Tarryall.net
. . . a Guide for Living Energetically
. . . a Guide for Living Energetically
NEWSLETTER
November 2007
November 2007
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| "It is easy to love people who are far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone who is unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start." Mother Theresa |
What's New
Some of my other horses had bad bites on their sheaths. I treated those
with Miracle Clay which provided immediate relief from the itching and the
hives went away quickly.
Thanks Dynamite!
CO Supervisor Gabrielle Loudermilk
www.equusloco.com - home of holistic horse seminars and the beautiful
GypsyVanner stallion Stormy and his new "girlfriend", Isadora!
Did You Know?... (from various sources)
Point to Ponder #1 - Best Acupressure Points for
Promoting Strong Blood Circulation Throughout Your
Legs and Feet by Dr. Ben Kim
Have you ever noticed that your fingernails grow more quickly than your
toenails? If not, the next time you clip your fingernails and toenails on
the same day, take note of how quickly they grow in the days that follow.
I'm confident that you will find that your fingernails need another trim at
least a few days before your toenails do.
Are you curious about why your fingernails grow faster than your toenails?
The answer is simple: Your upper extremities are closer to the pumping
power of your heart than your lower extremities are, so your arms and
hands enjoy better overall blood circulation than your legs and feet do.
This example illustrates how important healthy blood circulation is to the
health of all of your cells. Better circulation almost always translates to
quicker growth and repair of damaged cells. This is only logical of course,
since the health of all of your cells is dependent on receiving a steady
supply of oxygen and nutrients, and having carbon dioxide and other
waste products removed on a continual basis; your blood circulation is
responsible for fulfilling both of these roles.
Since your lower extremities generally do not enjoy the same level of
blood perfusion that the rest of your body does, it stands to reason that
your thighs, legs, and feet can use all of the extra help that you can
provide through your food and lifestyle choices to promote strong and
steady blood circulation.
Why should you be concerned with promoting healthy blood circulation
throughout your lower extremities? Because strong and steady blood flow
to your thighs, legs, and feet can help to accomplish all of the following:
One of the best therapies that you can use to promote optimal blood flow
throughout your legs and feet is acupressure, which involves applying
deep and steady pressure to specific locations.
The key to using acupressure to promote healthy blood circulation in your
lower extremities is to know the locations of the major arteries that
supply fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your pelvic, thigh, leg, and
foot regions.
For balance of article: http://drbenkim.com/acupressure-blood-
circulation-legs-feet.html
Point to Ponder #2 -- Pain-Cessation Nation by Alan
Inglis, MD, Housecalls Newsletter http://www.
healthrevelations.com/
According to one estimate, in just one recent year alone, enough of the
top five painkillers (hydrocodone, oxycodone, meperidine, codeine and
morphine) were sold to supply everyone in the country with at least one
dose. And these are—at best—only meant to be temporary fixes. But the
majority of the time, you don't need them to begin with when there are
natural ways to manage pain.
Recent statistics on the use of painkillers paint an alarming picture of a
nation potentially packed with zombies. They're driving next to you in
your neighborhood and on the highways. They're shopping alongside you
in malls and grocery stores. And they could be working in many of the
industries that serve you every day—all while in a painkiller- induced haze.
If that doesn't strike fear into you, I don't know what will.
Painkiller sales have rocketed to epidemic proportions, with statistics
showing that sales of these drugs rose 90 percent between 1997 and
2005. The Drug Enforcement Agency issued a policy statement last year
noting that prescription drug use has risen to the second-most commonly
abused category of drugs. In particular—prescription painkillers, with
oxycodone leading the charge as the most widely used of all of them.
Several reasons have been suggested as to why painkilling medication is
becoming such a widespread "prescription of choice." Some believe that
with an aging population, the need for painkillers will go up accordingly.
With recent estimates being that by 2020 the elderly will number 54
million in this country—that's a lot of folks potentially on painkillers. With
this type of thinking, the assumption is that everyone who gets old is
going to be in a great deal of pain throughout the process—an erroneous
conclusion if ever there was one.
Another reason given for this surge in painkiller use is the excellent
marketing campaigns that have been launched by Big Pharma. Bravo to
them. Drug-company profits regularly exceed those of other Fortune 500
companies—sometimes raking in an envy-worthy three or more times the
amount of profits those other companies are making.
The only side effect? Americans hooked on painkillers.
I believe that coupled with the marketing used by the drug companies is
doctors' willing compliance in over-prescribing these drugs. Pain
management is an area in which doctors could work with their patients by
using what I call the "rational approach." In my own practice, I'll work
with a patient for anywhere between three and six months before I'll even
think of prescribing a painkiller. This is something I covered in greater
detail in my April 2006 newsletter. (Current subscribers to my newsletter
can access that issue in the archives at www.healthrevelations.com.)
If you're suffering from chronic joint pain and arthritis, I'll tell you what I
tell my patients: Get more omega-3s. Eat more fatty fish, such as
salmon, and add some nuts to your diet, such as walnuts. Also try a fish
oil supplement, 1,000 to 3,000 mg EPA plus DHA. This will help keep
those joints lubricated, reduce inflammation and keep the pain at bay.
If you find you need more help two to three months, I recommend adding
an excellent botanical anti-inflammatory called Zyflamend. You can easily
locate it on the internet from multiple suppliers, which means you can
also price-shop for the best deal. Another simple piece of advice is this: If
you've been assigned exercises by a physical therapist or other body
worker, make sure you do them. Flexible, strong muscles are your joints'
best protection! For example, strong upper leg muscles will actually help
cushion your knee joints.
Unfortunately for most patients, their doctors are short on time—and the
band-aid solution of a painkiller is just too easy a temptation to scrawl
onto a prescription pad.
Point to Ponder #3 -- What Are Food Additives and
Ritalin Really Doing to Your Children? by Jon
Rappoport, Investigative Reporter
http://www.ourchildrenshealth.com/foodadditives.shtml
SEPTEMBER 10, 2007. Last week, a startling British study of 300 young
children, published in the respected journal Lancet, revealed that food
additives are linked to hyperactive behavior.
Authors of the University of Southampton study wrote, "?adverse effects
are not just seen in children with extreme [prior] hyperactivity, but can
also be seen in the general population?"
According to Reuters, the additives tested included: "sunset yellow
coloring, carmoisine, tartrazine, ponceau 4R, sodium benzoate, and other
colors."
Dr. Sue Baic, a dietician at the University of Bristol, called the study "well
designed and potentially very important."
Press reports on the study are ignoring the subject of ADHD itself. ADHD
is the formal name given to hyperactivity, and if food additives are
causing this condition, what about the tower of medical research
dedicated to proving that ADHD is the result of a brain abnormality?
The whole medical foundation for ADHD is built on the premise that some
common brain malfunction is at the root of the problem. On that basis,
amphetamine-type drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall are being given to
millions of children.
But is there a clear-cut medical definition of ADHD, or are we really
talking about hyperactive behaviors brought on by a variety of causes---
such as food additives? See rest of article here.
