, be thankful for what you have, and realize you’ve come a long way, baby.

About ChicagoHealers.com

Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy.  Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website.  With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications.  For more information, visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

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Media Contact: Paramount Public Relations, Inc.

Jessica Prah, 312.544.4190, jprah@paramountpr.com
Amanda Kaiser, 312.544.4190, amanda@paramountpr.com

Daylight savings time is fast approaching, and when the clocks fall back so will your daily dose of sunshine.  Sunlight has long been associated with levels of vitamin D, a compound that plays an essential role in bone health.  Over time, minimal sunlight can lead to vitamin D deficiencies resulting in weakened bones and fatigue. Decreased sunlight, however, does not make maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D impossible.  Chicago Healer’s Valerie Early, RD, offers alternative ways to ensure that you get the proper amount of vitamin D:

FOOD – While one should not depend on food to get a sufficient amount of vitamin D, it is still a useful source.  Vitamin D can be found in milk and fatty fishes such as salmon or tuna.  You can also look for foods fortified with Vitamin D such as certain soy milks, breakfast cereals, orange juice, and margarine.

SUPPLEMENTS – Supplements are your best bet for getting enough vitamin D.  Multivitamins can be used, but check that it has the correct type of vitamin D (cholecalciferol).

GET TESTED – The amount of vitamin D that each person needs can vary.  For example, people age 50 and older, people with lactose intolerance, people with darker skin, and people who are obese may be more prone to vitamin D deficiency. Check in with your doctor and ask for a blood test to ensure that you are working toward the correct number.

Remember to be watchful for symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency over the winter months. Symptoms include chronic backache, depression, hypertension, weight gain and rickets, and can develop into more serious diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Vitamin D is also shown to lessen the risk of developing certain cancers, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and hypertension, so the importance of keeping your vitamin D levels up even in the winter months is of utmost importance.

Please let me know if you would like to contact Valerie Early for an interview.

About Chicago Healers:

Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy.  Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website.  With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications.  For more information, visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

###

Media Contact: Paramount Public Relations, Inc.

Jessica Prah, 312.544.4190, jprah@paramountpr.com
Amanda Kaiser, 312.544.4190, amanda@paramountpr.com

November is TMJ Syndrome Awareness Month, a common culprit for headaches and jaw pain.  TMJ is a disorder that occurs when the muscles in the jaw and temporomandibular joint is misaligned, resulting in severe discomfort. Common treatments involve medication, or surgery for more severe cases.  Boehm recommends looking into natural therapies, though, which can be just as effective without the side effects of more invasive treatments.

Chicago Healer’s Practitioner Dr. Kevin Boehm, DDS, specializes in TMJ treatment and offers the following alternative therapies for TMJ:

ETPS Therapy – A therapy combining both the practices of acupuncture and neurology to relieve pain.

Cranial Sacral Therapy – A preventative health measure utilizing gentle massages on the neck, skull, and spine to release restrictions in the cranial sacral system.

Symphatic Therapy – A manual massage designed to assist in the drainage of the lymphatic system.

Dr. Boehm also advises readers to look out for the following common symptoms of TMJ:

Dizziness

Earaches

Spasms or cramps in the jaw area

Jaw tenderness

Difficulty chewing

Clicking, popping, grating sound when opening jaw

For more information on TMJ or Dr. Kevin Boehm visit chicagohealers.com.

About Chicago Healers:

Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy.  Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website.  With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications.  For more information, visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

###

Media Contact: Paramount Public Relations, Inc.

Jessica Prah, 312.544.4190, jprah@paramountpr.com
Amanda Kaiser, 312.544.4190, amanda@paramountpr.com

Sweet Potatoes: The Champion of Thanksgiving Dinners

Forget the green bean casserole.  Put the red skinned potatoes back on the shelf.  If you are looking for the perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving dinner, look no further than the sweet potato.  Not only do sweet potatoes pair well with the ubiquitous turkey, but they also pack quite the nutritional punch.  They are a great source of Vitamin A, potassium, Vitamin C and B6 and are chock-full of powerful disease-fighting phytochemicals.

The problem with Thanksgiving sweet potato recipes are that they are usually laden with so much fat and sugar that the health benefits are nearly cancelled out.  Chicago Healers Practitioner Dr. Martha Howard offers some simple recipes that won’t weigh you down on Thanksgiving.

“Candied” Sweet Potatoes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

Scrub 4 large sweet potatoes, pat dry and oil lightly with olive oil.

Prick with a fork and cook on a rack in a pan lined with foil or parchment paper to catch drippings.  Cook for 1 to 1 ¼ hours, until tender when pierced with a fork.

Let potatoes cool slightly and cut in half lengthwise.  Drizzle on a small amount (about a quarter teaspoon per potato) of agave nectar and sprinkle with a small amount of cinnamon.  (You can also use a little fresh grated ginger and/or shredded coconut for a wonderful tropical taste.)  Slide under the broiler and watch carefully, remove when light brown and bubbly, and serve.

“Mom’s”  Sweet Potato, Pineapple, Marshmallow Casserole, 2011 Style

Cook sweet potatoes as in the “Candied” Sweet Potato recipe.  Let cool, peel, and mash.  Lightly oil a casserole dish and alternate layers of sweet potato with layers of pineapple chunks (the organic ones, canned in their own juice, of course) and about a teaspoon of melted butter drizzled over each layer, and sprinkle ¼-1/2 teaspoon salt evenly over each layer.  Arrange pineapple chunks on the top of the casserole, and arrange a half cup of mini marshmallows around the top between the pineapple chunks.

Combine a teaspoon and a half of agave nectar and a teaspoon and a half of melted butter and drizzle over the top.  Cook at 375 for about 30 minutes, until the marshmallows are melted and the top is golden brown.

Using agave nectar and pineapple canned in its own juice instead of pineapple in heavy syrup, and taking it easy with the marshmallows, makes this a much healthier, equally yummy Thanksgiving dish.

For more information on Dr. Martha Howard and the benefits of sweet potatoes visit: www.chicagohealers.com.

About Chicago Healers:

Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy.  Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website.  With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications.  For more information, visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

###

Media Contact: Paramount Public Relations, Inc.

Jessica Prah, 312.544.4190, jprah@paramountpr.com
Amanda Kaiser, 312.544.4190, amanda@paramountpr.com

Raymond G. Hatland, DDS

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GUM DISEASE:

1. It is the main reason people lose their teeth after age 30.

2. It is the main cause of bad breath and bleeding gums.

3. Most patients find out they have gum disease years or decades after it has already started.

4. A symptom-free and clean mouth may still have many areas of active gum disease.

5. Most gum disease symptoms are minor nuisances and are usually painless.

6. 60% of the plaque found in blood vessels comes from diseased periodontal pockets.

7. Research has shown that elderly patients with active gum disease have a 40% greater chance of suffering a heart attack. Reversing active, early to advanced gum disease is now possible without surgery.

Our unique patient-friendly Reverse Gum Disease training program enables patients to eradicate all active gum disease in their mouth and be able to maintain disease-free periodontal structures. My patients continue to amaze me with what they achieve in this program. Teeth that would normally have been extracted have become healthy and stable. Periodontal pockets, ranging from 5 mm to 13 mm deep have shrunk 2 to 8 mm without surgery or using antibiotics or medicated inserts. Tired of managing a losing battle with your gum disease? Our program can help. For more information visit http://www.drhatland.com/

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KAREN ERICKSON, BS

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and according to The National Cancer Institute, cigarette smoking causes 87% of lung cancer deaths. In addition, smoking increases a woman’s risk of stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure, blood clots, coronary and peripheral artery diseases and many other life threatening diseases. ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner, Karen Erickson, BS explains that many women smoke to avoid emotion. It is a way to distract themselves from feelings such as boredom, loneliness, sadness or stress.

“Many women call their cigarettes their friends, their little buddies,” says Erickson. “They have created an emotional illusion about smoking because of some void in their life which they are trying to fill with smoking.”

Erickson says that the first step in quitting is to become educated on the subject. There are over 4,000 toxic chemical compounds in one cigarette that slowly kills a smoker. In addition, Mayo Clinic reports that smoking causes ten times more wrinkles in woman than in non-smokers. Another avenue to choose when quitting is determining what it is that cigarettes are trying to compensate for and come up with a healthy way to deal with the feelings or desires.

Once a commitment has been made to quit smoking for good, follow Erickson’s tips to remain smoke free:

Breathe In, Breathe Out- Find a healthy activity to keep busy with such as meditation, gardening, exercise or reading.

Write it Out- Create a list filled with the benefits of quitting. Go over the list everyday to reinforce the commitment.

Switch It Up!- Change a routine to make it easier to quit. If bars are a trigger, avoid them initially. If coffee is a trigger, switch to tea for a period of time.

Help is On the Way- If assistance is needed, find a smoking cessation center where services are offered such as hypnosis, acupuncture, biofeedback and herbal remedies.

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Flu:  Treat it Naturally!  Boost Your Immunity!

Martha H. Howard, MD

Flu season is here.

How do you prevent flu? Are some of the “old standards” helpful? Can Traditional Chinese Medicine kill the flu virus and help resolve flu symptoms?  Here are some facts.

PREVENTION The most important preventive measure is the old standard that knows no country of origin: frequent hand washing. Also, do not rub or touch your eyes or nose when you are out in public and haven’t washed your hands. Buy, carry and use the non-alcohol based ecologic hand sanitizers. Cough into a tissue or your bent arm.
IMMUNE BOOSTERS   One of the best immune boosters is still Vitamin C. Take at least 500 milligrams, with 6 to 8 ounces of water, 4 times a day. Other immune boosters are strong anti-oxidants including Oprah’s current favorite, acai berry. Another one, which is known specifically to work for flu, is elderberry. There an alternative version of Airborne, Source Naturals “Wellness Fizz” which contains forsythia, and all the other herbs in the Yin Chiao formula I will describe below in the treatment section. as well as zinc, selenium, and elderberry.
SYMPTOMS It’s important to recognize the symptoms early: they are any combination of these:  headache, cough, sore throat, fever, nausea, dizziness.

TREATMENT If you have any of the above symptoms, most recent studies show that Tamiflu has not proven to be effective and start it right away, so don’t bother with a prescription. Many types of flu viruses are already resistant to it.

Probably the most effective treatment is Chinese herbs. They are effective in both killing the virus and helping resolve the flu symptoms. The best thing to take is a combination of two Chinese formulasYin Chiao Chieh Tu Pian, and Zhong Gan Ling. They should be taken as a combinationtwo to four Yin Chiao tablets twice a day, and four to six Zhong Gan Ling tablets three times a day. They should be taken with food. It is also important to remember that if the person has signs of prostration that is, too sick to get up, or shows any sign of dehydration, they should go to the hospital.

One of my favorite media resources, Consumer Reports pretty much issues a blanket warning against use of any supplements or “immune boosters”.  They imply that there is nothing that can really boost the immune system.  That has inspired me to comment on my recommendations, especially the ones regarding Traditional Chinese Medicine, which I have been practicing since 1978. Let me just make my own blanket statement here. Chinese herbal formulas can be effective for flu.

Last year I did some research on formulas which had been used successfully in China for bird flu. I found one, but it was a formula that requires getting packets of raw herbs at a Chinese pharmacy, boiling them, and then drinking the (generally nasty tasting) tea. That’s just not going to happen in this country. Before I looked any further I checked with my partner, Dr. Leon Chen, who was an orthopedic surgeon in China and head of a large hospital department of orthopedic surgery in Kansu before he came here. He confirmed that the formula I had found was the real thing. Then we looked for Chinese patent formulas that had the same herbs in them, and came up with the combination of Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pian and Zhong Gan Ling. I have actually used this for flu for myself and for patients and it has worked. I have not specifically used it for swine flu. However, Chinese herbs work differently than Western drugs. They are very complex, and it is nearly impossible for viruses or bacteria to develop resistance to them. As a matter of fact, there are antimicrobial formulas that were first recorded in 200 A.D., are still used, and still work. So with all due respect to Consumer Reports, an appropriate formula from Traditional Chinese Medicine is something that you can use to help you if you get the flu.

By the way, there is also the issue of quality control for the Chinese patent formulas, a legitimate worry with all the contaminated products of various kinds coming from China, and something I am very careful with in my practice. The company I recommend is Mayway, which distributes Plum Flower herbs, all rigorously quality controlled. Mayway doesn’t sell the formulas directly, but you can buy them at www.chineseherbsdirect.com.

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Kevin M. Boehm, DDS

Do you have headaches, neck aches, clicking jaws, limited opening range of the jaw or ringing in the ears? It may be TMJ Syndrome. Some 60 million Americans have TMJS. Simply put, TMJS is the syndrome that happens when the muscles in the jaw and the temporomandibular joint are out of alignment or misaligned, causing problems when chewing. In simpler terms, the ligaments, muscles, bones and joints do not line up, thereby causing pain.

Symptoms of TMJ

• clicking, popping or grating sound when opening or closing the mouth
• headaches and/or dizziness
• tenderness in jaw muscles
• earaches
•  jaws that sometimes lock open when yawning or if mouth is held open
• spasm or cramps in the jaw area

Talk to your dental practitioner if you want to stop jaw and headache pain before it starts. There are natural treatments avaialable that do not involve pills, shots surgery or side effects.

For more information click the link below and select “TMJ and Craniofacial Pain”

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Julie Murphy Casserly,CFP®

The school year is well underway for millions of children around the country who are grappling with the difficulties of being  kids  – issues we adults can forget at times. Our problems – office politics, the mortgage, caring for aging loved ones – seem so much bigger than the things our children have to face in their lives.

What many of us don’t realize, though, is what happens in childhood affects us our entire lives. Our subconscious is completely formed by the time we are six years old. So the majority of our actions and reactions got their roots before we even hit the first grade.

Your childhood

No one has total control of their emotions 100 percent of the time. When we face conflict, we won’t always be able to handle the situation without going a little bit off the deep end. During those moments when restraint goes out ofthe window, we tap into our subconscious and our deepest feelings – the ones that shape us – come to light.

For example, pretty much all of us are taught from a young age that setting personal boundaries is selfish. And as adults, even when something makes us uncomfortable, we sometimes feel like we have to go along with things because that’s what we are supposed to do.
When was the last time your coworkers went for post-work cocktails and pressured you into going, even though you knew it was over your budget? These types of scenarios have been happening to you your entire life. Like when you were peer-pressured into drinking after your junior prom, or when the other kids teased you at summer camp because your clothes were too different from everyone else’s. We’ve essentially recreated familiar situations we faced in childhood and replicated them in our adulthood. The only difference between what happened to us in childhood and what’s happening now is that our finances are greatly affected by our decisions.

Reflect

So this week, while your kids are doing homework, spend some time reflecting on your own childhood experiences. What did you do with your allowance – spend it all or save it? Did your parents encourage you to use your money a certain way?

Think about the different situations you were in during your childhood and teenage years. Journal about the things that come to mind.

What were some of the things you wrote down? Did you quickly spend your allowance or did you tightly hold on to it? Were you the leader of your pack or a shy type that went along with what your friends did?

Look over the things you wrote. What do you feel when you remember those childhood experiences? And how does that feeling shift when you think about how those experiences affect you today?

Here’s an example. When you would go shopping with your group of friends in high school, you felt pressured to buy something when everyone else in the group had a shopping bag. You didn’t want to feel left out, and you eased your anxiety by doing what the others did. As you grew older, you never kicked that feeling of needing to purchase something – anything – when someone close to you got something new for themselves. You never grew out of that anxiety; it grew right along with you.

So why is this anxiety so hard to kick? Most unhealthy behaviors are the result of two types of internal emotional conflict: having needs that aren’t met or having trouble setting personal boundaries. When you look over the things you wrote down, I’m willing to be that all of them fall within these two categories. And if those experiences still give you feelings of shame, anger or resentment, now is as good of a time as any to reroute those feelings.

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Kevin M. Boehm, DDS

We enjoy working with our young patients and understand that they have different needs when visiting the dentist.

We try not to push children so they end up fearful of the dentist’s office. We want their visit to be as fun and comfortable as possible, and for them to build life-long relationships with the dentist’s office.

Your child’s first visit:

We suggest that your child’s first visit be between eighteen months and two years of age. At that age we can begin to monitor the growth and development of their teeth and mouth.
Proper oral hygiene at home is extremely important and needs to begin at a very young age. Your dentist should take care  to instruct parents and children on proper brushing and flossing techniques and nutritional needs so they can enjoy good oral health for a lifetime.

Consider dental sealants:
Dental sealants are an excellent tool to use in the prevention of tooth decay in children. Dental sealants are applied to teeth, especially molars with large crevices where bacteria can accumulate and cause cavities. The sealant fills in the crevices forming a barrier to protect the tooth surface. When the use of sealants are accompanied by an oral health regimen that includes regular dental exams and cleanings, a healthy diet and good at-home dental care, we can greatly reduce and/or prevent the number of cavities experienced by children.

See the movie! To view fun animated clips that illustrate concepts of oral hygiene in a format your kids can relate to, click through to our site below and select Dental Sealants.

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Raymond G. Hatland DDS

Most parents take great care to monitor their children’s sugar intake, so when a dentist tells them their children’s teeth show signs of decay it comes as an unpleasant surprise.

Tooth decay is caused by frequent exposure to foods containing carbohydrates (starches and sugars).

Common culprits are soda pop, candy, ice cream, milk, cakes and even fruits, vegetables and juices. The problem with sugar is that it can lurk in the most unexpected places. There are sugars that appear naturally in many foods- even milk! For this reason we recommend parents don’t put their babies to sleep with a bottle of milk. Natural bacteria live in the mouth, and as the milk pools, the sugars mix with the bacteria to make a mild acid. This acid damages tooth enamel over time by dissolving, or demineralizing, the mineral structure of teeth, producing tooth decay and weakening the teeth.

Here are some tips to prevent teeth from the harmful effects of sugar:

• Read food labels carefully to identify sugars, which also come in the form of corn syrup, molasses, dextrose, fructose, glucose, sucrose and honey.

• Read medicine labels carefully too, as even medicine isn’t sugar free…remember Mary Poppins singing “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down? The pharma companies seem to have taken that to heart. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the ingredients of liquid cough syrup and other medications – sometimes they can recommend sugar free alternatives.

• When satisfying your candy cravings keep in mind that sticky sweets like toffee or hard candy that linger in your mouth compound the effects of sugar by offering a sustained food source for bacteria. Remember that it’s not necessarily the amount of sugar that can cause decay, but how long the candy stays in the mouth, which is why hard candies like suckers or sticky treats such as caramels and jujubes are poor choices from a dental perspective.

• If you’re trying to rationalize a chocolate craving, remember that popping a piece of solid chocolate in your mouth is better than choosing one filled with a gooey center, as the candy filling may stick to the teeth and provide a longer lasting food source for the natural bacteria to feed from in the mouth.

• Excess sugar can wreak havoc not just on your teeth, but elsewhere in the body too, so the wise thing for both your dental and general health is to make a habit of reading all the ingredients in all packaged foods before you buy them, being aware of low-sugar or sugar free alternatives in your daily diet and making healthy choices.

If possible, rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth thoroughly after exposure to sugars. If you can’t do that right away, keep a supply of sugar free gum with xylitol on hand to help cleanse your mouth.

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Tiffany Triner

Much research and attention has been focused on the connection between high levels of cholesterol in the blood and heart disease. Many people now rely on medication aimed at lowering lipid (blood fat) levels. Is that advisable? Let’s review the facts on cholesterol: what it is, what its role is in the body, how it can it be controlled through the foods we eat and other natural methods of treatment.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood that can accumulate inside your vessels and lead to heart problems. According to the American Heart Association, your liver and cells make up 75 percent of your cholesterol in your body, while the remaining 25 percent is found in your food. We have “good” and “bad” cholesterol within our bodies. LDL cholesterol is called “bad” cholesterol, because elevated levels of LDL cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. HDL cholesterol is called the “good cholesterol” because HDL cholesterol particles prevent atherosclerosis by extracting cholesterol from the artery walls and disposing of them through the liver.

When cholesterol is too high and the ratio between LDL and HDL is not ideal there are different options to consider. Some turn to a class of medications known as statins, however there are risks and side effects associated with them, including headaches, nausea, constipation, muscle weakness and pain, liver and kidney stress and/or failure, and increased risk of diabetes.

Natural or holistic options can combat high cholesterol. Making heart healthy food choices is the first step. Following are some of the best options:

• Fruits and vegetables. Fresh or frozen produce contain phytonutrients that help to prevent and repair cellular damage. They are scavengers for free radicals, which helps to protect our blood vessels. It is important to remember that fruits and vegetables are most beneficial when they are in their raw state. When cooking vegetables the best method to keep nutrients and enzymes from being destroyed is to lightly steam.
• Whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. Fiber is important in maintaining or reaching ideal cholesterol levels. Soluble fibers job is to bind to LDL (bad) Cholesterol which is eventually excreted out of our systems. Soluble fiber sources are foods like nuts, beans, legumes, and oats to name a few.
•  Fish. The American Heart association recommends eating fatty fish like salmon at least twice a week. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish help to lower the risk of heart disease.

The spices below work towards overall heart health:
    

• Caper, coriander, cinnamon, fenugreek, garlic, ginger Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol
• Fenugreek Raises HDL (good) cholesterol)
•  Bay leaf, garlic, ginger, oregano, rosemary, thyme, turmeric Anti-inflammatory
•  Clove, ginger, onion, oregano, rosemary, thyme Inhibit platelet aggregation (prevents blood clots)

There are also supplements and herbal treatments to treat high cholesterol. A few examples are red yeast rice with CoQ10 as well as plant sterols which help to naturally lower cholesterol levels. You should always consult with a health professional before starting any supplement routine.

Being active and developing a regular cardiovascular as well as strength training routine has been shown to raise the “good cholesterol” and lower the “bad”. If you are someone who does not currently incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, start by taking small steps such as taking a 15 minute walk everyday and working up from there.

It’s important to keep in mind that cholesterol has positive and essential roles within our bodies. We need cholesterol to produce hormones, vitamin D and bile. Cholesterol is also important for protecting nerves and for the structure of cells. Turning to a cholesterol free diet and avoiding even healthy fats is not a safe method of health care. Make sure you’re monitoring your cholesterol levels, and if they are elevated, taking steps towards a heart healthy diet and exercise routine should be the first line of defense.

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Martha H. Howard, MD

Turkey, ham, or almond-butter-and-jam sandwich
Potato chips
Carrots
Apple, tangerine, organic fruit twists, or organic apple sauce
Organic chocolate bar or cookies
Water

Isn’t this is a lunch any kid would love?

But first, what not to do! If you choose breads with a list of “dough conditioners” and other additives that is as long as your arm, standard “lunch meats” with all their nitrites, nitrites, MSG, “modified food starch”, chips with MSG and dyes, non organic carrots and fruit and a “Halloween candy” style candy bar, and a sugary, corn syrupy juice drink or sports drink, this same lunch can be totally unhealthy.

