Most coronary heart disease are caused by improper eating or eating too much fat or sugar, so proper nutrition is caused if you are in need drug treatment. Standard diet should control energy intake, fat and cholesterol restrictions, a certain amount of high quality protein and provide sufficient vitamins, minerals and trace elements, and enough complex carbohydrates.

According to Yin, yang, qi, blood, the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the peoplewith coronary disease show different syndromes. It is more efficient to choose the treatment with syndrome differentiation.

A. Heart Yang is insufficient

Symptoms

Palpitations, shortness of breath;

Often feel oppressed or chest pain;

Pain;

Aversion to cold, cold limbs;

Face pale;

White light lips and nails.

Therapeutic diet Principle:

In addition to heart-qi and heart warming Yang, inactivation, and cold pathogens,Promote blood circulation.

People with this syndrome should eat:

Fish products, beans, lean meats, sea cucumbers, jellyfish, fresh vegetables and fruit, raw cereals, wholemeal bread, corn, etc., food and pharmaceuticals: ginseng, cinnamon twig, bark of cinnamon, astragalus root, etc.

People with this syndrome should not eat::

Raw and cold foods, fatty foods.

B. Qi stagnation and blood stasis

Symptoms

Precordial or retrosternalstab at a fixed point, and sometimes seems to stop, too. Sometimes the needle goes into my shoulder and back with the oppressed of chest pain, shortness of breath, drawing in two coastal regions;

Log increasingly angry and easy to unhealthy emotions, used to beat his chest;

Gray, opaque purple color around the eyes and lips, petechiae on the skin;

Eat less, swollen abdomen, loose untidy

Symptoms worse at night.

Therapeutic diet Principle:

PromotionBlood circulation and removing blood stasis, promoting circulation of Qi and activiting Meridian.

People with this syndrome should eat:

Hawthorn, Walnut (pecan), garlic, tangerine peel, rice wine, rose, safflower, Chinese angelica root (Dang Gui).

People with this syndrome should not eat raw and cold foods, fatty foods.

Phlegm stagnation C. the meridians

Symptoms

Sudden cardiac chest pain, sometimes slow, sometimesacute;

Oppressed chest like a heavy load;

Sore left shoulder;

Palpitations, shortness of breath;

Heavy head, fatigue;

The symptoms occur, or worse still cloudy in the afternoon or after the date and rainy;

Body fat.

Therapeutic diet Principle:

Removing blood stasis active meridians to dissolve the phlegm and dampness.

People with this syndrome should eat:

Tangerine peel, tangerine, Job's tears (barley Chinese), LotusLeaf, hawthorn, horseradish, radish seeds, almonds, mushrooms, tofu, onions, seaweed, algae, Tuckahoe, etc.

People with this syndrome should not eat::

Raw and cold food, fatty foods are difficult to digest.

D. The lack of both Qi and Yin

Symptoms

Acute chest pain;

Fatigue, shortness of breath;

Hyperhidrosis, thirst

Dysphoria with feverish sensation in the chest, palms and soles.

Therapeutic diet Principle:

ReplenishingQi, nourish yin, promote blood circulation and activate the meridians.

People with this syndrome should eat:

White fungus, longan, duck, Yam, chufa (Bi-Qi), the date of Chinese, turtle, lily, lotus seeds, Chinese Wolfberry,

People with this syndrome should not eat:: Hot and spicy foods, foods that are dry and easy to cause overheating.

Diet for coronary heart disease / heart healthy diet recipes can be found at:
http://www.healthy-chinese-recipe.com/coronary-artery-disease- diet. html

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As we get ever closer to wrapping up another year (man, what a year it has been!), I am beginning to prepare for the new one at hand.  I figured this is the perfect time to pick up some books that have been collecting dust on my book shelf and start deciding what I want to read in 2010.  Here is what I have so far (in no particular order):

1. Let You Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker J. Palmer – While the book is only a mere 109 pages, I have my doubts that this book is going to be anything of a “quick read” as the dust jacket summarizes it as “a compassionate and compelling meditation on discovering your path in life.”  Palmer is a Quaker and has been named one of the thirty most influential leaders in higher education.

2.  Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints by James Martin, SJ — Another meditation, but this time on the idea of finding your “true self.” Fr. Martin is a Jesuit priest and associate editor of America, a national Catholic magazine.

3. The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life by Bruce Wilkinson — “An oldie, but a goody” as my grandma would say.  I read this back in college, but wasn’t really where I needed to be in life to appreciate it. 

4. Discover the Joy of Being the Person God Made You To Be by Joyce Meyer — I found this book in a tote in my garage as I was looking for something else.  The quote on the back startled and surprised me: ”You will never sense fulfillment in life unless you reach the goal of being yourself.”

5. Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John & Stasi Eldredge — What intrigued me with this book was the title more than anything.  If I am a woman, should I really have to spend $14.99 on a book explaining how a woman feels?  Then the realization hit me:  Most gender-biased books are written with the opposite sex in mind.  What I mean by this is most books about women are written by women for men and visa versa.  A good concept that I believe has many flaws, but that conversation is neither here nor there.  I am excited to read this one and expect it to be interesting as well as challenging.

6. The Purpose Driven Life:  What on Earth am I Here For? by Rick Warren – I have heard from many people that this is an amazing book, but yet none of them have seemed to have actually read it themselves.  Not sure why this is, but I’m going to give it a go.  I’m not really all that excited about reading this one.  To be honest, it just looks boring to me.

7. You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay — This book takes a holistic approach to healing anything that could possibly ail someone, A-Z, and when I say anything, I mean it literally.  From faith and forgiveness to fungus and flatulence (not kidding…look in the index!), Hay, a metaphysical lecturer and teacher, has an affirmation for it.  This not a book I would typically pick up at the bookstore, however, it was recommended to me by a close friend whose opinion I value greatly. I am looking forward to exploring this book and seeing how it speaks to my life.

8.  Find Your Strongest Life:  What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham – A friend of mine read and reviewed this book as a Thomas-Nelson book reviewer blogger.  As a woman working in the corporate sector, I thought it sounded intriguing, especially after taking the accompanying quiz.  Check out his review on his blog, Another Startup.  Pretty interesting since it is a book written for women, by a man, then read and reviewed by a man.

9. Where is God?: Finding His Presence, Purpose and Power in Difficult Times by Dr. John Townsend — I recently signed up to be a book reviewer for Thomas-Nelson as well (yay for free books!) and this was my first pick.  I haven’t received it yet, so I don’t have any first impressions.  All I know about it is it poses the question, “Where is God when things in life seem to be going badly.”  We’ve all been there, and we will all be there again at some point in time more than likely, so I assume it will be at least a decent reminder that when we feel God is now longer walking beside us, it is at those moments, he is actually carrying us.

10. Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson, M.D. — Let’s face it, we’ve all at some point been disappointed with our jobs and felt discouraged that we were never going to reach the proverbial ”cheese” at the end of the maze.  I’m looking forward this one.  It looks short and sweet and to the point…a charactertic that is rarely found in a book on management methods.

I’d like to wish everyone a very merry, healthy, and blessed holiday. Please take time to enjoy the special moments with your loved ones. Pause to reflect on why we celebrate Christmas and how much you are loved by the Saviour. Indulge a bit, but remember all things in moderation!

            I will take a little break from writing during the holiday season, but be sure to check in again in 2 weeks.

Love & Blessings to All!

Michelle C.

Many people who make New Year’s resolutions are not willing to go the extra mile to complete their promises.  Statistics show that gym memberships rise by more than 25% in January, but after less than thirty days the gym population returns to its normal rate.  People have the mistaken idea that they can exercise their way to health.

Exercising will not improve your health alone.  In fact, if the blood is in a toxic state you may be doing a disservice to your enervated system.  Exercising with no regard to living a healthy lifestyle can lead to a host of problems including high blood pressure.  I personally know six top fitness instructors who are on high blood pressure medication. 

This year I have decided to get to the root of my health problems so I am bringing in the New Year with a fast, following an exclusive low fat raw vegan diet.  Fast comes from the word faest, which means firm or fixed.  When one is fasting they go without food for a fixed period of time.  I started fasting yesterday and I am consuming only distilled water.  The absence of food will allow my digestive organs to rest giving full attention to expelling existing toxins stored from years of an unhealthy lifestyle.  These toxins will be released from my tissue, muscles, organs and blood.

Even though I have not watched television or listen to the radio in years I still need to rest mentally so I am not reading or using the phone.  I will only use the computer to post blogs and answer questions pertaining to the fast.  I will rest my nerves by closing my eyes and letting thought provoking ideas go.  One of the great things about fasting is that you realize not much is very important because you are too busy focusing on being hungry. 

Rest is my only obligation during this fast.  I will sleep 10 to 12 hours a day along with naps.  My exercise will consist of only a few stretches, short walks outside, and deep breathing.  This will allow my cells to get oxygen and help the lymphatic system flow.

During this fast I have taken two weeks off from work and will not have any visitors, except for the people who I have requested to monitor me as I go through this healing process.  The people who I have selected are low fat raw vegans and have studied natural hygiene and one of them is actually fasting with me.  These are the only people I will be communicating with.  I will be in total silence and seclusion which will aid in the healing process.

The goal is to stop doing things that will hold up the cleansing process.  I am welcoming the New Year with a naturally cleansed body.  My fast will end sometime next year followed by a low fat raw vegan diet.  I have not designated a set day to end the fast because I am letting nature make that decision for me.  This is why it is so important that I stay quiet and mentally free.  I must be empty in order to listen.

I recently attended and was certified at a two day class on Chinese Acupressure in Chicago at the International Dermal Institute. I wanted to add this service to my resume and another being that I am a big holistic enthusiast. I had been waiting and anticipating this class for over a month and finally it was here!