...... the proven best way to avoid behavioral challenges with children is
to 1) feed them strictly REAL FOODS that are organically or free-range
grown; 2) avoid ALL common fast/boxed foods, pop, sugar, baked goods,
agri-business pasteurized dairy, fruit juices, etc.; 3) supply them with a
good, balanced mineral supplementation program such as Dynamite's plus
mercury-free cod liver oil (Carlson's) or krill oil (www.mercola.com); 4)
avoid medicinal toxins such as medications/drugs and vaccines;and 5)
love and discipline them consistently according to Cesar Millan's Dog
Whispering techniques! Yep, not kidding. Decades ago when I was
"obedience training" our German Shepherds for the ring, I said all parents
needed to take the classes for the sake of their children. Now I think
Cesar Millan has the most incredible insights into both dogs AND humans
and think it's even more important for parents to become aware. This
would do parents and children a tremendous amount of good!
Point to Ponder #4 -- The Poisons Around You by C.
Norm Shealy, M.D., Ph.d. http//www.normshealy.com
I have written before about the ubiquitous poisoning of the world. So did
Rachel Carson many decades ago. Each decade it gets worse. Overall it is
a toss up as to whether the world will ultimately be most damaged by the
550,000 chemical poisons released indiscriminately each year, or by
nuclear contamination. I remember well national articles over 40 years
ago about the carcinogenic chemicals in city water produced by
chlorination of water. Two days later, no further commentaries! Thus, it
goes throughout the decades - an occasional nationally prominent
mention of the harm increasing to animals as well as people. A minimum
of 75% of cancer is related to environmental poisons! BRITISH MEDICAL
JOURNAL, 328: 447-451, 2004.
In October, 2006, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC carried one of the most graphic
discussions of the situation. David Duncan spent a year evaluating the
toxins accumulated in his body and wrote a great article in The NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC.
The major groups of poisons include:
HOW TO COPE/AVOID POISONS:
Point to Ponder #5 - Pollution Turns off Immune
System by Fox News http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,
2933,298718,00.html
Air pollution may do more than aggravate heart problems. It can shut
down the immune system over time, according to a new study.
Pollutants in the ozone, long associated with pulmonary and
cardiovascular problems and deaths, can also affect the lungs and the
rest of the body, making it more susceptible to illnesses, including the
entry of bacteria and other foreign invaders in the body, Duke University
Medical Center researchers found.
Pulmonary researchers studied the effects of the ozone on the immune
system using unhealthy levels of pollutants in mice, which enhanced lung
injuries in response to bacteria and cell death in immune system cells,
used to fight off foreign toxins in the body.
In the study, researchers had mice breathe room air, or air with levels of
ozone that an active human would breathe in on an unhealthy, ozone
level day. The immune system response was also studied on mice
exposed to the E. coli bacteria.
“Small amounts of inhaled foreign material can be relatively harmless,
since they stimulate an appropriate innate immune response that protects
the lungs,” said John Hollingsworth, M.D., pulmonologist and lead author
of the study. “However, it appears that ozone causes the innate immune
system to overreact, killing key immune system cells, and possibly
making the lung more susceptible to subsequent invaders, such as
bacteria.The innate immune system is the most primitive aspect of the
body’s defenses. Its cells react indiscriminately to any invader. One of the
key cells in the innate immune system is known as a macrophage, Greek
for “big eater.”
Future studies out of Duke will research the mechanisms behind the ozone’
s affect on cell death in macrophages in the lungs. The study will focus on
how the polluntants interfere with system-wide immune system responses.
...... and you thought you didn't need to consider safe detoxification!
Please click HERE to read all about an incredible product I have found
that provides safe detoxification for both you and your pets, too!
Point to Ponder #6 - An Interesting Cause for Neck &
Shoulder Pain by Joseph Culbertson, D.C.
Neck and shoulder tension - Part 1
It's the end of a day. Time to relax, spend some quality time with family,
friends, or whatever else we have on our agenda. This is our time; that
little bit of the day that we have saved for ourselves. Unfortunately, it is
also this time when the tension in our neck and shoulders is most
noticeable. It really is amazing how much the muscles in this area of our
body can ache and hurt. For some, this gets so bad that our hands tingle
with weakness, our head, especially in the back where the skull meets the
neck, feels like is being squeezed by a vice, and those shoulders of
ours…ouch! Hot showers, massage, and a hand full of aspirin often bring
little relief.
The neck and shoulder tension that so many of us have endured has been
tackled by most of the health care industry. It has been given several
medical labels: fibromyalgia, myofascitis, etc. It has been said to be
caused by stress. Others have said it comes from traumatic memories or
actual physical trauma. In most cases, what we know for sure is that
there is inflammation, an imbalance in the musculature, misalignment of
the associated spinal structure, and a rather global irritation of the
nervous system. Bottom line, it hurts.
Yet, in most cases, it is so very easy to change.
I suspect things like this are part of the reason I decided to turn my
efforts to writing. As one lone doctor working with a finite number of
people, I could help just so many and yet I was aware of so many more
that could be helped by what I had learned. All I had to do was find a way
of reaching them.
One of the causes for neck and shoulder pain:
I wasn't long into my tenure as a chiropractor that I began to realize that
most of the neck and shoulder problems that I was treating were in the
neck and shoulders of women (specifically women in the age range of 25
to 45). At first I thought this was just a statistical anomaly but, as I
looked a little closer, I had to admit that indeed this kind of problem was
definitely more predominant in the female side of my patients.
This puzzled me but, as puzzles are meant to be solved, I soon set off to
do just that. The first step was to try to figure out what other variables
everyone had in common besides gender. Was it that they had a
heightened sensitivity to their bodies? Though there are many exceptions,
women definitely appear more aware than men when it comes to their
emotions and what their bodies are doing. Or was it a chemical thing?
Lack of calcium or improper utilization of this mineral due to things like
not enough vitamin F or too much protein, will definitely be at the root of
many an overly tight muscle.
As I searched, I found answer after answer, all of which had a bearing on
this condition that I consider to be too common. I discovered that a
number of them were indeed gender related. But the one that surprised
me the most, which occurs in both genders (though still predominately in
females), turned out to be one of the easiest variables to alter. When I
began making changes in this factor, not only did my lop-sided findings
cease, but I also began finding person after person feeling better from
just this change alone.
Natalie was a good example. She was young, 28, athletic, healthy, and in
severe pain. I was her fourth doctor. She had been through a series of
treatments: pain and anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy,
chiropractic, acupuncture and massage. Yet her diagnosis and symptoms
remained entrenched. She still hurt. As a matter of fact, with her last
doctor telling her to 'Learn to live with it.' Natalie had pretty much given
up hope.
This lady had tried pretty much everything I had to offer long before she
decided to add me to her list of doctors. In fact, I was ready to just
repeat many of the things she had already tried when, during our first
session, I was struck by her posture as I talked to her. We were standing
next to each other. I was talking and she was listening to my long, drawn
out analysis of her situation; nothing she hadn't heard before.