Here’s what to buy:

• Applegate Farms or Hormel Naturals turkey or ham (no nitrites, nitrates or MSG.) A good spread for these meats is organic mayo, or organic mustard, or both! And you can include some lettuce and tomato in a separate bag to add to the sandwich, or organic cheese, for kids who are not dairy allergic.
• Any organic whole grain bread. There are some softer light wheat breads that are kid-friendly. If your child has to be gluten-free, Udi’s is a good gluten-free bread.
• Chips¬-there are many varieties of organic, dye and additive free chips (that are actually good) at health food stores. My favorites are the reduced- fat Kettle Chips.
•  I have suggested apple or tangerine because they tend to survive better in a lunch bag. For fun, you can sometimes substitute Clif Organic Twisted Fruit—each stick contains a serving of real organic fruit, in strawberry, grape or tropical fruit flavors.
• Small lunch-bag size organic mini carrots are available at health food stores, or bag your own and save money.
•  I have suggested almond butter because many schools forbid peanut products due to children with peanut allergies. Be sure to get almond butter that contains only almonds, almond oil and salt. Check the label! I also suggest all-fruit jams. These have no cane or corn sugars, just the natural fruit sugar that belongs to the fruit itself.
• Chocolate! There are many varieties of organic chocolate bars, both milk and dark. Or, if your child needs a sugar-free treat try Nana’s No’s cookies, which are also gluten, dairy, and egg free.

For winter:

Make up some chicken soup with organic ingredients. Kirkland now has a good organic, gluten free chicken broth, available at Costco. With organic or free range chicken, the broth, and some organic veggies, and potatoes or noodles, this is a favorite. A wide mouth thermos is easy to fill and keeps the soup hot until lunch time. A whole grain roll and an apple are good “sides” for the soup.

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Dr. Helen Lee, DC

Diabetes has increased world wide at alarming rates over the past few decades. Statistics show that the incidence of diabetes has gone from 153 million diagnosed in 1980 to 347 million in 2008. More specifically, diabetes has risen twice as much as in the U.S as compared to the European countries.

The focus of “fixing” diabetes over the last decade has been to substitute sugar with artificial sugar, to switch natural fats with chemical derivatives and to medicate with drugs that cause the body to think blood sugar levels are “within normal range”. Clearly statistics and trends are showing that what we as a society have been doing to combat this disease process is NOT working.

One very crucial factor to remember is that no matter what disease process, that disease is not isolated to the malfunction of only one organ or system. Our entire body works as a whole, which means that if one area of the body is having a difficult time functioning properly, so must the entire body. Therefore, on a holistic level we must start asking different questions that propel us into thinking about and caring for our bodies differently.

What are some of the key factors we should consider in the treatment of diabetes?

What and how we eat: The quality and kinds of food, how much it is processed and  how we eat it through the day are of key significance because it is the fuel for our bodies to function. One might think eating foods that contain artificial fat and sugar solves the problem of the impact of sugar on the organs. However, those foods are most likely still heavily processed and allow one to keep the same habits of consuming foods with less nutritional content than fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods also increase the load of toxic chemicals that the body must work at expelling.

Another factor is stress. The adrenal glands not only work to keep blood sugar levels stable, they also work in response to anxiety and stress by releasing cortisol. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is released in the “fight or flight” response which also directly affects fat storage and weight gain in individuals. So an important component of increasing one’s health is also learning to adapt to lifestyle stresses with more peace, joy and happiness.

Addressing how you think about situations, the quality of your life, your work life, the number of hours during the day that you’re doing things that you enjoy versus things you dread, being able to relax your mind and body, are all crucial components of a healthier body.

Studies continue to investigate the link of any disease to nutrition, lifestyle, genetic predispositions, ethnicity, etc. which may be contributing to it. Ultimately the disease process is a result of the body having to respond to or inability to respond to the many choices that have been made. Changing your choices towards health & life enhancing choices will allow your body to follow suit.

References:

• USA Today: Diabetes on upswing worldwide 
• Fairwarning.org: Global increase of diabetes  
• Medicalxpress.com : Diabetes
• CDC.gov 
• UNM.edu 

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Dr. Funda Kahn, DDS, CH

Celebrities such as Lily Allen, Madonna, Michael Ball and alternative health proponent Deepak Chopra are advocates of the Emotional Freedom Technique®.

Among the holistic alternatives that have gained popularity in the Western world for their natural and whole-body approach to healing, one type of healing modality that has proven effective is Energy Psychology, a practice that relieves mental health problems by eliminating emotional traumas or blockages from the mind-body continuum by touching or tapping key points on the body.

The most widely-used form of Energy Psychology is the Emotional Freedom Technique, a simple, effective, yet widely unknown way of removing emotional blockages .

• CORE BELIEF—The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is centered upon the belief that while tapping on certain meridian points on the body while focusing on a stressful event the body’s energy flow is balanced and the negative emotions associated with the event are diminished.
• TAPPING POINTS—Meridian points are many of the same ones used in traditional acupuncture therapies. These points include the eyebrow, the side of the eye, underneath the eye, the crease between the nose and upper lip, the area between the lower lip and chin, the collar bone, the sternum and the underarm.
• USES—Practitioners of EFT use it to alleviate both physical and emotional pains including stress, depression, dyslexia, allergies, relationship troubles, MS, addictions and more.
• PRACTICES—EFT is practiced by holistic healthcare workers, many of whom are also certified in hypnosis. EFT practitioners can be found at therapy clinics and private practices in almost any city; make sure to choose a practitioner that has been certified in the technique.

References:

• World Center for EFT
• Emotional Freedom Technique
   

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Martha H. Howard, MD

Children are susceptible to illnesses caused by air pollution and exposure to toxic chemicals and other pollutants – asthma, cancer, autism and ADD are among the most serious – and costly. And children with existing allergies to common airborne allergens like tree pollens, grass, dust and molds, and foods are even more vulnerable to chemical pollutants than other children. Not only do toxic chemicals in air, water and food act as poisons in themselves, they also increase allergic response to common allergens.

What positive, preventative steps can you take?

•  Good indoor air filtration (with charcoal and zeolite in the filters, not just HEPA filters) can help limit exposure to airborne pollutants.
• Drink filtered water.
• Give children fresh, mostly organic unprocessed foods. This doesn’t have to be complicated. A turkey sandwich with whole grain bread, Applegate Farms or Hormel natural turkey (no additives, MSG, nitrites or nitrates–both big causes of cancer), and an organic apple are a great lunch, rather than packaged “cracker and cheese” or many of the items that are currently offered in school lunches.
• Become active in advocating for better indoor air quality and better food at your child’s school.
• Become media savvy, and help your children do it too. For younger children, edit out commercials, so that you bypass direct advertising of bad food and other products to kids. For older children, discuss who is selling what and why they are doing it–what the ads mean in terms of bringing in income for the advertisers, rather than bringing good or safe food or other products to the children.
• Stay informed about air and water quality and pollution hazards in your neighborhood and your town.

These precautions can help keep you and your child safer and healthier, and prevent further increases in pollution-related illnesses

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Martha H. Howard, MD

Treating children exposed to air pollution, toxic chemicals and other pollutants costs $76.6 billion dollars a year. According to a study sponsored by Kresge Foundation, done at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and reported in the May 2011 issue of the journal Health Affairs, cancer, asthma, autism, ADD and exposure to mercury are some of the pollution-related diseases that cost the most. And that does not even measure the physical, mental and emotional costs to the children themselves and their families. The study’s cost estimates included lost productivity of parents taking care of sick children, as well as the treatments.

What does this mean to allergic children and their parents? Children with existing allergies to common airborne allergens like tree pollens, grass, dust and molds, and foods are even more vulnerable to chemical pollutants than other children. Toxic chemicals in air, water and food act as poisons in themselves, and in addition increase allergic response to common allergens.

What to do?

Avoid exposure to indoor chemical pollutants:

• Formaldehyde in new clothes, carpet, wallboard and furniture made of particle board or with particle board backing
• Lead paint and other toxic paints. Children’s rooms should be painted only with non-toxic no-VOC paints. Even latex paints can emit toxic fumes over a long period of time, worsening allergies and asthma.
• Painted metal toys and children’s jewelry–many of these have lead based paints
• Mercury in any form–especially as a preservative in vaccinations, or in dental materials
• Permanent markers
• Food dyes, additives, and artificial sugars. The so-called “generally recognized as safe” food dyes are made of coal tar.
  MSG and aspartame are neurotoxins (see Russell Blaylock MD’s comprehensive book, Exitotoxins: The Taste that Kills.)
• Plastics that contain BPA
• Fire retardant chemicals in pajamas and bedding
• Sunscreens with “gender bending” chemicals like homosalate, octylmethoxycinnamate, octocrylene, oxybenzone. Use California Baby hypoallergenic sunscreen, Desert Essence sunscreen, or Aubrey Organic Sunscreen on all children (and on adults too!)
• Shampoos and lotions that are full of chemicals. Desert Essence makes a good line of shampoos, conditioners and lotions that are chemical free.

This is by no means a complete list but it is a good start.

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Martha H. Howard, MD

I have been looking at labels for years, on everything under the sun, including sunscreens.

It never made sense to me that you should apply chemicals to your skin and then bake it at high temperatures. Now, Margaret Schlumpf and her research group at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Zurich, Switzerland, have confirmed my common sense concerns. They have found that these chemicals have strong estrogenic activity. Chemical estrogens are “gender benders” and can contribute to these health problems:

Women: Increased breast and uterine cancer, uterine fibroid tumors, endometriosis, PMS, irregular periods and migraines.

Men: Reduced penis size, increased testicular cancer, undescended testicles, breast enlargement, lowered sperm counts, sexual identity confusion, and impaired male fetal brain patterning.

In addition to the research at University of Zurich, research was done at Tulane University in New Orleans. They found that combinations of the estrogenic sunscreen chemicals and other environmental chemicals, like PCB’s and DDT are more harmful that the single chemicals. One mixture of these estrogenic chemicals was 160 to 1600 times more toxic than each individual chemical in the mixture.

Estrogenic chemicals are harmful to adults, and even more harmful in early fetal development. Male hormones trigger genes that activate male development. If female hormones are present, the fetus has female imprinting, whether their genes are male (XY) or female (XX). If a woman pregnant with a male child is exposed to estrogenic chemicals during the time when genes normally cause masculine patterns (weeks 7 to 14 of pregnancy) there may be mental or physical effects such as sex role confusion or reduced penis size.

How to prevent these scary gender twisting effects? Get organic, chemical free sunscreens. My favorites are Desert Essence Organics Age Reversal Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30; MyChelle Sun Shield, and California Baby SPF 30+ No Fragrance Sunscreen. Be sure to use these on yourself (especially if you are pregnant), and your children and have a happy, healthy, sunny summer.

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Karen Erickson, CH

According to Health.com, almost half of the adult population is affected by insomnia or other sleep problems and up to 14% use sleeping pills regularly. Insomnia is a disorder that prevents one’s falling asleep or staying asleep all night, which causes stress and energy inconsistencies during the day.

The current economic situation seems to be contributing to the rise in insomnia. Worry about finances and things that are going wrong builds anxiety that can create hormone and neuro-transmitter imbalances in our bodies. In addition, poor diet and too much caffeine affect those same neuro-transmitters- the ones that play a huge role in the ability to sleep – melatonin, serotonin, and dopamine.

Try the following tips for calming the mind and getting a good night sleep:

• Go ‘hypno’ – See a hypnotherapist. They can help you stop the mind chatter when you are going to sleep at night and can help you deal with stress better. A hypnotherapist can train your brain to go to sleep the moment you crawl into bed as well as let go of your fears and worries.
• Cut the caffeine – Cut out caffeine completely or drink only low sugar caffeine free drinks, such as green or white tea.
•  Ssssh – Be sure to engage in personal ‘quiet time’. Meditate at least 30 minutes a day, go for walks in nature or do yoga.
• No after dinner mints – Go to bed on an empty stomach as food digestion may keep your body up and running. Try to cut yourself off of food 3 hours prior to your bedtime.
• You are what you eat – Eat healthy meals throughout the day. Don’t go long periods of time without eating and then fill up on junk food.
•  Magnificent magnesium – Take a good quality magnesium supplement which help muscles relax and relieves anxiousness.
• Root out the sleeplessness –Take a valerian-root herbal supplement right before bedtime, which helps calm you down.
• Lights out – Don’t watch TV in bed at night and be sure your room is dark. The darker the room the better as light may disrupt the production of healthy neurotransmitters

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Julie Murphy Casserly CFP®

When was the last time you focused on financial healing as a way to fix your money troubles? We’re always looking for an easy way out when we’re in too deep financially. But instead of a get-rich-quick scheme, I want to help you build long-term wealth slowly and deliberately. And to do that, we need to start your financial healing process.

Step 1: Detach

Distractions are around us daily. Cell phones buzz with messages and calls all day. Emails are a never-ending task. And, at the end of the day when all we want to do is rest, the television winds us down until bedtime.
You’ll never be able to financially heal if you don’t eliminate the commotions taking up your attention. So this week, take a few nights to totally detach. Unplug from the outside world and focus on your authentic self: core values, beliefs, unique abilities and sense of purpose.

Step 2: Define

Congratulations! You’ve disconnected the internet, turned off the smart phone and found a quiet place to explore. Let your mind wander to places you’d usually deem off limits. No boundaries here; the idea is to unearth everything that’s hidden.
It’s easy to pass off a particular idea as crazy or impossible, but let those negative feelings float out of your consciousness. Don’t judge what you come up with; embrace it. Define your own personal dreams and desires to determine what you’re passionate about; this is necessary to get what you really want out of life.

Step 3: Devise

Now it’s time to get a plan together. You’ve figured out your big dream. How are you going to make it happen? What will you do today? Tomorrow? Next week? Next year? Design your ideal life. What does a typical day look like when you’re living your dream?
What you just devised is a Personal Navigation Route. This is the life plan that will get you from where you are right now to where you want to be. Once you’ve defined this path, write it down and post it everywhere. Remind yourself that each day is another opportunity to live your dreams. Don’t waste one moment living anything other than your ideal life.

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Kevin M. Boehm DDS

We all know that what we eat affects our overall health, so doesn’t it make sense that what we eat also affects our oral health? Like our bones, muscles and organs, our teeth and gums need certain nutrients to be healthy and stay healthy.
Here’s a list of common elements of the diet and their benefit to your oral health.
• Dairy products: Provide calcium and vitamin D for strengthening teeth and bones.
• Breads and cereals: Supply B vitamins for growth and iron for healthy blood, which in turn contributes to healthy gum tissue.
• Fruits and vegetables: Contain vitamin C, among other important vitamins which are essential to maintaining healthy gums.
• Lean meat, fish, poultry and beans: Provide iron and protein to improve overall health, and magnesium and zinc to strengthen teeth and bones
Combining a healthy balance of these food groups with an all-important regimen of brushing and flossing are the best actions you can take to promote healthy teeth and gums, which in turn promote good overall health and heart health.

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Kevin M. Boehm DDS

“Keep out of reach of children. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.”

Ever wonder why this warning is placed on toothpastes containing fluoride?

Studies show that like mercury, fluoride can be detrimental to a person’s over-all health. There is increased risk of hip fracture, birth defects, cancer, arthritis, thyroid dysfunction, and the lowering of a person’s IQ. Even if fluoride does reduce tooth decay, is it worth the risks?

For the first time in 50 years, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is recommending a change in the fluoridation of water. Currently, a range of 0.7 to 1.1 milligrams per liter of water is recommended, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a maximum allowable amount of 4 mg/liter. The proposal, which would recommend all drinking water have less than 0.7 mg/liter, is a reaction to a 2006 study by the National Academy of Science showing that excessive fluoridation can lead to dental fluorosis in children younger than eight.

Dental fluorosis causes teeth staining in its mildest form, but more serious cases can result in enamel damage and pitting of the teeth, both of which can have adverse health impacts. It specifically affects children because it only occurs when the permanent teeth are developing under the gums.

Here are actions you can take today to protect your family from fluorosis.

• Check with your local water company to find out the fluoride concentration of your drinking water. If it is more than 2 mg/liter, use an alternative source of water.
• Be aware that bottled water companies are not required to provide this information on the label. (Another reason not to buy or drink bottled water, in addition to the environmental concerns!)
• Do not use toothpaste for children younger than 2 years old. Once the first tooth emerges, it should be gently brushed with a soft toothbrush and plain water.
• Supervise tooth brushing until age 6 to avoid accidental swallowing of a large amount of toothpaste. Limit the toothpaste to a pea-sized portion.

Because of the possible health risks of fluoride we chose not to use it in our practice. We have found that a good oral health regimen and proper nutrition does an excellent job of preventing decay without harming the body with the introduction of possible toxins.

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Valerie Early, RD

Activity means exercise, and exercise means moving your body!

You must treat exercise like brushing your teeth, shaving, or showering – things we’re not excited about doing, but we do them anyway as part of our daily routine. Exercise must be an ongoing appointment on your calendar, and as the saying goes – “No excuses.” Use this slogan when you think about exercise.

Everyone should be active—every day. Here are some important reasons and benefits for getting regular exercise.

• Two out of three adult Americans are overweight or obese.
• The risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and death increases as your weight rises.
• Diabetes risk is eight times higher in overweight women and six times higher in overweight men.
• Obesity accelerates aging even more than smoking
•  Cognitive (mental) performance improves with exercise.
• Regular exercise in younger years reduces Alzheimer’s risk by 60% later in life.
• Exercise helps with stress management.
• Daily activity reduces depression and anxiety symptoms. This is especially true in women.
• Neurotransmitters like serotonin are increased in the brain when you exercise.
• People who exercise have higher quality sleep.
• Muscle mass decreases 40%-50% between the ages of thirty and eighty.
• Physical activity increases muscle mass, therefore increasing the metabolic rate (your ability to burn calories).
• Active people report a better sex life and libido.
• Exercise, especially strength training, increases testosterone levels.
• Physical activity promotes self-esteem, and self-empowerment soars.
• Fit people reports higher incomes and job satisfaction.

A Lifelong Habit

How can you make exercise a lifelong habit? If getting started on a regular exercise routine feels overwhelming, you might start by doing any kind of movement (walking, stretching, or using a yoga DVD) for ten to fifteen minutes every morning for at least three weeks. It generally takes three weeks to establish a new habit.

For those who have been inactive for a long period of time or may have a health concern, please consult with your physician before starting an exercise program. You may also consider hiring a certified personal trainer to help you develop a routine tailored to your needs and body fat loss or health goals.

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Dr. Andie T. Pearson, DMD

Feng Shui, meaning wind and water, is an ancient Chinese art and science based on laws that direct the flow of energy, or Qi. Improving the flow of Qi in your home effects positive changes in your life.

Your external environment sends messages to your subconscious throughout the day, therefore, when your home reflects positive energy, it conveys positive subliminal messages to your subconscious.

To achieve positive Qi in your home, office ,yard, car, body or mind, decluttering is the first step. In a cluttered home the positive energy stagnates, causing your body and mind to stagnate as well. Feng shui masters believe clutter leads to negative outcomes such as low energy levels, misfortune, money problems, blocked creativity, ill health and mental confusion.

The goal of feng shui in the home is of course to increase positive Qi, not block it.

Here are some practical tips on improving the flow of energy in your home by giving it a good old-fashioned spring cleaning.

• Go through the space where you will be working and make a list of all
  things that should be there and what shouldn’t.
• Clear the space, clean and make repairs, including windows, walls, floors,
  carpets and shelves.
• Go through your possessions. Decide which books and music you can sell, pass along or donate. Clear out old receipts. Match up your Tupperware tops and bottoms and discard the ones that no longer match. Clear out the bathroom cabinets of old soaps, torn towels, expired medications. Go through your closet and donate clothes that you haven’t worn in more than a year, or that no longer fit.

You can apply the same treatment to your home office, garage, car and yard. To feng shui your car, completely gut and clean the interior. Take out the winter supplies like snow scrapers and extra wiper fluid and replace them with items you’ll need for spring and summer, like a beach bag, folding chairs and sports equipment.

To spring clean your yard, clear up winter debris, plan your garden or grass/flower treatment, repair fences and outdoor fixtures, get water features cleared and cleaned and water pumps working. Make sure your garden hoses, tools and equipment are in good working order.

Once you have cleared, cleaned and reorganized your home, office, car or outdoor area, sit back, enjoy and breathe in the new energy.

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Dr. Helen Lee, DC

Fever and aches and pains, oh my! Many people don’t enjoy when their bodies don’t feel well and do whatever they can as quickly as they can to get rid of the symptoms. But what if symptoms arise for our benefit? Symptoms are cues to make us notice that the body is tired or imbalanced in some way and to get us to slow down.

A fever awakens our immune system and makes it inhospitable for foreign invaders such as bacteria and virus to proliferate. It also makes us uncomfortable in many ways so that we will be forced to slow down, rest, take care of our selves and shut down so that our bodies can focus on healing and rejuvenating. Stifling this process too quickly with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and or other over-the-counter drugs can prevent the body from healing as effectively and as quickly as it would like to.

Some Benefits of Fevers:
- Increased temperature directly kills bacteria/viruses/other microbes
- Increases production of white blood cells, macrophages, interferons and other cells which fight off and prevent further spread of microbes
- Stimulates antibody production which strengthens our overall immune system for the future

Natural Options To Support Person with Fever:

- Make sure keep hydrated with water and natural fruit juices; no sugar filled drinks
- Breastfed infants, breastfeed as much as infants desire so they can benefit from mother’s antibodies
- Eat lightly or even skip a meal depending on individual desire, giving the body a chance to focus on fighting the microbes; such foods as soups, broth, steamed vegetables and rice are good for the feverish person
- Rest, rest, rest and lots of TLC
- Reassurance and trust that the body is well on its way to healing and repairing itself!
- Visit your holistic healthcare practitioner to aid in supporting your body

When is a fever too high? Each person knows themselves and their child the best so always trust your own instinct. Some basic considerations for consulting health care professional:

- Infants 3 months & younger with fever greater than 100.4 degrees F
- Children 3-36 months with fever greater than 102.2 degrees F and if they appear ill
- Any fever over 104.5 degrees F
- Persistent vomiting, confusion, extreme lethargy, “floppiness”, extreme stiffness/pain in neck, seizures

References:

•Scientific American – what causes a fever
•Yale Medical Group
•Hippiedippiebebe.com
•Mercola.com

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Martha H. Howard, MD

One of the biggest health worries for parents is a child with a fever.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently published guidelines for pediatricians
regarding the advice they should give parents when they are called about this issue.
Click here for a short summary from the AAFP.

They emphasized the following:

• Fever can be helpful in fighting infection
• The primary goal should be to keep a child comfortable rather than to get to an
  exact “normal” temperature of 98.6
• Parents should focus on the child’s activity and well-being rather than the
  numbers on the thermometer
• The child should be well hydrated
• The child should not be awakened to receive  a fever-reducing medication
• Parents should be aware of the correct dosage of medication according to the child’s body weight
• Ibuprofen and acetaminophen should not be alternated-this is likely to cause mistakes in dosage
• Exact measurement devices should be used for all medications
• Medications must be stored safely out of any possible reach of children

These are common-sense guidelines that essentially say to pediatricians, and therefore to parents,  that they should stay away from a “numbers game” when their child has a fever, and focus instead on observing the child for any signs of serious illness, and making the child comfortable:

• Be aware of the child’s activity in relationship to his or her normal state
• Make sure the child is well hydrated
• Take extreme care with safe storage and exact dosage of medications.

If a child has a fever of 100 or even 101, and is playing normally, it is reasonable to let
the fever help reduce infection rather than to give medication immediately.