There are a lot of people that don’t even know what is the purpose of Chinese acupressure. Chinese acupressure is a form of touch therapy that utilizes the principles of acupuncture and Chinese (Eastern) medicine. In acupressure, the same points on the body are used as in acupuncture, but are stimulated with finger pressure instead of with the insertion of needles. Acupressure is used to relieve a variety of symptoms and pain and also to aid in natural face lifts (firmness) or even dermititis.

I have always been interested and I was ready to go! The first half of the first day we learned theory behind acupressure. The flow of Chi (energy) and the Yin and Yang (complementary opposites). We learned how all of the organs are connected. So if you have a problem with one organ it could originate in another organ, again this is the Eastern medicine approach. We learned 22 (Tsubo) points on the face and shoulder- in other words the points that we would press to stimulate.  After lunch we were ready for the practical, so we changed into our lab coats and gowns.

The most important part we learned from our instructor is that when you are applying acupressure to your client that you must clear your mind and have positive thoughts or you will throw your negative energies on to them (noting the third eye is also a pressure point) so watch out! You also learn an important breathing technique you must use or this will not work correctly.

The next day it was all practical and it was great. It truly relaxes you and we kept practicing our breathing techniques and our pressure on our partners. I know there are some skeptics out there, but it affects everyone differently. It really worked for me on my energies and you must drink plenty of water because it is releasing toxins in your body and helping the flow of energy in your body and organs.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone, for one it’s more natural approach rather than taking medicines to soothe and hide pain such as headaches and sinus ailments (I am not recommending that you don’t take medicine, always contact your physician with any illness).

I come away with the knowledge that the body is harmonious because of the organs. Each organ supports each other in some connection. Again, for example if you have problems with your eyes (yellowing) it could be your liver. If you notice when you go to the doctor and he/she looks at your tongue it is connected to your heart.

Our body is amazing and we must take care of it as we only have one! If you have a chance get this service done in your area, or contact me and I will be happy to hook you up!

Happy Holidays Everyone Be Safe and Be Blessed!

MakeupByLaVelle

As Christmas looms I have now been given a new sense of control over my M.E.

Last Tuesday I visited Charlotte Jamieson, a holistic therapist, who 10 weeks ago, following telephone consultations, recommended a wheat, dairy and sugar free diet to aim to detox my body and ease some of my symptoms.

Once thoroughly de-toxed, I was taken by my mother and my husband to see Charlotte and be wired up to her SC10 machine.

The machine is a very small box that sat on her desk, with wires that were attached to my head, wrists and ankles and formed a circuit back to the box via her computer.

The machine was turned on and I did feel a tingling sensation in my arms and fingers. Many people apparently feel nothing, so the machine is very comfortable.

After four minutes the machine had tested the frequency of all the cells in my body. It works by assessing the frequency, knowing that infected cells and healthy cells have different frequencies. Also, each virus has it’s own frequency so it can give a very detailed analysis of the state of every cell in the body!

The findings were very interesting and the biggest finding was about the state of my nervous system. Normally our nervous systems are balanced between ‘Para sympathetic’, and ’sympathetic’. During the daytime we are normally sympathetic, so on high alert and ready for anything. Then, when we rest or sleep, parasympathetic kicks in. My system is ’sympathetic dominant’ and in such a state that even during sleep my parasympathetic system is not kicking in. This explains the ‘buzzing’ that I’ve been feeling in all my veins since I fell ill.

The machine also detected the presence of the Epstein Barr virus, commonly linked with glandular fever. The virus isn’t affecting my body yet because of the state of my nervous system, which is good news, until the nervous system is sorted!

The other problem, which Charlotte had foreseen, was a ‘leaky gut’. The diet has eased this by stopping toxic undigested foods leaking from my stomach into my blood stream. So a wheat, dairy and sugar free christmas coming up…

Her recommendation is for me to start a course of Cranial sacral treatments. By using a practitioner who specialises in the nervous system, the toxin build up in my skull can be eased releasing the pressure on my nervous system, well at least that’s how I understand it!

It has been such a relief to have some physical symptoms recognised and given the hope that it can be worked on.

Ecstasy Tip: “I want to be on the “right” path, make the “right choice”. This mindset creates fear, believing something outside of you knows what is better for you. Instead of finding the “right” path, think about what would bring you the most joy. It may be selfish, but as you learn to make decisions from your heart you will be happier, healthier & more loved.

You are what you eat. You’re also how you feel, how you exercise, how you sleep, how you handle money, how you relate to people, and what you value.

Here is the link: http://www.physorg.com/news180300326.html

test

As stated by Dr. Mercola:

Vitamin D deficiency is pandemic in the United States, but many Americans, including physicians, are not aware that they may be lacking this important nutrient.