What hit me was the position of her head as she looked up at me. Now I
am not all that tall but Natalie, being just a shade over 5'3", had to tilt
her head back as we stood next to each other. This postural exaggeration
was compressing the muscles in the back of her neck. This compression, I
discovered, creates a situation where the blood supply and the lymphatic
drainage are interfered with, allowing toxins and tension to build up
within the region; one of the major precursors for pain.
As I studied this postural phenomenon, I began to see that there were
many different situations where a person less than six feet tall was
placed into a position that caused a similar problem within their muscles.
When sitting, if our legs are not long enough to allow the thighs to
remain parallel to the ground, the muscles in our neck shorten in the
same manner as they do when we look up at someone who is taller than
us. The more I found, the more I realized that this world is actually made
for someone that is about six feet tall. From chairs to car seats, to just
the social habit of looking someone in the eyes as we speak with them, if
we are short, we are constantly placing a tremendous burden upon our
neck and shoulders.
Could this be the reason I was seeing so many women with neck and
shoulder tension? If so, then it had very little to do with gender. It did,
however, have everything to do with size. With this in mind, Natalie and I
began a new approach. When she sat down I asked her to make sure that
her thighs were always level to the ground. We immediately found out,
without having her place her feet on a box, that this was impossible. So
she began using a footstool or a box to rest her feet on every time she
sat down.
In addition, I had her make sure that every time she was having a
standing conversation with anyone taller than she was, that she step
back away from the individual far enough so that her head didn't have to
tilt up and back (I asked her to look up with her eyes, not her head). As a
matter of fact, it was this up and back tilt to her head that we designed
everything around. Our goal was to avoid this postural position at all cost.
Whether sitting, standing, working on the computer, reading, driving a
car, walking, or running, Natalie avoided tilting her head back onto her
neck. Her goal was to tuck her chin to her chest as best she could.
Incidentally this also increases the amount of oxygen that gets into our
system and reduces the stress that occurs when we attempt to breathe
deeply. I cover this particular phenomenon in detail in the first book
Within weeks, Natalie didn't hurt. Within months, she was as healthy as
a 28 year old should be. This, of course, was really great for Natalie, but
to me what was even greater was that this whole 'watch how you stand
and sit' procedure worked for everyone else as well.
Yes, there are other factors but, as I have found, no matter what it is, if
we can get the spine in a better position and keep it that way, we all feel
better, much better. Thus it is that I am certain that if you follow this
'chin in', 'thighs parallel', 'use eyes to look up' advice, the tension in your
neck and shoulders will diminish.
Dr. Joe
By the way, the Spine Tuner helps with this immensely. It contains all the
necessary steps and/or ingredients for anyone to achieve a healthier and
happier life: focus, feel-good thinking, super- consciousness, and a way to
alter the spine. Most of all, it is simple and takes very little time.
www.spine-tuner.com.
Interested in taking charge of your own health and life, or just feeling
better? May we suggest a phone consultation with Dr Joe. Due to
numerous requests, Dr. Joe Culbertson is now taking a limited number of
clients. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, email us at:
doctorculbertson@gmail.com
Menu of the Month - Vegetarian (no, not vegan!)
Thanksgiving Feast
Thanksgiving is time for us to gather together with friends and loved ones
or perhaps to share our bounty and largesse with those less fortunate
than we. And it is a time for feasting. But who says the feast has to be
unhealthful? Try these delicious recipes for a wonderful vegetarian dinner
or include them along with your free range roast turkey. I think you'll find
these a delightful and tasty alternative to other more common dishes.
And instead of the more standard leaves/grapes/pomegranites/walnut
basket centerpiece, go for the whimsy with these apple "turkeys" that can
be given out as party favors for a future healthful snack. Or make gourd
pot-pourri candles to make the house smell even better.
Apple "Turkey" Centerpiece
For each guest's turkey you'll need: 1 apple. 1/4 cup raisins/craisins/dried
blueberries/golden raisins, etc., 6+ toothpicks, 1 pimiento-stuffed green
olive, 2 cloves. Lay each apple on its side looking at the narrow bottom
as the head and the larger stem end as the rear of the turkey.
Gourd Pot-pourri Candles
1. Cut off the top of a variety of gourds of different heights and colors (or
just one larger pumpkin), clean the interior and top. (See How to Roast
Pumpkin Seeds for a healthy snack)
2. Use an apple corer to make numerous vent holes around the sides
placing them at random or in any design form you'd like.
3. Stick some whole cloves on the inside of the lid and rub the interior
with a bit of powdered cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice. A wonderful
addition is to place a piece of opened vanilla bean into each gourd, too,
or even a bit of orange or lemon peel.
4. Place a beeswax tea light candle in the bottom of the pumpkin making
sure it is resting on a very flat spot. Light and let burn. Of course, never
leave a burning candle unattended!
Pear Walnut Salad - toss together: 1 5-ounce bag mixed baby greens (or
baby spinach),
- ABOUT BOSS FOR HORSES - Black Oil Sunflower Seeds are certainly
NOT "new" but they are to many horse owners. Grown mainly for bird
food, BOSS tends to be chemical-free making it ideal for our chemical-
free horses. Why feed the stuff? Well, it makes a great grain substitute
for all those horses who really shouldn't have grain, and because of it's
fat & fiber content, it also makes a great alternative to beet pulp
(shudder) for those who are feeding that. Additionally, the extra calories
may be just the thing your horse needs for winter, for competition, or
even for spring foaling/lactation. BOSS are small, whole, soft-hulled
seeds that horses tend to just chomp up. Depending on your horse's
needs, they're fed at anywhere from 1 cup or so to perhaps 4 cups. Our
horses have been on them a couple of years now and are doing
superbly! We get ours locally from Ranchway feeds. Read more about
basic horse nutrition here.
- GIFT IDEAS - With holiday gift giving right around the corner, and with
so many of us unwilling to have more "stuff" around, consider more
"green" gifts. I'm running a special on both of my books: HorseSense
and Energetic Living. In order to achieve the five books necessary for
the special price of $15 each, feel free to mix and match! Or think about
gifting someone with EcoSense pure house cleaning products, or check
out some Dynamite "stocking stuffer" Trans-Species health products.
Believe me, the results of such thoughtful gifts will bring benefits far
longer than just the holiday season!
- BUILDING A BETTER MOUSETRAP - Did you know that a house mouse
averages 50 droppings per day? That house mice often frequent 20 to
30 feeding sites? That a single female mouse may produce 56 offspring
annually? Pretty shocking when you recall that mice carry many diseases
including the deadly hantavirus which can be inhaled via dried mouse
"presents." Which is why, when we suddenly got a mouse invasion (in
food cupboards where the cats couldn't go), we found ourselves buying
a new electronic mouse trap. While outdoor mice are free to live at the
mercy of the environment and numerous predators including our
considerably adept cats, those that dare to populate our personal indoor
space now get the literal and deadly hot seat. In less than 24 hours,
we'd dispatched dozens to that great pasture in the sky! It is our
opinion that live traps simply leave more mice to keep overbreeding to
cause even more human illness. We found this trap to be wonderfully
humane, easy-to-use, and utterly effective. John found ours at Jax Farm
Store where they told him their multitude of mousetraps were getting
sold out because apparently this has been a very good year for the
mouse population. Check them out at www.victorpest.com.