One important exception to that is infants three months or younger. A temperature of
100.4 or more means they should be seen immediately by a doctor.

Another exception is a child who has an underlying chronic illness, and may be immune suppressed.

I would add another exception: a child whose temperature is going up, who may still be playing normally, but has known exposure to flu or strep. In this case the point is not whether to reduce the fever or not, but to get immediate treatment for the underlying illness.

And, I would add that all parents should be aware of symptoms and signs of serious illness in a child. If a child has a fever and any of these, they should be taken to an emergency room immediately:

• Vomiting
• Severe neck stiffness or pain
• Severe pain in any area of the body
• Abnormal crying
• Extreme drowsiness, lethargy,lack of alertness, loss of consciousness
• A bulging soft spot on a baby’s head
• Severe dehydration
• New skin rash or spontaneous bruising
• New swelling, pain or redness in joints
• Rapid, difficult breathing
•  Bluish skin or mucous membranes
• Drooling and not wanting to swallow
• Difficulty and pain urinating
• Anything that makes the child seem “not himself” to the parent.

For more information please consult this excellent article from a Belgian study of parents’ observations of children identifying serious infection .

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Dr. Martha H. Howard, MD

Why do these two brilliant cancer research “rock stars” refuse to eat refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup -  now such  huge components of the American daily diet?

Craig B. Thompson, M.D., President of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center in New York
He has done ground-breaking research on a link between insulin “signaling” and
cancer.

Lewis Cantley, Ph.D, director of the Cancer Center at Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School, another top
researcher on the insulin-cancer connection.

And why does Dr. Cantley say “Sugar scares me.”

A recent New York Times article by Gary Taubes reports the history of, and some of the latest research on the connection between
increased consumption of refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup and the
dramatic increase of obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome in
the United States. His article also describes research by Dr. Thompson and Dr.
Cantley, that makes an even scarier connection between these two refined,
processed sweeteners and “the big C”—cancer—the reason why the two researchers
now do not eat sugar or high fructose corn syrup.

In his impressive nine-page article, Taubes carefully documents the following process:

• Large amounts of refined sugar-50% fructose and 50% glucose and corn syrup-
  55% fructose and 45% glucose—are mainly processed by the liver, and are turned
  into fat.
• This process causes high levels of insulin to be released to process the sugars, and
  eventually leads to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome—a combination of
  high blood sugar, high levels of fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood, high
  blood pressure, and abdominal fat. This combination is a source of diabetes, heart
  disease, and strokes.
• The high levels of insulin also trigger an insulin related growth factor—and this is
  the cancer connection–which increases tumor growth.

Now that we have strong evidence that sugar is an even bigger player that we thought in all
the metabolic diseases that involve high levels of sugar and fats in the blood, and in
addition, is a contributor to cancer (some people still say the jury is out but I will go with the
brilliant Harvard/Sloan Kettering researchers on this one) what do we do?

Here are my “Great Eight” recommendations:

• Stop drinking sodas and fruit juice—this kind of sudden, high sugar content, liquid
  “hit” of sugars is just what makes your liver turn it all into fat, and raises your
  insulin levels, creating insulin resistance. Eat whole fruits instead.
• Drink mostly water. Artificially sweetened sodas and juices are not a solution—
  aspartame, the most common sugar substitute in them, has been shown to be a
  neurotoxin. (See Russell Blaylock, M.D.’s Excitotoxins:The Taste That Kills. Dr.
  Blaylock is a board certified neurosurgeon.
• Stop eating candy, cookies and baked goods except on rare occasions. If you do eat
  them, do it as a dessert right after a meal. You will not have such a sharp rise in
  blood sugar.
• Eat a diet that is primarily whole, unprocessed, organic foods.
• Get regular exercise. It lowers blood sugar levels. A combination of aerobic and
  resistance exercise is good.
• Learn about “glycemic index” and “glycemic load” of foods. These lists, widely
  available on the internet, show how much different foods will raise your blood
  sugar. High, sudden raises in blood sugar are what triggers off high production of
  insulin, and then insulin resistance. Eat mostly foods that are low to moderate on
  the glycemic index list.
• Refined sugar, corn syrup, and corn sugars (dextrose, maltodextrin, etc.) are all
  chemically refined, and are increasingly being identified as allergens. They may be
  a reason why other foods are increasingly allergenic. This is another good reason
  not to consume them.

 Bottom line, if you really want to solve the problem, go with the “rock star scientist”
solution—do not consume refined sugar or high fructose corn syrup at all.

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Valerie Early, RD

Once you have established an exercise routine, make sure it includes all three of the main components of exercise: 1) cardiovascular/aerobic, 2) strength training/weight training, and 3) flexibility/stretching.

Each component is important if you want good health, a strong body, good balance, a lower risk of injury, and lower body fat with a higher metabolic rate as you age.

Cardiovascular/aerobic exercise is important because it strengthens the heart, lungs, and circulatory system. It expends calories, reduces blood pressure, increases the good cholesterol levels in the body (HDL), and reduces clinical symptoms of anxiety, tension, and depression. Examples include walking fast, running, jumping rope, cycling, and swimming, taking an aerobics class, or following a dance DVD. What feels right for you? Choose the exercise you know you can do regularly.

Strength training and weight lifting aid in strengthening the bones and adding muscle mass. One out of every four postmenopausal women is diagnosed with osteoporosis, a fairly preventable disease. As I stated earlier, after the age of twenty-five, we lose more than ½ pound of muscle every year of life. This is not inevitable! We want to keep every pound of muscle. It is the best natural antiaging strategy because muscle is metabolically active; fat is not. Strength training helps to assure body fat loss, not muscle loss during weight loss. Examples are circuit training with machines in a gym, free weight lifting with dumbbells and barbells, and exercises that use your whole body weight, such as push-ups. Start slow and be consistent. Remember, a new habit takes at least three weeks to establish.

Flexibility and stretching help with body stability, allowing you to perform everyday chores and activities with ease, such as combing your hair, carrying the groceries, or climbing stairs. These exercises can help prevent injury and reduce stress around the joints that affects movement. Examples include yoga, Pilates, physical therapy exercises using a Bosu+ Ball, and calisthenics. Yoga is a great stretching exercise and can help to relax the body, bringing you back to a state of balance and peace

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Julie Murphy Casserly, CFP®

As a CFP® who specializes in client advocacy, I have found that there is sometimes a disconnect between my industry and clients’ needs. Many of my new clients come to me after becoming disenfranchised with another advisor.
Here are some questions to ask if you are considering shopping for a new financial professional:

• Is your income fee-based or commission-based?
• What designations do you have? (I suggest looking for a Certified Financial Planner or CFP®)
• Are you tied to any sales goals with specific products?
• Are you working with any vendors who require you to sell a minimum number of their products or your contract with them will end soon? (Do you have any quotas to reach?)
• What are your limitations, if any, in selling specific product lines due to your current licensing? (Someone who is fully licensed has a Series 7 and Series 66 to be fee-based.)
• Do you charge an annual planning fee outside of compensation from products? If you don’t why not?
• If you’re talking to an independent planner: If something were to happen to you, who will take care of me?
• If you’re talking to someone associated with a firm: What happens if you leave the business, by choice, disability or death?  Who would then be managing my money?

As consumers we all understand that a financial advisor makes his/her living by guiding our investment decisions and that they are entitled to derive income from their work – but not at the expense of our own income. Asking these questions will help identify the advisor who is best suited to serve as your financial coach and meet your specific investment goals.

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Melissa Tierney MS, Psychic Counselor , 312-805-7431, Chicago
During a session with me, we identify the areas in your life that you would like to transform. Using my intuition, I help you see your soul’s purpose then empower you to feel and act from your Divine Self. It is fun and fascinating, and an honor for me! Profile

White Lotus Chiropractic Of Oak Park, 773-680-4743, Oak Park
Our methods incorporate and go beyond traditional medical to deepen healing and create balance between body and mind, from which a healthy, revitalized and inspired spirit can emerge. Profile

Valerie Early, RD

Most people who lose weight gain it back within two years after their “diet,” often with a few extra, unwanted pounds. Keeping a food diary helps maintain your desired weight, but it can be very difficult to keep a food diary long term. If you learn these practical guidelines you will be able to go out to eat, travel, work, and live while maintaining your weight goals with or without a food diary.
1) If a food has a nutrition label, read it. Do not guess. Be sure to understand the serving size. It may be half the bag, 1 slice, 1 ounce, 12 pieces, etc. This is the most important rule, and it includes milk and yogurt.
2) If you plan to eat out, Google the restaurant first to see if it has a nutrition facts page. Choose a smaller size, eat an appetizer for a meal, share a meal, or bring half home to eat for a meal next day.
3) In all other cases, memorize these general exchange facts that I use and find to be practical and most accurate:
Most grain carbohydrates: ½ cup of rice, pasta, or cereal; 1 slice of bread; ½ regular size bagel; and ¼ cup of quinoa all equal approximately 15 grams of carbohydrates and about 80 calories.
Fruit carbohydrates: ½ cup of fruit; 1 small piece of whole fruit; ½ banana; or about 1 cup of any kind of berry all equal approximately 15 grams of carbohydrates and about 60 calories.
Sugar: make sure most packaged foods and bars contain 6 grams of sugar per serving or less. Fresh fruit doesn’t count in this rule.
Protein: 1 ounce of any lean meat (loin, flank, round, or filet cuts), poultry, tuna, or seafood; 1 whole organic egg; or 2 egg whites all equal approximately 7 grams of protein and about 35-75 calories.
Fats: 1 teaspoon of any kind (butter or oil) both equals approximately 5 grams of fat and about 45 calories.
Knowing a few simple food facts can go a long way towards creating and maintaining your food, weight and hormonal balancing goals!

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Valerie Early, RD

Let’s look at how food monitoring plays a role in weight.

Food monitoring can help you assess your calories, food portions and meal timing, as well as to identify eating patterns that aren’t in your best interest to lose weight. Depending on your personal goal, food monitoring can help you maintain your weight and lose body fat, lose weight and body fat, or gain weight.

Here are some easy tips to follow if you want to maintain or lose weight.

1) Don’t eat after 7 p.m.
2) Eat at home as much as you can, or pack a lunch or snack as often as possible.
3) Don’t skip meals—consuming inadequate calories stresses the body and often leads to eating binges.

The following tips can be very helpful if you want to gain weight. They are my top three recommendations for weight gain, and they work every time when adjusted to meet your body’s caloric needs.

1) Eat lean protein in the evening with a healthy carbohydrate. Try 4-6 organic egg whites or ¼-½ cup of Egg Beaters, a whey or plant-based shake (such as Complete Shake, made by NSA), and a carbohydrate like a pear.
2) Add nutrient-dense foods that contain lots of calories with low volume so you aren’t as overly full. Some examples of high-calorie, low-volume foods are ¼ to ½ cup of any nuts or seeds added to a salad or eaten with an apple at snack time.
3) Add healthy fats to your meals or snacks. Add 1 teaspoon-2 tablespoons of flax oil with lignans, olive oil, or coconut oil to your cooking, salads, shakes, or foods.

Eating too few or too many calories at meals can contribute to weight gain and increased body fat. Start with a specific calorie or habit change. If that doesn’t work, monitor your food intake with a food journal, adjust your food intake or activity level, eat at least four to six mini meals per day and seek a health professional to assess other possible causes of your lack of progress.

Knowing a few simple food facts can go a long way towards creating and maintaining your food, weight and hormonal balancing goals!

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Martha H. Howard, MD

Vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids are true supplements, because there are not enough present, even in the best of diets. I believe that everyone should take a good multivitamin-mineral, fish oil, and a probiotic (good bacteria to balance the intestines.)

Tips to achieve the optimum results from supplements:

Always take vitamins, minerals, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids with food. Avoid taking iron and calcium at the same time, but be sure to take vitamin D and calcium together. If you are taking more than 600 mg. of calcium, divide the doses—take 600 mg with lunch, 600 mg. with dinner. Avoid mineral oil or antacids because they can interfere with absorption of vitamins and minerals.

The fat soluble vitamins—A, D, E, and K, are better absorbed when taken with fat. As long as you take these with a normally balanced meal (not, for example, just with rice) there will be enough fat to absorb the vitamins.

Iron is better absorbed with vitamin C. Calcium should not be take with iron, but should be taken with Vitamin D, which aids absorption.
When using powdered supplements added to water, room temperature or slightly warm liquid is fine. Extremely cold or extremely hot liquid may affect the effectiveness and absorption of the supplements. Take capsule supplements with 6 to 8 ounces of water, take fiber with a minimum of 8 ounces.

Incidentally, the small silica packs that come packaged in your supplement bottle absorb moisture. Keep them in the bottle after it is opened.

Appropriate dosages:
The body can only absorb a certain amount of vitamins/minerals at a time and therefore, it’s better to stretch the dose out over the day. According to Dr. Linus Pauling’s excellent and extensive research it is most effective to take 500 milligrams of vitamin C at a time, and to take it every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. We do not make our own vitamin C, and again, according to his research, people need between 1.5 and 2.5 grams a day. 1.5 grams is 1500 milligrams, and 2.5 is 2500 milligrams. That’s 500 milligrams, at three hour intervals, three to five times a day.

As for calcium, the current thinking is that you do not absorb more than 600 mg at a time.

Some doctors have been giving vitamin D in huge injectable doses, 50,000 IU at a time. This has been found to cause atypical hip fractures. If you are low in vitamin D, you can easily build up your level by taking 4000 IU a day over a few months and monitoring the level. The latest research has shown that it is not enough to just be “over the line” at a low level in the 20’s or 30’s. All-cause mortality drops at levels of around 70. Bottom line, do not accept the injections, and do keep up supplementation and monitoring until you reach and maintain a vitamin D level of around 70.

Care of probiotics fish oils, and flaxseed oil:
It is better to refrigerate probiotics and oils. Soft gels that contain oils do not need refrigeration because there is no chance of oxygen getting to them, since they are sealed in the gel. Some probiotics are made so that they do not need refrigeration, and are dated to show when they will no longer be good. However, all probiotics and oils should still be kept in a cool place. Heat always speeds breakdown.

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Martha H. Howard, MD

The benefit of some of the most commonly recommended supplements can be compromised by prescription medication, or may interfere with the effectiveness of the medication. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind.

1. Cortisone interferes with vitamin D absorption. Take additional vitamin D if you are on oral cortisone, and make sure it is sublingual (under the tongue) drops, rather than an oral pill, which is much harder to absorb.

2. Coumadin, the anticoagulant drug interacts with Vitamin K. Vitamin K helps cause blood to clot, and lowers the blood-thinning ability of Coumadin.

3. Dilantin, an anti-seizure drug lowers Vitamin D and folic acid levels.

4. Aspirin lowers Vitamin C  levels.

If you are taking regularly prescribed medications, always discuss a nutrient-supplement program with your medical practitioner to avoid unwanted interactions and achieve optimum benefit from your supplements.

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Melody Hart, ND, PhD

Low Level Laser Therapy operates by distributing congested energy from an area and increasing blood flow to the area, promoting healing. Some uses are for chronic pain, inflammation and acute injuries.
Studies have shown that lasers reenergize injured cell membranes to allow transport of essential nutrients, thus allowing a healthy new cell to grow. When injury or disease occurs, the injured cells lose the ability to produce energy (ATP). MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imagery) demonstrate this loss of energy. Pain occurs when cells are disrupted, malfunctioning or otherwise injured. Healing and pain relief come only after cells begin to “normalize”.

Photons emitted by low level lasers enable injured cells to normalize by stimulating them to initiate bio-chemical reactions that produce enzymes and ATP. This produces a “cascading” effect in which the adjacent cells are stimulated by the new enzymes to produce more of the same bio-chemical reaction, thereby normalizing damaged cells and relieving pain.

Low Level Laser Therapy offers many benefits:
• Reduces pain causing the body to produce their own endorphins.
• Reduces inflammation by suppressing inflammatory enzymes that create swelling, redness, pain and heat, and enhances the release of anti-inflammatory enzymes.
• Stimulates lymphatic drainage which increases circulation and speeds the healing process.
• Stimulates the healing process by increasing the release of helpful healing enzymes by 75%.
• Releases tight muscles both (smooth and striated) that create chronic pain, joint problems, and decreased mobility.
• Speeds bone repair by stimulating fibroblastic and osteoblastic proliferation.
• Antiviral, antifungal, and anti-herpetic when used in the correct frequency.
• Cleanses the blood

To learn whether Low Level Laser Therapy could benefit you, contact Dr. Melody Hart at the Hart Center.com 

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Kevin M. Boehm, DDS

While many people are familiar with traditional cardiac- health promoting practices such as eating right and exercising, what is lesser known is the  link between superior oral care and cardiovascular health. The following advice will not only promote healthy teeth and gums, but benefit your heart health.

Is there an advantage to electric brushing?
In almost all instances an electric toothbrush (Oral-B/Braun, Sonicare, etc) is a very worthwhile addition as they are proven to be more effective than a manual brush. Also, Waterpiks can be a huge asset when used correctly in reducing plaque bacteria under the gumline. The oxygen- hating bacteria tend to be those that cause the most damage to the cardiovascular system, and these congregate mostly under the gumline. This makes care of those areas doubly important. The above mentioned, along with flossing will generate the sought after results.

Do toothpastes and mouthwashes make a difference?
I’m mainly a proponent of non-alcohol/chemical free mouthwashes. There are numerous products available through Young Living and Dental Herb Company, to name just a few. Others I haven’t named may be very effective as well, with some available only through dental offices. We won’t play favorites, just keep the above in mind: non-alchohol/chemical free.

With toothpastes we also have numerous choices. Keep chemical free/fluoride free as the goal. Xylitol containing pastes, mints, and chewing gums and MI paste, which contains beneficial calcium and phosphorous, help reduce the risk of decay more safely than fluoride.

What about fluoride?
Regarding the fluoride effect, keep this in mind: the fluoride contained in most drinking water is not sodium fluoride but fluorosilicic acid (a toxic by-product of the fertilizer industry). Fluoride may in some remote way help teeth and is toxic to bacteria just as it is to us, but the overall risk to the rest of the body just doesn’t justify its usage. There’s quite a bit of research that involves fluoride toxicity, and if there’s that sort of risk potential, I think it’s wise to abstain. Every tube of commercially used sodium-fluoride containing toothpaste carries a warning label on the back instructing you to contact a poison control center if ingested. Think about it…

What to Eat/Not Eat?
Let’s keep this simple. Eat plenty of fresh-as-you-can- get vegetables and fruits. These are loaded with vitamins, minerals, bioflavonoids, and antioxidants. Too much fruit can be damaging to your liver, so limit to 1-2 per day. Choosing vegetables and protein from raw nuts/lean meats/fish/poultry is the ticket. When choosing fish, remember that smaller fish like salmon contain less mercury than large fish like swordfish. Avoid processed foods of all kinds due to the chemicals they contain along with high fructose corn syrup and other additives.

• If heart disease runs in your family, a diagnosis of gum disease increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, but an improved oral care regimen and healthy diet can lower the risk.
• It is never too late to change dental habits, and such changes do a great deal to limit the risk of disease and repair past damage.

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Heather Sullivan, L.Ac, MSOM, BA , 224-440-7373, Evanston and Libertyville
If you desire a relaxing, compassionate, painless modality to heal your body, mind and spirit, I can help! I am an acupuncturist who uses acupuncture, massage and deep relaxation techniques to engage your body and mind to open up its full healing potential! Profile

Dr. Marilyn Mitchell, MD

What is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is an inability to hold your urine until you get to a toilet. Women experience incontinence twice as often as men. Pregnancy and childbirth, menopause and the structure of the female urinary tract account for this difference.
 

Stress Incontinence
If coughing, laughing, sneezing or other movements that put pressure on the bladder cause you to leak urine, you may have stress incontinence. Pelvic floor muscles support your bladder. If these muscles weaken, your bladder can move downward, causing a bulge in your vagina. This prevents muscles that ordinarily force the urethra shut from squeezing as tightly as they should. As a result, urine can leak during moments of physical stress.
 

Urge Incontinence
If you lose urine for no apparent reason while suddenly feeling the need or urge to urinate, you may have urge incontinence. The most common cause of urge incontinence is inappropriate bladder contractions. Urge incontinence can mean that your bladder empties during sleep, after drinking a small amount of water, or when you touch water or hear it running (as when someone else is taking a shower or washing dishes).
 

How Is Incontinence Diagnosed?
The first step towards relief is to see a physician. After a urine culture is sent to the lab, urodynamic studies are ordered.

How Is Urinary Incontinence Treated?
Exercises
Kegel exercises to strengthen or re-train pelvic floor muscles and sphincter muscles can reduce or cure stress leakage. Women of all ages can learn and practice these exercises, which are taught by a health care professional.

Stimulation
Brief doses of stimulation can strengthen muscles in the lower pelvis in a way similar to exercising the muscles. Sensors are temporarily placed in the vagina or rectum to stimulate nearby muscles. This will stabilize overactive muscles and stimulate contraction of urethral muscles. Stimulation can be used to reduce both stress incontinence and urge incontinence and works best when combined with biofeedback.

Biofeedback
This painless therapy provides feedback on the strength and relaxation of your pelvic floor muscles. Using images on a computer screen, you will learn to strengthen, tone and relax the pelvic floor muscles while isolating muscles such as your abdomen and therefore , gaining control over these muscles.

Timed Voiding or Bladder Training
Timed urinating and bladder training are techniques that use biofeedback. In timed voiding, you fill in a chart recording episodes of voiding and leaking. From the patterns that appear in your chart, you can plan to empty your bladder before you would otherwise leak. Biofeedback and muscle conditioning–known as bladder training–can alter the bladder’s schedule for storing and emptying urine. These techniques are effective for urge and overflow incontinence.

Medications
Medications can reduce many types of leakage. Some drugs inhibit contractions of an overactive bladder; however, others relax muscles, leading to more complete bladder emptying during urination. A WomanCare physician can prescribe the proper medication for you.

Pessaries
A pessary is a stiff ring that is inserted by a doctor or nurse into the vagina, where it presses against the wall of the vagina and the nearby urethra. The pressure helps reposition the urethra, leading to less stress leakage. If you use a pessary, you should watch for possible vaginal and urinary tract infections and see your doctor regularly.

Implants
Implants are substances injected into tissues around the urethra. The implant adds bulk and helps to close the urethra to reduce stress incontinence. Collagen (a fibrous natural tissue) and fat from the patient’s body have been used.

Surgery
Doctors usually suggest surgery to alleviate incontinence only after other treatments have been tried. Many surgical options have high rates of success. A common surgery for stress incontinence involves pulling the bladder up to a more normal position. For severe cases of stress incontinence, the surgeon may secure the bladder with a wide sling. This not only holds up the bladder but also compresses the bottom of the bladder and the top of the urethra, further preventing leakage.

Catheterization
If you are incontinent because your bladder never empties completely (overflow incontinence) or your bladder cannot empty because of poor muscle tone, past surgery or spinal cord injury, you might use a catheter at regular intervals to empty your bladder. A catheter is a tube that you can learn to insert through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine.

Keep in mind that urinary incontinence is nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s a common problem in women of all ages, and all types of incontinence can be treated effectively.
Visit WomanCarePC for more information.