There are only 30,000 genes in your body and vitamin D has been shown to influence over 2,000 of them. That is one of the primary reasons it influences so many diseases, from cancer and autism to heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

A study by Dr. William Grant, Ph.D., internationally recognized research scientist and vitamin D expert, found that about 30 percent of cancer deaths — which amounts to 2 million worldwide and 200,000 in the United States — could be prevented each year with higher levels of vitamin D.

Vitamin D has a protective effect against cancer in several ways, including:

• Increasing the self-destruction of mutated cells (which, if allowed to replicate, could lead to cancer)
• Reducing the spread and reproduction of cancer cells
• Causing cells to become differentiated (cancer cells often lack differentiation)
• Reducing the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, which is a step in the transition of dormant tumors turning cancerous
Beyond cancer, the researchers pointed out that increasing levels of vitamin D3 could prevent diseases that claim nearly 1 million lives throughout the world each year! And other studies showed that you can decrease your risk of cancer by more than half simply by optimizing your vitamin D levels with sun exposure but it’s always not enough so you must supplement, therefore, if you take a look at www.DrinkSupplements.com you will find a product that is in liquid form, bioavailable and has 1,000 IU per serving.

Vitamin D even fights colds and the flu, as it regulates the expression of genes that influence your immune system to attack and destroy bacteria and viruses. In fact, it is very rare for someone with optimized vitamin D levels to come down with the flu.

Oh, my. We overlooked something. ‘Respected’ woo-meister Dr Mercola proposes another use for Sodium Bicarbonate! As he believes, it cannot only cure cancer, but is also a good for ….. treating H1N1 influenza!

In 1918 and 1919 while fighting the ‘flu’ with the U. S. Public Health Service it was brought to my attention that rarely anyone who had been thoroughly alkalinized with bicarbonate of soda contracted the disease, and those who did contract it, if alkalinized early, would invariably have mild attacks.

Miracles do happen!

Did Dr Mercola think of this himself? No. Of course not. He retrieved his information on a site wholy dedicated to sodium bicarbonate.

Here’s the article by Mercola:
Overlooked 150 Year Old Household Cleaner a Remedy for Swine Flu?

Here’s his source:
Bicarbonate Treatment for Swine Flu (1924)

click on picture to view articles by Sircus

Dr. Mercola mentions ex medical doctor Tullio Simonici and Mark Sircus, who both advocate using baking soda for even the most serious of diseases – cancer!

I’m not going to debunk this. It’s alreadybeen done. Orac did a really good job on his Respectful Insolence blog.

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda for H1N1 influenza and cancer? Woo at its finest!

Mercola seems to prefer his own variety of acid-base quacks, guys like  Tullio Simoncini and another one I hadn’t heard of, Mark Sircus, Ac, OMD, who buys into the same woo. He also clearly doesn’t understand basic physiology [...] I’m hearing  a quacking noise, and it’s emanating from Mercola. He’s promoting quackery for H1N1 in this instance, and he’s promoting cancer quackery from Sircus and Simoncini.

What’s next? Baking soda as a cure for diabetes?

Winter creates a lot of changes in our body.  The sun goes down much earlier.  The weather is colder.  We feel the need to hibernate.  All of this seasonal activity (or lack of activity) can affect our sleep.  We need our sleep! Sleep recharges our mind, our body, and our spirit.  People are severely affected by lack of sleep in various ways.  How does winter affect sleep?

Many times our body responds to the sun going down by slowing down activity and preparing to sleep.  In winter, when the sun starts to set at, oh, 4pm, our brain and body are a little out of sync with nature.  Additionally, in spring and summer when our activity level is high, the evening “slow down” of activity is another signal to our brain and body to get ready for bed.  But in winter, we tend to be “slower” in general, yet confusing ourselves again.

So how can we make sure that we get adequate sleep at all times of the year?

1.         Create a regular routine. Figure out a routine that you can follow starting about one hour before bed.  Make sure it’s relaxing.  Good suggestions are: a hot bath or a cup of herbal tea.  Some people like to curl up with a book before bed—but that probably depends on what you’re reading!

2.         Live in the light! You can help your body still consider darkness=sleep if you live in a more brightly lit environment.  So keep your abode lit with (environmentally friendly) bright lights in early evening.  You can start to dim your house/apartment as you begin your above routine.  Something that can be very helpful is a sunrise alarm clock.  Biobrite has great ones that have a “sunset” feature that will slowly dim a room for 30 minutes.  They also slowly brighten your room in the morning, so that you rise to bright light.

3.         Make the bed for bed. We love our beds.  We do spend an awful lot of time in them! But our mind can get confused when we read in bed, work in bed, chat on the phone in bed, etc.  If you only use the bed for sleeping, then your mind will associate bed with sleep, which will make it easier to relax.  So read that great book—just read it on the sofa.

4.         Lace up. The cold of winter can also chill our desire to exercise. But regular exercise helps regulate our bodies’ rhythms, and promotes better sleep.  So layer up and get moving! Even 30 minutes a day will greatly increase regular sleep rhythms.