- WHY DO PEOPLE GET FLU SHOTS? - Vital reading for any considering
flu shots or any vaccine! An excellent article by a layman concerning the
efficacy of flu shots. This is now on my permanent Articles page, but
you can also access it here.
- BUT DOC, THE DOG'S ALREADY DEAD! - We've all had to make hard
decisions when talking with the vet, but this excellent article, subtitled
"How to Say No to Your Vet," should help in the future. Of course
following all my nutrition articles on this site, plus using the uniquely
effective Dynamite products if you can, should be able to cut vet visits
considerably, aside from accidents course, and even there, healing has
shown to be faster/cleaner if your animal is well-nourished. www.slate.
com/id/2176521
- TESTIMONIAL - Izmine Does It Again!
- The flies were terrible this year. Even though I sprayed the
horses, they still got bitten badly. My wonderful paint
Cheyenne developed bumps/hives all over his body all over
again (it was that condition that brought me to Dynamite
to begin with). I went for a short ride on him and he got
really agitated. He almost tried to buck and he was biting
at his sides right by the cinch. I got off and walked him
home. Immediately put him on Izmine daily. 10 Days later
all bumps are gone, happy horse and happy me!!!!
Some of my other horses had bad bites on their sheaths. I treated those
with Miracle Clay which provided immediate relief from the itching and the
hives went away quickly.
Thanks Dynamite!
CO Supervisor Gabrielle Loudermilk
www.equusloco.com - home of holistic horse seminars and the beautiful
GypsyVanner stallion Stormy and his new "girlfriend", Isadora!
Did You Know?... (from various sources)
- How's Your Thiamine? -- Recently, a study concluded that diabetic's
blood plasma is deficient in vitamin B1, a water-soluble vitamin
essential for maintaining the health of the nervous system. Researchers
discovered that the concentration of thiamin in blood plasma was
decreased 76 percent for type 1 diabetics and 75 percent in type 2
patients. They concluded that the lower levels of thiamin were not due
to a lack of eating enough thiamin-rich foods such as navy beans, nuts,
wheat germ, lean beef, spinach, oranges, oatmeal and fresh peas.
Rather, the body was excessively excreting thiamin from the body
through the urine at a rate 15 times greater than normal. A fat-soluble
form of thiamin, called benfotiamine, is used to treat diabetic
neuropathy, which is painful nerve damage. Most studies on
benfotiamine for diabetics use 150 mg twice per day, or up to 1200
mg/day for very severe cases.
- Folic Acid for Healthier CardioVascular systems -- In addition to being
essential for avoiding neural tube defects during gestation, folic acid is
also one of the nutrients that aids in the conversion of artery-hardening
homocysteine to the non-toxic cystathionine. Anyone, including
vegetarians, that eats a diet devoid of fresh meat, fish or other animal
protein and fat, may see a dramatic decrease in cardiovascular disease
by adding folic acid supplements to their daily regimen. A study
performed by Dr. Silvina Choumenkovitch, a nutrition researcher at Tufts
University in Boston, showed that blood samples taken from vegetarians
after folic acid supplementation had a 38% higher level of folate than
samples taken before folic acid fortification. Folate levels in the people
studied were increased from 87 percent to 96 percent of the acceptable
range after supplementing with folic acid.
- Anger Management with Omega 3 -- In an Oxford University study,
230 British prisoners were given an omega-3 fatty acid supplement or
placebo. Results showed a significant drop in assaults and other
antisocial behaviors in the omega-3 group, but little change in the
placebo group. In addition, a Finland study has shown that prisoners
with a record of violent crimes tend to have low levels of omega-3 fatty
acids. In a follow up study, symptoms of anger were cut in half when
omega-3 supplements were given to subjects with a history of
substance abuse.
- Magnesium for Brains -- A new study conducted by the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology has discovered that magnesium also helps to
regulate brain receptors that play a crucial role in learning and
memorization, according to a recent HealthDayNews article. The
research shows that a deficiency of the mineral contributes to an
impaired ability to learn and memorize, while an abundance of
magnesium may actually boost cognitive function. Apparently, the
mineral enhances the plasticity (changeability) of synapses, the neural
connections between brain cells. This action makes it a powerful ally in
the war against cognitive decline and memory degeneration, the study's
authors conclude.
- From Heartburn to Cognition Challenges -- Histamine-2 receptor
antagonists - H2As marketed as Zantac and Pepcid - are two drugs
that are being linked to cognitive impairment, particularly in the elderly.
In a recently concluded 5 year study, researchers screened 1,558
patients over the age of 65 to measure their level of cognitive
impairment. Showing normal cognitive function initially, After five years,
the research team found that 17.7 percent of the participants showed
impairment of their cognitive ability. What those individuals had in
common was the continuous use of H2As with the conclusion that those
stomach-acid suppressors actually doubled their risk of developing
cognitive problems. This is because there are H2A receptors in the
brain, not just in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. H2As are known
to cause acute confusion in elderly patients after just a few doses. Also,
suppressing stomach acid in folks over 60 can interfere with the
absorption of important vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and
magnesium, and cause relative nutritional deficiencies that may
contribute to the problem.
- Pressure for Nausea -- P6, or "Inner Gate" – is a pressure point that
relieves nausea caused by motion sickness, morning sickness, and
chemotherapy. A 2000 study published in Oncology Nursing Forum
proved this last. P6 is located on the inner wrist, about three finger-
widths below the wrist crease, right between the tendons. This can be
effective enough, that some drugstores carry wristbands designed with
a hard nub that puts pressure on P6.
- Fast Food Leads to Fast Diabetes -- Researchers have found that
eating fast food just twice a week could double your chances of
developing insulin resistance, which often leads to full-blown diabetes,
while packing on 10 extra pounds.
- Drugs or Milk Thistle? -- There has been a lot of press lately about
drugs like Avandia and Actos for type-2 diabetes and their lethal side
effects. A study was done that found that silymarin, a milk thistle
extract, in addition to cleansing the liver, can reduce blood glucose
level. When 51 adults with type 2 diabetes were given 200 mg three
times per day for four months, the average fasting blood glucose level
fell 15 percent. In the placebo group, which did not receive silymarin,
there was actually an increase of 13 percent in levels. Silymarin is rich
in flavonoid antioxidants, which help fight cell damage. This is
important for someone with diabetes, because high blood sugar levels
increase the oxidative damage to cells, causing nasty complications
such as increasing insulin resistance and damaging the kidneys and
blood vessels. Antioxidants have been found to reduce insulin
resistance, so this would explain why silymarin—with its antioxidant
properties—would have the same effect.