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Dr. Marilyn Mitchell, MD

A survey in 1999 revealed that sexual problems occur in about 43% of women in the United States, and as the population ages that percentage may be even higher now. Libido or lack of sexual desire is the most common sexual complaint. An occasional transient problem is very common; however if it is persistent, or pain is involved, it is time to seek professional help.

The cause of decreased libido is usually multi-factorial involving hormonal health, and relationship component.

Diminished libido can co-exist with orgasmic issues and vaginal pain, and may be exacerbated by undiagnosed or untreated health problems such as hypo-thyroidism and depression. Medications, including anti-depressants and birth control pills can worsen the problems.

Relationship issues and emotional well-being are major contributing factors to diminished sex drive and satisfaction. Americans tend to prioritize time and energy to other things and the eroticism needed to maintain a healthy sexual life does not easily fit in to our concept of parents and family. The “super mom” runs out of energy and motivation late at night and may be too overwhelmed with multi-tasking to enjoy or create the sexual experience.

Negative body image also intensifies lack of libido; self-esteem plummets when comparing oneself to the beautiful erotic American cover girl.

Many women suffer in silence- feeling they are alone and to blame- and afraid to that no help is available to them. The truth is that there are many treatment modalities available in an holistic approach to the problem.

Biofeedback Therapy Can Help

Each of us creates habitual responses to certain life situations. These responses are learned in childhood, adolescent and adult experiences and can be both negative and positive. Our responses to sexual stimuli are based on these same developed patterns. Awareness of patterns is half the battle in controlling any programmed negative responses. Biofeedback helps us to recognize and counteract our learned tendencies. Biofeedback helps to alleviate the 70% of sexual dysfunction in both men and women that is attributable to the stress response elicited by erotic stimuli. Biofeedback can also be helpful to train women who suffer from vaginismus, the instinctual contraction of vaginal and pelvic muscles, in response to anticipating painful sex and the inability to allow vaginal penetration.

Hormonal testing can be very helpful in evaluation of decreased libido; possible remedies may include vitamin, herbal or hormonal supplementation. Each woman is unique and needs individual evaluation to find the blend of therapies that will improve her libido and enhance her sexual life.

For more information on causes and treatments for sexual problems visit Womancarepc.com

We encourage reproducing our articles as long as you link back to this page.

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Melody Hart, ND

What is Thermography?
A whole-body temperature scan.

No Pain and No Radiation.
The measurement of the skin temperature, or heat over body organs, gives us a functional perspective based on physiology and stress response. Thermography allows your body organs to communicate their capacity to function or regulate under stressful conditions.

Thermography can reveal organs where the greatest dysfunction lies – such as in the liver, pancreas or intestines – or whether other factors such as dental or psychological issues are indicated. It can also reveal where a “disease influence” may be located, whether it is in the teeth or in another focus area such as the sinus, lymph, ovary/prostate or intestine.
Thermography shows future or developing disease tendencies, facilitating early detection of breast or prostate cancer. Thermography has been used as an adjunct diagnosis to mammography. Conditions of allergy, candida, autoimmune disorders like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, hidden infections including the teeth and much more can be identified.

How Thermography Works
Thermography measures the amount of body heat in targeted areas – such as the breast or intestines – as delivered to the skin from a combination of cellular metabolism and the nervous system. 112 points are scanned and placed into a single display image yielding a scan of 15 major organs and their functions while registering the amount of capillary heat conduction through the skin. By studying the skin temperature patterns from the client’s body, the diagnostician gains a direct index of the metabolic activity in the various parts of the body. Disturbances in the energy conversion process and reduced responses to the stress stimulus show up in the scan as inflamed, degenerative, or blocked. Thus areas of inflammation, hidden infection or degeneration, plus the probability of malignancies or tumors can be interpreted.

Organs / Tissue Analyzed
• Liver
• Gallbladder
• Pancreas (exocrine and endocrine)
• Small Intestine
• Colon
• Prostate
• Uterus
• Ovaries
• Tonsils and Lymph
• Thyroid
• Heart • Spinal Column/Axis/Atlas
• Teeth
• Breast
• Global Temperature
• Blood Pressure/Circulation
• Nasal Sinuses
• Maxillary Sinuses
• Vestibular System
• Immune System
• Brain Toxicity

The Procedure
You will be asked to sit in a fairly cool but not uncomfortable room for 10-15 minutes. The first skin measurements are taken with the gentle touch of a temperature probe on particular points on the skin of the face and the neck. Then you are asked to remove your clothes from the waist up, thereby subjecting your body to a controlled “stress”. It does not really feel like a stress, however, since the temperature is not cold (only about 69-72 degrees Fahrenheit. The remaining measurements of the chest, abdomen and back are made. You are then asked to stand as you are, exposed to the room air for 10 minutes to complete the stress effect. According to clinical research, it takes 10 minutes for your body to stabilize and acclimate to the regulatory changes from the internal organs upon the skin. The measurements are repeated and the test is concluded. The results are given immediately after the test.

Preparing for the Test:
Avoid anything that would heat up your body the morning of the test -
including exercise, showers, hot drinks or heated car seats. DO NOT wear makeup, creams or deodorants.

For more information about thermography and other naturopathic services visit
 www.hartcenter.com/.

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Julie Murphy Casserly, CFP®

I’ve come to believe that most unhealthy financial behaviors result from emotional conflict or unrest within the individual. In a few short weeks we’ll be in February, the month of love. It’s the perfect time to understand how you might be sabotaging your relationship with money. Knowing why you’re spending will help you get in touch with your heart’s desires. And it’ll create a vibration of harmony and abundance in your life.
First, let’s look at a few reasons we sabotage one of our most important relationships in life.
• We put other’s needs before our own
How many times have we bought something our husband or kids didn’t need, “just because”?
• We spend on what we think we need
It’s easy to get caught up in the “keeping up with the Jones’” mentality, so we rationalize those expensive briefcases or luxury cars as fitting in with our circles.
• We’ve convinced ourselves it’s a treat
We work hard, so we deserve that high-end handbag. But when it comes at the expense of what what’s really in our hearts, how much of a ‘treat’ is it really?
• We listen to what the “crabs” say
We want the ones closest to us to accept what we want, and we’re devastated when they don’t.
• And one of the biggest ways we sabotage our money situation is to ignore our dreams and desires for the sake of taking care of the “necessities.”
So many of us are just going through the motions in our lives, pushing down our true passions in lieu of what we think life should be. But there’s no better time than now to take the leap.
Here’s an exercise: Sit quietly and listen to your own heartbeat. Ask yourself, “What do I need? What do I want?” Maybe you want more time alone or need a creative outlet or more physical activity. Maybe you need to end a relationship that’s making you miserable or move overseas.
Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. So don’t judge your needs and desires; they have merit and deserve to be taken seriously. Let them flow out onto a piece of paper, and look over what you wrote.
Now choose one of the items on your list and describe some specific, practical ways you might begin to meet it. Do you need fifteen minutes alone each day when you get home from work? Do you need to open a “Europe” savings account and put ten dollars into it each month? What’s the first step, and when can you get it done?
Acknowledge how powerful it feels to funnel your energy toward your own needs and desires. Make a pledge to take at least a few minutes each day to accept who you really are and think of concrete ways to honor the authentic you. Feel the harmonious vibration from one simple act hum through every aspect of your life!

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Valerie Early, R.D.,Reiki Master

Reiki is a hands-on healing technique that originated in Japan. Administered by a Reiki master through gentle touch, a Reiki attunement is a process that balances the body, changes auras, and has potential for healing the physical body by creating an unlimited channel that allows individuals to tap into their own life force energy. Once Reiki is received, it can be used to enhance self-healing, create feelings of relaxation and peace, and relieve aches and pains.

Reiki is a biofield therapy classification according to The National Institutes of Health Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Biofield modalities affect the body’s energy fields through touch and/or specific hand positions on or around the body. Used in many clinical environments such as emergency rooms, hospitals, and psychiatric wards, Reiki can treat many conditions and alleviate symptoms from cancer, fatigue syndromes, stress and immune dysfunctions.I became involved in Reiki years ago because it is one of the few healing modalities that can be learned at any age and at any literacy level. I feel strongly that we do not teach Americans enough self-empowering healing tools. My life as well as many others of my students and friends lives have been changed after obtaining Reiki.

There are more and more clinical studies on the various benefits of Reiki.

Physical benefits:
• Improves the immune system
• Reduces blood pressure and the heart rate
• Reduces pain and anxiety in HIV patients
• Reduces insulin levels in diabetics

It helps with various cancer issues:
• Chemotherapy and radiation side effects
• Less pain in advanced cancer patients, according to Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, November 2003
Integrative Therapies for Children with Cancer Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY is using it with various treatment and training. It is also applied in hospice settings

Mental Health benefits:
• Treatment of addictions, smoking
• Overeating
• Depression
• Balances the energy centers (Chakras) of the body
• Anxiety
• Panic Attacks
• Sleep issues

The National Institute of Health’s Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, which provides medical care for patients participating in NIH research protocols, employs two Reiki Masters to train the staff, patients’ families and give treatments. Patients experiencing intense pain report alleviation of pain after 5-10 minutes of treatment, as well as a change in attitude and improved outlook.

Other medical studies support the efficacy of Reiki in treatment of disease:
• University of Washington-fibromyalgia
• University of Michigan-Neuropathy and Cardiovascular factors in diabetics
• Temple University-Advanced Aids, quality of life
• Cleveland Clinic-Anxiety and disease progression in prostate cancer

Reiki is a wonderful way to help you enhance your own energy, healing and life. I encourage you to take a Reiki training class or schedule a Reiki session today to bring your life and loved ones back into balance! Call NCBtoday to make a 50 minute Reiki session appointment. Call 847-985-1200 to register for our next class ! 

We encourage reproducing our articles as long as you link back to this page.

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Valerie Early, R.D.

What do hormones have to do with weight loss and optimal health? Hormone fluctuations affect you throughout your whole life. If estrogen dominance occurs, weight gain occurs, if cortisol is high or low, weight gain occurs. If your adrenals are stressed and DHEA is low you will feel depressed and lose lean muscle. I could go on and on. So what can you do to assess this appropriately?

The best way to determine if you have hormonal imbalances or adrenal issues are through subjective questions posed by a health practitioner familiar with adrenal fatigue and hormones. Then objective testing through a saliva test measures DHEA and cortisol levels. These readings can unravel the causes of depression, increased body fat and waist fat, cognitive changes, anxiety and fatigue and low libido.

For women experiencing PMS, fertility issues, peri-menopause, depression, sleep disturbances, irritability or menopause, estradiol, estriol, progesterone, and testosterone levels should be checked.

For men who are experiencing a decline in libido, motivation and lean mass, testosterone levels should be checked.

Be aware that many doctors will not run tests for these issues. Most doctors are familiar with Addison’s disease, which affects the adrenal glands, and they will only run tests if your symptoms are very severe. However, in most cases these traditional blood tests will not help you determine if you are experiencing adrenal fatigue syndrome or excited adrenals or other hormonal inbalances.

My audio CD, “Renew Your Life through Hormone Balancing” is available to help you understand hormonal issues better. According to Gerry Weaver “Renew Your Life through Hormone Balancing” is a clear presentation of complex material. Valerie Early invites the listeners to not only think about one’s total body health, but suggests to actively take part by asking a few pertinent questions . This CD is a must – to listen to and then listen again.”

Call NCB at 847-985-1200 to order a CD or make a consultation today to assess your hormone levels.

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Dr.Ian Wahl,DA,LAc,CH

Do you regularly experience stomach bloating, cramping, diarrhea, constipation or gas? If so, you are not alone. You may be suffering from a condition called Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS. This is a very common condition that affects more than 30 to 55 million people in the United States and results in 2.5 -3.5 million office visits every year.Studies suggest that at any one time, 10-15% of the population have IBS. However, only a small percentage of these people will seek professional help. IBS is more common in women (14-24%) than men (5-19%).

IBS is normally characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and changes in bowel habits, and no specific disorder to point to as the cause. IBS is called a functional disorder, because there is no sign of disease when the colon is examined, but the bowel isnt working as it should.

IBS is not a new problem and has been around for hundreds of years. In the late 1800s, it was referred to as mucous colitis and still has many names, including spastic colon, nervous colon, and irritable colon. It is often a chronic problem ranging from symptoms several times a day to several times a week to several times a month.

About 50 -60% of people with IBS report that their symptoms arise after eating a meal, giving rise to the theory that food sensitivity may be the culprit. Therefore, foods in the diet may be the main source of all of the symptoms of IBS, including pain, bloating, abdominal discomfort, flatulence and alterations in bowel habit.

At the Midwest Allergy Relief Center, we have noticed that some of the most common foods likely to cause IBS symptoms are dairy products, wheat, eggs, soy, yeast, salicylates, corn, and alcohol. Other potential food triggers include fatty foods, caffeinated drinks, sugar, beans, onions, and raw fruits and vegetables.

IBS, though problematic to the individual with its decrease in quality of life, does not lead to a life-threatening disease or a shortened life span. It is important to be able to distinguish between IBS and problems with true organic origins. Some of the more alarming symptoms that should be examined by a physician are increasing pain at night, pain that disturbs sleep, red blood in the stool or black stools, fever and/or weight loss. These symptoms describe conditions that are more serious and should be looked at by your doctor.
IBS symptoms are very common. However there are options available that can significantly reduce the symptoms of IBS so there is no need to suffer with this condition.If you would like more information on IBS or the treatment of food allergies, go to Midwest Allergy Relief.com.

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Valerie Early R.D., L.D.N

Building strong bones, especially before the age of 30, can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis, and a healthy lifestyle can be critically important for keeping bones strong.

There are several steps you can take to prevent osteoporosis:
Osteoporosis is largely preventable for most people. Prevention of this disease is very important because, while there are treatments for osteoporosis, there is currently no cure and our goal would be to maintain or increase your bone density if possible.

Six steps to prevent osteoporosis or stop degradation:no one step alone is enough to prevent osteoporosis but all six may. They are:

• A balanced diet rich in calcium (the right forms) and vitamin D3 (vitamins and minerals)
• Weight-bearing exercise (weight lifting!)
• A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol use
• Bone density testing and medications or special OTC supplements when appropriate
• Getting plenty of leafy dark green vegetables. Often, healthy vegan vegetarians have a better bone density than milk drinkers. Take Juice Plus for your “Body Insurance”.
•  Balance your hormones; especially your estradiol, estriol, progesterone and cortisol.

Calcium – Calcium is needed for the heart, muscles and nerves to function properly and for blood to clot. Inadequate calcium is thought to contribute to the development of osteoporosis. National nutrition surveys have shown that many women and young girls consume less than half the amount of calcium recommended to grow and maintain healthy bones. Depending on your age, an appropriate calcium intake falls between 800 mg and 1,200 mg a day. If you have difficulty getting enough calcium from the foods you eat, you may take a calcium supplement to make up the difference, be sure to take calcium citrate or hydroxyl appetite as your source of calcium if it’s coming from a pill and capsule. . I highly recommend the Complete Shake by NSA as another way to get 50% of your calcium through a bio-available, low calorie nutrient dense source. You can use it as your daily breakfast while getting lots of nutrition and 500 mg of calcium to start your day right!

Vitamin D – D3 acts as a hormone, not a vitamin. It’s the MOST important factor in maintaining your bone density level. Vitamin D is needed for the body to absorb calcium. Without enough vitamin D, you will be unable to absorb calcium from the foods you eat, and your body will have to take calcium from your bones. Vitamin D comes from three sources: through the skin following direct exposure to sunlight, the diet and supplementation. Research institutes since 2005 from the Mayo Clinic to research experts, such as Dr. Bruce Hollis recommend a daily intake between 800 and 2,000 IU per day without a blood test. However, the best way to assess you individualized D3 (cholecalciferol) need is to test your 25 hydroxy vitamin D3 level by blood and you may require between 1,000 IU and 50,000 IU/day. D3 NOT D2 (the prescription kind!) If you have osteopenia or osteoporosis optimal blood levels of D3 may need to be between 75-100.

Exercise – Exercise is also important to good bone health. If you exercise regularly in childhood and adolescence, you are more likely to reach your peak bone density than those who are inactive. The best exercise for your bones is weight-bearing exercise such as walking, dancing, jogging, stair-climbing, racquet sports and hiking. The very best is strength training with free weights and machines like the leg press. If you have been sedentary most of your adult life, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before beginning any exercise program.

Medications for Prevention and Treatment – Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, many medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prevention and/or treatment of osteoporosis. Each of these medications slows or stops bone loss, increases bone density and reduces fracture risk. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), alendronate and raloxifene may be prescribed to prevent osteoporosis, and BHRT, calcitonin, raloxifene and alendronate are prescribed to treat osteoporosis. There are some concerns about some of these prescription medications in regards to teeth softening that dentists have observed. Your bone density test results may look better but the bone matrix is often softer so if you have a break the fracture may be worse on these medications. Discuss these and reflux risks with your physician or health care provider.

upplements: Juice Plus and Vineyard Blend, ProBono or Ostera. Call NCB at 847-985-1200 for articles to read, to assess which extra co-factor supplements may be best or to buy them.

Bone Mineral Density Test – A Bone Mineral Density test (BMD) is the only way to diagnose osteoporosis and determine your risk for future fracture. You can’t feel your bones softening! Osteoporosis is the second leading cause of death in women! Come on, this is preventable ladies! Since osteoporosis can develop undetected for decades until a fracture occurs, early diagnosis is important. A BMD measures the density of your bones (bone mass) and is necessary to determine whether you need medication to help maintain your bone mass, prevent further bone loss and reduce fracture risk. A bone mineral density (BMD) test is a special type of test that is accurate, painless and noninvasive. A T-score of -1.0 to -2.5 is osteopenia, or the beginning of osteoporosis and -2.5 or greater is full osteoporosis.

If you have thyroid issues, had a hysterectomy, have had chemotherapy or radiation therapies or are on other medications your bones may be at risk! Don’t wait to be proactive!

So get moving and make an appointment to see Valerie Early at NCB, 847-985-1200 to promote your bone health and strength! It’s your choice. No one will take care of your body as well as you can! www.nutritionconnectionbalance.com

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Dr. Ian Wahl, DAc, LAc, CH

Itching, Red or Dry Skin Could Be a Symptom Of Eczema

What is eczema?
According to Princeton University, eczema is a generic term used to describe inflammatory conditions of the skin. It is caused by a hypersensitivity reaction which is similar to an allergy, and can lead to long term inflammation of the skin.

This inflammation, which can come from a variety of different irritants, often causes the skin to become very itchy, red and sometimes flaky. When eczema is present for long periods of time, the skin can thicken and darken due to the continued scratching that goes along with the condition. The most common type of eczema is known as atopic dermatitis, or atopic eczema.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease states that the prevalence of atopic eczema is increasing and currently affects up to 30% of the U.S. population. It is particularly common in young children and infants. Many children outgrow the symptoms before they are 5 years old. Approximately half of the children with eczema, however, continue to experience the symptoms and some even develop other conditions such as hay fever, allergies or asthma.

Do you experience any of these eczema symptoms?
No matter which part of the skin is affected, eczema is almost always itchy. The itching often starts before any rash or redness appears. When the rash begins, it most commonly occurs on the face, behind the knees, at the elbow crease or on the hands or feet. It may, however, affect other areas as well.

Since many people with eczema often also suffer from allergies, doctors may perform allergy tests to determine which irritants or triggers might increase the symptoms. Children with eczema are especially likely to be tested for allergies. Because eczema is often caused by allergic factors, it is important to know which allergic factors may be to blame for an outbreak.

What Substances Can Contribute to the Symptoms of Eczema?
Many people who suffer from eczema find that their symptoms increase in direct response to eating certain foods. Some of the foods that are commonly found to increase the symptoms of eczema are:
• Soy products
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Seafood
• Fruit (mostly citrus fruits and strawberries)
• Nuts
• Wheat products
• Salicylates
• Edible chemical additives, including preservatives and food colorings

Environmental triggers can also increase the symptoms of eczema. Some of the most common of these environmental triggers are:
• Dust/Dust Mites
• Pollens and Grasses
• Pet Dander
• Molds/Mildew
• Personal care products (soaps, shampoos, fragrances, etc.)
• Chemicals

Can eczema be seasonal or weather related?
Eczema has been linked to the climate. We all know that cold weather is especially notorious for its negative effects on skin. Even extreme heat may be to blame for some forms of eczema.

Why do so many people with skin problems also have allergies or asthma symptoms?
Eczema and allergies are closely related. Hay fever, asthma, and allergies are all present on the same gene. Many of the things that trigger an allergic reaction can also cause eczema, contributing to the irritating symptoms associated with the condition.

What can I do?
There are natural treatments available that can help to relieve or significantly reduce the symptoms associated with eczema, including “winter eczema” or dry skin due to the cold.
Find a local natural health practitioner who specializes in the treatment of allergy and sensitivity symptoms. There are natural health clinics, such as ours, which can help to relieve a variety of skin symptoms, many of which are commonly associated with eczema. For example, the approach we use at our clinic is a safe, effective, and affordable treatment for the relief of allergy or sensitivity symptoms without the use of needles, shots, medications, supplements, or avoidance. It is completely pain free and available to all ages, including infants. For more information, or for a referral to someone in your area who also specializes in natural treatments of the many symptoms associated with allergies and sensitivities, go to www.MidwestAllergyRelief.com.

Ian Wahl, DAc, LAc, CH is a Doctor of Acupuncture and herbalist who specializes in the treatment of children and adults with symptoms associated with allergies and hypersensitivities. He is the Founder and Director of the Midwest Allergy Relief Centers. 

• Princeton Health Services, Skin Care
• National Institutes of Health Medline Plus 
• Hyde, P., All About Eczema
• Table of Fruits and Eczema
• Levy, J., Environmental Triggers for Eczema Have Been Identified 
• Climate Seems to Influence Rates of Eczema and Asthma 

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Julie Murphy Casserly

As you approach retirement, many important decisions await you. If you have a qualified employer-sponsored retirement plan, whether it is a traditional pension or a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k), you will have to decide how to manage the proceeds from the plan once you retire. Your choice may depend on the following considerations: your current financial situation and your projected income requirements; the health and life expectancy of you and your spouse; the anticipated inflation rate; and Federal and state taxes.

Pension Payout Options
If you have a company pension plan, you will need to make some decisions about how you wish to receive your pension proceeds when you retire. Generally, you’ll be given the choice between receiving an income for the rest of your life (single life option), receiving an income for the life of you and your spouse (joint and survivorship option), or receiving a lump-sum distribution.
Each option has potential advantages and disadvantages. For instance, a single life option may pay a higher income than a joint and survivorship option. However, if you take the single payout option, income will cease upon your death, whereas if you take the joint and survivorship option, payments continue for the life of both you and your spouse. With both payout options, you exchange your pension balance for periodic payments.

If you prefer to maintain control over your pension assets during retirement, you might consider taking a lump-sum distribution. You can choose to receive the pension proceeds net of income taxes or roll them over into a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA), where they will continue to grow through tax deferral. (Required minimum distributions (RMDs) must commence at age 70½.) Either choice with the lump-sum distribution allows you to actively manage your own retirement assets.