5.         Ommmmmm. Some people find meditation at night to be extremely relaxing.  It doesn’t have to be for a long time.  Use your cell phone or other device as a timer and start out small—only 2 minutes. Sit cross-legged on a folded up blanket, yoga block, or meditation pillow so that your hips are higher than your knees.  Remain still.  Don’t control your breath, but simply observe it just around its entrance/exit point of your nostrils.  When you inhale you can say “let” internally, and you can say “go” as you feel yourself exhale. Over time, you can increase your meditation time in small increments.  Meditation creates inner stillness, and thus can help you sleep easier.

Helping your body get more sleep will help in so many ways.  Trying these suggestions should create more regular rhythms for your body.  Happy sleeping!

My heart is singing with joyfulness today as we launch this site for the Mind, Body and Soul Experience. I am delighted to be a part of this healing community.

The mind/body/soul approach to health and healing honors the individual as a “whole” person.

Disease is the result of imbalance…too much or too little—i.e. too much cholesterol, too little exercise, too much stress, too little relaxation. The intent of holistic healing is to place emphasis on the natural state of “ease” and wellness of our bodies and not give too much focus to a particular ailment or dis-ease. The body, in its own infinite wisdom, knows how to heal itself. Our systems function with a deep intelligence and miraculous sense of balance and wholeness.

Through mind, body and spirit returning to balance, lasting change and healing can occur. As healers one of our tasks is to empower you in your own journey of self-healing. We offer holistic and complementary therapies to help you in your journey to healing and balance.

My favorite form of healing is the healing force of love, particularly self love. We cannot get to that state of wholeness without loving ourselves. My journey of self-love brought me to a place of balance and healing in my life.

Drunvalo Melchizedek conducted a study of 100 healers, using many different techniques, to see if they had anything in common. They had a computer-enhanced microwave receiver, to see where the various healers were centered in their bodies while they were doing healing. It was discovered that every healer was located in the same place within the body, in what is called the universal heart chakra—just above the sternum. This center is a focus for universal love, or unconditional love. In conclusion, it was shown that love is a very important ingredient in healing…whether it is ourselves, or another person.

True healing is not just the absence of disease, but the presence of a life filled with joy and aliveness.

I look forward to seeing you at our Mind, Body, Soul Experience events and to working with you on your path to wholeness and wellness.

From the heart ,
Linda

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams.  Who looks inside, awakens.” –Carl Jung

By Linda Beal

By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

The holidays are coming, the holidays are coming!”  Preparing for
holidays” can be like preparing for a revolution.  Perhaps you are one
of those people who decorate for the holidays prior to Thanksgiving. 
Perhaps you haven’t yet started your holiday decorating.  Whether or
not you have begun decorating for the forthcoming holidays, this
column may alter how you think about decorating for any holiday. 

So you have taken on the task of decorating the home for the
holidays.  How can you do it without strife?  You know that no matter
what the decorative touch, someone is likely to take offense at the
symbolism, be irritated by the colors, allergic to the odors, or
loudly object to the clutter.

The majority of us spend most of our lives attempting to fulfill our
need for affiliation, achievement and recognition.  That is a painful
eternity if the home atmosphere or physical environment breeds fear,
anger, cynicism and resentment, instead of beauty, fun, humor and joy.
Creating a beautiful and balanced environment is one way you can
express your love and care for yourself and for the others who share
your living space.

Everybody invites (or provokes) negative attention, only when they
believe positive is unavailable, because negative attention is
emotionally more satisfying than no attention at all.  The deepest
human need is for appreciative acknowledgment.  More than sex or
money, the two things people will work for are praise and recognition.
Put all these ideas together, and you will want to decorate your home
in such a way as to affirm and acknowledge all those who spend time
there.  How are you going to do that?

Begin by asking a direct question of all those who share your home:
Will you tell me what kind of holiday decorations bring you the most
delight?”  Affirm them by genuinely listening to their responses. 
Thank them for helping you to understand what reminds them of fun and
enjoyment.  Promise them you will consider their preferences as you
begin decorating the home.  Invite them to participate in the process,
or bring to you those decorative objects they most enjoy.  If they do
the latter, make certain you acknowledge them for acting on their
preferences.  Even if you don’t use their particular decoration, they
can always keep it displayed in their personal space.  Even if the
decorations are objectionable to some, they will not be as likely to
give voice to their negativity, if they feel they have been considered
and appreciated in the decorating process.

Ask for feedback as you begin decorating.  “Does this wreath look
best here or over there?”  “Will you let me know where you would put
this tree (pumpkin, candle-holder, card…whatever)?”  Genuinely
compliment them on their decorative taste.  If they express no
preference, at least they will feel you have considered them.

Any group becomes negative if the leader grabs the lion’s share of
the credit for the good work that has been done.  Families are no
exception.  There are three simple points to keep in mind:  If
something goes wrong with your decorating, it is your fault.  If it
turns out all right, “we did it.”  If it turns out great, everyone
else did it.  If you keep these three principles in mind as you begin
decorating, you are much less likely to have “strife” over the
decorative outcome.