- Bread & Vinegar -- According to a Swedish study, the feeling of satiety
can be helped along with a little acetic acid, which is the component in
vinegar that produces the sour taste. Researchers at the Department of
Food Technology, Engineering and Nutrition, at Sweden's Lund
University conducted a study in which 12 healthy subjects ate four
"meals" of white wheat bread. One of the meals consisted of bread
alone (a control meal), while the other meals were supplemented with
different amounts of vinegar: 18, 23 and 28 grams. Each meal was
separated by a week, and each was eaten in the morning after an
overnight fast. For two hours after each meal, subjects rated their
feeling of satiety while researchers took several blood samples from
each subject. Compared with the control meal, the highest level of
vinegar intake (between two and three tablespoons) was associated
with significantly lower blood sugar and insulin responses and an
increased satiety score. However, avoid the typical apple cider vinegar
product that large grocery store chains carry. Instead, look for raw,
unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, available at many health
food stores. (...or from Dynamite!)
- Signs of a Stroke -- It's important to get care for a stroke victim as
soon as possible. If you suspect someone of having just suffered a
stroke, use the first 3 letters of STROKE as a neumonic for the following
simple tests. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call
911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
- S - Ask the individual to SMILE and to STICK OUT THEIR TONGUE. If
either is crooked, to one side or the other, it can mean a stroke. - T - Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE
(Coherently, ie: It is sunny out today). A person who has just
suffered a stroke will be unable to be coherent. - R - Ask the person to RAISE BOTH ARMS. The arms will probably be
uneven if the person has just stroked.
- Lutein & Zeaxanthin Linked to Prevention of Age-Related Macular
Degeneration - In a new study appearing in the Archives of
Ophthalmology (Sept. 2007), researchers evaluated data taken from the
Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), in which more than 4,500
subjects over the age of 60 participated. In their conclusion, the authors
wrote: "Higher dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin was independently
associated with decreased likelihood of having neovascular AMD,
geographic atrophy, and large or extensive intermediate drusen." Leafy
green vegetables are the best sources of lutein. Zeaxanthin is plentiful
in yellow corn, orange pepper, kiwifruit, squash, mango, honeydew,
broccoli, and egg yolks.
- How's Your Fiber? - The American Dietetic Association has said that
most Americans should be getting twice the amount of fiber that they
normally eat. The recommended daily fiber intake is between 20 and 35
grams. But most people get fewer than 15 grams in their diet every
day—less than half of what you need. Plenty of fiber helps prevent
increasingly common problems like high cholesterol, constipation, poor
digestion, obesity, colon cancer and type-2 diabetes. Soluble fiber,
found in beans, oatmeal, fruits and vegetables, prevents cholesterol
from being absorbed in your intestines and keeps your blood sugar
levels at bay. Insoluble fiber, found in whole grains and vegetables,
helps keep your bowel movements regular and reduces your risk of colon
problems, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and obesity. Increase fiber
gradually. A sudden fiber jolt can actually make your irregularity worse,
and can result in gas and bloating.
- Virgin Has It - Even if you're using "olive oil", make sure you're
purchasing and using only Extra Virgin Olive Oil or EVOO. Researchers
have discovered that it is only this form that increases the HDL, or
"good" cholesterol levels while reducing LDL, or "bad", levels. Those
consuming refined olive oil were the reverse, making the refined olive
oil no better than any standard vegetable oil.
- Safe Drugs? - A remarkable new study appeared in the Archives of
Internal Medicine in September. Researchers at the Institute for Safe
Medication Practices analyzed all of the serious adverse drug events and
medication errors reported to the FDA from 1998 through 2005. The
results: Serious adverse drug events increased more than 2.5 times
during the study period – from 34,966 events to more than 89,800
events. Fatal adverse drug events increased 2.7 times – from 5,519 to
more than 15,000. These are alarming statistics. But two factors make
them even more distressing: 1) These were only the events reported to
the FDA – the actual number of adverse events is assumed to be much
higher, and 2) The increase in reported serious events was FOUR TIMES
higher than the increase in number of prescriptions written. In the
conclusion to their study, the authors note: "These results…illustrate
the need for improved systems to manage the risks of prescription
drugs."
- Juicing Alzheimer's - In a recent study, researchers followed 2,000
Japanese-American adults (all age 65 and older) for 10 years. None of
the participants showed any signs of dementia or Alzheimer's when the
study began. When researchers completed the study 10 years later,
they realized that the people who drank fruit and vegetable juice more
than three times per week were 76 percent less likely to develop
Alzheimer's disease than the participants who drank juice less than
once a week. Those who drank fruit or vegetable juice once or twice per
week showed a 16-percent lower risk. The decreased Alzheimer's risk
most likely has to do with a certain type of antioxidant found in whole
fruit and vegetable juices called polyphenols which are usually found in
the skins and peels of fruits and vegetables. Purchased juices are
filtered and pasteurized thus destroying most of the the polyphenols.
(.... so yet another reason to drink your green smoothies and fresh-
made veggie/fruit mix juices!)
- Spinach vs Varicose Veins - Eating your spinach (and kale, swiss chard,
parsley,brussels sprouts, and broccoli) might help prevent varicose
veins, those enlarged blue veins that afflict 5-30% of adults, especially
women. So say French researchers who concluded that adequate vitamin
K is needed to help activate a key protein that blocks the calcification
and cell proliferation that can lead to vein distortions and disease.
Point to Ponder #1 - Best Acupressure Points for
Promoting Strong Blood Circulation Throughout Your
Legs and Feet by Dr. Ben Kim
Have you ever noticed that your fingernails grow more quickly than your
toenails? If not, the next time you clip your fingernails and toenails on
the same day, take note of how quickly they grow in the days that follow.
I'm confident that you will find that your fingernails need another trim at
least a few days before your toenails do.
Are you curious about why your fingernails grow faster than your toenails?
The answer is simple: Your upper extremities are closer to the pumping
power of your heart than your lower extremities are, so your arms and
hands enjoy better overall blood circulation than your legs and feet do.
This example illustrates how important healthy blood circulation is to the
health of all of your cells. Better circulation almost always translates to
quicker growth and repair of damaged cells. This is only logical of course,
since the health of all of your cells is dependent on receiving a steady
supply of oxygen and nutrients, and having carbon dioxide and other
waste products removed on a continual basis; your blood circulation is
responsible for fulfilling both of these roles.
Since your lower extremities generally do not enjoy the same level of
blood perfusion that the rest of your body does, it stands to reason that
your thighs, legs, and feet can use all of the extra help that you can
provide through your food and lifestyle choices to promote strong and
steady blood circulation.
Why should you be concerned with promoting healthy blood circulation
throughout your lower extremities? Because strong and steady blood flow
to your thighs, legs, and feet can help to accomplish all of the following:
- Prevent varicose veins.