Defined Contribution Plan Proceeds
If you’re a participant in an employer-sponsored defined contribution plan (such as a 401(k)), you must begin taking RMDs by age 70½. Depending on the rules of your company plan, you may also have the option of taking a lump-sum withdrawal net of income taxes or rolling over the proceeds into an IRA. Either of these options requires you to actively manage your retirement assets, and there may be tax consequences. Therefore, it is important to consult with your qualified financial and tax professionals to ensure that your savings decisions are consistent with your objectives.

Shortfall Planning
As you approach retirement, regularly reevaluate your financial strategies to help ensure that you will meet your retirement funding goals. For many individuals, retirement plan assets and Social Security alone will not meet retirement income needs. Therefore, personal savings are important to long-term success. Before you begin your personal retirement savings program, be sure you are maximizing contributions to your tax-advantaged, employer-sponsored plan.
As you can see, there are a number of choices available and decisions to be made regarding the distribution of proceeds from your employer-sponsored retirement plan. If you are not sure which strategies are best for meeting your particular goals, seek the advice of your professional advisors. It’s never too early to start!

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Dr. Kristina Sargent

Ok. This is the time of year when eating gets totally out of control. Americans think they have a license to eat anything and everything in the name of the Holiday Season. Here are a few tips to curb your appetite and your holiday binges.

• Eat normally throughout the day. Skipping meals causes increases in cortisol, the stress hormone which contributes to belly fat and breaks down muscle tissue.
On that same page, skipping meals will cause you to overeat later in the day. You really won’t save any calories that way.

• Look for the green. In other words, look for the vegetables at a party first. Fill up on that first, then find some protein…if you are still interested in the “fun food” you won’t eat as much.

• Watch portion sizes. If you decide to indulge, you can have a small portion and save tons of calories. Think moderation. A small piece of pie, a small serving of potatoes, you won’t feel deprived. And you won’t overdo it either.

• Use a smaller plate. For buffet dinners – use a 9” or salad plate for the entree. Fill up on salad, then use the smaller plate for the entree too.

• Alcohol – Choose beer or wine – both are around 100 calories on average. Mixed drinks and alcoholic punches can pack over 500 calories or more.

• Take your time eating. Parties tend to rack up calories because we aren’t really paying attention to what we are eating.

• Focus on the people instead of the food. Really parties are all about the people, the food is a bonus. • Ask if you can bring the vegetables and dip – even a full-fat dip and vegetables is better than a lot of the appetizers you could be eating.

• Aim to Maintain. You don’t have to lose through the holidays but let’s not put on the Seasonal Seven

• Avoid fast food by having snacks with you. Head the the grocery store and pack the refrigerator with pre-cut vegetables that can be eaten with pre-portioned hummus or apples and peanut butter are a quick snack that is portable. Always have a portion controlled snack-sized bag of nuts in the car, 20 almonds and a bottle of water will hold you until the next meal without all the added fat and unhealthy additives of the fast-food choices.

• Go for a walk. Park your car as far from the door as possible. Burn a few more calories – it won’t kill you to walk.

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Julie Murphy Casserly

Retirees are often ready, willing, and able to start new careers that may earn them significant incomes. However, some individuals may feel that it is not worthwhile to work for wages, only to have to “give up” some of those earnings in the form of higher income taxes. As frustrating as that may sound, it is important to understand the fundamentals of Social Security income and taxation so you can make your retirement years more “golden” and less “taxing.”

Income Limits: Paying to Work?
The first factor you must consider is your age and the so-called Social Security “giveback.” If you are age 62 or older, under the full retirement age (65–67 depending on your birth year), and receiving reduced Social Security benefits, you must “give back” $1 for every $2 earned above $14,160 in 2010. If you attain full retirement age in 2010, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for each $3 earned over $37,680 in months prior to full retirement age. Upon attainment of full retirement age, there is no limit on your earnings, and Social Security benefits are not reduced.

How Much Is Taxable?
A second factor affecting your Social Security benefits is the potential income taxation of those benefits. Let’s assume you are working and you also receive a check from the Social Security Administration (SSA) each month. You must first determine how much, if any, of your benefit is included in your gross taxable income. The first step in estimating this is to add up the following items: your wages, taxable pensions, interest, dividends, and other taxable income; all tax-exempt interest; any exclusions from income; your net earnings (net income less net losses) from self-employment; and half of your Social Security benefits.

This total is then compared to a first-tier threshold of $25,000 for a single taxpayer or a married taxpayer who is filing separately and lived apart from his or her spouse for the entire year, or $32,000 for a married taxpayer filing jointly. For a married taxpayer filing separately, who lived with his or her spouse for any period during the year, the first-tier threshold is $0.

For illustrative purposes, suppose your total applicable earnings are $27,000, and you are married and filing jointly. Since the total does not exceed the applicable threshold amount of $32,000, then no portion of your Social Security benefit is taxable. However, if the total exceeds the applicable threshold amount, further calculation is needed to determine the amount of your benefits that are taxable. You can refer to IRS Publication 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits, for more information, or consult your financial or tax professional.

As you can see, performing these calculations is no simple task. Thus, it is important for anyone who is thinking about receiving Social Security benefits while still working to understand the potential tax consequences and plan accordingly. As with all tax planning matters, it is important to consult a tax professional to help ensure your planning decisions are consistent with your overall goals.

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Dr. Martha Howard on calcium supplements

Sharon Weinstein R.N on holistic remedies for aches and pains

Dr. Ian Wahl on birth control for aging women
Dr. Helen Lee Cranberries’ health benefits

Dr. Tom Bayne Natural remedies to prepare for cold and flu season

Nearly 200 dentists gathered at a symposium on December 5, 2010.  Organized by Glaxo Smith Kline Consumer Healthcare, the conference  aimed to highlight latest advances in the treatment of gum diseases, specifically gingival and periodontal diseases.

“Certain dental conditions such as bleeding gums are often ignored as people presume this to be a harmless problem. What they do not realize is that these seemingly risk-free conditions could be a sign of gum disease and if left untreated could lead to more serious chronic inflammatory diseases or even tooth loss,” said Dr. Khalid Al Hamdan, Assistant Professor and Head, Division of Periodontics, Dentistry College, King Saud University.

ChicagoHealers practitioners offer alternative therapies for gum disease; patients diagnosed with periodontal disease need not assume surgery is their only treatment option. 

“Our unique Reverse Gum Disease Program has made it possible for my periodontal patients to reverse their gum disease without surgery,” said Dr. Raymond Hatland, DDS. The results have been impressive. “My patients continue to amaze me with what they achieve in this program. Teeth that would normally have been extracted have become healthy and stable. Periodontal pockets, ranging from 5 mm to 13 mm deep have shrunk 2 to 6 mm without surgery or using antibiotics or medicated inserts. I have more than 115 periodontal patients who have been able to reduce their pocket depths by at least 20% and also have at least a 2 millimeter reduction in pocket depth in (95%+) of their diseased pockets.

“The important thing to realize here is one can’t have gum disease and pocket reduction at the same time. Therefore when you reverse gum pocket depths, you have eradicated gum disease activity in these pockets,” Hatland concluded.

ChicagoHealers.com practitioners have long realized the importance of gingival health and its implications in overall systemic function. “There are a large number of gum disease producing bacteria that hide in the spaces below the gumline that can enter the blood vessels in diseased areas of the gums,” explained Dr. Kevin Boehm, DDS. “The cardiovascular implications at this time include increased risk of heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, and possible heart valve/ heart muscle damage. In addition, other systemic complications include increased risk of Type II adult onset diabetes, thyroid problems, brain infections, and kidney infections.”

Like her colleagues, Dr. Andie T. Pearson, DDS, also approaches dental health from a fully integrative direction, offering non-surgical treatment of gum disease as an option in her holistic practice. “Holistic dentistry involves an awareness of dental care as it relates to the entire person. When a person has a systemic illness, some of the symptoms are expressed in the mouth before they are expressed anywhere else.”

Merely eliminating the troublesome symptom is not an adequate solution. “I never just address one symptom, but instead step back and find the primary reason you are expressing a symptom in order to eliminate it,” Pearson said. “As part of our holistic dental practice, craniosacral therapy, massage, reiki, dental homeopathy and custom designed toothpaste and mouthwash using medicinal-grade essential oils are also offered for your specific medical and dental needs.”

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Helen Lee, DC

Experts estimate that more about 80% of Americans will experience low back pain sometime in their life. It is one of the most common reasons for missed work! For those who have had acute back pain, you know that it can stop you in your tracks for days, weeks and sometimes months if not resolved properly. Following are some common myths and facts concerning back pain.

1. One sneeze/sleeping in wrong position/bending over, etc. causes “my back to go out”. FALSE. The facts are that we have an incredible orchestration of muscles that support the back and the core structure of our bodies. So we have an amazing ability to compensate meaning different muscles will work harder if there are other muscles that are stressed at one time or another. Therefore, it is only when there is an accumulation of stress—physical, mental, chemical & emotional—that has built up over a period of time at which point any additional stress such as sleeping in a funny position or sneezing will push the body over its threshold of compensation. At that point the body can no longer compensate and now “gives out on you!”

2. Pain and other NSAID medications get rid of back pain.
FALSE. The facts are that pain and other over the counter medications can decrease inflammation or the perception of pain however it does not necessarily heal the back. Pain medications such as Vioxx, Darvocet & Darvon have been found to create more potential problems such as heart attack & stroke. The false sense of security in being more pain free may also cause one to do more which may create deeper injury to the body.

3. I have back pain so I will need back surgery.
FALSE. Only a small percentage of all those that deal with back pain will ever undergo surgery. Of those are the medical emergencies such as a broken back and those who experience compromise to nerve function such as severe numbness, compromise to organ function (bowels & bladder). The far majority of others will resolve with rest/relaxation, Chiropractic &/or other alternative therapies, & stretching.

4. Once I have back problems, I will always have a weak back.
FALSE. The back supports us in all ways—while we sit, stand, &/or move and is an intricate system of muscles, ligaments and fascia. The best way to take care of oneself is to be proactive in creating habits that keeps the back balanced and strong. So whether you already have had back issues or not, take simple steps to help support a healthy back.

Back Basics: Sit up straight with feet flat, get up frequently to move and exercise your whole body, drink plenty of water to keep all your muscles hydrated, practice abdominal (belly) breathing to keep you more relaxed through the day & oxygen flowing, stretch your body whenever you can, keep active with exercise or walking, practice balance & core exercises which support the lower back.

References:

• ACA Today 
• Medicine Net 
• Back and Neck- About 

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Martha H.Howard, MD

Going Christmas shopping? Visiting the family? Lifting heavy shopping bags and carrying heavy luggage, or practicing 100 tennis serves for your vacation game can be risky for your shoulders.

First of all, see a doctor immediately if there is heat, swelling in your shoulder, if there is numbness or extreme pain, if you can’t lift your arm out to the side, or if you have a fever.

Most shoulder pain is not that much of a crisis—it usually comes from inflamed tendons around the rotator cuff, caused by overuse. These tendons can also be inflamed by injury, but that is not as common. Muscle strain from the shoulder to the neck, is the next most common type of shoulder pain.
 

Risk factors are overuse, weak or fatigued muscles, and aging.

The most common trigger for rotator cuff problems and pain is repeated overhead arm movements. If you are practicing tennis serves for those winter games, haven’t played all summer, and haven’t kept up your strengthening exercises, look out!

Lifting your suitcase up into the overhead bin on an airplane can injure your rotator cuff and take a lot of the fun out of your holiday before you even get where you are going.
And when you are out of the plane and into the car, or just shopping, or even still working, avoid repeatedly lifting heavy bags, briefcases, or luggage out of the back seat of a car by turning around and hauling them up to the front seat. Do yourself a favor, get out of the car, and lift them from the back seat.

Other preventive tips:

• Keep your shoulders strong. Ease into some resistance exercises, weight lifting or push-ups, and keep them up. This gets more important as you get older! If need be, start with a trainer.
• Warm up before any sports, like tennis, baseball, basketball, volleyball or swimming that use overhead arm movements.
• Don’t jump into an old or a new sport all of a sudden. If you are going back to playing racquetball or tennis, swimming or throwing sports (even Frisbee golf!) you need to build up your muscles, and get into it gradually.
• If you are doing an activity that requires you to repeat overhead movements with your arms, (maybe not even a sport but, say, helping a friend move) take breaks. Fatigued muscles lose their power to keep your shoulder stabilized

Enjoy the holiday!

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Julie Murphy Casserly,CFP®

During this season of giving, be mindful of the lessons you’ve learned these past three years in the recession.

I’ve already talked about saving for right now and the future and investing wisely. On the job front, I stressed to be prepared to look for a new job at a moment’s notice. Still, there are Americans that just didn’t get that chance.

Nationally, there are 14.8 million unemployed workers with over 400,000 of them right here in Chicago. Many of them have turned to temp agencies to find work, and a recent Chicago Tribune article highlighted their plight. Many companies are moving towards temp and part-time workers. And, financially, it makes sense.

“There is no incentive to make permanent jobs, with good job security and good benefits and good pay and good working conditions, (when) you have another 15 people waiting out the door that would take lower than that,” said Heidi Shierholz, an economist with the Economic Policy Institute.

To make matters worse, unemployment benefits run out next month for over two million people. In the first week of December, 800,000 Americans will lose their benefits with the other 1.2 million getting their last checks at the end of the month. And another 3 million may become victim to the cuts in January and February.

This unsettling news really put things into perspective for me. And during this holiday season, the most valuable lesson I’ve taken away from this rough economic time is to be thankful. The past three years have taught us nothing if not to be humble.

As you know, I’m a firm believer in the connection between our emotions/thoughts and our biology. When we’re stressed out about something, especially finances, we feel the negative pull emotionally. Our thoughts then go to a bad place, and it affects us physically many ways. We eat too much or not at all. Our hair falls out. Or we lash out at those we love.
Instead of letting this rough economic time take over the happiness of this season, focus on what’s good in life. I have a wonderful family with a great husband. I have beautiful child with one on the way very soon. And I wake up every day knowing that I get to do something that I love.

What are you thankful for during this time?

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Sharon M. Weinstein, RN, MS

Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits such as eating regular balanced meals and exercising daily will go a long way towards boosting your immune system. In addition, there are steps that you personally can take to ensure good health.

 Select foods and nutrients known as immune system boosters:
• Vitamin C (citrus fruit, broccoli)
• Vitamin E (nuts, vegetable oils, whole-grains)
• Garlic
• Zinc (beef, turkey, beans, oysters, crabs)
• Bioflavonoids (fruits and vegetables)
• Selenium (chicken, whole grains, tuna, snapper, lobster, shrimp, garlic, egg yolks, sunflower seeds, brown rice)
• Carotenoids (carrots, yams)
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids (nuts, salmon, tuna, mackerel, flaxseed oil)
• Barley grass (juice or sprouted seeds)
• Wheat grass juice
• Fresh seafood
• Legumes (peas, beans, lentils)
• Organic raw nuts and seeds (can be ground up for easier digestion)
• Sea weeds   (kelp, dulse, agar – agar, nori, arame, kombu, wakame and hijiki are excellent for improved immune function)

Our bodies absorb vitamins and minerals more efficiently through whole food, so choosing from the above list will go a long way toward creating and maintaining your well-being. Supplements are also helpful.

I choose a proprietary product known as Immunity, a composite of 14 natural mushrooms that boost the immune system. I take several a day, an extra one if I am around my grandchildren, and an extra one for every hour of a flight. Mushrooms have been employed by herbalists for centuries — some species have been used as far back as 3,000 BC. More recently, studies have been devoted to the relationship between mushrooms and immune response. My formula includes: Cordyceps sinensis, Agaricus blazei, maitake (Grifola frondosa), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Trametes versicolor, shiitake (Lentinula edodes), Hericium erinaceus, Tremella mesenterica, Phellinus linteus, Pleurotus tuber-regium, oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), chaga, Lepiota procera and enoki (Flammulina velutipes). There are many brands and blends available through health food stores and private practitioners.

Animal studies have also shown mushrooms to have antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-tumor effects. The important thing is to be sure that they meet and/or exceed Canadian labeling standards. Canada regulates supplements as natural health products. Also, avoid mucous producing foods – milk and diary products such as cheese, ice cream, cream, preserved meats and processed foods may impair immune function.

Implement lifestyle changes:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and warm water, especially before eating and after using the restroom
• Cook meat thoroughly to kill dangerous bacteria and other microorganisms
• Avoid sleep deprivation – get at least 8 hours a night because deep sleep stimulates and energizes the immune system
• Maintain a healthy body weight – obesity has been linked to a weakened immune system
• Exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week — physical activity stimulates the immune system and helps with weight maintenance or reduction
• Consume alcohol in moderation; one drink may not affect the immune response, but several drinks in a short period impairs the immune function of the white blood cells (WBCs)
• Limit your sugar intake — 100 grams of sugar, the amount in one 12-ounce can of regular soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by 40 percent for up to 5 hours; sugar has devastating effects on the immune system, and the fact that Americans consume an average of 2-3 pounds of sugar per person annually spells bad news this time of year. Not only does sugar increase the production of hormones that suppress the immune system, but refined sugar also needs micronutrients to be metabolized. This requires your body to use stored vitamins and minerals, further harming your defenses.
• Avoid acidic beverages like coffee and soft drinks; keep your body in an alkaline state to keep it well
• Drink lots of fresh filtered water – approximately ½ of your body weight in ounces of water per day
• Avoid smoking which weakens the immune system
• Avoid stressors in your environment – 74% of physician office visits are related to stress-induced symptoms; medicate, integrate yoga into your routine, breathe deeply. Just a handful of almonds may shore up your immune system from the effects of stress. A recommended 1/4 cup serving carries nearly 50% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin E, which helps boost the immune system. And they have riboflavin and niacin, B vitamins that may help you bounce back from the effects of stress.
• Enjoy a cup of tea – green or white is preferred – they are richest in antioxidants
• Follow your healthcare provider’s advise concerning vaccines

As flu season approaches, be proactive concerning your health. Take responsibility for your internal and external environments and what you put into, and around, them. You can increase your ability to make it through the flu season with a strong immune system just by following the steps outlined here. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…choose prevention, choose naturally, and choose wisely.

The internet is a great source of information related to health and wellness, especially the subject of immunity. Some good sites include:

• Ask Doctor Oz.com – Immune System Health 
• Mayo Clinic.com 
• Mayo Clinic Health Tips 
• WebMD- Colds and flu: Immune foods  
• Health Canada
   
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Sharon M. Weinstein, MS, RN

Flu season is quickly approaching, and concern is mounting! How do we keep our immune systems strong, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and avoid the germs that permeate the air and our environment? And what kinds of natural approaches can we take?

Great questions…and ones that deserve answers. But, let’s first discuss what our immune system is all about, and what is this thing called ‘flu?’[

First of all, what is our immune system, and why is it important?

The immune system is a complex network of molecules and specialized cells that work in close cooperation to fight infection. We rely upon our immune system to defend us from attack by foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses.

For our bodies, the first line of defense against invasion by germs is made up of an intact skin and the mucous membranes (for example, those that line the nose and the throat). Our skin acts as an important physical barrier. Many of the billions of germs that we have on our skin surfaces are eliminated when they are shed with the outer layers of skin.

The mucous membranes are not as tough as skin, but they contain natural substances that fight germs like those found in tears, saliva, and sweat. Our greatest ally is the cells that fight to defend the body, and they are known as leukocytes, or white blood cells or WBCs.

So, we now know that we have an innate defense mechanism, but what exactly is the flu?

Influenza, or flu, is a viral infection in the nose, throat and lungs. About 10% to 20% of Americans get the flu each year; some of them get very sick, and many of them are hospitalized and/or die as a result of complications. The flu may cause fever, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and overall tiredness. Most people feel better after 1 or 2 weeks, but others do not. They may have a higher risk of complications, like pneumonia, and include:

• All children aged 6 months up to 19 years
• All adults aged 50 years and older
• All women who are or will be pregnant during the flu season
• People who are living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
• Individuals who have long-term health problems
• Health care workers who have direct contact with patients
• Caregivers and household contacts of children less than 6 months of age

There are vaccines available, and while most people can take the vaccine without complications, others should discuss the vaccine with their healthcare providers, including:

• People who have had an allergic reaction to a flu shot in the past
• People with an allergy to eggs
• People who previously developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a reversible reaction that causes partial or complete loss of movement of muscles, weakness or a tingling sensation in the body) within 6 weeks of getting a flu shot
• Children younger than 6 months of age
• People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever 

Your role in boosting your immune system:

The general recommendations for a healthy lifestyle, such as eating regular balanced meals and exercising daily, will go a long way towards boosting your immune system. In addition, there are steps that you personally can take to ensure good health. Our next post will discuss specific natural immunity boosters you can use to remain healthy throughout flu season.

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Other studies show that women who take high doses of fish oil supplements in the second half of pregnancy give birth to children with greater coordination and increased brainpower later in life . In fact, research has shown the last three months of pregnancy are a vital time for pregnant women to take fish oil supplements, since the baby’s brain experiences a growth spurt during that time, which lasts through the first few months of the infant’s life.

So, which study do you believe? I still believe that fish oil supplementation is beneficial to both the mom and the developing baby. Here are my reasons for questioning the conclusions I am reading in the mainstream news reports of this new study. The news reports do not cite what kind of fish oil supplements the participants were given. We do not know the quality and purity of the fish oil. Did the researchers control for the women’s diet of fish consumption high in Omega 3’s? How were the women chosen for the study? Were they health conscious women who already ate nutritious and well balanced meals? Or were they women whose diets consisted of the Standard American Diet which is known to cause health problems for pregnant mothers and their newborns? Would the baby of a pregnant woman whose total nutritional intake is quite less than optimum really not benefit from additional fish oil supplementation?

Unless there is more to this study than what I read in the current news releases, I will not revise my recommendations to pregnant women. I will continue to recommend to my patients that they eat an organic, whole food based diet including omega 3 fish oils. I will also recommend that they avoid soy during their pregnancy especially if they are having a boy. Pregnant women should also avoid smokers, alcohol, cat litter, and obvious environmental toxins and chemicals. They should practice a gentle prenatal yoga and utilize relaxation techniques to deal with life’s stresses. Call me old fashioned. But healthy diets, proper exercise, and relaxation have worked pretty well for quite long time in helping pregnant women have healthy babies.

• Dr. Ian Wahl is the founder and director of the Natural Fertility Health Centers in Arlington Heights, Illinois. His specialty is women’s and men’s reproductive health and wellness. Dr. Wahl can be reached at www.NaturalFertilityHealthCenters.com. The Natural Fertility Health Center is one of the Wahls of Wellness Clinics. For more information on health and nutrition go to www.WahlsOfWellness.com.