Emotionally involve yourself in the decorating.  Emotionally detach
from the outcome.  Consider your decorating and decorations as gifts
you offer others.  You want the gifts to be of value to the
recipients.  So make certain you are aware of what your family members
value about how their living-space appears.  Put your most positive
emotions into your decorating.  Invest all the love and care you can. 
Once you have expressed your best, give it away totally to others
without any further emotional attachment or expectations.  Whether
people appreciate you, or the way the home looks becomes irrelevant. 
What others think of you or your decorations becomes none of your
business.  You have decorated the home in the most caring way you
know.  You have no power to control how others respond to it.  You are
free to respond to the decorated home-environment as you choose.  So
are others.

Decorate for the holidays?  No.  Decorate for yourself.  Decorate
for others’ delight.  Decorate for expressing yourself.  Decorate for
joy.  Decorate for sharing.  Decorate for beauty.  Decorate for
creating quality relationships.  While you’re at it…decorate your
life!  Then the possibility of strife-filled holidays, let alone a
family revolution, is greatly diminished.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dr. Thomas is a licensed psychologist, author, speaker, and life
coach.  He serves on the faculty of the International University of
Professional Studies. He recently co-authored (with Patrick Williams)
the book: “Total Life Coaching: 50+ Life Lessons, Skills and
Techniques for Enhancing Your Practice…and Your Life!” (W.W. Norton
2005) It is available at your local bookstore or on Amazon.com.

Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D. has 30+ years experience as a Life Coach and
Licensed Psychologist.  He is available for coaching in any area
presented in “Practical Life Coaching” (formerly “Practical
Psychology”).  Initial coaching sessions are free. E-mail: DrLloyd@CreatingLeaders.com or LJTDAT@aol.com.

About a year ago I made the decision to join the natural health community and once one door is open to that alternative lifestyle it seems like the flood gates open to a whole new world of information. First I started with changing the food I eat, this means I am no stranger to tofu and soy milk  and then I moved on to cutting my hair and going natural, for those of you that don’t know that means I am sporting natural kinks and curls and on occasion an afro. Then of course there is the spiritual aspect. I started meditating and opening my chakras (which I have been slacking on lately) and gradually my eyes have been opened to a whole new way of living and I love it. But wherever there are roses you will eventually find some thorns. Within this community you have the people who refer to themselves as conscious and enlightened and some of them do some of the most f’d up crap you can imagine. Let me just cut to the chase. About a year ago I did a video about a popular singer who calls herself conscious yet has three babies by three different men. I am not going to mention her name here because I opened a can of worms with this one on YouTube, but if you think really hard you can figure out who I am talking about. Anyway, this woman calls herself enlightened yet she has opened her legs and birthed babies with three different men and has not married any of them. Ok maybe I am wrong but I thought the conscious community supported the building of strong families and villages and trying to fix some of the things that are wrong with this world we live in. So why are we now supporting the “baby mama, baby daddy” syndrome that has put this generation to sleep? That is one of the things that attracted me to this alternative lifestyle, but it seems to me many of us are just adding to the problem. I mean do we really need more kids in this world without fathers living in the house with them? Do we really need more single moms? I mean I am not dogging single moms because in this life things happen and you do what it is you have to do, but on the other hand if you did what you were supposed to do, you would not be having to do what you have to. Does that make sense? Anyway, I find it quite selfish to just go out and have kids recklessly because you want them. Do any of these people ever stop to think about how these decisions affect their children? I guess not. Maybe you have the money to take care of them, but children need the balance of having both parents in the home. The relationship between mom and dad are the first and most important models of male and female interaction that children see. It is a true statement that children learn what they live. If a child sees fighting, arguing and abuse then you are most times going to raise children that are going to grow up and be abusers and victims. But on the other hand if children see harmonious relationships then they most likely will grow up and have healthy relationships. Now don’t get me wrong there are always exceptions but most times this is the way it is. Let’s take a look at the Chris Brown and Rihanna situation in this case they both grew up seeing physical violence so they were living what they learned. I am not condoning I am just saying. Then I look at my own marriage. My husband and I grew up completely different. I grew up in a single parent home, my parents are divorced. My husband grew up in a two parent home and his parents are still together today. My husband saw a much more balanced view of relationships than I did and for that reason I feel like I have struggled a bit in our relationship but I am committed so we make our relationship work. So in the end what I am saying is we need to be careful what we do in front of the younger generation because we have the potential to bless them or curse them with the decisions we make. Let’s do better people.

I just finished reading Reversing Multiple Sclerosis: 9 Effective Steps to Recover Your Health. One of my fellow church parishioners was kind enough to loan it to me. It’s written by Chiropractor/Dietician/Naturopath Dr. Celeste Pepe D.C., N.D.