- Prevent restless leg syndrome, which involves experiencing
unpleasant sensations like itchiness and burning in your legs, which
can create an uncontrollable urge to thrash your legs around while
you are resting. - Prevent Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.
- Promote quick healing of wounds and injuries, from cuts to sprained
ankles and fractured bones. - Promote healthy bone and muscle structure and function throughout
your lower extremities. - Promote efficient temperature regulation throughout your lower
extremities i.e. prevent cold feet.
One of the best therapies that you can use to promote optimal blood flow
throughout your legs and feet is acupressure, which involves applying
deep and steady pressure to specific locations.
The key to using acupressure to promote healthy blood circulation in your
lower extremities is to know the locations of the major arteries that
supply fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your pelvic, thigh, leg, and
foot regions.
For balance of article: http://drbenkim.com/acupressure-blood-
circulation-legs-feet.html
Point to Ponder #2 -- Pain-Cessation Nation by Alan
Inglis, MD, Housecalls Newsletter http://www.
healthrevelations.com/
According to one estimate, in just one recent year alone, enough of the
top five painkillers (hydrocodone, oxycodone, meperidine, codeine and
morphine) were sold to supply everyone in the country with at least one
dose. And these are—at best—only meant to be temporary fixes. But the
majority of the time, you don't need them to begin with when there are
natural ways to manage pain.
Recent statistics on the use of painkillers paint an alarming picture of a
nation potentially packed with zombies. They're driving next to you in
your neighborhood and on the highways. They're shopping alongside you
in malls and grocery stores. And they could be working in many of the
industries that serve you every day—all while in a painkiller- induced haze.
If that doesn't strike fear into you, I don't know what will.
Painkiller sales have rocketed to epidemic proportions, with statistics
showing that sales of these drugs rose 90 percent between 1997 and
2005. The Drug Enforcement Agency issued a policy statement last year
noting that prescription drug use has risen to the second-most commonly
abused category of drugs. In particular—prescription painkillers, with
oxycodone leading the charge as the most widely used of all of them.
Several reasons have been suggested as to why painkilling medication is
becoming such a widespread "prescription of choice." Some believe that
with an aging population, the need for painkillers will go up accordingly.
With recent estimates being that by 2020 the elderly will number 54
million in this country—that's a lot of folks potentially on painkillers. With
this type of thinking, the assumption is that everyone who gets old is
going to be in a great deal of pain throughout the process—an erroneous
conclusion if ever there was one.
Another reason given for this surge in painkiller use is the excellent
marketing campaigns that have been launched by Big Pharma. Bravo to
them. Drug-company profits regularly exceed those of other Fortune 500
companies—sometimes raking in an envy-worthy three or more times the
amount of profits those other companies are making.
The only side effect? Americans hooked on painkillers.
I believe that coupled with the marketing used by the drug companies is
doctors' willing compliance in over-prescribing these drugs. Pain
management is an area in which doctors could work with their patients by
using what I call the "rational approach." In my own practice, I'll work
with a patient for anywhere between three and six months before I'll even
think of prescribing a painkiller. This is something I covered in greater
detail in my April 2006 newsletter. (Current subscribers to my newsletter
can access that issue in the archives at www.healthrevelations.com.)
If you're suffering from chronic joint pain and arthritis, I'll tell you what I
tell my patients: Get more omega-3s. Eat more fatty fish, such as
salmon, and add some nuts to your diet, such as walnuts. Also try a fish
oil supplement, 1,000 to 3,000 mg EPA plus DHA. This will help keep
those joints lubricated, reduce inflammation and keep the pain at bay.
If you find you need more help two to three months, I recommend adding
an excellent botanical anti-inflammatory called Zyflamend. You can easily
locate it on the internet from multiple suppliers, which means you can
also price-shop for the best deal. Another simple piece of advice is this: If
you've been assigned exercises by a physical therapist or other body
worker, make sure you do them. Flexible, strong muscles are your joints'
best protection! For example, strong upper leg muscles will actually help
cushion your knee joints.
Unfortunately for most patients, their doctors are short on time—and the
band-aid solution of a painkiller is just too easy a temptation to scrawl
onto a prescription pad.
Point to Ponder #3 -- What Are Food Additives and
Ritalin Really Doing to Your Children? by Jon
Rappoport, Investigative Reporter
http://www.ourchildrenshealth.com/foodadditives.shtml
SEPTEMBER 10, 2007. Last week, a startling British study of 300 young
children, published in the respected journal Lancet, revealed that food
additives are linked to hyperactive behavior.
Authors of the University of Southampton study wrote, "?adverse effects
are not just seen in children with extreme [prior] hyperactivity, but can
also be seen in the general population?"
According to Reuters, the additives tested included: "sunset yellow
coloring, carmoisine, tartrazine, ponceau 4R, sodium benzoate, and other
colors."
Dr. Sue Baic, a dietician at the University of Bristol, called the study "well
designed and potentially very important."
Press reports on the study are ignoring the subject of ADHD itself. ADHD
is the formal name given to hyperactivity, and if food additives are
causing this condition, what about the tower of medical research
dedicated to proving that ADHD is the result of a brain abnormality?
The whole medical foundation for ADHD is built on the premise that some
common brain malfunction is at the root of the problem. On that basis,
amphetamine-type drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall are being given to
millions of children.
But is there a clear-cut medical definition of ADHD, or are we really
talking about hyperactive behaviors brought on by a variety of causes---
such as food additives? See rest of article here.
...... the proven best way to avoid behavioral challenges with children is
to 1) feed them strictly REAL FOODS that are organically or free-range
grown; 2) avoid ALL common fast/boxed foods, pop, sugar, baked goods,
agri-business pasteurized dairy, fruit juices, etc.; 3) supply them with a
good, balanced mineral supplementation program such as Dynamite's plus
mercury-free cod liver oil (Carlson's) or krill oil (www.mercola.com); 4)
avoid medicinal toxins such as medications/drugs and vaccines;and 5)
love and discipline them consistently according to Cesar Millan's Dog
Whispering techniques! Yep, not kidding. Decades ago when I was
"obedience training" our German Shepherds for the ring, I said all parents
needed to take the classes for the sake of their children. Now I think
Cesar Millan has the most incredible insights into both dogs AND humans
and think it's even more important for parents to become aware. This
would do parents and children a tremendous amount of good!
Point to Ponder #4 -- The Poisons Around You by C.
Norm Shealy, M.D., Ph.d. http//www.normshealy.com
I have written before about the ubiquitous poisoning of the world. So did
Rachel Carson many decades ago. Each decade it gets worse. Overall it is
a toss up as to whether the world will ultimately be most damaged by the
550,000 chemical poisons released indiscriminately each year, or by
nuclear contamination. I remember well national articles over 40 years
ago about the carcinogenic chemicals in city water produced by
chlorination of water. Two days later, no further commentaries! Thus, it
goes throughout the decades - an occasional nationally prominent
mention of the harm increasing to animals as well as people. A minimum
of 75% of cancer is related to environmental poisons! BRITISH MEDICAL
JOURNAL, 328: 447-451, 2004.