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Natural Med Talk
Health Benefits of Spices – Dr. Helen Lee

http://www.natmedtalk.com/nutrition/21018-dash-health-spices.html

Energy Times Online
Health Benefits of Spices – Dr. Helen Lee

http://www.energytimes.com/pages/features/1102/spices.html#extra

Environment, Health and Safety Magazine
Women’s Heart Attack Symptoms – Dr. Martha Howard

http://ehstoday.com/health/news/heart-attack-symptoms-comm

V Magazine
Women’s Heart Attack Symptoms- Dr. Martha Howard

http://www.myvmagazine.com/index.php/Health-Matters/Medical

She Knows Online
Make your vegan food work for you – Dr. Helen Lee

http://vegan.sheknows.com/2011/03/02/how-to-make-your-vegan-foods-work-harder-for-you/

Explore World TV Online
How to Make Your Vegan Food Work For You- Dr. Helen Lee

http://exploreworldtv.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=263:how-to-make-your-food-work-harder-for-you&catid=1:health&Itemid=50

The Macomb Daily
Sweating out a fever- Dr. Helen Lee

http://macombdaily.com/articles/2011/03/15/lifestyles/srv0000011127899.txt

Connecting Women
Educated eating tips – Valerie Early RD

http://connectingwomenmedia.blogspot.com/2011/03/3-of-americans-are-currently-dieting.html

Training Peaks: Hal Higdon
Healthy eating tips – Valerie Early RD

https://www.trainingpeaks.com/bbs-forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=74219&posts=1

Health Radio
Interview: Sweating out a fever – Dr. Helen Lee

http://www.healthradio.net/show/ask-dr-desilva/Health-Radio-Shows/Ask-Dr-2E-DeSilva/Fighting-a-Fever-3F-Important-Information-You-Should-Know-44275/details

New Age Journal
Cosmetic Acupuncture- Dr. Monica Talebnia

http://newagejournal.com/2007/cosmetic-acupuncture-the-stay-young-secret-of-hollywood-celebrities-like-angelina-madonna-gwyneth

February 2011

9 to 6 Blog
Let’s choose celebration – Dr. Kristina Sargent
http://www.9to6.com/2011/02/let%E2%80%99s-choose-celebration/

Take Heart against E.D. – Dr. In Wahl
http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Take-Heart-Against-Ed-And-Cardiovascular-Disease/1066094

Chiropractor Clinic Resources
Inspirational chiropractic stories – Dr. Kristina Sargent
Chiroparctor Clinic Resources… – http://www.chiropractorclinicreviewsandbonus.ibuyitonline.com/

Daily Venus Diva
Understanding low libido -  Dr. Marilyn Mitchell
http://dailyvenusdiva.com/2011/02/women-get-your-groove-back-this-valentines-day/

EV Living
E.D. and cardiovascular disease – Dr. Ian Wahl
http://www.evliving.com/2011/02/16/erectile-dysfunction-may-be-an-indicator-of-cardiovascular-disease/

EzineMark.com
Irritable bowel syndrome – Dr. Ian Wahl
http://health.ezinemark.com/what-is-ibs-or-irritable-bowel-syndrome-3197cb86915.html

Empower Mind, Body, Soul
How women sabotage their relationship with money – Julie Murphy Casserly
Empower Mind, Body, Spirit & Soul – http://www.empowermindbodyandsoul.com/

The GreenGirls.com
Mercury free fillings – Dr. Kevin Boehm
http://www.thegreengirls.com/blog/post/2011/01/Chicagos-Holistic-Doctor-Mercury-Free.aspx

Healbuzz.com
Eczema- Dr. Ian Wahl
http://www.healbuzz.com/All/1031600

Hearthealthvitamin.com
Heart health- oral care Dr. Kevin Boehm
http://hearthealthvitamin.com/category/healthy-heart/

Lovingyou.com
Aphrodisiac foods – Dr. Melody Hart
http://articles.lovingyou.com/love/aphrodisiac-foods-to-add-to-your-v-day-grocery-list/

Lumineers dental veneers
All about dental veneers – Mladen Kralj D.D.S
http://lumineersdentalveneers.com/

ParentGiving.com
Heart health-oral care  Dr. Kevin Boehm
http://www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/newsflash/

Paula Rath and Hawaii’s Fashion Forum
Women’s heart health – Dr. Martha Howard
http://paularathandhawaiisfashionforum.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/helpful-heart-month-facts/

Saturday Evening Post
National heart and dental month – Dr. Kevin Boehm DDS
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2011/02/11/wellness/medical-update/national-heart-dental-month.html

Your Time with Kim – radio interview
How women sabotage their relationship with money – Julie Murphy Casserly
http://audio.yourtimewithkim.com/m/audio/36644139/your-time-with-kim-1-31-11-no-music.htm?q=julie+murphy+casserly

WhyDentist.com
Heart health, oral care – Kevin Boehm, DDS
http://whydentist.com/general-dentistry/mantaining-a-healthy-heart-for-national-health-month-often-begins-with-oral-care

Dr. Kevin Boehm, DDS explains how gum disease affects heart health and what can be done to stay healthParentgiving

National Heart (and Dental) Month
Saturday Evening Post

January

Champagne Living

5 ways women sabotage their relationships with Money

Julie Murphy Casserly CFP

Daily Venus Diva

How Women Sabotage Their Relationships with Money

Julie Murphy Casserly CFP

Daily Healthy Life

Keep your New Year’s Resolutions with 8 ways to lose your blubber

Valerie Early, RD

EVLiving

8 ways to lose your blubber

Valerie Early, RD

Examiner.com

8 Ways to lose your blubber

Valerie Early, RD

Family Health Tips Online

Pomegranates

Dr Melody Hart

Go Green, Save Earth

Non toxic approaches to children’s dentistry

Dr.Steven Koos

Health News for Americans

Aging and Dental Care

Dr. Kevin Boehm

Health Radio.net

Antibiotic Overload

Dr. Tom Bayne

Healthy Tips.net

Osteoporosis-Are your bones on fire?

Dr. Kristina Sargent

Menopause Herbs

How To Cool Down Your Hot Flashes

Dr. Ian Wahl

Men & Health

It’s a Guy Thing Natural ways to boost immunity

Sharon Weinstein RN

NewsOK.com The website of The Daily Oklahoman

Eczema

Dr. Ian Wahl

Recipes are Free

Vacation Feng Shui

Dr Andie T Pearson, DMD

Pioneer Press- Honey & Flu

Dr. Helen Lee

Print edition placement

Remedies for Life Magazine ñ Meditation

Dr. Helen Lee

Print edition placement

December

Dr. Tom Bayne - 10 things you didnít know about colds
http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Health/10-Things-You-Didn-t-Know-About-Colds.html

Dr. Helen Lee on Osteoporosis
http://alivestyle.org/mag/

Dr. Kris Sargent on Healthy Holiday Eating
http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/how-to-avoid-holiday-binging.html

http://www.evliving.com/2010/12/16/tips-to-curb-the-appetites-and-holiday-binges/

http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/anythingandeverything/archive/2010/12/14/enjoy-holiday-eating-without-the-guilt-or-weight-gain-with-these-tips-from-chicagohealers-com.aspx

Dr. Claudia Anderson on Dental Anxiety
http://bloghealth.us/2010/12/dental-anxiety-by-claudia-anderson-of-chicagohealers-com/

Dr. Andie Pearson-Dental Health and Winter Sickness
http://www.blogtopsites.com/outpost/8930138aad02a83dac68a46b61044008

Dr. Steven Koos on Non-toxic approaches to children’s dentistry
http://www.childrenfriendlybooks.com/

Dr. Melody Hart-Superfoods for Women-eat your way to a healthier new you this year
http://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic/news/10571/54/eat-your-way-to-a-healthier-you-this-new-year/

Dr. Tom Bayne-Natural remedies to prepare for cold winter woes
http://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic/news/10537/54/natural-remedies-to-prepare-for-cold-winter-woes/

Dr. Kevin Boehm — Your heart health and gum disease
http://toothtime.ca/topblog/your-heart-health-and-gum-disease

Melody Hart – Super Foods for Women

http://exploreworldtv.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=225:eat-your-way-to-a-healthier-you-for-the-new-year&catid=1:health&Itemid=50

Dr. Tom Bayne – Natural Remedies to prepare for cold winter woes
http://exploreworldtv.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=223:natural-remedies-to-prepare-for-cold-winter-woes&catid=1:health&Itemid=50

Dr. Marilyn Mitchell – Two health issues revealed
http://exploreworldtv.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=28

Dr. Mark Sobor – Exercise for Back pain relief
http://fazs.com/cure-hemorrhoids/exercises-for-back-pain-relief/

Dr Steven Koos – The Call For Action Eco-Friendly Healthcare

http://www.greenlivingguide.org/

Dr. Tom Bayne – Antibiotic Overload
http://www.healthradio.net/component/mtree/Health-Radio-Shows/Ask-Dr-2E-DeSilva/Antibiotic-Overload!-43543/details

Dr. Melody Hart – Pomegranate to treat gout
http://howtocuregout.zedicate.com/

Dr. Mark Sobor - Exercises for back pain relief
http://thelowerbackpain.com/19159/exercises-for-back-pain-relief/

Dr Kristina Sargent -Sunshine can lower cholesterol
http://lower-my-cholesterol.net/73702/sunshine-warms-the-heart-2/

Dr. Melody Hart- Five Foods that Keep Women Healthy
http://www.modernsage.com/Expert/ArticleDetails.aspx?Mode=&Article_Id=808

Dr. Tom Bayne - Prepare for cold winter woes
http://www.modernsage.com/Expert/ArticleDetails.aspx?Mode=&Article_Id=806

Dr Martha Howard- Foods & herbs for hives
http://naturalskin-products.com/foods-herbs-for-hives%c2%a0%c2%a0/

Dr. Kris Sargent-Proper sleep promotes weight loss

http://newagejournal.com/2007/how-proper-sleep-helps-promote-weight-loss

Dr. Melody Hart- 5 foods that keep women healthy
http://newagejournal.com/2007/5-foods-that-keep-women-healthy

Dr. Tom Bayne - Natural remedies to prepare for cold and flu season
http://newagejournal.com/2007/natural-remedies-to-prepare-for-cold-and-flu-season

Julie M. Casserly – budgeting for the holidays
http://www.scroogetips.com/budgeting-for-the-holidays

November

Dr. Ian Wahl on tips for following a gluten free diet
http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/canadianvoices/archive/2010/11/01/chicagohealers-com-offers-tips-for-following-a-gluten-free-diet.aspx

Sharon Weinstein RN on holistic approach to curing aches and pains
http://exploreworldtv.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=204:a-holistic-approach-to-curing-aches-and-pains-from-sharon-m-weinstein-ms-rn-crni-facw-faan&catid=1:health&Itemid=50

Dr. Kristina Sargent article Let’s Choose Celebration!
http://www.celebrityspoiler.com/celebrity-relationships/let%E2%80%99s-choose-celebration.html

Dr. Helen Lee on How cranberries can boost your health
http://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic/news/10464/54/how-cranberries-can-boost-your-health-this-thanksgiving/

Dr. Martha Howard on green tea for Alzheimerís prevention
http://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic/news/10439/54/how-green-tea-can-help-fight-alzheimer’s

Dr. Ian Wahl tips for gluten free living
http://twitter.com/csaceliacs/status/29566451493

Raymond Hatland, DDS on Kinesiology and Dentistry
http://www.dentistryiq.com/index/display/article-display/2651268276/articles/dentisryiq/clinical/oral-systemic_health/2010/11/Kinesiology-and-dentistry.html

Dr. Martha Howard on Green tea to fight Alzheimerís disease
http://www.evliving.com/2010/11/04/green-tea-alzheimers-disease/

Dr. Melody Hart on the Health benefits of apples
http://familyfirst.com/10-health-benefits-of-apples-an-apple-a-day-really-works.html

Dr. Kristina Sargent on Sunshine warms the heart
http://www.fishingreferences.com/2010-fishing-for-miracles-sunshine-warms-the-heart.html

Dr. Helen Lee on 5 ways pumpkin boosts your health
http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2010/09/afternoon-snack-5-ways-pumpkin.html

Dr. Helen Lee on the Health benefits of cranberries
http://healthishblog.com/boost-your-health-this-thanksgiving/

Dr. Martha Howard on Green tea for Alzheimerís prevention
http://healthishblog.com/november-is-national-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-disease-month/

Dr. Claudia Anderson on Dental Anxiety
http://healthtop.org/2010/11/dental-anxiety-by-claudia-anderson-of-chicagohealers-com/

Dr. Martha Howard is interviewed on green teaís potential to prevent Alzheimerís disease
http://www.healthradio.net/component/mtree/Health-Radio-Shows/Insider’s-HealthRadio/Can-Green-Tea-Help-Prevent-Alzheimers-3F-43430/details

Dr Martha Howard on Green tea for Alzheimerís prevention
http://www.lazy-yogi.com/search?q=green+tea

Dr. Helen Lee on Health benefits of cranberries
http://www.lazy-yogi.com/2010/11/boost-your-health-this-thanksgiving.html

Barbara Royal, DVM on Acupuncture  for greyhounds
http://ladogmassage.com/greyhounds-the-model-patient-for-acupuncture/

Dr. Ian Wahl on tips  for following a gluten-free diet
http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/anythingandeverything/archive/2010/11/01/chicagohealers-com-offers-tips-for-following-a-gluten-free-diet.aspx

Dr. Martha Howard on ADHD prevention tips
http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/anythingandeverything/archive/2010/10/05/adhd-prevention-tips-from-dr-martha-howard.aspx

Dr. Helen Lee on Cranberries- a small fruit with huge benefits
http://www.modernsage.com/Expert/ArticleDetails.aspx?Mode=&Article_Id=798

Dr. Helen Lee on pumpkin nutrition facts
http://momtrends.blogspot.com/search?q=dr+helen+lee

Dr. Martha Howard on Green tea to fight Alzheimerís disease

http://neutral-izer.blogspot.com/2010/11/green-tea-may-help-fight-alzheimers.html

Dr. Helen Lee on Cranberriesí  health benefits

http://newagejournal.com/2007/how-cranberries-can-boost-your-health-this-thanksgiving

Dr. Tom Bayne on natural remedies to prepare for cold and flu season

http://newagejournal.com/2007/natural-remedies-to-prepare-for-cold-and-flu-season

Dr. Ian Wahl offers tips for following a gluten free diet

http://organizedwisdom.com/chicagohealerscom-offers-tips-for-following-a-glutenfree-diet-anything-and-everything/3188035/nxi/med

Dr. Andie Pearson shares tips on how to Feng Shui your Thanksgiving dinner

http://www.pinklemonadeoflife.com/2010/11/feng-shui-your-thanksgiving-dinner.html

Sheila Shaughnessy, MA on money saving tips

http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/navigating-change-2091954.html

Martha Howard MD on Chemicals in foods that  increase risk of ADHD in children

http://singlemindedwomen.com/single-moms/chemicals-in-food-increases-risk-of-adhd/

Martha Howard MD on Green tea to fight Alzheimerís disease

http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&p=177345

Dr. Kris Sargent on Holistic alternatives to diet pills

http://weightlosstweets.com/2010/10/29/holistic-alternatives-to-diet-pills/

Dr. Martha Howard on Green tea to fight Alzheimers Disease

http://www.zimbio.com/Alzheimer’s+Reading+Room/articles/jETfRKe-u4C/Green+Tea+May+Help+Fight+Alzheimers+Disease

October

Dr. Kristina Sargent’s tips for coping with stress

http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/anythingandeverything/archive/2010/10/22/tips-for-coping-with-everyday-stressors-from-chicagohealers-com.aspx

Dr. Peter Glidden on osteoporosis

http://highbloodpressurefoods.org/24955/osteoporosis/

Dr. Diane Meyer on the mercury toxicity from silver/amalgam  fillings

http://www.holistic-holidays.net/tag/settle

Dr. Kris Sargent on the sleep/weight loss link

http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/anythingandeverything/default.aspx

http://blog.beliefnet.com/ourladyofweightloss/2010/10/7-tips-how-sleep-leads

Dr. Kris Sargent on controlling childhood obesity

http://www.marvelous-girl.com/?p=13976

http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/lifestyle/archive/2010/10/18/fight-childhood-obesity-by-changing-your-child-s-diet-says-chicagohealers-com.aspx

http://amaze-magazine.com/2010/10/childhood-obesity-is-on-the-rise-and-can-be-prevented-tips-from-kristina-sargent-dc/

Dr. Melody Hart on apples for health

http://masalawoods.ru/wp/article/apples

Sharon Weinstein R.N on holistic remedies for aches and pains

http://newagejournal.com/2007/

http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/anythingandeverything/archive/2010/10/06/chicagohealers-com-recommends-taking-a-holistic-approach-to-curing-aches-and-pains.aspx

Dr. Martha Howard on calcium supplements

http://newagejournal.com/2007/are-calcium-supplements-really

Dr. Helen Lee on pumpkin nutritional benefits

http://oldfashionedliving.com/Nutritional-Benefits-of-Pumpkins-.html

http://www.picklesnpumpkins.com/2010/healthy-kids-recipes/pumpkin-recipes/pumpkins-and-pumpkins-seeds-fun-and-nutritional/

http://familyfirst.com/7-nutritional-facts-about-pumpkins-%e2%80%

Dr. Martha Howard on ADHD

http://singlemindedwomen.com/single-moms/chemicals-in-food-increases

http://www.modernsage.com/Expert/ArticleDetails.aspx?Mode=&Article

http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/anythingandeverything

Dr. Helen Lee on pumpkin’s health benefits

http://www.readbreathe.com/the-great-pumpkin

http://www.modernsage.com/Expert/ArticleDetails.aspx?Mode

http://www.massagemag.com/Magazine/self-care-tip.php?id=9759

http://www.healthyandfitmagazine.com/2010/10/pumpkins-are-nutritious-and-delicious/

http://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic/news/10258/52/nutritional-benefits

Dr. Ian Wahl on birth control choices for aging women

http://www.wellwomanblog.com/62732876/attention_women_all_about

http://newagejournal.com/2007/what-women-need-to-know-about-aging-sex-and-birth-control

http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/anythingandeverything/archive/2010/10/14/what-women-need-to-know-about-aging-sex-and-birth-control-from-chicagohealers-com.aspx

]]> http://www.chicagohealers.com/print/11378/feed/ 0 http://www.chicagohealers.com/homeradio/11376/ http://www.chicagohealers.com/homeradio/11376/#comments Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:14:40 +0000 Patricia http://www.chicagohealers.com/homeradio/11376/ Apples keep the doctor Away

]]> http://www.chicagohealers.com/homeradio/11376/feed/ 0 http://www.chicagohealers.com/homeradio/11369/ http://www.chicagohealers.com/homeradio/11369/#comments Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:08:00 +0000 Patricia http://www.chicagohealers.com/?p=11369 Apples keep the doctor Away

]]> http://www.chicagohealers.com/homeradio/11369/feed/ 0 http://www.chicagohealers.com/homeradio/11366/ http://www.chicagohealers.com/homeradio/11366/#comments Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:57:38 +0000 Patricia http://www.chicagohealers.com/?p=11366

Green Tea Potential

Safe use of Vitamins

What to Eat When You’re Feeling Beat

]]> http://www.chicagohealers.com/homeradio/11366/feed/ 0 http://www.chicagohealers.com/radio/11353/ http://www.chicagohealers.com/radio/11353/#comments Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:52:13 +0000 Patricia http://www.chicagohealers.com/?p=11353

HealthRadio.net

Dr. Martha Howard’s is interviewed on green tea’s potential to prevent Alzheimer’s disease
(link)

09/21/10 Sharon M. Weinstein, RN is interviewed on how to safely integrate vitamins and supplements into your diet; what consumers need to know.(link)

10/11/10 Dr. Melody Hart is interviewed on apples: they really do keep the doctor away; how apples can help prevent breast cancer. (link)

Livin’ La Vida Low Carb

09/30/10 Dr. Melody Hart is interviewed on the “apple-a-day” topic (link)

Health benefit of cranberries
By Dr. Helen Lee

The onset of fall brings with it not only the vibrant colors of the changing leaves but also brilliant orange, yellow and red fruits and vegetables full of health benefits. Among these are cranberries.

Cranberries are best known for their ability to combat urinary tract infections but are also contain great antioxidants, promote gastrointestinal (digestive) health, and may aid in cholesterol health.

• Improve Urinary Tract health: Studies in 1994 showed that women who drank cranberry juice were less likely to develop urinary tract infections. At the Experimental Biology conference in 2002 a study showed that 8-oz of cranberry juice cocktail prevented E. Coli from adhering to the wall of the bladder. Cranberries contain a structurally unique form of proanthocyanidins which prevent bacteria such as E. Coli from adhering to the urinary tract and thus can be released through the urine.
• Antioxidant: Antioxidants are compounds in the body which have the ability to stabilize free radicals which cause cellular damage, increased degeneration/aging/disease, as well as increase risk of cancer. A study published in the November 19, 2001 edition of the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry showed cranberries to contain more antioxidant phenols than 19 other common fruits & vegetables.
• Gastrointestinal Health: Cranberry has been found to inhibit some food-borne bacteria from attaching to the mucosal lining of the digestive tract. A study in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition also showed that cranberry juice prevents the common bacteria responsible for many stomach ulcers, Helicobacter pylori, from adhering to the gastric wall.
• Cholesterol Health: A study in British Journal of Nutrition showed 8% increase in HDL (“good”) levels of 30 overweight men with slightly elevated LDL. Increased levels of HDL has been shown to decrease risk of heart/cardiovascular disease.

So enjoy cranberries for your health this season—as a juice or cocktail, in pie, jam and sauce.

References:

• WHfoods.com
• Cranberry Institute.org
• Health Doc.com
• Rice.edu
• Cranberries.org
• USCranberries.com

More than just dental protection from your athletic guard
By Dr. Andie Pearson, DMD, CCST

The overall goal of sports mouth guards is to protect the teeth and prevent concussions. With the correct design,you can protect so much more.

Everyone, to a certain degree, has cranial and physical asymmetry - a shoulder
slightly higher, maybe more forward than the other, one ear further back or  higher than the other, hips not even front to back or high/low etc.

In general, most people can go their entire lives with no problems or symptoms
stemming from those physical/cranial discrepancies. It’s usually only when a person experiences heavy trauma from accidents, environmental exposures, repetitive work hazards or posture or heavy repetitive wear from
sports in addition to these discrepancies, that they start to show wear and tear.

This wear, along with the asymmetry, then leads to early injury or overly worn joints and bones.

The body is sort of like a car. If the wheels are not aligned and you only drive your car 1 time per week, for just 1 hour, at 25 MPH, the wear and tear is less noticeable. If, on the other hand, you drive 8 hours per day, at 60-70 MPH, 7 days per week, the wear is much more obvious and even further breakdown occurs. 

When creating the ideal sports guard, I included not only the necessary aspects for the standard of dental protection, but I also included the further protection of midline. When the person bites into their athletic guard, the bite along with the body is directed into a point of balance and midline. If a person is working from a point that is as close to midline as possible, injuries from wear and tear, strained joints and ligaments, etc are greatly reduced and old injuries are now further protected.

The other advantages of this style of athletic guard are that the
performance and strength of the athlete are also increased by the support of midline and symmetry present in the body.

The guards are fit on the upper or lower teeth, depending on if it is used for heavy contact sports, or yoga or simply working out in the gym.

• For more information contact: Dr. Andie T. Pearson
• 847/332-1406

That was me…the smart kid, teachers pet, fat kid sitting in the front row.

At that time there was only one of us that fit that description, now 12 in a class of 30 would be considered overweight or obese.  The statistics are 16% under 18 years old are overweight and 31% are obese.  These statistics are staggering! Where does it start and why?

It starts with the parents and grandparents.  Children of overweight and obese parents/grandparents tend to be overweight and obese. The eating habits of the children are directly related to what the the rest of the family is eating.  This may seem inherently obvious, however, most people think it is a “genetic thing” and not at all related to current lifestyle habits.  I hear it all the time, “well my mom was this way therefore I am too.” This is simply not true. What did your great grandmother eat?  Chances are it looked nothing like what we eat today and call food.