I have to admit despite the scary side effects of the medications I currently take and my doctors want me to take in the future, some of the natural treatments were equally as frightening, but strangely more effective than the drugs being pushed by large pharmaceutical companies. However, I doubt I’ll be starting Bee Venom Therapy any time soon. I’m not allergic to bees or even scared of them, but buying the venom online, and going to a certified Apitherapist is even more expensive. The only affordable way to be able to start and continue this therapy effectively is to own your own bees, and I just don’t have the space for that.

Plus… I must admit that while my husband is my rock of gibraltar, he’s only afraid of one thing, and that thing is bees. And then, and I can’t stress this enough, you have to make sure to get your bees from an accurate source, because the European Honey Bee and the African Honey Bee appear to be practically identical by sight alone. The only way to tell them apart is by dissection, and you have to closely monitor your own hive to make sure your population is 100% European. I’m not racist against Honey Bees, it’s just dangerous to have African Honey Bees since they are downright aggressive when compared to the docile European Honey Bee.

If this method of treatment interests you, I strongly suggest either reading Dr. Pepe’s Book, reading “”How Well Are You Willing To Bee?” by Pat Wagner, or by visiting Pat Wagner’s Web site.

Besides the extreme treatments like Bee Venom Therapy, the book puts a strong emphasis on nutrition. So much so that I’m eager to get a copy of Dr. Sears’ book, “The Zone: A Dietary Road Map to Lose Weight Permanently: Reset Your Genetic Code: Prevent Disease: Achieve Maximum Physical Performance.”

So far, I’m doing Weight Watchers (of which I’ve had success with so far since I am overweight and in the “Obese” category of the BMI charts), and I have had the opportunity to experience some success with Acupuncture for pain/vertigo management, but this book really opened my eyes to the idea that food isn’t just something to do, something to comfort, or something to take for granted. It’s as much of a drug as the Prednisone and Methotrexate I’m currently taking.

For those of you who are looking to lose weight or to increase your health, I hope this post opened your eyes to the fact that there never is just one solution to a problem. Sometimes we have to try different combinations of therapies or diets to achieve the results we desire. Anything is in our grasp as long as we venture forth looking forward to that day where we aren’t dreading to get out of bed due to joint stiffness, being out of breath while playing with the children in our lives, or even dreading to walk without stumbling to the ground. A better day is around the corner, so take charge, and find the path towards your better tomorrow.

You can do it!

Place: Tao Garden Health Spa & Resort

Address: 274 Moo 7, Luang Nua, Doi Saket, Chiang Mai 50220 THAILAND

Tel: +66 5392 1200

Website: www.tao-garden.com

Email: info@tao-garden.com

Food Type: Healthy Thai Food

THE BEST HEALTH FOOD I HAVE EVER EATEN!! )

“Nestled in upcountry Thailand, just outside the delightful city of Chiang Mai, is Tao Garden health resort, an oasis of dynamic healing practice, blending the most exciting new medical developments as found in our medical clinic with traditional Eastern arts such as those found in our holistic spa. To stay in Tao Garden’s health spa is to become engulfed in an abiding sense of well being, to allow oneself to set upon a path of peace and inner exploration, a tranquil respite yet dynamic adventure of healing.

According to Chinese and Taoist medicine, food is an important key for our health. In the dining room, tasteful dishes are prepared from fresh natural ingredients. A significant proportion of the vegetables and fruits come from our own organic gardens. The variety of dishes and offerings caters to an international, health-conscious, clientele.

All day long you can meander into the dining hall, pick up a newspaper and have a hot cup of tea. Hot green papaya tea, Indian senna tea or ginger tea is available all day long. Or you may prefer to choose a tea bag from the large selection of 16 teas.
Be prepared for a stay without coffee! For breakfast, fresh hot soymilk is available, warm black sesame milk, ginger and ginseng tea, eight different freshly prepared jams (pineapple, sesame, peanut, cashew nut, mango, roselle, tamarind and passion fruit), soy yogurt, goat yogurt, and freshly squeezed juice. A host or hostess stands by waiting to prepare for you a delicious omelet or whatever kind of egg you prefer. There is a plethora of food items to choose from, from fruits to granola and muesli.

At lunch, another kind of freshly prepared juice is waiting for you in addition to a scrumptious array of healthy dishes ranging all the way from chicken, fish and shrimp to raw foods. The kitchen uses only Himalayan crystallized salt which contains 84 minerals essential to life. You are sure to leave satisfied and happy. Each person has found food that is perfect for him/her!

Dinner repeats lunch. Yet another kind of freshly prepared juice is available and another array of healthy elegant cuisine. Freshly available every evening is the GABA rice milk, said to contain important building blocks for DNA. The food and conversation is so pleasant and satisfying that guests oftentimes must tear themselves away from the dining hall for the evening exercises.”                -Tao Garden

This course in webcast format is the perfect alternative for busy professionals! Attend these live sessions from your workstation at home or in the office.
Prior to the course you will have access to online e-learning material which will increase your understanding and appreciation of the webcast.