In October, 2006, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC carried one of the most graphic
discussions of the situation. David Duncan spent a year evaluating the
toxins accumulated in his body and wrote a great article in The NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC.
The major groups of poisons include:
- Asbestos - widely used in the first ¾ of the 20th century - increasing
cancer and lung scarring. Found in insulation of floors, ceilings, heat
and water ducts and pipes. - Chloroform - increasing cancer, gonad damage, birth defects, liver
and kidney damage, etc. Found in water and food. - Chlorine - increasing damage to every organ, it is just pure poison.
Found in city water, household cleaners, air near paper mills, etc. - Dioxins - increasing cancer, gonadal damage, developmental
disorders, excessive body hair, liver damage, death. Found in animal
fats from our industrialized meat production! - Heavy metals, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury -
increasing cancer, brain and nerve damage, Alzheimer's, anemia,
immune weakness, blood vessel and heart damage. Found in drinking
water, fish, vaccines, pesticides, antiperspirants, building
construction materials, dental amalgams, wood preservatives. - Fungus Among Us - molds are one of the major causes of allergies,
They increase asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, multiple
sclerosis. Found everywhere, in food, wheat, corn, alcoholic
beverages, buildings, etc. - Phthalates - increasing severe endocrine damage. Found in plastic -
wrap, bottles, food storage containers, etc. - Polychlorinated biphenyls-PCB's - increasing cancer and brain
damage. Found in farm raised salmon and older plastics. - Pesticides - increasing cancer, Parkinson's, miscarriage, birth defects,
neurological damage. These are present in well over 50% and
perhaps 95% of fruits and vegetables!! - Volatile Organic Compounds, VOC's - increasing cancer, memory loss,
eye and lung damage. Found in drinking water, carpets, paints,
deodorants, varnish, cosmetics, dry cleaned clothes, air fresheners,
cleaning fluids.
HOW TO COPE/AVOID POISONS:
- Avoid processed foods - over 60% of your friendly grocery store's
products! - Eat truly organic foods when possible
- Eat only Alaskan salmon and halibut [www.vitalchoice.com]
- Use natural cleaning products-like REAL soap, etc.
- Avoid DEET - use Neem gels
- Have all silver/mercury fillings removed by a trained dentist
- Avoid artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets and fabric softeners
- Avoid MSG, aspartame, Splenda, pop, margarine, trans-fats
- Avoid toothpastes and shampoos with aluminum sodium lauryl
sulfate. [plain salt is best or herbal tooth powder such as at www.
evansgarden.com; Dynamite's All Natural Shampoo is superior] - Avoid deodorants with aluminum
- Avoid baking powder with aluminum
- Avoid aluminum cookware; use glass, pottery, stainless steel or cast
iron - Avoid plastic containers
- Avoid microwaves
- Use glass containers
- Get a good filter for your home water system, removing at least all
chlorine and fluoride [fluoride can only be removed by reverse
osmosis] - Get plenty of safe sunshine
Point to Ponder #5 - Pollution Turns off Immune
System by Fox News http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,
2933,298718,00.html
Air pollution may do more than aggravate heart problems. It can shut
down the immune system over time, according to a new study.
Pollutants in the ozone, long associated with pulmonary and
cardiovascular problems and deaths, can also affect the lungs and the
rest of the body, making it more susceptible to illnesses, including the
entry of bacteria and other foreign invaders in the body, Duke University
Medical Center researchers found.
Pulmonary researchers studied the effects of the ozone on the immune
system using unhealthy levels of pollutants in mice, which enhanced lung
injuries in response to bacteria and cell death in immune system cells,
used to fight off foreign toxins in the body.
In the study, researchers had mice breathe room air, or air with levels of
ozone that an active human would breathe in on an unhealthy, ozone
level day. The immune system response was also studied on mice
exposed to the E. coli bacteria.
“Small amounts of inhaled foreign material can be relatively harmless,
since they stimulate an appropriate innate immune response that protects
the lungs,” said John Hollingsworth, M.D., pulmonologist and lead author
of the study. “However, it appears that ozone causes the innate immune
system to overreact, killing key immune system cells, and possibly
making the lung more susceptible to subsequent invaders, such as
bacteria.The innate immune system is the most primitive aspect of the
body’s defenses. Its cells react indiscriminately to any invader. One of the
key cells in the innate immune system is known as a macrophage, Greek
for “big eater.”
Future studies out of Duke will research the mechanisms behind the ozone’
s affect on cell death in macrophages in the lungs. The study will focus on
how the polluntants interfere with system-wide immune system responses.
...... and you thought you didn't need to consider safe detoxification!
Please click HERE to read all about an incredible product I have found
that provides safe detoxification for both you and your pets, too!
Point to Ponder #6 - An Interesting Cause for Neck &
Shoulder Pain by Joseph Culbertson, D.C.
Neck and shoulder tension - Part 1
It's the end of a day. Time to relax, spend some quality time with family,
friends, or whatever else we have on our agenda. This is our time; that
little bit of the day that we have saved for ourselves. Unfortunately, it is
also this time when the tension in our neck and shoulders is most
noticeable. It really is amazing how much the muscles in this area of our
body can ache and hurt. For some, this gets so bad that our hands tingle
with weakness, our head, especially in the back where the skull meets the
neck, feels like is being squeezed by a vice, and those shoulders of
ours…ouch! Hot showers, massage, and a hand full of aspirin often bring
little relief.
The neck and shoulder tension that so many of us have endured has been
tackled by most of the health care industry. It has been given several
medical labels: fibromyalgia, myofascitis, etc. It has been said to be
caused by stress. Others have said it comes from traumatic memories or
actual physical trauma. In most cases, what we know for sure is that
there is inflammation, an imbalance in the musculature, misalignment of
the associated spinal structure, and a rather global irritation of the
nervous system. Bottom line, it hurts.
Yet, in most cases, it is so very easy to change.
I suspect things like this are part of the reason I decided to turn my
efforts to writing. As one lone doctor working with a finite number of
people, I could help just so many and yet I was aware of so many more
that could be helped by what I had learned. All I had to do was find a way
of reaching them.
One of the causes for neck and shoulder pain:
I wasn't long into my tenure as a chiropractor that I began to realize that
most of the neck and shoulder problems that I was treating were in the
neck and shoulders of women (specifically women in the age range of 25
to 45). At first I thought this was just a statistical anomaly but, as I
looked a little closer, I had to admit that indeed this kind of problem was
definitely more predominant in the female side of my patients.
This puzzled me but, as puzzles are meant to be solved, I soon set off to
do just that. The first step was to try to figure out what other variables
everyone had in common besides gender. Was it that they had a
heightened sensitivity to their bodies? Though there are many exceptions,
women definitely appear more aware than men when it comes to their
emotions and what their bodies are doing. Or was it a chemical thing?