Non-nutritive food like soda, chips, cookies, donuts, processed meats – chicken nuggets, french fries and most breads are devoid of nutrients – these ARE the reason! These foods are high in carbohydrates and fat. And yet, this is the typical food kids consume.  When people tell me about their typical day of food the following is the usual rundown:

• Breakfast: cereal, oatmeal, toast with juice and/or coffee
• Lunch: sandwich (PBJ or lunch meat), yogurt, chips
• Dinner: protein, starch and vegetable or salad on a good day but pizza and pasta is more typical
• Snacks: yogurt, candy bars, granola bar, chips, cookies

 
All the fat and carbs create abdominal obesity or belly fat. High amounts of fat around the middle is correlated with higher risks of diabetes and eventually heart disease.  This is where most children store their fat.  The younger this begins, the younger the diagnosis of type-2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and shorter life expectancy.  Ultimately, this represents a larger burden on our already ailing healthcare system.

So, what is the solution? Parents, it’s up to you! The harsh reality is that you are choosing to feed your kids, and most likely yourselves, the junk that is causing the problem.  “But my kids won’t eat healthy food,” or “it’s too expensive to eat healthy” are the most common excuses.  I am here to tell you both are just that – excuses.  It won’t be easy, that’s true, but it can be done.  A bag of chips costs $2-3 and so does a bag of carrots, at discount grocery stores 3 pounds of apples will cost less than $2 and protein can be purchased at big box stores for greatly reduced prices. Soda and juice are very expensive, drink water, it comes out of your tap for free or buy a filter for your tap – add lemon or lime for flavor. Give it a week and you’ll like it and the kids will drink it if they don’t have other choices.  Step up and be the parent!

 
A typical day of food could look like the following – as a place to start:

• Breakfast: Kashi makes some chewy nut bars, one of those offers a little protein; add a glass of milk; or add an egg – hard boiled can be made ahead – to the appropriate serving size of cereal (see the side of the box and measure it)
• Lunch: Roll up lunch meat around a pickle or cheese stick, baked chips and and apple.
• Dinner: protein, vegetable and 1/2 cup of potatoes rice or pasta
• Snacks: 1/4 c nuts(almonds, cashews etc.), cheese stick and fruit, and greek yogurt and fruit, baby carrots and hummus (1/3 C)

Your children may make a lot of raucous about the changes.  Stick to your decisions, they will eat when they are hungry.  If you can’t control what they eat outside of the home – control what you can.  You don’t have to add to the junk they have already consumed by feeding them non-nutritious “food” at home. My story has a happy ending, it was my mom that insisted we eat right and ultimately taught me appropriate choices.  Although I have had weight challenges, I have been able to maintain a normal weight most of my life.

Dr Kristina Sargent, of Restor Healing Centre, is a chiropractic physician who has been in practice for 18 years in Wheaton. The mission of Restor Healing Centre is to optimize the health of people in the community through empowering patients with education regarding nutrition, exercise and chiropractic care to promote and/or maintain wellness.

References:

• www.chiropractorwheaton.com
• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2939537/?tool=pubmed
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18988722
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20603458
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20736922
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20740082

Heidi Jost, RN, CCP, IKH, CH, (815) 218-9007, Rockford, Milwaukee, Phone sessions
“Healing one person is healing a Universe.” I embody the tree of life and its teachings, a transformative modality addressing every aspect of human life. I offer Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy benefiting the reproductive, digestive, and urogenital systems and overall health. Profile

There are many different responsibilities women deal with at different stages in their life. One of these important responsibilities involves her ability to conceive a healthy child. However, what happens if a woman is not yet ready to have a baby? This is when she makes a thoughtful decision to use birth control. In order to ensure the birth control method she chooses is suitable for her needs she must be well informed about the variety of birth control methods available to her. She must also take into consideration how her fertility influences the type of contraceptives she decides to use throughout her lifespan. Continue reading to learn how a woman’s body undergoes a variety of changes throughout the years and how these changes can help her choose which birth control method is most effective.

Sex Drive and Fertility of Women in Their 20’s

Higher levels of testosterone
Increase in sex drive
Peak in fertility

During her twenties, a woman is more likely to have a higher sex drive than any other time in her life. This is contributed to higher levels of testosterone produced within her body. Testosterone is a hormone that is known for influencing sex drive, and is the main reason why many women participate in sexual activity during this time.

This is also a time when fertility peaks, which is why women in their twenties are more likely to conceive a healthy baby the natural way. Since women are likely to be more sexually active during this time, it is important that they take extra precaution when it comes to birth control.

Birth Control of Women in Their 20’s

Birth control pills
Condoms

There are different types of birth control methods a woman in her twenties can use. Since it is highly likely that she may conceive, if she is sexually active during this time, she will want to invest in at least two methods of birth control. One method is the birth control pill.

All birth control pills are different; however, they all serve a main purpose, which is to prevent pregnancy. The only way birth control pills will work is if the woman takes them everyday on a regular basis. If she skips a day, it decreases their potency and increases her chance of becoming pregnant.

Another factor that can decrease the effectiveness of birth control is weight. If a woman is overweight, she increases her chances of becoming pregnant. This is why it is of utmost importance to use two methods of birth control during this time in her life. Antibiotic usage lessens the effectiveness of birth control pills and thus gives an additional reason to use a back-up method.

Another birth control method women in their twenties should also use is condoms. Not only do condoms help prevent conception, they also protect women from sexually transmitted diseases. Using these two birth control methods will enable a woman to have sexual intercourse without worrying about becoming pregnant or contracting an STD.

Sex Drive and Fertility of Women in Their 30’s

Decrease in amount of eggs in ovaries
Decrease in sex drive
Increase in sexual activity
Decrease in testosterone levels

As a woman ages, the amount of eggs in her ovaries decrease each year by a significant percentage. A woman in her thirties has less of chance of conceiving a baby. In fact, her chances of conceiving decrease by 3% each year from the time she turns thirty-one. This 3% percentage decrease occurs each year, until she turns thirty-five. Once she hits thirty-five her ability conceive a baby begins to decrease at an even faster rate. It has been reported that one in four women age thirty-five or older will have trouble conceiving.

Sexual activity increases; however, there is a slight decrease in the levels of testosterone in her body. Many women in their thirties, approximately 51% also tend to claim a lack of sexual desire. However, several studies state that during the thirties women reach their sexual peak.

While women may loose interest in sex, the type of relationship they have with their partner also influences their sex drive and desire for sex. Since it is more common for women in their thirties to find a more fulfilling and stable relationship with their partner during this time, she will engage in more sexual intercourse than she did when she was in her twenties. While her sex drive may not be like it was during her twenties, the love and caring associated within her relationship makes the sexual intercourse experience with her partner more meaningful and special. This type of sexual activity is driven by love, not lust. In addition, many women in their 30’s wish to conceive a baby and therefore increase their sexual activity despite their decreased sex drive.

Birth Control Methods of Women in their 30’s

Spermicidal foam
Condoms
Birth control pills

Since women may be participating in more sexual activity during this time, she will want to invest in spermicidal foam and condoms. Birth control pills can be affective as well; however, since her chances of conceiving are less likely during her thirties, a woman still should take precautions against sexually transmitted diseases. This is especially true if she is not in a monogamous relationship.

Sex Drive and Fertility of Women in Their 40’s

Very low testosterone levels
Gradual loss of sex drive
Eggs released less frequently

During their forties women may begin to lose their sex drive because their level of testosterone is about half of what it used to be during their twenties. Not only does the amount of testosterone appear to be virtually non-existent, but she starts worrying less about being able to conceive. Although biologically women in this age bracket should experience lower libido, many are more sexually active now that their children are getting older.

While her sex drive may be lower, she still does have a chance of becoming pregnant, although her chances of conceiving are slim. Women in their forties release eggs from their ovaries less frequently, which makes conceiving a baby less likely, but still possible.

Women in their forties, who are not in a monogamous relationship and participate in casual sex, obviously still have a chance of contracting an STD. Many women may participate in unprotected sex during this time because they believe they have no chance of conceiving. This reckless type of sexual behavior can be detrimental not only to their health, but to the health of their partner. It is also one of the reasons why STD’s are spreading among this particular age population. Another reason is due to the high percentage of divorced women in their forties who, just like their divorced husbands, are rediscovering dating.

While women in their forties have less of a chance of becoming pregnant, they still need to practice safe sex. They need to keep the same mindset they had about sex when they were in their twenties and thirties. Just because they are older and have less of a chance of conceiving does not mean they should have unprotected sex.

Birth Control of Women in Their 40’s

Condoms
Vaginal ring
Spermicidal lubricant

Women in their forties can use many different contraceptives. They can use contraceptive sponges or a vaginal ring along with spermicidal lubricant. They should also make sure that their partner uses a condom. The condom helps to protect both partners from STD’s.

When women know more about their sex drive, fertility and birth control methods at different stages of their life, they can make a well-informed decision about using the birth control method that best suits their needs. Regardless of age, safe sex should be practiced at all times. This helps to protect the woman, her partner and any future partners from sexually transmitted infections.

Where are you when it comes to aging, sex, and birth control?

Regardless of a sexually active woman’s age, she will be healthier and happier if her energy and hormones are balanced and in sync with her age and lifestyle. The women we see in our clinic, whether for painful periods, PMS, natural fertility treatments, or weight loss, all have one thing in common—they are energetically and hormonally imbalanced when we first see them. Once a woman’s body is balanced energetically and hormonally, and in harmony with a positive lifestyle, her physical conditions can resolve and she can feel spiritually as well as emotionally at peace regardless of her age. And isn’t that what any woman wants?

Dr. Ian Wahl is the founder of both the Natural Fertility Health Center and the Wahls of Wellness, located in Arlington Heights, IL. You can contact Dr. Wahl at 847 392-7901 or go to www.FertileSpirit.com or www.WahlsofWellness.com.

Sources

Wisegeek.com

MarieClaire.com

ARHP.org

lhj.com

WomensHealth.gov

WomensHealth.med.monash.edu.au

MarchOfDimes.com

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Think stress doesn’t have an impact on your body, your memory, and your outlook on life?
Check out these statistics:

- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 60% to 70% of all disease and illness is stress-related.
 - An estimated 75% to 90% of visits to physicians are stress related.
 - According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Women’s Association, 60% of women surveyed said work stress was their biggest problem.
 - Job pressures cause more health complaints than any other stressor, says the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
 - The 2002 Unscheduled Absence Survey found that while illness (32 percent) is still the leading cause of absences from work, stress (12 percent) was a key factor as well.

Resisting Change: The Allure of the Status Quo
I know what you must be thinking…another worry and another stressor! Some helpful information about stress. As much as you try, you cannot eliminate stress. In some ways, it is beneficial; it is your reaction to stress that affects your health! So, how do you respond? We usually ignore the signs of stress, hoping that they will pass. This is a classic mind-body reaction.

The Three Phases of Stress
As you know, just being in business today creates stress. Here’s how most people react to a stressor (such as: loss of a job, domestic problems, meeting overload, accident or illness):
- First, the Alarm goes off, resulting in anger, shock, surprise
- Second, Resistance sets in; you cope, lack sleep, or work yourself to the limit 
- Third, Exhaustion occurs; your ability to resist stress is greatly reduced. Now, you are tired, unable to concentrate, and your immune response is reduced

There are ways to cope with stress – both everyday challenges as well as the once-in-awhile stressors. Self-care is the answer! It is fascinating to work with colleagues who embrace ownership of one’s body and the need to advocate for self-care, self-reflection, meditation and laughter. Laughter definitely has a place within every aspect of one’s life. And, it definitely helps during periods of stress. Laughter has enabled me to change my mindset, shift my paradigms and it has enhanced my well-being!

We all work in stressful environments, especially today! We all need to assume responsibility for the joys of life. Humor allows us to deal with stress more effectively; humor impacts healing and recovery time. And, humor has enabled me to grow personally and professionally…stress-free!

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One of the most important discoveries and arguably the most important discovery made in the 1960s that has profoundly affected the growth of alternative and holistic professional healthcare worldwide is that touching various weaknesses in the body can make any muscle weaker. Also, if the area or point of the weakness is corrected or strengthened, the same test will make that same muscle stronger. This way of testing has many names. Energy testing, muscle testing, contact energy testing or kinesiology.

Whatever the name of the system, kinesiology has had a profoundly positive effect on my personal and professional life. It would be difficult for me to practice dentistry and safely help my patients the way I want to without its aid.

Various forms of kinesiology or contact reflex muscle testing have been used by all types of healthcare professionals for over 40 years. The first form, Applied Kinesiology, was discovered, developed and taught for over 40 years by the brilliant Dr. George Goodheart DC. Because of his discovery and large body of research many consider him to be the pioneer grandfather of the modern holistic and alternative health care movement that has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. Having an objective way to test fluctuations in our body’s subtle energy system is a tremendous help for professionals like myself to not only determine what weaknesses exist in the body, but also the effect of the materials or supplements I use and treatments I perform for my patients.

Just as the circulatory system provides critical oxygen and nutrition to the cells, the fiber rich meridians provide critical energy in the form of electrons to the cells. The electrons help our cells to maintain the critical pH needed for the biochemical reactions of life to take place. Without these electrons the cells will lose their ability to function and fight disease and eventually die.

In the hands of a well-trained professional, many mysterious conditions can be unraveled, and therefore treated rationally with biologically friendly treatment regimens. There are many kinesiology and energy based systems that have worked and stood the test of time by other professionals. Because of my own fascination and success with kinesiology, over the years I have studied and use parts of many systems. Dental Kinesiology by George Eversaul PHD, Behavioral kinesiology by Dr. John Diamond MD, Contact Reflex Analysis by Dr. Dick Versendal DC, Chinese Energetic Method by the Qigong Master Dr. Kam Yuen DC, and Dr James Tennant MD and others have all made extremely valuable contributions of knowledge and insights into understanding how to stay healthy and treating disease conditions through kinesiological testing. Sophisticated computer programs have made energy testing much more thorough and sensitive. Every system in the body can be tested so that many secret causes even from the past can be revealed. Many of these programs have recommendations for the best possible remedies come with them.

In clinical dentistry, energy testing using muscle testing techniques can be a valuable aid to diagnoses and a way to discover how dentistry affects other areas of the body. Most of the time, stresses in the energy system can be determined within seconds or minutes. This helps the dentist to confirm or clarify other conventional examination findings, signs, symptoms and tests. Kinesiological testing results should make sense. It should never be the only test on which a dental diagnosis and treatment is based. Energy testing can guide the holistic dentist and patient into making the safest, most effective and biologically friendly course of action that is needed for correcting, curing or healing almost any health issue.

Questions to ask if you’re looking for a holistic dentist:
1. Has the dentist been trained in any kinesiology techniques or systems?
2. How does the dentist utilize his knowledge and of the energy system in his practice?
3. Does the dentist recognize the importance of the energy system in maintaining health and vitality throughout the body?

Remember there are many new and valid energies testing systems. The world of professional kinesiology systems and energy treatments is rapidly expanding.

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Millions of Americans experience achy joints and more! Whether at work, home, or play, the pain can range from a dull ache to somewhat disabling…and what is one to do?

How about popping a pill? As a pharmacology instructor for over 30 years, I assure you that the pill is NOT the panacea it might seem. It is a short-lived band aid effect and it might actually mask something more serious. The goal should be not to mask the pain, but to identify the root cause and eliminate it so that the discomfort does not return. If you are willing to look beyond the four walls of your physician’s office, relief might be just a step away. Consider these alternative modalities for pain relief:

Acupuncture
If the thought of having needles poked into you like a voodoo doll is frightening, especially at this time of year, I understand. For years, as an interventional nurse, I prided myself on my ability to stick large needles into patients with an unsurpassed skill. Acupuncture is different because the needle is so thin in diameter. The pain is nominal and even nonexistent for many patients. Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine dating back over 5,000 years. It is based upon the concept that the body has specific channels (meridians) through which energy (Chi) flows. While this energy or Chi is flowing smoothly there will be no pain or disease; the natural energy is in balance. Once this flow is disrupted by mental stress, excess physical demands, or adverse environmental conditions, pain, fatigue or illness will result. Stimulating appropriate points on the meridians causes blocked energy to be released and the natural balance of energy is then restored.

Chiropractic
Joint sufferers may also turn to chiropractors to stop their pain. You have seen adjustments in the media and in advertisements; explore your options and choose wisely. For some people, the challenge may be the result of trauma…for others; it is a problem of time’s toll on the human body.

Water, water…everywhere
I promote the concept of caring for one’s internal and external environment to ensure well-being. If you are sick and tired of achy joints? If your answer is yes, wellness is within your reach.
A crisis exists today. Millions of people are hurting and achy joints are just the tip of the iceberg. The quick way to joint relief is with water. Hydration works wonders, and a glass of water yields instant results.

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated
Dehydration is the first trigger of daytime fatigue
Dehydration impacts joint and back pain
A 2% decrease in body water triggers short-term memory loss and makes it difficult for one to focus on a computer screen or printed page

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Fibromyalgia – we see so much more of it today? Why do you think that is? Much of it has to do with compromised immune systems, stressors in our lives, and more. Why remains a mystery, but obesity, prior injury and more certainly predispose one to development of fibromyalgia.

And the drugs, both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription proliferate. The market for fibromyalgia is a drug manufacturer’s dream. Increasing numbers of patients means increasing numbers of sales and increased profits to the bottom line. Physicians prescribe both the approved drugs and a broad range of off-label medications because they have found them to be effective. Are these drugs a solution or do they mask the symptoms offering limited relief? Can you cure fibromyalgia, or merely provide temporary relief?

Prescription drugs are licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a prescription before it can be obtained. The term is used to distinguish it from over-the-counter drugs which can be obtained without a prescription. Google Search

Off-label refers to “non-approved” or “unapproved” use of the drug. Off-label use is most often done with older, generic medicines. New uses for these drugs may have been found and there is often medical evidence to support the new use. But the makers of the drugs have not put them through the formal, lengthy, and often costly studies required by the FDA to officially approve the drug for these new uses. (Wikipedia Search)

So, what are the drugs currently being used?
- Lyrica (pregabalin) was the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved fibromyalgia drug; the mechanism of action is unknown according to Pfizer (the manufacturer), but it may affect the release of neurotransmitters in the brain
- Cymbalta (duloxetine) was approved as a neurotransmitter; neurotransmitters seem to be deficient in those with fibromyalgia
- Savella (milnacipran) is new to the U.S. market; it boosts norepinephrine
- JZP-5 (sodium oxybae) improves sleep and reduces discomfort
- Effirma (oral flupertine) which has been used in Europe for over 25 years
- Other drugs include antidepressants which raise levels of certain chemicals in the brain (low in those with fibromyalgia
- OTC drugs include analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)

But, are there other solutions?
There certainly are, and they include alternative modalities
Magnet therapy reduced fibromyalgia pain according to a [2001] University of Virginia study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Although the overall results of the study were inconclusive, magnet therapy reduced fibromyalgia pain intensity enough in one group of study participants to be “clinically meaningful,” the researchers said.

The researchers from the University of Virginia used three measures of pain in the study: functional status reported by study participants on a standardized fibromyalgia questionnaire used nationwide, number of tender points on the body and pain intensity ratings.

Data were compiled for 94 fibromyalgia patients randomly divided into four groups. One control group received sham pads containing magnets that had been demagnetized through heat processing. The second control group received only their usual treatment for fibromyalgia. Two other groups received active magnetic pads: one group used Pad A, which provided whole-body exposure to a low, uniformly static magnetic field of negative polarity. The other used Pad B, which exposed subjects to a low static magnetic field that varied spatially and in polarity. The subjects were treated and tracked for six months.

Magnets have long been used to provide relief of pain associated with fibromyalgia. Sleeping on a magnetic pad, drinking energized alkaline water, and wearing a magnetic necklace and insoles does much to relieve discomfort and enhance overall well-being. Water is the first step in releasing the toxins from the body, and magnetic products are introduced slowly in order to avoid over-stimulation in the presence of the toxin release mechanism.

Magnetic therapy cannot hurt, and it just might help. For more information on alternative treatments, contact Sharon Weinstein by clicking on my name at the top of this article.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/treatingfmscfs/a/fibromyalgiamed.htm

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We live in a society where consumption and waste is a huge problem. I often speak with clients who complain about their monthly cost of living – i.e. their utility bills are too high, groceries are too expensive, gas prices are ridiculous. While much of this is true, once we sit down and actually go over these payments, we realize that many of these costs can be reduced by making an effort to live a little more simply.

When we are conscious of the everyday choices we make in our life and how they affect our finances, we put ourselves in a better position to meet our overall financial goals. Here are some surprising, yet simple tips from the Department of Energy to help reduce your impact on the environment and save money at the same time.

*The tips above may not be suitable for all people, and JMC Wealth Management advises clients on their investment strategies on an individual basis.

Julie Murphy Casserly, CLU, ChFC, CFP® is a 15-year veteran of the financial services industry, founder of JMC Wealth Management in Chicago and author of the award-winning book, “The Emotion Behind Money.” Julie helps people understand how their emotional attitudes and behaviors affect how they earn, spend and save. For more information, please visit www.JulieMurphyCasserly.com.

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The exercise of fluffing the field expands one’s energy field and enhances the chakras as well. Fluffing can be done any time you feel your energy or mood is down and needs a boost. You can do it to relax and to provide yourself with a sense of peace. Fluffing is simple to do and can be repeated as often as you like. Most people have a sense of what it means to fluff; I would describe it as allowing something to grow or expand, like a puff pastry—expanding inside and continuing to expand outward, until the layers becoming “fluffy.” Yes, it is that simple—just fluff using your imagination.

Each of us has an energy field, or aura, about us. We feel good when our energy field is expanded; if it is pulled in or diminished, we may feel poorly or without much energy. Our aura experiences energy in different ways throughout the day. If we walk into an office whose energy is not compatible with ours, we might feel uncomfortable and not want to stay. Perhaps you have heard the expression “I need to keep that person at arms length.” Well, that is about how far out your field is on an ordinary day, and you do not want that person in your space. There are also times when we meet someone and are totally comfortable with the person right away. That’s right; your energy is compatible with his or her energy!

There are 7 layers of the field. Each layer has a color or colors that are associated with an aspect of your being. I will give you this information, but do not be concerned with remembering all of the details. In fact, once you have read the information and want to fluff your field, you will only need to remember to call each layer by its number, i.e., “I am fluffing the first layer of my field.” Then sense how that layer is expanding all about you: front and back, above your head, and below your feet. At the same time imagine it fluffing out and about you. Then go on to the second layer. The second layer will start inside the first and grow and expand beyond it, while still being in touch. The borders of each layer of the field are soft, which allows them to interconnect. It is really that easy.

Make yourself comfortable and plan to have uninterrupted quiet time for about 15 minutes.

Remember to start with Centering and Grounding and bring the energy up to your heart. Set your intent to fluff your field and just allow it to be.

The first layer of the field is blue—it is the physical, or etheric, layer. Gently fluff it out a few inches beyond your physical body in blue. Slowly let it expand and surround you—above, below, front, and back. Offer extra attention to those areas that feel depleted or hesitant to fluff out. Feel yourself being held in your physical double.