This course also contributes to your Continuing Professional Development (CPD)!

Summary

This course introduces a unified transparent approach to risk and crisis management and explores the link between the so called financial and non-financial risks.
It covers the evolution of qualitative, quantitative approaches in risk assessment, how to present risks in a clear and transparent way, and how to use your risk management program to get the most value for you and your company.
It also presents crisis management, prediction of the depth and duration of economic turmoil, and how companies should react when faced with a crisis.

Who Should Attend?

This webcast will be of particular interest to mining project managers, planning engineers, regulators, bankers, insurers and other mining specialists. Nn mining experts will find it interesting because it covers general modern risk management areas, generally neglected by professional development courses.

About the Authors

Franco & Cesar Oboni lead of Oboni Associates, of Switzerland and Vancouver. They have conducted a broad range of engineering projects, risk audits and geo-environmental hazard mitigation studies as well as planning and management of a wide variety of multi-disciplinary studies.

Date: 9, 10, 11 February 2010
Details: Edumine

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There is also a great selection of  Holiday Gift Baskets for dogs and cats, so if you are thinking about purchasing a gift basket, please order now.
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My interest in alternative medicine started when I was in high school. I had stomach problems, mom took me to the Doctor’s office. After a series of tests they gave me tagament. I took it everyday for a year because I was in so much pain if I didn’t take it. So the journey to finding a different way of fixing this problem started. I went to the local library and studied book on alternative medicine. This is where I read about how Aloe Juice could be the answer to my problem. I went to Wild Oats and bought Aloe Juice Stomach Formula. Took 1-2 ounces twice a day for 4 months and slowly weened myself off the tagament and then sure enough I stopped taking medication and found that the Aloe Juice had healed my stomach in only 4 months of daily use. Of course I also incorporated other lifestyle changes like avoiding certain foods high in acid and not skipping meals which I was notorious for and making better food choices.  I am not the only one that has done this, many patients now are more aware of this type of medicine and are trying these before using standard medical treatment.

When I was in nursing school I noticed that Alternative medicine is not taught but now some nursing schools are changing their curriculum to acknowledge Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. Nurses need to know if a patient is taking any herbal medication, because certain herbs can interfere with standard medications. For instance, garlic (taken for the heart) and ginko (taken to improve memory) can increase the effect of some blood thinners, while goldenseal (often taken to treat colds) can decrease the effectiveness. A nurse may also need to ask the surprised woman who finds herself pregnant while taking birth control pills if she has also been taking St. John’s Wort, an herb commonly used to fight the winter blues, and one that can also render birth control pills ineffective.

In this area JCCC offers a certificate in Complimentary and Alternative Medicine <<<Click here for info>>>

Have you ever wondered whether physicians believe in the healing properties of the creative process or even considered utilizing creative interventions  in their professional work?  A post written September 11, 2009,  titled ‘Healing the Healer’  highlights one physician (Robert Climko, MD, MBA) who embraces and implements the creative process through the written word, also known as narrative medicine.  The use of Creative Interventions in healthcare applies not only to patient care, but also healthcare professionals.  In either case, engaging in the creative process epouses the Self-Care theory taught in nursing curriculums.

Here’s another physician who embraces and promotes creativity and arts activities.  A family practitioner based at University of California, Gabrella Miotto, MD, MPH discovered the healing benefits of engaging in the arts through personal experience.  In an article in a Family Medicine journal, Dr. Miotto states,

“What is clear is that healing is an inner process through which a person becomes whole, more individuated, though not necessarily cured, and that creative expression allows us to create meaning through our personal inner intuitive resources.”

With this newfound belief, Dr. Miotto and artist Laurie Zagon, introduced a therapeutic arts program for adult patients suffering from grief, anxiety or depression.  The arts program is called ’Bien Estar (Well-Being).  Wanting to share her belief that engaging in creative interventions with her colleagues, Dr. Miotto presented a workshop titled “Creativity and Healing: An Experiential Workshop,”  at the American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly and Wonca 2004 meeting.

By implementing creativity and the arts in healthcare systems, patients, families, staff, healthcare professionals and local communities all benefit by enhancing collaboration, harmony, compassion, tolerance, acceptance, empathy and self-care.  Below are a few creative interventions worth considering…

Artist-in-Residence program

Writing

Music

Dance

Humor

Laughing Clubs

Creative exhibits with work created by patients, families, staff and healthcare professionals

Drumming circles

Indoor and outdoor gardens

Art at the bedside for patients and families

 And now I leave you with this poem by one of my favorite poets…Rumi

Rules About Restraint

There is nourishment like bread

that feeds one part of your life

and nourishment like light for another.

There are many rules about restraint

with the former, but only one rule

for the latter, Never be satisfied.

Eat and drink the soul substance,

as a wick does with the oil it soaks

in. Give light to the company.

~Jelaluddin Rumi (1207-1273)

translated by Coleman Barks 

Note: email me if you want the bibliography