Lack of calcium or improper utilization of this mineral due to things like
not enough vitamin F or too much protein, will definitely be at the root of
many an overly tight muscle.
As I searched, I found answer after answer, all of which had a bearing on
this condition that I consider to be too common. I discovered that a
number of them were indeed gender related. But the one that surprised
me the most, which occurs in both genders (though still predominately in
females), turned out to be one of the easiest variables to alter. When I
began making changes in this factor, not only did my lop-sided findings
cease, but I also began finding person after person feeling better from
just this change alone.
Natalie was a good example. She was young, 28, athletic, healthy, and in
severe pain. I was her fourth doctor. She had been through a series of
treatments: pain and anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy,
chiropractic, acupuncture and massage. Yet her diagnosis and symptoms
remained entrenched. She still hurt. As a matter of fact, with her last
doctor telling her to 'Learn to live with it.' Natalie had pretty much given
up hope.
This lady had tried pretty much everything I had to offer long before she
decided to add me to her list of doctors. In fact, I was ready to just
repeat many of the things she had already tried when, during our first
session, I was struck by her posture as I talked to her. We were standing
next to each other. I was talking and she was listening to my long, drawn
out analysis of her situation; nothing she hadn't heard before.
What hit me was the position of her head as she looked up at me. Now I
am not all that tall but Natalie, being just a shade over 5'3", had to tilt
her head back as we stood next to each other. This postural exaggeration
was compressing the muscles in the back of her neck. This compression, I
discovered, creates a situation where the blood supply and the lymphatic
drainage are interfered with, allowing toxins and tension to build up
within the region; one of the major precursors for pain.
As I studied this postural phenomenon, I began to see that there were
many different situations where a person less than six feet tall was
placed into a position that caused a similar problem within their muscles.
When sitting, if our legs are not long enough to allow the thighs to
remain parallel to the ground, the muscles in our neck shorten in the
same manner as they do when we look up at someone who is taller than
us. The more I found, the more I realized that this world is actually made
for someone that is about six feet tall. From chairs to car seats, to just
the social habit of looking someone in the eyes as we speak with them, if
we are short, we are constantly placing a tremendous burden upon our
neck and shoulders.
Could this be the reason I was seeing so many women with neck and
shoulder tension? If so, then it had very little to do with gender. It did,
however, have everything to do with size. With this in mind, Natalie and I
began a new approach. When she sat down I asked her to make sure that
her thighs were always level to the ground. We immediately found out,
without having her place her feet on a box, that this was impossible. So
she began using a footstool or a box to rest her feet on every time she
sat down.
In addition, I had her make sure that every time she was having a
standing conversation with anyone taller than she was, that she step
back away from the individual far enough so that her head didn't have to
tilt up and back (I asked her to look up with her eyes, not her head). As a
matter of fact, it was this up and back tilt to her head that we designed
everything around. Our goal was to avoid this postural position at all cost.
Whether sitting, standing, working on the computer, reading, driving a
car, walking, or running, Natalie avoided tilting her head back onto her
neck. Her goal was to tuck her chin to her chest as best she could.
Incidentally this also increases the amount of oxygen that gets into our
system and reduces the stress that occurs when we attempt to breathe
deeply. I cover this particular phenomenon in detail in the first book
Within weeks, Natalie didn't hurt. Within months, she was as healthy as
a 28 year old should be. This, of course, was really great for Natalie, but
to me what was even greater was that this whole 'watch how you stand
and sit' procedure worked for everyone else as well.
Yes, there are other factors but, as I have found, no matter what it is, if
we can get the spine in a better position and keep it that way, we all feel
better, much better. Thus it is that I am certain that if you follow this
'chin in', 'thighs parallel', 'use eyes to look up' advice, the tension in your
neck and shoulders will diminish.
Dr. Joe
By the way, the Spine Tuner helps with this immensely. It contains all the
necessary steps and/or ingredients for anyone to achieve a healthier and
happier life: focus, feel-good thinking, super- consciousness, and a way to
alter the spine. Most of all, it is simple and takes very little time.
www.spine-tuner.com.
Interested in taking charge of your own health and life, or just feeling
better? May we suggest a phone consultation with Dr Joe. Due to
numerous requests, Dr. Joe Culbertson is now taking a limited number of
clients. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, email us at:
doctorculbertson@gmail.com
Menu of the Month - Vegetarian (no, not vegan!)
Thanksgiving Feast
Thanksgiving is time for us to gather together with friends and loved ones
or perhaps to share our bounty and largesse with those less fortunate
than we. And it is a time for feasting. But who says the feast has to be
unhealthful? Try these delicious recipes for a wonderful vegetarian dinner
or include them along with your free range roast turkey. I think you'll find
these a delightful and tasty alternative to other more common dishes.
And instead of the more standard leaves/grapes/pomegranites/walnut
basket centerpiece, go for the whimsy with these apple "turkeys" that can
be given out as party favors for a future healthful snack. Or make gourd
pot-pourri candles to make the house smell even better.
Apple "Turkey" Centerpiece
For each guest's turkey you'll need: 1 apple. 1/4 cup raisins/craisins/dried
blueberries/golden raisins, etc., 6+ toothpicks, 1 pimiento-stuffed green
olive, 2 cloves. Lay each apple on its side looking at the narrow bottom
as the head and the larger stem end as the rear of the turkey.
- Tail feathers: Take the dried fruit/berries and slide onto toothpicks
about 3/4 the way down alternating colors to make it colorful; use
the last addition as a cap rather than sliding the toothpick through.
Stick the toothpick/fruit tailfeathers into the large end fanned out
like an upright turkey tail. You will need 5 or more "feathers"
depending on the size of your apple. If you want, arrange the fruits
so they form a colorful band across the entire tail.
Head: Slide dry fruit down toothpick and top with a green olive for
the head pulling out pimiento a bit out the front of the olive and
letting it hang so that it looks like a turkey wattle. Stick a broken off
toothpick in for the beak and place the cloves into the olive for eyes.
Insert three toothpicks under the apple in a tripod manner so it can
stand freely with its "turkey flock" amongst a fall leaf and branch
arrangement.
Gourd Pot-pourri Candles
1. Cut off the top of a variety of gourds of different heights and colors (or
just one larger pumpkin), clean the interior and top. (See How to Roast
Pumpkin Seeds for a healthy snack)
2. Use an apple corer to make numerous vent holes around the sides
placing them at random or in any design form you'd like.
3. Stick some whole cloves on the inside of the lid and rub the interior
with a bit of powdered cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice. A wonderful
addition is to place a piece of opened vanilla bean into each gourd, too,
or even a bit of orange or lemon peel.
4. Place a beeswax tea light candle in the bottom of the pumpkin making
sure it is resting on a very flat spot. Light and let burn. Of course, never
leave a burning candle unattended!
Pear Walnut Salad - toss together: 1 5-ounce bag mixed baby greens (or
baby spinach),