The second layer of the field is your emotions—focus on a soft cloud- like energy of pastel colors. Allow this energy to gently fluff through the etheric layer and beyond, expanding and surrounding it. Be gentle with any areas that are slow to fluff out, and add caring and compassion to your fluffing. Feel yourself held lovingly in your emotional layer.

The third layer is the mental layer. Allow the fine yellow lines of the mental layer to fluff through the physical and emotional layers and beyond, surrounding you and embracing you. Give special attention to those places that may be slow to expand. Look about you and see yourself being held with knowingness.

The fourth layer of the field is the astral layer. As it becomes present, fluff it gently through the physical, emotional, and mental layers and beyond. Fluff it out in deeper pastel colors than the second layer. Feel being surrounded in joy, with compassion, and held in unconditional love.

The fifth layer is the etheric template, the duplicate of your first field. It is a blue gridwork that restructures the first, or etheric, layer. Feel your body repairing and healing from within.

The sixth is the celestial layer and expands from the center of your body like a star of rainbow colors. Feel yourself connecting to your emotions on a spiritual level.

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 Fox 31 – KDVR – August 4, 2010
Dr. Mark Sobor explains how to avoid pain from texting.
Link: http://www.kdvr.com/health/family/sns-health-avoid-texting-aches-pains,0,4713335.story

Is your glass half-full or half-empty? Do you see the positive side of life or the negative side to everything? I have a colleague who wisely states that each day that we wake up on this side of the earth is a good day – and it is time to start releasing your negativity and appreciate each day for what it is!


My mom was the most negative person I ever knew. She was happy when she made other people unhappy. Do you know anyone like that? I hope not.


My mantra in life is to surround myself with people who come with batteries – not those who need them. In doing so, I think positive thoughts, release negativity as needed, and I feel better in the process.


So, what are some methods that we might use to release negativity?


• A visual board (cut and paste photos of the positive things in your life and review it daily; add those things that you wish to accomplish and reflect on your accomplishments as they occur).

• Positive expectations (see the winning trophy before you, and chances are that it is within your reach).

• Let a higher power help you (pray).

• Emotional release (we store memories in our bodies, and we need to release those energy stores periodically).

• Close your eyes in a quiet location.

• Select the negative energy you wish to release; concentrate and feel it pass through your body.

• Repeat the process with each issue or emotion as follows: Imagine that it fills up your body, then imagine blowing all that emotion into a balloon. Breathe the emotion out of your body, out of your mind. You may notice as you blow the emotion into the balloon, that it changes colors. It may turn brown or black with the energy of that negative emotion. When the balloon is full, imagine tying it off, and let it float up into the sky. Continue filling the balloons, tying them off and letting them float up until you feel complete release.

• Let yourself feel peaceful.


Feeling better is a process! Being a positive human being is a process! These are processes that you can achieve and appreciate. Let those glasses be half-full; raise them high and celebrate the release of your negative feelings. Celebrate the positives in your life!

http://www.bodymindhypnosis.com.

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July 30, 2009 — Americans spend almost a third as much money out-of pocket on herbal supplements and other alternative medicines as they do on prescription drugs, a new government report shows.


Out-of-pocket spending on herbal supplements, chiropractic visits, meditation, and other forms of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) was estimated at $34 billion in a single year.


The estimate was based on responses to a national health survey conducted in 2007 by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).


“The bottom line is that Americans spend a lot of money on CAM products, classes, materials and practitioner visits,” National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) Director Josephine P. Briggs, MD, said in a media briefing today. “We estimate that this (represents) approximately 11% of the total out-of-pocket spending on health care.”


Although we should obtain most of our nutrients from food, we know that with the quality of our environment, the earth in which food is grown, and more – it is indeed difficult to get all that we need from food alone. Thus, we turn to supplements!


So, what do we need to know?


• Avoid high doses of vitamin E supplements, which have not proven effective in helping to reduce heart disease, as some had thought.

• Smokers who take high doses of beta carotene supplements also can have adverse effects.

• Antioxidant cocktails can interfere with cholesterol-lowering drugs.

• Choose quality supplements; those manufactured to Canadian labeling standards are of a higher quality.

• More does not necessarily mean better.

• Dietary supplements are not required to be standardized in the United States

• Like drugs, dietary supplements have chemical and biological activity. They may have side effects. They may interact with certain medications. These interactions can cause problems and can even be dangerous.

• A supplement supplements the diet; it does not replace it.

• Seek the advice of a qualified expert.

Core Wellness International offers a service that compares and contrasts your supplements with your prescription drugs to identify potential areas of cross-over and enhancement. Visit www.corelimited.com

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/dietarysupplements.asp

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Peanut allergies are scary. Peanuts can be a hidden food ingredients. Other foods that are not “supposed” to contain peanuts can be contaminated by invisible peanut particles found on processing machinery. Some food (such as chili) may have peanut butter as a secret ingredient in the recipe.

And for many children and adults, taking in even the tiniest amount of peanuts causes an allergic response called anaphylaxis, which can be almost immediately fatal. So it is understandable that researchers would be looking to prevent the whole process.

The July 2010 issue of Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has reported a study done at Berlin’s Charite University Hospital and New York’s Mt. Sinai hospital attempting to do just that. They started with extremely small amounts of peanuts, and gradually increased the amount, hoping to “train” the immune system not to react.

One of the principal investigators, Dr. Wayne Shreffler said that it’s “not ready for prime time.” There were many problems:

• The children had to be hospitalized for a week at the beginning of the study

• Only 14 out of 23 made it to the end of the study. Four dropped out because of severe allergic reactions.

• Only 12 of the 14 who completed the study could tolerate an amount of peanut particles equaling one peanut. That’s just over 50% of the 23 original participants.

• The doctors still don’t know if the tolerance will last more than two weeks
.
• Avoidance of peanuts and products processed in facilities which also process peanuts, and carrying an Epipen are still the only recommended ways to protect against peanut reactions.

For more on this study, check out this link link.reuters.com/nyx36m or the original study in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, July 2010

No one knows exactly what causes peanut allergies, and why allergic reactions are increasing, especially in the last 10 years. Here are some thoughts about the possibilities-peanuts are grown and stored differently, possibly increasing the amount of a very toxic mold that can easily infect peanuts—aflatoxin molds. More molds could easily mean more intense allergic responses.

Also peanuts are generally eaten as peanut butter. For many years, this has meant brands of peanut butter that contain processed corn products, such as high fructose corn syrup. Exposure to peanuts in the presence of high fructose corn syrup could increase the allergenic potency of the peanuts, and the person’s reaction to all peanut products.

The bottom line is this: The current way of dealing with peanut allergies—avoiding peanuts and carrying an Epipen—is still considered the best method for now. If you have a child who is allergic to peanuts:

• Avoid, at all costs, any allergist currently offering desensitization to peanuts as an office-based therapy.

• Be sure to teach any allergic child how to say no to people who offer them food.

• Be sure you, the child’s other caregivers, and the child him or herself as they get older, have an Epipen on hand at all times.

• Remember, there is currently an 80% chance that your child will have the peanut allergy for life, so be sure they learn how to master the coping strategies for themselves as they get older.


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There is no “magic pill” for your brain. It is part of a whole ecosystem that includes your body and all your surroundings—including, unfortunately, the artificial flavors, dyes and additives in your favorite junk food, and the chemicals in the hair spray you just inhaled. Your brain has only 2% of the body’s weight, yet consumes 20% of the body’s glucose. How to feed and care for it?

Avoid chemicals as much as possible!
The more your house and office are “clean and green” the better your brain will work. Watch out for house rehab paint strippers, paints, varnishes, and the fumes from new carpets and furniture. Avoid using plug-in or spray deodorizers. Use natural citrus sprays instead. Lime Mate Mist is a good one. Use body products that have natural ingredients instead of chemicals—a lifetime of breathing hairspray can really lower those IQ points. Get organic foods whenever you can, or if they are not available wash all foods with a good fruit and vegetable wash. And learn the “dirty dozen”—the list of fruits and vegetables that, if not organic, are likely to have the highest pesticide content.

Drink water!!
(“Energy Drinks” and “Sports Drinks” with all their sugar and dyes don’t count here, people.) Dehydration actually causes brain damage. Drink at least 8-10 glasses a day.

Take fish oil.
This is really important. Deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to lower intellectual performance and is linked with dementia. Fish oil’s “active ingredients” are the essential fatty acids, DHA and EPA. 30% of the content of your brain is these very fatty acids! No fatty acids, no brain. And it’s really tough to eat enough fish to get the right amount of fatty acids, so take a good supplement. Do your best to get at least 600 milligrams of combined DHA/EPA per day.


Eat fresh fruits and vegetables!
The best ones, according to the US Dep’t of Agriculture, have the highest antioxidant value: blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries, spinach, raspberries, brussel sprouts, plums, broccoli, beets, avocados, oranges, red grapes, red bell peppers, cherries, and kiwis. Five servings a day of fruits and vegetables is recommended. (a serving is a half cup.)


Drink Green Tea
Green tea (and to a lesser extent, black tea) slows the build-up of plaque in brains from amyloid deposits, and also prevents strokes. Drinking tea also helps mental alertness.


Eat Eggs
Eggs are rich in choline, a fat-like B vitamin. Studies have shown that it increases memory and chases away fatigue.


Get Exercise
Greater blood circulation means more oxygen to the brain, and more production of mood-enhancing endorphins.


Meditate
Meditation changes brain frequency and function. The frequencies of deep meditation allow a “brain rest” you cannot get anywhere else. Meditation also enhances connection and symmetry between the right and left hemispheres of the brain.


Try the three top supplements: Alpha-lipoic acid, Acetyl-l-carnitine and Phosphatidyl Serine.

• Alpha Lipoic acid (aLa). This supplement is a powerful antioxidant, and is both fat and water soluble. It can actually get into the brain easily, and can pass through to all areas of the cells to “mop up” free radicals and stop their damage. A former NIH researcher, Dr. Bruce Ames did “rat maze” studies on Alpha Lipoic Acid and the next supplement in the list, Acetyl-L –Carnitine, and showed that the combination of these two caused aging rats who had been confused in the mazes prior to taking the supplements, to make dramatic changes within a month—to be able to perform in the mazes like young rats.

• Acetyl-L-Carnitine. This is the other half of the “A-team for the brain.” It is a primary contributor to the production of the neurotransmitter “acetylcholine,” which is required for mental function. Double-blind clinical trials suggest acteyl-L-carnitine helps the performance of people with Alzheimer’s, and delays the progression of the disease.

• Phosphatidyl Serine. This supplement actually stimulates cells brain cells to make new dendrites and axons. People who take it remember more names, faces, phone numbers, and written information.

That’s it—the whole brain makeover. Happy thinking!

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Meditation is often credited with helping people feel more focused and energetic but are the benefits measurable? Yes – they are! Meditation involves more than naps or exercise.


At the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Dr. Prashant Kaul of the University of Kentucky took 12 students who did not meditate and taught them the basics in two short sessions.

Then, over a series of weeks, the students were asked to come in and take a test devised to measure skills like reaction time. The tests involved a series of visual cues on a display screen that the volunteers had to react to by pushing the correct button. The students were asked to take the tests in mid to late afternoon, when people tend to be the sleepiest. They did so before and after 40 minutes of meditating, napping or exercising, or after taking caffeine. Napping produced poor results, presumably because of “sleep inertia,” the researchers said. Caffeine helped, and exercise was unpredictable.

Earlier studies have found that people are awake while meditating but that their brains undergo changes similar to patterns found in sleep. Some studies have found that people who meditate a lot report sleeping less, so the researchers were curious to see if meditation could serve the same function as sleep. The results support the idea that it can. In fact, when some of the students were asked to skip a night’s sleep and then take the test, the researchers said, meditation was even more helpful. They said they did not know if caffeine and meditation combined would be even better.

Meditation is the practice of focusing your attention and mind on something that makes you feel calm and relaxed and gives you clarity about your life. The medical community is becoming much more accepting of meditation as a legitimate treatment for many different medical problems, such as anxiety, stress and depression. It’s being used to treat all kinds of chronic pain. People are using meditation to try to quit smoking. It’s also being used for alcohol and drug addiction; and the National Institutes of Health is even recommending meditation for high blood pressure. Studies have show also that it can help women who suffer from PMS, menopausal hot flashes and even infertility.

Meditation beats medication – and these points are important reminders:

• Meditation can be a form of medication
• Meditation helps your enter a relaxation state that can lower your heart rate, your blood pressure, slow down your breathing and relax your muscles
• Meditation can be a “reset button” for your body
• Meditation is something that most people can safely try on their own
• Take time each day to meditate and connect with the silence within yourself
• Prayer and meditation is a way to be at peace
• Developing a deeper sense of peace and direction will give you a clearer sense of purpose at work and at home

Exercise is a form of meditation

• Chinese medicine practitioners often recommend medical Qi Gong, a form of Chinese healing exercises
• Qi Gong focuses on breathing and movement of Qi to increase physical harmony and strength and establish spiritual/emotional peace
• Exercise helps you to refocus and regroup

Getting started:
1. Sit or lie in a comfortable position with your eyes closed.
2. Simply focus on your breathing, focusing all your attention on sensation of air moving in and out of your body.
3. The other thing you can do is repeat a single word or phrase either silently or by whispering.
4. Do this for about 20 minutes every day if you can

As you begin, your mind may wander, but don’t despair, simply refocus your mind and try again.

http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=about_sfn

http://www.docmisha.com/understanding/exercise-meditation.htm

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We spend a lot of time and effort exercising our bodies in order to keep fit & healthy. What about exercising our minds? In today’s day and age of increased stimulation, high technology, high demand our minds are being inundated with “work” and has to go non stop! We live in a society where there the mind is working on tasking, processing, worrying, fearing, etc that we’ve “exercised” it to automatically run on these thoughts. Just like many things in our body, the more we do something over and over, the more it becomes automatic—this rewiring is called neuroplasticity. So, what if we can use this same ability to rewire the mind to be able to relax again through meditation. Meditation is a practice of quieting the mind which allows our bodies to focus on healing, rejuvenation & peace. There are many ways of meditating the key is to keep it simple and keep practicing!

Some Benefits of Meditation:

• Increase blood flow to heart & vital organs
• Helps to regulate and optimize blood pressure
• Decreases Mental stress/strain such as anxiety, fear, worry, feelings of inadequacy
• Enhances Immune system function especially the “natural killer cells”
• Enhances connection with inner Spirit, intuition, feeling of well-being
• Increases deeper more restorative sleep

Simple Meditation to start

• When you begin choose a peace place to practice meditation
• Sit comfortably in chair or on floor—do not lay on your back or you may fall asleep
• Gently close eyes and gaze down
• Gently tuck chin inward slightly
• Inhale slowly through the nose and into the abdomen; think about expanding with life being grateful for life in this moment
• Pause
• Exhale through nose or mouth; think about letting go of any stress, tension, tightness, thought with each exhale.
• Repeat; start with 5-10 minutes then work your way up
• The most important part is to create a habit and to practice!

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200105/the-science-meditation

http://ezinearticles.com/?Overcoming-Depression-Through-Neuroplasticity&id=3836518

http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/meditation/objectives.html

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-6-2006-98395.asp

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This week, I have had so many people ask me about a recent study on calcium supplements. The claim of the study is that taking calcium supplements causes a 30% increase in heart attacks. There are some serious problems with the study, a meta-analysis by Professor Ian Reid from the Department of Medicine at the University of Auckland, and published in the British Medical Journal.


A prominent researcher on calcium metabolism (who drafted the WHO recommendations on dietary calcium) Professor Chris Nordin, of Royal Adelaide Hospital, has already questioned the findings. He says that the review is misleading because it does not separate men from women in the findings. According to him “Men are much more liable to heart attacks than women, but women need calcium far more than men, so it is absurd to publish a study of the effect of calcium on the heart without separating men from women.”


My own objections to the study are as follows:

• There are a lot of hazards in the kind of statistical number crunching involved in a meta-analysis. Worst case scenario is, you do a meta-analysis of 11 studies, all of which are flawed in their methods or have doubtful data or conclusions, and what do you get? A larger conclusion based on 11 questionable sets of data. So how accurate were the original 11 studies? We have no idea.

• We do know that in the studies, the calcium was treated as an “independent variable” so magnesium and Vitamin D were not given. Magnesium is needed to balance calcium intake. Vitamin D is needed for proper calcium metabolism. So doing studies that do not provide the other vitamins and minerals needed, could have some very poor results. Maybe calcium supplements, specifically when given without magnesium and Vitamin D do cause additional calcium deposits in the arteries, and therefore more heart attacks. But right now we don’t know, and the meta-analysis is not sufficient evidence to tell us.
So, what to do? Bottom line—there are many long term studies showing that calcium supplementation is safe. Here are my recommendations.


• Calcium-magnesium-Vitamin D supplementation is especially important for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.The current recommendation for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women is from 1000 to 1500 mg of calcium per day. Given that most people do get some calcium in their diet, 500 mg of calcium with 250 mg magnesium and 400 IU of Vitamin D (taken all together) is probably enough supplementation, unless the person is allergic to dairy.

• Vitamin D is very important to bone health. There are many people walking around with Vitamin D deficiency in the United States—not enough sun exposure, and not enough Vitamin D in their diets. In addition to osteoporosis, Vitamin D deficiency also is a factor in Alzheimer’s disease. So get your Vitamin D level taken, and if it is low, you may need to take more like 2000 IU or more per day until your level gets up to normal. Take the Vitamin D orally, do not accept high dose injections—they have been associated with atypical bone fractures.

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What do you really know about your statin medication? With over 13 million prescriptions written per month statins are the most prescribed drug in the U.S. Physicians write the prescriptions under the blanket statement that whatever downside a statin has it is not as bad as a heart attack. Is that really true? Do statins actually prevent the disease they are prescribed for? To answer this question we have to understand the history and research into statin medications. In 1970 Lovastatin was isolated from the poison of red rice yeast. The poison is used as deterrent to predators of the red rice yeast. In humans statins block the production of an enzyme that produces cholesterol in the liver. This same enzyme is crucial in the production of Coenzyme Q10 a potent heart antioxidant. CoQ10 is necessary for the production of energy in our muscle tissue especially the heart. Over time CoQ10 depletion leads to weakened heart strength and congestive heart failure. The medicine you are taking to save your heart is actually causing weakness and failure of your heart.


In order for the pharmaceutical companies to sell 13 million prescriptions per month they needed to point the finger at cholesterol as the cause of heart disease since they could suppress cholesterol with statin medications. Is cholesterol the problem? The majority of your cholesterol number is the result of the cholesterol your liver has produced. That is why low cholesterol diets do almost nothing to lower your cholesterol number. The chief function of cholesterol is not to clog up your arteries. It is the primary component of your cell membranes, and it is crucial to repair damage to your cells. So how do cells get damaged? The easiest way to understand this process is to look at a cut to your skin. When the skin is cut inflammation takes over. This process will immediately mobilize cells and chemicals which will cause the blood to thicken and clot, other cells will multiply to speed healing. When the process is complete scar tissue is left behind. More and more research is pointing to the fact that cardiovascular disease is an inflammatory disease. So the inflammation within the arteries is causing the blood to flow slower so it can thicken and clot, and cells are multiplying to ensure that scar tissue lies down. The only problem is that scar tissue in the arteries is called plaque. It is a lesion that has a high concentration of calcium in it causing the artery to lose its flexibility and develop an aneurysm and eventually rupture as a stroke or torn aorta. Cholesterol fits into this process because the chemicals that are produced in response to inflammation are sending signals to the liver to produce more cholesterol so the body can repair the tissues that are being injured due to the inflammatory process. Talk about shooting the messenger!


Whether you are taking a statin or not, controlling the inflammatory process is the key to controlling your risk of cardiovascular disease. We don’t have to stop there. Joint pain, cancer, intestinal disorders, skin irritations, dry eyes, even depression and mood swings are the result of inflammation. Controlling the inflammatory process is the single most important step in regaining or maintaining health. If you or anyone you know is taking a statin medication or if inflammation is causing stress in your life then you need to know about Total Omega-3+.


Total Omega-3+ is an antioxidant infused fish oil that covers all aspects of inflammation in just 2 capsules a day. We start with our pharmaceutical grade ultra-pure fish oil. The only fish oil that is molecularly distilled 3 times to ensure purity, potency, and freshness. We combine bioidentical CoQ10 to ensure that all muscle tissue can produce healthy energy levels. Additionally we have added a high dose of vitamin K2-7. K2-7 or menaquinone has consistently demonstrated the ability to remove calcium from the arterial system (where it does not belong) and transport it to the ground matrix of the bones (where it belongs) in multiple large scale studies. It is crucial for optimal circulatory health. We add a healthy dose of Vitamin D3 for more cardiovascular and bone protection, and we finish with Tocomin SupraBio a patented vitamin E complex that research shows is imperative for keeping blood thin and maintaining normal arterial flexibility.


For those of you on statin medications you should take Total Omega-3+ every day to replenish the CoQ10 that is being robbed from your heart. This will keep your heart healthy while you work to control the inflammatory process that has your liver producing too much cholesterol at this time.

The rest of us should look to add Total Omega-3+ to our routine as a way of combating inflammation at its source to keep us healthy and strong.

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August and September is generally the time when many of my clients ask me how they can use the remaining months of the year to bulk up their savings as much as possible. While four plus months seems like a small amount of time to save a vast amount of money, saving money is within your control. Don’t stress about saving thousands and thousands of dollars. Every little bit counts. Start saving today with these tips:

- Make sure a sale is a sale. With back-to-school shopping season in full swing, many retailers will be promoting and advertising sales. Make sure you do your price research before you go to the store. Make sure the sale really is a sale and not a creative marketing strategy of the store to encourage you to spend your money without thinking. “Buy one get one free” and “50% off”, will only help you save money if the actual price you pay is lower than you would pay somewhere else for exactly the same product. And set your budget and shopping list before leaving for the store so you buy only what you need and spend within your means.

- Use less. We live in a society where consumption and waste is a huge problem. Consider using less shampoo when you wash your hair, turning your air conditioning up or cooking in bulk and freezing the left-over’s rather than throwing them out. Turn off lights, the TV and the computer when not in use. If possible, consider walking or biking to the store or to work rather than using more gas. Each of these efforts will help you save on your utility bills and put that extra money into savings.

- Plan Tax Savings Now. If you don’t itemize your taxes, consider it and start thinking about ways you can save on your 2010 tax bill now. Wait until April and it could be too late to take advantage of tax-saving maneuvers. Make a donation to your favorite charity. Donations made to qualified charities before year’s end can result in some serious tax savings and will make you feel good too. Check with your company to see if they offer a flexible spending account (FSA) and when you can enroll. Under a flexible account program, funds are taken from your paycheck on a pretax basis, which reduces your taxable income, and are refunded to you when you submit the appropriate claim forms to your benefits department.

Julie Murphy Casserly, CLU, ChFC, CFP® is a 15-year veteran of the financial services industry, founder of JMC Wealth Management in Chicago and author of the award-winning book, “The Emotion Behind Money.” Julie helps people understand how their emotional attitudes and behaviors affect how they
earn, spend and save. For more information, please visit http://www.juliemurphycasserly.com.

^*The tips above may not be suitable for all people, and JMC Wealth Management advises clients on their investment strategies on an individual basis.